OTTERBURN TRAINING COMPLEX,
05:55
23/10/2017
FOURTH DAY ON CAMP

'You.... The only one.... Power......... Help us...'

BZZRT BZZRT BZZRT The alarm blared as young Army Cadets awake from their deep slumber. "IT'S MORNING! GET UP, YOU'RE ALL ON THE RANGE TODAY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SMOCKS WITH YOU. LIKE ALWAYS, BREAKFAST IS AT 07:00, SO BE ON THE PARADE SQUARE BY TEN TO!" The 4 Star Staff Sergeant and I.C. of that billet, Edward Michael Wynn, shouted, making sure all of his cadets are up and getting ready. He was already awake and dressed because Company Sergeant Major Flynn woke him up at 05:00 to discuss the training plan for that week. He liked the CSM, not only because of their uncannily similar last names, he was a great person, and an even greater cadet. He'd do well in the military, when he comes of age. Despite that, he didn't approve of his absurd wake up times. That day, the 2 Stars were going on the range to fire the L98A2, a standard procedure, it would get a few of them to pass their shooting assessment.

It was 06:40 by the time they were all dressed and ready to go for breakfast. "Right," He said, addressing the room. "You all have ten minutes to chill before you need to be on that parade square, so make the most of it." He pointed to add emphasis on his point. After that, he walked out of the room, ready to get some fresh air.

10 minutes and a brisk walk about the military base later...

As he rounded the corner onto the parade square, he saw that his cadets were already there and fell in. He smiled to himself on the inside. 'They are all actually here... This is going to be an easy fortnight' He thought to himself. He waited there with his parade until they were joined by the 1 Stars, led by Sergeant Whitty. Whitty was a grump, she would always train by the book and any jokes, be that friendly or not, would just deflect off of her. He almost felt sorry for the poor 1 Stars. He ordered them to fall in on his parade, so they could get off up to scoff. He was starving. Lucky for him, NCO's had to go in last... 'SIGH'

During breakfast, him and three other highly ranked NCO's were call out of the mess hall to talk to Captain McCracken about something that was not stated. "So, you lot" He started. "Who can explain why my armoury is missing three live magazines?" Dread slowly seeped into their heads... If there were live magazines taken from the armory, then that means someone could be planning a shooting.

"Sir, me and my cadets have not been into or even near the armory. We have been doing Adventure Training and drill for the past three days. We were going to go on the ranges today, but if you deem it unsafe, then just give me the word and i'll reschedule." Edward said, almost shrinking under the Captain's gaze.

"I know that, Staff. I've called you out here to ready your cadets for a company parade. It will take place in one hour. Everyone, get your cadets ready. Someone is going home with a black bag and cuffs on their wrists." After that, he huffed and went to get ready. The group just looked sort of dumbfounded at the situation.

Edward stormed into the mess hall, immediately getting everyone's attention. "Right... Someone in here has taken three loaded, live magazines... Whoever it was, go see Captain McCracken NOW!" He bellowed. No one stood up. There was over three hundred people in that hall, two hundred and eighty of which were not ones he was in charge of. "Well... Plans have changed. For everyone. There will be a company parade in one hour, the Captain wants to speak to you all. When you are finished here, go back to your billets, don't come out unless you have the permission of a senior NCO or adult. You's got all that?" A chorus of "Yes Staff" ensured their answer. "Good." he said bitterly.

After that commotion, he needed a lie-down. He headed back to his room, billet 79-left. As he got in, he sat on his bunk, took off his beret, and suddenly felt very drowsy, to the point where he fell asleep there.

He was dreaming. Nothing in particular, just a blurry white landscape almost like a snowy plain. It then hit him, there was a town below. He couldn't see it very well because it was too blurry, almost like when you resurface from under the water. He could definitely pick out the occasional building and even something moving, if he squinted hard enough. He couldn't make out anything past that, though. He seemed almost entranced by this, until:

You must... You are the only one... We are... Mortal... Danger

He awoke in a cold sweat, on his bed where he had fallen asleep. "It was... A... Dream?" He whispered to himself. "What was that voice? That whisper?" He asked himself, confused. Suddenly, he jolted, checking the time and seeing that it was 08:00, ten minutes before the parade. He sighed with relief, wiped the sweat out of his hair with the towel that was hanging off his bunk, put on his beret and walked out to join the parade.

"Sir." He said, saluting a passing officer. He stepped out on to the parade square and joined Sergeant Whitty at the front. "Whats been happening? Have the magazines been found yet?" He asked.

"No," She replied "The officers are going crazy over them, though; Its pandemonium down at the CTC. This is very troubling, we could have a crazed psycho with a rifle, just waiting for someone to push them too far and then..." She trailed off

"Bang..." He said quietly.

Just then, a group of about nine officers came down and took control of the parade, Walking up to the front and looking over the sorry excuse for cadets that stand at attention before them. Captain McCracken made his way to the front. With Staff Wynn, Sergeant Whitty and six others standing at the back, the Captain started speaking. "It has come to my attention that someone has taken three magazines, containing ninety live rounds from our armory. There has only been two platoons in there at this point in time. Can those people who have been on the range or in the armory please fall out and form a separate parade to the right of..."

Edward stopped listening at this point, more focused on the wispy figure floating to the left of the Captain that seemed to appear out of no where. No one else could see it.

"You... You're here... Come... You will... Come... And protect...... That is my... Will..."

This was the loudest he'd heard it... The whisper... At this point, it seemed like a shout. With that, the ground started to shake, like an earthquake. It was so violent, he was sure he was going to get ripped apart. The strangest thing is that no one else of the three hundred or more people reacted. It was like only he was affected. With that, the shaking stopped. The figure has a clear smirk on her face as the ground splintered and he was pulled under.

Author's Note

Hey guys, this is my first time writing a story on this site, so feel free to leave any constructive criticism and/or suggestions you may have!

(Don't worry, all this ACF jargon isn't important to the story and this is the most it will be used in one. I will provide translations.)

• [Smock = Cadet coat]

• [1-5 Star - Army Cadet ranking system. 1 star = lowest and least experienced, 5 star/master = highest and most experienced.]

• [Parade square = main assembly and briefing point]

• [Billet = sleeping quarters]

• [NCO = Non Commissioned Officer - Lance Corporal to Sergeant Major]

• [CTC = Combat Training Center (Sometimes used as a staff room for adults and instructors)]