Chapter 7

910 30 1
                                    

Today, everyone was moving a little slower than most days

Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.

Today, everyone was moving a little slower than most days.

Maybe it was because Flintstone is in trouble, which is partly my fault. Or maybe everyone didn't get much sleep like me last night.

The squad took the longest we have since I've gotten here running our laps around the base. Now that I think about it, it could have been the weather. It's raining outside, and Dumbo mentioned that it's most likely around 20 degrees outside. That mixture creates an iced-over asphalt, which is not very safe to run on.

Nugget slipped about three times while we ran. By the time we were on our second lap, Nugget was crying because he slipped and Zombie was holding him up by the back of his jumpsuit.
A blubbering Nugget made Reznik all the madder.

Reznik was already pissed from Flintstone's poor decision making, so Nugget crying his ass off didn't help Reznik's pissy mood.

Zombie finishes the fourth lap with a flushed face and a slight wheeze. He always runs with ease, maybe the wintry weather made it harder.

He's in shape and has a nice physic. My guess is that he was an athlete before the end of the world. Maybe a football player or baseball player. Hell, he's tall enough to be a basketball player.

"Zombie, I want you and your squad to do twenty-five knuckle pushups for your little dog crying like a baby," Reznik screams.

Fucking Dick. He's just a little kid.

"Nugget count them out!"

We all get down in our positions on the crystal ice.

Nugget starts counting in a shaky voice, "One, two, three," he stops for a second and lets out a strangled sob. "Four, five, six." Nugget drops on to his knees.

"Kid, get your ass up right now! I mean it or I'll keep adding ten for every second you don't get up!"

"Sir, he's just a little kid, sir!" Zombie says.

"Who said that?" Reznik asks. It's quiet for a moment, and I almost expect Zombie not to answer, but he wouldn't be Zombie if he didn't.

"Sir it was Private Zombie, sir!" The squad turns and looks at him.

"Well look what we have here. Zombie are you standing up for your pet? Say woof Nugget!" Reznik is a piece of shit. Nugget can't be more than five. Six at stops. "Nugget, you think I'm kidding I'm not. Bark like a dog private Nugget! Now!"

In between numbers Nugget woofs. He woofs like a dog. I can't believe Reznik has the audacity to treat another human being like this. He's crying even more now.

All I can think about is the way my knuckles feel on the cold, hard ice. I fight the urge to let out a cry. Instead I say something else.
"Sir he's just a fucking kid, sir," I say in the most condescending voice I can muster. Reznik turns and looks at me.

Decrepit///Ben ParishWhere stories live. Discover now