Benji dragged his feet on the ground as he headed towards the cafeteria. Only God knew how tired he was. Or maybe not, he was not the only one tired anyways. He entered the silent cafeteria and looked around. A dozen or so soldiers sat in somber silence on the tables, each with their own cup of coffee. Probably even more, who knew, everyone was obsessed with coffee these days.
Everyone was tired and in a bad mood as well.
He walked towards the coffee machine and placed the plastic cup underneath it. He pressed a few buttons and waited. Nothing happened. He waited a little longer and nothing came out still. He muffled a silent curse and moved on to another one. Then the next one, another one and then another one still. Nothing! There was no coffee left.
"Shit! Major's definitely going to kill me."
He cursed loudly this time, prompting the lady behind the kitchen counter to intervene.
"Everything alright young soldier?"
"Yeah ..I mean no. Not really."
He sighed.
"Major Black sent me to get him a cup of coffee. He's been working so hard he has not even left to see his family. I'm afraid I'll get in trouble if I do not bring him his coffee. And the nearest cafeteria is like a hour away and by the time I return it'll be cold. Not to mention the trouble I'll be in again."
The lady looked at him somberly for a few moments.
"It is no use Benjamin."
He raised his eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
The lady shrugged.
"It is like I said, it is of no use. Several soldiers have been complaining about the shortage of coffee beans over the past few days. Until yesterday, when they ran out completely, leaving only this one. This one is out as well, so traveling an hour to another one is rather useless don't you think?"
Benji gritted his teeth in frustration.
'What the hell am I supposed to do now?'
"Is there nothing I can really do?"
The lady was silent for a few moments and then sighed.
"Since it is for your superior i might just be able to help you out, but you have to wait for a few minutes."
Benji's face lit up.
"Really? Oh thank you so much sister Evelyn, you've always been such an angel."
Evelyn gave him a dubious look and shook her head. Then she disappeared behind the back room and came back after a few minutes holding a glass bottle. The bottle was pinkish in color with a beautiful floral design. She shook it for a few seconds and gave it to Benji. He looked at the bottle then Evelyn, confused.
"What is this this?"
"You said you wanted coffee did you not. So I gave you my own, I do not really need coffee that much so I will manage. And besides, its not that busy today anyways so..."
His face became even brighter.
"Thank you so much Evelyn. Please don't ever die, I don't know what I would ever be without you."
"I know. You would be nothing. Now go on quickly, your boss is waiting. And do not forget to bring back my bottle."
Benji shouted as he sprinted towards the door.
"I won't i promise!"
***
Some time later, he was in a familiar tall building, that he did not particularly like a lot. Thanks to Evelyn he had made it just in time. She was truly a godsent. An angel in human form. She was one of those rare gems in the world, and Benji had vowed to protect her from it. She had done so much for him in past, but that is a story for another day.
Right now, his mission was to deliver that coffee to Major and survive his wrath. He walked towards the elevator with measured steps. The hallway was almost empty, but there were a few guards stationed at the entrance, and some of his colleagues did not leave to see their families. Today, he decided to play a little dirty as well, just for the fun of it. When they threw disgusted glances at him, he would reflect them right back.
The looks on their faces were priceless.
The elevator ascended faster than he could collect his thoughts, and so his mind was scattered everywhere. Everything did not matter as long as he did not trip in absolutely nothing and fall, breaking the bottle. Now that would be a true nightmare. The elevator grew still and the steel doors opened. He was now on the very top floor, and no ordinary soldier was allowed near Major's office. Unless called upon.
So the top floor was just quiet and empty. It was truly unnerving really. He slowly approached the office with trembling hands. He tried to convince himself that everything would be fine, but he knew better. Every single soldier knew Major's bloodied reputation very well, and how he became the youngest soldier in history to attain the rank of Major. He was truly a formidable foe.
And that is exactly why he was Benji's idol.
Not because of his accomplishments or fame, but because he was cold, murderous, cruel and cunning. No matter how arrogant he behaved, Benji could not bring himself to hate him, because he saw himself in him. He saw another broken soul in him. His kin. That is the main reason he idolized him so much. Unlike the others, he did not pretend nor hesitate, he always did what had to be done. Even if it means brutally taking a life. That is why Benji suspected him to be the killer roaming freely among them.
And that is exactly why he was so scared of being alone in the office with him.
Soon, he found himself in front of the door to the office. He reluctantly raised his knuckles and knocked as gently as he can.
"Come in."
He drewn in a deep breath and went in.
***
A young man, in her late twenties, woke up dazed and distorted. The world around him spun unceremoniously, making him nauseous and dizzy. He took in a couple of deep breaths and regained his composure. A cacophony of screams and cries assaulted his ears, making them bleed. He gritted his teeth and covered his bleeding ears with his hands and pressed tightly, closing them shut.
