Thanks for following, sit-down for front seat and grab popcorn.

germaphobe:
oh boy, see story ooo. Make i position myself wella.

CLovin
Episode 5
Dreams

Cloven seems not to know where he was, the world was spinning around him, so fast, bright white light shone around him “Dargon… I am Dargon… I am Dargon” was echoing, Clovin breathing very hard looked around in fear, but couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from, soon he saw Dargon’s face zooming toward him, he screamed and opened his eyes.
He was lying down under a tree, it was night, a cold night. Greyback sat on the grass a few distance away, beside a camp fire Clovin’s eyes was heavy with sleep, so he closed them again.
He was walking along a narrow path with some other persons, he knew them, he saw Templar, he saw brooks, and he saw black. These were all Sisira’s lad.
“Where are we going?” Clovin asked. They turned to him and laughed. “You don’t know where we are going?” Templar mocked “if you don’t know, we are going on Sisira’s journey” Clovin was shocked and he said “I thought I didn’t go”
“Of course” said Black “because you escaped, no one can escape. We are all in this together” after these words he laughed and it echoed in the woods.
Soon they got to a cave.
“We should rest here. I think” said Templar. They walked into the cave, sat down staring at each other, soon Black suggested they look for something to eat rather than staring at each other. They all left that moment, telling Clovin to stay behind and wait for them. Clovin was frightened by the darkness on the cave, and couldn’t wait for them to return, they returned about an hour later, with Brooks and Black carrying a pig, while Templar carrying dried sticks to start up a fire.
“How do will start the fire” asked brooks.
The woods had been carefully arrange, Templar took two rocky stones out of his pocket and began to strike them, it brought out some sparks of fire but didn’t start. The cave was dark, and soon they began to losses patient as Templar kept on striking “hurry up” Clovin said anxiously “I’m trying” said Templar.
All of a sudden the fire started, the sticks began to burn, inside the cave turned a bright orange “you did it “said Clovin happily. Soon the pig was now a ham, fully prepared they each took their own share, and as they ate they talked about the journey so far and those who had died. Soon they heard a sound approaching them from inside the cave, like a giant beast. Mighty wind was blowing, it put off the fire, and the cave began so dark. “Run! Run! “Cried Brooks Clovin heard the sound of their feet as the ran out of the cave, as he tried to follow after them, the beast caught him by his ankle and was dragging him down into the cave.
“Help! Help me! Help! Please help!” Clovin was yelling, there was no answers, his voice kept echoing. “He opened his eyes, breathing very hard, he looked toward Greyback he was still sitting beside the fire.

Don't be a silent reader, like and share. Thanks for reading.
Watch Out! Episode 6 Cranglar
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Not sure yet... But I will look it it.

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Clovin.
Episode 4.
The Meeting.

King Raff Dennard, couldn't eat or sleep, he couldn't even think. This had never happened in Klintoham before, when a Sisirs's Lad will escape. King Raff's fears grew as the month of Apip drew nearer, just a week was left, and there are 3 days in a week.
The round table was filled up with the top ranked knights of Klintoham, the GrandMaster was seated also, when the king walked in they all stood up and sat after the king had taken his own sit.
"Knights of Klintoham" began the King "Sisira visited me last night in my dream" there was a loud murmur in the hall.
"She said we must find that boy and he must be among the travelers, she threatens to hunt every last one of us if he is not among them, he threatens to wipe away Klintoham" when the king paused silence swept the hall like a wave of dust in summer..
"What do will do now... we are in trouble" said the GrandMaster.
"We must search for the boy... Gentlemen we have three days"
"Your majesty... What about... You know choosing some one in place of the little boy" said Butthead one of the Knights. The king stared at him, and said after a few moment silence. " I said that to Sisira and she said she would take off my head if I mentioned that again, there is no room for replacement"
"But, you majesty where do we search for him, we don't even know where he is" said Stan.
"Everywhere, all the surrounding villages, towns, kingdoms, bushes, everywhere" the king yelled, uncontrollably.
"Sharks" called the king, "your majesty" the GrandMaster answered.
"You will take as many soldiers you need, and search for the boy, you must return with him, in three days time, as for Greyback, he his wanted, 10,000kilo, for anyone who finds him, or give useful information about him... Stan, you will announce that to the entire kingdoms around"
"Yes your Majesty" said Stan.
"Sharks get to work now" said King Raff.
"Yes your majesty"
"This meeting is closed" the king concluded and left the hall, his shoes echoing loudly.

Am sorry this came late I decided to reduce the word count so I can post daily. Meanwhile like my Facebook pageAuthor PEN so you don't miss out.

I have got two questions for you all

1.Who is Sharks in the story.
2. Why as Greyback refuse to allow Clovin undertake the journey.

Watch out for Episode 5.

Clovin
Episode 3

~The Excape ~

The Dungeon was silent, except for the hooting of Owls. Greyback thought the hooting of the Owls which stood by the window was irritating.He was standing by the cell gate, he shook it voilently "get me out of this place... Now. you must not touch my son" Greyback was shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Hey man, shut up, I don't want noise" said another prisoner from the other cell, his voice was deep, and hoarse "you came here five minutes ago, I have been here all my life.. do you get it?"
Greyback kicked the gate again with his boot, and sat on the dusty floor.
***
Geny had woken up, she had woken up late, first, she had not seen Greyback on the bed. The city was lively, she could here the children playing outside, she heard People's voice, calling. She heard a women from outside calling her child to order. Geny, stretching, stood from her bed and walked sluggishly to Clovin's room. Clovin was still by the window, he watched the children playing outside. When he heard the door open he turned "mother" he called. "Good morning"
"morning" replied Geny. Then she said " Clovin I will be off to the Market this morning will u like to go with me"
"Yeah" Clovin Said.
"Get ready then" said Geny, she left.

****
Greyback was still sitting on the dusty floor, his head between his knees, he heard the flapping wings of a bird and looked up. Dargon was standing by the gate, a Tucson bird stood on his arm flapping it's wings.
"Dargon! you came?" Greyback stood up, he was excited, he held the gate, staring at Dargon. The demon stood there covered with black robe, which scrubbed the floor when he walked, half his face was corvered with a hood.
"King Raff Dennard is going for the boy, he wants to keep him in his custody until the journey begins, you must not let that happen" Dargon waved his hand on the air, a rolled up parchment appeared on his hand, he attached it on the leg of the bird and Said to it "hurry! Find Geny and give her my massage" the bird flapped his wings and flew out through the window.
"you must not allow Clovin, undertake that journey, you must protect him" Dargon said to Greyback.
"But I am stock here" said Greyback, in whispers, they had been talking in whispers.
Dargon stretch his index finger toward the keyhole of the gate, it clang open. One of the guard heard the noise and began to walk down toward the cell. "Hurry, you have no time, don't let the king's men get Clovin first."
Greyback slipped out of the cell, but the guard had reached the cell, his sword held out, he was shocked to see Dargon standing by, his eyes alternated between Greyback and Dargon. He tried to attack Greyback, but Dargon clicked his fingers, the sword Ieft his hand and flew to Greyback,he caught it in the air and gave a hint of a smile. Dargon waved his hand and smashed the the gaurd against the side wall. He Fell down and lay still on the floor, his head gushing out blood.
”hurry" Dargon said and Disappeared.
The noise had attracted the other gaurds, they had heard the noise and had raised an alarm, Greyback ran the length of the corridor, climbed down a spiral staircase, took several corridors unitl he found himself in the open field, he blew a loud whistling sound with his two hands inside his mouth, it was magical, whenever he did that his white horse wherever it was would find him.
***
The market was one of the busiest place in Klintoham, you couldn't move around, without touching someone. Traders were moving around with their wares on carriage, they were meat stalls, fruits stalls, blacksmith stalls, weapons stalls. Geny and Clovin were pushing their way through the crowded market, to the vegetable stall. Clovin, for once had forgotten his worries, been in the open like this made him smile, he saw the artist painting a lady with a hat on, in the market square. "Mother, look at this" Said Clovin Geny turned to looked at the artist, and the lady on the hat. "It's beautiful" she said "I want a painting mother" Clovin Pleaded. Straightaway they walk to the artist. When she looked up she saw a bird, flying toward her, as the bed flew pass her it dropped the roll of patchment, Geny caught it in mid air. "I think it's for you" said Clovin. Geny unrolled the patchment. And read it.
THE KING'S MEN ARE COMING FOR THE BOY, YOU MUST NOT LET THEM SEE HIM.
Geny looked around, frightened, he grabbed Clovin's hands and began to run toward an alley, just close to the alley, two Knights stood right in front of her, She stopped in shock, "we need the boy" said one of the Knights.
"Please don't take him" Geny Pleaded. They began to hear the sound of a horse, trotting toward them. Clovin saw the white horse and called, "Father!" When the horse got to Clovin Greyback stretch fort his hand Clovin grabbed it, he pulled him into the horse, and head right for the City gate...
The knights ran after The horse, but couldn't keep up, The raised an alerm at once. Greyback was close to the gate when he saw horses with knights come after him.
" Lock the gate, lock the gate" one of the Knights was yelling at the top of his voice, the gaurds on the gate that moment began to turn the wheel, the gate was shutting. When the gate was fully locked, Greyback almost lossing hope got his hope revived again when he saw Dargon. Dargon waved and a heavy rush of wind burst the gate open, sending some of the gaurds into the air. Greyback smiled, he was out, not just out, out with Clovin.

