Chapter 2.1

After we got through the first check point, we set up camp in the forest a few miles north while the men took shifts patrolling. That night the men made a fire and cooked the food they'd got from the supply truck, and I was instructed to collect firewood. My body was sore and numb from the days ordeals, but I forced one foot in front of the other and followed their orders. If I was to survive I had to do what I was told. I dumped piles of twigs and branches in a messy heap next to the small fire where Jay sat stirring a large cooking pot and adding ingredients to the mixture.

When the heap of firewood was large enough for half the night, I slumped down the side of a large tree, using its trunk to keep me upright. There was blood still on my hands, it had dried there like an extra skin; I stifled back tears, but my throat tightened as I frantically scratched at the blood on my dirty nightshirt, but all I succeeded in doing is rubbing dirt in as well. At least then, my hands were brown, and I could just pretend it was mud. Yes, it's just mud.

I dozed as the men ate, cradling my empty stomach which spasmed at the smell of food, but fear kept me where I was. They treated me like an object, when they wanted something they demanded it done, and when they didn't it was like I wasn't even there, they didn't even look at me, and after today, I was even more sure that if I made a wrong move they wouldn't hesitate to kill me. But the hunger pangs kept me from sleeping, even when the lingering smell of food finally wavered, I couldn't sleep.

I watch at the heaps of sleeping bags, slowly breathing in their sleep. It should be safe to move shouldn't it? Its been half an hour since the last change in shift- that long enough isn't it? I decided that it wouldn't matter, I was so hungry…

I crept past the bodies sleeping on the floor, using the moonlight escaping through the canopy to navigate to the lingering embers of the fire and the cooking pot that stood abandoned next to the fire. I stared at it, the bottom of the pan was concealed in shadow, and the greasy remains smelt bad. I studied the forest again, looking at each of the sleep men in turn, pausing on each one for a least a couple of seconds, until I found Rickon, where my gaze lingered. Would he hurt me if he knew I stole the food? He would know, wouldn't he?

Never had bean soup tasted so good. The liquid had congealed at the bottom, but I scraped at the leftovers with my hands, scooping it up and shovelling into my mouth, barely pausing to swallow before shoving in the next mouthful. When I'd scraped out as much as I could, I stuck my head in to lick out anything that remained.

I flinched and scuttled back to the tree as I heard leaves crunching under foot, leaving the pot discarded at the side of the fire. When a dark figure appears through the trees and shakes the bundle belonging to Leon, I realise it must have been time for the shifts to change, and the tension in my body releases a little before I settle back down against the tree. Finally, with my stomach full, I fell asleep cradling my knees.

When a boot hits me across the head, my dreamless sleep ends quite violently, and I wake with a start. Dawn had begun to spread out across the sky; although it was still quite dark under the canopy, I could see the colours of the sunrise poking through the leaves and I shivered against the morning air. "looks like an animal got to our leftovers last night." Rickon chuckled, as the shoe that hit me was wordlessly claimed by a hopping Jay, before everyone gathered their things and started to head out. I resumed my place at the back of the group and hobbled after them.

Over my time with Dark Moon Squad I became increasingly familiar with the sights of the back their heads; while some of them would gradually change over time as the weaker (or maybe just the unlucky ones) of the squad got injured and killed got replaced by newer (but in most cases meaner) unfortunate souls assigned to Dark Moon Squad. There were four heads that remained the same: Rickon, leading the squad, Quin somewhere in the middle, chatting nonsensically to anyone who'd listen, and Jay slacking off at the back, always a few men away from me.

The worse thing was, is that I could have ran, they never forced me to stay, but I found myself trailing after them day after day. Probably because I didn't know what else to do or where to go.

At the end of the day we reached a complex, the forest abruptly levelled out, and on the flat plane that was left behind was a facility consisting of three interconnected buildings. Though it was large there didn't seem to be many people about; scouting discovered ten people patrolling outside and at most a handful inside. I wondered what on earth a facility like this was doing in the middle of nowhere, but of course I don't voice my thoughts.

As the sun set the patrol was gradually replaced, as the shift was swapped by soldiers from inside; two remained outside the main entrance just visible from where we hid, while the rest rhythmically patrolled the perimeter of the grounds in pairs.

"When I say, I want you to walk to the entrance, as close as you can get." He instructed, and I looked at him as if he was insane, "do what I say brat, or I'll make you. A broken arm or two won't affect your ability to walk." He smiled evilly.

"You just hope they have a weakness for dirty little brats and don't shoot you on sight." I could hear Quin behind me, chuckling wickedly.

Rickon goes back to his binoculars and a minute passes in silence before "Now!" he hissed and shoves me with the other hand. I stumble forward, half falling through the trees and snagging my skin and nightshirt alike on the brambles. I hit the concrete and fall on my hands and knees; the patrol hadn't noticed me, but Rickon had waited until the moment just before the highest amount of men were in sight of the front entrance in their rounds. I picked myself up and slowly made my way to the entrance, I get a few feet before I'm noticed by one of the men on the entrance "you there! Stop!" he yelled, and the others nearing on their patrol came rushing in my direction.

I froze and let the men come to me- to be honest I'm not sure I could have moved. I couldn't see the man's face, but I could imagine it twisted in hostility and anger, and I was well aware of the rifle pointed in my direction.

"Boy, what are you doing out here?" he asked, "Hugh, you're filthy!" he added with disgust, pulling away from me.

What do I say? My legs were visibly shaking, my throat clammed up and I couldn't produce any sound. But apparently that was enough; five men had crowed around me, and the remaining man at the door was also absorbed by the commotion I was causing, they didn't see Rickon and his men slide down the embankment and dart out from the canopy's cover. My eyes trailed after the Dark Moon squad as they flitted around like shadows behind the men, sliding in behind them and twisting their necks with their bare hands. There were five dull breaking sounds, slightly out of synch with each other as their necks were snapped, and almost simultaneously Dark Moon Squad let their bodies sink to the floor. And just like that, five men were dead.

Two men remained outside to watch out for the remaining patrol, while the rest of us filed inside the main entrance. Rickon knew his way around the compound and it was clear the facility was the entire point of this operation. Dark Moon squad performed their roles flawlessly, three men disappeared as we entered, scattering in different directions, but I was left with Rickon and the main force. We travelled quickly in a loose U shape with me at the back and Rickon somewhere in the middle; when they heard someone approaching, one of the men at the front would dart forward and deal with them before they ever reached the main group. We would then walk over the dead body of whoever was unfortunate enough to meet us. Most of the time, they were in military uniform, but there were also civilians dressed in smart clothing (not at all suitable for war). Rickon knew where he was going; he must have memorised the layout of the building; there was no waste of movement, we marched to the required room, where I was instructed to wait outside and watch for enemies, until Rickon had completed whatever he came here to do, which of course I never found out. But I did get a glimpse of a dark room before the door swung shut; I glanced at a large computer with rows of systems following behind it like tiny skyscrapers towering over a sky of black.

The walls were bare, and much like the orphanage I grew up in, featureless. I haven't seen much of the outside world, so I only guess of what the facility was used for. Rickon was swift, and we were leaving before I could come to a conclusion.