Attacked

ATTACKED

Cassandra left for her camp. She reached her destination after a few stops for lunch, snacks and car fuel. It was somewhere in the mountains. A secret headquarter that her father formed two years ago, after he bought the land with his brother, Nicholas Von Damian. It was a beautiful sunny morning. People should be having breakfast now.
‘IN YOUR LINES!’ the commander shouted. The people there started to line up. Cassandra could see them from afar. Some of them were straightening their uniforms while others were stuffing their feet into their boots. Cassandra parked her car at the side. There was two lines of army on each side, leading to their main headquarter. Cassandra stopped and saluted the fellow army at the entrance of the lines. They saluted their hands up high to greet their honored sergeant. The commander was first in line. Cassandra started walking. She could hear some of them whispering and talking. The commander came to Cassandra’s side.
‘These are their profiles. All of them are between eighteen to twenty five,’ the commander then handed the files to Cassandra. She flipped through it.
‘Anything else I need to know?’ Cassandra asked.
‘Umm… let’s see… Ah, yes. There shall be a private ride for you. Don’t know where to but then it shall arrive in two more days. Your father arranged it. Sergeant Nicholas V. D. is here too. He’ll be helping you with the new volunteers. Twenty five of them all. Good luck.’ They reached the office’s entrance. The commander saluted and went back to his duty. Cassandra went inside.
‘Rise.’ The president said. Everybody stood up once. Cassandra nodded once and they all sat together again.
‘Hah! A girl training us? Us men?’ One of the volunteers said.
‘Are you sure we’re in the right place?’ The other one said.
‘Do you think we’re actually taking cooking lessons?’
The three of them laughed so loudly that there was silence in the meeting room.
‘Uncle, if you don’t mind, can I start the shooting training first?’
‘Up to you little one,’
‘I’m turning sixteen.’ Cassandra said.
‘Okay then.’
Cassandra left the room while the others continued with their discussion. Cassandra stepped outside the office. She walked straight to the three that was talking and laughing so loudly. The commander tried to catch up.
‘Is there any problem ma’am?’ Cassandra ignored the question.
‘You three over there, come with me,’ she ordered.
‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’ She added.
She walked to the shooting training range. After a few meters, they reached the place. It was not surprising that the other twenty three members followed behind them. ‘Give them the m-16.’
The commander obeyed. He took out three rifles and showed the students how to reload it.
Cassandra stood in front of a gigantic thick white wall.
‘Can you please make space between the three of you?’
The three of them did as told. One of them nearly fell for imbalance.
‘How old are you three anyway?’
‘Nineteen.’ They answered.
‘Mark, place them in their positions. Take the one a bit further.’ She pointed to the one on the left.
‘Yes ma’am.’
The three of them were placed in their positions. Everybody silently watched, including the board members that were in the office.
‘Now, listen carefully. I am your target. Who could hit me, I shall leave this place. If you three don’t, then you three shall be the next target for my shooting training.’ Cassandra explained.
‘Piece of cake,’ one of them answered. Cassandra smirked.
‘Stay in your positions… ready… steady…’ the commander said. The range was filled with silence. The only thing that was heard was when the three students uploaded their rifle.
‘Shoot!’ the commander shouted. The first from the right shot first, followed by the other two next to him. It was very loud. Some of the audience was closing their ears. Two hours has passed quickly.
Cassandra did her best to dodge the bullets that was coming her way.
‘One minute left!’ Mark shouted.
‘Geez, why doesn’t it hit her?’ One of them complained.
There were loads of bullet holes in the wall. Mark was feeling a bit high suddenly. Too high that he didn’t notice he was walking towards the shooting range.
‘Mark!’ Cassandra shouted. He suddenly realized that he was in the middle of the shooting range.
Cassandra ran towards Mark while the three students started filling their rifle with the last row of bullets. The first one was done. He took his position and aimed. Cassandra pushed Mark outside the shooting range. At the same time, a bullet hit her calf. She fell to the ground.
‘Sandra!’ Nicholas shouted.
‘Hah! I told you so. Give some high five guys.’ The student said. Cassandra slowly stood up in pain. Sergeant Nicholas helped her up. She saluted. Everybody stood up straight and saluted her.
‘I’m sorry ma’am.’ Mark said when Cassandra passed by him.
‘What happened to you before Mark?’
‘I don’t know ma’am,’ He answered.
‘Were you high?’
Sergeant Nicholas stared at Mark. Mark looked down innocently.
‘Maybe I had a couple of cups with the students earlier.’ Mark said.
‘Don’t worry, as long as my students are fine. It doesn’t hurt anyway.’ She said.
‘I shall have to speak with you later Mr. Emerson.’ Sergeant Nicholas said to Mark.
She started walking back towards the sick bay in the main headquarter.
‘Can’t believe a newbie actually hit you,’ Nicholas said.
‘That is just coincidence,’ Cassandra simply answered.
‘Hold up!’ The leader of the three shouted.
Cassandra turned around.
‘We’ll take what you said back earlier before we started. That is if you can hit us in less than thirty seconds. And let’s see if you are actually better at shooting than you are at cooking.’
‘Don’t…’ before Sergeant Nicholas could finish his sentence, Cassandra put her hand over his mouth.
‘Deal – for the sake of my dignity,’ Cassandra said. Cassandra beckoned Mark. He came and took her to the shooting range.
‘My weapon?’ she asked.
‘The one we used.’ The leader answered.
Mark handed in the rifle. She took her place. The three students were already in front of the wall.
She aimed.
‘Ready… Steady… Shoot!’ Mark shouted.
Cassandra took a look at the three students. She thought hard for a while.
‘Wait, before I start shooting, which one of you here is a left-handed?’
The one on the right of the leader raised his hand.
‘Thanks.’
Cassandra aimed once more and started shooting. All her first three bullets hit them in their left arm except for the one that was left-handed. It hit him in his right arm. They were on their knees and groaning in pain.
‘Two point two three seconds.’ Mark shouted. Cassandra smiled.
Sergeant Nicholas went to the three students. He squatted in front of them.
‘I was about to tell you guys ‘Don’t under estimate my niece’. She has been in this field for four years. Her father gave her the ‘Sergeant’. And for your information, her father started training her in shooting since she was in fifth grade. She was shot for not being so selfish of herself just now. That’s the only reason why you…’
Nicholas pointed to the leader. ‘Can shoot her,’
‘Now you three bring them to their tents and bandage their arm.’ Sergeant Nicholas ordered the other volunteers.
‘Yes sir!’ the three of them quickly moved and then brought the three students back to their tent.
Sergeant Nicholas watched them as they rushed away. He turned his head back to his niece. He then walked towards Cassandra and Mark.
‘Mark, you go and make sure the other places are done before we start the other practices.’ Sergeant Nicholas ordered.
‘Yes sir.’ Mark saluted his chief-in-charge and went to check immediately.
‘Can you walk?’ Nicholas asked.
‘Yeah,’ Cassandra slowly got up. ‘Well, maybe I need a little hand here.’
Nicholas helped her out and brought her back to the office.
‘Huh – it’s so funny.’
‘What’s so funny?’ Nicholas asked.
‘Dad had actually arranged a ride for me to his grave.’
‘You mean his grave?’
‘Yeah, I had just received the telegraph this morning. Funny thing about that was that it was supposed to reach my father in the last two years. And it actually came to me.’
The both of them reached halfway to the sick bay.
‘Did you hear what I just said?’ Cassandra asked.
‘Of course I did. Do you need me to accompany you there?’
‘No. I don’t think so.’ Cassandra simply said. She suddenly wasn’t talking for a moment. Nicholas stopped and looked at her. Her eyes were a shade of blood red. She was unconscious. He reached for something in his pocket and slowly placed his niece down on the ground. Nicholas took out a syringe with a liquid filling it and gave an injection to Cassandra. She immediately passed out.
‘Communicating, eh? Looks like you two are keeping a lot from me and your father. Both of you are going to face your destiny this year. Neither I nor Christopher can stop both of you now. We’ll just have to see if she is going to appear too,’ Nicholas said as he placed Cassandra on the bed in the sick bay.
‘Just rest my dear,’ Nicholas exited the sick bay.
Mark immediately came. He stopped in front of Nicholas and saluted him.
‘Sir, the camp is ready.’
‘Okay then. Thanks for the report. Let’s go,’ Nicholas immediately walked to the next event. Mark stared at the sickbay. Nicholas turned around. He shook his head and smiled.
‘Do you mind showing me the way, Mark?’ Nicholas asked.
Mark turned to his sergeant.
‘Sir yes Sir!’ He immediately obeyed the sergeant’s order.
‘By the way, don’t worry. She’s fine.’ Nicholas said.
‘I’m really sorry Sir.’ Mark said.
‘You are lucky that she’s your chief. If it was me, you will be suspended for a month for rehab.’
‘Yes Sir. I’m really lucky indeed.’ Mark said.



