LEO AUREUM

Chapter1

Chapter 1

I raised my head with a jolt, shivering. I tossed my blanket aside. The flimsy material did nothing to shield me from the harshness of the early morning drought.

I had successfully awoken to the creaking of the door as Sgt. Stephen opened it to wake up my rank mates. I was learning fast.

Dismounting from my bed with the grace of a crippled cat, I winced in pain; spewing words that I had no business knowing as I stubbed my toe on my bed frame. I hated mornings.

The sound of Sgt. Stephen’s voice was the only balm I needed to remind me that there were more pressing matters than my potentially broken baby toe.

With trembling hands, I scooped up my laughable stock of toiletries and my towel. I raced to the bathroom stalls, praying that there was no one there.

Strangely, it seemed like lady luck was on my side. I wasted no time. I hopped into one of the shower stalls and took the fastest shower known to humankind. I turned off the lukewarm water, the rat race was about to continue. Slipping more times than I could count, I raced to my room.

Relief washed over me as I entered and was greeted by the familiar sight of my sanctuary. My twin-sized bed took up almost all the space. The small window couldn't open, the walls were damp, and the paint was chipped. The bedding was old and worn, and my clothes were in a bag in the space I managed to squeeze beside my bed. My shoe collection was arranged under my bed. Although, I doubt you can call 4 pairs of shoes a collection.

The room wasn't much, but it was mine. The only space where I knew I was safe. No one would be caught dead in the “trenches” of the academy. I wish I could stay here forever.

My reverie was cut short as the cracked screen of my iPhone 6 lit up. The speakers were not working, but the alarm was still as faithful as ever. My time was running out.

Alas, I was still an organism that needed food and water. I wore my “standard” issued uniform, pieces that Gladys was able to snag from the lost and found.

With one last longing look at my room, I stepped out, locked the door and headed to the mess hall.

The cook's entrance was buzzing with people. I kept my head down as I walked in. The smell of caramelized sugar and vanilla overwhelmed my senses.

Leo Aureum Military Academy did not play when it came to feeding. Too bad, everything else was trash.

My stomach rumbled. Reminding me of what happened the last time Gladys fell ill.

I heard her before I saw her, my knight. Her chubby cheeks jiggled as she laughed with mirth. Her joy instantly brought a smile to my face. Her face lit up even more as our eyes met. With a wave, she beckoned me towards the kitchen.

I followed her without missing a beat. Tears filled my eyes as her big arms engulfed me in a hug. She smelled like detergent and fresh bread. I missed her.

Gladys was basically my ancho;, without her, I knew that I would not have survived the academy for as long as I had. She kept me fed even when it was f*******n. She listened to me even when my existence was ignored.

She vouched and advocated for me more times than I deserved. Heck, the only reason why I had a place to sleep and clothes on my body was that Gladys swore that if I was treated as anything less than a human being, she would leave the academy.

I basically owed everything to this 80-something strict but insanely kind bundle of love.

“Steph, you haven't been eating. You have lost weight,” she started.

“I haven't been hungry.” I lied.

“Hmm.” She replied.

It was basically a routine. She would make inquiries about my depreciating weight and I would blow it off. She would let it go because we both know the reason. Sustainable nutrition is not a luxury a traitor should be able to afford.

She would then hand me a bag filled with food. I would beg her not to give me the bag because she could get into trouble. She would fix me with a stern look and I would collect the bag.

I would give her one last hug, ensuring that I poured in all the love that I could into that one hug and sprint back to my room.

The same thing happened this time, but I ensured that I hugged her for a second longer.

On reaching my room, I unpacked my small feast. My stomach grumbled once more as I looked at what Gladys packed. I almost wept when I saw the croissants. Gladys was basically committing high treason, giving me baked goods from the general's personal stash.

I stuffed my mouth with cured meats, cheese and bits of bread. As a treat for all my running around, I put a wrapped croissant in my knapsack, took one last peek at the time on my iPhone and hurried to class. I was going to make it in time.

For all my classes, I had to make sure that I was not too early and not too late. If I was too early, my rank mates would have leeway to make me remember just how I deserved to be treated. If I was too late, my professor would ensure that my grades would suffer.

I couldn't afford to fail, doing well in my academics was my only ticket out.