The next day she was up early. After the morning routine she took a device from her bag that looked like a black choker and put it on her neck. It had a smooth plastic surface and two tiny lights, one red and one green. The clasp clicked in place and the green light turned on with a faint beep. She fixed her hair and was ready to go.
"Remember, do not take it off!"
Bastian shuffled in the makeshift bed and looked up at her with a drowsy look and ruffled hair. Ina gave him a smirk.
"You sound like my mother"
"Ah, I mean-"
"You meant well and I appreciate that."
She giggled, crouched next to him and smooched his forehead. His cheeks flushed red immediately.
"I will keep it on, I promise."
"And don't forget to come over for lunch!"
He shouted after her when she exited the tent that they set up outside the gate. She nodded and waved at him.
The morning was sunny and warm, but the walls inside emanated cold. Ina went straight to the refectory where she could feel some traces of memories the other day. She took out a voice recorder from her pocket and turned it on, stating the date, time and place of her investigation.
After that she put it back and went along the table with a slow step, giving a gentle tap with her palm to each chair she passed by.
"No... no... no..."
She mumbled while searching for an "empty" seat. Funny, considering she was the only person there and all seats were empty. But that was in the present time, in the past however...
"Oh, this one."
She sat down and took a deep breath. The rough wooden chair was hard and cold. Once she felt comfortable enough she closed her eyes and concentrated. She picked up the sounds from the outside, the chirping birds and gentle breeze. Soon enough they faded away and there was a moment of dead silence before other muffled sounds crept into the picture.
Gradually it became clearer - chairs shuffling, the clatter of cutlery, many voices chatting, a laugh. The smell of food filled the air.
When Ina opened her eyes she was not alone anymore.
She was sitting among the soldiers from before. They were chatting in a good mood while dining like one big family. Ina looked at the faces across the table. A blond man with a ponytail talking to a redhead with mischievous smile, probably the loudest couple at this side of the table. Next to them a brown haired one eating quietly. To her left was a man in short black hair and droopy eyes, he reminded her of Bastian. And to her right was the blond man who locked his eyes on her before. Those deep blue eyes of a daydreamer. She stared at him for a while when the voice of the black haired man startled her, talking right next to her ear.
He was leaning over and offering some beer to the blond. She leaned back in her seat even though he couldn't see or touch her.
It happened again, they looked at each other directly just like yesterday, and Ina could feel her cheeks flush red. Even more when the blond's eyes went lower to her cleavage. She knew that he probably looked at the door behind them first and then glanced at the empty seat, but it still felt like he was checking her out.
"Where's Will? Isn't he eating with us?"
He asked the black haired man. She looked in his direction too.
"Don't worry, he said he'll be late."
As if on cue someone entered the room, looked around and went in their direction after spotting them. Most likely the Will they spoke of.
Ina rose from the seat and stepped aside and the man sat down. He seemed exhausted by how he moved and spoke. He ran a hand through his rough, serious face and sloppily slicked his golden blond fringe back, but it covered his eyes again. A buff man in a kitchen apron passed by and put a bowl of porridge in front of Will.
"Here, so that you grow big and strong, sonny!"
He said with a big grin.
"Seriously!? Look at him! He can't possibly get any taller and stronger!"
The redhead exclaimed and the men laughed.
Everything seemed okay, no one was yet aware of what would happen within the next few days.
Ina decided to walk around the room before ending the vision, unaware of the conversation that happened after she left.
"Will, did you see something move over there?"
The blond man whispered and nodded his head in Ina's direction. Both Joe and Will looked over.
"Naaah, you're seeing things again. No beer for you, Juli boy!"
Joe grabbed the jug from him and took a big sip from it.
"I wasn't talking to you. Will?"
He looked at him intensely. There was a pause before the golden haired man shook his head with a short "no" and continued with his porridge. Julian sighed defeated.
"Guess you're right."
Meanwhile Ina was at the door. The scene in front of her started to fade away until a blink later she was "back" to the present time. The room was as empty and quiet as when she arrived.
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