tank.
Limping, Nala helped the older girl walk, worry clear on her face as she watched her pained expression, tears wetting her pale cheeks, ones Nala had attempted several times to get rid of by now, though to no avail.
The pair looked up at the monitor, the number already having started to climb down, though they both remembered it having been a bright two-hundred-sixteen. Finally, it settled at a stable number, Nala biting her lip as she read the terrifying “184”.
Slowly, she led the raven-haired girl to her bed, laying her down, sitting next to her, a hand cupping her cheek as she watched her start to drift asleep.
“How’s the leg doing?”
September couldn’t help but giggle, though Nala was being dead serious. A sigh left her lips, cupping the younger’s cheek and giving her a forehead kiss. “I told you ten minutes ago, it’s alright. Stop worrying so much.”
Nala nodded slowly, but she ended up pouting a little, taking September’s hands. “I can't help but worry, Sept. This isn't good, at all.”
“I know, but I am trying to pretend this won't kill me off, okay?”
“Hey, no, don’t say that…”
“Why not?” It felt like a bomb inside of her timed out, and she finally snapped, “Why the fuck shouldn’t I!? It’s true, you know it is! If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be asking this goddamn much! You know this is my fucking death sentence, Nala!”
The younger girl was taken aback by the sudden burst, her lip trembling before she could speak, eyes filling up with tears. “I… I’m sorry, Sept, I just… I know it’s bad, but I won’t let you die. I– I-I can’t let you die, Sept, I can’t…”
Finally, she burst in tears, and the sight broke September’s heart in a million pieces, immediately pulling her in for a hug, showering her in cheek and forehead kisses. “No, no, no, no, don’t cry, shh… I’m sorry I got angry, okay? I wasn’t mad at you… I’ll be fine, alright? I promise, Nala. I promise.”
“D-Don’t you dare break that promise, okay?” September nodded slowly, pulling away and cupping Nala’s cheeks, left staring into her dark eyes for a minute of two.
“You’re so beautiful…” She murmured, eyes now fixed on her lips, sounding almost breathless, as if she had ran up a flight of stairs. The younger blushed, melting at her touch, eyes fluttering closed as she saw September inch closer, their noses brushing together until, finally, it happened: their lips making contact for the first time. Maybe it was too soon, but in this game, everyday could be too late, so might as well take the chance and not have any regrets. Not when they both already had so many, they didn’t need yet another to add onto the neverending list.
While Nala’s approach to the kiss was softer, September’s was rough, immediately taking the lead, guiding the younger through it, hands playing with her curly brown hair as she did so. Now, they both had a reason to end up breathless, but neither pulled away, not wanting to ruin the moment. When September finally did, however, it was only to trace gentle kisses down the younger’s jaw, going down to her neck, only to go back up for one last kiss before completely pulling away.
“My God, September…” Nala’s words sounded slurred out as she fixed her hair as best as she could, a cheeky smile fixed on her lips, “I’m never forgetting that.”
“That was never part of the plan.”
The pair was all cuddled up when two agents walked in, one with a gun in hand, the other weaponless, being the one who had spoken so far. They were quiet however, and they simply walked through the dorms, slowly, though from their expression they seemed to know exactly where they were heading to.
And they did.
September looked up, the two agents staring at them, unreadable expressions on their faces, the girl immediately letting go of Nala, hands shaking as she bit into her bottom lip. “Number 098.” One spoke, voice firm, “Follow us. Now.”
Nala’s eyes met September’s, who seemed just as confused as the older girl. She nodded, however, getting up, the pair leading her outside.
September ended up simply playing with her hands nervously for what felt like ages. How had she grown so not accustomed to not being around Nala in so little time? Had life always felt this slow before her?
She couldn’t help but be scared. What if they had killed her? She wouldn’t even get to have said goodbye to her. In a way, she would much rather not to watch her die, but she also wouldn’t be able to handle not getting to talk her through her last breath. She couldn’t help but let tears stream down her face, her bottom lip bloody from all the biting and chewing.
Finally, the doors opened up again, and she immediately shot up, eyes wide open to search for her Nala. And there she was, a shaky sigh of relief leaving September’s trembling lips.
Nala ran up to her, and September did the exact same, hugging one another as soon as they got close enough to, the older girl holding the younger close, squeezing her as she showered her in kisses. “What happened, doll?”
“Nothing…” Nala smiled softly, sniffling a little, her eyes puffy as if she had cried. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t tell you, yeah? But you don’t have to worry…”
“Why can’t you tell me?” She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, “You can trust me…”
“I know, I know… it’s complicated, okay? Just trust that I can’t.”
“Okay…” She sighed, placing a gentle kiss on her lips and holding her hand to lead them both back to their bed. Well, technically hers, but by now that was clearly not the case anymore.
On the third day in a row, the bell rang, and people started growing accustomed to the annoying noise. So much so, Nala didn’t even jump, allowing September to bury her face in the crook of her neck, an annoyed groan leaving her lips, making the other giggle.
“You’re cute when you’re sleepy.”
“Don’t try me, I could still murder you…”
“I know…” Nala smiled, placing a kiss on the other’s head, “Can I ask you something?”
September pulled away a little, just enough to be able to look the girl in the eyes, “Depends?”
