Why do I have such a weak team? “And why is that?” I ask, trying not to shout.
“I would hurt her.”
“So what?” I shout. “Everyone else will hurt her too. Whatever we are about to fight against, whoever we are up against will also hurt her,” I say, full of fury. “And if you can’t defeat this, here, what they’re putting us through, how the heck are you going to protect your twin out there?”
I look away from them, doing my best to not get angry. “Luke,” I call.
He and his group are running laps. They completed the course in one try with none of them falling, and in less than five minutes. His group rocks.
He jogs to my side. “Yes, Ky?”
“I need some brotherly advice. He,” I point to Gabriel, “says he cannot fight his twin because he doesn’t want to hurt her. I want your group to fight my group.”
Luke, intrigued, smiles. “My group would love that.”
Facing my team, I announce, “Since Gabriel refuses to fight me or his twin, all of you will now fight against Luke’s group.” Angry faces glare at me. I smile at them. “We do not know fear! That was cowardice. I do not have cowards on my team. We’re champions! If you cannot accept a challenge no matter who it is against, all of you are failures, and I will not allow us to be failures.” I raise my voice, and ask, “Are you not Creations? Pain is in your mind. You push yourself to the very ends. Luke, have your group fall in.” I step back as his group takes his sides.
“Each of you,” Luke instructs, loudly and stern, “will fight against Kylie’s team.” He steps back. “Diminish fear. Exploit pain. Strengthen the weak!”
“All of you will be fighting. This will be a fight to your last. Your twin may not be available to heal you. So remember that when you are possibly getting pummeled,” I say as Luke and I step a few feet back, giving them the space they need.
“Ready?” Luke starts.
Luke’s group came ready. They each move away from the person next to them, waiting on my group to approach. Jesail and Amber are first, and the others fall in.
“Begin,” I follow.
They fight, none of them holding back.
“Why is your group a bunch of puny bitches?” Luke cackles.
“My entire group isn’t puny,” I defend. “But they do need a few doses of courage. Thought if I had someone beat the crap out of all of them at the same time, it would fix that.”
“Yes, but only half of your group is weak. What your second group did was kind of cool. But the first half, you need to work on them.”
“I know. This is step one in the ‘work on them’ plan.”
“Got it. You know my group is going to beat the shit out of yours, right?”
I rest my hands atop my head and stretch my back. “I’m hoping for it. I’ve tried everything. I was nice, we train, we work hard. They were finally able to complete the obstacle courses, but the mock wars are killing them. It shouldn’t be this hard.”
Someone screams, and I search for the complainer. Weakness. I shake my head, running to Megan.
She looks like her leg’s broken. “Are you hurt?” I ask. She nods. “Good. Do you ever want to feel this pain again?”
“No, Ky. Never.”
“Then never allow yourself to be beat again. Alex,” I call for her brother. “Come help your twin.”
He rushes to her aid and heals her with ease. Megan stands, putting her weight on the leg that was broken, testing it out. As she examines herself, I tell Foster, Luke’s group member, “Make her scream again until she no longer feels pain.” I face Megan. “Or until you are able to make him scream.” That’s harsher than I’d prefer to be, but we need to make these changes. “Everyone else can stop. Get your twin healed and step aside. Foster and Megan, in the center.” Foster marches off first. Before Megan passes, I grab her arm. “Don’t fail.” She yanks her arm from me. They meet in the middle. “Ready. Begin,” I shout.
Luke comes to my side. Foster punches Megan so hard her head jerks back. She’s slow and takes too long to retaliate, giving Foster the opportunity to land blow after blow.
“Why is she such a slow fighter?” I ask.
Luke rubs the back of his neck. “She needs to be trained.”
“What do you think I should do?”
