Waking up, I found myself in a kind of hospital bed. It was a well lit room which I could see the roofs of Middle-Eastern houses. I sat up in the bed and the lashes across my back stung as my bare back brushed against the bed-sheets below.

After a while, I got to my feet and walked over to the window, trying to see where I was situated. It didn't look particularly familiar, no distinguishing landmarks in sight. It could be anywhere. I turned and walked slowly over to the door, opening it, then making my way down the stairs. Halfway down I met someone who must have been on their way up to see me. He looked at me with wide eyes then ran back down the stairs shouting for someone.

After a bit, three other people came up and ushered me back into the room, closing the door behind me but not locking it.

I stared at the door slightly irritated that I was meant to be bed bound. I wondered where Marco was, the only man I actually knew here. There was a full length mirror in the corner, I decided to check the extent of my injuries. It wasn't a pretty sight. Thick red lines scattered across my back and some seeped slightly as the torturer had applied force enough to break the skin.

No matter however. These would heal in time, I had always been a fast healer anyway...

The door was opened slightly and a small man peeked his head round.

"Sorry about that... We can't let you wander around this facility freely."

I lifted a hand and nodded.

"I understand, do you mind telling me where I am?" I spoke formally yet sharply, as I was slightly pissed off.

"I can't I'm afraid. You must stay here." He turned to leave but I ran towards him. I wasn't going to give up this easily.

"I have to see Marco. Take me to him now."

I grabbed the man's shoulder tightly, he seemed intimidated.

"I-I don't think I can. You must stay here."

I squeezed harder and twisted the man round to face me.

"I am not taking no for an answer. I will not sit here oblivious to everything that is happening anymore. I want answers and I want them now. Take me to see Marco."

By now I had lifted the man slightly and pushed him against the wall, his feet barely touching the ground.

"Okay! Okay! Just put me down! Please!"

He struggled a bit so I settled him on the ground once more.

"Thank you. I would also like some proper boots. These shoes are terrible..."

He nodded frantically and waved for me to follow as he ran down the stairs. I strolled slowly after him, taking care as I went down the narrow staircase.

The stairs led to a huge room filled with many people talking to each other in small groups, the room was filled with smoke and a hum of people talking. As I entered the room however and people began to notice, this noise stopped altogether and all eyes turned to look, either at me, or the man who had led me downstairs.

The small man looked around at everyone in the room and was about to speak before I interrupted.

"I will see Marco."

If the room had been quiet before, it was now deadly silent. There was no noise. Nobody moved.

I started to walk to the end of the room to the door on the other side. Nobody tried to stop me, the small man ran to my side and kept his head down. I felt all gazes in the room fixated on me as I went past, some looking at the scars all over my back but most looking at my face. I ignored their eyes. I was determined to speak with Marco no matter what.

-------------

He was a sorry sight.

His side was bandaged up but blood stained it thickly. He saw me as I entered and propped himself up on the pillows smiling at me but looking worried.

I reached the bed and stood next to it with my arms crossed.

"What the hell is going on here Marco?"

He looked at my face and gulped.

All the calm-and-collected persona he had had before seemed to be gone now. I struck fear into his eyes and that pleased me. He twitched and spoke to me.

"I'm not sure where to begin..."

I sneered and replied harshly,

"Yes, that's what happens when you lie so much. You forget what is truth and what is false."

He shook is head and talked again.

"No, not everything I told you was a lie. Most of it was true, the thing is I work for-- I mean.... I worked for two agencies. M16 you knew, and the other was a small rogue group I was forced to join along with many others in this building. We didn't like how they worked things out there, so we destroyed them."

I took all this in, face staring at him blankly. I didn't know what to believe.

"When we escaped, I was supposed to meet up with one of my friends. But he was held prisoner in that camp we were in. The explosion you saw was to get him out and let him escape. I heard nobody was killed and only a few injuries."

My face continued to hold the same, blank expression. I asked him.

"You didn't think you could tell me this before you tranquilized me?"

He put both his palms on his face and shook his head.

"That, I regret.... If I hadn't tranquilized you then nothing else would have happened. You have a right to be angry."

My upper lip twitched. Angry? Hah. Of course I was... wasn't I? I felt myself believing him... I wanted to hurt him and yet... I trusted him. I spoke to him again.

"When can I leave this place?"

He took his head out from his palms and looked at me.

"Leave? I'm not in charge here... We are all going to get reissued again soon enough by the British army."

I froze. What?

Back to fight again?

I paused and looked at Marco with my head tilted to one side. He shrugged and said.

"Be glad they aren't ordering your execution."

He was right. After a few weeks, we were all ordered to return to the battlefield and fight for Britain once again.

At least I got some new boots.