“Okay, well, I was wondering… what are we?”
The older girl was left deep in thought for a second, attempting to choose her next words wisely. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t quite sure either. “What do you want us to be?”
“Girlfriends?”
September smiled a little, yawning in the process just before nodding, “Yeah… Girlfriends sounds great, actually.”
The girls had finally learned their lesson, and they actually got up early enough to be able to have breakfast before the agents came in, and they couldn’t help but smile at each other and giggle, knowing they actually calculated and used their time properly just this once. It was too easy to forget just how awful everything was in there when Nala was around, September noted.
Once again, they were given the usual warnings and led into the hallways, which September and Nala walked in hand-in-hand – of course, and in front of a door. This one, though, had “TANK” written on it, the two looking at each other in confusion. Clearly, neither quite remembered that game.
After the search was over, this time no people having brought personal belongings, having learned from last time’s gunshots, the agent spoke. “Attention, you must all get in groups of four. The rules will be explained afterwards. I repeat, you must all get in groups of four. The rules will be explained afterwards. You have fifteen minutes, anyone remaining not in a group or with a group with insufficient members will be eliminated.”
Nala quickly clung to September’s arm, not wanting to separate. “Well, two more people are left, then?” The raven-haired girl nodded, looking around, biting the inside of her cheek nervously.
Some groups formed quite quickly and proceeded to place themselves in line, while several people were left looking around, clearly lost. Among them were also Number 004 and Number 005, a middle aged-looking couple, holding hands just like September and Nala.
Maybe, it was a sign?
Or not, rather just a coincidence. It’s quite common for couples to hold hands, really, but it didn’t stop Nala from walking towards the two, a smile plastered on her face. “Do you guys have a team yet?” The pair shook their head, “Great! We don’t either, join us!” The two were left almost speechless, staring at one another, only to then nod. After all, they only had three minutes left, and they didn't have any better options.
The fifteen minutes soon came to an end, and eight gunshots were heard, neither September or Nala daring to look at the scene. Clearly, not everyone had gathered up into groups in time. Before they could process, however, the agent spoke again. “Attention, the rules will now be explained. There are forty-four groups, each will be assigned a tank. You will choose who will drive beforehand. Your mission is to go through the course and destroy all the tanks you see in five minutes. Whoever makes it out alive, wins.”
The pair’s eyes widened. “Fuck, I sure can't drive a tank!?” Nala’s voice sounded panicked, and rightfully so. September didn't reply, not finding the strength to, knowing damn well she couldn’t possibly comfort her. However, just when things seemed to have already gone to shit, Number 004 raised her hand.
“My husband fought in World War Two, he can drive a tank.” Nala’s eyes widened, immediately hugging the poor lady, a huge smile on her face.
“Oh my God, you guys are the fucking best!”
September had never seen a tank before, let alone from the inside, but this wasn’t quite what she imagined. Honestly, she always thought it would look less like… a mess, really. “How the fuck does someone even manage to drive this thing? Nothing makes sense here.”
Number 005 nodded a little, sitting down, “You get used to it. The first time, it’s always a bit of a shock.”
Nala shrugged, “Well, I like it. Besides, it’s lucky. Sept’s leg is messed up, and she won’t need to use it.”
Number 004 furrowed her eyebrows, “Sept?”
“Yes, short for September. Number 269’s name. I’m Nala, by the way!” She smiled, and September could swear it lit up the room – if one could call it one.
“Well, I’m Carla. My husband’s name is Mario.”
“Cool! Are you from–”
Before Nala could even finish, the starting gunshot was heard, Mario starting the tank by depressing the fuel shutoff knob, switching the power control switch, and pushing the starter button, all of which while the three women stared in a mix of awe and confusion.
As Mario drove the tank, an overwhelming silence filled the air, fear clear in everyone’s eyes. September could swear she felt nauseous too, and she couldn’t tell if it was the monstrous engine they were on or the nervousness. Perhaps both.
A loud explosion-like sound was heard in the distance, making everyone jump and scream, the sound alone being enough to make Carla burst in tears, not that Nala or September could blame her. Slowly, the younger girl came closer to the woman, wiping her tears away, giving her the warmest of hugs. Then, another explosion, making her squeeze the lady even more.
September didn’t know much about tanks, that’s something she definitely learned, because God, were they slow. And it didn’t help, not in the slightest. Her anxiety reached its peak by now, having gone back to torturing her bottom lip, as well as absent-mindedly scratching the palm of her hand. She couldn't be anything but glad someone who knew how to drive a tank was in the team, truly, but it was also hard to leave everything in the hands of a stranger. One associated with Hydra, at that.
The man’s sudden gasp snapped her out of her thoughts, and she looked up just soon enough to spot another tank in front of them, before he shot at it, the noise making them all jump again. September dared to look at what the shot had caused, and she immediately regretted it. The other team’s tank was half destroyed, in flames, three people awfully burned, some even close to looking as if they had been slaughtered, laying unconscious, while one was on the floor, their face melting as they screamed, begging for help as loud as they could, the sound sending chills down her spine.
Another gunshot was heard, and September jumped, scared it would be their turn to die that way. Instead, it was nothing but the sign this was all over, a sigh of relief leaving her lips. She couldn’t believe she was already halfway through the games.
And that, again, she had won.