Running from Family

Chapter 4: Lessons

"And that concludes our tour!"

The group of four had arrived back in the lounge. It was mostly empty, but that was to be expected. After all, they had just come back from dinner in the mess hall.

"I should head back to my dorm." Sam muttered, hugging Kari and walking off. Maya excused herself as well, and Lucy and Kari decided to head back to their dorm.

"So, are you ready for classes tomorrow morning?" Lucy asked Kari.

"Is it bad to say I'm not?" Kari retorted, and the two shared a laugh. "But in all seriousness, what are the classes like? I'm really nervous."

"Well, they're not that bad. The teachers have sticks up their butts, and they're always praising Red Leader, but the other kids are cool. Well, most of them are anyway."

"Wow. What kinda classes do we have?"

"History of Conquest, Fitness, Usage of Weaponry, Strategy, Weapon Making, and some actual normal classes like Maths and English."

"Wow..."

"Yeah, they want to make us into obedient soldiers, so I guess this is their way of doing it."

"Do... you know what happens to kids under the age of 12?"

"Hmm? Oh, sure! They get taught normally, just in a way that will make them respect Red Leader. I grew up here, and I spent a lot of my time thinking he was God when I was younger."

"Wait, really? But, how?"

"The first one, obviously. The current one was only 9 when I was born."

"Oh, heh, I should've realised that. Mistake on my part."

They had reached the dorm by now. The two girls turned away from each other and began to change into their pyjamas.

"Night Kari!" Lucy said, getting into bed.

"Night..." came the sleepy response. Kari was already drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

Kari woke up the next morning to a screeching alarm right in her ear. She grumbled, and looked over Lucy, who was slowly getting out of bed. "You can have the bathroom first." She muttered, and Kari walked in.

After taking a shower and brushing her teeth and hair, Kari stepped out of the bathroom, uniform already on. Lucy gave her a bleary smile, then rushed in. She clearly needed to pee.

After Lucy was done, the two headed towards the mess hall. They met up with Sam and Maya, and ate breakfast together.

"Hey Sam," Kari asked conversationally, "What's your roommate like?"

"He's alright. I think he joined last year after that chemical spill on Dirdum Lane. He got recommended by one of Red Leader's generals, so I think he's pretty good. His name's AK by the way." Sam replied. Kari smiled at him through a mouthful of cereal oats.

After breakfast, the same screeching alarm from earlier sounded again. It must be some kind of school bell to signify times. Lucy got up from her seat. "Follow me." She said. "Roommates always have classes together, and I have Usage of Weaponry first." Kari followed her down a maze of corridors, until they got to what appeared to be a P.E department.

There was a line of students outside the class, and the two girls joined it at the back. Maya was a few people in front of them, and she gave them a little wave, yet she turned back and snapped to attention as soon as the teacher arrived.

Kari blinked. This was what, in her head, a proper soldier looked like, not the lanky teenagers in the line she had joined.

"Alright you useless maggots!" Her teacher cried out, making the whole class give him their attention. "Today, you will be learning how to shoot a gun. It's not that hard, so even you pea-brains should be able to understand."

Some people shifted in their spot, seemingly uncomfortable with the prospect of shooting a gun. Kari however, was not worried. She had learned how to shoot a gun when she was little. In fact, she had been taught by her grandfather, who thought it would be a good idea to teach her how to use the old war gun she had been given.

The cadets were placed into lines. Kari stood behind this one girl who kept "discreetly" looking back at her. After the fourth or fifth time, she decided to speak up.

"Is there a problem?" Kari asked.

"Uh, obviously." The girl replied. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?"

"You could say that."

"Ugh, whatever. Just stay out of my way, alright freshmeat?"

Kari smirked. She thought she could control her, did she? Kari had Larkson blood running through her veins, which meant she was stubborn and a natural flawless shot.

"Alright newbie, you're next!"

Kari stepped in front of the target and aimed. BANG! The shot hit the target. A perfect bullseye.

A few of the cadets were staring at her in awe, and even the girl from earlier seemed a little impressed. The soldier teaching the class looked at Kari. "Congratulations." He said. "Not many people get a bullseye on their first try."

And as the class left the room, Kari could have sworn she heard him mutter under his breath. "No wonder Red Leader wanted us to keep an eye on you..."

Meanwhile...

Tord was... frustrated, to say the least. His grandfather was not answering any of his questions about his father's childhood, saying that he couldn't be trusted with that information. Now, that was just cruel. Tord could be trustworthy... sometimes.

Regardless, it seemed that he would have to give his grandfather physical proof. The old war gun should do it, so long as Tord got it back immediately after.

He picked it up from its pedestal in his private quarters. Tord liked to keep it on display for visitors to see. He headed into the room - not a cell of course, he had some decency - that his grandfather was being kept in, and dropped the gun at his feet.

Arthur froze. "H-how did you get that?" He asked. "I g-gave that to my son."

"Who gave it to me." Tord replied, taking a seat. "I feel as if I owe you an explanation. I apologise, that was rude of me."

"Where are the kids?"

"In training. The reports I've been getting back are rather impressive, but I suppose that's another thing we have in common."

"Get to the point, Red."

"My name is Tord."

If Arthur hadn't been terrified before, he definitely was now. "That was my father's name..." he whispered.

"Names pass down." Tord replied. "So do looks, although I've been told I look more like my mother. But I suppose some Larkson genes are there as well."

"Don't you agree, grandfather?"

And that is Chapter 4! I'm evil for leaving you on that cliffhanger, I know~

-Star