Its really burdensome to wake up with a smile on your face when you’ve realized that your life could end in a war. Many people questioned the authenticity of our military academy asking why would adults use children to train for military. Well that’s because of the changing times now. Adults have become more complacent and they put all the burden on the youth.
Anyway, I woke up today feeling quite energized and positive. As I got up from my bed, I was flabbergasted to see a black shotgun on the wooden drawer right next to my head. “What the devil is going on?”, I exclaimed as I woke Alyssa and Lexine up from their pleasant dreams.
“Aghhh!”, Lexine shrieked as she leapt from her bed and hid herself beneath her yellow blanket. Our blankets are color coded by the primary colors of our camps. Yellow for Poveda. Blue for ICA. Green for La Salle and Red for Xavier.
“Oh my god. Who did this heinous crime?”, Alyssa tried to remain calm.
I don’t know how that gun came inside. It didn’t have any bullets. I checked. But that fact that there is an unknown gun beside me meant that someone snuck inside this dormitory and placed it there. I could’ve been killed!
I held the gun and angrily gritted my teeth. “This person will pay big time from all of us three”
“We’d better report this to the War Council”, Alyssa suggested, tying her long black hair. I took the black gun and placed it inside my brown knapsack.
“Come on guys. Let’s start the day with breakfast. I don’t want to faint especially with Ms Militante”, Lexine said as her stomach grumbled. “She’s gonna kill me”
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“Positions everyone! We will start with a thirty minute drill of jogging across the field and no one will take breaks! We are at a great disadvantage at this war but if you all work together, you may have a chance in beating the Militicians”, Ms Militante shouted from her diaphragm. The whole Xavier field was buzzling with all students who were either confused or bewildered.
Alyssa looked down. “I can’t participate”, she told me as she tugged my gray shirt. Everyone here was wearing that shirt. It takes a while to get used to living a Spartan life.
I then see Mike, recording the number of people who came. The sun was scorching at my back, burning it and making me feel like it was disintegrating.
“Hey Mike. I need to talk to you about something”
“Sure. Go ahead”, he grinned as he glanced at me and started writing on his clipboard again.
I brought out the black gun out of my knapsack. “We found this beside my drawer this morning”
Mike was still writing, not looking the gun. “Uh-huh sure”
“Mike!”, I shouted. He jumped and dropped the clipboard and his pen. “What is it now?”, he asked, annoyed. His fault for not paying attention.
“President, I found this gun beside me this morning”, I spoke in a clear tone so he would get what I was saying. His eyes opened wide as he saw the weapon. “Somebody could be trying to kill you. That’s odd. Did you leave your door unlocked last night?”
Oh god! I did! I was so tired from the walk that I forgot to bolt the door! I was so careless I put my friends’ life at stake! “I guess so”, I looked down, trying not to be humiliated.
“I see”, he said as he looked at me in a smug face. “But whoever did that wanted to target any of you. Be careful. Keep a keen eye on anyone, even me if you should. We should be cautious of the people around us. Jesse, just be sure you stay safe before the war. Your contribution will be great”
“But…”, I stammered. “Why are you telling me this? I am just co-defense captain”
“I am sure you will shine in glory from the war no matter what. Being the first girl ever I the War Council, I can say you’re pretty good”
“Thanks sir. I really appreciate it”
“The name’s Mike”, he grinned.
“Mike. I’d rather call you sir because that denotes high respect but whatever bro”
“Stay cautious okay?”
I nodded. Even if we all had to be united, we still had to be wary. I think the prankster who did this wanted to threaten me. To tell me something that I should know.
“Jesse!”, Joshua called out from the crowd. Ugh not him again. He creeps me out.
“Did you see the gun I placed beside you?”
“What? You were the one who sneaked inside the room and placed the gun beside me???”, I asked, shocked.
Joshua chuckled. “Its my first time playing a prank”
“That’s not very nice”, I said as I turned away from him. “You scared us all! Why did you do that?”
“I know we’re pressed for time but if you let me show you the weapon store downtown which is open today, you have a chance of winning in this war”
“You mean you went all the way out of the campus to get this gun?”
Joshua nodded. “My uncle says he has a supply ready for the whole school. It will be delivered from China in about a week. You just need to place orders”
“You’re kidding me. China? But isn’t China already part of the Militician army? I mean the army has spread worldwide”
Joshua shrugged. “Believe it or not, there are rebels in those parts. They’re actually good quality”
“Positions everyone! Every second counts. Now we will jog from Xavier to ICA, passing all camps. No complaints. If one falls, everyone will repeat again”
The students start to groan as they took their positions.
“I can take you there now”
Yes! Finally I can skip this intense and tiring P.E class. I gotta tell Mike.
“Mike, this boy Joshua’s going to show me a place where we can buy weapons. Will you give us your permission to go out of the campus?”
Mike was still writing something in his clipboard. “Be back by dusk”
“Thank you”. That was easy. He was acting a little weird today but who can blame him? With all the hard work burdened on him, that guy really deserves a break!
YOU ARE READING
The Fight for Freedom (Book One in the EDSOR Military Academy Trilogy)
Teen FictionFifteen year old Jesse Hope, a student of the famed EDSOR Military Academy, struggles with teenage life, friends, society and fitting in. Everything changes when the President of the War Council dies and in his last words, promotes her to his positi...