“When my group does well, I don’t praise them, and I continuously make them work. They’re never still, and there’s no rest until our day is completed. We run rounds, daily competitions where they have to battle each other.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed that.” When he stops, his team continues. Either with pushups, jumping jacks, or running in place. They’re constantly training until the end of the day. It’s the reason he’s at the top and his team never lets him down. “I didn’t want to be that hard on them.”
Luke snorts. “You think you got to be as good as you are because I wasn’t hard on you?” He shakes his head, leaving my side. “Foster!” he commands. “Finish that. Everyone else, fall out.”
Foster takes Megan by the arm and punches her so hard her body hits the ground. He nods once and shakes his arm out before running off to catch up with his team.
I rub the back of my neck, pointing to Alex. “Heal her,” I say sulkily, disappointed in Megan. “Everyone but you two are done for today. Enjoy your evening and your day off tomorrow.”
Megan climbs to her feet and limps over to me. “Alex and I are Creations, born by Breeders, engineered by Kebel for the second wave of our generation. We were looked over and didn’t respond to many calls to trainings. We spent most of our time learning the histories of our land—our country—before and after the invaders. We never trained; we were never called for management like many of you were. Our strength is knowledge. It’s not combat or weaponry.”
“And you never expected to be drafted off to Separation or uphold your duty as Creations? They didn’t create us for our knowledge.”
“Our Breeders thought they could persuade them and allow us to advance to the First City, and we would provide help for the environmentalists and those technologists monitoring extraterrestrial activity.”
Nodding, I ponder my words before I say, “When you fail, I fail. When we first met, I explained, I am not a failure. I do not fail. That word will not be associated with me. Everyone failed. You failed and embarrassed me and yourselves. As a Creation, you understand what is expected of you. We don’t have dreams, aspirations, or desires to do anything but what is required of us. You are ordered to be in shape for any fight from now on. Respond!”
“We understand,” the twins call out.
“I will personally do what I can to help you get there. I’ll teach you everything I know,” I promise.
“I will do better. I will show no weakness. I will not fail,” Megan barks.
“Never fail, never show weakness, and better—your best—is never good enough. We’re done for the day, you two. Spend your day off tomorrow studying up on hand to hand combat and advance weaponry. Should you ever be called to use those weapons on your hips, you want to make sure you at least know how to handle them. The ability to defeat our worst enemy, fighting for our country, and living to do it again is our purpose, nothing else. I need you two ready to work your hardest.”
They run off to the houses, hopefully knowing this is not another instance they can slip through the cracks; this is the nitty gritty. Those two were created for one thing, and they are worth more than this entire base. To think our leaders would allow them to do anything other than be soldiers for this land is foolery.
I head back, needing to cool off from how angry they made me.
“Kylie,” Jord calls. I’m dreading this talk with him. He catches me in the doorway of our house. I run to the middle of the dirt road where he stands.
“Sir!” I stand at attention.
“Your group fighting Luke’s group,” he starts calmly. “What was that about?”
I hesitate before answering, “They showed weakness, they were failures,
and they revealed their cowardice.”
“And you couldn’t fight them?” he questions with doubt.
“They refused.” I avoid eye contact, although his stare drills through me. “That was their cowardice. One coward, all cowards. Luke’s group is ready and willing, and I needed to show them how they should perform. I have been light on my group.”
“You have been light on them. What is your plan?”
“Change.”
“Change is good,” he agrees. “You only have a week to make them as strong as you are. If your entire group cannot complete that minor course, they need to be diminished. You know what we are up against. Fear, weakness, hesitation, and lack of confidence will not be acceptable.” He steps back and continues, “You, being who you are, that should not be a challenge for you. If this is something you cannot handle, we clearly have the wrong person in line for the female leader and should be considering someone else.”
“That is not necessary, sir,” I say, meeting his eyes. I don’t often stand this close to him, where I’m close enough to make out his purple eyes, like Marc and Sean’s, and see how extremely smooth his chocolate skin is, as well as the scar over his left eye.
“Prove it,” he says and walks off.
