Rusting Chains

Chapter 3

It's been some time since I was taken to our tribe's juvenile detention center. It felt like a boarding school and a military camp, with people of authority keeping us in check. They had rules for both us and the administrators to follow and keep this place in order.

Unfortunately, that didn't stop them from pushing me to my limits, feeding me almost nothing but cold oatmeal every day, training me at the barracks until my arms grew tired, and making me sleep on a cold floor with nothing but a stone for a pillow and a piece of cloth for a blanket.

But all bad things turn good eventually, right?

After a couple of months, I was sent to a certain group by the administrators who have connections with people of higher authority in our tribe. They deal with foreign tribal affairs and other things...

They brought me there to "help out," which translates to working for the military. At the time, to them, I was dispensable. I was just another pawn in their ranks, a structure to either stop or aid them in their power plans. I started to get used to working for them in any way I could, but eventually, I guess fate wanted to give me a chance.

I had always wanted to join the Running Men competition, maybe this was my chance to succeed finally. The administrators told us that a competition is coming up to show off our skills and even prove ourselves, so we may compete as the representatives of our tribe. I got excited, excited to compete as the representative of our tribe, so I quickly signed up to participate in the competition.

After I had signed up, I felt a sigh of relief, and yet... the weight of what I had just done.

But what if I might fail? I clench my fists, thinking back on all the times I tried to succeed, the times I just broke down crying over things that I could've prevented. I could've prevented Ms. Agatha from throwing us out, I could've stopped my involvement with certain people. I could've made a better future for myself and my brothers.

When I signed up to compete as a tribal representative, many looked at me with disdain, and some whispered amongst themselves. At the time, I thought that maybe I had made the wrong mistake, perhaps I should've known my place. I thought: am I even worthy to think that I, a failure, a naive fool, could ever win to be a tribal champion, let alone a winner of the Running Men competition.

I sigh and start to head back to my room as insults and whispers flood my head.

"Gai, you have a few visitors." The call of one of the administrators brings me back to reality. "Yeah, I'll be there in a bit," I respond.

Who could be visiting me? It's probably another higher-up wanting to check my progress, I think to myself. I enter the visitor's lounge where people normally see their family or friends, or-

I was off guard when suddenly I felt a large weight on my back and was tackled to the ground by three siblings, "Gai! We're so happy to see you again," one said squealing, "We missed you so much!" Another said, grabbing my head.

"Hey! Ouch, I missed you guys too," I said, in between them pulling my hair and jumping on my back. When all three of them settled down, they explained how they knew where I was. Apparently, social services placed them in a foster home while I served my time in juvi, but when they heard that I was being released under good behavior, they considered contacting me if I could look after my brothers.

I felt my face warm up as I stared at the table. "I'm glad you guys are okay," I said as I wrapped them in a tight hug. When I told them that I was signing up to be a tribal champion, they quickly got excited and told me how proud they were that I had plans to compete in the Running Men competition. I told them stories of my time here, how I excelled serving the administrators, and how I was treated by my peers. I love seeing the look on their faces when I told them stories, and how I missed this.