Trap or new life. Part two.

"Let go of my hand."

"Or what? Such a gentle hand could hurt me?"

Pulling Arlo to him, Bannard put his other arm around his waist and never before had Arlo been so close to the man. It was impossible to even slip a piece of paper between their faces, so close they were.

Seeing the man's eyes so close for the first time and seeing the gleam and dilated pupil in them, Arlo was not even able to free himself. He felt as if he had turned into ice that had begun to melt. Suddenly, his whole body was no longer at his mercy. He just froze and couldn't move, breathe, or think.

"And you smell nice. Usually, everyone here smells like sweat or dirt. And you smell something sweet," Bannard whispered, continuing to squeeze his hand and hugging him even tighter. "Though you smell sweet, you have no brains. And what were you thinking when you decided you could run away?" When he asked this question, Arlo came to his senses.

After managing to free himself, he jumped back and lowered his eyes. But figuring he had nothing to be ashamed of, he looked again at Bannard, who continued to lie there, slowly unbuttoning his gray shirt.

"Was that you?" Arlo asked, trying not to look at his naked body, which appeared before him like a snowy mountaintop. Beautiful, strong, snow-white-skinned body surprised him because it didn't look like a soldier's body. There were no marks, no scratches, no bruises. It was as if it was part of some kind of art. Having never seen a human body before, Arlo couldn't hide his curiosity. He wanted to keep looking, to wonder more, but he turned away. "Were you the one in the bushes?" he asked.

"What bushes?"

"You saved me again?"

"My boy, I certainly want to see what's under your clothes, but I'm not crazy enough to risk my life for you. Or do you think that because I want you, that means I'm going to save you every time you do something risky? You're just a boy. I would never risk my life for someone like you."

Feeling resentment inside and anger that made him feel like a flame of fire, Arlo laughed nervously. Keeping the smirk on his face, he looked at Bannard, who was slowly stroking his belly.

"So why are you alive? I thought the rule was that you can't let someone who wants to run away alive. Or did you please them? You have a refined body and a beautiful mouth, after all."

"Your mind is just the dirtiest place. And how do you live with that filth inside?"

"Careful, boy. Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the one on whom your whole worthless life will depend. It's up to me to decide if you're going to live or not."

"Don't think I'm going to be afraid of a dirty man like you. I am not so foolish and low as to respect you for fear."

Bannard laughed and sat down on the bed, leaning against the pillow. He unbuckled his belt as he continued to study Arlo from head to toe. Disgusted with him, Arlo went to the door and did not know what to do next. There was no other bed in the room, and besides, he was already tired and wanted to sleep. His pulse was racing, which made him dizzy, and so he quickly took the second pillow that was next to Bannard and threw it on the floor.

The floor was made of small stones that immediately sank into his skin. Plus, there was an unpleasant damp chill coming from it. But he didn't care. He was just glad that he was finally lying down and could rest.

He didn't care about Bannard or being around him. He just wanted to soothe his heart.

"How I hate it when a boy plays hard to get," Bannard said, suddenly finding himself next to Arlo. No sooner had he said the words than Bannard abruptly lifted him up and threw him on the bed. Quickly beside him, Bannard grabbed his arm tightly and said, "No need to pretend you're so exemplary. Get used to it."

Regretting that he didn't have his knife with him, Arlo didn't know what he would do if Bannard were to pounce on him now. Clenching his right hand in his fist and ready to punch him in the face, he stared at the ceiling, which had too many yellow stains on it. Glancing around quickly, he noticed that there was a chair in the very corner of the room with a book on it. His book. Jumping up and freeing himself from Bannard's hand, he grabbed the book and asked, "Where did you get it?"

"Why?"

"It's my book."

"And where did you get it?"

"That book belongs to me. Where did you get it?"

"I found it. Now tell me, where did you get the book?"

"It's my grandfather's book. He gave it to me."

"And what does it say?" Bannard asked, smiling slyly.

"Like you can't read," Arlo said and immediately remembered that really, there are very few people in this world who can read. One could say that very few. After all, people have long forgotten the need for knowledge because of the constant need to survive in this harsh place. Sickness, cold, lack of any food, darkness, polluted air, all this made people forget about books. People don't not send their children to school. No one in this place knows how to read, how to write. Everyone is just thinking about getting to the top of the mountain. Everyone is just getting ready to get to this camp where there is a chance of getting to a better world. Since childhood, people have been training their bodies to climb the mountain. Children climb up trees day and night, carry rocks on their backs to get stronger, and run so much to train their lungs.

"And you walk around with a book and fool everyone around you that you can read?"

"I can read," Arlo said, clutching in his hand the book his grandfather had read him as a child. Having kept it in its best form, he still held it as carefully as if he had something very fragile in his hands. Smiling, remembering his childhood, he caught Bannard's gaze. At that moment the huge man seemed to him like an ordinary man to have a good conversation with. But it was only a second. For then he saw him as threatening and lacking in any kindness or morality.

"And what does it say? Read me a bedtime story."

"I won't do that."

"Apparently you and I can't get along."

"Apparently not."

"In that case, don't expect any mercy from me tomorrow."

"You sound as if you were offended at being refused a fairy tale. And you're gentler than I thought. And you're the one everyone is so afraid of?" Arlo said, laughing and hiding the book in his bag. Unable to stand any longer, he unafraid lay down on the bed and his eyes closed on their own. He was so tired that he could no longer be afraid or think of the man beside him. He just wanted to sleep and not move. His whole body ached, and he couldn't imagine how he was going to start working out. But the dream quickly enveloped him and took him into a dream world where he saw his grandfather, an elephant, and Bannard holding a hedgehog in his hand. This dream lasted until morning, when he awoke to the drops of water that fell on his face.

