A moment passed, before he shoved me backwards.
“You pass,” his voice cold as ice, his eyes seemed darker than ever.
I should’ve been glad about it, but the way he faced me made me doubt my own feelings. Wasn’t it good that I had passed the test? Or was it that he had been ready to throw me away but I proved him wrong?
I straightened myself, letting my arms fall to my sides, staring right back at him.
The corner of his mouth twitched, before he chuckled low and threatening, like he was a starved beast.
“Back in line,” he threatened with his voice sharp as broken glass.
I nodded, before I raised my chin at him and walked back towards the group. Heat lingered in the air—I always got so worked up while training. But once I was back nextto Ashley, I was finally able to breathe normally again, my skin cooling quickly.
Whether it was because of his first two passes, or that the others weren’t as resolved, I wasn’t sure, but after my sparring with the Sergeant, other recruits kept losing. Rohan sent them flying to the ground, pinning them down, even choking a few, until they surrendered in fear.
He seemed more aggressive, as if every pass he allowed fueled him into wanting to stop the next person from succeeding even more.
I glanced at Ashley, she hadn’t been called up yet, I wondered how she felt about witnessing it all unravel in front of her, while simply waiting for her turn. Her icy blue eyes seemed vacant, empty, as if there was nothing of interest in her view.
“You okay?” I whispered, nudging her with my elbow.
Her eyes snapped to me, shifting in an instant. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Right,” I shrugged. “You’re never scared?”
Slowly, her eyes drifted to the one sparring against the Sergeant. “There is nothing scarier than not making the cut.”
I was in no position to argue, there was nothing but certain death waiting for those who failed.
“Fair point,” I muttered.
Another girl fell to the floor, as Rohan placed his arm across her chest, pinning her against the floor. I glancedaround, restlessly… where was Lionel? Why hadn’t he come back yet?
“Maybe he failed,” Ashley murmured.
“What?”
“Your friend… or perhaps he was assigned to another task?” her voice was so calm, I could barely believe it was the same person who had been in the first trial along with me.
“He’s mentally fine, but I guess he’s good at calculating things…” I crossed my arms, pondering the thought. The idea of him failing the health tests was simply out of the question, if I passed, he would have too.
“Ashley Briarsen.”
She was called forth, and instead of tension, she was radiating eagerness. A smile found its way back to her lips and her eyes almost glittered as she began skittering towards Rohan.
I had to remember to never get on her bad side, as I realised ‘Bomb Girl’ might’ve been her nickname for handling explosives at first, but I was starting to see other possibilities as well… She was fierce in a compelling way.
Rohan had nothing on her—shedancedaround his outbursts. All of a sudden, fireworks went off behind the crowd, exploding in a display of every color, startling us all. She had prepared them behind our backs and she took full advantage of the distraction as she wrestled him down. Once he regained his focus he was able to get out of her hold.
“Pass,” he hissed at her, irritated that another one had succeeded.
She grinned at him, all cocky as she skittered back to the rest of the group.
I felt bad for the next person who was up against him.
The doors swung open, and more potential recruits entered. Some looked promising, others thin like sticks, on the verge of starvation. What if he broke them in half while sparring?
I shivered at the thought of it, surely that wouldn’t beallowed.
