Chapter 88: The truth
The next morning, long before the wake-up bell rang, Leo opened his eyes. The pain throughout his body lingered. If anything, the ache had worsened after yesterday’s punishment. Yet, his face remained calm. He sat up, his gaze falling on the small figure resting beside him. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Lia..." He patted her head. "It’s time to wake up."
Lia frowned, burying her face deeper into the blanket.
"...Five more minutes..."
Leo let out a soft chuckle.
"Didn’t you say you wanted to become stronger?" he asked. "If you keep sleeping... The instructor will throw cold water on us."
At those words, Lia’s eyes snapped open. She bolted upright.
"I’m awake!"
Leo smiled. "Good."
The two slipped out of bed and headed toward the washroom. Just like the days prior, the other children stepped aside at the sight of Leo. Nobody wanted to provoke him. After washing up, the two of them made their way to the cafeteria. Breakfast was as simple as ever: a single steamed bun and a bowl of thin porridge. Once they finished their meal, they walked out to the training grounds.
The instructor arrived shortly after. His gaze swept over Leo, coming to a halt on Lia. He pointed toward the mountain without a single word.
"Run."
The day’s training began. Leo held back his pace, matching his sister’s steps.
"Lia." He looked at her. "Remember your breathing. Slow. Steady. Don’t waste your strength."
Lia nodded. "I know."
The two climbed the mountain path. Hours passed before they reached the checkpoint where the stone-filled backpacks waited. Leo picked up his own bag, casting a glance toward his sister.
The instructor met his eyes. "Same conditions."
Leo merely nodded, wasting no time on arguments. Several guards stepped forward and removed half the stones from Lia’s bag. They then poured two extra bags of rocks into Leo’s. The weight of his pack grew immensely.
Bending his knees, Leo hoisted the massive load onto his shoulders. His frame shook under the strain, and fresh blood seeped through the bandages hidden beneath his clothes. Yet, he kept quiet. Instead, he forced a smile for Lia.
"Go ahead," he told her. "I’ll catch up."
Lia lowered her head. "...Okay."
She turned and resumed her climb, while Leo trailed behind.
The outcome never changed. Halfway up the mountain, his body reached its absolute limit. His legs gave out. With a heavy thud, Leo collapsed onto the rocky trail, pinned to the dirt by the enormous backpack. He struggled to stand. He failed. He tried once more, and failed again.
Minutes passed before the instructor walked over, staring down at him with a blank face.
"You failed."
Leo closed his eyes. "...Yes."
The instructor pointed toward the foot of the mountain. "You know the rules."
Leo nodded, dragging himself back down the slope.
Night fell, blanketing the mountain in a deep hush. The curfew bell was just about to ring when Leo finally returned. He swayed with every step, fresh bruises covering almost every inch of his exposed skin.
The second he pushed open the dormitory door, Lia ran to his side.
"Big Brother!" She grabbed his arm, her face filled with worry. "Are you alright?"
Leo gave his usual smile.
"I’m fine. It looks worse than it actually is."
Lia stared at him for a long moment.
" What you think I am lying ? "
Then Leo put on a pitiful expression and pretended to wipe nonexistent tears from his eyes.
" I feel so sad . Now even my little Lia doesn’t believe me .... Sniif ...sniff "
Lia then laughed out loud looking at Leo’s antics .
" Big Brother, you have become more of a drama queen than before "
"...Okay ,I believe you "
That night, the two drifted to sleep together.
The routine repeated itself, day after day, week after week. Every morning, Leo carried three times the assigned weight. Every afternoon, he collapsed before reaching the summit. Every evening, he disappeared to receive his punishment. And every night, he returned with a smile.
Nearly a month passed this way. At first, Lia believed everything he told her. She thought he was fine, just worn out from the harsh training. But as time went on, she noticed the changes. Leo smiled less. His face grew paler by the day. The wounds on his body never faded; instead, new marks kept appearing. Sometimes, she caught him wincing when he thought she wasn’t looking. A strange uneasiness took root in her heart.
One evening, after finishing her training, Lia returned to the dormitory. To her surprise, the instructor waited outside.
"You. Come with me."
Lia stiffened. She remembered Leo’s warnings to never disobey the instructors, no matter what. Swallowing her fear, she nodded.
"...Yes."
The instructor turned around. "Follow me."
They walked deep into the mountain, venturing further and further until they stopped before a thick iron door hidden behind layers of rock. The instructor pushed it open with a heavy rumble, revealing a cold corridor that stretched into the darkness.
The deeper they went, the louder the sounds became. At first, Lia couldn’t make them out. Then, her face lost all its color.
"...Aahhh!!"
"...Please!!"
"...No!!"
Heart-wrenching screams echoed through the underground passage. Some belonged to adults. Others sounded just like children.
Lia’s small frame began to shake. "W-Where are we...?"
The instructor ignored her. He stopped before another iron door, opened it, and led Lia inside.
The room was surprisingly clean. There were no torture devices, no prisoners. There was only a large monitor mounted on the wall. The instructor pressed a button, and the dark screen flickered to life.
The moment Lia looked at the display, her eyes widened in horror.
"...Big Brother...?"
On the screen, Leo was tied to a wooden pole. His entire body was covered in blood. Dennis stood before him, a thorn-covered whip raised high into the air.
CRACK!!
The whip tore into Leo’s back.
Leo’s body jerked violently.
A muffled groan escaped through his clenched teeth.
All color drained from Lia’s face as she stood frozen in place.