Promises - The 5th Wave - C.S. X B.P.

3. Reznik

Tomorrow comes too soon.

And I don't even get the best few seconds of every day—before I remember where I am or what has happened.

After the bells start ringing at dawn, everyone dresses silently and quickly. I'm the last one ready because I insisted on changing in the bathroom, instead of by my bed. And then I had to help Sam get dressed.

He's pretty smart for his age, but he's never worn a jumpsuit before yesterday. He didn't know which holes were for the legs and which were for the arms. And then I had to roll up the sleeves and pant legs so he wouldn't trip.

Zombie attempted to help out by starting to tuck the sheets and blanket under my mattress pristinely, but wasn't able to finish before a mean-looking son of a bitch exploded into the room.

"Attention!" He yells, much louder than necessary in my opinion.

I try to remember everything Flintstone told me last night. "Say 'sir' before and after every statement.", "Stand tall and still when in Attention.", "Never ever complain or back talk, no matter what he says to you, or anyone else."

Reznik walks down the line, slowly and methodically, inspecting every soldier and their corresponding bed. Besides a few 'tsk's, he remains quiet until he reaches the end of the line—Sam and me.

He stops in front of me and gets so close to my face that I can smell his breath. "Your bed looks like shit, soldier!"

"Sir, I ran out of time, Sir!" He's yelling, so I figure I should too.

"Ran out of time?!? What the hell were you doing?!?"

I certainly wasn't going to admit that I was too shy and embarrassed to change clothes in front of my squad mates, so I chose the other option.

"Sir, I was assisting a fellow soldier with his jumpsuit, Sir!"

He takes a step to the left is now in Sam's face. My little brother, with his puppy dog eyes, is staring at this big man with as much courage as he muster. I'm so proud of him.

"I'm guessing you're the one who needed help, soldier!"

"Sir, Yes, Sir!" His voice sounds so small. "Sir, my clothes are too big, Sir!"

He's complaining. He probably doesn't even realize that he is. He's five years old, for God's sake. Why is this grown man yelling in his face?

"I bet they are! I've had chicken nuggets bigger than you! It's a good thing your big sissy's here!"

I'm sure he doesn't know how to respond to that. "Sir, Yes, Sir!"

"Next best thing to your mommy, right?" His voice is growing more quiet, but I don't trust it. Nugget stays silent.

"You wish your mommy could take you home?" Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Sam's bottom lip shaking. Of course it is. It is taking everything in me to keep my mouth shut. Flint warned me last night that it would only make things worse.

"Leave him alone." I hear from the other side of me.

Reznik stands up straight and storms over to Zombie. "What'd you say to me?!?"

Zombie clears his throat. "Sir, I said 'Leave him alone', Sir! He's just a kid, Sir!"

"Well since you and Sestra are having such a hard time allowing him to be a soldier, you can do the punishment yourselves! Tonight! You two are cleaning every fucking inch of this floor with toothbrushes!"

"Sir, Yes, Sir!" We both yell—not quite simultaneously, but close enough.

"Who's the squad leader here?!?"