Please don't be a silent reader, like and share, you can also check out my Facebook page Author PEN. Watch out for the next Episode.

get Ready... It's about to explode

***Clovin***
***Episode two***

The Escape Plan.

...Now, those who had not be picked, had a long celebration, they usually celebrated till Apip, till the lads were gone for their Journey, Now those who had been pick had a long mourn, they usually Mourn, till Apip and even after the lad had all gone for their journey.

Geny had spent all her day Crying, she didn't know what to do, Clovin was her only son. Greyback had insisted that Clovin would not be among the travelers, he would do all he can to make such.
... The Month of Apip was drawing closer, few days was left, and the tension among the choosen lads was high, some of them had refuse to eat, some had refuse to talk to anybody.
... Greyback was up early today, as soon as the bell struck, by five, he stood up from the bed... It was cold and freezing. He left the room after putting on a coat, an ankle length coat. Geny was lying still on the bed. Greyback walked to Clovins Room to check on him, when the door opened with its creaking sound, Clovin who was standing at the window turned to see his father.
..."Father" he called.
..."Clovin you are awake" said Greyback walking into the room.
... "I can't sleep" said Clovin. He hug his father.
"you will be fine... My son" said Greyback, he rubbed Clovin's hair. "I will be at the stabble"
..."ok"
... Greyback turned and left for the door, Clovin stood there watching him leave. The door bang, the room was silent. Clovin returned to the window.

... The horse on the stabble was a white horse, Greyback, saddled the horse and left for the City gate. The morning was cold and as he the troted the Cold the ran through is body. The gate was open the soldiers on gaurd were searching everyone one entered the city and left the City.
"Greyback!" Fangs called, the Knight who had called Greyback was on a brown horse trotting after him. Greyback stood by, were Doger was searching the bags of a trader. He beckon on Doger to come, as he came down from the horse,Doger told his assistant to continue the searching. He walked down to Greyback, Greyback was standing by his white horse."Greyback!" Fangs called, his horse was trotting closer, when he got closer, still sitting on his horse, fangs said at the Top of his voice.
"Greyback the king wants you...Now"
"Alright" Greyback nodded. Fangs turned the horse and it troted away.
Doger, now standing beside Greyback said "you called me"
"Doger, I want you to help me... To night I want to escape with my son, Clovin"
"What?" Doger said, as though he had not heared him clearly.
"You heard me Doger"
"No way I can't do such a thing... It's stupid, you son is Sisirs's Lad, you can't escape with him, that's death... Sorry I can't help you"
Greyback was going red, with rage "anyhow I'm going to get him out of the City" bellowed Greyback to Doger's face, he jumped on his white horse and rode it towards the South, towards the king's tower.

His feet echoed as he walked into the King's court. King Raff Dennard sat on his throne, he had on his hand berries, he threw them one by one into his mouth.
"Your highness, you called me" Greyback knelt with one of his leg, looking to the ground.
"Greyback, you have been behaving funny, for sometime now, it started at Sisirs's day when you tried to attack Roko, because your son was picked." The King was still talking when the GrandMaster walked in to the king and whispered to his ears, the king nodded straring at Greyback.

"I see, so you are trying to escape with your son, out of the City" the King said. Greyback eyes widened in shocked.
"Arrest him!" the King gave his command. Two Knight of Klintoham began to advance toward him, Greyback drew out his sword, everyone was greeted in shocked. "Don't come Closer" Greyback threatened, the Knight kept on coming, their sword out. One of them attacked Greyback, they duel, their sword slashed, the king with awe watched the happenings right in his court. The GrandMaster stood by the King angry. Shortly Greyback Skillfully took the sword from the Knight's hand, and hit him on his neck with his elbow. The Knight fell down holding his neck. The other Knight began to duel with Greyback, but Greyback soon injured in on his right leg, he fell back and refuse to advance, the other knights became afraid to come forward. The GrandMaster drew out his sword, and approach Greyback angrily, Greyback tried to attack him, but he Skillfully caught his hand and twisted it brutally, Greyback went on his kneels, screaming in pain. His sword fell from his hand,
When he had suffered great pain the grand Master threw him on the floor, and ordered the Knights to arrest him, quickly they drag him off the ground and held him tightly.
"What a drama..." The King said clapping his hands mockingly. "Lock him up in the dungeon, no food for a week, let him learn his lessons" as they dragged Him away he heard the king saying,
"Go and get the boy, he must be in my custody, until the journey begins"
"No! don't touch him" Greyback yelled as they dragged him off "he is my only son" he kept on saying. When they door bang behind him no one heard his voice again.

©Palmer Emmanuel 2018

Please, don't be a silent reader, if you like this story like and share, show your support for me you can also like my Facebook page Author PEN .

WATCH OUT for Episode three. The Escape.

Clovin
Episode 1
SISIRA'S DAY
by © Palmer Emmanuel all right reserved.

Clovin
It was the 30th month of the year, the month of Trioct, it was the first day of Trioct klintonham was usually busy, the city Gate was locked this morning before the bell struck at 5am, nobody must escape this day, everyone must witness as seven souls of the young lads of klintonham were selected.
If you were caught trying to escape, it was an offence punishable by death. Every lad was to submit themselves to be select at noon, the selection took place at the palace square.
Clovin had just clocked twelve, nothing to celebrate, for he was now qualified to present himself for selection. He sat down on his bed, Geny sat beside him, cuddling him, and she patted his head.
“You will be alright” said Geny.
“What if am picked?” Clovin asked, his voice was low as though he had forced the words out of his mouth. “Clovin! Listen to me” Geny turned Clovin’s face to hers “you will not be picked…ok” Clovin nodded and then rested his head on his mother’s laps.
She continue to run her hands along Colvin’s hair “you will be fine” she said staring at the hourglass. Shortly, it would be noon and all the young lad would be making their way to the King’s square, she wished this day had not come, she wished the time was a bit slower, she wished Clovin had not turn twelve.
The door swung open Thomas Greyback walked in, he drew out is sword and placed it gently on the stone table at the middle of the room. “Welcome” greeted Geny ”yeah I am so tied” Greyback walked to a stony raised platform by the side of the room and picked up a little kettle, poured water into a steel cup and drain everything in one gulp.
“Any news?” asked Geny
“Oh my little boy…are you ok” Greyback ignored the question totally, he walked to the bed and sat beside Clovin. “Clovin don’t worry the chance that you will be picked are pretty slim” he patted his head “there would be over one thousand lads in the palace square today” there was a brief silence “any news” asked Geny again interrupting the silence. Greyback stood up and walked toward the window. He was one of the knight of Klintonham, they wandered around the City, and usually had news, he, been one of those assign to mount guard at the city gate to ensure none of the citizen escape.
“So much news my dear” he said. He turned to looked at Geny. “We caught Harrison Nargon trying to escape the city with Jul is fifteen years old son”
Pong! Pong! Pong!
The bell was ringing it seems faint, it seems it was coming from the distance. “It’s time” said Greyback “Cloving it’s time” Clovin raised his head from his mother laps and stood up.
“Be strong Clovin, be like your father.”
Geny covered her face with her hands and began to cry “be strong my Son” Greyback took Clovin by his hand, they walked toward the door with Greyback stopping to take his sword on the table, he slide it into its sheath. When the door bang behind them Geny raised her head, ran to the window, she saw people all crowding to the king’s square.

