Thel' Vadamee
The Return: Into the World (Reign of Chaos Chapter 1- Each season will have a different title)
I awoke at my regular time in the morning, at precisely 5:45 AM, on the third of March. Yawning slightly, I pushed aside the covers on my prison cot, and rose to don my orange jumpsuit. According to my calculations, based on the previous demographic of prisoners drafted to the military, my date would either be today or tomorrow. Considering this fact happily, I glanced around my cell as I prepared for my morning exercise regimen. Everything was as I had left it, the only other piece of furniture besides my cot was the bin used to hold clothing. I stepped past this to signal the guard, who cautiously opened the bars and directed me to the prison yard. He was sure to stay well behind me as he watched me, prepared for any attack or attempt to escape. All this was done in futility, for if I wanted him harmed, no feeble precautions could stop me. Pushing this into the corner of my mind, an area I kept separate for all my important thoughts, I settled into my favorite area, and began my regimen of push-ups. My favorite time of the day was here in the early morning; the air was still cool, and the dew had just begun to truly settle. Before too long, sweat had gathered on my chest and the small of my back, soaking the jumpsuit through as I continued the numbing exercise. After the 100 pushups, I began the same number of sit-ups. And then came the jumping-jacks, mountain climbers, a few stretches, etc. After I had finished, I repeated it again, and again, until the yard began to stir with life as the other inmates awoke. At this time, tired with my exercise, I began to head back to my cell, guard still in tow. As I entered the building, the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up. Ever alert, and not one to ignore my sixth sense, I slid to the side while turning around. Behind me, the sharpened end of a toothbrush swung down where I was, in the hand of a brawny inmate. Quickly, my calculating eyes formulated a plan. In slow motion, I struck his wrist at the apex of his swing, grasping it in an iron grip as he stumbled, off balance. Twisting his hand so the shiv pointed upwards, I dealt him a blow to the back of his neck. Slowly he stood up, making a wet gasping noise, a look of mild confusion on his face. He looked down, to see the toothbrush embedded in his windpipe. As the guard reacted, I drew the dying inmate in close, and whispered, “Chaos has no friends, and leaves no enemies.” With this, I gave the brush a brutal twist, and watched the man fall to the floor, a pool of crimson gathering around his prone form. With a contemptuous sniff, I continued on to my cell, the guard standing blank-faced behind me, unsure what to do. Calmly, I closed the door behind me, and settled in for the long wait…
As it turns out, the wait was not as long as I had expected. Less than an hour later, a man in a crisp uniform showed up, entourage in tow. He stood at attention, saluted, and said “Son, welcome to the corps. From now on, you shall be Private… Private… What was your name again? It didn’t show in the prison records.” It took the man several seconds to realize that the hissing sound escaping my lips was laughter.
“No need for names. Names are pointless; they only serve to attach one to a former life. The men I’ll be killing won’t need to know.”
Visibly nervous, the man replied, “Well then, I suppose it doesn’t matter. In any regards, you’ll be serving as First Infantry, under Major Fitzpatrick. When you’re ready, we’ll set off on the train to Durmont, near the front. If there’s anything worth taking with you, gather it now.”
“Now that you mention it, I do have a few things.” With this, I pressed a loose block in the wall, levering a section of the concrete away. Inside, I grabbed a tightly wrapped cloth package, which I unfolded to reveal an array of knives, an ornate punch-dagger, and an odd mask. Refolding it, I stepped to the open cell door, walking past the guard, jaw agape. Smiling inwardly, I followed the soldier down the hallway, to the outside world. Chaos was loose once again…
The Return: Into the World (Reign of Chaos Chapter 1- Each season will have a different title)
I awoke at my regular time in the morning, at precisely 5:45 AM, on the third of March. Yawning slightly, I pushed aside the covers on my prison cot, and rose to don my orange jumpsuit. According to my calculations, based on the previous demographic of prisoners drafted to the military, my date would either be today or tomorrow. Considering this fact happily, I glanced around my cell as I prepared for my morning exercise regimen. Everything was as I had left it, the only other piece of furniture besides my cot was the bin used to hold clothing. I stepped past this to signal the guard, who cautiously opened the bars and directed me to the prison yard. He was sure to stay well behind me as he watched me, prepared for any attack or attempt to escape. All this was done in futility, for if I wanted him harmed, no feeble precautions could stop me. Pushing this into the corner of my mind, an area I kept separate for all my important thoughts, I settled into my favorite area, and began my regimen of push-ups. My favorite time of the day was here in the early morning; the air was still cool, and the dew had just begun to truly settle. Before too long, sweat had gathered on my chest and the small of my back, soaking the jumpsuit through as I continued the numbing exercise. After the 100 pushups, I began the same number of sit-ups. And then came the jumping-jacks, mountain climbers, a few stretches, etc. After I had finished, I repeated it again, and again, until the yard began to stir with life as the other inmates awoke. At this time, tired with my exercise, I began to head back to my cell, guard still in tow. As I entered the building, the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up. Ever alert, and not one to ignore my sixth sense, I slid to the side while turning around. Behind me, the sharpened end of a toothbrush swung down where I was, in the hand of a brawny inmate. Quickly, my calculating eyes formulated a plan. In slow motion, I struck his wrist at the apex of his swing, grasping it in an iron grip as he stumbled, off balance. Twisting his hand so the shiv pointed upwards, I dealt him a blow to the back of his neck. Slowly he stood up, making a wet gasping noise, a look of mild confusion on his face. He looked down, to see the toothbrush embedded in his windpipe. As the guard reacted, I drew the dying inmate in close, and whispered, “Chaos has no friends, and leaves no enemies.” With this, I gave the brush a brutal twist, and watched the man fall to the floor, a pool of crimson gathering around his prone form. With a contemptuous sniff, I continued on to my cell, the guard standing blank-faced behind me, unsure what to do. Calmly, I closed the door behind me, and settled in for the long wait…
As it turns out, the wait was not as long as I had expected. Less than an hour later, a man in a crisp uniform showed up, entourage in tow. He stood at attention, saluted, and said “Son, welcome to the corps. From now on, you shall be Private… Private… What was your name again? It didn’t show in the prison records.” It took the man several seconds to realize that the hissing sound escaping my lips was laughter.
“No need for names. Names are pointless; they only serve to attach one to a former life. The men I’ll be killing won’t need to know.”
Visibly nervous, the man replied, “Well then, I suppose it doesn’t matter. In any regards, you’ll be serving as First Infantry, under Major Fitzpatrick. When you’re ready, we’ll set off on the train to Durmont, near the front. If there’s anything worth taking with you, gather it now.”
“Now that you mention it, I do have a few things.” With this, I pressed a loose block in the wall, levering a section of the concrete away. Inside, I grabbed a tightly wrapped cloth package, which I unfolded to reveal an array of knives, an ornate punch-dagger, and an odd mask. Refolding it, I stepped to the open cell door, walking past the guard, jaw agape. Smiling inwardly, I followed the soldier down the hallway, to the outside world. Chaos was loose once again…