Unity

Chapter 2

     It was covered in steel from head to toe from the walls and to the floors and despite how long this room has been around I am genuinely surprised about how clean it is, I mean the locker like storage space for the guns and armor that everyone has in a specific place in the room. For instance when you walk in you are officially in the woman's section of the room but if you follow a tall, narrow pathway to the other side of the room it is taken over to the men's section.

     Half of the room is covered by a grey marble tall wall that reaches the ceiling that looks like it has been worn down throughout the years but it still was surprisingly stable, the purpose of this is so that men and women can change into their battle gear without feeling disturbed.

     The room was full with the sound of cloth being rustled and metal clanking, you can even hear it from the other side of the room but despite the sounds of objects, no one spoke as everyone had solemn looks on their faces, there was at least one or two who looked kind of nervous but easily covered it up, we were trained to be serious and aloof about the situation after all.

     Once I got changed I heard the sound of someone vomiting, I glance over hesitantly as I was being kind of curious about the disgusting sound and scene I was about to see and I see Hemington leaning over and vomiting a storm with her friend Amelez patting her back comfortingly while holding her blonde straight hair back.

     I burrow my eyes in sympathy 'damn I hope she will be ok, if I had to be honest this is the worst I have ever seen her, and she gets way more nervous than Wilbur does in these situations'.

     I sigh quietly to myself before I shut my locker and turn to walk out of the room and before I do I see Wilbur walking down the narrow walkway from the men's space with a slightly unnerving look on his face as he was fixing his blue tie.

     He suddenly looks up and notices me there and had a startled look to his eyes for a moment before he relaxed "oh it's you, don't walk up to me without me knowing" he glances around as he avoids my eye contact while being mindful not to look too far to the right knowing that he is pretty much in the girl's section now "..you know how I get kind of startled when people do that" I smile warmly knowing how true that is "yeah you pretty much are a fish on hot concrete when you get startled" his cheeks tint a bit of pink as he has an embarrassed expression "shut up, I do not".

     We continue our way down the quiet hall, me and Wilbur did not speak for a few moments and I just think about the mission and the possible outcomes before Wilbur says "speaking of that" I look over at him noticing the hesitation in his voice, he then becomes pretty timid and quiet, kind of looking like a lost puppy before he says "I was thinking...what if I wanted to you know...not be a soldier?" I gasp and glance around to see if we are being watched in any sort of way before I whisper in a harsh tone "are you kidding? why would you ask something like that?" it takes him a moment for him to answer before he says "well, come on. You and I both know that I am not exactly what you would call soldier material" there is another quick moment of silence for a moment "I mean I am one of the weakest soldiers in the whole section and I even get picked on despite me being the major of a group..."

     I couldn't deny that there was some truth to that. Wilbur was always one of the weaker ones of the soldiers, and truthfully I have wondered before about the possibility of being able to change our lives, pick out paths for our future and not have any consequences for it. I quickly learned that it is best to follow what you are told to do so that you can improve in life, but what has Wilbur just said...I can't think of anything to say really but I knew that I had to say something.

     I stop in my tracks and not long after, Wilbur notices and stops with a slightly concerned look on his face before walking quietly back to my side "Cindy?" I try to find the right words to say it but I feel like most of it is stuck in my throat "Wilber I-" "Wilger!, Hayes!" we turn around to see one of the higher-ups come over with a serious look on his face.

     We stood straight almost in sync as we are ready for our orders "at ease" we relax but still pay attention to what he has to say. His elderly, steel-like light blue eyes gaze into our own as he stood in front of us almost like a commanding statue "we are all aware of the situation at hand and how important it is that we defeat that defiled king; therefore given your differences in strengths. You will both be put into different segments to lead into battle".

     He glanced into both of our eyes, making sure that we were listening to every word "Wilger will lead the first group. Hayes will lead the fourth group"

     Our eyes widen slightly "but sir, despite our-" "are you defying my orders Hayes?" his assertive and stern tone raised slightly as it then silenced Wilbur into a submissive quietness once again, I glanced over at him surprised 'Wilbur never really speaks up against someone, none the less a commander' the male hummed slightly taking the silence as a no "good, you may be released to departure" we saluted him before we starting making our way to our assigned groups.

     We were silent on our way there, I wanted to say something about how he acted back there but I could not form the right words, even if I could find the words it feels like a snake would just wrap around me and squeeze the air out of me so I could not talk anyway. Then he spoke, kind of awkwardly and timidly but still audible "I know I shouldn't have spoken up to him none the less question him...I should be grateful that I was placed in a higher position for this battle".

     He grips his hands into a fist as his head lowered slightly "but I can't help but feel like something bad is going to happen...".

     I smile reassuringly "don't worry Wilbur, we have both been to war with them at least once and we have come back unscathed" I think about my words so that the next words that come out of my mouth don't sound harsh "kind of surprised that you came back with no injuries knowing you..." he nods begrudgingly while rolling his eyes slightly seeming to accept the comment.

     A small, reassuring smile appears on my face as I try to make light of the conversation "besides that point, we are strong soldiers that have been trained to fight since birth" his eyes that were looking away, suddenly shift to look into mine. I pause for a second, not exactly expecting the sudden eye contact before continuing "so there is no way that we will end up with something truly terrible happening to us".

     I notice him press his lips together thoughtfully "you promise...?" I nod before I wrap my arms around him and give him a warm embrace to show just how much I truly mean it "I promise" I felt his somewhat lean arms wrap around me tightly like he was still trying to figure out for sure if we will really come back alive.

     There was a long, comforting silence then. that hug felt like a promise. A promise that a friend would reassure another friend that they would still communicate after moving somewhere far away.

     I pulled away from the hug then take a few steps ahead of him before looking back with a determined and reassuring expression while nodding towards the entrance to the withdrawal room "let's go" he nods before he catches up with me and we continue our way there.