Chapter 276
[October/November – 5 months later]
“Again!” I shout picking my sorry ass up off the ground. Mina and Lillian both come at me with pure
hatred in their eyes. We’ve been at this for hours, but I can’t seem to figure out how to get through
the two of them.
We have progressed through training to the point where we are each given secret instructions by a
leader and we have to follow through with our objective while also trying to figure out and stop our
opponent, or in my case opponents, from completing their task. I moved onto multiple opponents a
few weeks ago when I was able to subdue Warrior Nickolas and complete my task.
I’m not the only one, but I was the first. Ever since the attack at the beginning of the summer I have
been more focused on training. I never want to be the weak link again. I could have died because I
wasn’t paying attention just hanging out with my friends.
Lil and Mina won’t let me just hole up in my room or the study room when we aren’t training, much
to my annoyance at first. It was so bad at one point that they got permission to bring Sierra to the
compound to ‘talk’ me out of acting stupid. I say talk loosely, because she dragged me outside and
proceeded to kick my ass until I pulled my head out and started fighting back. Then she brought the
other girls in and it was three on one. We spared until we were all on the ground laughing and
Sierra reminded me that I needed this too. I need friends and to relax so when I do fight my head is
fresh and clear.
“Seriously?! I don’t think I have a body part that doesn’t hurt right now.” Lil whines at me. “You do
realize that training ended an hour ago right?”
“And we have been doing this exercise for four hours.” Mina chimes in. They are trying to distract
me so they can either get past me to just get a break. I’m thinking it’s the latter.
“I want to figure this out.” I say a bit whiny to my own ears. “I don’t like leaving things unfinished.
And besides, if we are in a fight like this, our attacker isn’t going to give us a break, no matter how
long we’ve been fighting.”
“We don’t have to leave this unfinished, just on pause. We both have homework and we all need to
eat. There is no point in getting injured in training because you don’t know when to stop. We also
have to meet with Warrior Brogen and Warrior Nickolas in twenty minutes. You know they will both
be pissed if we are late. Even if it was to complete this crazy ass battle assignment.” Mina says
looking at her phone. I hadn’t even noticed she walked away from us.
“Fine.” I grumble as I walk over to where our stuff is. “Let’s go shower and change, then we can
grab something to eat on the way to their offices.”
We were ready in record time and arrived at the building that housed all of our trainers. I discovered
it a few weeks after getting here. It’s set on the opposite side of the obstacle training grounds, so
you would never see it unless you are like me and need to understand your surroundings
completely. Which means being nosey and wandering around getting a lay of the land. On the
outside it looks the same as our building, modern white and black and very grand. The inside is all
dark wood and cabin feeling. It is so much more homey than the utilitarian style we have. But that
does make sense since most of these trainers live here full time, unless they are on assignment.
We walk into the entryway and ring the bell, signaling our arrival. No trainee is allowed past this
room without an escort. It’s the one way they keep a solid line between their personal and
professional lives.