Category: Creative Writing

Between the Witching Hours P. 4

Roudan sat at the top of the bleachers next to Savoi, who tended to his facial wounds.
“I just want to thank you guys for coming after me. I may have gotten in over my head with the Deltas,” he somberly admitted.
“You think? Things might have gone easy for you with the Bravos, but the Deltas are scum that shouldn’t be entertained,” Shevchenko roared from the bottom row.
Yoshida and Farouk sat in the middle row laughing.
“This dame cracks me up,” Yoshida said, then took a serious tone.
“She’s right, though. Sugar turned to shit quickly for you.” He looked up at Roudan. “I hate to imagine what would’ve transpired if we hadn’t busted up your little party.”
“Yep,” Farouk nodded in agreement until Yoshida slapped him on the back of his head.
“What the hell was up with you, Mousey?” Yoshida asked.
“Ouch. What was that for?” Farouk demanded.
Yoshida’s penetrating glare caused him to shrink in his seat.
“I admit I wasn’t prepared for battle, once again,” he said, nearly teary eyed.
Savoi shoved Yoshida’s shoulder and said, “Lay off him Haru. Maaz jumped in with an excellent assist during the rumble.”
Shevchenko looked at Savoi as if she could spit nails in her directions.
“Haru? You’re just going to skip all the formalities and go for nicknames?”
Savoi was taken aback by Shevchenko’s hostile reaction.
“Well, yes. Hatsuharu is more than a mouthful, don’t you think?” she replied.
The men sat silent, awaiting a showdown between the two women.
Shevchenko had no intentions of taking Savoi on after witnessing her savagely wrestle a man twice her size. She backed down and folded her arms.
“I still think this whole affair was lousy. The Deltas could take revenge and report us to General Benavides,” she said with a quieter protest.
Yoshida scoffed, “That will probably not happen, considering the Deltas are composed of a bunch of losers who barely made the cut. They’d have to explain their role in the events this evening. I doubt any of them want to draw attention to themselves.”
Roudan chuckled. “I can truly say that I have the best pick of squad members anyone could ask for. Farouk, take heart. You handled yourself very well.”
“Yeah, until I got body slammed by Feliz. If Thomasa hadn’t come to my aid, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Farouk sniffed with a light chuckle.
“Ah, yes. That was epic watching two beautiful women stomp the shit out of the Deltas in their ballgowns and heels,” Roudan cackled, then continued. “Thomasa, I must give you credit for your attempt to bring a peaceful resolution.”
“Scum like the Deltas never want to talk it out, which is exactly why they had their asses handed to them. Still, it was a kind gesture,” Yoshida chimed in.
Farouk turned to look at Savoi. “You really are a kind soul. Your demeanor reminds me of the story of Vesati,” he said.
 Savoi grabbed his hand. “That is sweet of you to say Maaz, but there’s no need for such praise,” she replied.
Yoshida gently slapped Farouk on the knee. “Who is Vesati?”
Farouk looked to Savoi for permission to speak. When she nodded, he began. “Vesati was a beautiful Island girl and was the descendant of women who possessed mystical powers. Captain Jorge Holmond from Normandy met her during an exploration exercise. She was kind and helped him gain diamonds during nightly excursions. They eventually became lovers and were intimate for well over three years.”
“I can see where this story leads. Obviously, this Captain Holmond wanted to brag about his diamonds and banging a babe every night for three years,” Yoshida interrupted.
Savoi hushed him with a finger over his mouth. “The story is a bit more complicated than that. There is a myth about Vesati that she held the power of longevity. For every night they made love, ten years was added to his lifespan. Her help to him could also be seen as a curse,” she explained.
Shevchenko scoffed. “Are you calling Savoi a blessing or a curse?” 
Farouk became flabbergasted. “I would never insinuate that she is a curse,” he stammered.
Roudan leaned into Savoi. “Tell us the rest of the story? What happened to the Captain and Vesati?”
Savoi sighed, “Well, they separated many times throughout the years. Their romance rekindled each time they reconnected. He lived a very long life as a rich man. She was continuously captured by greedy men. On their final encounter, Vesati was accidentally beheaded by Captain Holmond. The curse was lifted, and he died instantly by her side.”
Yoshida and Roudan looked fretfully at each other. “Damn!” they said simultaneously.
Shevchenko shook her head at Farouk in disgust. “What a dreadful story,” she said.
Savoi grinned and said, “As such is life.”
Suddenly, the sun crept over the mountains. Daybreak meant the witching hours had concluded. Everyone went back to their barracks to prepare for class.
 
