Please don’t do what I think you’re doing.My eyes skate over my messy cell. The mattress with blankets on the ground is unmade, and my desk in the corner has papers and books strewn carelessly across it like I have no class.
I wasn’t expecting guests.
A little heads-up would’ve been nice.I rub the back of my neck, flustered.
Nolan clears his throat and smirks at me. “Mori, I’ve decided to start having you meet your partners here in solitary rather than getting trained ones ready for the slaughter. Less time wasted, you know?”
Oh yeah, he’s pissed at me. Wait, did he just say my newpartner? My eyes widen as I take that information in, letting my gaze move back to the small woman beside him. She looks meek, standing uncertainly with her hands clasped together in front of her. I’m having a hard time picturing what someone who seems as well-mannered as her is doing mixed up in the business of the Dark Forces.
He pats the woman’s shoulder before shoving her toward me.
She gasps and stops herself before running straight into my chest. Our eyes meet as she glances up, having to tilt her chin to meet my gaze. Her supple lips are merely a few breaths away.
My jaw muscles flex and I slowly look up at the general. “Thisreallyisn’t a good idea.” My voice is low. He knows I’ll kill her in the next ten minutes if I’m left alone with her.
I simply can’t help it. I’m a twisted, fucked-up soldier, and he knows it.
Nolan shrugs and waves his hand behind his head as he mutters, “One day. That’s all you need to prove to me. That you can keep her alive for one night alone together, then we’ll progress with this girl.”
“But—”
“Shut up! I’m so sick of your bullshit, Mori. I’m not having any more trained soldiers wasted on you. You’ll be teamed up with anyone you don’t kill off right out of the gates. Got it?” Nolan shouts. His voice bounces off the walls, sending chills up my arms.
I nod, side-eyeing the small woman next to me. She looks so brittle with her slim bone structure. I think I could wrap an entire hand around her throat and—No. Don’t think like that.
“Good.” Nolan flicks his burned-out cigar at my chest. It falls to the floor, embers still burning orange at the tip. He reaches into his side pocket before extending his hand to me. I already know he probably has a few pills for me so I eagerly raise my palm to his. He drops three capsules; they’re black with little white font reading DF. It means they’re for the use of the Dark Forces only. We’re always the test rats for anything that’s being considered for the forces “upstairs.”
Supplements, weapons, trainings, you name it.
This is a batch I’m particularly addicted to and one that they are eager to put to final test trials. They want what every fucked-up military wants. Enhanced soldiers. This series dulls my sense of any form of pain. I can see better, run faster, do everything…well, better.
It’s fucking amazing. I roll the pills in my palm, staring down at them like they’re my salvation.
The only setback is that they make me fucking crazy.
Nolan considers me with a gruff look before he leaves. He doesn’t bother saying anything to the girl. The metal door slams shut behind him, and I’m left in the worst fucking scenario. Aneerie silence fills the void of the small cement room. I swallow the knot in my throat before turning to look at my new soon-to-be-dead roomie.
Her eyes are like two steeled blades. Distrust burns in them as she backs herself against the far wall.
“Stay the fuck away from me,” she snarls viciously. I can’t help but find it adorable. I mean for God’s sake, her hair is pink. She might as well be a little garden snake with a harmless bite. My eyes soften as I take her in, deciding that she’s too lovely to be in a place like this. She’d only get in the way like Titan did.
And look what I did to him.
I grin hopelessly. “I’ll try.”
3
EMERY
Adrenaline courses through my body.It’s been, what, two minutesmaybe,and this man is already leaned over the sink with both hands pressed to the sides while his head hangs with apprehension.
He’s acting like he’s already killed me, and there’s something so disturbing about that.
From what I just heard between Nolan and him, I gather he has a problem with murdering people. I’d even bet unintentionally by the way Nolan spoke.
Great.Isn’t that just my fucking luck?
I don’t think I’m going to find a way out of this one. He’s easily twice my size, and those cold, untrusting eyes make me uneasy. I swallow and contemplate my options while I study his movements.
