In the Willows

Chapter Eighteen: Where It Began

Fort Lee, VA, Ten Years Ago. Y/N's POV

You're waiting for your turn in the makeshift tent next to two older men. One of the men next to you doesn't look too old, maybe in his mid-twenties. His skin is pale and has a buzz cut. The other is older, early thirties with a medium fade haircut and darker skin.

"Shit I didn't think that military base would have anyone inside." said the younger man.

"Fucking pussies didn't stand a chance." responded the older man.

The younger man turns to you, "Hey kid, first time?"

You look at the man, nod, then quickly divert your gaze.

"You get used to it."

You lean back and see he has six jagged scars along his back.

"Sit up!" commanded the woman giving the marks.

"Agh. Damn Margaret, easy with the knife." complained the younger man.

"Stop complaining."

You adjust yourself so your legs are against your chest and hunch forward some. Today marked your fifth kill, which equals one mark. You've dreaded this moment since you heard about the process of marking. You bite your lip as the knife slowly pierces into your skin and drags down your left shoulder blade. You keep you mouth shut, last time you screamed they beat you. The pain is excruciating.

The knife is removed from your skin, "Get up, you're done."

You quickly get up and put your dirty Disco Broccoli shirt on and grab your weapon, slinging it over your unharmed shoulder. You rush outside to see one of the leaders talking through a megaphone.

"Let's get a move on people! Alpha team, we are moving into Richmond!" he barks.

You move back to the tent holding the other soldiers and take a seat next to Josiah.

"How was it?"

You don't respond choosing to pick up a rock and examine it.

"Take that as it sucked......"

You nod.

"How's your tattoo?"

You put out your left wrist. The tattoo is finally starting to heal.

"Not so itchy anymore." you murmur.

"That's good, maybe Cerise has some stuff she can put on your back. So it won't get infected."

You blush and shake your head, "No."

"C'mon Y/N, she won't bite."

You shake your head again.

"Fine, I'll go get it." he says standing up and heading outside.

You look around seeing the rest of the soldiers looking at you. Feeling uncomfortable not being around people you know; you get up and race after Josiah. Exiting the tent, you look around and see another familiar face. The man that was captured back in North Carolina. He's a fairly large man, don't know how tall, but the tallest person you've seen ever. He spots you and waives. You don't gesture back to him and run up to Josiah.

"He saw me."

"Who?"

"The guy we captured."

"Oh, he said his name is Kyan."

You look at him wondering how he found that out.

"It's called walking up and talking to him. Maybe you should talk to him? He keeps giving you food."