Reform

LUKE

Some say eyes are the windows to the soul, but do they know how eyes lie? How they're masters at deceiving? I'd say they're the doors to the soul; windows reveal, doors hide.

I lay on my back, trying to doze off for a little while before the morning. Even just a couple of hours of mediocre sleep is better than nothing.

My mind drifts to when I twisted my ankle. It was day 3 of Soldier training, something I'd been ecstatic about when I learned I was going to become a Soldier. I got the pain, swelling, tenderness, everything. I could barely walk on it for nearly 2 weeks.

The doctors said it would be better after 2 weeks, but that never happened.

After puzzling over it for another week or so, they said it was in my head. Just because it was a mystery and they couldn't figure out why; therefore, it's me, the patient, who's wrong. It would be horrible if a doctor wasn't sure or was wrong. Possibly a tragedy. Since it cannot be on them, it's all in my head.

In my head, yeah, right.

I wasn't imagining the pain or the tingling. Who would want that? What reason would I have to imagine it? What motive? But now, about 10 years later, the symptoms remain and I still can't walk how I could before.

Yay, me.

I've seen what happens to those who show any form of weakness, Guard or Soldier. I can't let that happen to me. After the doctors said it was all in my head, I vowed never to go to one again. They cannot know anything is wrong- I need to keep my position as a Soldier. It stung when the doctors, who were supposed to make you better, dismissed what I had said as fake, untrue.

It's all in your head.

Those 5 words stick with me.

Now, since I never go to the doctors who tend to the Guard and Soldiers, people see me differently.

They say that I'm strong since I suck up the pain from the injuries and deal with it on my own, nursing my own wounds or just ignoring them until I adjust to them or they go away. They say I'm a true Soldier, a model Soldier, one people should aspire to become.

But they don't know the reasons why I avoid the doctors at all costs. I can't hear them say that it's all in my head again.

"Soldier?" I'm snapped from my thoughts to see a lead Guard standing in the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV has requested your presence."

"I will go there immediately."

"Good." The lead Guard closes the door when he leaves.

I sit up and start pulling my armor over my clothes. I strap my sword to my side, holding back a grimace when a spark of pain lances up my leg as I walk toward the door and pull it open.

The walk up from the basement of King Garonda XIV's castle is relatively quick. The hallways are, for the most part, empty. A few small groups of Guard and Soldiers chat amongst each other, but I suspect most are already in the training grounds.

What is it that King Garonda XIV wants? Or, should I say, My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV?

When I reach the huge double doors that signal my arrival at the Amethyst Throne and King Garonda XIV, 2 Soldiers cross their spears in front to block me from proceeding. "State your business with My Sovereign, His Excellency, His Honor, His Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV."

"I was told to come here by a lead Guard." The 2 Soldiers share a look before 1 nods, grabs the circular handle of a door, and pushes it open.

As soon as I've walked through the doorway, I lower my gaze to the floor.

Once I'm a couple of yards away from the Amethyst Throne, I drop to my knees and lower my head to the floor until my forehead brushes marble. I press my cheek to my shoulder, baring my throat in the submission that's drilled into everyone's head since birth. It's what King Garonda XIV wants, and what he wants he gets.

"Rise," King Garonda XIV says.

I get to my feet but keep my gaze toward the floor and my neck bared.

"Do you know why I called you here?"

I don't reply; King Garonda XIV didn't say I could. He echoes my thoughts:

"Oh, pffft. Yeah, silly me. I didn't tell you you could speak! Ha, ha, ha. Look up when I'm talking to you!"

"Sorry, My Soverei-." King Garonda XIV cuts me off.

I lift my gaze, and he's lounging across the Amethyst Throne, a purple pillow that matches his suit cushioning his head. The Amethyst Throne glitters with a kaleidoscope of purples.

"So, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me. Should I cut off your head? You did interrupt me... Oh, wait. What am I saying? The Amethyst Throne chose you. I can't kill you. Whatever, I can kill you later if the Amethyst Throne un-chooses you. But the Amethyst Throne gave me the absolute best idea! Wanna hear it. Of course you do; I'm your King of Ragdon. I'm going to create the ultimate Soldier so I can take out Wolf and Dove once and for all and guarantee my reign until the day I die a long, long time in the future. Isn't it just wonderful? I asked the Amethyst Throne who to choose and it told me to pick you since you're such a model Soldier. I mean, you never see the doctors I handpicked since you're so strong and will suck up pain. Everyone should aspire to be you," King Garonda XIV says.

"You," he continues, "are going to become the ultimate Soldier."

Oh, no. No, no, no. He's picking me for the wrong reasons. I'm not strong. I'm not a Soldier others should aspire to be. I don't want to suck up the pain. I just can't go back to the doctors, so I'm forced to suck up the pain and just get over it.

I can't hear them tell me it's all in my head again.

But I can't say no.

You don't say no to the King of Ragdon. It's drilled into your head since day one.

You never, ever say no to your King.

