Base

I click my tongue, feeling the coarse gravel beneath me as I sit on the desolate ground. The scene in front of me is one for the movies: a ruined cityscape, a lifeless monster, and military personnel bustling around. Dolura – no, the parasite doesn't deserve to be called by her name after that stunt – had sold me out. I curse internally. I'm not the hero type, not one to be dragged into grand battles. My goal is to avoid work, not slave away to save humanity. 

They better not want me for the military, I muse. I didn't survive this long just to be drafted. The thought of escaping is tempting. But running now would just make things messier. And they might track me. That's not a risk I'm willing to take.

My eyes trace the military vehicles, their matte finish glinting with the reflection of the setting sun. Before I can drift further into my thoughts, I see the parasite approach. I shoot her a cold glare, my voice dripping with annoyance. "Why did you point at me?"

She blinks, her face as unreadable as ever. "They have a military base," she says simply, pausing as if expecting a reaction. When I don't offer one, she continues, "They aren't going to force us to do anything. They're offering a ride to the base."

I knit my eyebrows, weighing her words. A ride would save a significant amount of time, and energy. By my estimate, any military base would be at least twenty miles from here. I could cover that distance, sure, but the journey wouldn't be without its challenges. Going with them might not be a bad option. But then again, nothing comes without a price.

What the hell are they up to? I wonder. Looking at Dolura, I feel a surge of frustration. That clueless parasite wouldn't notice if they planned to chain us up and use us as bait for monsters.

Dolura, seemingly reading my hesitation, adds, "They'll be heading in the same direction we need to. It's just a ride."

"Hmmm... Fine," I begrudgingly agree, though my guard remains up. As much as I want to believe they have no ulterior motives, history – especially recent history – has taught me not to trust so easily. I stand, brushing the dirt off my pants, readying myself for whatever comes next.

Deep down, the one thought echoing in my mind is: I better not regret this.

I sigh deeply, letting the weight of the day press down on me. Lifting my eyes to the heavens, I'm met with a fleeting sight of a meteor zipping across the night sky. I mutter to myself, "Fuck... today is going to be a long day."

Dolura sits down next to me, her presence never quite comforting, but familiar. Before we can share any words, the sound of boots crunching on gravel approaches. A soldier, adorned in a stern uniform, stops in front of us. "Both of you may head into the general's truck."

I stand, noting Dolura's movement mirroring mine. "This is a great opportunity for you," the soldier continues, guiding us forward. "General Harlan is not someone everyone gets the chance to ride with. Remain respectful at all times, and don't interrupt him."

We both nod in understanding, though I'm skeptical about what the 'opportunity' truly means for us. As we step into the truck, I'm taken aback. The interior is lavish. "Damn, this is a truck?" I muse internally. "It looks like those limousine interiors from shows."

The space is filled with a group of people. I recognize the middle-aged general immediately – black hair, firm build, an air of authority that's hard to miss. Then, there's the red-haired woman, the one I borrowed a bike from, and Draken, the self-appointed hero of our story. I shift my gaze to the opposite side and lock eyes, or rather, sunglasses, with a golden-haired teenager. He doesn't need to lift his shades for me to sense the animosity. Great, I have to ride with some arrogant rich kid.

The atmosphere inside the truck is tense, each pair of eyes fixed on Dolura and me. Everyone, except for Draken, whose ever-present optimism is just shy of annoying, greets us with a cold, hard stare. I think to myself, "Was there really no other vehicle we could've ridden in?"

Then the general speaks up, his voice commanding the space, "You're the one responsible for exploding the sewers."

My heart skips a beat. Are charges coming my way? Before I can formulate a response, he continues, "We found nearly a thousand burnt monster corpses. Good job, kid."

Somewhat relieved, I force a respectful tone. "It's an honor to meet a high-ranking officer like yourself, sir. I feel safer already."

As the truck begins to move, an oppressive silence descends. Dolura, true to her nature, doesn't break it. And neither do I.

★

Minutes tick by as the truck smoothly navigates the wrecked roads. The hum of its engine is nearly drowned out by a sudden crackle of a transmission. "General Harlan, Sir! There's an issue back at the base. How is your mission going, Sir?"

General Harlan sighs, weariness evident even in his firm posture. "Everything went better than expected," he responds, voice steady. "We are on our way back now."

I'm barely paying attention, my thoughts occupied elsewhere. This damned kid... His constant fidgeting with those metal marbles, paired with the incessant popping of his gum, is grating on my last nerve. But another sound soon captures my attention, gunshots, distant yet ceaseless. How many monsters are there in this forsaken city? The shots seem never-ending, painting a grim picture of the situation outside.

The general ends the transmission, leaning back and rubbing his forehead, a rare show of vulnerability. Draken, always the inquisitive one, can't hold back. "Has the base been attacked?"

General Harlan nods, not meeting his gaze. "Yes, but it's not a monster. It's a damn girl."

Jenna, the redhead, arches an eyebrow. "A girl? So... she must have an ability, right? Why is she attacking?"

Taking a moment, the general retrieves a flask, pouring himself a drink before answering. "She's struggling to control her ability."

Draken chuckles lightly, "It was pretty easy for me. Jenna here has an ability, but she has no idea how to use it."