Goodness, I thought yesterday’s training was stressful. This day is no better. I have never looked forward to an off day more than I do now. In my room, I shed my suit down to my tank and shorts and split for a quick shower. I’m not leaving our house, not even for dinner. I will eat something small from the little fridge in the kitchen and kick back for the evening.
Thinking of relaxing compels me to think about Marc. When he wrapped his arms around me, I revealed to him my weakness. Nothing but a girl in a man’s world, weak to the inconveniences of life. A girl, ready to fight against something I don’t understand. For once, I don’t know; I only understand I was brought up to follow them and live by their order.
Megan has me thinking. Why would they assume they could have any other purpose but the usual purpose of a Creation? We aren’t supposed to question it or why we are obligated to fight for something we know nothing about. The Premier and Guidance of The America do not require the Creations to know the history, although Luke and I do. We were forced to know the history of this planet, the country, and the development of Creations. We needed to know what we were up against and what bodies we would be securing for the Vojin.
Chapter Nineteen
It’s quiet. The sun’s setting, and I have the entire house to myself.
My room here now feels like my room back at my aunt’s house, but it’s harder for me to withstand alone. It took me years to tolerate my room at home alone and to even sit upon my bed. Now, here, as I stand on the floor in the middle of my space, my skin crawls. My fears are sneaking up on me.
Diminish fear, Ky.
How do I diminish this fear? The only thing I fear is the only thing I cannot face. Even to the point where it disturbs my sleep. Why must we possess such human emotions if there’s no solution to them?
“Ky, you’re here?” Cory calls as I’m walking back down the stairs. I want to turn back to my room, but I won’t. I don’t need Luke to stand up for me, and I won’t run away from someone or something that makes me uncomfortable.
He waits on the landing, staring up at me. “Hey. You okay?” He rubs the back of his head and drops his gaze to the floor. “Missed you at dinner,” he adds, meeting my eyes with concern twitching in his. It’s a look I’m quite familiar with, one I possess when Luke goes off on a rant. He bottles it well, until the bottle fills and pops like the cork of a champagne bottle—spewing out his emotions in a hateful rage, like the bubbled fizzy contents in it.
“I am fine,” I say, passing Cory.
“You sure?” he asks.
“Yes, Cory,” I snap, irritated by his interrogation. I head for the den but stop and turn on my heels to face him as I ask, “Why were you in my room the other night?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“But why?”
“I thought we were going to talk. But instead, I ended up talking to your brother,” he grumbles.
“There’s an entire house to wait for me in. You should not have been in my room.” I say, pointing at him.
He widens his stance and crosses his arms. “Is there something wrong with me waiting in your room?” His gaze floats over my body, starting at my shoes and continuing up to my face as if those emerald eyes were x-ray beams, making out my curves under my clothes.
I cross my arms, wrapping my hands around my muscles to shield myself from his vision. It shouldn’t cross my mind, but I could kill Cory. Though it may not look good if I murder my superior, I could definitely do it.
Cory’s on my heels as I continue into the den, calling, “Ky, wait a minute. The other day, I know I took it too far. I’m sorry that your brother saw that, but you didn’t stop me, you didn’t pull away.”
“I should have.” I roll my eyes, keeping my back to him.
“But you didn’t. You wanted it like I did. You were just as into it as I was,” he warbles, inching closer to me.
He’s only doing this out of curiosity, not attraction. I was trying to understand the interaction, and now I see. He was too prepared and maybe too advanced, and I was not as knowledgeable as I should’ve been about his actions and that kind of embrace. And he was the only boy I’ve ever kissed. Maybe I didn’t stop it, but that doesn’t mean I wanted it.
“You’re avoiding the core of the matter here, Captain. Why were you in my room? That’s forbidden. You’re clear on the rules, and that’s crossing a line. Not just for Separation, Cory, but my own comfort rules,” I say, jabbing a point against my chest.