~The Waring Robins~

Between the Witching Hours P. 3

A group of female cadets flocked to Yoshida, insistent that he should give them a dance. Savoi graciously bowed and walked to the bar for a drink. Shevchenko aimlessly followed Farouk around as he chased the server with grilled bovine marinated in yellow curry on a platter. Shevchenko waved the server to hand the platter to Farouk. After a few minutes of silently watching him stuff his face, she sighed.
“I don’t know what to do with Savoi. Everyone thinks she is so special just because she’s from the Islands and she looks exotic. I think she’s rather plain,” she said.
Farouk remained expressionless. Instead of any kind of response, he shoved a piece of meat into his mouth.
Shevchenko was unbothered and continued to vent.
 “Isn’t it odd how Yoshida does not give me the time of day, yet he appears to lap up everything Savoi utters from her rude mouth? I can’t believe she had the audacity to call his full name without permission.”
Farouk gulped down the meat and said, “Aha, that is the root of your problem.”
Shevchenko waited for him to proceed, but he quickly stuffed his mouth again. She became impatient and stammered, “What the hell do you mean?”
Farouk paused from taking another piece of meat. He knew she would not allow him to eat in peace. He placed the platter on a nearby table and smiled.
 “Instead of spiraling into your emotions, let’s look at the facts that have been presented to us. Cadet Savoi is not just some exotic beauty from the Islands. She was handpicked by one of Calvary Academy’s founding Generals. That alone definitely makes her special. When we throw Yoshida into the mix, he too was also selected by a founding General. That places them both in a unique category, which separates them from the likes of the rest of us. Now, we’ve seen firsthand Savoi and Yoshida have some kind of gravitation hold on each other. Who knows what might transpire from that. Perhaps you should steer your attention towards Roudan, since he seems to fancy you. That’s just my humble opinion and suggestion,” he said.
Shevchenko glared at him with contempt. “I didn’t ask for your opinion or suggestions,” she snarled.
A quarter to midnight, names were drawn to select an honored male/female cadet. Roudan and Savoi were chosen, respectively. Savoi gushed as she went on stage to collect her sash and bouquet. The crowd enthusiastically cheered for her.
Shevchenko snatched a glass of wine from a server. Farouk looked at her empathetically.
“Oh, don’t give me those eyes. I knew she would win. I just can’t believe Yoshida wasn’t chosen. Roudan isn’t even here. He skipped the damn dance in favor of playing a game with those silly other boys,” she protested.
Farouk smiled and waved for a server to bring her another drink.
“I think it can be noted Yoshida was probably not chosen because of his affiliation with the Yakuza,” he replied.
Shevchenko scoffed. “He isn’t with the Yakuza. He was with the Gokudō.”
Farouk clinked his glass against hers and said, “Noted.”
Savoi encouraged Yoshida to accept the sash on behalf of Roudan. They sat together on pillowing his/her thrones. The dance concluded with a last song, then the cadets were prompted to return to their respective barracks. Yoshida shimmied past the female cadets and bumped into Farouk.
 “Hey mousey, we should head out to look for Roudan,” he said.
Savoi walked behind them with four shot glasses in her hand.
“Drink up, boys. I have a feeling we’re in for an adventure,” she said.
 Shevchenko did not want to be excluded, but did not want to be subject to expulsion.
“Curfew just hit. There’s no need to go off gallivanting into the night when Roudan can take care of himself,” she protested.
Yoshida rolled his eyes and frowned. “No one asked you to join this search party.”
  Farouk passed a shot glass to Shevchenko to silence her from causing more friction.
Savoi held her glass in the air and prompted everyone to follow suit.
“We’re Alpha squad. That means no man is left behind. We will find him and make sure he’s okay. The sooner, the better for us all.”
Yoshida clinked his glass to hers with a sigh. “Cheers!”
