The sun slowly rose up from the horizon.
Finally raining down sunlight on the land.
The ray of light reflected off the puddles of water and mud.
And adding colors to the rubbles.
"Just follow me squadrons!" Fish waved her hands.
The squad followed right behind our squad leader.
As we did, I looked at the picture of Laura in my hands.
Wondering what I should do.
"What's on your mind?" Paul asked.
"I'm trying to think how I am going to find her." I answered.
"Your sister? Well I bet you ain't gonna find her here."
"I know but I still need to but I don't wanna abandon you guys either."
"Maybe... ask the captain?" Paul suggested.
Suddenly I got an idea like a lightbulb being lit up.
"Thank you!" I said to him.
Looking back at Fischer.
She was busy guiding the squad to the front.
A perfect opportunity to sneak out.
"You could just ask her out, you know." Paul recommended.
"I doubt she will."
When Fischer turned her head away, I took the moment and swiftly escaped.
***
In another part of town far from the front.
More soldiers has stationed there to do their jobs.
Either guarding, logistics or more.
In amidst of all of this, a large building stood out at the center.
Clean and orderly with soldiers patrolling it.
Hopefully that's where the captain is.
I walked towards the large building.
Whilst everyone were moving away from it to enter the front, I moved forward.
Going in complete opposite ways between I and others.
Holding dearly to the picture.
When I did eventually stood in front of the gates.
I was ingulfed in fear and anxiety in meeting someone in higher ranks than me.
What if I got scolded or something? Maybe it was better to ask the squad leader instead.
I shook my head side by side and gained my composure.
I reached out my hands and opened the door.
Inside was filled with Officers Dealing with paperwork and intelligence.
I took my step inside, not wanting to get any attention.
"Please state your name."
Someone sounded out.
Looking at my right, I saw an officers who seemed to be filing names of people coming and leaving.
I was so focused on the more broader people and not seeking attention, I completely missed there was someone literally sitting at his own desk.
"Oh uh, I didn't see you there, hehe." I lowly chuckled at the sight of him.
But he just looked back at me in pure exhaustion and said.
"Please tell me your name."
"Oh! uh, Lukas Muller." I replied.
"Rank?"
"Recruit."
"A recruit? Why the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the trench by now?" He asked.
"I should be but I was sent by the squad leader to inform captain Frieda."
That was such a lie. I ain't got no permission to do this!
"Huh... captain Frieda Hoffman right? She should at the second level."
He pointed his pencil in hand to a flight of stairs.
"Ah! Thank you sir! Your kindness is much appreciated." I lightly bowed repeatedly before I took off but he just lightly shook it off.
I lightly skipped ahead towards the stairway.
Like an elegant noble Victorian lady in dresses trying to run on her heels.
Arriving at the stairway, I dashed up the stairs.
Skipping two steps that completely tired my legs.
But I wasn't really in a rush.
This was more of a habit of myself I've developed before my reincarnation.
When I used to run up the stairs as fast as possible when I was late for class.
Now in the second level main hallway.
It was much more orderly than compared downstairs.
Where the people on the first level were scattering around and doing something.
There were not much people here.
Only a few officers were walking in the hall.
"The fuck you mean we'll be charging in just under a week! We've just lost thousands of soldiers just a week ago and we're gonna lose another thousand again!"
A man yelled out his frustration.
Almost sounding like Ernst.
"It's not my choice! Those fucking bastards up there are the ones who sent the order!"
A woman's voice was heard awfully resembling Frieda.
Could it be them?
I slowly walked forward.
Heading towards the direction of the conversation.
"And the resupply wasn't enough either, they've only sent reinforcement so we could throw their lives away!" Ernst said.
"We really don't have much choice, if we defy their order, you know that happens to us right?
We'll be called traitors of the empire and will be executed by a firing squad.
I mean ask Franz! He once defied an order and literally got executed the day after.
Now his poster of his defiance is plastered everywhere now!" Frieda said.
I pressed myself against the wall as my heart hammered my chest as I eavesdropped in their conflict.
