Comrades in Action Book 5: Cece Klein

Chapter Two

Dodging, kicking and throwing a good punch were the things that she was made to learn for five months she was with them. Using guns and knives was what followed. The first five months were so hard she thought she wouldn't survive.

They trained them like how they trained their grown men. Sometimes it goes for five to six hours a day but when the leader, Kareem, is on a bad mood, the training will go on twelve to fifteen hours a day with no food, only water. They sleep with empty stomach because when Kareem is angry and pissed, everyone must suffer especially them. And when she thinks she couldn't go on, Chase is always there to watch over her. He gives her half of his loaf bread when he thinks she's too weak to go on. He do her chores when he knows she doesn't have the muscles yet to finish them and specially, he fights for her when other kids picks up on her.

He got her back. Always.

She couldn't count how many times she'd been sick. And God knows how scared she is with getting sick than training for fifteen hours. Because in the camp, a kid getting sick for more than a week has no use to them. They will be treated as someone worthless. A baggage that the group is not willing to take. And so those kids die. Not because of the sickness but because of a bullet inside their head.

She wakes up everyday knowing that anything bad can happen to her if she's not careful. She ate and drink what they give to her. She followed every rule and never complained. She took everything that they taught her and took extra time in learning more. She did all these to keep her promise to her mother— to survive. But most of all, for Chase. She wants to protect him too the way he's been protecting her all these years.

And now, for five years in this god forsaken place, she'd learn to adapt and endure. Her hair was cut short in an ugly style. Chase made her wore baggy pants and shirts to hide her growing womanly features. He made her use his old bullcap and instructed her to always keep her head down especially when the men are around. He also made her carry a small knife tucked safely in her socks for protection. He said she'd be safer that way.

"Did you do everything I told you to?"

She smiled at the boy in front of her. After five years in the camp, he had grown taller and more muscular than the first time she met him. He's older than her by two years and she must say, puberty did hit him really hard. Now at seventeen, Chase is taller and bigger than most boys his age.

"I did. You know I'll always do what you tell me, Chase."

"It's because it's what's best for us."

"I know. You said we'll survive if we follow your rules and look at us. For five years, here we are— stronger."

"We're not strong yet, Cece." Chase looked up at the blue sky. Seriousness marring his tanned face. "When we get out of here, that's the time we know we're strong. Because we are strong enough to get out of this hell hole. And I promise we will."

"Don't just chat there and start fucking working, you piece of shits!" An angry voice roared not far away from them.

A man whom she recognized as the third in command of Kareem walked towards them. He instantly held the collar of her shirt and pulled her near him.

"Have you finished what I told you to do, kid?" He growled.

"Y-yes sir."

The man tipped his head sidewards. He started looking at her face. Really look at her face. A chill run down her spine when she saw him leered. She paled when he started looking down at the gap on her collar, trying to take a peak at her breasts.

"You are one pretty girl, aren't you?" He grinned maniacally.

She looked at Chase. His face hardened and his hands formed into fists. He looked like he was going to attack the bastard when her eyes held him in place. She looked back at the man in front of her.