Caro's Descent

Chapter Nineteen - The Drill Sergeant's Effect

Three weeks had passed since the night in the hotel. Owens and I had spent the past two weekends together, along with multiple day room encounters. I developed strong feelings for Owens but was reluctant to tell her. Had she thought I was getting too serious too soon, it may have scared her away, and I was terrified of losing her.

Although I had fallen hard for Owens, I never overcame my attraction toward Flowers. Owens had noticed me eyeing Flowers several times—her perceptive nature always keen to pick up on my silent struggles—but she said nothing.

She wasn't the only one to say nothing; Flowers made me so nervous I couldn't speak when she was around. I would stare at her until she'd notice, then I'd turn and pretend to scratch my face, or act as if I was looking at something near her. It was like a repeat of how I felt with Heather Thompson. The cycle of my awkwardness seemed never-ending.

Every glance at Flowers was a mix of enchantment and dread, knowing she was still one of Drill Sergeant Neville's favorites. That mean son-of-a-bitch took advantage of her every chance he could.

I paid close attention to the Drill Sergeants and their actions toward the female soldiers; they had certain code words, and I had picked up on their meanings. For example, I learned that after a Drill Sergeant sleeps with a girl, he says she's "locked in tight." When a Drill Sergeant says he's "in the game," he's using his position to influence female soldiers into having sex with him.

Figuring out the code words helped, but wasn't necessary to spot one of the Drill Sergeant's victims. Most of the girls changed afterward, returning from the depths of their internal struggles with an untouchable attitude. They also appeared to have an inside track on the Drill Sergeants. The girls almost always knew ahead of time if a Drill Sergeant planned on doing a surprise barracks inspection or about promotions and reprimands before it happened. Although many girls seemed to enjoy getting away with everything, most suffered in secrecy, wanting nothing more than to finish training and move on with their lives.

Most girls wanted to report the Drill Sergeant's but fear paralyzed them. They had lost hope in the chain of command, unable to see a way out. The corruption traveled to the top, and the victims didn't trust any of their superiors. Their leaders drilled the girls' heads with threats, insisting that nobody would believe them over a highly respected Drill Sergeant. The perpetrators, especially Drill Sergeant Neville, threatened them viciously. He made it very clear that if they said anything, he'd hurt them; sometimes, he even threatened to kill them.

Flowers was a perfect example of the Drill Sergeants' effect on the female soldiers. I frequently heard her revealing the Drill Sergeants' plans to her fellow soldiers. Her confident demeanor never fooled me. Those distressful eyes revealed her truth. Whenever she'd see Drill Sergeant Neville, her delicate smile dropped toward the floor, and her face would rattle with distress. Her eyes, though, never changed. Flowers's hollow, sunken eyes revealed her despair.

After each workday, Flowers hung out at the rec center. She'd meet her friend Kelsey there, and they both sat at the bar and drank, trying to escape the shadows that loomed over them. Although it made for a slight distraction, no amount of booze would ease the pain those girls carried inside. Both girls seemed to enjoy the attention of the male soldiers, but I never saw one act on it. I swore I'd seen Flowers eyeing me a few times, but she never dared act on it. The Drill Sergeants had a way of turning their victims into property. I had no doubt that if they'd discovered the girls sleeping with other soldiers, the consequences would have been dire.

It was Friday night, and I sat at a table in the rec center with Sharp and Melvin. Again, Melvin was piss drunk, and Sharp was well on his way. Good thing he didn't get belligerent like Melvin. When Sharp got drunk, he'd turn into a horny ball of energy.