It was a beautiful morning. The only thing you could hear at that time was the birds chirping. The troupe of army was doing their daily morning exercise. Cassandra went to the side to look at the rising sun.
‘Two days has passed so quickly,’ Cassandra said.
‘Time flies by,’ Mark said.
‘You’re done?’
‘Yeah,’
Cassandra inhaled the fresh morning air surrounding her. She sighed.
‘What’s the matter?’ Mark asked.
‘Do you mind taking over my duty tomorrow. I think I need a day off.’ Cassandra said.
‘Negative.’
Cassandra turned around.
‘Please Sir. I need to take the day off.’
‘On what reasons?’ Nicholas asked. Cassandra stared at her uncle.
‘Okay then. Only if you carry out a night shift tonight,’
‘No problem Sir,’ Cassandra answered and headed to the volunteers’ campsite.
‘Commander!’ Cassandra called out. Mark immediately came to her side.
‘Call them to the shooting range.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’
Cassandra watched as her ex-student went to the centre and called out the volunteers.
‘He is well trained isn’t he?’ Nicholas who just popped out of nowhere asked.
‘Don’t you have any other work to do?’ Cassandra asked.
‘Okay. Good luck.’ Nicholas went to the other side of the campsite, where the board members are.
‘Ma’am, they are in line.’
‘Okay. Thanks Mark. You may go first and make sure the range is empty.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’ Mark jogged off to the shooting range.
‘Now two by two, Patrick shall lead you there. You can do that right?’
‘Ma’am yes Ma’am.’
‘Now go.’
Patrick followed as ordered. Cassandra could still hear them shouting ‘left’ and ‘right’ even though they have already ready reached halfway.
‘Hello? Is anybody there?’ Cassandra suddenly heard.
‘Hello? Who’s there?’ Cassandra turned to the woods and then to the campsite. There was no one in sight.
Suddenly, Cassandra remembered something at the moment after she was shot. She was with Sergeant Nicholas walking towards the sickbay until she suddenly lost the control of her body. There was also a boy screaming in pain in her head. As if he felt the pain that Cassandra was feeling because of the bullet in her calf.
‘Are… Are you inside my head? Am I going schizophrenic?’ she spoke to the voice.
‘Maybe... I don’t even know for myself. One thing I know is that you’re inside my head. And I’m surely schizophrenic! Are you going to tell me to kill my mom? Or my brother? Or is it my dad?’ The voice answered.
‘Wait, maybe I’m the one that’s going schizophrenic. And you’re the one that’s planning to ask me to kill anybody. I am going to see the doctor straight after camp, and you, yes you evil voice inside my head, is going to be gone!’ Cassandra said.
‘It’s you who is going to be gone.’ the voice said.
‘Get out of my head!’ Cassandra shouted.
‘Ma’am? Are you okay?’
Cassandra snapped out of her conversation. She turned around.
‘Oh. Patrick. Yes, I’m fine.’
‘Then come on. Let’s go.’ Patrick said.
‘I’ll be right behind you.’
Patrick jogged off to the shooting range. Cassandra followed him. Slowly walking and feeling very annoyed but yet still curious about the voice inside her head.





