Section 26: Who to Protect?

Vladimir once again shows his dominance by showing off his squadron capability, solidifying the fact that they're a solid base. Everything runs by his rules, so is the camp survivability. Another note to take is that Vladimir seems to like me, he shows off his prowess and cheers me up. I am a capable soldier, and a unique one, he said.

"I am confident that you will be able to attack as our frontline" Vladimir tries to convince me again.

Since he likes me that much, this might be a chance for me to find any information in regards to this frontier he talked about.

"If I accept your offer, what will I get?" I ask him.

"A nice place to sleep and food," he added.

From the looks of it, Vladimir didn't seem to know that Joel and I had our own permanent base to stay. Adrian didn't leak that part, if he leaked it that would be disastrous. They would salvage all our supplies for their frontier. I can't let that happen, and I need to find Adrian.

"Accepted, how about my friend?" I asked the male next to me.

"He will stay in the cell until he proves his utility" he snickered.

He spoke utility, he saw people as an object to use rather than people. Then again, I have no right to say that the way he sees things are wrong. I am a neutral party, whatever his belief is, I don't care. Joel leaked the information about Ellis being killed by me to Adrian, somewhat resulting in Vladimir to fancy my companion. No matter how much of an idiot he is, Joel is a friend.

He leaked my information, and I hated the fact he did it. However, I need to help him gain his freedom.

"Joel can hack things, please let him out" I suggested.

Vladimir shook his head, disapproving of my suggestion.

"We have Chris and that stranger we just caught," he grinned. "No need for another IT antics".

"Stranger?" I raised my eyebrows.

I asked Vladimir to take me to the cell, I wanted to check Joel's condition at least. He agreed to my suggestion and took me to the backyard. The backyard was quiet, there's a basketball field in the center. The courtyard in the middle of the school was used for training, the backyard seems empty though.

All I could see was grass, patrolling guards, and food supplies. It seems like they used the vast backyard as a mess hall or some sort. A few wooden desks were lined up perfectly on the field. I saw a cooking utensil as well, I suppose this is the place where they gather and eat. We continued to walk, passed the mess hall. That's when I saw a small looking cage from afar.

The cage made from scraps and iron bars messily made though. However, from the looks of it, the cage seems firm enough to cage people. Right next to the cage, I saw Adrian and an unfamiliar male. They seem to be on guarding duty this time.

As if he knew what he just did, Adrian avoided my gaze instantaneously. I ignored Adrian for now, I need to know Joel's condition. I peered inside the cage and saw another familiar male, it's none other than Ender.

"Ender!" I grabbed hold onto the cage bars.

He realized my presence and walked forward.

"Aria, you're here too" Ender frowned, saddened.

Vladimir approached me from behind.

"Someone you know?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes, he's also a friend" I stuttered nervously. "Please, release him".

Vladimir shook his head, he didn't seem to listen to what I said this time.

"No, we caught him sneaking in here before you and your friend came in" Vladimir justified.

Ender's body was covered with bruises, blood, and there's a trace of abuse on his face as well. Unlike Joel, Ender seems to have fought back with what he had. This resulted in him covered in injuries and bruises.

"Let my friends go" I looked at Vladimir's sharp eyes.

"No, I can't do that," Vladimir still insisted. However, his sullen expression later changes to a devious smirk.

"Unless you volunteer yourself as my soldier" he insisted.

I clenched my fist when he made that offer, I'm not sure whether I'm capable of becoming his soldier.

"Aria! Don't do this! You don't have to do it!" Ender yelled in exasperation.

Vladimir signaled one of the guards to enter the cage. The unfamiliar guard nodded, he entered the cage and punched Ender's face.

"STOP IT!" I scowled at the guard as I rushed inside the cage.

Ignoring Vladimir's calls, I immediately pull the guard away from Ender and punch him out of the blue.

"Don't touch HIM! YOU SON OF A-".

I pushed the guard on the ground, with uncontrollable anger I kept him grounded on the floor as I mounted his upper body. My fist moved uncontrollably toward the guard face, my vision darkened as the guard screamed and shocked. He pushed me back this time, he was about to land a punch on me. However, Vladimir stops the fight by grabbing the guard fist.

"Stop it," Vladimir added.

"But sir! She started first!" The male didn't seem to like Vladimir's intervention.

"I said enough," Vladimir raised his voice.

The male bowed apologetically and returned to the outside cage.

"Aria, please don't" this time Joel added.

"SHUT UP! YOU TRAITOR!" my inner rage seems to affect me more than I thought it would be.

Both Joel and Ender were surprised by my scream. I went outside the cage, I kept having a terrible headache lately. I massaged my head, hoping to lighten my headache. However, to no avail, my massage didn't work out.

Joel was about to say something, but he was cut short with Ender.

"Traitor? What did you do to Aria?" Ender asked the timid male next to him in the cage.

Joel lowered his gaze and avoided Ender's eyes as well, he's scared. Joel wouldn't admit the fact that he just betrayed me. However, I am also at fault. The fact that Vladimir sees me as his potential soldier made me feel anxiety. 'I am a cold-blooded killer who killed Ellis', that thought continued to circulate inside my mind.

I never thought about Ellis before, but now that I met Vladimir I started to feel like I'm an alien. I am no different than the tyrant Russian man next to me.