It was early morning when Zuno and the others woke up, an internal clock set by continuous days of waking up early and training shortly after. It was the so-called day of reckoning, his deployment. The squad quickly got dressed into their uniforms, not bothering with covering themselves as they did so. Privacy was a luxury they couldn't afford, and they've grown to not need it. Shortly after he finished getting dressed, Zuno sat quietly on his bunk, waiting for roll call to commence.
As he waited, he finished making his bed and checked his bag to make sure he had everything he needed. His necklace and bracelet were still on his body, as he never took them off since he arrived. The atmosphere surrounding the cabin was the same as yesterday; none of the squad members were willing to speak, worry tightly gripping their chests, causing no words to come out. All they could do was wait as the minutes passed by.
After a couple more minutes of silence, Zuno heard a knock on the cabin, signaling the squad to get up and grab their bags before they went outside to the field for one final lecture from Michael. He and his squad grabbed their things, doing as they were told to do before.
The platoon stood in formation, bags in hand, as Michael stood in front of them, quietly counting each one to make sure there were no deserters. He exhaled, his eyes forming into a mournful shape before quickly returning to their original stern shape.
" Today is the day when you boys and girls become men and women. It seems like none of you took the chance to run away while you had it, but I promise you, you wouldn't have made it far. "
The area around the facility was desolate, with nothing but sand and good wishes as far as the eye can see. Zuno's eyes darted around, glancing at his comrades, reading the expression on their faces before they turned back towards Michael as he continued speaking.
" The bus should be arriving shortly. I hope you guys have everything sorted and packed, since there will be no chance to return and get it for a while. I also recommend getting some shut-eye as the bus drives to your destination. I promise you it's a long way there, and feeling rested is for the better. I wish you luck out there, and for me, I'll be heading that way soon enough. "
Michael's hand raised to his forehead, saluting the recruits. Zuno and the others did the same with their available hands. The bus arrived shortly after, and everyone was on their way to it. Zuno, knowing this was his last chance to communicate with the outside world, placed his bag onto the ground and reached inside of it, quickly taking the letter out before walking towards Michael and holding it out in front of him.
" This letter is for a small cafe in Pavee that's run by a man named William Unfrier. It's just something to let them know I'm okay. If you can somehow get it to them, I would be in your debt. "
Michael took the letter from Zuno and opened it up, giving the letter a quick read through before looking back towards Zuno with a questioning stare.
" Okay.. but on your document, it says that you have no immediate family, and no mention of the name Unfrier. "
Zuno hesitated before answering. Did Michael think he was a spy of some sort? It really didn't matter if he did or not. He just wanted the letter to reach Zoey.
"It's for his daughter... "
Michael closed the letter with an understanding nod before stuffing it in his coat pocket and placing his hands behind his back.
" Ohh... I understand. I'll get the letter to the girl, so move along, don't keep the war waiting. "
Zuno sighed. With his main goal of today achieved, he did as ordered and headed towards the bus, bag in hand. Before stepping onto it and quickly finding somewhere to sit, hopefully towards the back.
As he sat down and placed the bag at his side. The bus started to move, heading towards the direction of what he deemed was the north of Formica, but with him not knowing where the drive started, it was merely a guess.
He watched the outside from the window for hours on end as the bus moved, and with seemly nothing else to do. He took Michael's advice, getting into a comfortable enough position and shutting his eyes, drifting off into slumber almost instantly.
When he awoke, the wheels were still moving; Hours had passed since he slept, and the outside was now a dark and bleak shadow of its former self. His eyes could only see a short few feet from the bus, with the only source of light being from the headlights of the bus he was currently riding.
***
A couple more hours have passed, and the sound of distant gunfire is steadily growing closer. His heartbeat was slowly rising the closer the gunfire came; he knew it wasn't long before his platoon would arrive at the front and they would officially join this never-ending war. He gripped his bag as sweat started to form on his hands, as the headlights of the vehicle cut out, and the operator of his muttered something into his radio.
He then saw a flurry of lights ahead of him outside the window, which wasn't from gunfire but multiple flood lights placed around a massive encampment, enveloping the area that surrounded it with rays. Shortly, the bus arrived at the gate of the encampment, and after a short conversation between the guard placed there and the operator of the bus, the gate opened, allowing the bus to enter.
The bus stopped shortly after it entered, and with a hit of the button, the operator opened its doors. Zuno and the others were tightly gripping their bags as they got up and slowly exited it. As he walked out of the bus and set foot onto the cold ground beneath him, he looked towards the sky and muttered.
" I guess that's it then. "