Torn into Pieces(Rewritten)

Chapter 28-Alexander

The day started like any other—early mornings and routine chaos. As I left my cabin, the familiar scent of dew on grass filled the air, and the rising sun cast a soft, golden glow over the camp. The peacefulness was deceiving because I knew in a few hours, it would be anything but quiet. The boys were due to wake soon, and with the absence of Lieutenant Wilkerson, I had to step in and take over his duties for the day, which added an extra layer of responsibility to my already heavy workload. Not that I wasn't used to it.

As I made my rounds, I checked in on the other officers, making sure everything was in order for the day. The usual paperwork awaited me in my office—reports, schedules, disciplinary write-ups—but I'd get to that later. First, I had to make sure the boys were up and ready for the day's drills.

By the time I made it to the barracks, they were starting to stir. I could hear grumbling and rustling from inside. Some of the younger boys, still adjusting to the regimented life, took longer to get moving.

"Let's go! Move it!" I called out, banging on the door to the main dormitory. "We've got drills to run in thirty minutes! Anyone still in bed is going to be running extra laps!"

I heard a few groans, but that got them moving. As they shuffled out, I caught sight of Ace. His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn't help but smile back. His mood had improved since yesterday, but I knew the weight of everything wasn't gone. He was putting on a brave face.

"Morning, Ace," I said as I approached him. He was in the middle of a conversation with Danny, another one of the boys in his age group.

"Hey, Alexander," he replied, running a hand through his hair as if he was trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "You doing Wilkerson's drills today?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "He's out, so I'm stepping in."

Ace shot me a grin. "Well, I guess that means it won't be as boring, at least."

"Don't get too comfortable. I'm not going easy on any of you," I teased, but there was an unspoken understanding between us. Things had been rough lately, and while I didn't want to coddle him, I also wasn't going to push him too hard today.

The boys lined up, and we went through the motions of morning drills. Ace and Danny paired up during the exercises, and I kept an eye on him, watching his movements. He seemed fine on the surface, but I knew Ace too well. Something was still brewing beneath that calm exterior. I didn't want to push him until he was ready to talk about it, though.

By midday, I was back in my office, catching up on the paperwork that had piled up. The silence was a welcome break from the chaos outside. Just as I was getting into the rhythm of work, there was a knock on my door.

"Come in," I called out.

The door opened, and to my surprise, it wasn't one of the boys or another officer. It was Ace's mom, Anna, and his stepdad, Gary. I hadn't expected to see them, especially not today. There was something off about the way they looked. Anna's face was red and blotchy, like she had been crying, and Gary had his usual stiff demeanor, but I could sense the tension radiating from both of them.

"Alexander, we need to talk," Anna said, her voice thick with emotion.

I nodded, gesturing for them to sit. I had a feeling I knew what this was about.

"I ran into Danny earlier," Anna continued as they settled into the chairs opposite my desk. "He told us a bit about Ace. He said... he said Ace hasn't been the same since..." She trailed off, her eyes filling with tears.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. This conversation had been a long time coming, and it wasn't going to be easy.

"Anna, Gary," I began, choosing my words carefully. "There's a lot you don't know. Ace has been through a lot—more than you realize. And part of the problem is what happened with Robert."