Outside the gates of the Basa Air Base, Miguel was thrown off by the two soldiers.
He hit the ground hard, his hands scraping against the rough concrete as he tried to catch himself. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs for a second, forcing a sharp breath out of him.
"Move," one of the soldiers said.
Miguel pushed himself up slowly, wincing as his body protested. He turned back toward the gates instinctively, eyes locking onto the towering barrier that separated him from the only safe place left.
The two soldiers stepped forward again.
One of them gave him a firm shove.
"Go," he said.
Miguel stumbled a step forward, then stopped.
"…You're really doing this," he muttered.
The soldiers looked at each other for a second.
Then one of them let out a short laugh.
"Listen to this guy," he said, shaking his head. "Still talking like he's important."
The other one chuckled.
"A man like you making threats earlier?" he added. "You really thought that meant something?"
