I put all the kids to bed, even the older ones, tucking them into their little piles, making sure everyone was comfortable, and offering soothing words. I had just finished putting Mikhail to bed—Little shit always fought sleep, even when he was dead tired. But finally, with a yawn, he laid his head on Natalie's thigh and closed his eyes.

Afterward, I walked back to Maria, who stood there smiling over the rest. I put my hand on her shoulder and gently led her to one of the few beds in the church. I was carrying Irina and Yelena on my back and stomach, making sure they didn't fall even as I felt them bury their heads into me to try and sleep.

I waited for Maria to climb into the bed before I put Yelena and Irina down with her, pulling the blanket over them even though they seemed fast asleep already. I checked Irina's temperature with the back of my hand, making sure the fever from that shit day had passed.

“What, am I suddenly to be tucked in as well?” Maria asked with a raised eyebrow. But I saw the small smile on her face, and knew she was looking forward to it. So I just looked at her gently and said, “I haven't done so for years—not since Sister Marina died. You were just a girl, you deserved more,” I said, shaking my head.

“I can't go back and do it then. But I can do it tonight.” I whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed as I stroked her hair. She seemed stunned, taken aback. But she didn't complain, just gently cupped my face with the palm of her hand before wrapping the girls in her arms with a yawn, before drifting off to sleep.

I sat there for a moment, wanting this moment to last for an eternity. I gave them one last glance, then slipped into the night, my body moving before my mind had time to second-guess.

The only place to return to was the fink trainer. They had food I could steal, a few odds and ends no one would miss.

It took me a while, but it still seemed to be too early in the morning as I raced through the city. It felt bittersweet. I enjoyed the rush of running, watching the buildings fly past. But I already wanted to go back. To be with them. To make sure they were okay.

Finally, I was racing towards the tower and saw the gate before it. I crept up to it, realizing how absolutely dumb I was in how I had broken out. But I just saw that same guard, sitting there even as I crept up to the side of the gate.

He was reading the same magazine from earlier, leaning back in his chair like I hadn't choked the life out of him a few hours ago. I watched, checking the gate, and then a miracle happened. The door opened to the guardhouse behind him, the music growing far louder as the door opened, and a man came stumbling out.

“Oi! Are you sleeping on the job again?” he asked, slurring his words. Stupid drunk.

“Was earlier. Man, I had the craziest dream. Cause of that shit you gave me to drink, you bastard,” the man huffed at him, with practiced annoyance, like this was a nightly occurrence.

“Come on, it’s almost four. My shift’s starting anyway,” Max said, slinging an arm around Sleepyhead’s shoulders. “Might as well grab a couple of drinks before I’m stuck out here for eight hours staring at nothing.” He steered his halfheartedly protesting friend back toward the guardhouse, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

I thanked the Lord silently, waiting for my moment before slipping into the tower, the cold metal pressing against my palm as I squeezed through the gate. I raced through the tunnel, being greeted by that fantastical city. I must say, I really started to like that statue. It told me exactly where I needed to go. I ran towards it, racing past the impossibilities and oddities I'd seen on my way there, before I was running down that long road back to the training base.

After I got back, I peeked my head at the guard and saw he was still snoring softly with the same book over his eyes, like he hadn't left that spot at all.

I walked back through the gate, making sure the guard was still asleep. Strange. Why didn't Colonel Walker wake him up when he was finished with those bastards? Clearly, this guy was shit at his job.

I rounded the side of the building towards the entrance of the dormitories and ran into a small boy. We bumped into each other. We both jumped back as he said, “I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get up so early! I'm sorry!”

I realized I had my hand around his collar, fist up to punch his lights out, and saw the dice from my shoulder rolling past and disappearing, landing inside his head. I didn't have to look at what it landed on; it was always the same.

I calmed down, releasing him as I said, “You scared me, man. The fuck you doing up so early?”

And that's when his eyes widened as he looked me up and down, taking a step back and saying, “It's you! The General's son!”

“Uh, what?” I asked. Was he stupid? Who the hell would think I'm The General's son?

“You're the one The General spared! Aren't you her son?” he said, sounding both awestruck and like the most curious person I'd ever met. And I was raising quite a few brats, so I know how curious people can be.

“No? Uh, do you not see the complexion?” I said as I pointed to my face.

He looked disappointed. “Well, maybe you're like a nephew or something? Why would she spare you otherwise?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Going to be honest, I am as curious as you are in that regard. How did you even come up with me being her son?” I was genuinely perplexed at the sheer lunacy of the question.

“We've all been discussing it, uh, Sir Steve. We saw how even Sofia spoke to you on the first day.” Then his eyes widened, like he’d forgotten something extremely important, before saluting and saying, “Sorry for not saluting you, uh, Sir Steve?” he said desperately.

I just swatted his arm away. “Don't do that. That's not necessary unless we're in front of others. Why are you up so early, actually?” I asked.

The man blushed. I didn't even know a man could blush, as he said, “Uhm, I’m a shieldman, sir. The others seem to use it so easily, and I… uh, don’t. I wanted to try practicing with it before they got up.”

I just rolled my eyes before sticking out my hand. “Seriously, none of this military shit when we're alone. My name is Boris. Let’s just be friends instead. What's your name, pal?”

He looked at me skeptically before reaching out his hand, saying, “Uhm, okay. Hi, Boris? I'm Theo,” he said, shaking my hand with hesitation.

