I nearly shrank back from the accusation in his tone. “Yes,” I said slowly, nodding. “And I would have liked you to meet them.”
“Why?”
My eyes opened incredulously. “Why not?” Shaking my head, I swallowed back the acid words threatening to pour out. “Do you want to sit with us for breakfast? You can meet them- Aurora and Finn and Cirrus.” As I said the last name, a flicker of something passed across his face, but I couldn’t discern what it was. A moment later Rowan shook his head. “No.” A hesitation, and then, “I have to go.”
And I stood there, staring at his back as he walked away. The boy who was my best friend, my only friend, less than a day ago. And now was acting like someone who could barely stand to be around me.
What was going on?
✽✽✽
I stalked into the cafeteria, a cascade of emotions roiling around inside me at the same time and I didn’t know which would win out. Anger at Rowan, confusion and hurt at the way he was acting, and nervous anticipation about what lay ahead for the day.
Grabbing a tray filled with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and a bowl of oatmeal, I walked over to the same table I sat at yesterday. This morning I had planned to go over to Rowan’s group and introduce myself, maybe eat with them.
Well, that was definitely not going to happen now.
Finn was the only one seated when I arrived.
“Morning,” he mumbled, his mouth filled with bacon. After taking a huge swallow, he looked at me and gave a smile. “How are you doing?”
I sighed and stabbed at a chunk of egg, the cheese dripping off in globs. “Nervous,” was my one-word reply, choosing that emotion. It was a lot easier to explain than the others.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. It’s awful, having no idea what to expect.” He shook his head in frustration, then went back to shoveling in another mouthful of food. Clearly, nervousness didn’t affect his appetite.
I glanced back over to the entrance, wondering where Aurora and Cirrus were. If they didn’t hurry up, they wouldn’t have much time to eat before we had to meet in the arena.
But instead of seeing Aurora and Cirrus in the doorway, my eyes landed upon the guy from Fire Society instead. It was difficult to believe he was only seventeen with how tall he was. He didn’t notice me this time, instead talking to a blonde male from his Society, who was, while slightly shorter, still massive. Both wore gray shirts and black pants. Somehow, he appeared just a tiny bit less menacing when not wearing all black. They walked off to a table in the corner, sitting down with several other trainees from Fire Society already there.
A moment later, Aurora and Cirrus arrived. She was dressed in a gray tank top and pants now and while her hair was made up into another elaborate braid, it no longer had any embellishments woven in. She looked a little miffed.
Finn apparently noticed as well. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, gazing up at her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing really. I just don’t feel like myself in these clothes. I need some time to get used to it. That’s all.” She paused, gazing around as the three of us stared at her, the dropped her tray onto the table and pulled out a chair. “Really, I’m fine.”
They both sat down, but while Cirrus quickly scarfed his down his food, Aurora just picked at hers. Even though she claimed she was fine, anyone could easily tell this wasn’t the case. And something told me it might not just be the clothes that were bothering her.
✽✽✽
Ten minutes later we stood in the arena, waiting while the final trainees gathered inside.
Rowan filed in a moment later, along with the same people he ate dinner with last night. I waved again and he returned it, but only for a second. Staying with his group, he came to a stop on the opposite side of the room.
Glancing around, I spotted Ivy on the other side, talking with several girls. Then again, here I was with Aurora, Cirrus, and Finn surrounding me. It seemed like each of us had already found our own niche here.
Both Eden and River stood on the platform next to each other. He leaned towards her, whispering something. Though he looked pretty much identical to yesterday, she had pulled her hair back into a high ponytail and now wore a long gray dress. As they pulled away from each other and Eden turned to face us, I couldn’t help but notice how River continued to watch her. There was something in his eyes, an emotion I couldn’t decipher.
I blinked and it was gone, dark eyes as steely as ever as he turned to face us.
The final few stragglers walked in and River cleared his throat. A hush fell over the group immediately.
“Today marks the start of the Training. In four weeks, it will conclude. You have only that short amount of time to prove yourselves. Everyday you’re here, we’re testing you. Take advantage of each moment that you have to learn as much as you can and then have your performance reflect it.”
River scanned the room with an intense glare. “You will now head to your first lecture with Eden. Later today, the first physical training sessions will begin. You will learn both combat and stealth skills, as well as skills designed to help control your emotions. Soon, the first practice challenges will begin. Do as well as you can at these. The better you perform on them, the more likely it is you’ll be successful at the final ones.”
With that, River slowly stepped off the platform. Giving one last look over his shoulder at Eden, he exited the arena. A moment later she stepped down, her gray knit dress swishing around her. Again, it hit me how much she didn’t look like the other people I’d seen here so far. Tucking a blonde lock behind her ear, she motioned us to follow.
Five minutes later we were seated in a classroom. I stroked a finger along the wooden desk, feeling its grainy texture. Aurora took the seat behind me, and Finn was to my left. Leaning forward, Aurora whispered, “And so it begins.” I gave her a weak smile. “No going back now,” came my not-so-witty reply.
