Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen novel Chapter 398

Major Morris stood there, speechless. In a swift motion, he snatched the evaluation form, his eyes darting across the paper multiple times. Finally, feeling utterly defeated, he slapped the form against Commander Dirk's chest and stormed off, dragging his trusty military dog behind him.

Commander Dirk watched Major Morris's retreating figure, then turned his gaze to Eileen. "Why aren't you back in line?" he barked.

Eileen quickly jogged back to her place without a word of protest.

It was late, and Commander Dirk didn't have much to say. He gave a few brief instructions and dismissed the candidates to their dorms.

The next morning, a bus rolled up right on schedule to ferry the three hundred-plus candidates back to the academy. The grueling three-day joint examination had taken its toll, so the school, showing a rare touch of humanity, granted everyone a half-day off.

At lunchtime, Una, having lost a game of drawing straws, headed to the cafeteria to fetch meals for the whole dorm. Returning with the food, she couldn't contain her excitement. "I heard only twelve people got cut this time; the rest of us are safe!"

Eileen, nimble as ever, swung down from the top bunk, snatched a meal box from Una, and claimed a prime spot to devour her food. Her speed was almost supernatural.

Nana, accepting her meal, remarked with a satisfied grin, "Teamwork is power, just like the Captain always says. Eileen, we owe you for most of us escaping the cut this time!"

Eileen didn't respond, too busy devouring her meal like she hadn't eaten in days, the meat disappearing from her plate in the blink of an eye.

Olivia sat down next to Eileen, pushing her own meat towards her friend. "Slow down, will you? It's not a race."

"I've got places to be!" Eileen retorted, making short work of Olivia's offering too. In two minutes flat, her meal box was empty.

With a few stray grains of rice stuck to her face, Eileen wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, ignoring any semblance of decorum, and dashed out.

"Where's she off to?" Una wondered aloud.

Nana shrugged. "If you're curious, go ask her. Not even the campus dogs can catch her."

Una corrected, "They're called K9s, you know. Even the dogs made it to the academy, and here you are, still struggling."

Nana: "..."

Olivia suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right."

Una and Nana turned to her expectantly.

Olivia rummaged through her drawer, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. "Yep, it's Coach Darcey's lunch hour."

The academy's lunch break lasted an hour. At precisely twelve-thirty, the stern Training Officer's Office welcomed two unexpected guests.

Coach Darcey, fuming, dragged Eileen by the ear, shoving her towards Commander Dirk.

Eileen clutched her ear, trying to make herself as small as possible in the corner.

Coach Darcey demanded loudly, "Whose student is this?"

All the other officers in the room turned their eyes to Commander Dirk at the center desk.

Having found the culprit, Coach Darcey launched into a tirade. "Your student! Imagine, in broad daylight, she breaks into my office with a wire!"

Commander Dirk stood, frowning. "Surely there's some mistake?"

"Mistake? I was inside and saw her with my own eyes!" Coach Darcey roared.

Eileen mumbled, "Why weren't you at lunch? You usually go at this time."

Coach Darcey snapped, "I wasn't hungry, okay?"

Eileen: "..."

The room fell silent, the male officers suddenly finding urgent business elsewhere, leaving the space significantly quieter.

Commander Dirk, unable to escape, sighed tiredly. "I apologize. I'll see to her punishment."

Coach Darcey huffed, casting a final glare at Eileen before storming out.

With Coach Darcey gone, Commander Dirk turned a stern gaze on Eileen. "Why did you break into Darcey's office?"

Eileen's head hung low, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to surprise Coach Darcey."

Commander Dirk: "..."

"Tell the truth," he demanded through gritted teeth.

Reluctantly, Eileen confessed, "My foster father passed away..."

Commander Dirk blinked in surprise.

The two remaining female officers also paused, taken aback.

They moved to Eileen's side, offering comfort. "When did this happen?"

Eileen sniffled, "Fifteen years ago."

Female Officer: "..."

The Principal looked over at Dirk. "You didn’t tell her?"

Dirk, his expression unreadable, replied, "Nope."

Eileen looked at Dirk, surprised.

The Principal asked, "And why not?"

Dirk shrugged, "Didn’t want her getting too excited."

The Principal just shook his head, then turned back to Eileen. "Since you missed the Belmont Global Film Fest, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have both expressed a desire for you to attend the Oscar Film Festival opening. You see, despite the glitz and glamour, this is more than just show business. The cultural exchange through film has been a weak spot for Crestonia for decades, and we’re trying to change that."

Eileen took a moment to process this, then nodded eagerly, "I understand, Principal!"

The Principal nodded approvingly and instructed Dirk, "Get her the paperwork for her time off."

Dirk nodded and was about to lead Eileen out when the Principal let out a sudden, "Oh dear!"

Both Eileen and Dirk turned back to him. The Principal's face was still wearing that amiable smile, but Eileen couldn’t shake the feeling that his sharp eyes had just flicked over her. The Principal was rubbing his back, and with a seemingly innocent tone, he added, "Sorry, old back injury. I wonder who it was that messed up my spine, hmm?"

Eileen gulped silently. Dirk said nothing.

After parting ways with Dirk, Eileen headed straight back to her dorm room. Una, her roommate, looked up as she entered, about to say something, but paused when she saw Eileen’s anxious expression.

Una asked, puzzled, "What’s up with you? Something happen?"

Eileen plopped down on the chair, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Nothing much, just ran into someone terrifying."

Una blinked, confused. "How terrifying?"

Eileen swallowed, "The kind that smiles at you while holding a knife behind their back."

From the top bunk, Una queried, "I’ve always wondered, what does it really mean to smile with a knife behind your back?"

Eileen glanced up at Una and thought for a moment. Then she demonstrated, "It’s like this: hahaha...knife...hahaha...knife...hahaha!"

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Author's Note:

If you spotted the knife, give us a thumbs up! (The author nervously babbles, worried readers might miss the knife amidst all the laughter).