The amber liquid sways gently in the general's glass as he sips, "From what we've recorded, each person tends to respond differently when they get an ability. Some can easily use it from the start while others need to stimulate it first. The problem is with... Aeliana. Her ability activates at random, and she can't seem to stop herself."

Interesting, I think to myself. So, one might not even know if they possess an ability.

★

After what feels like an eternity, the lavish interior of the truck becomes more confining than comforting. As the vehicle grinds to a halt, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. The grand edifice of the military base looms ahead of us, casting a daunting shadow. We're here. The next question is: are they just going to let me leave? They won't try to detain me, right?

The first one to slide out is the golden-haired boy. He pops his gum, lowering the window with an air of arrogance before slipping out and striding away without a backward glance. His departure sparks Draken's curiosity. "Who's that?" he asks, eyeing the boy's retreating form.

The general, now lighting a cigar, exhales a cloud of smoke before responding. "That boy possesses a powerful ability. Stay out of his way, and he won't bother you."

He then addresses the remaining occupants of the truck, "You all must be exhausted, especially after the unexpected turn of events today. We failed to protect the city from this attack, and we owe it to you to provide shelter for the night. You're free to choose your next steps tomorrow."

Alarm bells ring in my head. This is the perfect opportunity to slip out, to avoid getting further entangled in any of their schemes. But just as I attempt to voice my need to depart, two soldiers approach, eyeing both Dolura and me. "Both of you are traveling together, right?" one of them inquires.

"No—" I begin, but the parasite, damn her, quickly intervenes, answering with a firm nod, "Yes."

I resist the urge to curse aloud. Ah, you fucker!

Without waiting for further protests, the soldiers guide us towards the heart of the base. As we walk, the scale of the compound becomes clear. Massive buildings stretch out in every direction, some concealed beneath the ground, while others tower above. The expanse is bewildering, far larger than any regular military establishment I've ever seen or heard of.

This is not just any military base, I muse. Is this a secret operations facility?

The soldiers come to a halt in front of a door, nodding for us to enter. Pushing it open, I'm met with the sight of a surprisingly elegant room. Two large, plush beds dominate the space, with fine linens and pillowy comforters. I can't help but think, isn't this a bit... premium?

I shoot a glance at Dolura. I remember her vague mention of a family with a history. Is she from some sort of privileged background? Why would they place us in such a room? The mysteries around her never seem to end. I shake my head, trying to dispel the mounting questions. Whatever, I'll figure it out. For now, my priority is to determine my next move.

The military personnel hand each of us a card. "With this, you can move around without being questioned," one of them states, pointing in a general direction. "The food court is to your left if you're hungry. If you need anything, feel free to ask the soldiers. They're here to assist."

Before I can utter a word, they leave, the heavy door shutting with a soft click. The silence in the room is almost palpable.

Dolura and I exchange a brief look, our faces giving nothing away. I drop my bag on one of the beds and unzip it, fishing out a set of clean clothes. Escape will have to wait. The first order of business is to rid myself of the grime and sweat accumulated from the day's ordeals.

Thankfully, the adjoining bathroom is spacious and equipped with modern amenities. A brief twist of the tap confirms my suspicion: they have warm water. Not bad at all. The soothing sensation of the water cascading down rejuvenates me, melting away the day's tension.

Emerging from the shower, I stretch out, feeling the pleasant pull of my muscles. The room's comfort is enticing, making the idea of leaving immediately less appealing. Maybe it's a good idea to use their resources to my advantage for now.

★ ★

Sitting on my bed, I take a deep breath. The base's buzz has toned down, and the ticking of the clock on the wall says it's around 2 a.m. The only sound that interrupts the quiet is Dolura's shallow breathing, each breath more labored than the last. Her facial muscles twitch every so often, her lips occasionally letting out a muffled whimper. Nightmare. Not that I can see her expression clearly - she has a good poker face, after all.

I gaze at her a moment longer, contemplating. This might be the best chance I get. The base should be less guarded now. With one last glance at the troubled sleeper, I quietly rise, snatching my bag and making my way to the door. As I exit, I peer around cautiously. The corridor is mostly deserted; the few soldiers I see are preoccupied.

Still, I need to avoid certain people. If Draken, Jenna, or the General spot me, my exit plan will crumble immediately. I stick close to the walls, maneuvering through the corridors as if in a maze. For the size of this place, the exit is surprisingly elusive.

That's when I spot it: an open window, not too high up. An escape route? Moving closer, I evaluate the drop. It's manageable. Beyond the window, there's a massive fence, likely electrified. Climbing it would be a gamble, but maybe... just maybe, I can make it.

Decision made, I slip out, my feet landing on the cool ground. The fence looms above me, challenging. I mutter, "How should I jump this?" 

However, a voice behind me interrupts my musings. "Why don't you take the front door?" The cold tone sends a chill down my spine.

I exhale slowly before turning around. I'm met with a pair of piercing, dark pinkish eyes, set on a face framed by white-pink hair. As emotionless as my own face, her glare is undeniably chilly, almost intimidating.

"Who are you? What are you up to?" she questions, one eyebrow raised slightly.

Internally cursing my luck, I keep my tone steady. "Just needed some fresh air. Couldn't sleep," I lie. "And you?"

She narrows her eyes, evaluating me. "Let's just say I'm on a late-night stroll," she replies, the corner of her lips twitching into something that's not quite a smirk.