The street was filled up with the people heading for the square “Greyback! Greyback!” Sardis Rickman was calling from behind, Greyback stopped to allow him catch up with them, he was with his Son, Brooks. “good to see you Rickman” said Greyback, they continued walking.
“good to see you too” was Rickman’s response. “I heard Harrison was caught trying to Escape” said Rickman.
“That’s true” replied Greyback.
“so what are you going to do about it, isn’t Harrison your Friend?” asked Rickman.
“Nothing, I did warn him, but he thought he was smart” said Greyback
“So you going to let him die?”
“what can I do?” said Greyback, his voice raised, he stared at Rickman.
“Greyback you’re a knight do something” when Rickman said this, Grey back got angry, he stopped and said “alright…I have had enough…speak no more” when he resumed walking again, he was walking apace, Clovin had to trot to catch up.
The king’s square was filled up with boys between the age of twelve to twenty and five, they stood in single file, twenty files in all, a platform stood right in front of them, it was this platform the king always stood whenever he was addressing the people of Klintonham. The parent of the young lads stood around, some had not bother coming around.
The king came out shortly with the Grand Master, the Queen and Prince by his side. The noise stopped. King Raff Dennard climbed the platform and spoke.
“Sisira’s Day as you all know as been part of our tradition for years, since this kingdom began, seven worthy lads of klintonham would be choosen today, who would go on a journey to search for Sisira” when the king was through with the address he said “ Théoden Rooko the people are ready” straightaway, Théoden Rooko seems to appear from nowhere. Carrying a golden bowl. Many said he was a dark wizard, that he had lived for seven hundred years, his powers where strange and powerful and with him Klintonham cannot be attacked or defeated.
The Golden Bowl contain dark stones, these darks stones contained the names of the choosen ones, Rooko dipped his hand inside the bowl and brought out the first stone, the crowed was still with tension, curious, some were breathing hard.
“Wagner” called Rooko. The crowd gave a loud mourn.
“No!” his mother cried from the distance, trying to run toward his son, but he was stopped by the soldiers. Wagner was twenty, tall, and a young soldiers. He stepped out onto the platform. The king let out a hint of a smile.
Rooko dipped his hand in the bowl and the place went silent “Templar” he called.
Templar was twenty and five, the blacksmith’s son, his parent had not bother coming, and they had thought their son’s name would not come out.
“Black” Rooko called.
Black was nineteen, his father was the king’s sculptor, he was too busy to showed up.
“Clovin”
Colvin’s Jaw dropped, Greyback ran his hands on his head. When Clovin stepped out, the crowd murmured loudly, for he was just twelve, none of the chosen lad have been this young.
“Not My Son” Greyback said, as if coming to his senses, he drew out his sword and ran toward the platform for Clovin. Rooko wave his hand and he was ten feet high flying backward, he landed on his back and remain still.
“Lidon”
Lidon was twenty and four, a hunter, very skilled with the bow, he walked proudly to the platform
“Holly”
Holly fainted, when he heard his name, his poor mother, the king’s chief cook ran to him and fell on him crying.
“Brooks”
Now when Brook’s name was called, the crowed murmured again, he was young, just fifteen, Sardis Rickman bend down his head. Rooko haven done his job disappeared into thin air, he was gone.
“Prepare yourself the seven worthy lads, you will leave in Apip”.
Apip was the last month of the year, the 31st month, and the seven Chosen lads usually left the first day of Apip. The king took the Queen’s hand and turned to leave. The people began to dismiss. There was celebration for those who were not picked, there was weeping and sorrow for those who were picked.
Cloven came down from the platform and ran to where his father lay and began to shake him “father! Father! Father Wake up”
When Greyback opened his eyes the whole place seems to be spinning, he sat up and cloven said to him “father I was picked”

If you Enjoyed this story please, like and share don't be silent reader, show your support... you can also like my page Author PEN
Watch for Episode two!!!

Clovin
The secret of the journey

Hi Nairalanders first of all let me introduce myself, I am Palmer EmmaNuel also known as PEN, the abbreviation of my full name. I am a fiction Writer, a novelist and a poet. I will sharing some of works with you guys I do hope you will it. Please support me like my page@ www.facebook.com/authorpen28.





Copyright © 2018 Palmer Emmanuel

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the Author.

I will try today, do you read over

~Between The Door And The Sea~

Liam had woken up earlier from a large box, his body was stained with blood, tick black blood and he could smelt it on himself, when he first looked into the box he saw: human hands, legs, fingers, bones, intestine and many other parts. At first he couldn’t believe he had been locked inside.
The room was not quite large, the wall were made with woods and at every corners were chest of different sizes, the door was locked and the room smelt of blood and rotten flesh, making him want to throw up. he thought about how he could leave his place as soon as possible, of course whoever the people who had caught him were, one thing was such, they ate humans.
In a sudden the door burst opened, and a big plump man entered, he had a surprised look seeing Liam out of the box where he had been stored, with a swift move Liam picked a mental pole that rested on the wooden floor and set for a fight. The man who was holding a long hatchet raced to him, but Liam dodged his blow and hit him hard on the head, he fell down and remained there unconscious. He threw the pole to the ground and ran his hand on his head with the other on his waist, with an expression on his face that made him look as though he could cry soon.
Then he heard footsteps echoing at a distance, the room vibrated as the echoing closed in.
He ran to the door an saw some men approaching with hatchets all in their hands. He locked the door at once and bolted It, he was breathing hard now, whatever he thought of doing must be done fast, for he would not want them to lay their hands on him, earlier he had watch one of them ripping his friend’s intestine.
The door began to bang and as it did it bulged a little from its frame, Liam thought if he wasn’t fast enough in doing anything, they would burst in, in a moment and slice him to chumps of meat.
For the first time he sighted the little round window at the far end of the room, which was about five ft from the floor. he ran to the window and with the help of a chest he climb up and pushed opened the window, what he saw down belong was water, clear blue water, rushing against the base of the ship. For the first time he realized he was in a ship cabin and for the second time he remembered he had been seized in the sea shore.
He looked back to the door, as it was still been banged. Right as he stood there he saw the bolt breaking, this made his heart jump.
He looked back at the sea poking his head, he could feel the air, the cool air that streamed to his face blowing his hairs, the air was fresh, not countermined by rotten flesh or the smell of blood. He tried to jump (but looking out to the sea which he could not make out any end at all sides) he couldn’t.
There was this urge inside of him to stand there and watch the door open for them to get him, but there was another urge for him to jump down into the sea. He alternated his eyes between the door and the sea until the bolt fell of leaving the last bolt below which was already breaking.

Incase you have not been following my sequel the Alpha Maze, here is the link https://www.nairaland.com/3760478/alpha-maze-novel
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#figmentofpen

kelsmic:
any update yet Mr Palmernuel?