The entourage headed down to the lower rooms. There were at least twenty different rooms to check. When they reached a dimly lit basement, they found Roudan sitting at a table playing a card game with members of the Delta squad. Calvary Academy based the top four squads on cadets who showed the most promise for battle. Everyone that did not make one of the top teams were sent to receive corrective training. For all intents and purposes, Delta squad was considered the bottom of the barrel.
“Roudan, what happened to the Bravos?” Yoshida asked, with a hint of concern in his tone.
Roudan remained focused on the game. “They slithered away once they realized I couldn’t be beaten,” he answered as he slammed his second to last card on the table.
A member of Delta squad, named Molvik, secretly tucked two cards inside his sleeve, then pretended to slam his final card on the table. Roudan raised an eyebrow suspiciously, then chuckled.
Molvik glared at him smugly. “What the hell is so funny?”
Roudan cackled. “It’s hilarious how you skipped two turns, yet only have one card left to play.”
Molvik stood up and banged his fist on the table.
“Just what the hell are you getting at, wise guy?” he asked.
Roudan continued to laugh. “Either you’re some kind of amazing magician, or simply a lousy cheat. Either way, my final card levels above anyone else’s. So, your foolery was in vain, as I have won even this round,” he said.
Before Molvik could say another word, Roudan grabbed his left arm and retrieved the two hidden cards. Molvik clenched his teeth and withdrew his arm. He slumped back in his chair with a smirk.
“You think you’re so great because you’ve been assigned leader of the Alphas. I wouldn’t choke on that merit coin while gloating. Everyone here knows your family is a disgrace to Calvary Academy. We’ll all see you stumble soon enough,” he said.
Yoshida stepped towards Molvik, gripped a handful of his hair, and yanked his head back.
“That’s where you’re wrong, you silly Delta dog. Acts of valor aren’t hereditary, unlike that unsightly receding hairline you’ve got going. I may as well do you a favor and snatch it all out now, or you’ll be bald by graduation,” he said.
 Molvik pulled his head from Yoshida’s grip, but not without a plug of hair pulled. He leapt across the table and took a pocket knife out from his trousers. Roudan reacted quick with a swift punch to his throat. Another member from Delta named Dende pulled out a baton.
“That kind of contraband will get you expelled from here,” Yoshida teased.
“You won’t be able to tell if you’re dead,” Dende replied as he swung.
Yoshida dodged the attack, then kneed Dende in the stomach.
Shevchenko looked at Farouk, who shivered in a corner. She grabbed Savoi by the arm.
“Let’s go. Nothing but more trouble will come from all this ruckus,” she said.
Savoi snatched away.
“No, we have to do something. We can’t just leave our team,” she replied. Without hesitation, she stood in front of a burly Delta to stop him from interfering. She looked into his eyes to reason with him.
“Call your dogs off. Let’s settle this with a new card game,” she pleaded.
Cadet Feliz shrugged his shoulders, then pushed Savoi to the side with brute force.
“Who are you calling a dog, you little bitch? Nobody wants to play another damn card game. Besides, this is no place for girls. Leave before you get your pretty dress dirty,” he said as he walked away to join the fighting.
A fit of rage crept inside Savoi. She picked up one of the metal folding chairs and struck him upside the head. Shevchenko and Farouk were reluctant to take part in the melee, but did not want Savoi to get hurt. The brawl ended after forty minutes. The entire Delta squad had been bested, and understood that they could not contend with their opponents.
Alpha squad departed into the night. They needed to cool off before returning to their rooms. Roudan invited everyone to sit with him. So, they made their way to the bleachers on top of the male barracks. From there was a view of the entire campus. The starry night sky above and the sound of the ocean waves brought serenity to their heart.

