He offers me his hand to help me to my feet, but I ignore it, because I don’t need it, but also because I’d slice his skin, giving away my secret.
Rigelcouldsnitch, but I think his pride wouldn’t allow it.
He’s a Gifted, even with blades tucked in my gloves, he should have won. They presume to be superior to us in every way that counts.
Rei stumbles past me, glaring at me like I am to blame for her loss.
“I hate this!” she yells. “Why can’t we use our powers? We have to make ourselves smaller soshehas a chance to survive.”
I grit my teeth and ignore her. I won’t waste my breath on petty squabbles. I intend to make it to the end and prove that they are wrong.
Rei stomps off when she realizes I don’t plan on engaging with her.
The day drags on in a haze of rounds. Blood is spilled, and a few teeth are knocked out in the process. I win some, I lose some. I surprise and disappoint myself.
I see Flint using his long legs to evade punches, Rei moving as quickly as the wind, and Aric overextending and paying for it. I study each of their strengths and weaknesses, storing them away to pick apart later.
By late afternoon, the room is littered with bodies.
Hunger gnaws at me, and the fatigue threatens to pull me under.
Ender approaches me as the others slump against the floor, struggling to pick themselves up.
“Nice knives,” he says, eyes darting to my gloves.
He walks away without admonishing me for cheating, which is a small blessing.
I glance at Flint, who lies across the mat, nursing a sprained ankle. He meets my gaze with a lopsided smile. Perhaps, it wouldn’t hurt to have an ally. I don’t need to trust him; I will just lean on him when needed.
I nod in acknowledgment, making his mouth rise into a full-blown grin.
“See you tomorrow?” he asks.
“Not like I have a choice,” I say. “We’re stuck in this hellhole. Until one of us wins.”
As I leave the drill hall, bruised and bleeding, I understand what Ender is building.
He’s designing killers.
Not just strong or capable soldiers, but predators.
I’m too exhausted to trek to the main mess hall, even though I want to spend time with Sora. Instead, I head to the dining facility in Block A. The room is small and mellow. Only five narrow tables are there, lined in a neat formation.
Orion and Clover sit at the one closest to the door. Aric and his team are sitting on the opposite side. They are nice enough to let Rei sit with them even though she’s not on their squad. Kaia took her food and disappeared to her quarters, which is a wise idea. I would follow suit, but I don’t want anyone to think that I am afraid.
“Mercy,” Flint calls. “I got you a seat.”
The food in Block A is noticeably better. There are real cuts of meat instead of just gristle. The rice is cooked properly instead of clumped and chalky, and the stew is thick and fragrant rather than watery. There are even sweets laid out on our trays: littlepots of pudding and raspberry-filled biscuits dusted with sugar, a rare indulgence in a place like this.
My stomach rumbles at the thought of stuffing my face.
“Why don’t you sit with the others?” I ask Flint, eyeing Aric’s table.
“Aric is cruel, and so are his friends,” he says. “The way they treat you and the other Commons is not right.”
“You might be the second decent Gifted I’ve met.”
Knox is the first.
