As the rays of sunlight streamed through the apartment window, they landed directly on Null's face. He groaned, stirring awake, realizing he had fallen asleep on the couch. Grabbing the scattered cards and watches around him, he tossed them into the garbage without hesitation.
Dragging himself to his room, he picked up a backpack and his phone.
"What time is it?" he muttered, powering on the screen.
8:12 AM.
"So I slept in… One hour left before he comes," Null mumbled.
He walked back to the couch and shoved his phone and laptop into the backpack, followed by five sets of pants, underwear, shirts, and his old, well-maintained jacket. His hand paused briefly over a pair of small, golden, circular blue-tinted glasses. He stared at them, sadness in his eyes, but quickly brushed it off and shoved them into the bag.
On the table, a long-sleeve black oversized shirt and cargo pants were neatly folded. He headed to the bathroom, showered, brushed his teeth, and changed into the black shirt and pants. Just as he reached to take his phone out of the bag again, a knock echoed at the door.
He zipped the bag shut.
"Really? Now?" he muttered.
Opening the door, he was met by a tall man with broad shoulders dressed in military fatigues. His black beard and mustache were streaked with white, and his slicked-back dreadlocks gave him a commanding presence.
"Hello, boy. You ready?" the man said in a deep, loud voice.
"Hi, old man Ron. You didn't age well," Null smirked.
Ronald chuckled, turning his back as he walked toward an old-fashioned muscle car. He opened the driver-side door.
"In you go. The military doesn't like waiting, boy!" he shouted.
Null jogged to the car, threw his backpack into the back seat, and climbed into the passenger side. Ronald got in, started the engine, and began to drive. Blues music played softly from the speakers.
"What the…?" Null said, tilting his head, both confused and intrigued.
Ronald chuckled while keeping his eyes on the road. "Oh, my boy, this is blues. It's pretty nice, huh?"
"Yeah… it's got a nice rhythm," Null replied, humming along briefly. He turned to Ronald. "When even is this from, old man?"
Ronald glanced at him with a grin. "You disrespectful little bugger, I'm not that old. Anyway, this song's from the 1990s."
Null burst out laughing, his voice goofy and exaggerated.
"Wow, you really miss the old days, huh, old man?"
"You little brat! I'm only 37!" Ronald barked, then reached out and squeezed Null's head with his left hand.
BEEP!
Null looked forward, eyes wide. "OLD MAAAAAN!"
A car was coming straight toward them. Ronald swerved hard to the right, then back into the lane.
"Boy, why are you so dramatic, huh?" Ronald grumbled.
Null glared at him. "Oi, I'm an average kid—wait, no—I am a kid!"
Ronald scoffed. "Yeah, you wouldn't survive, would ya?"
After that adrenaline-filled moment, a tense silence fell between them. Minutes passed before Ronald finally broke it with a sigh.
"Olv—"
"Don't call me that," Null interrupted firmly.
Ronald exhaled slowly. "Still got a grudge against people you never knew? People who were never there?"
"Yeah. Them." Null's voice was bitter. "Them not being there is exactly why."
Ronald didn't respond right away.
"Okay then… what about where you're going, huh?" he finally asked, trying to sound upbeat.
"You know I'm supposed to be sixteen before I go…" Null began, but Ronald cut in.
"Yeah, yeah. But I got you recommended. They said okay. Plus, you missed a week—so work hard."
Null shot him a glare. "You really don't want me to go, do you?"
Staring out the window, his tone soured.
"Why would I want to go to a place that isn't for me? A place that doesn't fit my goal?"
Ronald kept his eyes on the road. "And what is that goal?"
Null gave him a side glance, then looked back out the window.
"I want to live comfortably. Have a family. One that I won't abandon, one that won't get hurt or be involved with the military—or worse."
Ronald smiled faintly. "Truly, you're honorable for a child."
"Yeah," Null said. "But if I go there, I'm not going to stay such an honorable child."
Yeah," Null said. "But if I go there, I'm not going to stay such an honorable child."
Ronald nodded. "Sometimes… even those who want a quiet life have to learn how to fight for it."
As his words lingered in the air, the car slowed.
They had arrived.
====