~The Waring Robins~

Between the Witching Hours P. 2

Shevchenko relished in the belief that she looked far more stunning in her sweeping burgundy tulle ballgown. She had intended to wear it during the season in Dorsea, but the induction ball was just as good of an occasion. She could feel the piercing eyes of fellow female cadets swarm her, and arrogantly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It was impolite to smirk, so she deliberately kept a stoic glare. Roudan nudged Yoshida to reveal his admiration. Yoshida, however, was indifferent to her presence. To end the annoying insistence, he abruptly pushed Roudan directly in front of Shevchenko.
She gasped in surprise and disappointment that Yoshida clearly did not want to speak to her.
Roudan cleared his throat to assert confidence and said, “Lilya, you look breathtaking.”
Shevchenko crinkled her nose with disapproval.
“Are we on a first name basis now, Roudan?” she asked.
Farouk tried to conceal his laughter, Yoshida snickered loudly.
Roudan smiled and calmly replied, “Well, I figured since we are all Alpha squad, we should be less formal.”
“I disagree,” Shevchenko scoffed.
Suddenly, a group of male cadets from Bravo squad approached.
“Roudan, is that challenge to beat me at cards still on?” one of them asked.
Roudan never resisted the urge to take a bet and loved to gamble. He figured since he was not scoring any points with Shevchenko, he may as well try his luck at the card table.
“Lead the way,” he nodded, and walked with them to the lower room.
Yoshida had grown tired of Shevchenko’s insipid mood and the murmurs from the other female cadets who were smitten with him. He casually walked away to the other side of the room. Farouk was not attached to Shevchenko either, so he quick-stepped to follow.
Shevchenko stood alone at the bottom of the stairs. She couldn’t help but remember how lonely she felt at all the debutante balls, when none of the gentlemen would ask her to dance. Then, the lights dimmed to a frosty blue disco color. She watched haplessly as Yoshida spurned the other female cadets, who were brave enough to ask for a dance.
Savoi entered the ballroom at the top of the stairs. Her turquoise sequin gown shimmered with the lights. Everyone took notice of her unique dress. Her mother was a renowned seamstress, and talented. She wore a small diamond tiara, and had taken her cornrow braids down. The coils of her tresses made her appear like royalty. Not once did she shy away from the room full of star struck gazes.
Yoshida and Farouk hurried back to the bottom of the stairs to greet her with a smile. Shevchenko became infused with wrath, as she had received a colder greeting from the lot.
“Savoi, why are you late? The dance started a while ago. Were you too busy gawking at yourself in the mirror? Or perhaps your merit coin was too heavy to carry? I don’t know how we are battle buddies when you are so thoughtless,” she scolded.
Savoi frowned for a moment, then revealed, “My apologies to you all. I stopped by the infirmary to pick up another pain medicine. The graze on my side from the lazar hasn’t stopped throbbing.”
Shevchenko shuddered as she felt Yoshida and Farouk’s disapproval scowl at her. The orchestra switched from classical baroque to an up-tempo swing waltz. Farouk bent on one knee apologetically and said, “I apologize for my part in your injury during the entrance exam. If I had been strong enough to fight off those bastards, you wouldn’t have had to step in.”
Yoshida snickered in agreement, but Savoi looked at him sternly.
“Hatsuharu Yoshida, it is you who should apologize!” she exclaimed.
Yoshida was stunned that she would call him by his whole name, and even more bothered that she blamed him for what happened.
“What did I do wrong?” he asked.
Savoi softened her disposition and replied, “You were supposed to cover me.”
“I tried, but I was distracted by that damn Roudan. He was practically useless with a lazar pistol,” Yoshida protested.
Without another word, Savoi took Yoshida by the arm and dragged him into the center of the dancefloor.
“You can make it up to me with a dance,” she said.
At first, he protested by dancing stiffly. His mood change once she pressed the fullness of her body against him as they swayed. With her eyes shut tight and a beaming smile, they glided around. The tempo picked up, and they worked themselves into a sweaty frenzy. Once the music stopped, they received a standing ovation from the crowd.

~The Waring Robins~

Between the Witching Hours P. 1

Calvary academy allotted nine days of recovery time for the cadets after the entrance exam. Those who were injured during the battle sequence were required to remain in the infirmary, while the rest of the cadets prepared for their individual assessments and class placements. Cadets Farouk and Savoi suffered minor injuries and were discharged within the first four days. They rejoined the Alpha squad with much praise and fanfare from the entire installation.
The two cadets received recognition for breaking the cryptic poem, which placed them as the highest esteemed cadets for the new cycle. None of the other cadets knew what to do until they watched cadet Roudan lead his squad in action. It did not take long for those who were unfazed by the incoming attacks to follow suit. Everyone also marveled at cadet Yoshida’s keen tactical precision and aim with the lazar pistols while sniping the drones down. Unfortunately, not much mention was made over cadet Shevchenko for being the first cadet to retrieve a flag.
It was customary at the academy to hold an induction ball after the entrance exam had completed. The cadets who achieved a notable mention from the instruction Generals were given a coin to salute their efforts. After the award ceremony, the cadets could mingle, eat, drink, and dance. The male cadets each wore military style tuxedos, with the academy’s colors of hunter green and maroon. The female cadets wore glamorous ball gowns.
Shevchenko sullenly walked down the grand marble spiral staircase that lead into the giant ballroom. Though she had taken part in scores of debutante balls as a girl, she had never seen such a fine venue. The yellow marble pillars were draped with grape vines and there were lush botanical flowers spread throughout the room. The dancefloor was surrounded by two separate fountains of pearly water. An encased waterfall was in the background. A spectrum of changeable lights dazzled through the room, which gave an almost psychedelic ambiance.
A bluesy orchestra played catchy tunes, while a team of waitstaff members carried trays of succulent meats and tea cakes. Roudan, Yoshida, and Farouk waited at the bottom of the staircase for their remaining squad members to enter the room.
“Geez, I hate these types of events. I always feel like a monkey in these suits,” Roudan said as he slouched on the rail. He perked up once he saw Shevchenko and extended his arm out to her. Initially, she welcomed the gesture and felt seen by her comrades. Then she noticed Yoshida and Farouk were not as attentive, as they compared their shiny merit coins instead. With that, she dismissed Roudan’s greeting and shoved his hand to the side.

