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The sounds of my shoes slamming against the grass echo in my ears as I run through the forest, escaping the chains that held me captive and tortured me for the last year. I stop for a second to catch my breath, leaning against a tree to keep my balance. Looking up, I can see the light shining through the trees, making me feel a sort of peace I haven’t felt in a while.
Hearing dogs barking in the distance mixed with men shouting my name, I start running again. I need to reach the end of this forest, at least before I get caught–just so that I can feel hope once more before I die.
Seeing the forest’s edge, I start laughing, knowing that I might actually be able to leave this asylum.
I keep running and running until I find a house. It’s a yellow house with brown roof tiles. It has two stories with an empty dog house in the front. Clothes are hung to dry in the back in rows of string tied to wooden posts. While shaking, I decide to steal a pair of men's clothing to hide myself from the men hunting me down.
After I change, I throw my old clothes into the trash bin outside and begin my journey towards town.
–
As uneven and dusty roads gave way to fresh paved ones, I realized I was starving, but I didn't even notice the blisters forming on my feet from running in unfit shoes–not with the amount of adrenaline surging throughout my body from my actions. I knew I needed somewhere to rest and get food, but I didn’t have any money. So I did what any starving boy would do and pickpocketed rich-looking people's pockets. After I had accumulated enough money for a room and lunch, I began my way towards an Inn.
After I paid my dues for the night and acquired my room keys, I asked the man at the counter if he had an idea of where I could eat.
“Why, yes, young man, there is a diner to the right of here. They serve terribly delicious Pound Cake!” the man had said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Perhaps he noticed how caked with dirt my face and hands were from my trek in the woods.
Nodding my head, I turned around and left the Inn, searching for the diner the man had mentioned.
The diner was small. It was more of a corner store than a respectable restaurant, although it did have a considerable number of seats and tables on the inside. I went inside, ordered a piece of Pound Cake, as the man had suggested, and found a seat by a window, peering outside at the people bustling about.
I spent a considerable amount of time in the shop, trying to figure out if I was hallucinating again or if it was all real. If I really had escaped from that hell. Then I heard a crowd of ladies sitting beside me gossiping loudly, as if I already didn’t have enough on my mind.
“Did you hear?” one of the women proclaimed with pursed lips, “those soldiers from Camp Holton are setting up a booth again for enlisting boys. I know I won’t let my Jack enlist, I would be far too lonely if and when he’s gone.”
Soldiers? Enlist? This could be my ticket out of here!
“Oh, shush it, Rose. I know you would be taking comfort in that boy–”
“Excuse me, ladies, you wouldn't happen to know where exactly this booth is?” I exclaim while getting out of my seat, standing in front of their table.
“Oh, aren’t you handsome! It’s placed just two streets over, in front of the alleyway!”
I grab her hand and place a kiss upon it, “Thank you, miss, you’ve been very helpful.” I turn away, leaving the shop while the ladies squeal from a mixture of revulsion and excitement at what just happened.
I reach the booth where the two men ask me for standard information. Such as my civilian background, marital status, birthplace, date of birth, and my name. I tried answering as truthfully as I could without letting it slip that I was an escaped patient, though I did have trouble with the name.
“Your name, Sir?”
“What?”
“What is your name? I need all the information I can get before sending you to the doctor.”
“Ah, yes, uhm. My name is… uh. My name is Nox. Nox Libris.”
“Alright, Nox Libris, now you just need to visit the doctor so we can see if you are in tip-top shape. Then you can take the bus tomorrow morning to Camp Holton, where you will be assigned a platoon and start general training. Thank you for enlisting to protect our country.”
“No, thank you, for giving me this opportunity.” I laugh awkwardly while leaving to check in with the doctor.
Now I just have to wait for my results, and then tomorrow, I can start a new life.
–
My name is Chase Hollow, the year is 1940, and I am currently stationed in Holton Camp for training. I enlisted two days ago when I heard talk of America engaging in the ongoing war, wanting to protect my family from it.
From where I am standing at the shooting range, I can see Captain Libris inspecting our training regimes; when suddenly he locks eyes with me. I can feel a surge of panic in my body, wondering whether or not he could see through my cocky facade. If he knows that I cannot aim a gun to save my life.
Suddenly, he began walking towards me, eyes furious as he held my gaze. I wanted to run, to do anything, but I was frozen in place. Then he was in front of me, grasping my wrist and pulling me towards one of the empty buildings.
Once inside, he shuts the door behind him and locks it, turning towards me.
“What is your name?”
“My name is Chase Hollow, Captain–”
“How can you not aim properly, you idiot. This is all that you are here to do, and all that you will be important for. ”
“I’m sorry, sir, but why couldn’t you just yell at me outside? Why bring me in here?”
Captain Libris starts taking off his hat whilst saying, “We are here because I am offering my services to you, little idiot. I cannot stand by and watch as you almost take someone out with that god awful aim of yours.”
“Thanks, buddy! You know, if you just wanted to be my friend, you could have just said so.” Chase smirks at the exchange, finding it amusing.
Nox chuckled under his breath, lips barely holding a smile. “‘Buddy’ is neither my name nor my rank. Either use Captain or Libris. Show some respect for your superiors,” Nox had spat out, still holding out his hand for Chase to take.
Feeling a surge of confidence, he took Nox’s hand and pressed a kiss to it, looking him in his eyes. “Will do, Captain Buddy.”
