Steel Ethereal

Ch. 14 Rob and Charlie

Rob

            

When I came to, it was dark. My whole body ached and felt as if it were buzzing. I groaned and looked around.

I was alone, but a distance away I could hear chattering.

It was the training yard and I lay in a uniform still coated in blood. As I moved I heard cracking as the dried blood that had crusted on my body was disrupted.

I tried raising myself on my hands and knees, but a rush of dizziness pushed me back down. The darkened sky began to swim before me.

Before I blacked out, I remember hearing the voice of the arm weld officer roaring that I was not to be touched.

Bastard, that asshole Gutierrez almost kills me and I'm the bad one.

Whatever the case, it was over and done with, and I needed to return home.

But the thing was, I could barely move. I was surely being watched if the arm weld officer said I was untouchable. So I still would need to sneak away.

Perhaps I could crawl...

No, that was too noisy. I'd be found quickly.

I hissed a curse and lay. I tapped my fingers in the dirt as I thought of something. The sting of my wounds had dulled. I wondered if they had closed or were festering. I know there was a bad cut on my shoulder and a cut on my leg that hindered my movements.

I looked around the surroundings. There were two chain link fences bordering the training yard and a wooden one opposite to the entrance. Looking to my side I could make out the entrance. Each side had two brick pillars that extended a foot above a metal wall. The lighting was dim, but I was sure with my wounded state I'd still be spotted.

I looked to the wooden fence. Perhaps there was a gap or something I had not noticed before. I was constantly busy during training, so my mind never wandered like Charlie's had.

Poor Charlie.

We had grown pretty close. I'd say she was my best friend at this point. I'd hate to think I worried her.

I slowly crawled and heard roaring laughter behind me.

I freeze up and push my head to the dirt as if to make myself look knocked out still. I assume I looked foolish.

The officers assigned to guard me were laughing at their own joke. But no steps crunching the dirt beneath them came. I was probably thought to be almost dead and left until morning to see if I'd survive or not. They didn't even pay proper attention to me.

When I pulled my head up from the dirt I feel two or three pebbles fall from my forehead and cheek.

I move slower, keeping my movements as unnoticeable as possible. I passed the equipment I had not the energy to use.

Eventually I reached the fence and looked from left to right. With a groan, I realized that I can't make out the rest of the fence on either side in such horrible lighting.

I roll my eyes. And crawl in one direction.

Lady luck blessed me and showed me a hole in the fence I could crawl through.

My arms screamed and I grew more and more tired from exerting myself. I had lost a lot of blood and shivered with my movements.

I contemplated messaging Luciana for help, but decided against it. She would have thought I had gotten into trouble and wouldn't have helped me. If the officers gave their word on what my punishment would be, who would she be to intervene?