After several more minutes of typing out various information, Martha gave Zeke and Frankie their own standard-issue navy-blue uniform, a pillowcase and bed sheet, tablet, earbuds, a metal water bottle, and a mug.
“You’d best keep an eye on that one, love,” Martha whispered to Noah as they left, nodding to Zeke.
Noah threw her a look that he hoped said,Tell me about it.
“I didn’t realise I was joining a prison camp,sir,” Zeke muttered under his breath as he trailed after Noah.
Noah froze. “What was that?”
“You heard me. We’re not allowed any communication with our friends and family? That’s it until you post my body back to them in bits and pieces? Unless I’m completely devoured and there’s nothing left of me, of course.”
Noah pretended he hadn’t heard the last two sentences. “You’re welcome to contact them using your new devices through the proper channels, following the guidelines in the documentation you’ve been sent. Anyone is free to call whoever they like. Habib calls his wife and child every evening,” Noah said, increasing his pace as they approached the door to their dormitory block. It was now beyond late; they only had four hours of sleep ahead of them at most. Even less if this new kid wanted to waste the entire night arguing with him. He ushered them through the door.
“This is us, Beech block. Keep it down now. Everyone is asleep. Wake up is at six a.m. every day. Squad E usually runs together before breakfast. What are your average mile times?”
“Erm… I usually measure my level of fitness in amount of breaks I need walking up a hill,” Frankie whispered as they passed many doors, noisy snoring escaping through their cracks. They came to a staircase and began to climb. “I’m down to just two breaks now, though.”
Noah wished he hadn’t asked. This was going to be a long eight weeks.
They arrived at the women’s quarters, Noah gesturing towards an orange door marked ‘173’. “Flemings, you’re in here with the other four Squad E women. The men are up a floor. The girls will look after you if you need anything in the morning.” Beside him, Zeke tensed and looked at Frankie before grabbing her arm.
“It’s all okay, Zeke,” Frankie said, and reached over to hug him tightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“So you’re aware from the beginning, relationships between comrades are very much discouraged.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Noah wanted to pick them up and shove them back in. The girl had onlyhuggedZeke and here he was, acting like he was about to write them up.
“Jesus Christ,” Zeke said, his voice dripping with resentment.
“Don’t worry,” Frankie said, winking as she slipped into the room. “He hasn’t bought me dinner yet.”
He didn’t bother to attempt any more conversation as they continued to the next floor. When they arrived at Noah’s personal bedroom, he stopped, unable to stand Zeke’s company for the last few steps.
“This is me. Carry on ten doors down and you’ll see two hundred and eighty-seven. Try not to wake the others up.” Habib did not look kindly on any interruptions to his eight hours.
“Is there any way I could talk to someone tomorrow?” Zeke stepped in front of Noah’s door. “Sir,” he added, looking pained. “I need to explain that… that I’m happy to do anything for my term here. Clean. Cook. Admin work. Medical assistant. But I will be literally useless on the battlefield. A liability. My degree is in human biology. I was a research assistant before, maybe I could support someone here? If you could just look into it…”
Zeke adopted a pleading expression, and Noah tore his eyes away from the depths of despair in his blue eyes before he started feeling sorry for him. He could only imagine the captain’s reaction if he went to her with this tomorrow morning.
“Your role has been decided, Bates. There are no ‘research teams’ out here. You clearly passed the background health and intelligence tests to be assigned to this squad. I suggest you get over yourself. Your life isn’t worth any more than anyone else’s.” Noah removed Zeke’s arm from its position blocking the doorway and pushed him aside. “You have four hours of sleep available to you. I suggest you doss down, as tomorrow is clearly going to be a tough day for everyone.”
“Yes,sir,” Zeke spat, his face a perfect blank mask. He turned and stomped down the corridor.
Inside his room, Noah threw himself on his bed, fully clothed. As he shut his eyes, he prayed tomorrow would never come.
five
Zeke
Awet,slimysensationon his cheek, coupled with hot, wet breath, woke Zeke out of his sleep. It was pitch black. He kicked and flailed in his panic, throwing his blanket to the floor. Immediately, a collection of snickering laughs came from the other side of the dormitory. Last night, he’d stumbled blindly around in the room before he’d passed out in the nearest empty bed, thankfully a bottom bunk.
The culprits of the laughter flicked the lights on and two men, older than Zeke, revealed themselves. The pair wore matching running gear: black, tight-fitting trousers with a bright blue stripe down each leg.
“Morning sunshine,” one said cheerfully. Zeke was forced to tilt his head almost back to his pillow to take in the whole shape of the man speaking to him. He was imposingly tall, with dark brown skin and a thick black beard. “I’m Habib. And you’re late for breakfast.”
“Cameron King,” said the second man. He was at least a foot shorter than his friend, and far less muscular, which made Zeke feel marginally more reassured. “Most people call me Splat though. We let you sleep until seven, by the way. Thank us later.”
Cameron—Splat?—began throwing Zeke the uniform he’d left in a puddle on the floor last night. “This all needs to go in your drawer,” he continued, sliding out a wide drawer from under the mattress Zeke was currently on. Whatever he saw did not please him. “Aww, hell no! Luo has dumped all his shit in athirddrawer. I’ve had it with that guy.” Splat lifted the drawer up and tipped the entire contents on the bed opposite. “We literally gave him a whole spare drawer. He doesn’t needthree.”
“Did something… lick me a second ago?” Zeke asked.