dropping soon sir

officialdiam:
Still shoking ma eyes....action stuff

Thanks sir, more action on the way

Thanks Bro

I am sorry I couldn't update as promised @ Mr kelsmic, and I promise not to take long break again.
Chapter Seven
When I entered the base, I saw other soldiers entering too, all carrying huge bags just like me, I knew this were the deployed soldiers. We all walked to the field were we met the others who had come before us, behind them was six trucks, at one side was pile of rifles, machine guns, snipers and grenades and pistols, helmets and bullet proofs.
Without wasting time we began to pick our bullet proofs and rifles, of course some took machine gun or sniper, but I took a riffle: it was my favorite, we took hamlets and wore them. Each of the soldiers took at least two grenades, I took mine too and hung them on my belt, we were also allowed to take at least a pistol, I took one and slipped it into my scabbard which was hanging on my belt.
One thing I noticed was that the soldiers were all happy and it seems to me that I was the only one who was quiet and cold.
“at zero dark thirty you get into the truck” said the major General, who was standing beside George, George stared at his watch and about five minutes later he began to count.
“10 ,9, 8…”
The place was quiet this time, the only thing I could do was to take deep breathes, which I did over and over again.
“2,1,0… now into the truck, off you go”
with a loud scream the soldiers began to jump into the trucks, sergeant Peter walked to me and smiled “are you good to go” he said, I nodded, he shook hands with me, Then we jumped into the truck, and as soon as we all were on the truck, it started and turned to the gate.
it was about six am when we rode into the camp, the air was cold, so cold that we saw our breathes when we spoke. The camp was just two miles from the bother that divided us from the enemy, it was a large concrete ground, as our truck drove slowly along, we could see helicopters and fighting jet taking off, the whole place was full of all kinds of military vehicles, and soldiers well armed were pacing around the ground, behind was a very huge building which look more like a hall.
When the car finally stopped will jump down and walked to were Colonel mark was standing beckoning to us, heaving our huge bags we walked to him and he led us into the hallway.
“good you are here, we are losing men seriously” said colonel mark as we walked behind him. The hall itself was very large soldiers were roaming about and at the middle was some mental chairs arrange in row and column facing a huge ten feet to five feet map, which was pasted on the wall.
“Excuse me private Murray” the colonel called a young soldier who sat down at a corner, he stood up and walked to the colonel and stood beside him.
“The hundred soldiers deployed to me should follow Murray, he would take you to you dormitory” the place became noisy as the soldier turned to follow the private.
“colonel George, the General and the Major General has agreed that twenty of you should raid the enemy’s base, which I think is not a good idea, I tried to object, telling them that it is unprofessional, but they insist... Lauren and Peter would you step forward please”
I and Sergeant Peter stepped out, “I will want you two to lead this operation ok”
He said and then turned to the huge map and walked closer to it.
“this is the bother that separates us.. over here” he said and motion along the line for us to see. “two miles from here you will get to the enemy’s frontline. It’s well guarded, attacking it straight means destruction, At zero five-hundred hours the eastern part of the frontline is guarded against external raids, at zero six-hundred hours the soldiers move over to guard the western part of the frontline and that would be the end of their watch for the morning. So I want you to go though the eastern part of the frontline, as soon as they leave for the west. Ok”
“Ok sir” we yelled.
“you leave tomorrow by zero six-hundred hours, and listen to this properly, if the raid doesn’t work as excepted please retreat.” The colonel said this with a very serious air.
“sir, but we were told not to retreat” said Jason who was among the soldiers.
“listen you, we have lost a lot of soldiers recently and we can’t just continue to lose more, if we want to win this war then we must not gamble with the life of our soldiers, it’s very important”
“but sir, not retreating is part of the mission” said Tom.
“I am telling you to retreat if the mission goes wrong, it is an order” the colonel said with a loud voice and every one at once kept silent. “Now I want you to be Mike Foxtrot 01 and 02” he said to I and Peter. “alright go grab a fart-bag and have a cool rest, dismiss”
We turned and walk to a hallway with several rooms at the each side, I heard some of the soldiers talking behind me, about the colonel telling us to retreat.
I and about four soldiers and peter entered a room which had six spring bed up and down.
I took off my bag and jumped into the top of one of the beds, which was at the end, the soldiers all took their bag too. Tom opened his and began to bring out toffees.
“do you guys like some” he said.
Every one turned to him “oh yes, wow, toffees,” said peter laughing, I lay on my bed and began to watch Tom throwing it for them to catch.
“would you have some Lauren?” asked peter turning to me. I nodded and he threw one to me, I caught it and threw it at once into my mouth. And then sat up to off my boots, after which I kept it were my bag, my gun, my helmet and my bullet proof lay at one corner, then I took of my shirt leaving my body covered with a light military top. And then lay back on the bed still chewing the toffee with yu difficulty.
I watch the other soldiers as they soon began throwing toffees at each other and laughing over it. When they seems tired they began to off their boots and their shirts. And in no time the fell asleep. I really wish I could be this happy, I really wished I could find sleep, all I could think about was Sarah, I was longing to see her just once more.
It was eight in the morning and the day was now bright; the window behind streamed light into the room. The soldiers were still sleeping, I could even here tom snoring.
Just as I sat up I heard a blast which shook the room, everyone woke up at once.
“what is going on” asked Jason.
The blast came again, and the room vibrated, then we heard the soldiers outside screaming.
I sprinted as fast as I could out of the room into the hallway where I saw other soldiers running out too. I went to the large hall and saw soldiers running around. I was on my military top and was bare footed. The Colonel ran out from the main hallway which led to the entrance.
“sir what is going on?” I asked when he got close to me.
“the camp is under attack” the colonel said under his breath. Just then some group of soldiers ran to the colonel.
“Delta team I want you to take too birds and fly west, ok”
“yes sir” said several voices as the matched toward the hallway leading to the entrance.
“Alpha team, I want you to get the artilleries out”
“yes sir” the soldiers jogged toward the entrance hall.
“and you Lauren, get in touch with Charlie foxtrot zero niner and zero too… at the radio room right there” he pointed at a door, which was at the far end of the large hall.
“ok sir” I took off immediately. And bust into the room. a soldier with his sleeves rolled up stood by a table looking confused, he stared at me as I ran and sat before the transmitter.
I pick the receiver and sent the signals.
“Charlie Foxtrot zero niner, Charlie Foxtrot zero too, this is, eh,” I paused and turned to the confused soldier. “call sign please” I said.
“Charlie Charlie zero one whiskey” the man said with a rush.
“aright” I turned back to the radio “this is Charlie, Charlie zero one whiskey, over”
“Charlie Charlie zero one whiskey, this is Charlie foxtrot zero too, I can read you, sound and clear…Over” Said CF02.
“ zero niner can read you as well” said CF09.
“report to the camp, ASAP, the camp is under an heavy attack, I say again, report to camp the camp is under an heavy attack”
“ this is Charlie foxtrot zero niner, roger that Charlie Charlie zero one whiskey, wilco Out”
“did you read that Charlie foxtrot zero too. Over”
“positive, sound and clear, proceeding to the camp, out.”
I stood up from the chair and ran out of the radio room and then dashed out to the ground. several of the enemy’s military jets were flying around spraying bullet down towards us, two of our helicopter was fight back from the west, but was as good as nothing, right where I stood, I saw our soldiers falling down as bullet from the jet met them.
The colonel stood in a distance away, taking cover behind a armor vehicle, I ran to him as bullet follow closely behind me.
“did you get in touch with them” he asked as soon as I was safe with him behind the vehicle. “yes sir”. Then some soldier came out from the side of the camp with an artillery which was pointing to the sky, they took some shut, but missed the jets, they kept on firing toward the jet until a few minutes later When the jet replied with an explosive directly to the artillery vehicle.
“incoming, incoming” I heard one of the soldiers yelling, the soldiers operating the artillery ran out of the way except the soldier on top who couldn’t jump down in time before the artillery exploded.
“my God” the General Exclaimed, and then at once we went down just as bullets from the jet sprayed to our direction, a moment later another artillery came from the same side where the first had come from and began firing to the jets. But not quite long, everybody was staring upward as out fighting jet arrived. “yes, they are here” said the colonel. They began attacking the enemy brutally and soon when one of their jets began to smoke they retested.
Everyone took a deep breath to relive themselves. I stood beside the vehicle and watch as the sun began to rise, the place became bright with smokes popping out of every corners and soldier helping the ones that were injure into the medical catered. The colonel tapped me on the shoulder and walked to were the artillery exploded, some soldiers were trying to drag the dead soldier out of the burnt and destroyed artillery. At the end they brought out half of his body.
I walked back to our room and climbed my bed.
“what the hell was that “ said Tom.
I kept quite staring to the roof of the ceiling and then before I could notice I fell asleep.

kelsmic:
where are you?

am here o, I was thinking it was long since I updated so I had to pause whatever I was doing and get back to the Alpha Maze, I just finished chapter 8 just now, so later today I would be updating, let me just do some Editing, sorry for keeping everyone waiting, and thanks for your patiences

I what kind of story, what is the length? is it fiction? , if yes am in authorpen28@gmail.com