~The Waring Robins~

The Eyes Have It

Meanwhile, over at the female barracks, Shevchenko wrestled with the three large duffle bags that her father insisted she take for her journey. It was not exactly the weight of her belongings that burdened her the most. Each bag contained every single last item she had ever owned. She knew this meant that he did not intend for her to return home. Once she made it inside her dorm room, she was startled by an ample-figured girl standing naked in front of a floor mirror. The girl’s long braids covered her “lady parts,” and the beads of water on her flesh gave the impression that she had just come out of the shower.
Shevchenko did not realize how long she had been staring until their eyes met in the mirror’s reflection. The girl had a devious smirk that smoothed out into a welcoming smile.
“Do you need any help with those bags?” the girl asked with a thick accent.
Shevchenko flinched from her trance with a nod to say no.
The girl returned her gaze back to the reflection of her body.
“Back home, we don’t have such big mirrors. They can only be found in gown shops. My mum is a seamstress, but she never let me come to her place of work,” she continued.
Shevchenko stiffened her neck as she felt fatigue from her luggage. She determined the girl was a native of Intagua Island, from her heavy accent and dark complexion. No one from Dosea had ever been near the island. Though the girl was stunning, she seemed to have no sense of inhibition. Islanders were typically known to be carefree. Shevchenko was disappointed to have been placed with an impractical cadet.
Shevchenko hurried by to put her things away, as the girl remained unbothered to be seen. Every few seconds, their eyes would meet again in the mirror. Shevchenko’s flushed cheeks would not conceal any ounce of discomfort. However, her eyes revealed a hint of envy. They both remained silent for several minutes, then an announcement to head to the chow hall came through the intercom. Shevchenko did not want to go alone, but did not want to be accompanied by her dorm mate. She watched the other females congregate outside from their bay window. Suddenly, the girl’s demeanor changed from relaxed to thoughtful.
“Will you please hand me my uniform on the chair?” she asked politely.
Shevchenko did not hesitate to assist, since it meant the girl would finally put some clothes on. As she handed the girl a pair of grey shorts and a top, she read the name label out loud.
“Savoi.”

~The Waring Robins~

Recruiting Station

The military entrance processing station (M.E.P.S.) for Calvary Academy was in the 9th ward on the coast of Cielle. General Benavides and his colleagues thoroughly reviewed each cadet’s application to determine eligibility, as well as occupational specialties. The cadets endured vigorous medical examinations and had to score high marks on a vocational aptitude battery test to be successfully recruited. Every single measure was meticulously considered before a cadet could set foot on campus, regardless of socio-economic status.
After the required assessments were administered, the male and female cadets were housed in their appropriate barracks for the night. Cadets Roudan, Yoshida, and Farouk shared a 3-tiered bunk in the same room. The men stood in the center of the spaced beige room with their duffle bags in tow. They drew straws to decide their sleeping arrangement. Since none of them wanted to sleep on the very top bunk, Roudan and Yoshida quickly worked together to separate the beds. There was still more than enough space between them to dwell comfortably.
Once everyone put their belongings away, there was an awkward silence. The men stood aloof side by side, gazing out of the bay window, but soon Roudan broke the ice.
“Sheesh, the past seventeen hours have been the most grueling forms of torture that I’ve experienced in my entire life.” He paused a beat, hoping someone else would chime in. When no one volunteered to engage in the conversation, he continued. “I heard the chow hall serves a mean brew with the best hops in the region,” he said, as he nudged Farouk on the left shoulder.
Roudan unintentionally nudged the smaller and younger male hard enough to cause him to lose balance. Farouk frightfully looked up at Roudan’s cheerful eyes and realized he was being playful.
“We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow with the induction ceremony. Perhaps it’s better to refrain from intoxication,” Farouk sighed.
Roudan blew out a raspberry and turned to Yoshida, and said,” A couple of drinks will hardly matter at this point. Besides, some of the most traumatic events in my life occurred while I was sober.” He plopped himself on the wool couch next to them. “Yes sir, I was a happy-go-lucky good kid until I learned my older brother and uncle fled their respective platoons and were killed in the line of action.”
Yoshida’s interest was piqued by his confession.
“You come from a line of deserters, yet you stand boldly before us ready to be inducted in the academy?” he asked.
Roudan’s jovial spirit diminished into a serious tone.
“I am not my brother or uncle’s keeper. Their sins have no bearing on my dedication to service. My father died during the lottery process, so naturally I was selected to take his place. I plan to serve the academy and kingdom with honor to restore our name,” he replied.
Yoshida thoughtfully considered Roudan’s disposition. He was impressed that Roudan’s commitment to the cause did not waver because of the ill-timed circumstances of his family’s demise. As a child, Yoshida was taught to respect men of such noble character. The very fact that Roudan did not hide from the call to duty or need to be coaxed into service was commendable.

