Day 2

2000 hours

Second session with Nick starts. I feel like I'll pass out already.

I knocked at the door of the horrific interrogation hall.

"Don't get in if you haven't done your task." Shit.

"Permission to explain, Coach." "Nope. Go back and get it. This is your extra time."

How to convince him now? "Permission to explain, Coach." I pressed.

This time I didn't hear his voice, but I heard the door being opened. He stood with hands crossed.

"You better have a good explanation, otherwise I might actually use a few of these equipments." he said nodding towards the wall.

I stopped breathing. I wasn't afraid to be on the receiving end of that torture - I've seen much worse. I was scared to be on the giving end. And Nick has silently promised to make me do things I'll never do willingly.

"Explain yourself now." his tone was pissed.

"The recording is no more." I said looking down, not wanting to see his anger.

"You're lying." his tone had the cut.

"Colonel told me this himself." I said without stammering.

"You told him you want it?" "Yes coach."

He was surprised for a moment, but composed himself back.

"And?" "He said its no more. I didn't ask anything else."

Just then his phone rang.

"Did you mention about me?" he asked in a hurry, while the phone was still ringing. "No, coach."

He ran and picked it up. "Yes, sir." That's father.

"Yes sir I did." .

"Yes sir. No other intention." .

"Right sir." .

"No sir. Not again." .

"Yes sir." With that, he kept the receiver down. I was still wondering what did he say. But how did he come to know that Nick made me do it? Ofcourse he does. Why would I ask for it, out of nowhere?

"He deleted it right after he heard it and filtered the important info. I'm surprised you had the guts to ask him directly without mentioning my name." Thank god atleast he trusts me that I tried.

"Since you failed at the task given to you..." What? "... you need to compensate."

Why rub it in my face? I'll have to do anything you say, compensation or no compensation.

"What should I do to compensate, coach?"

"Create another recording." Oh goodness. Those two weeks were hell. I don't think I'm mentally ready to go through them again.

"Another recording... Coach?" I asked hesitantly, my mind running wild towards the path I dreaded.

"Yes. List out the instruments that were used on you." he said pointing towards the wall. Nick say it already! I know what you're thinking. I will not do what you are planning to make me do.

Not having any option, I turned around and looked at the wall. Hair at the back of my neck stood in attention remembering those days. I felt like I'm losing it.

"Almost every blunt instrument." I said with my heart beats rising.

It was too much to bear. The pain I went through, and the orders he is about to give me - it's more than what my mind could control right now.

"Let's begin with the torture lecture basics. Cane then?" He swiftly took a thin cane from the wall and threw it towards me. I caught it just before it could create a mark on my face.

"Where did they hit you the most?"

My brain cells were on a hike. My soles were burning at the memory. The pain started off as sting but with daily hits for hours straight, it became a constant reminder of my feet. Each step I took would feel like walking on needles with red hot tips. A shudder brought me back to present.

"Palms" I lied.

He came and stood in front of me with both his palms open. There were clean stitches on his left hand, thanks to my terrible shooting skills yesterday.

"Left or right. You choose." He said calmly.

"I can't do it." "You've done it before, Wills. Forgot Peter pissing off Bimbo?"

Oh how I wanted to break Peter's shoulder that night! "I hated every minute of it." I said with clenched teeth.

"I never said you enjoyed it. I said you've done it. So do it again." He said as a matter of fact.

"That was different. He was the SC. He ordered me to-" "And today I'm ordering you to. Now do it. And ensure they are hard enough to make me cry out, like you must have. Mind you, I don't hiss so easily." He said with one eyebrow raised.

"I can't." I repeated.

"Then get the hell out of here and don't show me your face again."

I'm tired of this warning! He can't just go on blackmailing me. I'm his brother, not an enemy.

"Hit the damn palm if you want to get out of this shit. You know this is the only way to earn the apology you so badly want. This is the only chance I'll give you. So screw your feelings and bloody hit it!" Nick was literally screaming in my face.

The anger that built up inside me with each of his words turned into a swing that hit Nick's right palm with a 'woosh' sound before I realised what I've done. The impact was so strong that it created a red mark within seconds and Nick closed his fist with his lips tightly sealed.

My eyes went wide as I realised what happened.

"I... I am so-" "You must be really pissed off right now, aren't you?" Nick said laughing while shaking his red hand in the air.

"Coach. I've learnt my lesson. I'll not take any stupid decision ever again. Trust me, I won't. Just stop this."

"Stop this? It has just begun, dear brother." Oh. He has the right to call me brother? And I can't even speak his name? Talk about fucking partiality here.

"So you are ready to write it?" There we go again.

I wanted to say no, or at least nod. But knowing that it will piss him further, I did nothing. I just stood with head lowered and eyes down.

