Written in Life

(Chapter 16)

I want to apologize to all of the readers for taking so much time to update. Summers been busy. I am now on definitely devoted to updating a lot quicker so that I don't leave you in suspense. Feel free to vote and comment. Love you guys <333

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Bernie pulled away in a flash and I couldn't focus right. What the hell is up with women these days. Her face turned a bright red and I noticed she was suddenly in a uniform. The scene around us changed to a desert-like landscape with a large flat building behind Bernie. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath.

"Oh, god. What have I done?" she said. She took a deep breath and looked at me, her hazel eyes turning a fiery yellow-green." I understand you're the new recruit?" she asked. I nodded. She stared at me in silence and crossed her arms impatiently." Well, are you just going to stand there like a deer in headlights, or are you going to give me a name?" she pressed. I hesitated.

"Uhm... Cody Hendricks," I muttered, fidgeting. She sighed.

"Well, not the best name, is it? Oh, and some advice. You're in the army now, so you might want to work on that fidgeting problem." She spun on her heel and walked towards the building, assuming I should follow her. She was stiff as she walked as though one improper move and she might shatter. There was a burst of hot air as we entered the building. Great. As if it wasn't hot enough outside. Bernie stripped her jacket and gave it to a darker man with bright grey eyes.

"Thank you, private," she said.

"It's my pleasure lieutenant," he replied quickly. Oh I see. You have a huge problem with saying thank you to me, but don't even hesitate with him... Wait, was I jealous?

Bernie's hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and she was wearing a white tank top on underneath the heavy jacket she had been wearing, silver dog tags hanging loosely off her neck. She spun on her heel to face me and a strand of hair escaped her ponytail and fell into her eyes, her hands propped behind her back and her head up.

"Mr. Hendricks, I will be your advisor and tutor on how we live here in the army. The name is Bernice Wilson, you may call me lieutenant. You will do anything I tell you to. If I tell you to jump, you ask how high. If I ask you a question, you will reply with yes, no, negative, affirmative, 'sir', got it? I am no less of a man than you are. I may be younger than you but here in hell," she said, leaning in and looking me straight in the eye," Age. Doesn't. Matter." She smiled and leaned back, displaying the room with her hands. 

"This is the mess hall. You will be eating here. What we serve, you eat." She walked to the next room. It was swarming with people and they all stiffened as we walked in, standing straight and saluting.

"At ease gentleman," she yelled amount the crowd and people continued what they were doing.

"Wow," I whispered.

"Amazing what a woman can do, isn't it Mr. Hendricks?" she said, smiling. 

"This is the mail room. You will retrieve letters and packages from family members here."

"Pardon me, sir?" I said. She turned. 

"Has anyone ever told you you're a little harsh on the newcomers?" She laughed.

"Be grateful. If you had gotten a male drill sergeant, you would be soaked in spit right now." I chuckled and she smiled. A man came rushing up to her and saluted." What is it?" she demanded. The man spoke clearly, carefully enunciating each word, but somehow he still managed only her to here it. She nodded.

"I'll go right away. You show the fresh meat around," she ordered.

"Yes, sir," the man said as she sped off past me.

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I quickly made my way to the war room and burst through the doors.

"You called?" I said. Major Braille looked at me, relief washing over her.

"Bernice, thank god," she sighed. I slid my hands across the table as I made my way to her.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"The General couldn't make it and I'm scared as hell," she said quickly. I froze.

"Why couldn't the General come?" I demanded. She hesitated.

"I-I don't know. All I know is that if we don't do something, we won't be alive to figure out," she said, her voice shaking. Her face was paler than ever." Bernice, there's been an attack." I ran to her side, looking at the map her hands pinned down.

"Show me," I ordered. She explained every last detail down to the speed and time of the attack.

"... It's been a cascading line of attacks. If we don't do something, this base won't be here much longer."

"Okay, did anyone survive the attacks?" I asked.

"Just one," she said." He's been resting due to traumatic..."

"I need to speak with him. Now."

"Wilson, think this through..." She started.

"If you wanna see your kids again past this week, I suggest you bring me to him," I demanded. She looked at me with faded, worn blue eyes and sighed, her short black hair swaying back and forth as she shook her head.

"Fine," she spat. She stood up and led me through the building until we reached a thick white door with a fenced window." Go ahead. I just don't think it's a good idea." I looked her in the eye.

"Justice, I've known you since the day I was born. And all of those days I made my own decisions," I said.

"Well," she said, concern in her eyes," maybe you should change that." I smiled and turned the handle on the door, making a soft clicking noise. I stepped inside and shut the door behind me. There was a man facing the wall, asleep I assumed. I walked up to the bedside and shook him slightly. He began to stir.

"Wake up, soldier. We need to talk," I said. He turned and looked at me. Half of his face was completely bandaged and he had glasses on with one lens painted black. His light brown hair was cut in half by a large cut and crusted with dried blood.

"Lieutenant...." he mumbled. I smiled through tears. His familiar brown eyes seemed to be lost in space.

"I have a few questions for you Ryder." His breathing was shallow but he turned on his back and looked up at me. He nodded.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." I felt Ryder tense and I froze. A man walked out of the next room displaying a pistol in his hand. I felt like ice all over. I defensively grabbed Ryder's hand and the man scowled. 

"Such a shame no one will ever find out about the attack coming," he slurred." I have a witness and a whore. All I need to take care of is the bitch."

"Walter, I'm sure we can work this out," I said." You're drunk-"

"Always have been, always will be," he chuckled. The ring on my finger burned. He stumbled his way over to the bed and I stood and whipped a pistol out of my belt, holding it at ready. He smiled." My own slut is turning on me," he said.

"Maybe, this slut was never with you in the first place," I said. He sighed.

"Oh well." He darted foreword and I fired and he ducked as it just passed over his head. He grabbed my arm and pulled it down, my elbow high in the air, and my other pinned underneath his arm." Just so nobody gets anything outta you," he said, looking to Ryder and pointing the gun at him. I screamed as the shot rang clear, Ryder's lifeless body lying there, blood seeping into the white sheets and splattering the walls. Walter laughed and I kicked and screamed in his grasp. He wrapped a hand around my throat and my scream was cut off harshly. He laughed louder and the smell of alcohol choked my breathing.

"Man, I can't wait for you to be my bitch," he said, nibbling on my ear. Then all went black...