Adaptation and Evolution (Book Two of the EDSOR Military Academy Trilogy)

Chapter 27- Standstill

I woke up and found myself lying on a hospital bed. The ceiling was streaked with fluffy white clouds and friendly faces of angels looking down on me. I was in the ICA Infirmary.

“Finally, you’ve woken up”, I heard a familiar voice say as I rubbed my eyes.

“Tara! Oh my gosh! I’m so glad you’re here!”, I squealed as I hugged her. Her nails dug into my skin. “I missed you so much, Jamie. We all did. What…what happened to your squad?”

“They perished”, I sighed. “The rebels killed each and every one of them. I am glad that I am alive. Skye had to pay the price too”

“So much fighting and killing…is this what men truly live for?”, Tara thought aloud. I realized that her face had gotten more prominent. Her cheekbones were firmer and were decorated with a lot of dried scars. Some training they must have in the Poveda Camp.

“Quoted from Sir Jeremiah, I suppose?”. She nodded and smiled.

“So, what did I miss?”, a low voice asked from behind Tara. Instinctively, Tara pulled out a kunai out of her sleeve and pointed it towards the intruder. I guess Povedan ninjas are taught speed and stealth at a very early age.

“Relax, Tara. It’s only me”, Marco chuckled as he lowered the kunai. Tara raised her brow. “Oh come on. What’s your business here?”, she asked as she put her hands on her hips.

“It’s alright, Tara. He saved my life. Technically”, I grinned as his eyes gleamed.

“Would you mind giving us some time?”, he asked.

Tara glared at him. “If you touch her, I’ll make sure your face won’t go untouched. You’re not her boyfriend, aren’t you?”

Marco stiffened. “No, we’re just friends…”, he said, slightly irritated, as she exited the clinic.

I groaned as the sides of my head started to throb. “Are you okay?”, he asked, concerned, kneeling down beside me.

I tried to nod but doing so required a lot of effort. “Why…why did you go through all of the trouble to insert the microcamera?”

“You don’t get it, do you?”, he asked, exasperated.

I clenched my fists into balls. “Look, I never understood anything from the time I was accepted here. I thought I could blend in; be the person I’ve always dreamed of becoming. Now look at me. I failed an important mission and am now stuck in a camp where I don’t even belong”

“Who says you don’t belong there?”, he challenged.

“Many people do. It’s none of your business. Marco, please leave now”

“I can’t do that unless you reassure me you’re okay”

I bite my lip. “Let me rest, okay? I’m trying to pull myself together”

He stood up and stares at my soulless eyes. “You’re right. Promise me you’ll be fine”. He reaches out his hand for me to hold. I do so and smile.

“Go back to Math training”, I whispered as darkness enveloped me.

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“Jamie. Jamie Stark!”, a voice echoed throughout the room. My eyes felt heavy as I opened them. I was staring into the face of Trevor, the Head of the La Salle Camp. His brows were furrowed. He looked angry.

“What happened to Skye Dawson?”, he asked as I heard the beep of a machine nearby. I looked down, horrified, because my arms and legs were attached to little tubes connected to one big machine. My heart rate was being checked.