‘Um.. Patrick, it’s my day off today. So why don’t you just practice with Emerson today?’
Patrick saluted her. ‘Yes ma’am,’
Cassandra watched Patrick jog away to the practice range, catching up with the others. Cassandra walked back to the cabin, where her room is. She entered her room and took a bath. She slipped on a black long pants and a black t-shirt on. She then wore a black long coat with black buttons over it. She tied a bun behind her head and put on her black sunglasses. She slipped two knives in each sock that she was wearing and slipped on her black long boots with heels. They were an inch tall. She then slipped two 9mm in each of her long coat’s pocket for safety. She got out of her room and locked it behind her.
She signed an attendance book outside at the front desk and wrote ‘Visiting the dead. Be back before tomorrow.’ She got out of the cabin and found a car waiting for her. She got into the car and headed for the address her father gave her.

She finally reached the graveyard. It was a very long ride there. It was already 4 o’clock. Cassandra got out of the car and told the driver that she could get herself back once she’s done. She took her hand bag and the car left. Cassandra then looked for where he was. The day was starting to get darker. There was a man at the entrance. He was tall, untidy, holding a shovel in his hands, well, to make it short, he looks like someone who would know much about the graveyard. Cassandra slowly approached the man.
‘Umm… Excuse me, can you help me?’ Cassandra asked.
‘Depends. What’s the favor I can do for you miss?’ the man asked.
‘Do you mind telling me where Sven Schnider’s grave is?’
‘Oh. That young kid. It’s such a pity he died at that age. I heard he was only… what? Fifteen?’
‘Seventeen,’ Cassandra said.
‘Oh well, he got the best place here. It’s under that tree. It’s exactly in the centre of the graveyard.’
‘Thanks.’ Cassandra took a step.
‘Wait, miss. This is the first time someone’s ever visited him. May I know who you are?’
Cassandra paused. She thought for a moment. ‘Just a friend,’
‘Okay then. I’m sorry for your lost.’
‘Thanks.’ Cassandra headed to the grave. She stood and stared at the tombstone. ‘RIP Sven Schnider’. She took out a white rose that was perfectly opened and held in her hands.
‘Well. I don’t know what to say. Well here’s one thing. I didn’t even got a chance to know you. Had never seen your face or even you before,’ Cassandra paused. ‘I’m sorry I came after two years.’ The sun was almost setting. ‘Well, I have to go. It’s getting dark,’ Cassandra placed the white rose in front of the tombstone.

She stood up and stared at the tombstone again. Her eyes widened when she found out that a pair of bright golden eyes was staring at her from the bushes up ahead. She started moving backwards. A shiver ran down her spine. It was getting darker by the moment. Suddenly, a pair of hands was on her shoulders. She gulped. She turned around. She stood still and speechless to find the golden eyes staring into her eyes face to face. There was a hard knock on her head and she fainted. She was then dragged to the middle of a forest nearby. She woke up to see a creature sucking blood from her wrist. Cassandra immediately pulled her hand back. She took out a gun and pointed it at the creature. The creature wiped its mouth clean. Cassandra shot the creature. The bullet hit its hand. The creature groaned in pain. It immediately ran through the bushes. Cassandra suddenly felt very dizzy. Her sight was starting to be blurred. She fainted. Blood covered the grass around her