BLOODHOUND.

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The three led me out of the station towards a small car park, which had been converted into a small militaristic sector. The country scenery quickly lost its charm as the environment became enveloped by barbed wire, white tents, metal crates and what felt like an infinite amount of medical vans. Crestfallen figures lurked all around us - soldiers grabbing weapons, soldiers being tended to for injuries, soldiers carrying body bags - the kind of fucked up shit that made me shudder in my boots. The 'soldier' part of my history definitely felt more real now, knowing it wasn't all strange powers and wacky gadgets.

Countless soldiers surrounded the perimeter, most of them staring at us like aliens. I didn't blame them; our rather informal uniforms and bright colours made us stick out like a sore thumb compared to their dark regalia. Still, I felt most of the eyes were on me; still glaring, still hateful.

We headed for one of the open tents, whose walls were outlined with weapons of all kinds. Andrew sauntered up to the guy manning the place, taking his mask off for a moment to deliver a charming smile.

"Spec-ops," he said. "We were called over. I believe we lent you our weapons."

The man exchanged glances between him and me, his eyes moving back and forth. He gave me a look, as if I were trash. "You're bringing him?" he sneered.

I started. His words hit me like a gunshot to the chest. "I..." Jesus Christ, what the hell's his problem?

Zora piped in; "I told them it was a bad idea, and-"

Without warning, Chloe barged her way to the front, hands on her hips. "Say, weren't you the guy that broke the vending machine yesterday?"

His eyes widened, as if he had been caught red handed. The rest of us looked at each other in confusion, before the guy parted his lips again.

"Uh-"

Chloe grinned. "Yeah dude, you like, smashed it open! You really wanted those cheese puffs, didn't you?"

"Is that so?" Andrew asked, stroking his chin while a smirk crept onto his face. "I did hear about that, but I never knew it would be you, of all people."

Chloe looked back at him. "Wanna play snitch?"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't mind. There's a decent reward for finding out who did it. The lietenants take property damage very seriously, after all."

The man grumbled to himself, eyeing me for a moment before slamming his hands on the table and heading to the wall of munitions. "Fine! I'll get your bloody guns."

Chloe and Andrew held back laughter, the former keeling over a bit as she squeaked out restrained giggles. Zora continued to be absolutely fed up - even more so than before. Meanwhile, I was standing there, hand on my forehead, feeling an overwhelming urge to hide in a corner and sulk for a while.

A second later he returned with a case, once again thudding it against the table. "Hoffman."

Oh boy. As much as I didn't want to go up there, I took a deep breath and pushed myself forward. He locked eyes with me, like a predator to prey, and for a moment my hand was hovering. I was partly afraid he'd grab me if my fingers so much as brushed the plastic.

"Er, thanks."

I yanked it off the table. Just as I did so, he leaned over the counter with a piercing death glare. "I've got my eye on you," he hissed, his voice like gravel.

"I-I know," I squeaked, shuffling away as fast as possible.

I sprinted over to a small bench as Zora and Andrew approached him. Seriously, what the hell was everyone's problem with me? I must've been an asshole if people were going around treating me like this. As if my stress levels weren't high enough already. Fucking hell.