Through The Stars

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I was in that place again.

     I was again in that time where Earth was how it used to be. I wanted to feel happy even if I was well aware that I was just  stuck in another dream. Reality sucked. Even if I was inside Galaxias and the vicinity of The Highest where imminent calamities aren’t even something to fret about, I could not feel the same joy that I feel inside this dream. I don’t know what it’s called – the feeling of knowing that you are inside your own dream. I am not quite sure as well if I prefer knowing it or not.

“Genesis.” I heard someone called my name.

   I looked back to see who it was but no one was around. It was a familiar voice but I could not recall to whom it belonged.

“Genesis.” It echoed from the vastness.

      The voice of the woman felt like she was speaking from afar but ringing inside my head. I tried to run along the field and from a nearby spot and from there I saw a silhouette of a lady, blinding me by the setting sun’s brightness behind her. I was about to run towards her when I was called by another voice.

“Genesis, wake up!”

      My body almost jolted upon Jinhao’s call. My sweat was running like beads down my forehead and my heart pumped hard in my chest. Every member of my team stood in attention because Rune was standing in our door. I smoothed my hair behind my ear and imitated them – averting my gaze from the sole heir of the throne.

“Must’ve been a good dream,  to sleep that soundly despite my shout.” He sarcastically remarked.

     I did not respond to his non-sense statement. I do not want to argue with a monster anymore. I just want to do what I have to do here in Galaxias so I can return home.

“The Highest is expecting your presence in the training hall; I expect to see all of you there! I don’t need to explain why, just follow orders! That was your duty as training cadets! Am I understood?

“Yes sir!” we replied.

“I cannot hear you cadets!!!! Am I f*****g understood?” he shouted angrily.

“Sir Yes sir!” we shouted.

“I don’t want to see your energy like that as you enter the training hall later! You all look like wimpy kids! We are training you here to be the best! Not to be wimpy kids! Show me that kind of energy again and I’m going to make sure you’ll all regret it!” he said firmly.

My whole squad was pretty scared. I can pretty much tell it by their looks while Rune was speaking.

Rune left our quarters upon giving us the orders.

We didn’t waste any second and we start fixing ourselves as Rune left us.

Jinhao started admitting that he was scared as Rune shouted all over our quarters.

“I thought he’s going to punish us because of that, whoa” Jinhao sighs deeply.

“Yeah, me too!” Lee Jun added.

”I was nervous too” I added, but I lied.

To be honest, I don’t really know why they are scared of that punk. They all see him as a respected person, but I see Rune as a trash just like his uncle. I don’t get it why they respect these kinds of people, who do not know anything aside from stealing things from others just to keep surviving. They are worse than sewage rats!

We are almost done fixing ourselves when suddenly, Jinhao slipped. His hip was badly injured, to the point that he could not even stand up.

Our colleagues called for medical staffs to assist Jinhao. Unfortunately, there are no medical staffs available during that time, because they were all needed in the hall for the upcoming event. Instead of waiting, we decided to help Jinhao ourselves.

I asked our colleagues to find something we could use to aid the injured Jinhao. All of us were eager to help Jinhao as we saw him suffer really badly.

I took the responsibility of looking at him while the others are looking for some things we can use as first aid for Jinhao’s injured hip.

After several minutes, they all arrived with the things we needed to aid Jinhao.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!” Jinhao screams in pain.

“I need you to focus on me and ignore the pain, I’m doing my best to aid you in the gentlest way I could.” I replied.

“You guys can leave me here, I would be alright soon! You guys should attend the upcoming event in the hall or else Rune will get mad!” Jinhao whispers.

“No! We are not going anywhere without you! If you stay here, we’re going to stay here too!” I firmly replied.

After few hours, the pain was lessen according to Jinhao. He can barely stand and walk a little bit now.

Upon seeing him walk a little, we decided to go to the upcoming event. We still don’t let him walk alone all by himself; Lee Jun guided him towards the hall where the event is happening.

