The Purge
Chapter 16: Halley

“But the games—that was what they lived for. That was what filled the hours between waking and sleeping.”

Ender’s Game; Orson Scott Card

Con never came back to the evacuation area.

My intuition was right all along. She would lead him on, she would hurt him and she wouldn’t care. I pity my friend who’s madly in love with our commander. An unrequited love in such a tragic time. I’ve heard of tragic tales from old books. Although it’s hard to find any books at all, I’ve heard one from my dad. It’s about a girl and a boy dying together via suicide. But I think that kind of drama’s already over rated and out of date.

“I win.” Athren crossed his arms smugly as he triumphed over Sigourney. Their betting game was over Conleth and Bri were as dumb as a wrist fight. Sigourney let out a tongue at him.

“Stop it you guys. Conleth hasn’t even returned yet.” I set my frustrations out loud. “You think he’s okay?”

Athren scoffed. “To tell you the truth, Bri’s not the hearts and flowers kind of girl. I think Jedi Master has been crashed by Queen Amidala.”

“Whatever the hell are you talking about, Athren?” Sig elbowed him.

He rolled his eyes at her like she’s an idiot for not knowing. “I’m talking about a movie I saw once with my mother.”

“I think she’s just scared.” I voiced out and I shrugged when I found the both of them looking at me.

Athren frowned at me. “Bri’s never scared.”

“Then why hasn’t Con come back?” I retorted.

The doors opened and Bri came in with the answer. He was in a white uniform like the rest of the pilots in the room.

Athren snorted. “Figures.”

I turned to him with a huge question mark on top of my head.

“Conleth hasn’t returned?” Bri asked as if from a distance she heard my thoughts shouting.

Athren rolled his eyes skyward. “Obviously.”

Bri raised her eyebrows at him and he gaped at her.

“Seriously, why’s everybody asking me that question?” he prompted. “He’s in his shirt.”

Bri raised an eyebrow at him and Athren let his shoulders sag.

“I don’t know. He’s probably out there. Moping.” he frowned at her.

Bri narrowed her eyes at him. Behind her, the Sentinel Pilot lingered. He cleared his throat and Bri glanced back at him as if remembering he was with her.

“Soldiers, this is Capt. Fygun Hawke of the Sentinel Union.” Bri introduced him and we all saluted. He saluted back with all the grace of a well-versed soldier. He looked back at her and he smiled. He’s in love with her. I wanted to roll my eyes away. More drama.

“Fy, this is Sigourney,” as Bri introduced, Sig waved her hand enthusiastically at him. “…Halley and of course, you’ve met Athren already.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet the elite soldiers of Bri’s army.” Fygun complimented.

Athren snorted. “’Cause we’re the only ones in Bri’s army.”

“Nice to see you again, Athren.” Fygun smirked at him. Athren nodded in return like he wanted to make another sarcastic remark right at his face but didn’t.

Fygun turned his eyes back at Bri. “I should head back to the others.” Bri nodded but her eyes remained on the ground as if she didn’t hear his words at all. He leaned down and kissed her temple before disappearing in the crowd. Things didn’t seem to match very well. Even though he was making an indication that Bri belongs to him, it seemed to me that she doesn’t feel the same way.

She raised her head as she looked at us. Her eyes were clouded with tiredness.

“Bunk up. We’re gonna need all the rest that we can get.”

The very next day we found ourselves back in our headquarters. The Legislators had ordered a quick attempt on training us ahead of time. They’re taking things in fast forward; not minding to take a pause. Our trainings had been ongoing every five hours in a day. They’re frying us up for the Inception Trials. We get very little sleep. All we do felt like an unchanging routine. Eat. Train. Nap. On and on.

My head gave in to the tiredness and I leaned on my knees. That’s when I felt a weight on top of my head. Heat radiated from the contact. I guess that’s the impression Conleth would leave to anyone.

I looked up and he smiled down at me. He’s so broken. His smile couldn’t even reach his eyes. They were as blank as a lonely lake.

“Hey there, Blondie.” He sat down beside me.

I tried to muster a smile but I couldn’t. This empathy’s eating me.

“Hey,” I said.

He bumped my shoulder and snickered. I felt so guilty that I couldn’t play along.

“Are you all right?” I asked and his mask fell off a bit. But he had it on before I could console him.

“Yeah,” he said. It almost came out like an anxious sigh. “Always am.”

No, you’re not. You look so wretched. I rolled my eyes at him.

“I’m talking about your heart.”

He snorted as he tapped his chest. “It’s broken but it’s still working.”

I felt my shoulders sag.

“Addonexus don’t die.” He smirked at me as he mimicked Bri.

Absent mindedly, I placed my hand on his shoulder. It’s gonna be okay.

He smiled back as if hearing the silent words in the air.

“She’s not worth it.” I said out loud.

He reached out to me and he ruffled my hair. I moved away from him and he started to laugh at me. “She’s gonna throw you off the wall if she hears you say that.”

I snorted. “Nah. I have no worries. If she really wanted to hurt me, she would’ve killed me a long time ago.” I sighed. “We all learned something from her.”

He smiled despite himself. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

“You know I’m on your side no matter what, right?” I raised a skeptic eyebrow at him.

He snickered. “Because I’m nice to you?”

“No.” I answered silently as I watched my feet unmoving on the ground. “Because you’re my friend.”

He chuckled. “I guess I am.”

I smiled back; relieved that at least I could still make him happy.

“You blocked out the last time.” He said. “What happened?”

