Chapter 16: Call it Home

John

We had finally made it to the town and as prepared there were buses lined up ready to take people to the airport in order to go home until the commander is captured and they are no longer in any danger. It was a long awkward bus ride to the airport, not much was said on the bus after the destruction that I left behind in the forest, everyone acted as if I took it took it too far but what they didn’t understand is they were going to slaughter us all, they would not have let any of us go, it would have been a bloodbath and if it’s going to be one it’s going to be there blood that’s spilled not ours.

After boarding a flight and making It home in a matter of hours I walked through the door a broken and shattered boy, I was greeted by my parents making dinner, they looked at me covered in dirt and grime and instantly asked what happened, I ignored them went straight to my room, hitting the bed the moment I stepped in there. I slept for hours, getting some much-needed rest after such a hectic day, I awoke well over 12 hours later to breakfast being made. It was my favourite I could smell it, chilli and beans with bacon, eggs, and toast. I trundled out of my bedroom and scoffed it down as if I hadn’t eaten for a week. I was still grubby and gross so out of respect I quickly cleaned myself up and decided to spend some time with my family, as even though I was home for a tad over a week I spend most of my time setting up for my trial. “So, John I heard about the attacks at the battle school, is everyone okay there?” I shook my head “No, we lost people, quite a few of them actually, turns out there was a corrupt commander working for the other faction.” My parents read me instantly “You lost someone you liked didn’t you” my face dropped “I did, possibly one of the best people on earth, and now they are gone.” My parents gave me an expression of sympathy, but I knew it wasn’t legitimate, they didn’t know who she was nor could they really care, but what did worry them was how it was affecting me. No matter how you spun it I looked broken, I couldn’t bring any uplifting expression to myself and it worried my parents. “how bad did things get there?” my father asked “Bad, a lot of us had to do a lot of things we were not ready to do.” My father asking confused “Did you have to kill?” I stated my next sentence so bluntly it broke my father “Yes, all of us had too.” My father broke into a controlled rage. “What the fuck is wrong with those faction fucks, sending in armed soldiers to kill a bunch of kids!” I then spoke quietly “Me and Benton were the targets.” My parents froze “Why?!” I looked at them just as blunt as ever “Who do think found out the commander was corrupt.” I got up and left, trying to do something with my day so I wouldn’t go insane. I made my way across town, using some of my leftover money I bought some food and drink making my way to Benton’s place, even though I was back in my hometown and had plenty of friends there, only Benton was the one I wanted to hang with. He understood what I had been through and would help me get through the hell that I was living with.

I made it to Benton’s place within the hour and knocked on his door, his mother answered the door “Hi, what’s up?” she asked me, she was quite lively chirpy “Hey just wondering what Benton is doing?” I said with a smile, she then gave me an unfortunate answer “Benton has been asleep basically since the minute he got home, he is still out.” I then showed a look of surprise, “Oh, well when he wakes up give him these, give him a little perc up that he needs.” I then gave her a Hotdog with a can of drink “I’ll let him know you stopped by….?” I then chuckled “John, is my name” then she chuckled as well. “John, have a good day mate.” I then wandered off making my way down the main street looking for things to do when I saw something that I never in my life I thought I would see again, It was Myles standing there at the end of the street looking at things through a window, I had no idea what was going on. Was I hallucinating? What in the hell was happening, I crossed the street and made my way over to him but just as I was about to get his attention I heard my name, I turned around to check who it was, no one was talking to me, I then turned back around and he was gone. I walked around the corner to check if he had left but to no avail, it was gone. I questioned my own sanity for a moment, and I came to the swift conclusion that I was going nuts, I was now seeing and hearing things all in the same time frame. I continued my journey, but instead of killing time I just went home in order to try and get a hold of what was happening to me.

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Benton

I was awoken by my mother getting me up, I felt groggy and almost dead like. “Benton, you got to get up now, any longer and you might just sleep forever!” she giggled at her remark as she stepped out of my room. “Also, you have a present from John in the fridge.” I guess she was right, I checked the time and it was midday, time for lunch at this point, I had slept well over 12 hours after basically not sleeping for 2 days, my body must have been running on its last legs. I stepped out of my room into the shower, letting it refresh me for the day ahead, I then checked the fridge and grinned. One marks hot dog sat on the top shelf of the fridge with a can of LA ice “The classic.” I mumbled under my breath and it was the classic, a little something to remind me that even though the battle school was the dream, home wasn’t so bad. It had its perks, like normal people with normal lives that didn’t revolve around the battle simulations and work talk, and Marks hotdogs, what is to be the best thing ever to be eaten by the human race, it was everything you wanted ever, comfort at its best. There was a note too that read ‘Hope you’re doing well mate, I’m sorry, - John.’ I smiled at the message, as much as I didn’t want to see anyone, I was glad that he popped in to see if I was doing okay. I wanted to enjoy home a little before heading back to normal school until the battle school was deemed ‘safe’, but it never would be until the commander was either locked up or dead, his vendetta against us would put us in danger for as long as we were there. I then plonked on the couch eating the hot dog and savouring every bite as if it would be my last. “There too good aren’t they Benny! I would have missed them too if I couldn’t have them.” I grinned “You have no idea, it nearly killed me not having them.” Mum laughed “It’s unfortunate though how as soon as you get back in you have to evacuate.” I nodded “It is but it’s the best thing for everyone, so it’s fine, I might go into town today go and see how things have changed since I have been gone. Do you want anything?” Mum shook her head “Went shopping yesterday.” I nodded and stood up, putting on a nicer set of clothes in order to go out. Making my way into the place I called home.