A PRIVATE PLAN

*Anthony

" What rank are you?" A man in his military uniform asked me as I stepped forward to register my name.

He was dressed neatly in his military uniform with his blonde hair slicked backwards. His stern face caught my attention as he looked at me as if I was some sort of unrecognizable human being. Maybe it was just my imagination since he didn't know me. Spotting the gold oak tree on his shoulder, I immediately stand at attention saluting him.

" Staff Sergeant Anthony Murphy!" I say in a loud voice while remaining calm.

" Murphy?" He asked with a hint of suprise as he looks at me. Of course, I was someone special.

" Okay, you can go." I hear him say making me run over to stand in the line.

The army was hosting an Annual Camp Sprinting Competition which was the dream of very low weak solider who wanted to climb up the ladder. In a world where the military had taken over and become the ruling power, many young men from all over joined as soon as they could but it wasn't easy to become a Commissioned officer. All the Commissioned officers were part of a squad that were led under the six generals. They were called the Asphalt soldiers. In terms of strength, power and talent, no one could compare to them easily.

Suddenly a solider steps up in the middle of the track while everyone is looking at those who are cheering for them. Bringing out a long gun, he shoots it signaling the start of the race and I immediately run as the others do. The track field is over 600m which is more than the track field used for normal track field runners. The begining of the match becomes important as other soldiers try to pick up their speed as fast as possible in order to give a lot of gaps from the others. Meanwhile, I move slowly as I try to keep my breathe even so I don't become tired so quickly.

" You can do it!"

The screams become loud in my ear making me increase my speed even though I know that I might not make it if I continue. After the first lap, my legs start to shake warning me but I continue to try and push myself. The rest soliders run even faster as if they have been given some sort of drug while others fall short immediately. Running as fast as I can, I pass the last five soldiers in the front heading into the top ten in the front.

By the time I see the second lap in front of me, I feel my legs almost giving up but I try to remain strong as I know its only remaining one lap for me to reach my goal. As long as I am able to win the competition by some sort of miracle, my life would definitely suddenly change.

"Last lap!" The announcer says through the speaker and my adrenaline level shoots up to the sky.

There are five runners remaining at this point. Our speed is already off the charts as we try our best to compete with each other as if we are on a battlefield. I want to win. I crave to win.

" The winner is, Fredrick Miller!"

The crowd goes crazy immediately at the mention of his name making me feel like a loser. I was probably one considering the fact that I was ten meters behind him. While everyone congratulates him, my eyes search for my wife. She was the reason why I had wanted to win.

" Darling, did you come to support me?" I ask smiling because it was rare.

In an instant she takes my hand off hers as if I am some infectious disease. Her eyes are full of distain and hatred as she stares at me.

"Have you lost it? Who would come to support a loser like you?" She asks as she passes me by leaving me standing like a fool in the mist of the crowd.

Watching her hand over the flowers she had brought to Fredrick, my heart sinks in pain as I look at them. They had claimed to be just siblings since the very beginning but I knew better. They were closer than usual and often stole glances at each other.

" Such a shame, Murphy. How could you expect to beat me? Your legs are like that of a cricket." Fredrick says making the rest people burst out into laughter as they look at me.

Gazing down at my legs, I can't help but feel embarrassed. I had been in a wheelchair for twenty years of my life. After marrying Melissa, her father had paid for my surgery and I had been able to walk again. But the problem was, my legs had not been the same since then.

Walking back to my room, I change my outfit and put on my casual military clothes. Just as I am about to leave my room, I stop when I see one of the soliders from the Asphalt Team standing in front of me. His face is stern and I almost mistake him for a robot since he isn't smiling.

"General Ballard is looking for you." He says making my heart skip a beat.

Following him, I enter the tent where my father-in-law is. His angry face greets me immediately I enter and I know the reason why.

" You stupid fool! Why did you go and participate if you are so weak? How could you disgrace me just like that in front of everyone?" His loud angry voice sends chill down my body and my hands start to shake.

I knew I wasn't alone. He was with some of his best commanders aka my usual bullies. They never missed the change to bully me even though I was the son-in-law of their general. Trembling in fear, I apologize immediately making my intention clear. I wanted to make him proud. But in the ending, I had lost like a fool and I was getting the punishment of it.

Was there any difference? Being in a wheelchair or not?