“Well, Theo. You're up early to get better. I think you're going to be great one day if you keep it up. Anyway, goodnight.” I gave him my favorite, the mock salute, before walking off, sneaking back into the dormitory, remembering where the squeak in the door was, and opening it just enough to not set it off, before climbing in through the gap.

I tiptoed to my bed, realizing how tired I was as I stripped the fink top off, tidying up the fink uniform like Marnus had shown me. Then I thought of something and tiptoed back to the mirror. Damn, I was already a little less skinny, and the bruises were less angry than they were yesterday. I grinned at my reflection. What a handsome bastard.

I tiptoed back to bed, opening the blanket, and just as I was about to get into bed, I heard the door open, the Lieutenant walking in.

She just put her hands on her hips as she raised an eyebrow. “Why are you always awake when I walk in here?”

I stared up at the ceiling, “Bad luck, I guess,” I guess God wouldn't let everything go my way. The Lieutenant just gave me a grin.

Then she started banging the tranquilizer on the metal pipe, going through the morning routine, even as I groaned internally. I was very tired, but I couldn't sneak off to sleep. My mind was already throwing excuses at me not to break out tonight. Thoughts like, “The kids will be fine for one night,” and “You don’t need to go every night.” I chased those thoughts away with a vengeance. Whenever I could, as often as I could, I would go back. Like I said, not even God could stop me.

After we went to breakfast, Kate and Marnus came and sat by me, as did a few of the others. I raised my eyebrow at Kate, asking for an explanation silently as she looked down sheepishly, before one of the girls, I think her name was Nina? Or Diana? sat with us and answered for her. “We discussed what you said last night, Boris. If we were in the same position, I would hope to have the strength to do what you did. I’m Nina, by the way,” she said, holding out her hand for a handshake.

“Hi, I’m Steve,” I said, grinning at her as I shook her hand. She just rolled her eyes, before one of the guys sitting by Marnus said, “Can’t believe you introduced yourself to Sofia that way. What if she finds out?” he asked, glancing around as if she might crawl out from under the table.

“Oh, she already found out. But she’s kind of a bitch, so she just complained for a little bit. No biggie,” I said casually, recalling the spat we had in front of Colonel Walker’s office.

And so it went, discussing small things, discussing nothing, even getting a few laughs here and there. Overall, I seemed to be more… tolerated by everyone now, which I didn’t immediately hate. I examined that feeling, not liking it at all. I'd seen what the finks had done. I just shook my head, thoughts for another day when my eyelids weren’t trying to close by themselves.

After breakfast, we all went to sector B. The lower ranks walked with us this time, so I hung back a bit, looking around. I finally saw Theo walking with quite a few others, all of them smiling down at him. I swaggered up next to him, and giving them my winning smile, said “Well, hello there again. How was your morning, Theo?”

Some of the others started saluting before I bashed their hands down, shaking my head. Theo looked up at me like I was insane, before taking a step away and whispering, “You shouldn’t be seen with us! B ranks aren't supposed to fraternize with the lower ranks!” He was looking at every single person glancing at us as we walked, like we were ten-foot lizards.

I stared down anyone who dared glance, and the joys of power filled me as every single one of them looked away. I puffed my chest out, saying sarcastically, “Well, don’t you know? I’m the son of The General! I can do as I wish, or haven’t you heard?”

Every single person who heard almost tripped, all of them staring at me with utter shock. Theo’s eyes practically bulged out of his head as he grabbed my arm, frantically looking around as he whispered through his shock, “Are you insane? You mustn't say that Boris! Do you know what the Lieutenants will do to you if they hear you?”

“I'm guessing they'll probably complain? Anyway, nice chatting, Theo. I was going to come over and ask you not to tell anyone that you didn’t see me this morning, but now that we’ve chatted, I don’t really care. Have a good one, I’ll see you around.” And with a pat on his back, I jogged back to where Marnus and Kate were walking. The reason I didn't ask him to keep it a secret was because I felt it would make me look suspicious, and so I decided to just leave it in God’s hands.

I butted in to the pair, and they gave me a raised eyebrow that I just stuck my tongue out at, as the rest of the B ranks walked into the warehouse. I actually took a moment to stand back and watch as the C ranks kept walking to the field I’d seen when we first arrived, lining up before the obstacle course. It was interesting, seeing so many people do what our little group had to do every morning. I even saw the B ranks that didn’t make it into the tournament walking with them.

I remembered my words to Richard when I first arrived. Sure, finks were fucking monsters that should be shot like dogs in the street. But they weren’t there yet. The ones I was training with, Marnus, Kate, and the one I’d met this morning, Theo. Even Lieutenant Zenzele. These finks felt almost… human.

The thought struck me like a lightning bolt. It crept into my head with a baseball bat and demanded my full attention, leaving no room for anything else. I felt disgusted after the thought passed. How could I ever think of these things as people? I was right the first time. They should be shot like dogs.

The exhaustion fueled my anger as I trudged into the warehouse, everyone else already there. And so was Sofia, standing at the end of the warehouse, nose in the air like she was God’s gift to mankind. But far worse than her were the Lieutenants, casually lounging where they had the first day, Lapdog and Fish laughing at a joke while the rest grinned like they hadn’t been up all night, feeling the same, if not worse, exhaustion I did.

Lapdog saw me come in and gave me a wave. I just flipped him off before getting into my lines. If they stepped out of line, even once, there would be hell to pay.