“His teeth, huh?” I say skeptically.
Damian tuts. “You don’t believe us? Have fun finding out the hard way. He has no morals. Though I guess you’ll need someone like him to carry your ass through the trials.” His eyes flash with the threat. They really think I’m getting a free ride with Cameron. That must mean they don’t know that he specifically kills his partners. They just think he’s deranged in the way he kills his targets.
Bree chuckles at his jab. Honestly, Damian is the least of my worries, I’m more concerned about Bree and the way her eyes don’t give away any ideas or plots she may be devising.
Changing the subject, I ask, “Do either of you know anything about the metal door down the hallway from the barracks?” They’ve probably been down here for a while, so one of them should know something.
Damian’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. His hair is slicked to the side with sweat. Our breaths are loud between the three of us as we jog around a corner. “I’ve only heard rumors that some soldiers went in there a few weeks ago and never came back out. Why?” He studies my features like I’m withholding information.
“Just wondering. I accidentally went the wrong way this morning and found it… But back to the trials. Anything specific I should know since I came in late?” I inquire.
Bree sighs as her eyes turn cold and her expression goes flat. “They really didn’t tell you anything before dropping you in here, did they?” she says, almost sounding sorry for me. I shake my head. We round another corner for the last lap. “The missions they send the Dark Forces out on are highly dangerous, and theydon’t have time or resources to waste on the criminals who can’t keep up. So before the graduation they hold the Under Trials. From what we’ve heard, it’s a set of three obstacle courses, and all of them require us to try to kill each other.”
I swallow, looking around at how many other recruits there are. There must be around a hundred of us. This sounds like it will be utter chaos.
“What happens after the trials? General Nolan told me there were only four squads. There’s not enough room on them for what’ll be left of us, is there,” I say more as a statement than a question, taking into consideration that the squads are probably made up of less than eight soldiers each.
Damian chimes in. “The death rate is high. Almost three new recruits are needed monthly to replace what’s on the existing squads. Sometimes soldiers are promoted to officers, but it’s been awhile since the last one. Those who are left over get recycled here. ” He nods at the men in uniforms holding M16s as they watch us do our rounds. “But you already have your destination set, don’t you?” His eyes narrow with his wry smile. I don’t miss the way his gaze flicks to Cameron.
I deflate.I’m going to be killed by my own squadmate.“Yeah. I’m Mori’s new partner.” The words come out before I can stifle them. My hands fly to my mouth, and Damian’s eyes flicker to Bree’s with satisfaction.
They just fucking played me.
“There’s the confirmation I was looking for,” he says in a gleeful tone that makes my jaw tick. “Wait until the others hear about this.”
Bree giggles at his words, but all I feel is hopelessness.
A whistle rings through the air and we come to a stop, trying to catch our breaths. I ignore the two of them the best I can, fuming at myself for spilling.Cameron was right, I have loose lips.I groan at the thought.
“Don’t beat yourself up. Our specialty is getting intel out of people.” Damian winks like this isn’t life or death for me.
Bree grins. “We need to prove ourselves any way we can. They’re always watching, and they’realwaystaking notes on our strengths. So don’t let yourself be so easy to manipulate,” she lectures like she’s actually trying to help me out.
I can’t really be upset with them when I’m the one who needs to sharpen up.
These two are going to tell their buddies and soon the whole Under will know. We’ll be the main targets.
My gaze finds Cameron’s from across the room. He’s going to be annoyed that I just made our predicament harder.
The drill sergeant shouts over everyone and orders us to get into our lines. The cadets move with instinct, knowing exactly where it is they’re to go. I get lost in the frenzy, but find a spot between two people before a hard hand grips my shoulder and pulls me back.
“This is my spot,” a man snaps and takes my place.
I look around the group, everyone is in perfect lines.Oh God.Cameron never told me where I’m supposed to stand. I frantically look for him, but don’t see him against the far wall anymore.
“Go to the back,” Damian hisses from a few people over.
I turn on my heels, heading to the back when my nervous gaze shifts to Drill Sergeant Adams at the head of the group. His dark brown eyes find me quickly and he blows his whistle so loud that it rattles through my bones. “You, come here right fucking now.” His voice is booming and sends a chill down my spine.
Eyes from every direction dart toward me. I carefully weave between bodies until I’m standing before him.
“What’s your name, Cadet?” he snaps. I stare at the ground with my hands fisted at my sides.
“Emery Maves, sir,” I say much softer than I was going for, but my voice won’t steady. Adams is even more horrifying up close than he is far away. His baseball cap is low, casting shadows over his dark brown eyes. His black tactical jacket is sharp, the gold insignia of the Dark Forces clipped to his armband and another to his chest. Deep scars line the side of his neck, I try not to stare. How is he even alive after something like that? I swallow.
“Cadet Maves, are you having a hard time finding your place here?”
That’s hardly fair. “Um…I haven’t been instructed?—”
