Chapter 175
Ben and I got dressed but neither of us were ready to go back to the base, so Ben pulled me close to him and I rested my head on his chest.
“Have you ever thought about what life is like outside of army bases?” Ben asked.
“No. Not really.” I said.
“Well, you do know that there’s a whole massive world out there. Is there anything keeping you at a Hunter?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I’m 16 and I’ve grown up on these bases. I assume that they just own me.” I said.
“No one owns you. You’re your own person. They aren’t allowed to own you.”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Because I can actually see myself having a future outside of the Hunters.”
“Yeah. That does sound nice. But like I said, I’ve never really thought about it.” I said.
We got back to the bunk house in time so we didn’t get busted but I couldn’t get those questions out of my head.
I had never really thought of life outside of the Hunters because it has been my whole life.
What would I even do on the outside? I mean, training and fighting is all I know what to do.
I never went to school. I never grew up with close friends. I never had any of that.
As I was walking towards the mess hall for breakfast I was lost in my own thoughts when Ben grabbed my hand. But I quickly pulled it away.
“Not here. They’ll bust us both and send one of us away.” I said.
“Shit. Alright.” He said, not realizing how seriously they didn’t like us to fraternize. No matter how many times other people got away with it, it was always drilled into my head that I would get so badly disciplined if I was caught doing it.
“Well, what are you thinking about? You seem really distracted.” He said.
“Yeah. I don’t know. You just got me thinking about what you were asking me last night.”
“About getting out of here?” He asked.
“Yeah. I mean, it’s a nice thought. But I’ve lived my life around this perfect structure. And I’ve never been to school. This is all I know.”
“I’m not saying that we have to. I just thought that I’d ask. I mean, it would be scary. Everything new and unknown is scary. But don’t you want to get married, have kids of your own?” He asked. And I looked up at him again, wondering where all of this was coming from.
I hadn’t thought of this sort of stuff. I never imagined myself as a mother. I mean, what the hell is this guy doing to me?
I have a feeling he is going to be the death of me. But in a good way.
“I think your other boyfriend is getting jealous.” Ben said. So I looked up and Justin was standing off in the distance leaning against another building with his arms crossed staring straight at us.
“What the hell?” I asked, confused.
“I told you. He likes you more than a friend.” Ben said.
“He’s not allowed to.”
“I think he thinks that he is allowed to. Because he’s one of the trainers.”
“Well, that’s never going to happen. I have never thought of him like that.” I said.
“Good to know. At least I’m the only one that you think of like that.” Ben said, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“Shut up.” I said, pushing him away from me and he started laughing at me.
We went inside to get some breakfast but before I had even gotten my food, Justin came in and ordered me outside.
I followed him outside and he didn’t say anything to me until we got to the obstacle
course.
“I’ve already done this. And beaten the record for a couple of seconds.” I said.
“Well, now you’re going to beat your previous record. And you’re not stopping until you do.” He said.
“Have I done something to piss you off? You look really angry at me?” I asked. “Just do as you’re told. Go.” He yelled.
So I looked at the obstacle course and I started running towards it and did the whole course up and back but i didn’t make the time. So he forced me to go again. And then again. And then again.
I missed lunch and he kept making me go.
One of the other Hunters finally brought my water bottle off but I was barely allowed
a water break.
I could get a sip of water before I had to do the course again.
I was starting to think that Ben was right. Justin was acting like a jealous boyfriend and the longer the day went on the slower,! got because of how exhausted I was getting.
I missed dinner that night as well but Justin still wouldn’t let me finish.
I had been on this course since 7am this morning and I am still here at 8pm at night.
Justin was standing by the side of the course and it was taking me twice as long to get the course done.
He was really pissed at me about something and I saw Ben come out after dinner and he stood back watching what Justin was doing.
He looked like he was going to intervene but I shook my head at him.
I didn’t want him getting involved because that could just make it worse for me. I needed to deal with this myself.
If Justin thought I needed to be punished for something, then I would take my punishment and I wouldn’t complain about it.
But after another hour on the course I could barely walk and Justin just looked at me
when I got back to him and he didn’t say anything before he walked off.
Ben ran over to me and he helped me to my feet and grabbed my stuff off the
ground and he helped me back to the bunk house.
I needed to have a shower and I sat
on my bed while Ben grabbed the first aid kit and Jesse helped him try and clean up my hands that weren’t just blistered but were cut and bleeding.
My legs and feet were as well.
The blisters that I had on my feet were insane, but the whole inside of my hands were covered in blisters and cuts that I couldn’t even see my hands anymore.
“What the fuck is that assholes problem?” Ben asked.
“I don’t know. Just don’t go and say anything to him. That will just set him off.” I said.
Ben helped me get into bed when they were finished helping me and he laid down
on his bed right next to mine. Looking at me.
But I fell asleep pretty quickly.