𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘 [ UNDER HEAVY REVISION ]

AWAKE : FOURTY

Y/n's POV

Our training starts the day after we signed up for the military. There are fifteen other trainees with us, all of them looking strong and determined to learn. We are standing side by side in three lines, five persons each.

The sun has just started to rise, bathing everything in orange. Mina is standing on my right side, looking straight ahead as the middle-aged woman in front of us prepares her speech. She is bald, with dark brown skin and a stony expression. I'm a few inches taller than her, but I don't dare underestimate her. I know she's hiding her muscles underneath the military fatigues she's wearing.

The morning air is chilly, the occasional wind making my nose itch. After deciding to join the military, it felt as if a huge thorn had been removed from my heart. I slept peacefully that night.

"I am Sergeant Sandara Park," the person in front of us says, her gaze roaming around. "This is your first day of training as privates of the New Army."

New Army. That's what they call us now. The military force of post-apocalyptic Korea. I'm still not used to the changes that have taken place in just the span of a few months.

The world I was used to no longer exists. In its place is a cruel, far more dangerous world where people are struggling to survive.

"You will undergo extensive training sessions that will run indefinitely, until we deem you skilled enough to join us," Sgt. Park continues, her gaze never leaving us as she paces back and forth. "The training won't be easy. We will test your physical and mental abilities, determine your weak spots, and eliminate them. Should you feel that these are too much for you, feel free to leave the training sessions any time you want."

Okay. That's a really good speech for new trainees. I'm sure that all of us are now considering whether joining is a good idea. I spare a glance at Mina, but her expression remains unreadable. She's looking at Sgt. Park intently, as if her life depends on it.

Well, maybe she's taking all of this seriously. Maybe she really wants to be one of the Privates of the New Army. Not that I'm not serious about this, though. It's just that we won't be staying here for long. After we gain enough information about the extra-terrestrial beings and how our President managed to sneak them in, we're getting out of here.

All of it seems so easy in my mind. But after everything I've been through, I know that getting out of this place will be tough as hell.

Sgt. Park gestures to the man standing behind her. Like her, the man is wearing military fatigues, his bulging muscles stretching the fabric. He's 6 feet tall and has a shaved head.

He seems to be no older than Sgt. Park. On his right cheek, there's a thin, long scar stretching from his right eye to the corner of his mouth. It gives him a twisted look.

"This is Kwon Ji-yong. He will facilitate most of your physical training," Sgt. Park states. The man gives us an eerie smile that sends shivers down my spine. From my distance, I can see their identical eyes and jawline.

Sgt. Park continues speaking. "I will facilitate your gun training and military tactics classes. Questions will only be entertained after every class." She sweeps her gaze across all of us, her eyes lingering a second too long in my direction. "I expect all of you to be on your very best behavior. You are under my watch now. Any reckless actions will be extremely discouraged."

There's a long pause. The only noise is the occasional howling of the wind and the Institute coming to life around us. Then Sgt. Park nods at her partner and walks off without another word.