Breaking Command

Chapter Three

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing? The attack hasn’t died down yet!” The sniper of our team says, keeping his aim on his gun. After I left the ditch, I headed straight to our team’s bunker, made out of wood and heavily covered in paint. The only people up here were the sniper – Troy – and the communication guy, Andy.

“I’m done,” I say, taking off my gun and heavy equipment. I’m sick and tired of Ben telling me what to do all the time, it’s becoming quite obnoxious. I know he is the captain of the team, but he seems to be tougher on me than any one else on the team.

“You’re done? You can’t just leave now, the game –”

“Watch me,” I say, unpacking everything else and heading out the back entrance, where I can’t get hit by anything. Before the large door closed, I hear Andy mutter something under his breath.

“Benjamin won’t like this…” Andy is so formal with people’s names, never calling them by their preferred nicknames. As he said this, I could swear I felt smoke coming out of my ears.

*                 *                 *

          “So what did you guys talk about?” I ask Ben, as he reloads his gun. The attack didn’t last long after I left, but it seemed by the mood of Ben, that our team didn’t win. I heard rumours that the Red team dominated and destroyed.

          “Hmmm?” Ben murmurs, casually whistling as he still reloads his gun a little too roughly.

          “In the ditch, what did you guys talk about when I left?” I say again, clarifying it for him.

          “Who?” says Ben, shoving in the last few bullets vigorously.

“You know… you and Jason, yesterday.” At the sound of Jason’s name, he stopped reloading his gun and dropped it on the metal table. His face became stern and rigid, like I upset him.

“None of your business, don’t you have somewhere to be?” Ben replies angrily. What was I supposed to say?

“No, I –” I start, but of course get cut off.

“God Alex, just make yourself useful and go shoot some trees or something, just leave me alone.” What was wrong with Ben today? He’s never like this towards me, especially when we’re alone. My mind goes through a million questions, but one stands out: I have to find Jason. He’s the one who did this to Ben, probably about what they talked about before.

I storm off towards the forest, unarmed and useless. I didn’t even look back to acknowledge Ben’s expression as I walk towards the forest unarmed. If I want to find Jason, I have to walk towards no mans land, and through the Red team’s compound. This wasn’t going to be pretty, but I’m desperate to get my brother back.

*                  *                  *       

          I reach the Red team’s compound. Everything seems quite, only a few boys chatting to each other, or comparing guns. No one notices me as I walk across the ground, blond hair out and flailing in the wind. I have no ideas where the captain stays, and the only way to find that out is to ask someone.

          I spot a boy sitting on a tree trunk alone. He wears a red sweater and holds his paintball gun. He doesn’t even notice me standing in front of him until I speak to him.

“Um, hi. Do you know where Jason is?” I ask politely. The boy doesn’t even look up at me, just points to an army tent fifty meters away. “Uh, thanks,” I say, and walk towards the tent.