Yanking his hand away from Chase's grip, Nox clears his throat, looking away. “I thought I could help you be able to handle a gun correctly so you don’t take anybody who you’re not supposed to out.” Nox pauses for a moment, thinking of what to say next, “We will meet twice a week at the shooting range, after the bed checks at midnight.” He fixes his hat back on his head, turning around to unlock the door and step out. He turns his head and looks at the man behind him to say, “We meet tonight. You know where, little idiot.” Then Nox leaves the building, closing the door behind him.
“That was so stupid crazy hot.”
–
After a few sessions of target practice, Chase finally hits his target with a little bit of help from Nox.
"Okay, Buddy, so how exactly should I be standing again? I can't seem to get it right." Chase turns back to look at Nox, a pleading look in his eyes. "After a few weeks of us doing this, you would think you would have gotten it by now, little idiot. But yes, fine, I'll humor you."
"Hey, that's not fair! It's not my fault that I'm nervous–” He cuts himself off at the sensation of warm arms taking hold of his own, bringing them up to aim at the target in front of him. He can’t help but shiver in delight when he feels Nox’s front against his back, warm breath tickling his ear.
“You were saying, Chase?”
“W-what? Oh! N-nothing, I said nothing! Just so excited to shoot guns! Yaayy”
“Good. Now what you need to do here is have your right foot here like so,” Nox nudges Chase’s foot with his own, manhandling him like Chase was his own personal putty. And in a way, he was.
“You want to make sure that you are aiming correctly. Close one eye to make it easier, Chase. Then once you’re ready, shoot.”
“Ha. You say it like it's easy, Buddy.” He rolls his eyes in fake annoyance, not wanting to make it obvious that he was enjoying their closeness.
Nox laughs softly in Chase’s ear, “It is, maybe you just suck.”
Needing to prove Nox wrong, Chase shoots three quick shots–two missing but one hitting just along the edge of the practice dummy. Chase gapes at his success, then quickly throws the gun on the ground to turn around to hug Nox, throwing his arms around the boy's neck.
“I hit it! I hit it! I hit it! Buddy, did you see that! I actually hit it! Thank you!”
Nox stood there frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do with the unexpected affection. Eventually, Nox gave in, quickly hugging Chase back–his arms locking around his waist and smiling into his hair.
“I knew you could do it, Chase. I had absolutely no doubts.”
Pulling back a little to look Nox in the eyes, Chase snorted. “Yeah, right, you had so many doubts.” Chase brought his hands up from Nox’s shoulders to the sides of his neck, then cupped his face, bringing him closer.
Nox couldn’t help but close his eyes and lean into his touch, wanting more. They stood there in silence, hoping not to bring the moment to an abrupt end.
Chase licks his lips, and Nox follows the motion, hoping to signal what he wanted from him. Chase takes the hint, and with lidded eyes, he brings their faces closer. Their noses brush against each other, mouths open wide in anticipation.
Nox closes the distance between them. Their lips locked in an intricate dance that they had yet to know the steps to.
Unfortunately, they still needed to breathe–separating to catch their breath, but not straying too far. Foreheads knocked against each other, both smiling widely from their shared moment.
–
Two years later, Chase is found in Nox’s room, pacing back and forth. Feeling the need to speak with him about what he had done.
He squeaks as the door in front of him opens—showing Nox, the love of his life. Although now, he’s not so sure if it even is Nox in front of him, not recognizing the man he spent the last two years with.
“Buddy—“
“No, not right now. I don’t want to hear it.”
“But My Love—“
“I did what had to be done. I did it for us, for our survival in these times.”
“What are you talking about, Nox? I wanted to talk about how you sent those men to their deaths. Not caring about how they were people, treating them like they were toys you can break!” His voice rose with his anger.
“You don’t understand—“
“No, you don’t understand, Nox!” he started to thrash his arms around, unable to contain his feelings. “What do you mean you did it for us? Tell me what you meant by that.”
But Chase knew deep down what he meant by that. He just didn’t want to believe that Nox, his one support in this new life, would commit such treasonous actions.
“You’re breaking my heart, Chase. You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” Nox stepped forward, reaching out to cup Chase’s face. But he stepped back before he could, not wanting his touch.
“You already have. Why are you siding with the enemy instead of your country—instead with me!” Hot, heavy tears started flowing down his face, making him look pathetic.
“Sweetheart—“
“Don’t call me that! You lost that privilege when you lost your mind.” Chase was now rushing past Nox, racing for the door.
Nox tried reaching for him, but Chase was out of his grasp, already out the door. He started rushing towards him, running out the door, when suddenly his arms were grabbed and he was forced to his knees.
“Let me go! I am your superior! urgh! Chase, what’s going on! Tell them to let me go!” Nox struggled against the men holding him down, desperately trying to break free.
Suddenly, he hears a click and feels the cold, metallic feel of a gun pressed against his forehead.
He looks up, searching for mercy in Chase’s eyes. He finds none.
“Chase, I’m so sorry. Please, let me go.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“Cha–“
His sentence was cut off with a bang, flinging his head back, and then it lay limp on her shoulders. Blood flowed onto the floor beneath him.
“I’m sorry that I loved you,” Chase had whispered, hoping his subordinates hadn’t heard him. He throws the gun away from himself, then calmly leaves the hallway. Leaves that part of his life behind.