Who's this man?
Nobody wants me to live peacefully here.
"Who's it?"
"Jane it's me, Nick. Get up."

"Let me die here. Go away."
"C'mon woman open the door. I know you're dead tired, but you gotta have some food, or you'll really kill yourself. Now get up!"

I gathered some strength, got up and opened the door. Nick was there, waiting outside.
Another guy holding a covered bowl in his hands, entered my room, kept the bowl on my bedside table and left without looking around. I was hungry, and that was a truth. I tried to turn back, but tripped. Nick saved me just in time.

"He wants to kill me. If he comes to know that you are saving and feeding me, he might kill you too." I murmured.

"Ahahah. No he can't kill me even he wants to. I'm his brother afterall."
I choked on my own breath while he said that statement with utter pride.
How? That emotionless man!

He's a killer. This man's a saver. How is it possible?
"Yes, it sounds impossible. Hahah. Just look at your face!" he continued laughing.

"Eat your food miss. You gotta stay alive to face the big guy!"

He makes the mood so light, while Killer makes everything tense.
"How can you be brothers? You guys are so different!"

"Well... Yeah. We are different in few aspects, but same in others. You feel the difference too much because, like you said, he wants to kill you, but I want to save you. He never wanted you to come, while I had no such issues. But we both screw the boys equally."

"Well, poor guys. That Killer is enough to destroy lives single handedly. Being a girl if he's behaving like this with me, I wonder what he does to the boys."

"Don't have false impressions lady. He doesn't know gender when it comes to training. He'll screw all equally. He hasn't started your real training yet. Once he does, you'll realise how wrong you were."

"What are you saying? What worse can he do than today? Well, may be he can."
I shut myself, realising how worse can this get.

It's better not to think about tomorrow and spoil this food. I swallowed the first bite and felt like a zombie. It only took 2 minutes to finish the whole food. He saw me eating, with occasional laugh.

"Poor girl. I told you to stay away from him. You didn't listen to me."
I looked at him, opened my mouth to argue, but couldn't say anything. I had nothing to say.

"Do you really want to learn something, or is it that revenge you want for that insult? Tell me the truth. May be I can help you."

"I don't know. It started with anger, it still is. But deep down I think he can teach me. It will be a good thing to learn if he keeps aside the plan of killing me."

"Look I'll give you a few more days to understand your feelings. If you're still doing it just to prove something and don't want to continue I'll go talk to Colonel because you'll die if this goes on. But, if you really want to learn, I'll explain what is going wrong. Think about it."

He stood up and started walking out. Then he turned back and said "By the way, you are supposed to have all three meals in the mess. If he knows you're skipping any one, God save you. And I can't send food to your room everyday. I don't want extra lectures. So go to the mess and eat your food on time. Okay?"
"Ya ok. Thanks for this though."
He smiled and left.

I was still thinking what he meant by "what's going wrong". But my brain and eyes were starting to shut down. I decided to think about it later and take rest now.

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

I woke up from the dead. Looked at the time. Shit. It was past 5 minutes since my alarm clock stopped ringing. You can still make it Jane. Hurry up.

But it seemed impossible. My cramps won't allow me to move even a single step. How am I supposed to do all that I did yesterday with such cramps in whole of my body? I'll certainly die today.

I landed at the ground just in time. He was there, that means no stretching. This is going to be the worst day of my life.
He blew a whistle and pointed towards the ground. I gathered all the strength I had and started running, knowing that's what he instructed me to do.

He made me run 3 rounds again in the same way. I think he was planning to go for the fourth but decided to kill me slowly by other means. He was really torturing me. He knew how to hurt the already paining muscles and he made me do just that. I could feel every single fibre of my body tearing apart.

He let me go and have my meals. That was the only time I realised I was a human.
Finally the end came. But one series of pain was remaining. We both knew. He was waiting for me to start the pushups.
I looked at him with half closed eyes and absolutely zero strength. Will he?

"I'm about to die. Please."
"I don't want to hear anything other than the counts."
No he won't.
I can't explain in words how painful those pushups were. Everytime I pulled myself up I remembered the whole scene. How I got myself into this, and how he's making me pay for it.

"Next time you skip any meal, be ready to face the consequences."
And he left. Shit, how did he know about it?

It was too tempting to go straight to my room and let my bed consume me. But the straight warning had me going to the mess before crashing in my room.

Bed felt so good. Nothing can be better. But what's 'going wrong?'

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

It's the alarm! Damn.
When I was rushing to reach the ground, having sure shot scope for stretching, I saw Nick- breathless and sweaty from head to toe, supporting his weight with his hands on knees.
I crossed him at the boundary of the ground.

"So early? How much did you run?"
"12"
Twelve rounds? Really? It wasn't even 6 in the morning and he has done miles? But I saw him only today.