Space still dey so, anyway my contact authorpen28@gmail.com

Chapter Six
I and sergeant Jones sat there, we talked about so many things, mostly he was trying to comfort me, trying to revive my hope, but all my mind dwelt on was the battlefield: I tried to picture how it would look like to have the whole western-Pineville attacking twenty soldiers, all I saw was blood shared; all I saw were horrible things.
at evening about 5pm or so, Jones got a radio massage and left me alone in the field. I sat there until the night began to approach, I soon began to hear the sound of the crickets. When it was pass seven, I knew then that the general must have arrived.
I walked over a mile to the general’s quarters and I was attended to by two soldiers, I stood there at the gate and waited for them to put a call across to him.
“general this is HQGolf 02, you have a visitor sir”
“is he the Major general?”
“negative sir”
“then who is he”
“Lauren, sir”
“allow him in”
The soldier who had been on the radio turned to me and said “you may proceed, sergeant” I nodded and walked pass them to the quarters which was a very huge house.
The general was sitting on a sofa with a bottle of glass on his hand. I quickly saluted him.
“oh, Lauren, please sit… I am expecting the Major General” he said, “do you care for a glass”
“No sir, I am quite fine” I said. And adjusted myself on the chair.
“I hope there is no problem Lauren?” he asked staring at me threw the rim of his glass, I robe my hands together and took a deep breath and then shifted a bit out of my chair. I was beginning to understand that my coming was quite useless, I couldn’t begin: for a while everything I said sound weird.
“general sir, eh, it is about, eh the, the soldiers going to the enemy’s frontline” I paused and gasped.
“what about it?” the general said and dropped his glass on the little table by the Side of his sofa.
“my name was included on the list” I said and watched as the general’s expression changed, he crossed his finger and his legs and rested it on his kneel, staring at me intently.
“and how as that become an issue if your name was included” the general said, I was at first speechless, I gasped for breath, swallowed, and then said after what seems to be a moment or two.
“I mean sir, George, I mean colonel Gorge enlisted my name; the mission is quite deadly and George, I mean colonel George is my friend, and I never expected him to put my name in there, seen that the mission is an impossible one” I said this with a bit confidence, I had to finish what I have started.
“you know, Lauren you are the only one who can walk in here to say this bravo sierra(bullsHit), what right do you have to determine when a mission is impossible or deadly, for the fact that George is your friend doesn’t remove your name from the army, if he feels that you should be there you should, a soldier have no right to question his assignment all authority, do you hear me Lauren….Oh welcome Major general” the major General who had just walked in stood taken aback, the general had been yelling on me that I had stood up from the chair shivering as though when he spoken there was a release of ice.
“yes sir” I said and saluted both of them, and then walked as fast as I could out of the room.
I couldn’t find sleep that night: not when I knew that my going to the enemy’s frontline was now such. throughout the night I thought about it, I was never this scared in my life before, it was like knowing when you would die. No matter how bloody a battle is, a soldier with a riffle always thinks he would survive. But in this case the thought that I would survive was out of my mind; we were told not to retreat until the mission is accomplished.
After I had left the general’s quarters, sergeant Jones called me and asked me how it have went and I told him everything. I also called Sarah and told him how I would be leaving soon to the enemy’s frontline with no chance for her to ever see me again. She kept quiet for a long while and then told me she would speak to Gorge herself.
It was almost dawn when I finally found sleep and I slept for a short while. I arrived at the base very early and was quite busy all through the day; I couldn’t find any time to sit on the bench in the field as usual.
Before we left that evening the one-hundred and twenty soldiers deployed, stood in rows as colonel Gorge addressed us.
“you all are leaving the base on Saturday, the journey is quite far, so I would want you all to leave here at zero dark thirty, so you can arrive there very early, as for the twenty soldiers deployed to the enemy’s frontline, your mission is to invade and call for backup, remember you are not to retreat. I want you to arrive at the base 15 minutes prior to 15 minutes prior, now you can dismiss” we all saluted and walked away.
In Pineville, we were usually giving the day before we embark on a mission as off, so on Friday was a off day for me, its purpose was for us to make whatever preparation we need. That day Sarah came to visit me at noon, she quickly made lunch and As I sat down to start eating she said “I spoke to George about it?” I raised my head and stared at her, she was not eating she had her hand on her check, and her face was not looking cheerful. “what did he say.?” I asked.
“well, he said he could go the extra mile in terminating the mission if only I leave you and come to him, can you imagine?, he said he wants me, he said he loves me, but I told him that they were other girls in the world, but he said he had loved me from the very first day”
“please, please stop and let me eat” I said, of course you don’t know how that sounds, it was horrible hearing her say those words. She didn’t say anything until half way through lunch.
“so Gorge, what is the plan?” she asked.
“nothing, what do you expect me to do? Leave you for him? So you we say I am a coward, that I abandoned you because a friend was treating me” there was a bit of anger in my voice as I spoke. “George don’t say a thing like that, I know you won’t do that, will you?”
“of course not, that is why I am going to the enemy’s frontline?” I said this time I had lost my appetite, I shove the food away and folded my hand on the table.
“I will never give Gorged that chance?” she said.
“see, you have said that countless of time, you better start giving him the chance, because today is the last day you will see me, ok”
“Lauren, please don’t say such, you will defiantly come back, please you will come back”
“come back, oh I don’t think you really understand the task that is ahead of us, everybody in the base is still talking about the absurdity of the mission, they seems to be confuse, I think I am the only one who understand Georges plan”
“why don’t you just resign” she said “yes, resign”
I was shocked hearing that, I stared at her for a long time. “resign a day before embarking on a mission, you think it is that easy, that is cowardice by the way and cowardice is the most punishable offence in our military code ok, first of all I will appear in the court Marsha to give reasons why I want to resign, and If I don’t get clarified, and I am found guilty of been a coward, it is straight to the alpha maze, such persons are regarded as oxygen thief, they are considered useless to the army, do you think people just resign like that?”
After this she kept quiet, and then began to rush her meal and then she began to sob and then she said “just do something Lauren” she was still sobbing when private Joe entered..
She turned to the door and seen Joe she walked out of the room.
“hey Joe, welcome, please sit” I said, private Joe was not wearing his military uniform, he was wearing a faded jean and a sweat shirt which even made his plumpness more obvious he walked to the dinner and drew a chair.
“why did she leave? because of me?” he asked staring at my abandoned lunch, I saw him swallowed.
“no she is just upset with the fact that she might not been seen me again”
“I don’t understand… well sir I have come again to beg you this last time if you can talk to colonel Gorge” I kept quite at first, I didn’t know how to explain to this guy that I was in a similar condition, or that I and Gorge are now best of enemy’s.
“see, private Joe, I have told you that I and George are not in good terms, or let me put it this way, I and George are now enemy’s, I mean good enemy’s, we are not friends anymore ok, just try and understand. I can’t help you”
Then Sarah came out again, her eyes were wet and red, it seems she had cried them out. She drew a chair and sat down, with her two hands on her cheeks.
“Sarah this is private Joe, he is a friend… private Joel meet my fiancée”
“nice to meet You” said Sarah turning to shake hands with Joe who was sitting beside her.
“same here”
“would you like to have some lunch?” asked Sarah.
“of course ma” said sergeant Joe. Sarah stood up from the dinning and went to the kitchen and then came back with a tray and then set it before Joe, immediately he began eating with excitement, it seem that the presence of food was the only thing that could banish his doom from his mind, he ate noisily as I and Sarah watched.
“do you care for more?” Sarah asked after he had finish eating.
“I am a glutton ma” he said seriously.
“oh, ok” Sarah said giving me a surprise look, I shrugged, she stood up and walked to the kitchen and came back with more food.
After Joe finished the second round, he said again to me “sir what do you say about the matter”
“how many times will I tell you that I can’t help” I said with a raised voice and with angry tone. Sarah was surprise and she asked “what is going on”.
“Joe is condemned to the alpha maze, and he wants me to talk to Gorge and I have been telling him that I and George are eh, not in good terms… maybe you could help him, George will listen to you, you are is new girl friend.” I said and grin at that last part.
“Lauren please stop?” she bellowed.
“ok, ok, I am sorry. I won’t say that again” I apologize with my two hands raised in submission.
“alright, I will see what I can do” she said.
“thank you so much ma, I would really be grateful” Joe thanked Sarah earnestly, later that evening after Sarah and Joe had left I became scared, I paced the room gazing at the time, I could hear it ticking, as it move slowly to midnight. when it was 10pm I got dressed up, my bag was already packed, and it was resting on my bed. At 12am at the dot I picked up my bag and headed for the base.

To all my constant readers, sorry for not keeping to my promise, I really tried but I couldn't, so it would be tomorrow every early, I have also made this part mush longer as a form of compensation.
Thanks all and keep reading

kelsmic:
still waiting with glee!