Eden cleared her throat and all eyes turned towards her as she smiled. “I want to explain in a little more detail exactly what River meant about the particular training you will receive during your time with us.” She paused, her eyes sweeping over us. “For the next couple of weeks, you will have training sessions every day. These are to prepare you for the four upcoming challenges that will decide the course your life shall take after you leave here.”
Eden picked up a small black device and clicked it. A large screen slowly rolled down in the front of the room. A moment later an image of the four Societies and how they connected appeared.
But…this was different. In school we’d learned it was like a pie, each Society encompassing a quarter of the whole. But there was more now. With this depiction, in the very center of the pie was a large circle, its edges connecting with a segment of each Society. A second circle was drawn outside of the pie, up and to the left. There were murmurs of confusion and I knew I wasn’t the only one who’d noted the difference.
But instead of explaining, Eden just advanced to the next image.
“The first challenge will be the Intellectual Challenge. This will be a written test to quantify the amount of knowledge you gain while here. Second will be the Stealth Challenge. For this, you will be required to avoid detection as you make your way through passages filled with lasers, motion detectors, and other obstacles.” The projector now showed a picture of an aerial view of a monstrous maze.
“The third challenge will be the Combat Challenge in which you will fight against one of the trainers here. It will include weapons as well as hand to hand combat.” I could feel the horror growing on my face. Avoiding lasers was one thing. Weapons and physical combat were something else entirely.
But Eden was still talking. “And lastly is the Emotion Challenge. This will ensure that you don’t allow your emotions to get in the way of the primary goal.”
Those last words had me confused. What was the primary goal?
“While the final challenges are individual and will be private, the practice challen
ges beforehand will be witnessed by the entire group of trainees.” She looked around, an encouraging smile spreading across her face. “Don’t worry. Before even the practice challenges begin, you will have plenty of time and enough training to learn everything you need to be successful.”
We spent the rest of the morning discussing more specifics of what each challenge would entail. And as we came to the end of the session, Eden announced that over the next few classes, we would be discussing each individual Society and the differences between them in detail.
Maybe now I’d finally learn if the rumors I’d heard about Fire Society were true.
✽✽✽
After a break for lunch, we headed back to the arena to start the first of our training sessions – stealth training.
Walking inside, I was stunned at the transformation of the huge room. Towering walls had been erected, sectioning off areas of the enormous space. Some had laser beams shooting out of them to the wall across. Others had what I assumed were motion detectors, attached to various points along their top edges. There were obstacles to climb over and others to go under. And along one full side of the arena were ropes hanging from the top of a wall at least twenty feet tall. The entire set-up was completely intimidating.
River stood center, waiting impatiently. Trainers were scattered throughout the room at the various stations. Approximately ten of them, dressed head to toe in black, gloves included. Among them stood the two I’d met yesterday, the sallow-faced frizzy-haired woman and the man with the spiked black hair and sunglasses.
River looked around at all of us, his face rigid as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
He scanned the group, his narrowed gaze especially unnerving.
“I will repeat this only once. It is crucial that you use this time to prepare for your last four days here, the days of each final challenge. It will determine which Division you enter and thus set the course for the rest of your life.” His jaw clenched, eyes flashing. “Do not think of this as a game, or you will sadly realize your mistake once it is too late.”
With that, he motioned another trainer forward.
“This is Flint. He will oversee your training sessions from here forward.”
Though Flint must have been around sixty years old, he looked as physically fit as a man half his age. His thick muscles bulged, making up for his short stature. His bald head gleamed, and his face looked like it was chiseled from a stone. Every part of hm seemed hard, rigid.
“The next time I see you will be at the first practice challenge. Do not disappoint me.” And with that River shot us all a look that said his words were more of a threat than anything else, then exited the arena once again.
A familiar raspy voice boomed through the air and my eyes widened. Flint. He was the one who had dragged me from the train into the arena yesterday. My arm was still sore from his strong grip. I rubbed it gently as he continued to speak. “This afternoon is stealth training. You will change into the specified outfits, then spend your time working on the various obstacles that have been set up. The trainers are here to assist you. Take advantage of their help and advice now, as you won’t be receiving it later during the challenges.”
I wondered how helpful the trainers would actually be. My limited experience with them wasn’t encouraging.
He motioned to a table at the side of the room piled with a mass of gleaming black outfits. “Go change and get to work.”
But before we could disperse, a hand shot up into the air. The briefest hint of surprise colored Flint’s face, but he just nodded his head in the direction of a girl with short black hair that sloped sharply upwards, the very back shorn close to her scalp. “Yes?”
“What are we going to really be expected to do here?”
There was a beat of silence.
“What do you mean?” asked Flint slowly, brows narrowing.
The girl pursed her lips. “What I mean is why do we have to do this? Why do I have to learn stealth exercises? Why do I have to engage in hand-to-hand combat? Why are we being forced to train here? To come here?”
