Dawn Is Coming

Chapter 2

Akira

I hate running in the mornings. My legs are stiff, and I run sluggishly. Much faster than the average person, but it's still slow for my standards. The terminal is mostly empty today because most of the regiments left during the morning announcement. My regiment is the youngest group, so our schedule is a little looser. The terminal is huge. It's a shiny metal building, with rough carpeted floors and gates lining the walls. The only MV inside the terminal is ours, standing in front of the huge gate. The terminal reminds me of an airport. Airports were stations where AVs (air vehicles) used to depart from. Even though we don't have those anymore and they're of no significance (or are they?), General Flynn made sure to describe them and how they worked in full detail to me during my training. We have a few AVs at this terminal, but the military hasn't used them in a long time. Once I arrive to my gate, I get in line with the rest of my regiment. I bring a fist to cover my mouth as I cough dryly and loudly. The other soldiers eye me suspiciously, so I turn around to avoid their accusatory stares. When my coughing finally dies down, my face burns red. Usually, there's loud banter and General Flynn struggles to get us to shut up. Now, you could hear a pin drop. Onto the carpeted floor. I don't deal well with social anxiety, and I am currently freaking out. Even though General Flynn's eyes are covered by his pitch-black shades, I can feel his intense glare. He clears his throat, and I flinch.

"72A." He sounds indignant, putting an annoyed emphasis on my ID number. "Would you mind explaining your absences and your early breaks these past few weeks?" My hand reaches for a strand of hair, twirling it as I rack through my brain to find a sufficient excuse. Nothing comes to mind, though. Not when I'm supposed to find one in front of a line of 50 huge guys who are judging me and definitely not when a disappointed general who has been judging me since I was 8 years old is piercing my soul with his invisible stare. Also not when the guy I may have a teeny crush on is looking at anything but me but is probably regretting all the moments he's ever spent with me in front of everyone else.

"Well- I... I wasn't feeling well." Is the only thing I manage to choke out. I wish I could be as cold and tough in public as I am on the battlefield. I guess I do better when I know my life is depending on it. The soldiers around me burst into laughter, and my face manages to go even more red. The only one not laughing is General Flynn. He puts his shades up on his head, slicking his raven black hair away from his face. All the soldiers shut up immediately when General Flynn stares at them. I find it hard to believe he's 45. He looks like he could easily be 20, or even younger. The look in his eyes, however, makes him seem like he has the knowledge of a century-old veteran. And if looks could kill, his looks would slaughter. Even though the temperature in my military jacket is regulated, chills run down my spine. It's probably the main reason he was chosen as general; no soldier dares disobey him.

He slides his shades back on, and his short, spiky hair falls over the rims again. "I expect to see you in my office when we get back. Absolutely no excuses. Got it?" He orders me and pushes his shades up his nose. I swallow heavily and nod. "Good." He sighs. He stands in front of us, towering over almost everyone in the regiment. His back is perfectly straight, and his hands are folded behind his back. He looks over every soldier, making sure nothing is out of order. He then turns around, and without having to say anything, my regiment follows him into the MV. I'm the last one to enter, and the door closes behind me. My hand anchors onto a grab rail as the MV speeds out of the gate.

Once we exit the terminal, the hologram turns on. The inside of our MV fascinates me every time I see it. Everything inside the van is made of steel, but you can't see any of it. On the inside, the van is completely see-through because of a projected hologram that shows what's going on outside. When I walk, it looks like I'm walking along the fast-moving dirt path of the road beneath the MV. The walls show the familiar scenery of yellow grass and grey skies.