"I will gladly become the ultimate Soldier if that is what you so desire, My Sovereign, Your Excellency, Your Honor, Your Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV," I say as I bow.

"Coolio. Come a little closer. This shouldn't be too bad." I do as I am told.

"Okie dokie. Now let the barriers in your mind drop."

What?

I prevent myself from questioning King Garonda XIV; you don't question a King. You do as you are told without thinking twice.

So, I close my eyes, exhale a breath, and let the barriers I'd been told to keep high and strong drop. They crumble in my mind until nothing remains.

The instant I do, the Amethyst Throne glows a bright purple. Claws feel like they're shattering my head. I screech in pain, dropping to my knees as my hands rise to pull at my hair. I shudder as some unknown force wreaks havoc on my mind.

This shouldn't be too bad? Nothing I've felt has ever been like this! Twisting my ankle was nothing compared to this, and nor was that time that Soldier's sword cut through to the bone on my arm. Luckily that was before my ankle because there's no way I'm ever going to a doctor again.

I don't know how long it is that I remain curled over on my knees, gritting my teeth and biting my tongue to muffle cries every time the unknown force corrupts more of my mind. Tears burn in my eyes as they draw lines of salt on my cheeks and down my hands. Sweat makes my hair stick to the back of my neck and my shirt cling to my back beneath my armor. My fingers curl into my hair and pull at it until I feel the first stings of pain. My chest heaves as I gasp for breath.

How could King Garonda XIV be doing this to me? I know I shouldn't be questioning him; that in itself is treason. You don't question a King. That's something that's drilled into your head every day from the moment you're born. But how could he be doing this to me? I've followed every one of his orders faithfully and without question. What have I done to deserve... whatever this is? What did I do wrong?

I take the edge off the pain by taking slow, deep breaths, thinking about anything but the talons scraping through my mind. Gradually, the pain sinks down to a level I can handle much better. The claws leave my mind, though they leave behind remnants. A disease.

I inhale and exhale a few more times to let the pain dissipate faster. I run my hands over my face before standing up and facing King Garonda XIV. My palms are slick with tears. I keep my gaze slightly lowered and my shoulders hunched as I wait for King Garonda XIV to speak. My legs tremble.

"What are you still doing here? Scram!"

"S-sorry, My Sovereign, Your Excellency, Your Honor, Your Highest of all Highnesses, King Garonda XIV." I bow, crossing one leg behind me until my knee touches the ground, before standing up and walking as fast as I can toward the doors.

"Luke?"

"Yes, My Sov-."

"Meet me here tomorrow morning. And stay in your room for until then. Food will be delivered in the evening."

"Yes, My Sov-."

"Why are you still here?" King Garonda XIV's eyes flash purple.

"Sorry," I murmur before turning and almost running through the doors.

The 2 Soldiers slam the doors shut behind me. They snicker when they see me, but I ignore them.

xxxx

By the time I reach my room, I can barely focus on anything.

My bed goes in and out of focus as I take off my armor and throw it somewhere near its stand; I'll deal with it later.

But for now, I need to figure out how I'm going to make my head stop spinning. I flop back onto my bed and close my eyes, trying to force the vertigo to go away. My chest rises and falls in slow, even breaths.

In, 2, 3, 4. Out, 2, 3, 4. In, 2, 3, 4. Out, 2, 3, 4.

My eyes remain closed, but the room still feels like it's rocking and spinning.

It'll work eventually. It has to.

In the darkness behind my eyelids, flashes of purple appear, followed by a silver snake with a chain for a body. The snake opens its mouth to reveal 2 fangs that glint purple.

What the hell is a snake doing in my mind's eye?

Amethyst glitters across its chain body.

Sweat rolls down my forehead and drips from my fingers when I reach up to run my hands through my hair. My clothes stick to my skin. The doorway in the corner tilts and the world shifts in and out of focus. My hands tremble.

The snake slithers around in my mind.

Please go away, I silently beg. I can't feel like this tomorrow. I can't be forced to see a doctor again.

I don't know how long it is that I remain curled up on my bed, trying to get the spinning of my room to go away and for the snake in my mind to disappear. I shiver underneath the thin sheets that have long since become drenched in sweat.

Why did King Garonda XIV do this to me? What did I do wrong?

I've followed every 1 of his requests without ever questioning them. I stay quiet and don't create trouble. I work hard. They say I'm a model Soldier. I don't agree, but that's what they say.

What did I do wrong? What was it? Was it when I twisted my ankle? That was, like, 10 years ago, but it was something I shouldn't've been so careless to do. Maybe.

Thank you for reading the second chapter of Reform, narrated by the one and only Luke. Please comment and consider a vote if you enjoyed this chapter!

Hmm, Luke. Don't remember meeting him before. Who is he, other than a Soldier who avoids doctors at all costs and is considered to be a model Soldier?

What is this 'ultimate Soldier' King Garonda XIV wants?

What's going on with Luke? Why is there a snake with a chain for a body residing in his mind?

I hope you're staying safe and healthy!

-Werewolf14-