Ch.10 | Liar Liar

Riley

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked as he led me behind the meeting hall.

Leo's face contorted with shock,"No of course not. You're a fantastic Private." He smiled.

"Oh okay. Then what is it?" I asked and locked my hands behind my back.

Anxiety was a huge thing in my life. It was currently spiking.

"As sergeant and captain of your squad, I had to look over your files." Leo held out a tan folder. I could see my name on the front.

"Okay." I waited for him to continue.

"I had to look into your medical files. I found something I'm not happy with," he paused,"Concerned with." Leo corrected himself.

"Spit it out, Leo." I crossed my arms and stared at him.

"I think you should speak with our Doctor. Get an exam and answer some questions." Leo handed me my file.

"Why?" I asked, keeping the file where it was.

"You have a disease." He spoke softly and I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I don't think I do. I'm as healthy as a horse." I gave him a half smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Riley, this isn't a time for joking. I'm being serious." Leo crossed his arms and nodded at the file.

"Fine." I sighed and opened it. I could see my contract. A picture of myself and a medical paper.

It had a Red Cross in the top corner.

I picked it up and began to read over every section, until I got to the part about kidney disease.

My eyes widened at the worse in front of me.

Kidney disease.

Life threatening.

Odds of survival are 35%.

"Rashes, copper taste in your mouth, abdomen or back pain, chills, and nausea." Leo listed off random things and I cocked my eyebrow at him.

"Do you have any of those symptoms?" I had the copper taste and nausea for weeks now.

My body constantly cried in pain. Rashes? Haven't experienced that one.

I looked Leo in the eyes, unsure about what decision to make.

Tell the truth and get discharged? Homeless and ill?

Or lie. Stay here. Safe.

"No. I'm as healthy as a horse." I smiled and handed him my file back.

"Are you sure?" I nodded without hesitation.

"If you're lying, you won't just be killing yourself. Your fellow soldiers rely on you in the field. You're a danger to them if you're sick." Leo took the file from me and went back to glaring at me.

"I'm not lying. If that's all though, I have to go. I've got packing to do." I waved the assignment paper.

"By all means," Leo stepped to the side and I brushed past him. I suddenly felt sick.

I picked up the pace and made it to the house. I ran into the bathroom and emptied my stomach into the toilet.

Blood was mixed in and that just caused me to throw up more.

What was happening?

"Woah, close the door if you're gonna be sick. No one wants to see that." I heard a voice behind me then the slamming of the bathroom door.

My guess?

Shelton.

I groaned and laid on the tile floor. My insides burned and screamed in pain.

Leo said this was one of the symptoms. Nausea and vomiting.

I dug my nails into my thighs.

I didn't have that stupid disease. I just had a cold. Maybe the flu.

That was common.

I think.

•••

Leo

"Dad, you can't send her on this mission. She's a danger." I was shocked nobody in my unit would listen to me.

My father stopped walking and turned towards me,"And why's that Leo? Because she may have a disease?" He crossed his arms and I did the same.

"Yes. What if she starts showing signs on the mission? Gets herself or someone else killed?" I looked him in the eye. I wouldn't back down from this.

"The mission is simple. They won't even fire their weapons. They're being deployed as extras and will just be at the camp there. I'm sure she'll be fine as well as everyone else." My father shook his head at me and began to walk away again.

"Fine."