Arlo woke up with horror in his eyes and not knowing where he was and what time it was, but he saw a completely naked man leaning over a basin of water in front of him.

Washing his hands and face, Bannard noticed that Arlo was awake and purposely turned to face him. Quickly turning away, Arlo closed his eyes, shocked to see something he shouldn't have seen.

"Good morning my precious," Bannard said, stepping closer to him. "All night long you tried to throw me off the bed. In the end I had to hug you tight."

Without saying anything, Arlo heard voices outside the door.

"I'll tell everyone you're very flexible in bed."

Barely holding back from hitting him, Arlo thought about his grandfather and the books. After all, they were the only things that calmed him and gave him strength.

"Get up. Get dressed," Bannard said, throwing the uniform over his face. Still, rising from the bed, Arlo wanted to give in to his anger, but he knew there was nothing he could do to this strong man who was finally in his clothes.

Without saying anything else, Bannard left the room.

After looking at the uniform, which consisted of a dark gray shirt and a warm vest that squeezed all his ribs too tightly like a corset and black wide pants that had a heavy belt with small bags on the sides, Arlo quickly removed his clothes.

For some reason, he was curious about putting on his new clothes, and as he dressed, he felt a kind of strength and even hope. Never before had hope so blinded him as now. For a second he even imagined himself on top of a mountain. But that fantasy quickly faded as he left the room and found himself among the other people hurrying to the first floor.

"Move!" someone shouted, pushing him with all their might. As he fell, Arlo quickly rose to his feet, and as if nothing had happened, he continued walking.

Finally, when he reached the first floor, where everyone was already assembled, Arlo saw his friend.

Raising his hand, he wanted to shout his name, but Zale himself was quickly beside him.

"How are you? Is everything all right? How was your night? Is everything all right? Answer me! Why aren't you talking?"

"It's all right. I got a good night's sleep. And I'm sorry again. I don't want you to suffer because of me."

"I'm sorry, too. But how could you sleep in the same room with him? He didn't do anything?"

"You talk like I'm defenseless. I wouldn't let him do anything."

"Yeah, but how?"

"I was just sleeping. Besides, Bannard's just an ordinary man with dirty thoughts. I don't know why everyone is so afraid of him."

"Are you kidding? You're talking about Bannard now, aren't you? About the scariest man. You don't know what he's capable of yet."

"And what is he capable of?"

"He was raised in a cage since he was a boy, to make him angrier. His father forced him to be angry, thinking it was the only way he could reach the top of the mountain. You know what he did when he ran out of food roots? He cut off his father's hand and ate it. And that wasn't all. He killed a lot of people. He doesn't tolerate hunger. He eats everything around him. He is a predator, he is evil, do you understand me?"

Looking at Bannard, who was standing next to Alora and the older man in the fur coat, he wanted to see evil in him, but all he saw was just a lustful man with a huge ego.

"Don't you believe me? Arlo, be careful with him. Do you hear me?"

"I hear you."

"I won't believe he let you sleep at night. Tell me, did he do that to you?"

"He didn't do anything."

"You needn't defend him. Though he is dangerous, I am not afraid of him."

"Zale, he didn't do anything to me."

"Hush you!" Blake exclaimed as the older man raised his hand.

"I'm glad to see you all. You are all very brave young men. I really appreciate bravery. After all, it is what can make a difference in our lives. And I hope that you will continue to be brave. Although, many lose it on the very first day. I hope you don't lose it, at least not before the ascent. I hope you all reach the top of the mountain.

You're all lucky to be trained by Bannard. He has been preparing for a very long time to be your leader, your teacher, and your, sort of, friend.

From now on, every day you will get up at 6 a.m. sharp to begin your training.

The workout lasts through the day and sometimes through the night. You will have time for lunch and dinner. But you will only be allowed to enter the rooms to sleep.

Bannard will decide who sleeps and who doesn't.

I'm just an old man who can't change anything anymore.

But Bannard, he is all our hope. After all, almost all of our best leaders and teachers died trying to achieve a better life.

So, you're very lucky."

Having said that, the older man just walked away.

"Who was that?"

"His name is Felix. He plays the role of a kind of judge who keeps order. They say that if you have something interesting to say, you should go to him."

"Interesting? Like what?"

"Well, if you want to turn someone in. Like if you see two people in love or people who help each other or people who spend time not working out or people who show kindness to someone. He's the judge who decides what to do with people like that."

"They just get killed and then eaten," Jasper said, laughing very loudly.

"Guys, you can't show your friendship anymore. You can end up on Bannard's plates for your friendship," Blake whispered, looking frightened at the guy who was smiling slyly at him.

"What kind of place is this?" Arlo asked, catching a glimpse of Bannard, who was dressed in the same clothes as everyone else.

"Follow me! There's a very good surprise waiting for you," Bannard said, heading quickly toward the door.

"What about breakfast?"

"You didn't come here to rest. Come."

"What? But." No sooner had the guy with the long hair gathered in a braid finished his sentence than Bannard threw the knife sharply at him, and it landed right in his thigh.

Screaming in pain, the guy fell, but no one went to help him. Not even his brother, who was standing beside him, staring dispassionately ahead.

"Hush, Arlo, don't say anything," Zale whispered and then the door opened and there was an empty field in front of them, at the end of which could be seen the forest.

"You will all run today. Whoever is the slowest will go to this forest, where he will stay for a week," Bannard said, stopping in the middle of the dirt-covered field. "Running, is very useful. Running will help you get stronger. And only running will tell me how strong or how weak you are. I don't want to waste time on the weak. I don't want a weak person on my team," he said, and Arlo realized that he couldn't make it through his first day in this place.