"Boy stays back."
Just three words and I stopped in my track.
My ass-owner left.

Now it was just the two of us, and I couldn't wait to leave.
He just looked at me without moving or so much as blinking.
I didn't know what to do so I stood straight looking at the wall behind him.

"Why won't you look into my eyes, officer? Scared?"
Damn!

"I've been taught it's rude to behave that way, Commander."
Where did those words come from?

He laughed and got loose.
"At ease."

I changed my position but wasn't at ease at all.

"I trained Reese at KMA, just like he trained you. He was my best lad and that's exactly what he used against me in getting this deal sanctioned from the HQ. Bloody poignant kid."
He chuckled.

I held back a snicker.
That's Beta for you. He says and even does it 'by hook or by crook.'

"He's my special boy, and so must be you to him. I can see why he pushed through everything to land you up here and I don't have a second meaning when I say I am proud of you two. Nobody dared to do what you guys have done. Nobody even thought about it. But-"
Suddenly his face became cold.

"-I am the commander of this place and I have to maintain a standard. I can not let my past affect my present. You'll understand this the day you are at a position like this. Reese knows that too, that's why he tried his best to make it impossible for me to kick you out on my authority. He played smart, and I'm equally pissed and proud of him."

He took a few deep breaths and continued.
"Major Norman is a good officer. He has earned his name in this Camp as both an agent and a trainer. He hates the second job but does it as a part of his duty. He was supposed to go back after his CT got over but had to stay back for you. I assume you know what that means?"
"Yes sir."

"Good. Because that's my bait through him. If you survive, I'll lose and my officer can not let it happen. So be ready to face worst from the best."
"I'm ready, sir."
I said and he looked at me intently.

"All the best, Son. I will wait for you to prove me wrong."
He said and I went back rigid.

Saluting him the last time today, I turned and left.

As soon as I came out, I found Norman waiting for me.
God this ice-face.

I stood in front of him and he looked at me looking for signs--whether I've decided to give up.
When he saw nothing but a hard headed nut, he got annoyed again.
Time to break my spine, I guess.

"Front rolls."
He said before I could blink thrice, hate dripping from his words.
I followed him towards his office.

Right at his door, he called 'up' and I behaved like a human again.

As I walked in and stood in front of him, he threw a folder on the table.

"You heard him. This is your last chance."
I knew what those papers were. I knew what was written on them. Word to word. I had read it a hundred times at KMA.

"Sit."
I looked up at him to ensure that the sound came from someone who doesn't like to see me walking on two feet.

"Sit and take a wise decision."
He repeated and I didn't know what to do. I had taken the decision and there's no going back now.

"Sir.. I.."
"Don't make me order you thrice."

I knew better than pissing him off so without wasting a single second, I sat on one of the seats.

"Read every word carefully."
Her ordered next and I followed.

After making me read it six times, he kept the 'volunteer' form in front of me.

Handing over a pen to me, he said "Free me James, and your shall live. You trap me with you, and I'll make your life hell."

I took a deep breath and ticked the 'I agree' option.

"Think again."
He said while I moved my pen for signing.

I swear, it was hundred times more difficult than the previous time. I could see my future very clearly.

I signed and before he unleashes hell on me, I got up.

"That's it!"
He said yanking the papers from the table, crushing them in his hands and throwing in the dustbin.

I took a breath and forgot to exhale.

"Best cadet, right? Best parade? Go march eight rounds of the field. Fuck off!"
He screamed and I ran out.

Holy christ!
His room felt like a time bomb!

I ran away before he calls me back in and screws me right there.

The huge ground had me sweating in just three rounds. I knew I had eyes on me and that was a reason good enough to do perfect parade as taught.

It was afternoon when I was hoping for some water after the third round.
Though I didn't expect that to happen, specially after the missile I directed at Norman and Commander.

They're going to make me regret it every second.

I just finished the eighth round and let my muscles loose for a few minutes. Hours of parade can seriously cramp up your muscles if not massaged properly.

Before I could feel the warmth of that rest, my ass was back on fire. Norman was here.

