Assignment E

Chapter 6

Kylie

I'm still stuck in the ridiculous infirmary. I still have three days left and then I should be able to begin practicing again. I'll still be handcuffed to the pole though. I know I should have listened to Kai in the first place but every time I'm angry it's my stress reliever, practice. I didn't expect him to handcuff me to the pole though. A lecture, maybe but handcuffs? At least Finn comes by everyday, keeps me from going insane. Plus I still have to go to school but still.

"Should I have changed my name?" Finn asked quietly.

"Don't you have too?" I replied.

"Well, no. Kai said since it's my first time I don't have to. I'm not for sure if that's a good idea or not at the moment." He had chose to keep it but I wasn't for sure if that was a safe choice or not. I decided I would ask Kai later, maybe it wouldn't be too much of a risk. "You have to go through rehab?"

"No, since it was only cuts."

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked

"As good as I can be, for now." I scooted over on the stupid cot and patted the spot beside me. Finn got up and sat right by me on the cot and turned to lay down. I leaned up and layed my head on his chest as his arm slowly enveloped me. He kissed me lightly on the head.

"We'll all be okay soon," he whispered.

Finn

The only time Kylie has been unlocked from the infirmary pole this month is to go to school and I have to keep a close watch on her the whole day. Just make sure she doesn't try to practice anyways. She shoots death glares at me every time I'm close by. She hates the idea of being watched closely. Apparently it makes her feel weak even though I know she's not. Especially after the mission that she was capable of surviving.

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At the moment I just slept in one of the rooms they had by the healing ward. When I was asleep that night I had a nightmare, about the whole situation in Iraq. When I had awoken from the darkness I was greeted with the bitter faces of my enemies. They cut me across the cheek with a knife. That's why I have that scar there. They sliced me across my abdomen, along my back, down my legs, across my arms. I screamed the whole time. It was the worst kind of pain ever. When I looked down all I could see was blood, my blood, and lots of it. There was enough blood loss that I ended up passing out. When I awoke I was in an aircraft. Andrew was beside me, he said they were sending me to a hospital, what I had been through, how much blood in all that I lost, about Senapi, how the family was doing, everything. After I had been in the hospital for a week I was told that I had severe PTSD, also known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Simple sounds like a car engine, rain splattering on a rooftop, someone yelling, they all set me off. Even today and I don't want Kai or Kylie to know that. I know I'll have to tell them soon though. That's why Andrew checks up on me often since he is the only one who knows. He said when I have a flashback he can tell automatically. He claims that my pupils dilate and I get that look in my eye, this look that tells him it's not me anymore. When I was first released from the hospital is when it was at its worst. Andrew and I had gone to the local market to get some food. That's when one of the flashback started. I began yelling at everyone to get down, stay quiet. I don't remember that part. The only thing I remember is the end of the flashback and me crumpling to the ground with ragged breaths. The flashbacks aren't as constant as they used to be and for that I am grateful.

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After school we had football practice like normal. We didn't have any surprise challenges today though. All we had were some running drills and going through plays. After football practice though I had training at the base.Training today was normal, learn how to use a new weapon, fight 'enemies', learn my way around the base better, and finally go for a run to cool off. Kylie would soon be able to start training again tomorrow after she gets her stitches taken out.