I promise to update later today, you know sometimes we just get busy

Chapter five
After the lieutenant had dismissed us, I stood there, right in that very position gazing at the document, I couldn’t believe I was going to the enemy’s frontline.
“Lauren”
Slowly I raised my head to see the lieutenant standing a few distance ahead of me.
“yes sir”
“I want to talk to you” he said and began walking, I folded the document and tucked it into my pocket and then jogged to catch up with him.
“what the devil is your name doing in list of those going to the enemy’s frontline… I mean George is your friend and he is in charge.”
“I have no Idea sir” I said, which of course was a lie , I knew what George was up to, but I had always thought we could sought things privately.
“that mission is suicidal, I don’t know why colonel George insisted that twenty soldiers should raid the enemy’s frontline”
“sir, I think I have to go see him, right now”
“ alright, please do”
I saluted and headed for the headquarters. all this while, I had done all I could to suppress my anger, but as I walked through the corridor leading to George’s office, I let loss of it, the intensity could be measured from the way my footsteps echoed loudly and noisily in the corridor and from even my pace.
“I want to see George” I said to his secretary when I got to the office.
“you mean colonel George” she said, in an attempt to correct me.
“yes”
“he is quite busy now, and wouldn’t’ be disturbed”
“just tell him. It is Lauren. He will let me in”
“that was his orders… I am sorry”
I hit the table angrily and she startled with fright; if only she knew how angrily I was.
I made my way toward the door and she blocked me at once. “leave my way” I ordered
“sir you can’t go in” she insisted
“who said so” I pushed her out of my way and she staggered to gain her balance before she could block the door again I was already inside, she followed me in and stood behind me.
George was signing something when I entered, he slowly raised his head and stared at me.
“why did you enter my office in such manner?” his voice was hoarse and it echoed with a hash tone,.
“sir , I tried to stop him” pleaded the secretary.
“it’s ok, private” Gorge said, she left and bar the door. I walked closer to Gorge’s desk and threw the document to him, I watched him as he slowly picked it and read through.
“what the hell is that?” I asked.
“what” he said while still reading the document. “I don’t seems to get you, there is nothing here”
“I don’t understand that”
“you don’t understand what?. Now listen Lauren, this is simple, you are among the soldiers going to the enemy’s frontline” George threw the paper on his desk.
“I see, so you signed this George, you are sending me to a mission where I have no chance of returning”
George became angry, he hit the desk and stood up and then said.
“wait! I don’t seem to understand your ranting, aren’t you a soldier, now we need your services”
“and you don’t even care how deadly it is, you don’t even care if I would die in that mission” I had said this with a raise voice that by the time I was through I was painting seriously.
“you amaze me Lauren” Gorges voice became calm again, he paused and then sniffed and rubbed his nose “when did you become sacred of missions; deadly mission, haven’t you been the one everyone preferred, aren’t the genius anymore, you would have been long sent to the war front if not for I and my father who had been keeping you” he paused and allow and drew a deep breath and then continued. “if you don’t have anything good to say, you can as well leave my office”
I was boiling hot inside of me with anger as I picked the document from the table and tucked it into my back pocket, I saluted and left the office.
Whenever I was this angry and I was not on duty, as usual I would go to the field. So I went to the field and sat down there and for the first time nothing seems to be interesting, except for the cool air.
Some few minutes later, sergeant Jones walked to me and sat beside me, I paid no attention to him, I just sat down staring to the open field ahead of me.
He was a friend of mine, a closed fried; another best friend alongside George, we met during our first year in the army, and our friendship became more sturdy when I save his life.
It all happened back then when we were still young solders, sergeant Jones was sent on a mission with other soldiers, the operation was unsuccessful due to them retreating, when they got back to the base the major general condemn them to the Alpha maze, you might be interested to know that in Pineville retreating when you were not asked to was a serious offence.
As for sergeant Jones, when he told me he was condemned to the Alpha maze, I told him I could help, I hurried to Gorge’s father who happened to be the major General at that time, he was having dinner when I walked in and he was quite happy to see me, he invited me for dinner and after which I told him the reason for my visit, I told him about Jones, I told him we were friends, good friends that I wouldn’t’ want him in the maze.
He told me he would see to it, and the next day Jones came to me beaming in the sun rays, he was full of life again.
“you did it” he said.
“I did what?” I was quite surprised
“my name has been removed from the list, am not going to the maze anymore” he said happily.
“this calls for celebration’
We both had dinner together that evening and since then we became best of friends,
He nudge me in the usual way, hopping I would smile, but I didn’t, I kept on staring ahead as though nobody was sitting close by.
“hey, Lauren what’s up” he asked, I kept quiet “common you can speak to me” without a word I brought out the document out and gave it to him, he opened it at once and read it.
“what, what the hell are you doing in the enemy’s frontline?”
“we are twenty”
“to do what, raid the place as if that is possible”
“it is not possible, he just want us dead, that is all” I said.
“he?” said Jones giving me a stare. “anyway, Lauren, I think you should go see George”
“Georges enlisted my name, he is the one behind all this”
“Gorge? How can he enlist you name, is he insane?”
“he is not, George and I had a row, he wants me to leave Sarah for him can you imagine”
“what, what is wrong with George, your fiancé, I mean something must be wrong with George, seriously speaking”
“I know his plans, he just want to get rid of me, that is all, you know, I and George had been friends for many years, you know that of course, but all this years he succeeded in hiding his dark self behind a perfectly built smile, but like the saying goes: if you want to test a man’s true character, give him power.”
“why don’t you…” he paused as George walked toward us, when he got closer we stood up and saluted.
“I need to talked you” he said with his hands in his pocket and walked a few distance away, I gave Jones a stare and walked to him.
“Lauren, you see, I can help you, I can take you name out of that list, if only you… I mean let me have Sarah, I really do love her, just try to understand”
“you can take my name off the list, like you weren’t the one who put it there in the first place, George I know what you are playing at, if you really want to kill me, why not take out your gun and shoot me, why wasting the life of nineteen soldiers, as for Sarah do you really think I will let you take her away from, I will rather die.”
“you are just a fool, Lauren” George yelled to my face and angrily walked away with his hand still in his pocket.
I went back to the bench where Jones had been sitting waiting for me
“what did he say?” he asked.
“the same trash”
“Lauren, I think you have to see his father”
“you do”
“yes”
“but I think his father is aware of it, the lieutenant mentioned it, he said his father think his son, knows what he is doing” I Explained.
“yes is father might know about the twenty soldiers, but may not know that his Son had included you name.”
I thought deeply about it, and then agreed to go, but however there was something inside of me that made me think it wasn’t a good idea.

Sorry for the delay sir, I will try and update today thanks you for following

Thanks for always following, updating very soon

Chapter Four

Several weeks went by, yet I was thinking about George, the thought to me was fresh, as though it had happened yesterday. Whenever I came to the base, I would go to the field and sit on the bench. I would look at the sky, the sun and the green grasses on the field, I would watch the soldiers as they roam around. I did this all the time to clear my mind. But the thought didn’t clear up at all.
Sarah sometimes tried to console me, she would say to me, close to my ears “I won’t give him that chance” this very statement of hers, echoed in my hears all the time, but didn’t give me the assurance I needed, I was still been scared, scared of losing her to my best friend, i was so scared that even Sarah’s reassurance couldn’t give me hope.
I was at the field one morning, early august I guess, when private Joel walked to me, as usual, I was staring around trying to catch fun with my sight.
He stood right in front of me and when I cut a glimpse of him from the corner of my eyes, I turned to him, he looked pale, his face was sad, he slowly remove his cap and began to walked to me..
“hi” I said.
“good morning, sergeant Lauren” he greeted, his voice didn’t sound well, and it was obvious to me that, probably for a while he had been in a very awful state, perhaps worse than mine.
“I really do want to see you, sir” he said I was still staring at him, his face made me nervous and I was wondering what I could probably do for this young soldier.
“I really do need your help”
“ok… am all ears.” I said.
he walked to me counting his steps, and then sat on the bench.
“I want you to help me plead with colonel George, sir” he paused and swallowed “maybe he could help me”
“help you? , for what?”
“I have been condemned to the Alpha maze”
“What?” I exclaimed, jerking on the bench, the Alpha maze was so dreadful that at the mention of it, one could instantly feel uncomfortable.
“And I know sir; you are the friend of the colonel. Maybe if you plead with him he might help me” I shook my head, private Joel was a young soldier of his early twenties recruited about a few years ago, what made me so sad was that at his age he was about visiting the most dangerous place In the whole of Pineville.
“I am sorry, I can’t help” I said with great regret, I really wish I could.
“No, please” he said and fell on is kneels holding my arms “please, I don’t want to go there sir”
“ I am sorry Joel, I and George are not in good terms, in fact we had a row a few weeks ago” I broke his grip from my hand and stood up. “I wish I could help” I said, and began to leave the field. Looking back over my shoulder I saw him kneeling on the ground crying.
Now, talking about the Alpha maze, it was the last place any soldier would want to be. When it was first discovered many years ago, the military thought it was good for punishing soldiers, and they added it to their cold of justice. They went into the maze and drew the map, so they could have total control, so they could know the in and out of it. Over this years, soldiers had lost their souls there in the maze, of course you were not expecting them to survive, not with how deadly it is.
Inside, was the most deadly animal ever know to humanity, it was called the Quiber, they were like dogs only with black furs which were as slippery as towel soaked in grease. we were told they smell so horrible, we were also told that a single bite from them could pollute the human brain and contaminate their bloods, anyone who got bitten became as dangerous and poisonous as the Quibers, humans bitten by them were like vampires, they grew sharp teeth, their skin becomes greenish and hard like a bark of a tree, their eyes becomes twice their sizes.
By now the maze would have been crowded by polluted humans, and of course Quibers. As for the maze itself, the stone walls could close at anytime, and was said to have compressed humans who couldn’t escape in time leaving their blood splashed in the maze walls and floors. They were also sharp blades on the walls, that could cut anyone who was caught unaware. With all this in mind, I am such no one would ever dream of visiting that place. Private Joel indeed deserved pity and should not be blame for crying even like a baby.
“321jk proceed to division, you are required” came a voice from my radio, just when I left the field.
“roger, proceeding”
“out”
When I got to the our division, I saw about nineteen other soldiers assembling in front of the lieutenant, I hurried up a bit to join them, we stood in rows and the first row had ten soldiers, so was the back row.
“as you all know, the battle in Western-Pineville is getting fierce, we are losing more soldiers. The rebel has refuse to surrender and colonel mark is calling for more troops. A hundred and twenty soldiers will be deployed, and 20 was picked from each division, and you are the twenty selected from our division” the colonel paused staring at every one of us. At his left side stood a corporal.
“Pass the document, corporal,” said the colonel
“Yes sir”
The corporal responded and began passing the piles of document on his hand to us. I stared at mine as soon as he gave it to me. On one side was my photograph in black and white, on the other side was my details, and below was a letter informing me that I had been enlisted among the troops to be deployed to Western-Pineville. Beneath the later was a citation, which read:
“Selected for his bravery, and his tenacity”
I was still shocked, of course I should, having my best friend as the Administer and yet I was going to the bloodiest battle ever know to all of Pineville. As I stood there staring at the white sheet of paper on my hand. I head the soldier close to me reading their citations.
“Selected for is astounding performance with the machine gun?” said sergeant peter, I stared at him and he stared back.
“This is George’s doing,” I whispered to myself I took a deep breath. I wasn’t scared of missions, I thought George had failed if he was using this against me until the lieutenant, continued his speech.
“This is pretty wired, I tried to opposed, but Colonel George insisted. In addition, his father thinks his son knows what he is doing; twenty of the soldiers who are to be deployed are to raid the enemy’s frontier.” The lieutenant paused and allowed us react to it before continuing and even as he kept on with the address, they were still side talks at every corner, we were all asking ourselves how can twenty soldier raid the frontline of the enemy where they could have over a thousand soldier on guard.
“ like I said before it is bizarre, I don’t know what George is up to, now check your document, if you see ‘to the enemy’s frontier’ you are one of them” everyone turned to their document and I stared too to mine, there It was. “to the enemy’s frontier”.
To be continued...

