Was that an insult? Did he see me as weak? I am not weak. I could end his life in seconds if I wanted to. I have taken down men twice his size, yet here he was, calling me weak. He has some nerve to think I am weak. I am not weak. After spiralling all night, I needed to clear my head, so I came to the one place I can always do just that: the training sector.
“I think the target died twenty bullets ago.” Bella smirks, standing beside me as she racks back her gun, loading the chamber before firing the bullets.
“I needed to clear my head,” I admit quietly. The shooting range is the one room where there is no audio on the cameras.
It’s too loud for the guards to listen to over the sound of the guns, so they removed the audio.
“Rough target?”
“You have no idea.” I take out the magazine from the pistol before racking back the slide and releasing the final bullet in the chamber. Throwing the empty gun back on the table and grabbing something bigger, I repeat the process, reloading the magazine and pulling back the bolt before raising the barrel and firing.
“Lauren told Kylie. Why do you always get the fun ones?” Bella laughs softly before emptying the chamber of her gun.
“He’s in my head, which is impossible to do.”
“Clearly not, if he’s managed to do it. Come on, let’s go get lunch before training.” Bella doesn’t wait for a response as she takes my gun and clears it before dragging me out to the main area of the training sector.
It’s a pity we’re in The Academy; sometimes I think Bella and I could’ve been good friends outside of this. But it’s pointless to dwell on a life we will never live. Both our walls go back up as we walk to the dining sector.
“PX-3,” a guard calls from in front of us, his bulky tactical gear doing nothing to protect him from the seventy-six trained killers surrounding him. I straighten my back instantly.
“Yes?” The guard’s hand trembles slightly as he reaches for his holster. Fuck, they know.
“Come with me.”
Bella stops walking, but doesn’t look at me. I feel her worry even if she doesn’t show it; being called by a guard is never good. Being called by a guard while he reaches for a gun? It’s a warning. I am about to be punished.
Without argument, the guard who looks like he’s about to piss himself and I walk towards the office of Major and Madam. I catch myself finding the weak points in his bulletproof vest to pierce my knife through.
Bulletproof vests are great in theory, but don’t do much up close. Their job is to protect the vital organs, yet the head and neck are left unprotected. Leaving three areas open to my interest: his neck, ribs, and groin. Although a stab to the groin won’t necessarily kill, it will absolutely hurt and disable for a period of time. The mental image has my lips curve into an unwilling smile before remembering exactly where we are going.
The walk to the office is quiet other than the rustling of the guard’s tactical uniform. Madam and the Overseer stand behind the desk, watching me.
I knew this would happen.
Wolvrin managed to delay the mission report until this morning on the basis that he was worried about Lauren and me being pushed to exhaustion, and for some reason, they accepted it.
“Something funny, PX-3?”
A shiver runs down my spine. Her voice is cold yet almost excited to find a reason to put me in the chair.
“Just mentally picturing my next kill, Madam,” I answer honestly. They can’t punish me for being who they trained me to be. And I love what I do.
“Mission report for last night,” Overseer interrupts, and I don’t miss the glare from Madam.
“PX-28 and I entered the building at 20:03. The target was not immediately in sight, so PX-28 and I split through the room to cover more ground and find him. When I found him, he was outside smoking a cigarette and was on a device; I did not see what he was doing.”
Overseer nods. “Did you engage the target?”
There’s a pause before I answer. I know I disobeyed orders, but Lauren could be killed if I tell them exactly how much I engaged with the target.
“Yes, sir, I spoke to him.”
“And what did you talk about?” The Overseer's voice has gone deep like it does when he’s angry. I would beg to stay out of the chair, but after yesterday, I know I need it. I disobeyed orders. Punishment brings order, Madam always says, and I believe her.
“Nothing of value, sir. He insinuated I was weak, and I argued with him. That was all.”
Overseer nods before turning to the two guards standing by the door. I didn’t even notice. They walk up behind me, taking my arms and leading me to the elevator. I don’t fight as they lead me up to the ground floor and strap me down to the chair.