“We wouldn’t have stayed in your room, Ky. I just thought it’d be okay to meet in there.” He grabs my hand, and I snatch it away.
“Back off, Cory. This is not what we are here for. I’m over it. I have no interest. Let it go.”
“You sound like your brother.”
“There’s a reason for that.” I should sound like my brother; he’s who I learn from. He’s why I’m here, and at the point of death, he will be the only one to save my life. “You crossed a line, and I have nothing else to say to you.”
“There’s nothing between us?” he asks, coming up behind me. He doesn’t touch me, but I can feel how close he is by his warm breaths thrashing down on my collar.
I whip around and shove him back a foot. “We were never anything more than a curious touch. An interest.”
“You are more to me than an interest as you say. I wouldn’t use you like most of them do here.”
I cross my arms and throw my weight on my left foot. “Then what?”
“Again, Ky, I missed you. My touch is a touch. And our innocent kiss was just that.” He grabs my hand and drops down to his knees. “I’m sorry. I swear it.”
I eye him, chewing on the corner of my bottom lip. His voice is soft while reassuring me with truth. Cory was never the type to take advantage, not the boy I remember. When we were home, he was always sweet, buying me white shakes or sitting around with me while I’d wait for Luke to get back from an event. And he was kind, there for me when I needed to vent about my aunt to someone other than Luke. It may be because of our past, why I was so darn comfortable with him. Why did I allow his innocent yet aggressive kiss and unpretentious touches? He tries pulling me to him, and when I don’t budge, he stands and steps forward. Holding him back with my forearm, I order, “Don’t.”
Luke and Marc are coming in at the same moment. Their eyes are pinned on us, and the silent curiosity in their stares couldn’t be louder.
“What’s going on here?” Luke asks.
“Nothing,” I answer him. “Cory’s leaving.”
“Good,” Luke responds.
Cory clears his throat and reaches for my hand again. “So, that’s it then? What you said?” he asks.
“Don’t think I can be clearer, Cory.” Regardless of how sof
t his green eyes are, how sweet his smile is, or how he always manages to say the right thing, I will not lose my footing for Cory. And I won’t forget that he was in my room without my permission.
“Fine, Ky. I greeted you with a hug. Can I dismiss myself with the same?”
Luke steps in front of me before I can decline. “No. Dismiss yourself by walking out of here.”
Cory stomps out of our house, slamming the door behind him. Luke pats my shoulder and he heads off to the stairs.
Once we’re alone, Marc and I face each other, a part of the day I’ve been waiting on. His scarf sits around his neck, ready to pull over his mouth and nose if needed. He lacks his headgear, and his hair waves around his head, wet from the heat. He looks rough in his suit. It’s mesmerizing.
“You staying in?” he asks.
“Yes,” I answer, hoping he will want to stay in too.
“Okay, I’m going to change, and I’ll be back.” He rubs behind his ear before running his hand through his hair. “If you don’t mind company,” he follows, looking away from me, his gaze falling to the floor.
I start to object and push my request for a hug away. Looking him over, covered in red dirt, I swallow it and nod. He turns and, as usual, I watch him walk away, still curious but even more immersed. I pull my eyes away when he makes it to the stairs.
Chapter Twenty
On my way out of my room, I glance at the calendar hanging by the door. “Off Day” is written over tomorrow’s date in my handwriting. I throw my shoulders back and thrust my fists in the air. “Yes,” I cheer under my breath. “I’ve been waiting all week for this.” Everyone may stay out in the rec hall or in the corridors after lights out, and that means the house will be quiet for once.
I settle in the den, swiping my finger across the screen to scroll through the movies made available to us. Marc enters, clean, the hood of his hoodie pulled over his head and hands stuffed into his pockets. He sits in the corner of the sofa, slouching so comfortably, he could pass for sleeping. Turning back to the movie selection, I choose the fourteenth I land on, and it instantly plays.
Imminent Threat Page 15
