Chapter 9: A Strange Soldier Ⅱ
780 Words
"Scarlett!" Wayne shouted.
Scarlett quickly led kids to hide behind Wayne.
The four soldiers glanced at the modified Buick business sedan, and then at the crowd crouching in the corner.
"Is this car yours?"
Wayne nodded, "Yes, sir."
"You’re a family, right? What are you doing here?"
"We just passed by and decided to rest here. We're headed to the Empire State Building Safety Zone. These children are my students." Scarlett answered.
"Oh, well. Kids are really cute yet poor." A bald soldier laughed and pressed his hand again.
"Hey, you don’t need to be afraid. We're not the bad guys. And we won’t hurt you."
"That’s great. Are you from the Federal Army?" Scarlett got a little relived and smiled.
"The Federal Army? Well, you could say so! Actually we are here to find some fuel." The bald soldier laughed and said.
But Wayne didn't say anything. He only squinted. He was a Navy SEAL, a standard Union soldier, and his instincts told him these four weren’t soldiers.
Though their military uniforms were standard and flawless.
the Union no longer existed, only strongholds and fortress-like safe zones.
The entire planet was already a disorganized mess.
"That's a coincidence. I served in the Union Army. What’s your designation?" Wayne said, laughing.
"Oh, really! We are from Hawaii 25th Infantry Division! And you!" The bald man looked at Wayne and asked.
"I’m from the 3rd Infantry Division of the US Army in Russia. I guess we all served in the Asia-Pacific Theater!" Wayne said, laughing.
"Oh yeah, that really is a coincidence! Let's have a drink to celebrate, what do you think?" The four soldiers looked very excited.
"Wayne, weren’t you in Iraq and Libya..." Clearly, Scarlett was confused about Wayne’s lie.
Wayne shook his head secretly towards Scarlett. "They're lying. US troops couldn’t have been stationed in Russia. They could be thugs masquerading as soldiers. Be careful!"
Scarlett and touched the pistol at her waist in fear. Wayne stopped her, "Don't do anything rash yet. Don't hurt the kids."
Wayne looked at the four soldiers again and shrugged, "A drink? Sure! I have some red wine here. Should we drink mine?"
"Red wine? Wow! I haven't tasted that in a long time! I thought I would only drink brandy for the rest of my life! ... There are some disposable cups here."
The bald man told the fat man and the thin man to get cups from the shelf of the convenience store and pointed. "Can we sit here? Come on, on’t be so nervous!"
"Of course!" Wayne gave a nod.
Scarlett brought a bottle of red wine from the car. Her sexy body attracted the attention of four soldiers. The bald soldier didn't hesitate to praise her.
"Your wife is beautiful."
The fat man and the thin man brought several disposable cups, while another short man brought a fresh fruit cake and even candles from the jeep.
The children immediately gathered round, sucking their fingers.
After all, they hadn’t seen a cake for long time.
"Haha, actually today is my birthday. We can celebrate together, if you don’t mind." The bald man gave the kids high fives.
"I see! That’s really nice!" Vane poured some red wine into each cup.
The fat man and the thin man lit candles, and the short man took the led the children in singing the birthday song.
"It's ridiculous to have a birthday party in such a place at such a time!" Thought Wayne!
"Hey, friend! Thanks for your wine. Let's toast! Here's to all of us living safe and happy lives!" The bald soldier held the cup.
"Thank you, sir. Happy birthday! Cheers!" Wayne and Scarlett clinked cups of red wine with four soldiers and drank up together.
The short man cut the cake for Scarlett and kids and looked at Wayne, "Why don’t you have a piece of cake, too!"
"No, thanks." Wayne shook his head.
He didn’t trust these strangers. Wayne only trust his own food, like the wine.
"You really don't want to join us, Wayne? It tastes good! See? The kids love it!" Scarlett smiled as she took a bite of the cake.
"As long as you’re happy... Um!" Before Wayne could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp dizziness, and the cup in his hand fell to the ground.
*Clatter! Thud!* Scarlett and the kids also fell to the ground unconscious.
Damn it! What happened! Were we drugged?! When! I didn’t eat the cake!
Wayne looked at the four men in horror. The bald man grinned and shook the cup in his hand.
Shit! It was the cup!
Wayne’s eyes dulled as he slumped to the ground...
- Writer
