It doesn’t matter if we are in the same squad. Only one of us makes it to the end.
They are all Gifted except for me. Spider mentioned my sister, and I could see Rei and Flint’s brows raise in surprise. They didn’t expect me to have ties to the Commandant. By the end of the day, they’ll know my surname and my story. I don’t care to make friends with people who value me based on my upbringing.
At least the other girl is silent and keeping to herself. She knows as well as I do that there is no room for friendship here.
“I know your name,” Flint says, leaning forward to whisper. “I just didn’t want to be creepy.”
“Too late,” I say. “And I have a boyfriend.”
The lie slips easily from my tongue. He throws his head back, laughing.
“Relax,” he says. “I’m just making conversation.”
“I don’t trust you,” I say.
“That’s probably smart, but if you haven’t noticed, nobody likes you. You could use an ally.”
“Aren’t we forced by circumstances to stick together?”
I point to where we all sit. Orion’s squad is on the opposite side.
“That makes us allies by default,” I finish.
Flint leans down. “Rei doesn’t like you much. Might even kill you to get ahead. And Kaia isn’t much of a team player.”
“Well, I’m not a team-player either,” I say. “So, bugger off.”
Knox speaks loudly, capturing our attention.
“Today you’ll fight one-on-one,” he says, “No powers. No weapons. No mercy.”
My stomach knots.
A bell clangs.
Pairs are called at random before I hear my name.
“Mercy Warrick fights Rigel Rye.”
I tense. Rigel is tall, broad, and confident. A beast compared to me.
“You got this,” Flint whispers. “Don’t let his fists land.”
Rigel’s grin is lazy and smug when I enter the circle. There are shallow red lines that are meant to keep us within. The shock barrier will zap us if we pass it. Rigel is a Sonic who can transmit a sound so painful that it can shatter one’s eardrum. I stuffed my ear with a noise-cancelling earbud I borrowed from Spider in case there was a fight that allowed powers. But looks like I won’t be using it today.
It is better to be over-prepared during these challenges than to fail. Because failure means death.
“Lucky me,” Rigel says. “I get the little mouse.”
We circle each other. Fear curls low in my stomach, but I keep it pressed down. Sullivan always picked opponents who matched me in physique and strength. He didn’t just pick the biggest guy in the place and pair me off. It is clear to see that Ender wants me to suffer.
I risk a glance up to see him watching us. His hands are coiled around the bars, boots planted apart. I can’t read his expression, but I know he must be satisfied to see me so nervous. He gets a perverse kick out of watching me get my ass handed to me.
My hands are wrapped in gloves. I stuffed a pair of razors in the fabric last night in case I needed them. There is nothing in the rules about fighting dirty. When they all outpower me, I have to think strategically.
Rigel is overconfident and slow on his feet. I’ll have to use that to my advantage.
He lunges without warning. One minute, that mocking smile lingers on his lips, and the next, he’s dashing at me like a man with nothing to lose. I pivot and duck, barely keeping my balance. His fist grazes my side, and I bite back a grunt. My ribs are still sore from yesterday.
