The bus shuddered as it rolled to a stop, sending a jolt through my chest and a hot, nervous bead of sweat sliding down my temple. I clutched my bag tighter, trying not to wobble. Okay, Jonah… deep breath. You've handled chaos before. But this? This is… my thoughts faltered. The base looked enormous, sprawling farther than I could take in at once, with soldiers moving with strict precision, drills echoing like a distant drumbeat. I wiped my damp palms on my pants and turned to the driver, voice a little too high. "Um… excuse me, sir… is this… the right stop? "He didn't look up from the dashboard. "Yeah. Right here. Don't get lost."
I swallowed. Right. Don't get lost. Simple enough, except I had no idea which direction I was supposed to go. My heart thumped in my chest as I swung my bag onto my shoulder and stepped down, feet clumsy on the gravel. I took a hesitant step forward, scanning the sprawling base. Bunkers, barracks, a mess hall, training yards… all alive with activity. Soldiers barked orders, carrying supplies, and shouting drills. My chest felt tight, my palms clammy. Every sound felt louder and sharper. This is real. This is happening. And I'm alone.
I started walking, trying to act like I belonged, though every instinct screamed that I didn't. My gaze swept over the base. The bunks looked orderly, too orderly. The training yard was full of bodies moving in perfect rhythm. Even the distant sounds of minor injuries being treated in the infirmary made my stomach twist. I imagined myself fumbling with supplies, tripping over something, being laughed at by the whole squad.
"Just… survive," I muttered under my breath, trying to ground myself. My voice sounded tiny. My knees felt unsteady. I walked a few more steps, dragging my bag slightly behind me, unsure which way to go. Then I tried again, this time to ask someone. I spotted a soldier in the distance and forced a smile. "Excuse me… can you… point me to the medics' area? "He glanced up briefly, expression neutral. "Down that way. Keep moving. Don't block the path. "I nodded quickly, my throat dry. Keep moving. Easy to say. My heart felt like it was hammering against my ribs as I followed the vague directions. Every shadow, every soldier, every metallic clang of the base echoed in my head.
I paused for a moment near a gravel path, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. Sweat had soaked the collar of my shirt. My chest heaved slightly. Okay, you can do this… just keep walking… And then, like a relief I hadn't known I was waiting for, I noticed someone approaching. Sandy-blond hair, bright green eyes, about 5'9; fair skinned obviously sun kissed from field duties, an easy, confident stride. The guy was smiling, casual, unbothered by the chaos around him."Hey! You must be Hale. I'm Alexander Mercer, you can call me Alex though" he called, voice carrying just enough warmth to settle some of my nerves. "I'll show you around before you get completely lost."
I blinked. Relief and gratitude flooded through me. Finally… someone friendly. My shoulders relaxed just a fraction, and I felt the tiniest spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, I could survive my first day. Alex gestured for me to follow him down a wide corridor. "Alright, top priority: your bunk. Can't have you wandering around the base like a lost puppy on your first day."I shuffled along, trying not to let my nerves show. Every step echoed on the concrete floor, every shout and clang from the training yard made my stomach jump. I tried to straighten my shoulders, but my arms felt stiff, my palms still damp. Keep it together, Jonah. Just breathe. As we walked, Alex spoke casually, like he wasn't even aware of how tense I was. "The first day can be rough. I remember my first week: thought I'd never figure out the schedules, the drills, or who not to piss off, but look at me now, you'll be fine," He smirked. "And believe me, the Commander, yeah, that guy, he doesn't sugarcoat anything."
I nodded mutely, trying to focus on the conversation instead of the pounding of my own heartbeat. "You'll be fine, though. Just… pay attention, don't get in anyone's way, and for the love of all things, remember where your bunk is." We reached a small, neat dormitory room with two bunks, a locker each, and a shared desk against the wall. Alex opened the door and waved me in. "Here you are. Top bunk for you. Try not to hit your head on the ceiling. And yes, I'll admit it: these beds are not built for graceful sleeping. "I set my bag down and ran my hand over the sheets, trying not to imagine tripping over the ladder. "Looks… fine," I said, voice tight, still a little breathless. Alex leaned against the doorframe casually, crossing his arms. "You'll get used to it. I've been here for a couple of years now. Learned the hard way where to store things, who to avoid, and which corners of the infirmary are haunted,well, kind of." He gave me a small chuckle. "But mostly, you just get used to surviving. "I forced a smile, unsure if I was meant to laugh or just nod. My thoughts kept drifting, as usual. "Alright," Alex said, clapping his hands. "Let's get you properly introduced. Come on, I'll show you the rest of the base."