"You thought you were done?"
He asked me, challenged me rather.

I stood quiet but remembering what he did to my fingers this morning, I blurted out a quick "No, Sir."

"Good. Because I haven't even started with you. Crunches."
He said pointing at the floor and I got mentally ready to donate him my abs today.

"A few rules that you're going to follow starting right this moment."
Gah.
This is the part I hate the most.

I'll hate every word that he'll speak and I'll have no option except saying 'yes sir' to all his stupid rules.
God bless me.

"Your day starts at 5. Report to me - I'll give you tasks that you'll complete during the day. You'll attend all the physical training under instructors. You'll not be given any weapon for first fifteen days, so don't dare to even look at one. Your timings, counts, reps, rounds every bloody number should be at the tip of your tongue. At the end of the day, you'll present your 24 hour work cycle. I want account of every minute spent. If I find a time period where you did nothing, you'll pay for wasting it.
While I go through your work cycle, you'll give me the same data as sitrep. If both your timings and counts don't match with your report, I'll consider you didn't do it at all. Got it?"

"Yes sir."
Fuck you though.

"After your reporting comes permissions. You will ask permission for everything you want or need to do, except sleeping. You so much as move, I shall be informed, James. Basically anything you do other than blink and breathe, you take my permission. You take a piss, you gulp anything down that pathetic throat, you rest your ass to sit down, anything - you'll ask me. Am I clear, or you need a demo, newbie?"

"Clear, sir."
Fuck you again, arsehole!
But thank god atleast I can sleep at my wish.

"You'll be sleeping outside in the corridor- in your sleeping bag, on the floor."

What the Fuck?

"Yes sir."
I say with clenched teeth.
I thought the KMA dog is the worst slave job ever. But look at this - sleeping outside.
That's what he meant by 'allowed to sleep inside tonight'. Damn it.

"Look James. The bell is over there -" he pointed and I understood where the conversation is leading to.
"- so at any point of time you think you can't do something, go and ring that bell and get rid of me. I'll be better off doing my job instead of sucking your boiling blood."

I looked down taking in his words.

"Yes sir."
I almost whispered considering his options already.

"Hey tadpole." he said walking close to me.

"I have a well planned diet, counting every single calorie. So if I'm putting my energy in you, I want you to fucking answer me loud enough to not make me feel like a deaf old man. Can you speak loudly or do I need to wash your vocal cords with spirit?"
By the end, the distance between our faces was almost nil and his voice was through the roof.

"Crystal Clear, sir!" I practically shouted. He glared for a few more seconds and then finally turned around giving me room to take a fresh breath.

"For sleeping, you'll keep your sleeping bag in the corridor of CTOs rooms. To take a nap of maximum 2 hours, you'll ask one of the CTO to write and sign in your work cycle. There will be times when they'll be sleeping in their rooms and you'll have to knock and wake them up to give you permission. In that case, be ready to face whatever they throw at you.

I don't care whether you get the permission to sleep anytime at night or not at all, you'll report at 0500 hours daily. Even if I dismissed you ten minutes before 5.

Throughout the day, you'll ask for my permission for doing anything voluntarily, anything you are not ordered to do - all those things that I mentioned above.
And mind you, if I've denied something to you, then I won't change my answer if you ask again. So think thrice before you repeat your request.

All the Continued Training Officers are your bosses here. You do all the tasks, follow all their orders given at any time. But if any of them conflicts mine, you report me before going ahead with their task.

Any complaint I recieve from them, and that goes directly into your report book in red ink. This is all for now. I'll improvise and add more rules to make it horrible and impossible for you to stay here. Everything clear?"

"Clear, Sir!"
My heart hasn't lifted up since that moment.
What have I signed up for?

************************************

Really James, what have you signed up for?

Warren actually turned out to be docile but what's the point if he gave all the authority to a heartless man? And I don't get good vibes from Norman.

Clearly that's how my man learnt selling and owning souls. Anybody with me here?

************************************

I thought I'll surprise you with an early update.

PS - watch out for the next chapter. 😉

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