kelsmic:
quite captivating. you have a good story up there. the plot, flash back, Great. but kindly proof read before send or get someone to edit,. something's as usual with most work, typo appears. spellings, omission and some grammatical inaccuracies. By the way. I dig your story... I might find myself at the bottom of the Earth while digging if I ain't careful. And please, yes please I will become Oliver Twist. Trust you decode that.

Thanks for the review, I'm working on that, it will get better in next chapters, thanks again

Thanks to my readers so far, I will be updating by tomorrow, but before then, if you have been following this story what is your take on it.

Chapter Three

Walking back home that night was in fact the most frustrating journey I had ever took. what Sarah had just told me not only pieced my heart, not only broke my heart, but made me lost my mind. The silent night, became noisy, of course the sound of the cars, their horns, wasn’t pleasant anymore, even the footsteps of the pedestrians as it hit the concrete floor became irritating. The lights that made the night glitters were now repulsive to my eyes. What a frustrating walk that night.
When I got home, I paced around my room, trying to bring my disturbed mind to calm, but I couldn’t. not been able to understand George’s action was the major cause of my distress. he was my friend, we had known since we were just kids, and Sarah was my fiancée, not only that we were engage our marriage was at the corner, with this on my mind I couldn’t find sleep that night.
The following morning I was on the bed when Sarah entered the room, she was beaming as though happy to see me, of course she was, my fingers were crossed under my jaw and I was staring at the wall ahead of me, when she greeted me I couldn’t respond , I felt I was going to cry.
I was thinking about George, how I would strangle him to death If I had the chance, but sometime i thought we could talk things over when we meet.
“you are not looking happy” Sarah said looking at me with a screwed face. I still couldn’t say anything, she dropped her bag on the table and sat beside me.
“is it about what George said?” she asked, I kept quiet, but I guess my face would give her the answer.
“you don’t have to bother about that, you know I won’t give him that chance” she patted me on the back and stood up for the kitchen.
I felt sick and weak, I couldn’t get myself to stand from the chair, it took me so much struggle to stand and get myself ready for the base.
Sarah had prepared breakfast, and was forcing me to eat before leaving, but each time I looked at the food, I felt like vomiting, there was something inside of me that had refuse to digest, perhaps it was still the bad news. I picked the glass of coffee, drain it and then headed for the door, when I looked over my shoulder, I saw Sarah starring at me intently, my hand lingered in the knob of the door, I wanted to turn and say a good bye, but a voice spoke insider my head. If you had ever been high on weed, the voice you do hear was what I was hearing, “go” it said, and I opened the door and left.
When get to the base I lingered around for a bit, I walked around the field with my hands in my pocket asking myself questions, when the sun finally arose that morning and the air became hot, I thought it was time to see George.
I was told that he was in a meeting, discussing about the war in western-Pineville, and how they were to send troops over there.
“just tell him its Lauren” I said to the soldier sitting at the desk right in front of the door Of the conference hall.
“I can’t do that sir” she insisted and turned her attention back on the computer. I stood there for several hours with my hand folded, with my backs resting on the wall, from time to time I would walk around, just to stretch my legs a bit.
It was noon when George finally came out. He was walking beside a middle age man, who was the major general, and was the second in command to George’s father.
“I saluted them” and George gave me a wink, and whispered.
“I will be with you in a moment, please” I nodded and watched him walk out of sight with the major general.
When he came back a while later I whispered to his ear “I want to see you, privately”
“hmmm” he looked around before saying “ok”
I led him out of earshot and said, first I tried to be calm.
“George why the devil will you do such a thing?”
“what?” he said as though he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“asking Sarah out, are you crazy?”
“Lauren, mind you language, I am a superior officer”
“oh, I see”
“taking about Sarah, I love her, you know, I have always admired her all this while”
“for Go sake she is my fiancée”
“oh, spell that, I met her first”
“ and I spoke to her first”
We had been talking in a loud voice, the soldiers around though they couldn’t get what we were arguing about, but where looking, I and George were staring at each other’s face, I was trying to calm myself and when I thought I was calm, I spoke softly.
“George, I don’t want Sarah to come between us, our friendship is older than her, we have been friend for 25years, George.”
George rubbed his nose before saying “Now, listen Lauren, I will make you a captain with huge salary, just leave Sarah for me, I love her”
Now I became angry.
“George I don’t want to see you close to Sarah”
“what will you do”
“you may not like me”
“are you threatening me?” I kept quiet, he turned and began to walked away “I am warning you?” I said and began to kick the wall angry, when I turned to the desk of the soldier I had first spoke with she was staring at me, I stop kicking the wall and walked of the office.

CHAPTER TWO

Thirty minutes later, after I left Sarah and George I found myself in the captain’s office, the captain of regiment 09, I was standing beside other three soldiers as the captain addressed us.
‘you all are to escort general Parkinson to the guest house, you remain with him on guard till tomorrow evening when he would be escorted to the airport, is that taken’
‘yes sir’ we yelled.
‘he leaves by 5pm today, so at 5pm, report to the head quarters’
‘yes sir’
‘dismiss’
We saluted and left the office. there was still enough time before five so I decided to have a walk around the field, which I did for a long time before sitting on the bench to watch as soldiers paraded the entire base with their riffle hanging over their shoulders.
Few minutes to five , my radio beeped.
‘tree too wun, twenty minutes to 5pm, report to division’
‘roger, tree too wun is proceeding. Out’
I said and walked to the 09 division, on getting there, I saw the other three soldiers getting themselves ready, they were putting on their bullet proofs, and their helmet, i picked a bullet proof from the piles in the room and wore it and then took an helmet before grabbing a riffle from the many arranged in the wall.
After dressing up we walked out of the room and headed for were a new Chevrolet SUV was parked, I sat at the front while the others sat at the back, and we drove off to headquarter which was about two miles from the division, when we got there, we came out and stood around waiting for the time to hit 5pm, and when it finally did, the general walked out from the door, and we escorted him to the car which he was to ride in. I opened the back door for him and he entered, I didn’t returned to the car we brought, rather I sat at the front of the car and we drove off to the guest house.
It was dark when we got to the guest house, a bit pass 7pm, If I can still remember, the bulb light at every corner, illuminated the compound making the flowers and the water fountain sparkling, when we pulled over at the parking lot, we rushed down from the cars at once. the other soldiers took guard around as though excepting the enemy’s attack, while I opened the door for him, I saluted as he step down.
he walked to the door of the guest house where a young looking man wrapped neatly on a fine suit, stood to welcome him.
We stood guard throughout that night, and the only thing I thought about was Sarah, I was not quite happy and I couldn’t tell why, it might have been the fact that I left without any message that I would be staying for a day, if it was that I would be unhappy for no reason, sincerely I can tell you that Sarah was quite used to me staying for days, weeks and even months, what does she except dating a soldier who was still in the stage of being sent on stupid mission mostly?, but I wondered that night if it may also be the fact that I didn’t spend a enough time in the restaurant with her and George, I just couldn’t tell, but the fact still remains that I was always unhappy when ever far away from this girl, but i tend not to accept it, instead I look for excuses around.
The following morning we stood guard in the compound, till it was evening, when the general came out, we saluted at once and as usual I walked him to his car and opened the door for him, and we drove to the airport.
From the guest house to the airport was about an hour and when we escorted him to the passenger’s lodge we stood guard around him until he finally boarded the plane.
It was dark when we got back to the base, trust me the military base was a place with less light, it was totally dark. We pulled over on our division, we went to the weapon room and took off our helmet, our bullet proofs and returned the rifles. Then we jabbed hands with each other before going our separate ways.
Still not happy, I decided to visit Sarah, her apartment wasn’t so far from mine so I took the pleasure of walking that evening, the air was cool and most time I tend to like the night, the way the cars moved around with their lights on, the way the people move around, the way lights from the shops made the night glittering.
‘knock knock’ I said aloud when I got to the door of Lucy’s house. ‘knock knock’ was the usual way I announced my presence. and I tend to like it that way, it gave her the impression that I had arrived. A few second later she swung the door opened, and threw herself on me. For the first time I manage a smile. There was something about her presence that made me smile; that made me happy; that filled my heart with joy, so permit me to say I was unhappy because I was too far away from her.
When she finally pulled herself off me, she held me by my hand and I shut the door as I walked behind her to the dinning,
‘welcome…good to see you’
‘you don’t know our glad I am to be here’ I said.
‘I was about having dinner’ she said and walked to the kitchen.
The room was bright, despite the tick darkness outside, she had lit up candles all over the dinner room which made it had a lovely view. as she served me dinner a while later her engagement ring shone brightly and seeing it gave me more joy.
‘I am sorry for not telling you I will be staying for a day, you know, it was urgent’ I said eating with great rush as if had a time limit, a whole day escorting and guarding the general wasn’t a joke, you we agree with me If the church of ‘praise Jesus the lord is might’ had ever asked you to fast.
‘I wasn’t bothered anyway, I knew you might be staying for a couple of days when you didn’t come back yesterday, fortunately you only stayed for a day’
After dinner together, I thought of resting at the sitting room before leaving for my apartment, Sarah was clearing the table and from time to time I stared to her, most time she didn’t see me staring, but whenever she saw me, she would smile.
After clearing the dining table she walked to the sitting room and sat close to me.
‘I want to talk to you about George’ she said, and I couldn’t tell why my heart stopped biting for a few seconds, I turned to her but she wasn’t smiling.
‘what about George?’ I asked
‘he asked me out’
‘what!’.

