The Hoodie guy

*2 years later*

"It has been 2 years since I joined the military forces. To my surprise, I and Aden were able to survive this long. Some cadets who join up with us were unable to keep up the pace hence they were thrown out. Maybe we survive due to our strong determination to become the Solicter". Jack said to himself.

The training camp was in the forest on a mountain hill outside the city. Among 1000 cadets who joined with Jack and Aden only 100 of them survive this training. The military used to recruit new people from age 12 onwards due to the drastic fall in population. Today everyone was finishing their training with Jack and Aden.

Also, the military is going to choose the top cadets to become the Solicter with everyone in the race.

"Cadets. There will be a meeting, in which I am going to announce the table-toppers of this year. Line up quickly". Trainer announced.

All the cadets lined up and were excited to hear the results.

"Attention. The table-toppers of this year are:
1. Leo Maverick (boy)
 2. Carla Bryden (girl)
3. Jack Fowler (boy)
4. Harrison Cox (boy)
5. Cierra Vega (girl)
Congratulations to all 5 of you. And today as you all have completed your training there is an unlimited supply of food. Celebrate your survival for 2 years". Saying this much the trainer passes from the hall.

Today was a special day so there was a tremendous supply of meat. Every cadet attacks the meat excluding Jack. He hates any animal flesh. So he decides to stand outside of the hall. To his surprise, he sees a familiar face accompanying him.

“Huh...? What's Leo doing here? Maybe just hanging? I never know what's going on in his head, but one thing is for sure that he is most determined than all of us. I suppose he has a very strong determination". Jack was talking with himself.

Leo sees Jack and walks towards him.

"(with no expression) Congrats, Fowler. You have advanced with a 3rd rank".

Jack was astonished to see for the first time in 2 years Leo talk with him. He moves his hand forward for a handshake and says," Yeah, thanks. Same to you. Getting on the 1st spot is not at all easy".

"I suppose". Rejecting Jack's handshake Leo leaves.

“What is wrong with this guy? Is my hand sweating or have a bad odour? No. There is nothing wrong with my hand. I just got caught up in the flow and fell for his trap. He never talks with me. Whenever I look at him, I see a dead image of myself in his eyes. If I am close to him, I feel a deadly aura surrounding me. From his eyes and aura, it feels like he won't miss a chance to even kill me. Hence, I avoid him as much as possible". Jack was talking with himself.

The party was over at midnight. Everyone was tired; hence no one attended the guard duty. It was their last day so officers did not mind.

Jack was sleeping in his room with 9 more boys including Aden. Unexpectedly at midnight, Aden was waking up Jack.

"Brother, brother get up". Aden was waking up Jack.

“What is it, Aden?" Jack questioned. (Wakes up and sits on his bed).

"To begin with, as I am not in the top 5 so I can't become a Solicter then do you think being an Officer in the military would be a help to you?"

Jack with a bit frustrating tone “You wake me up to answer this question.
Huh... (With a calm tone) Let's see.
As you know you are the 10th ranker so probably you aren't going to be a Solicter".

"Yeah, that's for sure". Aden replied.

"And yeah, being an Officer in the military you can be a big help to me for finding out the murderer. So you are all good. Sleep now. Tomorrow is a big day we will be getting a transfer to a city". Jack encourages with a sleepy mode.

Aden with a smile on his face says to Jack, “I am happy if I can be a little help also to you".

Both of them were about to sleep but suddenly a cadet arrives at their door and shouts.
"The forest is on fire. Get out of your bed and help control the fire".

Everyone rushes outside.

One of the officers shouts at them."Go get some buckets of water and throw it on the fire quickly. Before it's too late".

Everyone ran to get a bucket of water. It was already 100 people trying to stop the fire. It took 2 hours to get the fire under control.

"Help..."
Aden hears some voices coming from the forest. He looks around him and sees everyone is still busy extinguishing the leftover fire, so he alone runs inside the forest. Jack watched Aden running inside the forest hence he follows him.

"Where are you?" Aden was shouting in the forest.

"Over here, PLEASE". Seeing Aden an unknown person shouts out of pain lying on the ground

Aden saw the person and quickly ran towards him and says," You look too much injured, please let me carry you till my camp".

"No. I can't. I guess due to the darkness you are unable to see anything but my legs are all crushed. (After a small pause) I just need a favour?" The unknown person said to Aden.

"Yes, what is it?" Aden asks.

