Chapter 20:

Chapter 20

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In a dark, cold area surrounded by trees, one of the army trucks parks to disembark the soldiers.

-Hey, wake up! (Mike)

Arthur opens his eyes very slowly and sees Mike smiling at him.

-Did you have sweet dreams, Sleeping Beauty? (Mike)

Arthur gets up and sees that everyone was getting their stuff and getting out of the truck.

-Are we going down? (Arthur)

-Unfortunately from here we will have to continue on foot. We are close to the terrorists' territory, it would be very easy for them to notice us if we went with the truck. (Mike)

-Hey, what are you waiting for? Get down from there! (Thomas)

Mike gets off the truck first, while Arthur starts to pack his things into his backpack to go. As he puts things away he looks at the photo he was carrying with him, it was a photo of him as a child with his father. He starts looking deeply at that photo, wanting to hear his father's voice he starts to remember the old times when the two were together.

-You better stop. (captain)

Arthur looks back and sees the captain staring at him.

-Captain... (Arthur)

-If you keep looking like that you'll get limp, when the time comes you'll hesitate and when you hesitate... (Captain)

The captain doesn't finish his speech, he just looks to the side as if he's controlling himself not to say. Arthur follows his superior's advice and finishes packing his stuff into his backpack. Getting out of the truck he joins his other companions. While waiting for orders he notices that his breath is forming smoke and is surprised by this.

-Isn't it surprising? It's already winter. It's been almost a whole year since we met. (Mike)

-I see, we are already at that time of year. (Arthur)

-We don't even notice the time pass, it seems that when we're here we completely disconnect from the real world, the concerns that others have that it will be cold or raining the next day are not the same as ours. (Mike)

-Yes... (Arthur)

-Very well, everyone is ready. (captain)

The captain knocks twice on the side of the truck that goes back the way they came leaving them alone in that place.

-Listen guys. Our mission will be simple, we will meet the enemy and kill him. That simple. No schemes, no alternatives... and no hesitation. (captain)

In the eyes of all who listened was stamped the fear they were feeling, they knew that what was about to happen ahead would be extremely terrifying, they would face death. Many would die and lucky would be those who managed to get out of that place with only one limb amputated, there was no hope left. But even realizing the weakness in his soldiers he couldn't back down, he couldn't send them all away for their lives, that's why he sent them straight to their deaths.

-Soldiers, let's go. (captain)

With a little hesitation in their steps, the soldiers started walking, as they too could no longer go back. In the end this was a group of men whose freedom was taken away and all that was left was to follow orders from people above. An army of slaves who dreamed of one day freeing themselves from that nightmare that has barely begun.