" And what did you do? You lost. You already knew you couldn't beat Fredrick so why did you even try, you fool?" My father-in-law asks looking frustrated with me.

After a moment of me keeping silent, I see him glance at his commanders before looking at me. I knew what was going to happen next.

" Please. Please forgive me, father-in-law. I won't compete again. I'll do anything you want." I say falling to my knees immediately to beg as I see them coming towards me.

But he doesn't spare me a glance. With one hand each, two of them are able to lift me up making me beg even harder as my biceps get crushed from their strength. Carrying me outside, they take me to my usual punishment grounds. The weapons room. The place was made of the best steel reinforced concrete making it the hardest place to blow up. Plus it was also soundproof. Although it wasn't designed to be locking people up, that's what the commanders under my father-in-law used it for. And I think he knew about it.

" Aaarhhhhh!" I scream falling to the ground in pain after getting punched on my ribs.

Gasping for air, I try to breathe but I can't. They must have already bruised my ribs. The scond kick goes behind my back making me yell again in pain. Soon, they start to beat me up. Without knowing where the next kick or punch is going to come from, all I can do is to protect my head as tears fall from my eyes. The constant kicks from their tough boots make me very dizzy as the pain almost numbs me. Just as I am about to fall unconscious, the door opens up and I see a lady's heels walk in.

" Dad told me that you guys were punishing him. Is he dead yet?" I hear my wife ask making my words come out as a groan.

I'm already too weak to speak and I want to call out her name but I can't. Stretching my hand out, I try to touch her shoes but she moves out of the way while stepping on my hand.

" Get away from me, you idiot. Why isn't he dead yet?" My wife asked in a frustrated voice.

" He isn't allowed to die. General's orders. We were only supposed to punish him. Madam!" I hear one of the soliders say as he wraps his arms around her.

The sound of a gun clocking fills my heart just as I am about to lose consciousness forcing me to open my eyes again. My wife was in front of me. Holding a gun pointed at me.

" Let go! I say let fuc**ng go!" My wife says as she pushes the solider to the ground using the back of the rifle to hit him on the shoulder.

My heart continues to test apart as I watch her struggle to kill me so desperately. This wasn't the first time she had tried to yet I was always heartbroken whenever I saw her behave that way.

" Stop. What do you think you are doing? Your father will have us killed." I hear Fredrick say and at this point, I am beyond weak to do anything.

Closing my eyes, I let the darkness take me.

******

When I awaken again, my entire body feels sore from the beating and I feel like dying. Glancing around the room, I let a small groan as I try to stand up but cannot.

" Are you okay? The soliders said you fell down up. What were you doing up the ladder?" I hear the army doctor ask as she runs to meet me after entering my room.

I knew she was playing dumb. No one would miraculously obtain this much injuries from falling down a ladder.

" Where are you going? You are not yet okay." The army's doctor says but I let it fall on deaf ears as I come down from the bed.

Opening the door, I close it immediately as I start to walk back limping. The soliders come and go passing me but none of them even care to pay attention to me who was obviously badly beaten. This was because they already knew. I was the pathetic son-in-law of one of the most powerful generals. Passing by my father-in-law's combat tents, I stop because I see him inside with Fredrick and some of his commanders with him looking at the combat map.

" I don't think it's the right path to follow. Why don't we take this path instead? The trucks might fall if they go through the snow path. The ground is very slippery."

The commander's words mak me stop immediately I hear them. They were talking in low tones which meant they didn't want anyone to hear them.

"Do you need something?" A solider asked making me shutter as I realize I have been caught.

Shaking my head, I continue to limp away pretending to hear back to my tent as the soldier takes his post in front of the opening of the tent.

" We need better ideas. The president has no idea that guns will be brought in. Once we achieve our great plan, all of you will be rewarded." I hear my father-in-law say making my eyes widen in shock.

The world has changed after the military had gained power overnight. The presidential house and the other government officials had suddenly lost everything thanks to six generals that had gained a stronger army. Although they had pledged their loyalty to the president, it was only because they knew the president could easily call for backup from other countries making things hard for them. That's why they had laid low. The fact that they were now bringing guns in without the president's knowledge told me something big was going to happen.

A coup.

(Smack!)

Falling to the ground, I groan in pain as my leg hits the ground violently.

" Bring him inside!" I hear Fredrick say as two men carry me inside the tent.