When we arrived, the hall was empty. The silence is deafening. We thought the whole event is just about to begin, until we saw Rune sitting on the other side of the hall staring at us with anger.

“Where have you been all this time?” Rune asked angrily.

“Do you know that you are the only group who did not make it to the event? He added.

“Sir, we are very so---“ I replied, but he interferes even though I am still speaking.

“Did I ask you to apologize?” he asked.

“No sir, but…” I replied, and he interferes again while I am speaking.

“I didn’t ask you to do that at all, all I want to know is where have you been all these time, cadets? He said while closing his fists because of anger.

No one speaks because they were all nervous to converse with Rune, knowing and seeing that he is mad towards us.

“Are you all f*****g deaf?” Rune shouted.

His voice is like a thunderclap in the middle of a storm. His authority is like a lion ruling the jungle. I cannot blame everyone for not conversing with him, because I know they were all scared of this punk.

The tension kept going, until I decided to speak for myself and for my colleagues, but suddenly:

“It is because of me sir!” Jinhao shouted.

“Hmm” Rune smiled.

“I lost my footings while fixing myself for the upcoming events sir! I injured my hip and I cannot stand or walk at all” Jinhao added.

“Well, you’ve got some nerves to admit that in front of me, cadet. I’ll give you that, but do you think it’s funny?” Rune shouted angrily.

“The only thing I asked you is to attend the upcoming event, simple as that. Is it hard to understand? Answer me!! You all know the price of breaking the rules don’t you? But don’t worry; since you tell me the truth I’ll give you a shot.” Rune said while smiling towards us.

“We are willing to give our best shot for it sir!” we replied.

“I don’t need all of you, I only need you Jinhao! Since you are the reason why your fellow cadets missed the event, I want you to do the task” Rune said while smiling.

“No questions, sir!” Jinhao replied.

“Good, I want you to clean every dust in the field with your foot by means of running around it, you won’t stop until I said it is clean, you understand? If you fail to do that, you and your colleagues will be severely punished.”  Rune said.

That time, Jinhao couldn’t even walk without the assistance of Lee Jun, and Rune is asking him to run all over the field, now what kind of monster is that?

Even if it is impossible for him to walk, Jinhao accepted the orders given by Rune. While trying to walk on his own, Jinhao suddenly lost his balance and suddenly fell, sign that he could not do the task.

Rune turned his heel on us disappointedly and decided to walk away from us upon seeing Jinhao’s situation.

He is doing his best to get up, but his body won’t cooperate. Due to this, I decided to help Jinhao.

“I will do it myself, sir!” I shouted.

“Well you’ve got some nerve to do that, cadet. I’ll give you that!” Rune said while smiling.

I do not know what came in to my mind that time, but all I know is I need to help Jinhao.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Rune shouted.

“We left the hall and return to our quarters for me to prepare for the task. While walking, Jinhao approached me.

“Hey! Just want to say thank you, for uhh.. you know, saving my ass back there.” He whispered.

I smiled at him even though I’m getting nervous because I honestly don’t know if I could fulfill the task.

We reached our quarters and I prepare myself for the task.

I took a shower and sighs deeply as the water touches my skin. I took that particular opportunity to meditate and relax myself even for a little bit, but turns out, opposite things happened. From every splash sound of water, I can hear the voice of the people from the place where I came from. They are calling my name, but I couldn’t see their faces. Their voices were familiar, but I cannot exactly tell who they are, because I cannot see their faces.

They were screaming for help, they are telling me that most of them were dying because of hunger. A shadow holds me and shouted at me, and then suddenly, I woke up inside the bathroom taking a shower. I realized that I fall asleep while taking a shower because I am very tired.

Jinhao was the only person inside our quarters after I finished taking my shower. He told me that all our colleagues were gathered around the field to watch me do the task.

It makes me more nervous and determined at the same time. I prepare myself for the worst, and started walking to the field.