Chapter 5
A water canteen dumped into Ava’s pack.
Her bootlaces cut.
Her training gloves missing before a timed rope climb.
A false report claiming she froze during night navigation.
Every time, Derek had a perfect answer.
Every time, Ava had no proof.
Until Hayes stopped asking questions and started watching.
Captain Bennett played the footage on a tablet.
Nobody spoke.
The first clip showed Derek crouched beside Ava’s gear before morning formation, pulling one strap halfway loose on her rucksack.
The second showed him whispering to two other soldiers before the obstacle lane.
The third showed him looking straight toward the instructors before kicking Ava into the mud.
It was not accidental.
It was planned.
Derek’s mouth opened.
No sound came out.
Captain Bennett turned the tablet off.
“Private Cole,” she said, “you assaulted a fellow soldier during a live training exercise and attempted to sabotage her performance.”
Derek shook his head.
“She’s making me look bad. That’s what this is. She’s been trying to prove something since she got here.”
Ava stood slowly.
The medic tried to stop her, but she stepped forward anyway.
“I wasn’t trying to prove anything to you,” she said.
Derek laughed once, bitter and ugly.
“Right. That’s why you act like you’re better than everybody.”
Ava reached into the collar of her uniform and pulled out the silver chain.
A small ring hung from it.
Old.
Scratched.
Military issue.
May you like
The laughter died before it began.
Read Part 6 to discover whose ring Ava had been hiding under her uniform.
