General and I

UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

The camp was silent, the kind of silence that presses down on everything until even breathing feels too loud. The faint hum of crickets mixed with the echo of marching drills still stuck in Leah’s head. Every muscle in her body burned; every breath hurt.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Leah lay flat on her bunk, eyes open, staring at the wooden planks above her. Natasha snored softly on the upper bed, but the noise barely registered. Her mind was replaying the day the endless commands, the weight of the rifle, the way that cold, stone-faced General Cole watched her struggle and said nothing.

Not a single word of concern. Not one flicker of humanity.

She turned on her side, exhaling sharply. “Heartless man,” she muttered under her breath. “Does he think we’re machines?”

Her voice was a whisper in the dark, bitter and low. “Just stands there barking orders like some damn statue… probably enjoys seeing us crawl.”

The words were venom to her own ears, but it felt good necessary. Anger was better than despair.

Her chest felt tight from exhaustion. She sat up slowly, grabbed her jacket, and slipped out of the dorm.

Outside, the night was cold. The moonlight washed over the camp like silver dust, softening even the hard edges of the training field. Leah walked toward the empty grounds, rubbing her sore arms, trying to forget the image of his unbothered face as she’d nearly collapsed earlier.

“Stupid general,” she hissed under her breath. “Thinks the whole world revolves around him… What kind of person makes people run till they drop?”

“Someone who can hear you right now,” a voice said calmly from behind her.

Leah froze.

Her heart lurched violently. She turned and her stomach sank.

Damien Cole stood there, dressed in a plain black T-shirt and training pants. No medals, no stars, no formality but that presence, that commanding aura, didn’t fade with his uniform. It clung to him like a second skin.

For a moment, Leah thought her soul might leave her body.

“G-General,” she stammered, snapping into a salute so fast she nearly hit her forehead. “Sir!”

Damien’s expression was unreadable. “At ease,” he said, voice calm. “I’m not here as your commanding officer tonight.”

Leah didn’t move an inch. “Y-yes, sir. I mean no, sir. I mean…”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re making it worse.”

Leah dropped her hand awkwardly, feeling heat crawl up her neck not from embarrassment, but sheer frustration. Of all the people to overhear her insults, it had to be him.

“I— I didn’t mean what I said,” she muttered quickly.

He crossed his arms. “You didn’t? Because it sounded very… descriptive.”

Leah winced. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

Damien’s tone was dry. “Clearly.” He took a step closer, his eyes steady but not cruel. “You hate me already, Recruit Sanders?”

She hesitated. “I don’t hate you. I just… don’t understand why you push us so hard.”

His jaw flexed slightly. “Because the world doesn’t go easy on anyone, Miss Sanders.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So breaking us is your way of making us strong?”

“If that’s what it takes,” he said evenly. “Strength doesn’t grow in comfort.”

Leah bit her lip, fighting the urge to snap back. Her body screamed for rest, her pride for rebellion. “Well, you’re doing a great job then, sir. We’re all miserable.”

Something flickered across his face not amusement, not anger, but interest. “Good,” he said simply. “Maybe misery will teach you what comfort never could.”

Leah’s throat tightened with silent fury. She wanted to say more, to tell him he had no right to treat them like machines, but her exhaustion weighed heavier than her pride.

Damien tilted his head slightly, watching her. “Go back to bed, Sanders. Tomorrow won’t be easier.”

She clenched her fists. “Of course it won’t.”

For the briefest moment, his expression softened just a flicker but he turned before she could notice. “Get some rest. That’s an order.”

Leah didn’t move until he walked away, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows between barracks. Only then did she exhale, every muscle still stiff from the tension.

“Arrogant,” she muttered to the empty air. “Cold-hearted. I can’t stand him.”

But even as she said it, her chest ached not from admiration, but from anger that she couldn’t shake off.

The next morning came with cruelty disguised as sunlight.

The whistle shrieked through the camp like a warning from hell itself. Leah groaned, every bone in her body begging for mercy. She sat up, rubbing her temples, barely awake.

Natasha groaned from above. “We’re going to die here, Leah.”

“Maybe that’s his plan,” Leah muttered.

On the field, Damien stood waiting, perfectly composed in his full uniform. The General from last night the one who almost seemed human was gone. What stood before them now was the embodiment of discipline itself. Other sergeant and lieutenant were all surprised they weren’t expecting the general to be directing the recruits himself,if one thing it’s rear to see him face to face . Beside his rival General Zach is not even bothering himself with the recruits so why will the almighty Damien do that .

“Fall in line!” he barked, his voice cutting through the morning air.

The recruits scrambled into formation. Leah’s stomach twisted when his gaze swept across them cold, assessing. When his eyes landed on her, it was only for a heartbeat, but she felt it.

“Today,” he began, “we’re testing endurance under chemical exposure. Tear gas drills. If you cannot control panic, you will fail. And failure here is not an option.”

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances. Leah’s chest tightened. Tear gas?

He gestured toward the chamber tents at the far end of the field. “Medics are on standby. Enter in teams of five. Do not disgrace yourselves.”

Leah’s pulse quickened. She clenched her jaw. Whatever this was, she wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Inside the tent, the air was thick and invisible poison. The gas hit her lungs like fire. Her throat burned, her eyes flooded instantly. She coughed violently, every breath a fight.

Around her, others shouted, stumbled, panicked. The world spun.

“Stay calm!” the instructor shouted.

But Leah couldn’t hear him anymore. Her chest felt like it was caving in. Her mind screamed for air. She staggered, tried to steady herself and failed.

The ground rushed up to meet her.

Outside, Damien’s face remained expressionless as he timed the recruits’ endurance. He prided himself on not showing emotion, on being the kind of leader who never hesitated. But when the fourth group stumbled out coughing and retching and Leah wasn’t among them, something in him tightened.

“Where’s Sanders?” he asked sharply.

No one answered fast enough. The silence was deafening.

Without a word, he strode toward the tent, ignoring the startled looks of his officers. He pushed past the medic and stepped inside.

The air stung his eyes instantly, but he didn’t care. Through the haze, he spotted her lying still, her body limp.

He didn’t think. He just moved.

He knelt, lifted her into his arms effortlessly. Her breathing was shallow, her face pale, her lashes glistening from the sting of gas and tears.

As he carried her out, the camp froze.

Every recruit, every officer, every medic stopped.

The General the unshakable, untouchable Damien Cole was carrying a recruit like she was made of glass.

“Get the medic,” he ordered, voice low but firm.

Yes, sir!”

The medics rushed forward, but his grip didn’t loosen until they reached the infirmary. Only when she was safely on the bed did he step back, jaw tight.

The medics quickly attended to her,everyone were worried only Ann wore an expressionless face,jealousy burned down her guts,maybe she should have fainted too,maybe she’d be the one getting all the attentions but no Leah had to be the fragile girl .

Few minutes later,She opened her eyes weakly, and the first face she saw was that of the general he look worried but he quickly wiped the look the off his face

“ she’s fine now sir “ the medic said ,

Damien finally breathe a sigh of relief,but before Leah could open her mouth to say thank you she heard

“ pack your bags and leave the camp tomorrow after resting ,there’s no room for you here “ Damien said, it sounded like a cold bucket of iced water was poured on her . Leah wanted to say something but it got stucked up in her throat , she looked at him with teary eyes, her tongue begging her to say something but she just couldn’t,words seems to run away from her at that moment ,all she could do was watch as he turned his back and left