Betrayal

Few weeks passed by, Erika and the other nurses finished their rotating shift at the frontline. During the time at the frontline, there were many patients with gunshot wound and few soldiers got their limbs amputated due to landmine explosion. The smell and the atmosphere was horrific. Everyone was injured, few dead when they were brought in. The weather was hot and dry, germs loved to linger in warm areas.

Everyone was working hard, Erika supervised few new nurses and helped out with several surgical procedures.

When they went back to their medical building, Erika lied down on her bed.

"Ah! It feels so good to be back!" Helen did the same.

"I know right! That place almost killed me." They both talked about how being in the frontline changed them.

"I can't believe we stayed here for three months already. Time passed so quickly." Helen sighed.

"We need to go back to the frontline in a few days." Erika said and got up to stretch.

"I really want to go back home." Erika sat back down on her bed.

"It will be too dangerous for you. Don't go, if you go, you might never come back." Helen was right, the war is not over yet.

"Ugh... when will the war stop? Who exactly are fighting against?" Erika looked at Helen as she thought hard about it.

"The Oppositions. They are General's main rival and enemy. The main leader, Elias, wants to take over everything. He wants more power. He knew the General was more powerful than he is but he still wanted to fight. He placed spies all over the General so they can report on his weaknesses. You know, everyone has a weakness. So does the General. You already know his weaknesses, Erika. You will also become his weakness." Helen explained.

"What? Me? I'm his weakness?" Erika didn't understand.

"The General haven't even talked to me in weeks. I feel like he hates me." Erika rolled her eyes.

"Nah, he already noticed you. Give him time." Helen gave Erika a pat on the back.

"I did, all he did was ignoring me. I hope he can talk about his problems to me. I really want to help him."

"Erika, you will win him over. What you said I applaud, keep that attitude. Patience will pay off." Erika smiled.

"Let's go out and take a walk. Dinner will start late anyways." Helen took Erika's hand as they head out.

Few people already came back and they were clearly upset.

"What's wrong with them?" Erika looked at Helen.

"I don't know. Let's check it out." Helen ran and stopped a guy.

"Do you know what's happening?" Helen asked.

"The Oppositions. They took one of General's top spy. But, it wasn't by force. It looked like he worked for them for a while now."

"What's the name of the person?" Erika asked even though she knew who it was.

"Julian, I think that was his name. I probably heard it wrong." He scratched his head.

"Jerk." Erika clenched her fist.

"Erika, you alright?" Helen asked.

"Where is he right now?"

"He's talking with the General now in that tent over there." He pointed at a distant tent.

"Helen, let's go."

After ten minutes of running, they finally saw the tent.

Erika saw Julian and decided to stay cool. They eavesdropped by the tent.

Erika heard the General's stern and cold voice as if he is in his own distant world. There was no warmth, no kindness, no leniency, no forgiveness in his tone. Erika wanted to give him a hug. Her heart broke, she knew Julian was General's younger brother but she couldn't say anything. She doesn't have proof.

"Helen, should I go in and say something?" Helen shook her head.

"If you are ready to get killed by the General..." Well, that's a no.

Erika and Helen decided to stay there longer.

"Why did you work for them?" The General's voice was terrifying when he get mad.

"They offered me more money than you. They have more to offer than you offered. I worked for you because I heard what was it again? oh right.. keep your enemy closer. So you were my enemy right from the beginning. I was a fake from the beginning, I faked being a doctor, I faked being a spy for you. You never deserved me. You killed my parents. I used you from the beginning, you were easy to manipulate. Elias knew you too well. I never seen you as a General, you cold blooded bastard! My parents were so nice to you. On the night of my birthday, why did you kill them? Why? WHY? WHY?!!" Erika was in disbelief. There's no way the General killed Julian's parent. Wait... the General was abandoned so there's no way for him to kill Julian's parents. Unless it was a lie.

"Julian. I never killed your parents. I don't even remember my parent's face. Why should I kill your parents?" The General looked at Julian with an icy stare.

"Are you finished with your speech, Julian?"

No reply was given.

"I gave you many chances. You did not want to admit. In fact, I knew you betrayed me that day. You paid those two soldiers to stab me and the other guy with the gun, right?" No answer.

"Elias knew what he was doing. You got tricked by him, Julian." The General maintained the icy look.

"I heard you got a girlfriend back home, how is she doing?" The General asked while tapping his finger.

"None of your business." Julian answered angrily.

"Bring her in." The General signalled his men.

"Kaira! You can't leave me! Wake up!"

"She can't hear you. She took her own life by swallowing a suicide pill."

Julian cannot contain his anger and threatened to kill the General with his own hand.

"You are weak, Julian. You can't do anything without Kaira's help." The General said.

"HAHAHAHA, says who? Don't underestimate, The Oppositions always have the upper hand." Suddenly, General's Secretary took out his gun and pointed at the General.

"Both of you, huh. I should've known." The General gave out a defeated laugh.

"What should I do, Master Julian?" The Secretary had his gun on General's head.

"Killing him directly won't be fun. Let him have a taste of his own medicine." Several other people took notice and were all speechless.

"Should we stop them? What if he kills our General?" A person said.

"Didn't you hear he killed Julian's parents. I wouldn't want to work for him." One lady said.

"I won't give a damn if Julian kills the General. I had enough of him. I'd rather work for the Oppositions. It's much better." One guy said.

"We suffered enough. Let's go."

"We are not scared of you, General. We will protest! You are not our leader, you are a murderer!" Everyone was protesting, General was left alone. He didn't say anything.

"Hear that, General König! They will all work for me. Elias will finally have enough power. I'll be rewarded soon. Just watch. Let's go, Noah."

"Yes, Master Julian."

"Oh right, Noah. I forgot, tell him who poisoned your drink."

"Yes, sir. General König, my apologies." The secretary left the General side and went with Julian.

"Erika, what should we do?" Erika clenched her fist. Without hesitation, Erika went in.

"Julian! You jerk! (Erika slapped Julian) Cheating on me was one but betraying the General who actually gave you so many chances to repent? You are the worst. You made me fall in love with you. You are an actual devil when I thought you were an innocent angel. I HATE YOU! You never came to see me when I was here. You never wrote letters, you made me so worried about you. Behind my back, you dated another girl when I thought you were in danger. I was too naive back then. You and I are in a different world. But I will tell you one thing, what you did today, you will forever regret it."

"Stop, Noah. It's fine. It's my problem."

"Erika, I apologize. I did like you. I will never stop loving you. If you leave the General, you can live with me happily. I will always be there for you unlike him." Julian smiled and touched Erika's face. "We should spend more time together, Erika. You won't be happy with the General. His past will be darker than you imagined." Erika laughed, "Dream on, you are the twisted one. I trust the General. I will not spend a day with a piece of crap like you. Get out of my sight!" Julian snickered, "Fine, you will regret it soon. Ciao, you lovebirds."

Erika shook her head, what a piece of shit he is. She really wanted to punch that jerk.

"Erika, you alright?" Helen ran over

"More than alright, I released all of my anger. I feel so good now." Erika gave a sigh.

"General! General!" Erika looked back and General was in pain and close to passing out.

"General Advisor, be careful holding him." He nodded.

As they head back to the General's room, they laid the General on bed.

Without the knowledge of what poisoned the General, they decided to use everything they had to subside the symptoms while buying time to find the cure.

General's life was on the line.

Erika held onto his hand and closed her eyes. She whispered, "Don't give up, General. I know you can hear me. Please don't give up."

Erika stayed with the General while the Advisor went out to get medication.