Chapter Text
In the early morning Laura dreamt of dragons. Their bodies slowly crumbling like charcoal with ash scattering off their limbs with every movement. They were huge and so beautiful but Laura couldn’t get close enough. She stretched her arms in the air like a child begging to be lifted but still the magical beasts circled, far out of reach but daring to be closer.
Dawn, she was up at dawn again like clockwork. Every morning she was fated to watch the sunrise peak over the horizon then proudly radiate onto everything in its sight. But this morning was different than any other. Today she would be leaving for The Guard, a strong military force that practically made her father a legend. But Old Man Hollis would humbly tell you otherwise as he hushed the years of service and success into that of a man simple fulfilling his oath and sworn duty. That didn’t stop the holes burning in her stomach and the faint sweat forming on her skin.
Laura was already packed, of course she was, she had made several lists to which she checked several times off all essentials. This day had to go perfectly, no room for error in the Hollis family. She began her morning routine, first the pushups.
One.
Everything needs to go perfect.
Two.
You’ve trained for months for this. Dad found you the perfect weapon you will be fine.
Four.
Remember your stances. Read your opponent’s body. This is not the time for mistakes. If they are bigger they will fall harder. Find their weak points. Do not shrink, you are strong and capable.
Eight.
For the love of god do not choke.
Ten.
Repeat.
…
Fifty.
I hope they like me.
Repeat.
“Morning honey would you want some pancakes?” Mark Hollis called over his shoulder. He was a graying man in his mid-fifties but had these spirited light eyes that only he could make intense in the correct circumstances. He almost seemed too tall to be Laura’s father considering how small the women was but everyone always said they had the same laugh.
“I think I’ll just have some cereal,” Laura responded taking a seat at the kitchen table. The burly man had already poured himself some coffee, paired only with sugar and poured his daughter a bowl.
“Are you ready for today?”
“As ready as I can be.” Mark passed over the bowl and took a seat across from her.
“Honey you don’t have to do this, I know you have assured me you want to but you don’t have to follow my footsteps. There is no Hollis legacy and I want you to be better than that.” He watched his daughter push some flakes around and soon the room only filled with the small sounds of ceramics, fluids, and silverware. Laura took a second to digest it all. “This life you are about to enter,” Old man Hollis continued, “It is not easy in the slightest. It could change you and break you down like it did for me and honey I am scared for you.”
“Dad I am not doing this for you, it’s for me. I want to be able to handle myself. I want to be strong enough and this experience will make me tough enough but I don’t know I feel like I need to do this. Besides what’s the worst that can happen?” Laura sarcastically asked. Mark winched slightly and shook his head.
“You could die Laura,” he deadpanned looking directly into his daughter eyes. His words cut into her but it was nothing to the pain inside Mark. He had lost his wife, Laura’s mother to this job and what could he be if he had nothing. It was just him and Laura in this house and everyday it seemed too big and too empty. His daughter was a small flame that he hoped he would never see diminish.
Laura pushed aside her breakfast and wrapped her father in a hug.
“You worry too much but at least I know where I get it from.” She forced out a small smile. “Let’s not talk about this anymore, we should probably head out.” There was one thing Laura wouldn’t miss, her father’s quiet. The moments his eyes would glass over and he was somewhere else. A reflection of a time he had to be something else. It stuck to him like tar on skin and in these moments he was both young and old, plagued by his past and cursed for the future. They left the house with a blanket of silence that carried into the packed car. Laura slipped on her headphones, trying to escape it all. Every nerve in her body on edge as she feared what was to come.
The hours felt like years slowly creeping by, but they were there, deep in some forest and yet out the outside of this heavily guarded compound. There were people adorned in black light-armor and a variety of weapons surveying the immediate area. Other cars had pulled up around us, families dropping their children off, other volunteers into this warzone. There was this stigma that The Guard is this elite academy to which you would have the privilege to serve. But Mark had always told Laura the truth. There is no way in hell or Hogwarts that this place was the palace everyone made it seem. Stepping out of her father’s car solidified that fact, even the atmosphere destroyed the luxurious concept.
They walked through the rusted gate and filed into the center of a large field. There were large buildings, barracks, and dorms. The compound seemed larger on the inside but the structures were old. This place seemed to be rotting on the inside. Laura glanced to her father. He kept his eyes up, taking it all in, remembering his sins and past endeavors. A woman with a denser style armor and purple cloak made her way towards them. Her body reeked elegance and her walk proved authority as if her stare caused you to submit.
“Markus Hollis, it’s been some time,” she stretched her hand out. Mark took it with a firm shake. The woman looked so much younger than Mr. Hollis but her eyes showed vast wisdom.
“It sure has Commander Belmonde. I’m sure you remember my daughter, Laura.” The Commander shifted slightly but her expression did not ease. She made it very clear she was in control and on duty. If the circumstances had been different she would have been happy to see her old friend. Unfortunately this was not the time to remanence about the legends of squadron 115. This was to start the next generation.
“Laura Hollis, you certainly have grown well, how long has it been since we last saw each other?” There was a slight smile on the woman’s face. She was trying.
“Thirteen years Mrs. Belmonde.” And sixty two days, Laura added. She had not seen the immortal since her mother’s funeral. She herself was only six but she can remember every excruciating detail of that.
“It’s Commander now dear since you will be a part of The Guard, we do not play favorites despite any personal history. Now I need to speak privately with your father, drop off your bags and follow the others to the lecture hall.” She pointed over to a bulletin board that listed the names of everyone and their rooms.
Laura looked to her father who nodded slowly. There was no need for goodbyes, there was a mutual understanding that this was not the end, but a see you soon. Laura sauntered over to the board and ignored the hushed tones of her father and Belmonde. Every muscle in her body was stiff and she just wanted for all of it to begin. She quickly found her name. Room 307. Roommate: Carmilla Karnstein.