Alpha's Gamma

Chapter 4

PERILOUS. A word that comes to mind that made me laugh. I could not see any affinity of that word in this forest. Yes, we are already here, after long hours of driving.

The breeze of the wind is full of savory. The branches of trees are swaying as the wind blows. The birds did not stop tweeting, as if they were welcoming us. This is natural; the green color is all around, the flowers are blooming. I like the view of this forest, it's mesmerizing.

"Quick! We have only a few hours to arrange our things!" Mr. Coropol shouted at us as if we were in a hurry!

My admiration for the beauty of this forest was shattered. Suddenly, I was not in a good mood, which would have been nice earlier when we got out of the car.

I looked at Akey's cat because, by chance, I encountered the weak one.

"You've had a bad opinion of the cat before, that might make you forget." I was shocked by what Coles said.

I forgot that the four of us still had one tent. I thought I could get away and rest from their stupidity, but I haven't!

"Maybe you're the one I want to scratch?" I went back to threatening him.

But instead of being annoyed, he smiled even more. "I like it. Intense and hot."

I restrained myself from shooting him with the M16 I was holding in extreme annoyance. If I wasn't really his buddy, he might have been stunned and bathed in his own blood earlier.

I didn't scold him anymore. I turned to Dern who had been taking care of our bags because of Sir Coropol's voice.

"Hey, are you kidding ?!" I sat with him and then helped him carry our belongings.

I turned to Akey and he was only taking care of his cat. He is not helping!

"No, Sir Coropol is really scary. He is more dangerous than Sir Sua!" Dern answered with a clenching jaw.

I just took a deep breath and ignored him.

I put my things away in the tent.

After a couple of minutes, Sir Coropol was shouting at us to go in formation. We are soldiers, and we need to be quick!

"Attention!" Sir Coropol shouted again.

The four of us stood in the front because we were small and aspirants.

I even spotted Akey's cat behind Sir Coropol and yawning.

"Our mission will start today! Remember the military rules! Follow the commands and do not complain! Respect the elders! When to salute and when not to salute!"

The hardness of Sir Coropol's countenance, and the courage of his gaze are on us all.

Dern was right, he was more frightening than Sir Sua.

"This forest is perilous, we don't know what will meet us later when we enter the very core of that forest, where most of the soldiers who enter there are missing or dying. We need to be careful, maybe there's a trap or a technique... "

"Our mission is to find out what is the cause of the disappearance of the people who have come here and who is killing them. There is a lot of trust and what is expected of us by superiors, so we need to solve this phenomenon. Is that clear?"

We all then replied to him, "Sir, yes, Sir!"

"You can rest now, we will start our mission later. Dismiss!"

We all saluted him before replying, "Sir, thank you, Sir!"

It would have been appropriate for us to follow those who turned our backs on those of us who already had ranks, when Sir Coropol called us?.

Seriously, he is not smiling. Maybe he is the sharp type of a person. I wonder why he and my dad are close.

"The four of you, be careful, this is part of your training. Don't do things that are against military rules and don't have my consultation, is that clear?" He was reminding us.

The four of us nodded, then we answered him at once. "Sir, yes, sir!"

Sir Coropol looked at me. He knew me. I know, because I am the daughter of his close friend.

"It's nice to see you here, Miss Cordova. Your dad is expecting more from you. Make Soliman proud of you. Maybe in that way you will take him back. . . show us what you have got, as to how your brother impressed us."

He held me by the shoulder then patted it.

"Thank you, Sir."

He nodded at me. "Take good care of your team, Ravey."

That was the last thing he said before he turned his back. We do not leave where we stand until he is not far away.

When we made sure that he was far away and busy with the rest of us, Akey immediately acted and took his cat.

Dern returned to our tent. As Coles came in front of me and studied my face.

I want to punch him.

I raised my right eyebrow.

"What?" I asked and he just laughed.

A smirk then appeared on his lips. As if he knew something that crept me out.

"Stop pretending to be brave, you are obvious."

I was about to speak because of what he said but he left in front of me and helped Akey and Dern to clean up.

I hated him so much for that.

I was disgusted because he could read me.

And hate to admit it, but he is right.

*

I MOVED the document I was holding to the last page. I studied the information regarding the forest we were in.

It was written here that there are mostly thousands of people here who are totally gone and no dead bodies can be found.

This phenomenon is just a secret.

Some say that there are fairies inside and others believe that someone is killing inside.

The pieces of information are unclear, and the soldiers are seeking the truth and answers. Besides that, they want to give justice to their fellow soldiers who died in this perilous forest.

"The depth of our thinking, Ma'am. What's with the face?"

Akey stood beside me as he carried the cat he named Pandy again.

Coles and Dern came out to line up for our meal in afternoon.

"Nothing. Mind your own business." I stared at him sharply and then ignored.

They get too close to me. Where I do not want to involve them in my life. I do not want to get them attached to me. I don't want commitment, I just want to be alone.

I feared it. I was afraid to be fooled and left behind again. I fear the day will come that they will also leave me because of my weaknesses and mistakes. I'm afraid they'll turn their backs on me one day because I'm nothing.