A frown appeared on Flint’s face and his shoulders stiffened. “You are doing this because it is a necessary requirement to determine what Division you will enter,” Flint replied, his voice flat but eyes sparking with annoyance. “Now everyone, get your outfits and…,” but he was cut off by the girl.
“That doesn’t explain anything. What would I end up doing that I need to know stealth and combatant skills? What is the purpose of all this? And what do you mean by Division?” Next to her, a girl with curly blonde hair tugged her arm, trying to get her to shut up, but it didn’t work as she just continued, “You just said we need to do it to enter a certain Division. What even is a Division?”
“You will be told when it is time.” Flint stared at her, menace simmering just below the surface, but the girl didn’t seem to notice.
“Our whole lives, we are not allowed to ask anything about the Training. And now, now that we are finally here, we still don’t get proper answers! What aren’t you telling us? What?!”
Her voice had grown shrill as she literally shouted those last few sentences. The blonde girl had let go of her arm and was now standing several feet away, worry etched into her face. The rest of us looked around in stunned disbelief.
My mothers’ voice echoed in my head. Follow the instructions they give you, don’t ask questions.
The trainers exchanged glances with each other. Flint’s body was frozen. A moment later, he straightened his shoulders and smiled.
A smile that sent an icy chill down my spine.
“What is your name?” he asked slowly, casually. Too casually.
Tilting her chin up in what I could only describe as defiance, the dark-haired girl spoke. “Raven.” Raven. Had to be Air Society. I nudged Aurora. “Do you know her?”
Aurora gave a brief nod of confirmation. “Not well, but yes. I’ve seen her around.”
Flint licked his lips, that smile widening just a little. “Well, you know what, Raven? You’re right. We haven’t told you everything that is going on.” His voice sounded odd. My heart began to pound inside my chest.
“I think the best person to answer those questions for you would be River. I’m sure he would be very interested in knowing what you want to ask him.”
He motioned to two of the trainers standing nearest us and they moved forward.
Raven paled, her face instantly revealing she’d only now realized the foolishness in what she’d just done. “I’m not sure..,” she stammered.
“I think you should go with the trainers now to see him,” Flint said more forcefully.
The two trainers came up on either side of her, taking ahold of her arms.
“Wait…wait I didn’t mean…,” Raven said, her voice panicked, but they just continued briskly escorting her out of the arena. The blonde girl who’d been standing next to her just gaped, eyes wet with shock.
A moment later, a side door opened and the three of them disappeared through it.
Flint cleared his throat and all eyes turned towards him. “I assume there are no more questions,” he spit out, glaring at us with lethal eyes. Complete silence.
When no one said anything, he ordered, “Then go get your outfits on and begin. You have three hours of supervised training today.”
Stunned, the group of us silently moved towards the table of clothing. Even though I didn’t know her, I hoped they wouldn’t punish Raven too harshly. She’d only said what everyone else had been thinking.
What everyone else knew enough to not ask out loud.
Grabbing one outfit for myself while passing another set over to Aurora, we headed into the female changing room, and proceeded to struggle into them
The material of the suit was so tight, it clung like a second skin. I could only get it a few inches up my legs with each tug. Sounds of struggling in the stall next door told me Aurora was having just as difficult a time.
“Are
you having as much trouble putting this on as I am?” she called breathlessly a moment later.
“Probably more.”
It took nearly five minutes to squeeze into the suit. When I finally emerged, and looked in the mirror, my mouth dropped open.
The girl in the reflection was dressed head to toe in black. An ebony hood covered her head, concealing the dark curls straining against it. Matching elbow length leather gloves along with spotless boots completed the ensemble. The only part of skin showing that let me know the person in the mirror was still me was a small circle cut out for my face.
A lock clicked and Aurora stepped out of the adjacent stall. Her jaw dropped open as soon as she saw me.
“Wow. I think I understand now why they call this stealth training.”
Nodding, I returned her smile. Realizing the time allotted to change was nearly over, I moved to the doorway. “Come on, we have to go. Otherwise Flint will mark us as his next targets.”
Immediately she reached out and grasped my arm, clutching tightly with her gloved fingers, her normally cheerful face suddenly serious. “What do you think is going to happen to that girl? Raven?”
The memory of what just happened replayed in my mind. “I don’t know. I hope they aren’t too hard on her.”
We walked back into the arena. Aurora caught her breath, raising an arm to point across the room. Cirrus hung suspended in the air, clutching onto a rope that he’d looped around his waist. As we moved over to him, he slowly lowered to the ground, expertly using the small footholds carved into the rock wall to maintain his balance, not faltering once. By the time we reached him, his feet had just touched upon rubber mat on the floor, face flushed with both the effort and exhilaration of his success.
“Cirrus,” I managed, shaking my head in surprise. “How did you do that so fast? It looked like you’ve done it a thousand times.”
Awakening Earth and Fire: Earth and Fire Trilogy Book 1 Page 7