A few moments passed and he slowly released his hands from his ears as his brain began processing all the noise and the movement. In out, in out, in out. Deep breaths. He slowly looked up again and tried to collect his thoughts. He still remembered everything, which was a good sign because that meant there were no signs of brain damage or a concussion. He scanned the area he was in, trying to find the similar tent he and his sister were in. He spat through gritted teeth.
"Shit!"
He looked around the Camps and winced in pain. All around him, innocent civilians were being assaulted and killed. He was not in a better state himself. Dozens of cuts and stab wounds littered his whole body. His clothes were wet with blood. He jolted up and started running around shouting his sister's name. He met another mercenary assaulting a young girl and knocked him to the ground. The girl ran away and hid, while he continued searching for his sister.
"Eileen!"
He was so mad at the heartless mercenaries who disturbed their peace. They had wronged no one and yet they were suffering the consequences, all because humans were greedy beyond comprehension. They were never satisfied with what they had, they always wanted more, they always killed more. He decided he was done playing Mr nice guy. He would do whatever it takes to find his sister. Even if that means taking a few lives.
He knocked over one of the mercenaries and wrestled him to the ground. They struggled for a few minutes until he finally had the upper hand. He strangled the mercenary relentlessly until he was motionless. He took the weapon in his hand and started running.
He ran towards the center of the Camps like a headless chicken, and all around him people were doing the same. No one even looked where they were going, everyone was rushing to find something/someone they treasured. After running aimlessly for dozens of long minutes, he tripped on something hard and knocked it over. He had no idea what he knocked over, but he suspected that it was one of the civilians. He knew only one thing, he did not care, he only cared about finding his sister.
He did not even spare a single glance on the civilian he knocked over, standing up half a second after the impact and continued running foward. He even lost his weapon somewhere but nothing else mattered anymore. His body was battered, but his mind was clear. He had to find his sister. No matter what it took. She was the only family he had left. Their parents lost their lives during the seventh World War, he was not going to lose sister as well.
His eyes began to feel foggy and heavy. He struggled to gather a few thoughts. Those he managed to gather were hazy and disoriented, as if there was some sort of interference. His speed slowed down. His legs felt heavy and required a ton of effort to lift. He spat countless curses as he felt his body giving up to the cold embrace of the night. Tears streamed from his cheeks, slowly at first, then more like a river down his disheveled face. He looked up. The night was beautiful, the pale moonlight illuminating that Camps below. Countless stars littered the dark abyss.
"Eileen. I'm sorry Eileen. I'm so.. "
Before he could finish that sentence, he felt to his knees then collapsed to the ground with a soft thud.
The pale moonlight shining gracefully on his unconscious figure.
***
Jack watched all of that transpire with a strange expression on his face. Of course he was unaware of why the young man was running around, but he did have an idea that maybe he was looking for someone important. But that was not why he was in a strange mood. His focus was not on the young man, but rather on the mercenaries. The more he watched them, the more he noticed something eerie and strange about them. Then a theory surfaced in his mind making him pale.
'No way...'
Before he could finish that thought, he heard a soft knock on the door. He raised his head startled, but quickly regained his composure. He tried to speak but his voice cracked and came out hoarse.
"Come in."
He cleared his throat.
A familiar young man entered the office and greeted him energetically. No matter how enthusiastic the young man tried to sound, he was obviously nervous. The best course of action was to make him feel at ease. He smiled and looked at the young man who stood straight with his left hand lining the left side of his forehead. On his other hand he held a glass bottle...
'Must be the coffee.'
"At ease Benjamin. You are not here as my subordinate, but as my confidant instead. Please sit down."
He gestured for the chair and continued talking.
"I know we are not exactly friends but you are the only person I can trust with this matter. And honestly the only one intelligent enough to understand. And thank you for the coffee."
The young man blushed a little as he handed him the bottle.
"What exactly do you mean sir?"
"Oh please call me Jack, like I said i am not here as your superior. And also I am only a few years older than you. You're making me feel like an old man."
He chuckled as he poured the coffee into two cups and gave the other one to the young man, whom bowed slightly in appreciation. The young man was clearly confused. He had this cute little expression on his face that made Jack chuckle even more.
"Uhm sir.. I mean Jack, what exactly is happening?"
Jack placed the cup on the table and his face darkened instantly.
"There is a few things I would like to discuss with you Benjamin, regarding the meeting we supposedly had a few days back."
Benjamin tilted his head a little.
"Meeting?"
"Yes. According to my schedule, we had a meeting a few days back that was successful conducted and carried out. I thought maybe you could enlighten me but it seems you do not remember it either."
Benjamin frowned.
"And another reason i called you here..."
Jack leaned foward a little.
"...is because i found a breakthrough pertaining the unknown disease."