The Hunt

Chapter 54: Naya

This is the first time I've been outside of the hospital. Even though it's the same stark white, the same blinding fluorescent lights, it's different. I'm gazing out the window, watching soldiers trot around in a parking lot. It's cold and gray out. The vehicles are like giant metal monsters, each one equipped with a shell of aluminum muscles of their own.

"Hanna, it's good to see you again," a man walks into the room.

It must be Garik, I have yet to see a uniform quite like this. His face looks taut and concerned, and his bushy eyebrows furrow when he sees my face.

"My god, look at that scar," Garik sits down while he examines my face, "The doctors told me, I was very sorry to hear that. I guess you've learned your lesson about breaking out into the forest."

I can't tell if he's joking or not, so I look away.

"Also, I'm very sorry to hear about Mr. Anderson. I know you were never fond of him, but it must've been hard to see such an untimely death right before your eyes."

"It was very shocking, I'm not even sure what happened really," I respond. I'm new at faking empathy.

"Well I'm glad that new fellow got ahold of me. Even though he doesn't know a lot about you and your situation, I hope the two of you are getting along fine."

"Very fine," a smile flickers at the side of my lips. The new man is clueless, he'd do anything I say. He hasn't come to the same.....conclusions as Mr. Anderson did. Hopefully, for his sake, he never does.

"So what was it you wanted to meet with me about?"

I make eye contact with him, "I'm ready to go back to work."

"What?" Garik is stunned, "Already?"

"Before you say anything, just hear me out," I start, "I know what I did was wrong, I never should have helped Javaar break out of the hospital. But while in the forest, and in my time in the hospital, I've done a lot of thinking. I've experienced all the horrors of the forest, you know that better than anyone," I gesture to my scar, "But with my firsthand knowledge of the other side of the wall, I think I can help the Criminal Management branch get back to functional."

"Now let's not jump into anything Hanna, you've been through a lot of emotional stress lately, more than any child I know."

"One, I'm not a child," I stare intensely. I think about how he's the one I want to kill, how easy it would be to snap his neck right now. I could feel the revenge on my fingertips right now if I wanted. But I can't. "And two, emotional stress or not, you just need to hear me out. I want to tell you about a strategy that I know will work. I want to implement it as soon as I'm captain again."

"Captain? Hanna-"

"Hear me out," I lean forward. I see him thinking. He's looking at me, with a strange look. He might be surprised, if I'm not the Hanna he remembers.

"Fine. I am not guaranteeing anything," he points a stern finger at me.

"I know that," I take a deep breath, thinking about the words I'd practiced in my room, "It's about how the military conducts field missions. I didn't see it until I went out into the forest myself, but it's highly ineffective. I want to change it."

Garik's eyebrows perk.

"We can't be scared of the forest anymore. The only times we go in, we skim along the edges of the wall and never go that deep in. Exiles will not be by the wall, that is open guarded by the military. They will be farther in the forest, by rivers and streams and spots with rich vegetation. I know it's risky to go in further, but we need to set an equal playing field. We need to get comfortable out there."