A week? What the hell are we gonna do!
My breathe fastened up, my chest quickly expanding and deflating.
I tried controlling my rhythm of my breathing.
Slow and steady and exhaling all of it in a fine motion.
"Hey! Who's out there!" Ernst yelled out.
Suddenly my heart just pierced my chest all together.
My mind raced in thought but I tried to not take over my mind.
To clear my mind, I decided to answer his call.
"Lukas Muller, sir!" I revealed presence to them with a perfect stance.
Ernst was sitting on a chair with his feet up on the table whilst he sliced apples.
And Frieda standing in the middle of the room.
"Why. The. Hell. Is a recruit of all people doing here?" Ernst said intensely.
But Frieda just extended her hand at Ernst, suggesting him to stop talking.
"I am very sorry for the rudeness of my lieutenant, he isn't really in a great mood right now.
He can be a little... misbehaving sometimes."
"Misbehaving? Is that how you see me? Great! just great." He dismissed her words and continued cutting the apples skin off.
"Now tell me, Lukas Muller. What are your business here?" She asked.
"Oh! Um, I was going to ask if you knew anybody named Laura Muller!"
"Laura Muller? Hmm... is she your sister? If yes than I have never heard of her."
"Oh... it's alright, she joined when the war started but sadly I don't where she is."
"Huh, was that the only reason to come here?" She stated.
"Oh no, I was going to ask you if you are able to find her!" I said joyfully.
"HA! Like she actually would! She is your goddamn fucking captain, show some respect to her name! She is very busy with her works and you thought you had the rights to come here to show your face just so that you can ask her a favor!?" Ernst chuckled.
But Frieda had enough of his bullshit.
Turning around and coming towards him.
She grabbed his collar fiercely and dragged him.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing!" Ernst protested.
But She didn't listen as she dragged him across the floor into another room.
She threw him inside and locked the door behind.
"Hey! You can't do this to me!" Ernst muffled voice yelled out through the door but Ernst just ignored his plea.
"I am so sorry for his arrogance." She smiled back at me.
But I just stood in my place in pure shock and awe.
Not being able to move at her authority even though she has done nothing to me.
Just simply her existing made me terrified.
"Now, Lukas Muller. you asked if I am able to find her correct?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah, I did. I even have a picture of her here."
I pulled the picture of Laura out of my pocket and gave to to Frieda.
"Hmm, well, I will try my best to find her alright? In the mean time, you should head back to your own squadron. I know your squad leader is mad right now at your disappearance."
"Wait, how do you know that?"
"Because fish isn't the kind of person who you could easily ask for permission."
Good point, I guess escaping was the right choice after all.
"May I keep this? Just so that I wouldn't find the wrong Laura Muller who just happened to have the same name as your sister?"
"Oh... um..." A slight hesitation grew in my heart.
That was the only picture of her as well.
If I lose than how else am I going remember her face?
Other than my memories that slowly fades away.
"Sure." But I made up my mind cause it was all or for nothing.
I saluted in respect of her choice before I turned around to leave.
"You're really going to do it are you?" Ernst sounded.
"Respect your recruit, Ernst. He is just trying to find his sister after all.
***
As the door slowly opened that led outside.
A ray of sunlight beamed through the door cracks.
And shining at my face.
It was now fully morning.
But when I took a step outside.
My head was struck with a strong force.
"OW!"
I covered my head in pain and swiftly moved away.
"So this is where you've been huh!? Escaping like that is punishable by death you know!" She yelled in frustration.
"I was just trying to find my sister!"
"Oh! I WaS JuST tRyiNg fiNd mY sIstER! Like that's ever gonna happen in a thousand years!"
She raised her hand up in the air to strike again.
Immediately responded by guarding myself with my arms.
But rather than waiting for the strike to come.
My arm was aggressively grabbed and pulled.
Looking at her, it seems that she just turned her mind on hitting me and just decided to drag me back.
I smiled lightly as I was glad for what she just did.