He stormed after the android, and Gemma placed her fist over her heart.
Sobbing punctured the silence in the dormitory, where only fifty contestants now remained. Gemma lay curled on her bed, trying to calm the agony in her heart. What they were forced to do to Alfie was unforgivable. If roles were reversed and her teammates had voted her off instead...
She squeezed her eyes closed, unwilling to imagine the level of heartache that would follow.
The doors to the dormitory burst open. Gemma dropped her face into her pillow, groaning as the Kaizen entered.
“Oh, cheer up,” she said. “Comrades die every day in real life. You should be thankful you’re still here.”
Gemma grasped her pillow so tightly her hands hurt. If she ever got the chance to punch that woman in the face...
“Now, you can either lay in here like the milksops you are, or you can go find your testing room and practice for your final two tests,” the Kaizen continued. “And based on what I’ve seen so far, every one of you desperately needs the practice. Your choice.”
Gemma frowned as the Kaizen stormed out of the room. Shedidneed the practice. What Alfie had said about her was true. The Dissent never showed her how to use a firearm; she’d only sparred with other members a few times; and she was barely taller than sixty-two inches. Shewasthe weakest in the group, physically.
Hawk’s appearance startled her. “Sorry,” he apologized before speaking to both her and Christian. “I don’t know about you guys, but I could use the extra training.”
“You can’t be serious,” Imara said, popping out of nowhere. “We’re literally getting a chance to rest.”
Hawk crossed his arms. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not wasting a chance to make sure I pass the Trials. I haven’t seen my parents since I was two years old. I’m not failing this thing.”
Imara’s eyes softened as Gemma’s chest pinched. She’d had eight years with her parents and, though remembering was bloody painful at times, at least she had memories.
She couldn’t imagine not knowing from which parent you got your eyes, or your hair color, or your sense of humor. Gemma looked so much like her father but had her mother’s personality. Those were things that would always help her remember them.
Her heart ached for Hawk.
“It’s not a bad idea,” Christian said, interrupting the contemplative silence. “I could certainly use the practice.”
All in agreement, the four of them waltzed to Colton’s bed and were met with an exaggerated eye roll. Yet, he wordlessly climbed off his bunk and followed them from the dormitory.
Minutes later, they were inside their sleep chambers, and the world around them brightened.
Gemma’s eyes widened as they raked over the environment. The training course was unlike anything she’d ever seen.
They stood in a room that resembled a miniature version of the gladiatorial stadium in Capital City, its floor glowing in shades of cyan and cerulean, but with mirrors for walls. A massive rack of weapons towered before them, loaded with munitions from medieval Earth to those used today. A boxing ring was sectioned off with blazing white ropes, and fitness equipment lined the far wall of the room.
“I take back what I said about wanting to relax,” Imara proclaimed. “This is gonna be awesome.”
Approaching the weapons station, Gemma glanced down at what she was wearing. This time, her black outfit was skin-tight and glistening like metal, but it was weightless and fluidly moved with her.
She squinted, running her fingers along the soft fabric. It was similar to the cast that had been on her arm.What in the blazes is this made of?
“Basaltweave,” Christian said, as if reading her thoughts. He reached around her to grab a pair of throwing knives. “Hard as metal but easy to fight in. Incredibly expensive, though, which is why you won’t see many people wearing the full suits.”
Gemma turned to ask how he knew all that information, and her cheeks burned. His suit was as tight on him as it was on her. Every one of his muscles was on full display. He was trim and athletic, carved from the very stone they mined on Reva.
She redirected her gaze before he caught her gawking. Swallowing, she grabbed one of the rifles along with an extra box of ammunition. The first time she’d ever held a firearm was in the sim against the Dissent. If she wanted to pass her Trials, she needed to learn how to use it.
“I can teach you to shoot, if you want,” Christian said.
Gemma’s stomach flipped. Inthatoutfit? That was a precursor tonotlearning how to shoot.
But there was no better marksman in the room. Learning from himwouldbe the wisest choice.
She nodded, avoiding eye contact. “I’d like that. Thanks.”
In a blink, a gun range appeared out of nowhere. Colton swore as it materialized around where he stood.