"Just... (Saw someone)

The unknown person suddenly stops speaking when he saw a man wearing a hood was standing in front of him and Aden.

"Aden...Where are you?" Jack was shouting and searching for Aden but confronts a person wearing a hood standing in front of Aden and an unknown person.

The hoodie guy was looking at Jack, right at that moment; the unknown person puts something in Aden's pocket.

The hoodie person turns around and moves his steps towards Aden and the unknown person suddenly starts his run towards them but was interrupted by Jack.

"Who the hell are you?" Jack questions the hoodie guy.

The hoodie guy does not answer Jack's question and rushes to attack him. Both of their fists clash with each other. Hoodie guy tries to kick Jack but fails. Jack understood his movements. Jack grabs the opportunity of his missing aim and strikes on his stomach, quickly switching his hands and hits on his face. The hoodie guy gets dashed behind losing his balance and falls on the ground.

Jack moves towards him. The hoodie guy gets up and charges towards Jack and seeing an opportunity he throws dust in his eyes.

In defence, Jack quickly puts up his arms in front of his eyes. The Hoodie guy kicks Jack on his legs and attacks on his nose. As a result, Jack falls over to the ground. The hoodie guy runs towards Aden and the injured person.

"No, you are not going to take him anywhere".

*SMACK*

Aden said to the hoodie guy but suddenly he gets a cramp on his left leg and was unable to attack.

The hoodie guy ignores Aden and grabs the injured person and makes a run towards deep in the forest. Jack stands on his legs.

"Brother, quick. Stop him". Aden shouts.

Jack follows the hoodie guy till the end of the forest. Suddenly the hoodie guy stops, seeing a dead-end in front of him.

"You are not going anywhere?" Jack said to the hoodie guy. He tightens his fingers and feels again the internal earthquakes in his body and a burning sensation on his palms.

"I don't know how did I trigger it? But this is the right timing. I won't let this guy escape". Jack speaks with himself. The hoodie guy puts down the injured person and gets ready to fight again with Jack.

Jack did not even move his muscle. And simply gets his hands in a position where both his palms are in contact with each other.

The hoodie guy runs towards Jack. Jack had a smile on his face, he was confident. But even after the hoodie guy was so much close to knocking him out nothing happened on his palms. Jack avoids his attack by bending down. Jack in a frustrated tone said to himself, "Why is this not working?"

Jack bends down and suddenly the sparks come out and only touches the hoodie guy's left shoulder. His shoulder starts bleeding and moves a little bit away from Jack.

Jack advances and charges on him. The hoodie guy was at the corner, one move and that will be his last move. The hoodie guy looks behind to see the depth of the valley. Jack takes advantage and attacks the hoodie guy on his face. The hoodie guy losses his balance but he does not fall.

On the other hand, Jack suddenly catches his head.

"Aaah...My head. What are these images? Saying this much Jack suddenly collapses on the ground.

The hoodie guy slowly steps towards Jack but was pulled by the injured person.

"No. I won't let you". Saying this injured person grabs the hoodie guy's leg and jumps in the valley.

"Noo..." Aden comes running to give a hand to the hoodie guy but he couldn't catch his hand.

Both of them fall from the valley.

Aden comes towards Jack and shouts.

"Brother...brother. Get up. What happened?

Jack did not show any movements.

..........

After a long time, Jack finally opens his eyes.

“Brother, are you fine...?" Aden asked Jack.

"Where am I?" Jack questions Aden.

"We are in the camp hospital. Do you remember anything from last night?"

"Yeah, I attacked that hoodie guy and suddenly I saw an image flashing in front of my eyes, my head was getting heavy and I collapsed. What happened to that hoodie guy?"

"The injured person jumped in the valley dragging with him the hoodie guy as well".

"(with a surprising look) So they jumped,
Huh...
And what about the officers, were you able to convince them of our reasons to go in the forest?"

"Yes. I was able to convince them. I told them the truth without getting much in detail. Like, you heard some voices from the forest and followed them till the end. But you didn't find anyone and as you did not have a meal yesterday night you got fainted in the forest".

"(with a weird look on face Jack shouts) Why it has to be me when you were the one to run inside the forest?

NOTE-  I am suffering through a crisis now so I don't think I can upload anymore. Maybe (or This) the 6th chapter is the last. Thanks to all the readers who made an effort to read my content. 

AND, AND AND ALL THE BEST TO THE COMPETITORS.