Chapter 4
Tyree
Knock! Knock!
The sound of a heavy fist on the door startled Tyree awake. He groggily rubbed the sleep from his eyes and swung his legs out of bed, reluctantly answering the door. Standing there, looking smug as ever, was Jenkins.
“Oh, it’s you,” Tyree muttered, irritation creeping into his voice. Jenkins had been an annoyance ever since they both enrolled at the academy. Always trying to play the teacher’s pet, Jenkins had the kind of face that made Tyree want to punch it. But he held back, reminding himself that this wasn’t the time.
“The commander wants to see you,” Jenkins said, a smirk spreading across his face as if delivering bad news was his personal joy.
Tyree frowned. “Me?”
“Both you and Colin,” Jenkins clarified, still smirking.
Tyree turned back to glance at Colin, who was sitting up in bed, watching the exchange. Tyree could tell Colin wanted to punch Jenkins just as badly. Best friends, he thought, shaking his head.
“Give us a second, will ya?” Tyree slammed the door in Jenkins’ face, much to Colin’s amusement.
“Dude, this isn’t good,” Tyree said, his voice a mix of anxiety and frustration.
Colin raised a hand, ever the calm and street-savvy one. “Let’s not freak out. Maybe he’s just thanking us for getting the storage room job done the other night.”
“THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING?!” Tyree shot back, struggling to hide his rising panic.
They quickly dressed in their army uniforms, leaving their Cipher watches behind for safety. Jenkins waited outside, clearly enjoying their discomfort as they headed down the hall toward Commander Arredondo’s office.
Colin
Colin kept his expression neutral as they entered Commander Arredondo’s office. He could feel Tyree’s tension beside him, his friend unbuttoning his uniform collar in an attempt to breathe easier. Jenkins left the room, leaving the two boys to sit in silence, awaiting the commander.
“Take it easy, man,” Colin whispered, leaning over to Tyree. He knew his friend well enough to see the worry eating at him.
“If I get kicked out, do you know what my dad will do to me?” Tyree whispered back, his voice thick with dread.
Colin did know. Tyree’s father was a strict military man, and Tyree had always been expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. Failure was not an option. But Colin? He’d been fending for himself for as long as he could remember. If this academy didn’t work out, he’d just figure out another way. For Tyree, though, this was everything.
The door swung open, and both boys snapped to attention as Commander Arredondo entered the room.
“At ease,” the commander said, sitting down behind his desk. Tyree and Colin exchanged a quick glance before sitting back down, waiting for the inevitable judgment.
Tyree
The tension in the air was thick as Commander Arredondo sat, looking at them both in silence. Tyree’s fingers tapped nervously against the armrest of his chair, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
“I took a look at that storage room,” Arredondo finally said, his voice unreadable. He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Tyree’s heart pounded. Did they miss something? Would they be punished for leaving some tiny detail out?
A small smile crept onto the commander’s face. “A job well done.”
Tyree let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, relief washing over him. Colin, ever cool, simply nodded in appreciation.
“Thank you, sir,” Colin said.
Arredondo’s smile faded slightly as he asked, “Did you boys hear any commotion on the field last night?”
Tyree’s heart nearly stopped. He could feel Colin tense beside him, but his friend responded with practiced caution. “Uh, I don’t think so?”
The commander studied them closely, his gaze sharp, as if trying to catch them in a lie. “A couple of jokers were playing with fireworks or something. Blew up one of the goalposts. Nobody got hurt, thankfully.”
Tyree forced himself to stay calm, though the memory of the destroyed goalpost flashed vividly in his mind. He gripped the sides of his chair, forcing a neutral expression.
“Keep your ears open,” Arredondo continued. “If you hear anyone bragging about it, I want to know immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” Tyree and Colin replied in unison.
The commander nodded, then picked up his phone. “Send her in.”
The door swung open, and a girl walked in—a small, skinny blonde who looked rough around the edges. Her uniform was clean but hung awkwardly on her, as though she wasn’t quite used to it yet.
“Gentlemen, this is Private Ashley Hagen,” Commander Arredondo said.
Tyree exchanged a quick glance with Colin, who seemed as puzzled as he was. Both stood up to greet her, extending their hands, but she ignored them, her eyes cold and defiant.
“Private Hagen comes to us from MaryAnn’s Reform School in Detroit,” the commander explained.
“Place was a dump,” Ashley interrupted, crossing her arms with a dismissive shrug.
Tyree blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. Even Arredondo raised an eyebrow before letting out a booming laugh.
“She’s a spitfire, I tell ya!” the commander said, clearly amused.
Colin
Colin’s sharp mind quickly assessed Ashley. She wasn’t just defiant—there was something more, a raw edge to her that suggested she’d been through a lot. He could see why Arredondo had brought her to their attention. She was trouble, and that meant keeping an eye on her.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Ashley snapped when the commander instructed Tyree and Colin to show her around the academy.
“That’s enough,” Arredondo said, his tone brokering no argument. Ashley lowered her head, not out of submission, but more like someone who knew when to pick her battles.
Arredondo shifted his attention to Tyree. “Help her get settled. Show her where everything is.”
Tyree nodded, his demeanor quiet and thoughtful. As they left the office, Colin remained behind with the commander.
“Good work on the storage assignment,” Arredondo said, his tone softer now. “To be honest, I didn’t think you boys would get it done in one night.”
Colin shrugged lightly. “Tyree and I work well together.”
The commander gazed out the window, momentarily lost in thought. Colin, ever observant, stayed seated, curious about the sudden shift in the conversation.
“Do you miss home, kid?” Arredondo asked, his tone distant.
Colin raised an eyebrow. “Home?”
“Yeah, home. Do you miss it?”
Colin hesitated. “A little, I guess. But to be honest, I never really liked it much.”
Arredondo leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. “Then you need to make yourself a home.”
“What do you mean?”
Arredondo’s eyes softened as he explained the importance of finding a place where you truly belong—creating a sense of home wherever you are, a place where you feel grounded. He used analogies, speaking about animals like bears, birds, and even dogs, which Colin found surprisingly insightful.
Colin chuckled. “I’ll think about that.”
“Good,” Arredondo said with a smile. “Now go make sure Tyree doesn’t get beat up by that new girl.”
Colin grinned and stood, saluting the commander before heading out. The conversation stuck with him, though. Maybe it was time to figure out where he belonged.
