Chapter 3 - chapter 3

Chapter 3
I couldn’t speak. My throat was too dry and there seemed to be a large lump in the middle of my esophagus that probably wouldn’t let any words pass anyway.
Ok. I was not athletic at school when I was alive and I didn’t turn suddenly into one huge muscle when I died so this whole me leading an army thing? Not going to go very well.
I cleared my throat, suddenly aware of all of the people that were present. The Freaky Cloak Club and the hundreds people of all ages all standing by the walls. They, had put their faith in me. Boy, somebody around here had really bad logic skills. What was I going to say?
“Uhhhhhh....” I managed, swallowing hard.
“We know you will accept the position and aid us in this war. And for that, we thank you. Now, tomorrow you will start training with the first council member.”
“Uhhhh...Who might that be?” I said, stalling, trying to get my thoughts together.
A member of the Cloak Club stood up from their seat at the end of the line of chairs. This one was wearing a dark black cloak. They raised their hand in greeting and then sat down again.
Wow. That was informative.
“Ok,” I breathed, finally getting some reasonable words out of my mouth. “I really appreciate the confidence you are placing in me but I have no war training!” I protested, my voice getting higher and more frantic as I went on, “I’m not even sure this is all real! This could just be a really, really elaborate, detailed dream for all I know! And even if this is real I don’t even know you people! I don’t know how to use a sword, or shoot a gun, or whatever, or command an army, or make decisions that could alter the course of people’s lives! People die in wars! I’m not ready for that responsibility! I can barely make up my mind on what to eat for breakfast in the morning! I can’t decide who is going to die! And this is even more important that just the lives of the people fighting the war! This is gonna affect the people who are still alive! And what about that, huh?! What happens when you die here? Do you disappear?! Do you just cease existing?! I’m not ready for this! I don’t know what to do! I’m sorry, I can’t...” I was sobbing by now. I tried to wipe the tears away and stand up straight, very much aware how stupid I was being, but I couldn’t. The tears kept coming and I couldn’t talk anymore. All of this was so overwhelming. My death, that poor boy who thought it was his fault that I died, this new responsibility of leading an entire army, and meeting the Creepy Council Members who were supposedly going to train me in the arts of war. I fell to my knees. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t.
“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry.” I murmured.
“You must lead us. Someday you will know why, but today it is just enough to know that you have to.” Blue Robe Guy was really starting to get on my last nerve with all of this philosophical stuff. He stood up and walked over to me. Taking a cup from a simple wooden table in a corner he held it out to me. I tried to get a good look at his face but he just reached up with his free hand and pulled his hood down farther. I had a feeling that he was grinning under there. Scowling at him, I stood up and took the cup. It was large and heavy and was painted white. Peering into it I saw a clear liquid. Water. I wiped away the last of my tears and stood up straight. I had cried myself dry.
“I don’t want to do this.” I said shakily.
“I know.” said Deep Blue Robe Guy, “Drink. You need it.”
I nodded and lifted the cup to my lips. “I’m sorry for being so stupid and selfish.” I said. And I was. I hate being perceived as weak and idiotic even though I sometimes can be. I hated crying in front of people. I usually can avoid it but with all of the terrible things that had happened, I wasn’t able to hold it in.
“It’s okay. You had a hard day,” he said, echoing my thoughts, “Now drink.”
I drained the cup in one gulp. Hey, I was thirsty. I had been doing a lot of running lately and apparently dead people still need nourishment.
I glanced around for a few moments. “Now wha-” I suddenly felt very tired. My eyelids were closing on their own accord. My body was screaming at me for rest.
“You...You did something to it. You drugged it!” I managed. “I’m not sorry anymore!” I sank to my knees again and sagged against D.B.R.G’s legs.
D.B.R.G. laughed softly “Don’t worry. You need to rest. You will be fine. We will get you to a room to sleep in and recover. Your training will start tom--”
But that’s all I heard. After that I fell into a much needed, dreamless sleep.

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