~The Waring Robins~


 

Birth of Alpha Squad

Miraculously, Roudan led his team through the line of fire. On the outskirts of the dome were a dozen watercrafts. Many other cadets unsuccessfully tried to flee the scene in one of them. Upon embarking on the watercraft, Shevchenko realized it was stuck and they could not proceed. Roudan scanned the area to see that the other cadets could not budge either. He quickly dove under water to discover the boat was chained to a wooden post.

Roudan emerged from under the boat and summoned Yoshida to bring a laser pistol with him. The men dove deep beneath the ocean to the bottom of the wooden post. No amount of wrestling would unravel the chain. Yoshida blasted through the metal with his pistol. In just four shots, the chain was broken. Roudan was impressed by Yoshida’s skill with such a weapon.

Once free, the team set sail for the lighthouse. Fortune was on their side, as the sky was clear enough for them to a visible beam of light far off in the distance. The moment they reached the other side of the beach, more terror awaited them. They watched in horror as insects and birds were blown to bits by hidden explosives buried in the sand. Roudan instructed them to tread lightly.

The stone lighthouse rested on top of a jagged cliff. In no time, the team scaled a rocky mountain wall. Roudan and Yoshida cleared the entryway so the others could safely go in. They climbed an old rickety wooden staircase into a what appeared to be a storage room. The dankly musty scent made everyone physically ill. Each team member cautiously sifted through crates to find another clue.

Farouk found another map, this time with coordinates stapled to it.

“I think this map will lead us down the cliff beneath the lighthouse,” he said.

With a fueled desire to redeem herself, Shevchenko hastily grabbed the map.

“Let me see,” she said.

The rest of the group waited for her to deliver any kind of new revelation about their mission. She could feel their eyes burn a hole through her soul in anticipation. Alas, there was nothing in particular that stood out to her as noteworthy. She flinched as Yoshida scornfully snatched the map and proceeded down the steps. Farouk and Savoi followed without so much as a word. All that remained was Roudan’s empathetic gaze.

The team left the lighthouse and scaled down the other side of the mountain, only to encounter another attack. Mini drones fired lasers from every direction in the sky. Savoi read the map and determined they should follow an embedded path that shifted a stream of the ocean inside a cave. Everyone marveled at the inside of the cave, which was made of crystalized amethyst.  

Thirty kilometers inside led them to a narrow tunnel.

Savoi squinted her eyes at the map.

“Whatever we need is on the other side of this tunnel,” she said.

Yoshida scoffed in protest. “You’ve got to be kidding, right? There’s no way in hell I can fit through there.”

“Impossible!” Roudan exclaimed.

Farouk slumped against the wall. “There is no way I will go in there alone,” he said.

“I doubt I can fit through myself,” Savoi shrugged.

Finally, Shevchenko felt a surge of superiority among her peers.

“Never fear, friends. Clearly, I am the best candidate for this mission,” she said, without hiding an ounce of smugness. She shoved past Yoshida and Roudan and rudely seized the map from Savoi.

The men were taken aback by her ill-mannered behavior, but to her dismay, Savoi remained oblivious. She glanced at the map, then at Savoi.

Savoi smiled warmly and said, “No doubt you can do it. With your flat chest and ass, this tunnel should be a cakewalk.”

There was no hint of malice in her voice, but Shevchenko could feel nothing less than slighted. It only made matters worse that the men snickered in agreement.