He understood and soon I saw his marked palm in front of me. "Again."

I nodded a no. "Your turn to answer is gone. This is an order. Again."

He began saying things that played with my mind, making me lose my temper again. I'm sure I used more force. My hand stung with pain too, this time.

His jaw was clenched and fist closed tight.

Taking a few moments to calm his breath, he said "We will do this till I make a sound. Again." There was no point arguing.

I took one decision. I'm not getting inside this hall ever again. This place is haunted - it takes control of my brain, and I feel hallucinated - my brain, my body under control of some one else.

Third hit must have been lighter. "You don't want to end this soon, right?" He mocked at me.

Just listening the word 'end' gave me enough hope and strength. Fourth one did it. I hit him with all my strength, keeping aside my hungry, sleep deprived, broken body.

He danced around singing "Fuck fuck!" with his hand pressed close to his chest.

Father's smirking proud face made an appearance in my mind - the one he used to make after killing me from head to toe and still making me perform better than everyone else.

Before his mind comes up with any other brilliant idea, I rushed and hung the cane back on the wall.

He looked at me with defeat in his eyes. I wanted to laugh, but knowing that I just inflicted pain, I wanted to puke.

I know- what agent I am if I can't hit someone. No sir. It's not the way you think. I've killed enemies, I've tortured prisoners to the point of choking them till their faces turn blue, I've been a heartless man quite a few times. But when it's my brother in front of me - the innocent boy I first met when he was about get charred alive in a burning car, no I can't hurt him. I'm a human and my soul will never let me do it.

And nobody other than me knows what I'm going through right now. I wish I never came back from that mission to see this day.

He snapped his fingers a few inches from my face. I realised I've been zoning out too often. I shook my head and looked at him.

"So they didn't use any sharp? A knife may be?" he turned around, walking alongside the wall and stopping in front of the various knives.

"No, coach." I said with my heart beats on a rise again.

"Doesn't matter. We can always improvise. Let's go for the knife next?" he said as he moved to grab the weapon.

"I'm ready." I gave up. He was about to push me beyond my limits. And that's impossible for me.

He stopped before touching the knife and turned around. "You ready for what?" "To write whatever you want, wherever you want."

He laughed. Loudly. That rascal.

Nodding once, he went and sat back on his chair. He banged loudly on the table, telling me to take my lost ass there.

There was a pen and a paper kept there. Ho nodded and asked me to go ahead.

I wrote what came to my mind and handed him over.

He took it, read it and laughed again.

' I shall not be a hero and decide to sacrifice myself when there is another option available. But when it will come to saving only one, I will consider myself last. '

"I guess two days of Coach Carter are not enough to break you afterall." He said reading the whole thing again.

"You did not just say that. My ass was on fire the whole damn time. I've never been so scared of anyone before!" I said, feeling a bit relieved.

He laughed in response and then tore the paper. I stood stunned. He looked at my expression, still laughing.

"It's not the piece of paper that bothers me. It was your thinking. I assume, may be just barely, but I succeeded at the task given to me." he said.

Oh yeah. 'Use all means to make him realise that he was wrong.' Father's instruction to him echoed in my ears.

"I was wrong indeed. I could have used my brain, or atleast father's. But I just want this chapter to close now, Nick."

He cleared his throat at the last word.

"I thought we were done." I said annoyed. "You think too much. Don't forget I'm yet to forgive you. I'm hungry and bored. Let's get some food and fresh air." he said.

Oh boy. The feeling of relief washed over me. I followed him while he turned towards the door.

"On your knees." "You have to stop treating me like a worthless pet."

"Alright then. Crawl." "Nick!"

"Fine. Commando Crawl." Freaking coach Carter! "Yes coach" I got down and started digging my elbows into the ground.

Father, I hope you haven't planned anything for my upper limbs tomorrow.

"Football field. I'll join you there." He said and turned towards mess.

I did as told. Before I could reach and have a break, Nick came. He had two huge sandwiches in his hands. The other one's for me? God I'd love to have a few sandwiches in my stomach.

"Touch the post and come back. We have a questionnaire after that. Go."

While I was happy Nick had finally and officially stopped my mental screwing, I was praying to god that he doesn't jump directly to the physicals, because he's cruel when he is pissed. But you only get one wish granted per day.

First session with father made me believe that one disease that he should have at his age, which he is directing towards me - arthritis - is actually working. All my joints are in pain. From my neck to my ankle, everything hurts. Not that it's the first time, it was a usual norm at one point in my life - but that was seven years ago.

Somehow I made it back to where he stood eating another two sandwiches.

"Alright. The rules. I ask you a question and you answer. I don't like the answer, you do what you just did and give a better answer, if asked the same question again. Staying shut will have worse consequences so don't piss me off with silence again. Also, don't miss the salutation again. Now go."

