As we walked, I took in my surroundings.
Ahead stood a utilitarian building. Its architecture was barrack-style, long and narrow with a low, sloped roof and a door at the front. Identical structures spread out, lining the grounds in neat rows. They weren't much to look at, but unlike the living quarters in Falcon City, these were freestanding and self-contained. Each unit had its own entry, walls, and small patch of space.
Behind me, a much larger, modern-looking structure stood out from the barracks. Sleek lines, reinforced glass, and polished steel glinted in the night. It was clearly the center of operations here and probably housed medical, science, fitness, and the mess hall.
What struck me the most was what wasn't there.
There were no chained link fences, no barbed wire, no guard towers, like there had been in Falcon City. The only things that surrounded the compound were trees, as far as the eye could see. At first, it felt peaceful, open, and free.
But then, as I gazed into the canopied woods, an eerie feeling overtook me. The forest was still, too still. Nothing moved, not an animal, or even leaves in the wind. Motionless branches stretched into the night sky like claws. The forest seemed cursed with a dark spell that lingered in the air.
“There’s no fence… Don’t you worry about those things… I can’t remember what Killian called them. Direhogs?” I asked Cade as I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt.
“They’re called direworgs. And normally, no. They used to stay far away from the base and the wall. There was no need for a fence.”
“And now…?”
“Now there is. Before Command transferred us, the science department had been prototyping a new fence. While we were in Falcon City, they installed it around the perimeter of our campus. It’s invisible, buried under the ground. You won’t see it, but it’s there.”
“If you can’t see it, how is it a fence? How does it keep those creatures out?”
“I don’t know exactly how it works, just that it does. Humans can cross without even noticing it. The systemrecognizes our signatures. But when a creature tries to cross, it’s neutralized. If the tests go well, the plan is to run the fence along the entire wall, so all of New Arca will be impenetrable.”
We had reached the building, but I halted. “Why are you telling me this?” I asked as I shrugged his hand off my neck and turned to him.
“What do you mean, Rowan?” Cade said in an irritated tone.
“You never tell me anything. I’m always in the dark when it comes to the details. Why did you just tell me all of that?”
Cade’s expression darkened, his tone sharpening with an edge of gravity. He leaned over me, tilting his head down, as I craned my neck upwards to meet his narrowed eyes.
“Because you need to know.”
A chill went up my spine at the seriousness in his voice. He went on:
“The Border Front is not like Falcon City. There are things out here that can and will kill you. You need to know everything. How things work here, how to defend yourself, and how to stay safe. You need to listen and learn. What happened in Falcon City cannot happen again. Do you understand?”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
"Good."
That was always Cade’s signal. One short, clipped last word. Conversation over.Wonderful talk.
His hand returned to the back of my neck as he turned me toward the stairs. We climbed together, moving in sync. As we reached the entrance, a keycard swipe on the exterior caught my attention. That was standard enough, designed to keep unwelcome visitors out. But then, as we passed throughthe threshold, I saw the second one mounted on the inside, just beside the handle. This one keptmein.
I sighed as he swiped his keycard and typed in a password, shielding the keypad with his hand. The door clicked shut and locked. He turned back to me with a smug expression, holding up the keycard before sliding it into his pocket. The message was simple. No one trusted me anymore, and for good reason.
I rolled my eyes at him, surveying my new home while he busied himself unloading a few items and tidying up the space. Cade was a neat freak, and it was obvious Ryker, Talon, and Killian had already moved in, unpacking like a whirlwind.
Boots lay scattered by the doorway, disassembled gun parts littered the kitchen table, and a half-finished drink sat on the counter. A pack of Ryker’s toothpicks sat beside it, along with an unopened pack of cigarettes, even though I didn't think any of the guys smoked. A few mission files and stray pieces of comms gear were tossed across the couch cushions, and a pair of tactical gloves lay crumpled near the TV stand. I was sure Cade’s OCD was driving him to pick up before the mess got too far out of hand.
I tried to get back into Cade's good graces by helping to tidy, moving the cup to the sink and sliding a few stray military manuals back onto a bookshelf. I could feel his eyes on me, so I turned, expecting one of the soft smiles he had once reserved only for me. Instead, his face was stone, his expression unreadable.
Despite my many apologies, he still wasn't thrilled with me.
At least he was speaking to me, unlike his brother.
As I continued to clean, I investigated the quarters. The furniture was nearly identical to the furnishings in the Falcon City apartment: a simple black leather couch and armchair,a wooden dining table with chairs, and a TV atop an entertainment center. It was as if Arca had a checklist and furnished all enlisted quarters with the same basic items.