Images of those blood thirsty aliens filled my waking hours and I squeezed my eyes shut wishing they would go away. I wrapped my arms around my knees and I bowed down my head.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault you got hurt.”

I felt his hand again on top of my head. “That’s not what I’m asking.”

I looked up at him and he has this carefree smile on his face. The one he’d use on me in times when I needed to be comforted.

“I heard them.” I reached up to point my ears. Then I pointed my temple. “They were talking to me.”

Con’s smile faded and his eyebrows met. “What were they saying?”

“And so the prodigal soldier has finally returned.” Athren tapped Con’s good shoulder. Con dodged his hand away.

“I had to get some peace of mind.”

“Yeah, I figured that out too.” Athren smirked at him. “Speaking of boyfriend it must be very devastating for you.”

“Stop it, Athren.” I hissed.

Con narrowed his eyes at him. “You knew and you never told me?”

Athren shrugged. “You never asked.”

Con scoffed. “I guess it pleases you to see people suffering.”

“You’re back.”

We all turned to Bri who stood by the door.

“So it seems.” Con’s expression hardened when he turned to her. Something happened between them and for whatever reason, it was tearing them apart. “Where’d you think I’d go?”

Bri shrugged as she approached Con. “I don’t know.”

As if regaining her composure, she turned on her commander button. “Where have you been?”

“I just followed orders. I went back to the infirmary.” Con answered bluntly.

“Some peace of mind.” Athren snorted.

The two ignored him. They stared at each other’s eyes as if silent words were being exchanged. It made me feel out of place. How come there’s still a wall between them when it’s clear that it has already been broken?

Bri cleared her throat. “You look all right now. I hope you can fight for the Trials.

“Sure.” Con raised his chin. “I’m used to getting myself killed.”

Bri took a deep breath as her eyes skimmed the line of weapons on the wall. “Well, in that case I hope you don’t die.”

“Why not?” Bri was about to turn away when Con asked. He’s challenging her with his eyes.

Her eyebrows creased with irritation. “Because we need you.”

Con raised a mocking eyebrow at her. “We? Is it really we or I?”

He stepped closer but Bri met his fiery gaze without flinching.

So are they really gonna pretend like we’re not in the picture? We’re completely obsolete!

“Set aside your feelings, soldier.” Bri tilted her chin.

Con flinched. “My feelings. Nobody cares about how I feel. You don’t care.”

“Of all people, I expected you to rule over your emotions, Con. You’ve disappointed me.” she said, her words were made of pure poison and lies. I knew she didn’t mean them. “You’re too weak.”

“Weak is better than being a liar.” He retorted.

Bri’s jaw tensed. “May I speak with you in private, soldier?”

Con scoffed at her.

“Conleth,” Bri repeated. “May I speak with you in private?”

“Lovers’ quarrel.” Sigourney sang. I wanted to elbow her but Bri had beaten me with a casual glare. Sig bit her lips shut.

“If you want to say something to me, you can say it in front of everyone, chief.” Con said, mockingly.

“It’s not a request. It’s an order, soldier.” Words came out of her lips through gritted teeth.

“You know what,” Athren inserted. “If you two, lovebirds, are going for lovers’ quarrel, might as well take the drama outside.” His tone told me he’s pissed off already and I wanted to hide somewhere safe. “There are still good people inside this room, if you have noticed. I’d be very much happy to fly you out of the door.”

Conleth narrowed his eyes at him before heading out of the training room. Bri and Athren exchanged silent words in the air. She followed Con after a few heartbeats.

“Why’d you let them out?” Sig complained like a fan girl with a canceled ticket to a movie premier. “I still wanna hear what Bri has to say.”

“You wanna hear the drama?” Athren snapped. “You’re free to go out and watch.”

Sig stomped her way into a bench and she sat down with her arms crossed and her eyes sent Athren some daggers.

“Athren,” I started and I flinched when he turned to me. But his fury slowly faded away. I relaxed a bit. “Is that Sentinel Pilot really Bri’s boyfriend?”

Athren shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“But you seem to know him.”

“There are things in this world that are better left unsaid.”

“But Con—”

“Is an idiot.”

He smirked and I chuckled. I couldn’t disagree with him.

“Fygun and Bri almost grew up together. They seem to have a mutual understanding but I don’t know if their feelings ran deeper than that.”

I looked away to the closed door where I was hoping Conleth was saving his heart from doom.

“Some people would just risk everything to save the ones they love the most. They’ve even forgotten about themselves. Lives are easily thrown in the gorge like a garbage bag.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Some people lack the sense of relevant purpose.”

He smiled. “How did you even get here?”

I looked down at my fingers. “I volunteered.”

His eyes widened in amusement and puzzlement. I don’t know which is which.

“You do realize that you’re buying a cheap ticket to Planet Death?” he laughed at me. “You must’ve had a hard knocked life to put yourself on the edge.”

My eyebrows met. “No. I’ve always wanted to save mankind.”

He nudged my shoulder. “You’re not a little girl after all. I wish I had picked you instead.”

I smirked at him. “You thought I was a weakling?”

His eyes softened at me. They were like the color of the ocean and flecks of gold lingered along the edges, mixed with the colors green and silver. They were a beautiful set of a different kind of rainbow.

“I thought you were too innocent.”

My display started to flare orange. INCEPTION TRIALS blinked hard in my vision.

Athren smiled. “Oh well, there it is.” He started towards the door. My heart started to beat hard inside my chest.

“Let’s play.”

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