Roudan decided it was best to break the tension.

“How will she communicate with us while inside the tunnel?” he asked.

“With the earpieces and the radio device,” Savoi chimed.

“Uh oh,” Farouk murmured as he sifted through the backpack.

“What do you mean, uh oh? What’s wrong?” Roudan asked.

“I left the radio on the watercraft,” Farouk stuttered.

Yoshida banged his fist against the wall. “You idiot, how could you be so careless at a time like this? I should kick your mousy little ass. You’ve been a brat all day,” he said.

Farouk whimpered in fear of being struck by Yoshida, but Savoi stood between them.

“It was an unintentional mistake. I asked him to find any other tools that might’ve helped you two break the chain to set the boat free. If you want to hit someone, let it be me,” she said.

All the rage dispersed from Yoshida’s heart. He sobered as he recalled how beautiful Savoi looked. The intensity in her eyes displayed she would not back down. He quietly conceded, then looked to Roudan for a resolution.

“Someone has got to go out to the watercraft to man the radio. Otherwise, we’re just as stuck as we were back in the dome,” Roudan said.

“I’ll go,” Savoi offered.

Roudan grabbed her arm as she turned to leave.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea,” he said.

“Why not?” she asked.

Roudan gently placed his large hands on her shoulders.

“No disrespect to you, Savoi. You’ve been a tremendous asset in this ordeal.” He waited for her to nod before he continued. “I noticed you aren’t the fastest runner when we ran out of the dome. Yoshida and I can cover you from the drones, but I know we need someone who can run at maximum velocity.”

Shevchenko smirked at the notion that there were at least two things Savoi could not do better than her.

“Can we hurry this along? Obviously, I haven’t got all day to go through this tunnel,” she said.

“I nominate the mouse to go,” Yoshida interjected. He nodded towards Farouk. “Besides, we wouldn’t be in this dilemma if he had been more mindful.”

Farouk swallowed a huge gulp, then looked at Savoi. He was blown away by her generosity and kindness during the entire endeavor. He resolved to make up for his shortcomings.

“I will go,” he said, though his body trembled.

Savoi leaped to hug him until he became still. She spoke in her native tongue, then said, “We will cover you.”

As Shevchenko made her way through the narrow tunnel, the rest of the team departed from the cave. Roudan, Yoshida, and Savoi took their laser pistols and scaled back up the cliff. They each shot down drones while Farouk trekked to the watercraft. Once he retrieved the radio, communication with Savoi and Shevchenko was established through the earpieces.

Within a few minutes, another team of three cadets approached and attempted to detain Farouk. Savoi heard the scuffle through her earpiece and became concerned.

“I have to get to him. If we lose him, we’ll also lose touch with Shevchenko,” she said.

Yoshida barked at her. “Are you mad, woman? Why do you keep trying to save the mouse? He’s a cadet, just the same as us. If he can’t defend himself, he shouldn’t have been allowed to join the academy.”

“I have to do something,” she said, then turned to Roudan. “If I don’t, everything we’ve accomplished this far was all for naught.”

Roudan sighed heavily. “What do you propose to do, then? Even the fastest runner wouldn’t be able to scale down this mountain to get to him in time,” he said.

Savoi placed her pistol on the ground and took several steps backwards.

“I will not run. I will jump,” she replied with a tremble.

“Like hell you will,” Yoshida protested.

Savoi chuckled maniacally and sprinted forward before they could stop her. She got enough air to lunge off the cliff into the sky. Roudan and Yoshida froze in awe for a second, then erratically shot down more drones. Just as she descended midair, a laser grazed her left side. Somehow, she dove into the ocean instead of plummeting. Roudan’s weapon jammed right after that. Yoshida quickly kicked the remaining pistol over to him, without missing a beat.

A swam of drones flew over the watercraft and sprayed them with rapid fire. Beforehand, Savoi and Farouk tussled with the three cadets. Savoi tactically maneuvered so that she and Farouk were beneath the cadets when the lasers hit, which shielded them from the assault. Roudan and Yoshida provided cover and took out all the drones. In good fashion, Farouk returned to man the radio. Shevchenko safely infiltrated the narrow tunnel and retrieved a red flag with a skull sown on both sides.

General Benavides and his colleagues watched the proceedings in the war room on a wide-screen digital projector.