What the actual fuck. He didn't even ask anything!

I turned around silently and put my machinery back at work. By the time I reached back, I was ready with my answer to anything he asks next, the answer being 'Fuck you.'

I waited for his first question.

"Why are you sending people to save your ass? You think they'll say something good about you and I'll drop my plans?" He said looking into my eyes with absolute offence.

I sent people? Ren.

She's not people! She's just one person. Who else then?

Oh my god! Jane! She was heading towards main office today. Damn she wasn't going to father, she went to meet Nick!

"I didn't send anyone, coach. I swear." I cried, knowing that I'm going to crawl hell lot of rounds because of her.

He just nodded a no and mercilessly pointed towards the direction I was supposed to crawl.

Damn you Jane! Can I hate you more than I already do?

Why would Nick think that you sent her? He knows you don't use these tactics. Exactly! Still he is pissed at that meeting that he waited all these hours to bring it up. God it must have been a disaster back then.

"Did you talk to her?" "No coach. Infact I haven't even met her since-" I tried to explain him, but alas - he didn't like my answer. And I went and came back cursing her.

"What are you going to do to her for trying to save your ass?" He asked me. Having enough scratches over entire front half of my body, the answer came out almost instantly. "I'll see her in training."

As soon as I said that, I regretted. It was a nice trap and I happily jumped into it. Nick and Jane are good friends. There's no doubt that he'll ensure that I do nothing to her for pulling this stunt, even though I am getting screwed for it. He made 'tsk tsk' sounds and nodded towards the field.

I cursed her some more and dragged my body back.

"Got enough time to give a better answer? Now tell me what are you going to do to her." he mockingly asked.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I won't even talk about this." I hated every word because in a way, I was promising him something I didn't want to do.

"Great. Go take another round so that you won't forget. We need to be sure." "I won't forget, coach." Nick please!

"Did I ask you?" "Negative, coach." I turned around, furious.

"If something happens to her in next few days because of all your curses, I'll tell dad who is responsible." I heard his voice from behind.

Darnit. How can one round of praying for her good health make up for three rounds of curses?

Somehow calming my anger down and mentally apologising to her for thinking so wrong about her, I returned to his feet hoping for some mercy.

I wished he stayed on Jane's doings, because what he asked me next, took me off guard.

"I know you are hiding something. I know dad knows that too. Tell me who else knows it?"

Oh my goodness. I can't believe this was really happening. I barely saved my ass from father, and Nick is right back on it.

"No one else, Coach." Please trust me Nick. I can't get Ren in trouble because of me.

"Bull shit." Damnit. I need to tell him everything right away.

"Permission to-" "Post and back." he said mercilessly.

I killed my spine and dragged myself back. "Fine. Don't tell me. I think I already know who else has heard about it. I'll get the rest from her, don't you worry. Now, what is the secret about? Is it Aarham?" "No, Coach."

"Oh. Too bad. Go." That was the right answer! But not the one he liked. Damnit.

This field has seen players sprinting in the game. But the brilliant idea of making someone crawl painfully slow on such an otherwise active area- credit goes to one and only Nick.

"Do I know him?" "No, coach." Well actually, it's not 'him'.

He knows he has me at the tip of his finger. He knows that I'll spill it out if he asks. But damn him for torturing me by going round and round.

"I'll tell you-" I was again ready to give out the whole tale. "Post and back, officer." he pointed towards the far goal post. I exhaled loudly, turned around and completed one more stretch.

"Ren knows him too?" There. You knew she knows. Still you made me crawl an extra round. Well thanks for that. If he goes all Carter with her and she blames my ass to put her in limelight, I can confidently look into her eyes and say that I didn't pull her in.

"No, coach." Ren doesn't know her too. "Sad. No point interviewing her then." See! I knew you had that plan.

"But she is still in for keeping me in the dark." Oh no. "She did that on my command." I took that bullet despite having hundred other wounds already. Ren we're equal now.

Nick looked at his watch and let out another tsk. "You said that too early, brother. Your second session doesn't end in another three hours, and you have ten more hours left tomorrow. You really need to control your tongue." Nick said sitting with one knee down so we're face to face.

Yep. He's absolutely right. Shut up.

"Again." he said as he started savouring the sixth sandwich. Yes I'm keeping count, because I'm hungry!

After almost 20 to and fro stretches on the field, having my elbow shredded in layers, my face and uniform having a mud bath, and my spine becoming a thin log, he showed some mercy and asked me to get up when sun rose.

If he had allowed me to explain myself, I would have saved atleast ten rounds, but no. I lost the chance to explain long back.

And I don't know what he is thinking right now about my 'secret'.

Second session with him got over at 0550 hours after doing few rounds of the ground front rolling. My spine is in pieces now. A good pat is all it will take to turn into powder.

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