Alone 2

Chapter 3: Cade

Cade's P.O.V

I watch Aria drop her phone.

"What's wrong?" I look over at Aria, speechless, but she quickly picks up the phone and holds it to her ear.

"It's Chandler..." Allyson responds.

•••

4 years ago

•••

I stay in bed today. The air is foggy and damp. It makes me feel bad. Gloomy.

My mom rushes into my room and turns the lights on.

"Cade, get up! It's already seven-thirty-one!" My mom yells at me.

"It's too early!" I gripe back and hide under the covers of my comfy bed.

"I know you're gonna hate this, but I signed you up for military training..." I jump out of bed.

"You did what?!!" I yell at her. "Why?" Is all I say.

She's speechless and tears are dripping from her eyes.

"I.... I'm sorry." Is all she says. I pace around the room, mad and frustrated, but worried.

I agreed to go, but only for myself.

I get there after a long car ride. My head is throbbing and my stomach twisting. I don't know what to expect.

My mom starts getting out of the car, but I stop her and tell her to leave. She does as I say and leaves quickly.

I make my way to the front gate, where the camp begins. I let out a sigh as I see one of the generals approaching me.

"Who are you?" He asks me. I stand up straight, put my hands by my side and push out my chest.

"I'm Cade Logging." He nods and let's me in.

Everywhere I look there are dirty and sweaty faces.

"Where'd you learn that Logging?" He says as we keep walking.

"My dad was in the Navy." I reply with a confident voice. He nods again. I look around again. Someone is coughing their guts out as a man dressed in all camouflage is leaning over him, yelling.

I just close my eyes and don't think about the horrible things that are going to happen to me and mess with my head. I have a feeling it'll be worth it all in the end.

"Here's your crew. This is Drew Nasdan." Nasdan salutes to me and the Soldier. I just nod back with my hands behind my back. Pain is filled in his eyes, almost like he's going to cry.

"Here's Jimmy Manser." Manser is standing straight with no expression at all while staring blankly at the wall in front of him.

"Here's Jasper Cansm." Cansm is smiling like an idiot, and the soldier introducing me slaps him in the head. Cansm flinches and stands straight again.

"And finally the crew captain, Lance Foreman." Foreman has the most muscle and doesn't look like he's gonna burst into tears at any given second.

"Everyone, this is Cade Logging."

They all Salute again and wait until the Sergeant leaves to put their hands down. I look over to Nasdan, his face is in his hands.

I've always been a selfless kind of guy, so I kindly walk over to him and pat him on the back.

"Don't cry man, you'll make it. You all will." They all nod to me and no one says a word as they get ready for 'slumber'.

I rub my eyes as the trumpets go off from the outdoor megaphone everywhere.

"Get up!" A voice comes after the instruments. "Get ready for a day of training!"

I go back to my cabin and get dressed.

We train all day and all night for the next few days. Until tragedy struck. It's all just a blur from there.

•••

Now

•••

I remember when I found the house Allyson and Firess and Rainy and everyone was in. They were in the basement. Hiding. When I saw Firess she was so scared. Like a scared little girl, but when we got up the stairs, she turned into a fearless, sassy, woman.

I look over to Aria, who is still on the iPhone with her old whatever. Allyson has finally fallen asleep. I don't know what happens now.

Time is at a stand still. But life will keep going, until it's time for the end.