Camp and Survive

In the days following I started to train with the military. The doctors said it was an easy way for me to gain my strength back from being asleep so long. One thing I still can't rap my head around is how they manage to keep me alive.

Stretching I get out of bed and take a quick shower. Then the breakfast bell goes off, I groan. ' I won't miss this'. Heading to the mess hall I look for my one friend I manage to make while being here.

" Hey Sebastian, over here!" I look to the left after grabbing my food and see him. His name is Jason Brown, and he has been in the military for almost four years now. I sit beside him and begin eating.

" What is on the schedule for today Jason?" He smiles at me with a glint in his eyes, ' I am not going to like this.'

He throws his arm around my shoulder. " Tonight is the annual Camp and Survive. The officers take us out to a designated spot and we have to "survive" on our own." Jason yawns, " but they do give us tools and stuff. It is more of a team building exercise then anything else. I don't understand why they call it Camp and Survive."

I nod following along. We finish breakfast and meet with everyone else on the training ground. When we arrive I see enough bags for everyone. Each bag comes with a sleeping roll, food, basic needs like toothbrush, and toiletries.

"Attention!" The Sargent yells, we all get into perfect formation and salute. "Today starts the annual Camp and Survive, you will be provided packs to help out. After we drop you off at the sight we won't be able to help you unless it becomes a serious life or death case. This is a training exercise for you to sharpen your survival skills."

The Sargent walks around looking at everyone and circles back. "You will be doing this training exercise in teams of two, so pick a partner, grab a bag and head to the bus." He dismissed us as he walks away.

Jason walks up to me, "We can be partners for this if that's alright with you." I nod, we go and grab our bags and head to the bus. As we sit down I look to Jason, "So what did they do last year to help me prepare for this?"

Jason nods, "So basically they dropped us off in this simulation arena and had us in pairs of three. And for the first few days it was easy, but then they make it harder. The simulation actually started and it was a forest fire simulation, and we had to use our skills to "survive" and get to the end point."

I look at him in a bit of disbelief, "So was there actually a fire and could people get hurt?" Jason shakes his head, "There was not actually fire but it looks real enough to be real. Some people got panicked and a few people got hurt. That's why the Sargent said they wouldn't help unless it was serious. But most people know that this stuff isn't real, it's the first time that always gets people."

I nod to his story and I start to realize something. There are no windows on the bus, and there is a wall separating the drivers with the passenger so we couldn't even look out the windshield. 'Interesting, it's like they are trying to keep us from seeing something we are not supposed to see' I think as the bus continues.