Far away // Unbroken

7. The Bird

D E J A

I held onto Phil's shoulder as we walked down a long ramp with blindfolds on, a long trail of soldiers and officers behind me and in front of me.

I could just barely see a sliver of what was going on under my blindfolds.

I knew Louie was in front of Phil, and that we were probably all headed to a concentration camp right now.

I notice that ahead they were separating people, in the 1 2 order.

Number one goes over here, number two over there.

Louie went to the right and Phil went to the left, Phil yelled for Zamp before I was the last one pushed over with Louie.

I bumped into him on accident.

"Deja?" he questioned, "Sorry." I mumbled before we were loaded into a truck.

I sat on the edge with Louie pressed against me.

"Is this Tokyo?" Louie asked anyone, "Must be." A boy who introduced himself as Tinker said.

"I was supposed to race here for the Olympics, before they got cancelled." Louie said as his hand found mine.

"I've always wanted to come to Tokyo." Louie spoke quietly.

"Careful what you wish for, fella." Tinker said and I leaned my head on Louie.

I was actually happy to be going to a war camp, after spending those weeks with the Colonel who I thought would kill us all or keep me as a slave for the rest of my years.

--

We arrived quicker than I imagined, and soon soldiers were shouting for us to get off the truck, we took off our blindfolds before Louie jumped, he grabbed my waist and helped me down.

Two large wooden doors opened and we were shoved in their while they yelled aimless commands that most of the Americans didn't know.

We were taken in, I was no longer by Louie's side, I looked around at the wooden buildings before I was put in the third row of soldiers, Louie was only a few people ahead of me.

We all stood how we would at our own base, hands at our sides with our feet together.

The head of the camp walked out of his quarters, carrying what looked like a strong bamboo stick.

"Good evening, old prisoners." He spoke English.

"Welcome, new hands." He said as he kept walking closer to us.

"This is Omori Detention Camp. I am Corporal Watanabe. You are enemies of Japan." He said in the face of one soldier.

"You will be treated accordingly." He said before he looked around, his eyes fell on a certain dark haired boy.

He pushed through the first row before standing directly in front of Louie, I held my breath.

"Look at me. Look me in the eye." Watanabe said with a small, plastered smile.

As Louie did so, Watanabe hit him on the side of the head, Louie nearly fell over from the blow.

We were all still weak from living off of raw fish for forty days and then just rice for a few weeks.

Louie stood up straight and as soon as he did, Watanabe broke Louie's nose, making him fall into the dirt.

I closed my eyes and turned away, knowing if I interfered, I'd get us both killed.