"Started a new routine?"
"No. I was... Nothing. You carry on."

"What is it?"
"This was his punishment." came a voice from behind.
There he is. Killer.
But what punishment?

"He knew better than pampering my students."
Wait a minute. Was that because of me?
I whispered "that dinner?" Nick just nodded.
He was breathing hard. My goodness, this man is crazy. He is his own brother!

Nick got up and went close to Killer. "Sorry Wills. But.."
"Nick don't ask for another set."
Nick raised his hands in surrender and started walking away. When he crossed Killer, he turned back and looked at me.

I couldn't believe my eyes, he winked at me. How can it be so casual to get a punishment from your own brother, of the same rank as yours, that too for such a stupid reason?
These people are mad. All of them are mad.

**
Dinner time was close and so was my spirit to breaking the deal. I know I signed up for this as a revenge for the way he behaved with me at our first meet, but I decided to go along because I heard very high of him from literally everyone. He HAS to be something to have earned that honour, right? What if he was really good like Uncle said? If so, he can really teach me something. Of course he comes with a stupid arrogance but he never crossed any boundary.

"Hey kid!"
That was Nick.

"What grandpa?"
I replied turning to him making him laugh. Oh this guy is literally the soul of this dark place. If he goes away, I'm sure every leaf here will dry up and die. I don't know about anyone else, but I really feel good when he's around. I've always wanted a big brother and he gives off the exact vibes.

"Okay. That was a good comeback. Granted."
He said offering me a water bottle.

"Thanks. And thanks."
I said.

"I have a good news for you."
"And what would that be?"

"Your dad reached out to talk to you since your phone has been confiscated."
"He did?! I was so worried for him!"
I felt so much lighter.

"Yeah I know. You ate Colonel's head over and over. He's waiting for your call back whenever you're free. Go to the Colonel's office tomorrow morning after the run."
"Yes!! Thank you so much Nick!"
I went and hugged him. He patted my head and said 'You call me grandpa one more time and I'm going to lock you from outside in the morning.'

I laughed with my face on his chest.
"How about Brother?"
"Sounds good. Add something to it."
He said pulling me away.

"Great Big brother!"
I spread my arms wide with the word Great and his chest went wider somehow. So did his smile.

"That should do it."
He said.
I felt devious and punched his guts tightly only to hurt my hand instead.

He bent over laughing.
"Stop laughing!"
"Oh you baby."
He said still laughing.

"Kid was better."
I muttered as I walked away leaving him laughing.

****

"How are you my dear?"
Dad spoke and I could hear the pain in his voice.

"I'm good, Dad."
I tried to sound strong knowing he's already hurt.

"I thought you'll be angry at me."
"I was. But it's okay. You have your own reasons."

"I'm so glad you're taking this positively. How are you doing? I know you must be feeling stuck there. How's James. And... how is.. Wills? Has he joined back to KMA?"
"You know him?"
I was shocked.

Uncle smiled looking at his file. He was sitting right across me and I bet he could hear every word.

"More than just know him. So he HAS joined back. How's he? You should stay away from him okay? Not that he's a bad guy, just.. just keep a distance. You hear me?"
Uncle looked up at me with a huge smile on his face.

I think dad is teeny tiny bit late in giving me this advice. I wonder how will he react when he knows that I'm spending most hours of my day right under his nose.

"Go ahead. Tell him."
He taunted me when I didn't say a single word.

"Dad.. i actually.. am training for martial arts..."
"That's great! That's so good, Jane! I'm so proud of you! Oh that's so relieving! You have no clue how much load you've taken off my shoulders now that I know that you'll be able to keep yourself safe. I'm sure James will arrange the best instructor for you. Who's teaching you?"

"Erm... It's.. Major Wills..."
"WHAT?! WHAT THE HELL! JAMES! Are you out of your mind?!"
Dad knows he can hear him?

"I gave her a choice, Tail. She made the decision. Don't shout at me."
Uncle said without me having to move the speaker.

"Jane, are you okay? Is he treating you properly?" Dad asked and Uncle replied before I could say anything.

"Watch it, Tail." His warning sounded scary and I felt knots in my guts.
"Think before you talk bad about my best officer." He continued.

"I'm sorry, James. I really am. I'm just worried about the way he.."
"Don't worry, Dad. I'm fine. I agree he's strict but I realise he's good at his job."
I said before dad makes it worse.

"He's the best, Jane. Best person to teach you self defence if he has really decided to. Learn from him all that you can."
I couldn't believe his words.

First uncle, then Nick, and now dad? Who is this man? Killer seems like a popular guy in the forces.

"Thank you so much, James. And I'm sorry. I'll try my best to make everything right."
"I'm couting on your words, Tail. Now get back on your job."
Uncle said and Dad said his goodbyes.

*********