Chapter 16 : Last Warning

Thanks to Gerard, I managed to survive.

But that didn't mean I could breathe a sigh of relief. I still had to deal with a very mad-looking Gerard getting off the horse and again, I had to deal with Mr. Wymond's calls.

Even so, after a life-and-death struggle, I managed to get the horse because Angela had chosen another horse and not out of pity for me. Seeing how I struggled to get this white horse, I decided to name him Wilder.

While the others were enjoying a break before afternoon practice, I went to the administration building to see Mr. Wymond. From a distance, I saw Gerard and Angela coming out of Mr. Wymond's room at the same time and they talked for a while until Gerard finally noticed my presence.

Angela turned around when Gerard stopped talking. She gave me a dismissive smile and then spoke briefly to Gerard before they decided to leave. No one reprimanded me as they passed me by. But I could still hear Angela's little giggle as she passed me by.

Why do I suddenly feel my heart aching?

Three knocks on the door and I was let in. Cigarette smoke filled the room as I opened the door, making me cough slightly as I caught my breath.

"Close the door." , he ordered.

I didn't really close it and left a small gap so that the smoke wouldn't linger in the room.

"I've heard all the stories from Angela and Gerard. So you don't need to explain it again." , he said.

Obviously I immediately disagreed with him, "Sir, it's obviously me who's the victim here. Don't you need to hear what happened from the victim's point of view?"

"You? The victim?", Mr. Wymond laughed as he let out a puff of smoke from his mouth, "if you are the victim, then who is the culprit? Gerard who saved you or the horse you were riding?"

"Angela. Obviously she did it."

"She told you to get on the horse?", asked Mr. Wymond putting down his cigar and exhaling the remaining smoke still in his mouth.

I paused for a moment remembering how I got on the horse and that it was obviously my decision, "No."

"Ha!", he said jumping up from his chair, "Then what was he doing to cause all that mess? Obviously from the watchtower I saw you spinning around in the field on that white horse and then you were screaming for help because you couldn't stop the horse until Gerard came and saved you, is that right?"

Not a word came out of my mouth. Everything Mr. Wymond said wasn't wrong but it wasn't right either. I wanted so badly to defend myself but remembered that everything wouldn't have happened if I hadn't ridden Wilder.

"Yes, sir." I answered at last, slowly and quickly.

"Remember what I said about the last warning?"

"Yes! Sir!"

"I was going to kick you out today for what you did. Riding was not on your schedule. I thought you learned your lesson after you were kicked out earlier. It seems my expectations were too high."

I knew it. He wasn't angry that I'd caused a brief mess by the horse having a tantrum earlier, but rather that I was again considered to be breaking the rules in his view and I couldn't bring Angela along for this. I was the one who decided to ride the first horse, I was also the one who got into the mess. I really did reap what I sowed.

"I will never do it again, Sir!", I tried to assure him.

I must not be kicked out again. A second chance might come, but not a third.

"Looks like you need some pressure," Mr. Wymond said, shoving his hands into his pants pockets, "If you mess up one more time, break the rules, then it's not just you who will be kicked out. I will also kick out whoever saved you."

I stared stunned at Mr. Wymond. Never have I met such a dictatorial person like him. This is ridiculous. So ridiculous. I understand he wants to create troops who are obedient and docile, but how could he get rid of humanity like this? There's a lot I want to tell Mr. Wymond to complain, but my situation is difficult. If I disobeyed now, it would be like digging a grave for myself.

This time I must bury my ego deep and follow his rules. That way, I could continue to ride on his ship that would take me to meet my father and two younger siblings.

"Yes, Sir!", I said loudly, convincing myself this was the best decision.

Even though I wasn't kicked out, I was still getting punished for my actions. Cleaning the entire stable for three whole months. I'll take this as a good opportunity for me to get close to the horses, and maybe they'll be more gentle and willing to obey me.

My punishment takes affect from today. While the other troopers were enjoying their leisure time before dinner, I was struggling with this damp and smelly horse house. I don't know how many buckets I've hauled away of horse manure that smells no better than my two younger brothers'.

I was assisted by ten other people who worked to clean the stables and take care of the horses. Even with the help of ten professionals, I was still overwhelmed with cleaning everything. There are hundreds of horses of various colors and sizes here. Almost an hour has passed and I've only cleared one row of stalls. There's still one more row to go and my back is already in pain.

"Need more hand?", asked someone leaning against the stable door.

I turned my head and nodded languidly. It was Sam, with a large rake that he leaned on with both hands.

"You're always looking for trouble, aren't you?" Sam quipped as he collected the remains of the horse's food grass with his rake.

"No, I'm not. I never try to look for trouble. It's the trouble that keeps looking for me."

I could hear Sam chuckling in my defense, "Well at least it's not a werewolf looking for you. Haha."

"Oh wait no. I'm actually looking forward to it. I want to finish everything now. I've had enough. I would be very happy if those werewolves came right now. At least at the end of the day I wouldn't have to deal with horse manure." , I said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you have to be careful what you say, Anne. It's a full moon tonight, what if the universe hears it? You can't take your words back."

"Oops, sorry. I've taken them out and they've all evaporated in the air. I can't collect them and put them back in my mouth."

Suddenly a loud siren sounded accompanied by a swirling red light. This was the first time I'd heard this type of siren. Sam and I immediately turned our attention to the red light that entered the stables several times.

"What's that? Is it dinner time?", I asked confused.

I saw Sam's face turn deathly pale. He continued to stare at the light that sometimes appeared and sometimes disappeared.

" They are coming."

"Who?"

"The werewolves." Sam said seriously.