“We have an excellent front-running team this cycle,” he said with enthusiasm. “Calvary Academy has suffered many great losses, with the departure of elite soldiers. Now is the time to recoup the benefits of this newer generation and their abilities. Only the chosen few could promptly assemble a team of various talents to forge through a war zone and triumphantly conquer a mission. We have just witnessed the birth of the Alpha Squad. The rest of the cadets will have to follow suit if they want to graduate. Cadets Farouk, Savoi, Yoshida, and Shevchenko—with Roudan as the Skull Leader,” he concluded.

The meeting adjourned in agreement.

~The Waring Robins, Ch. 11 (con.)~

The Lighthouse

Cadet Farouk remained frozen–paralyzed with fear. The surge of trembles throughout his body evenly balanced with Yoshida’s flustered but vicious attempt to shake him into shape.

“Snap out of it, cadet!” Roudan commanded. “We need to look inside that backpack. Whatever is inside will be what we need to survive,” he said.

Suddenly, Shevchenko pushed the men aside. She clasped Farouk by the chin to make eye contact, though his eyes were shut tight. Savoi knelt beside them, placed her hand on the small of his back, and gently applied pressure to calm him.

“Take a deep breath and release when you exhale,” Savoi whispered with a heavier island accent. She spoke in her native tongue, then translated, “The fear you have of pain or dying lets it move.”

Farouk unclenched his eyes as a single tear drifted down his face. He released his grip on the backpack. Shevchenko wasted no time to snatch it open. The contents contained four laser pistols, three earpieces, one radio communication device, and a small map. When she carefully unrolled the map, a torn paper fell out. Roudan picked up the paper and read the inscription to himself. His eyes fluttered vigorously over the note several times.

He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. “The damn thing makes little sense.”

Yoshida peered at the paper as well. His blank expression showed that he could not decipher the mystery either. Roudan helplessly handed the paper to Shevchenko. Her deep blue eyes penetrated the paper, but she remained silent.

“Well, what does it say?” Savoi frantically asked.

“We’re doomed,” Shevchenko blurted. “The inscription is written in Obëquä. I am familiar with some of the lettering, but no one has used that language for over five hundred years,” she said.

Yoshida belted out a scream of frustration that was drowned by the surrounding chaos. “Damn it, aren’t you supposed to be a fancy linguist? What good are you if you can’t read it either?” he barked.

“I can,” Savoi stammered.

She grabbed the paper without hesitation and read. “It says; dark of night. Ever present guide. Through overcasts of fog. The North Star shall withstand and be shown in the sky.”

Yoshida shook his head in disbelief. “What in the hell does that even mean?” he asked Roudan.

“It’s a poem,” Farouk answered, with a tremble in his voice.

“This is the perfect scenario of a living hell. People are being clipped down by laser beams and nearly drowned by that tidal wave, yet we stand here trying to interpret a five-hundred-year-old poem written in a dead language,” Yoshida interjected.

Savoi paced about for a few minutes as she gathered her thoughts.

“I know this poem. It was written by a monk who used to serve as a merchant marine,” she said.

Farouk gained his bearings enough to stand, and said, “I also know this tale. The ship had been lost at sea for weeks until they came upon—”

Both Farouk and Savoi stared at each other, then simultaneously shouted, “A LIGHTHOUSE!”

Savoi scrambled to find the small map. She pinpointed their location and realized the pool of water flowed out of the dome into the ocean. On the other side of the beach stood a tall lighthouse that she noticed the day of induction. She was certain the poem was a hint which directed them to go there. Though Shevchenko was envious of Savoi’s clever insight, she attempted to mask it with skepticism. By then, the men had unanimously affirmed their full support and devised a plan to escape the dome. Since time was of the utmost essence, Shevchenko reluctantly joined the crew.

~The Waring Robins, Ch. 11~

Theatrics of a Wiser Fool

I fell in love with a beautiful lie
The premise seemed promising
The attention and affection seemed perfectly timed
I decided to intentionally dismiss the discrepancies in favor of hope
The truth was always there
My heart and passion hurried through the blurred lines
Now I know for certain that a figment of my imagination was fed with sweetness
But
What is easily given is even easier to take away
The coldness from withdrawal left me inconsolable
How funny is it that I’ve been beating on a stone wall that had nothing behind it all along
My openness and raw emotions were preyed upon
Now I feel like a wiser fool
That is what happens when one sits too close to the stage
The magic no longer has a stronghold because all the flaws are fully displayed
I got caught off guard, caught up in my feelings, and played
What a dreadful experience indeed