CHAPTER ONE

‘wake up’
I didn’t want to wake, I was having a sweat dream, it featured I and Sarah, having dinner somewhere around town, I kept on rolling on the bed refusing to open my eyes.
‘wake up’ it kept on sounding in my ears until suddenly water splashed on my face and I opened my eyes to see Sarah standing there with a glass of water on her hands, she grined and walked to the table at the side of the room to drop the cup.
‘good morning’ she said after dropping the cup.
‘when did you come’ I asked sitting up on the bed
‘not quite long ago’
I sat down on the bed running my hands on my hairs, it was time to get ready for the base, but the cold and chilly weather wasn’t permitting that, what it permitted was sleep.
‘Lauren’ called Sarah, I turned to her slowly
‘you are getting late’ she said and left the room to the sitting room,
‘let see’ I said to myself and stared at the alarm clock on my bedside it was pass 7am, I stood up in a hurry and ran to the bathroom to have a warm bath. when I came out I picked my uniform wore them as fast as possible, I put on my boots and comb my hairs, I looked to the mirror just to make such I was done dressing before walking to the sitting room.
Sarah was standing by the dinning serving breakfast.
‘I have made breakfast already’ she said and I walked to her, just then we heard a loud knock on the door, Sarah startled and almost spilled the milk on her hands.
‘who is that ?’ Sarah whispered to me. I paid no attention to the door, I just kept on adjusting my shirt, the knock came again this time louder, I looked at Sarah and saw fear all over her, she walked to me and griped my wrists.
‘c’mon, it’s George’ I said smiling to her serious looking face.
‘how do you know it’s George’
‘he knocks like an idiot’ I said and turned to face the door and bellowed ‘come in George’.
The door flew opened, and at the threshold stood George, from the corner of my eyes I saw Sarah gasping for breath.
‘good morning’ he said and walked into the house briskly, he had his usual smile, the smile you will always see him put on, but behind that smile were dark things, things so dark, things beyond your imaginations.
He shook hands with me and we both drew out a chair and sat at the dinning.
‘you scared the hell out of me’ said Sarah now, ‘oh, did i?’ he said laughing.
‘it is a pity you have never heard George knocked before, he just wants to scare whoever is inside.”
Half way into our breakfast I said to the amazement of Sarah ‘congratulation George’
She raise her head at once and stared at both of us in surprise, her eyes were rolling alternating itself between I and George.
‘what are you guys not telling me’ she said still gazing at us. ‘what are you celebrating’
‘George we be made a colonel today’ I said and sipped from my glass of milk
‘that’s greet… congratulation George’ she said grinning to George.
‘yeah! Thanks’
‘alright I think we have to leave now’ I stood up from the chair and walked to Sarah and gave her a kiss on the fore head, before walking behind George to the door.
The military base was about thirty minutes drive from my apartment, and by the time George pulled over at the parking lot we were terribly late.
We came down from the car in a hurry and walked down the great all were all ceremonies were held.
The hall was already crowded when we entered, they were no soldiers off low ranks in it, except for I and George who were both sergeants and now he was about to be a soldier of high rank, he was about to be a boss himself. the soldier at the door had refuse to let me enter but George shoved him off and said ‘he’s with me’ the soldier nodded and gave way.
George father, the General was standing at a platform at the front of the hall addressing the crowed, seen his son standing at the back he called him to the stage and the ceremony began in full swing. A soldier brought a beautiful tray design with our flag and was containing several badges, without wasting time the general began wearing his son the badges and after which they saluted each other and George took over the pulpit.
‘thank you… thank you’ he said and gradually the roaring clapping of the crowded hall reduced.
‘I want to appreciate you all for coming, let me say a big thanks to my father … dad thanks very much’ he said turning to his father who was sitting on his seat at the front row. He was smiling to his son, probably proud of him.
‘for this great honor, bestowed upon me, I pledge that I will be faithful in serving this land, I promise not to disappoint you, to whom much is giving much is excepted, except much for me for I will do my best… thank you very much’
The clapping went on for a long while even when George had left the platform and was now sitting beside his father at the front row. The ceremony continued, they were a lot of drinks available in full measure that myself, despite standing at the extreme end of the hall, got up to three glasses of wine.
At the end of the ceremony, George walked to me and I saluted him, and then we shook hands and gave each other a hug.
***
Later that afternoon I and George decide to have lunch at a restaurant few meters away, as a way of celebrating his success, I called Sarah to join us and she agreed, as we sat waiting for her George ordered for red wine, we drank and talked more about his new position.
‘now I will be administering the troops to Pineville, that we be my major assignment for now’ he said refilling his glass. I took mine and sipped from it.
That year we had a fierce battle in Western-Pineville, which lasted for over a year. It was a civil war, Western-Pineville wanted a split up. Hearing that my best friend was now the administer, I should have been glad, it would save me from thinking one day I will be among the troops.
We talked more on his plans, he said he would be sending about a hundred soldiers to the battle field that month. We had just ordered for lunch when Sarah entered the restaurant she grinned and walked hurriedly to us. I stood up to accept a hug from her so did George.
‘I was a bit late ‘ she said sitting down
‘one more plate please’ said George In a high pitched voice.
‘yes sir’ said a guy in a white and black.
‘so George how was the ceremonies’ asked Sarah grabbing my wine and sipping from it.
‘wow… it was great, you know, I really enjoyed myself’
‘when are you resuming’ Sarah said staring through the rim to George
‘tomorrow of course,’ there was silence for a while as the waiter brought Sarah’s food. ‘it sounds like joke seen that George had now become my boss’ i said sardonically
‘well George, treat him right’ said Sarah
‘off course he should, I can still kick his ass’ I said, and we all went into a prolong laughter after my joke, but really, George becoming a colonel was like setting a record, no one has ever flew from the rank of a sergeant to a colonel, it was a rank I wouldn’t dream off even in my forties, and yet George was reaching it at the age of twenty-nine, all thanks to his father, I also thought about the freedom I would have in the base having a friend which such rank, not just a friend but a real friend. though I was already enjoying some privilege even when he was a sergeant like me, he could give command in his father’s influence and being a colonel actually wasn’t a big deal if not for the office attached to it.
Few minute into lunch my radio vibrated and George and Sarah stared at me, and a voice popped up.
‘tree too wun(321), this is zero niner(09) regiment actual, over’
‘zero niner regiment actual, this is tree too wun, message, over’
‘321 you are required, report to division, over’
‘roger, zero niner regiment actual, tree too wun is proceed, out’
‘I have to leave now, George see you guys later’
‘alright’ George said and I drained the full glass of wine and left.