CHAPTER 10

ABIGEAL

WHEN I got off the last obstacle a full ten seconds ahead of Abel, everyone’s eyes were on me. I was used to being stared at like I was a freak of nature, but it didn’t stop me from feeling uneasy. “Is there a problem?”

Warren cleared his throat. “Miss Starr has set a record of finishing the gauntlet in 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Let’s see who’ll beat that.”

Oh.

The gauntlet? We’d had similar in the military and my division especially used to challenge each other on the obstacle course for fun. I could walk a balance beam with my eyes closed. The consequences for failure here were more extreme, but all I had to do was not consider failure as an option and I was good to go.

“Superwoman.” Abel chuckled as we walked back to the line.

“Shut up.”

I crossed my arms and watched as the rest of the people went through the gauntlet, shook my head as I mentally assessed them.

Poor form.

Balance issues.

Lots of hesitation.

Lack of creativity.

But who was I to judge?

At the end of it, when the sun slanted and cast shadows over all the equipment, there were just ten of us left. The rest walked or were carried off in varying degrees of pain. I looked up and noted that my target had left.

“Alright. It’s getting late so you will proceed to the mess hall and then to the dorms. You will be filled in on the last stage tomorrow.” Warren said, putting down his tablet for the first time today.

The bus came around and as I stepped up to enter I felt someone shove me out of the way. Regaining my balance I looked up to see a girl with streaks of purple in her black hair sneering down at me. “Move, pet.”

“That was unnecessary and you know it.” Abel said before I could open my mouth. “If she’s got a problem with it, let her open her damn mouth. Bitch’s been spoken for all day.” She replied and, with another spiteful glare at me, boarded the bus.

Abel made to go after her but I held him back. “Let her be. It’s not worth it.” I muttered and took a seat. It was just Abel and I and one other dude on this aisle of the bus while the other seven were on the opposite side, all muttering and glaring at me like I’d killed orphans and bathed in their blood.

I ignored them. I had a task ahead of me, and I’d step on all their heads if it got me there no matter how many outraged glares I got.

After dinner we were shown to one of the dorm buildings and the sight of the bunk beds hit me with so much familiarity my ears started to ring again. Abel and I picked a bunk and I sat on the lower, unzipping my bag to pull out shorts and a tank top while I steadied myself.

“You okay? You went a bit pale.” I heard him ask when the ringing faded.

“Yeah. I’m good.”

I lay awake for most of the night as usual, hearing snippets of conversation before all went quiet. As soon as the sky started to lighten I got up and went outside. Not a person was in sight, not a sound disturbed the stillness.

I took a few deep breaths, then started doing some warm up exercises. I had no idea what the day would bring, but I’d rather be prepared for anything. I was in the middle of stretching my hamstrings when I heard a scoff beside me.

I ignored the purple haired girl from earlier and moved on to the next pose. “You really think you’re better than the rest of us, don’t you?” she said.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I replied, still facing forward.

“Your name wasn’t in the list yet you stayed because the higher-ups said you should. You fell from the gauntlet yet you’re still here-”

“Because I was sabotaged.”

“You mean because he stepped in for you. What’s so special about a coward who can’t even fight her own battles?”

“I would appreciate some peace and quiet.”

“You don’t deserve peace and quiet.”

My brow arched at this and I turned to face her. “What’s your problem with me exactly? Did you decide you wanted to pick on somebody and chose me? Or is it because I’ve beat you and everyone else at everything so far?”

Even in the gray light of dawn I could see her face flush. “Bitch, who the fuck do you think you are?” she snarled as she stepped up to me.

“Abigeal Starr, and I’d advise you to back up.” I replied calmly.

Tension swirled around us, and I could see from her body language that she was about to take a swing at me. The question now was, do I sidestep or do I allow it so when she was carried out on a stretcher there would be evidence she started it first?

We heard the footsteps at the same time and turned to see a man in dirtied overalls looking back and forth at us. There was an unlit cigarette in his mouth and he fished around for something in his pocket. “Y’all look like you’re going to kill each other.” He spoke around the cigarette.

From the uniform he looked like a construction worker. We said nothing as he lit his cigarette, took a long drag and blew out smoke. “Well go on then. Although there’d be plenty opportunities for you to do that later.” He continued.

“What does that mean?” the purple haired girl demanded, but unfortunately the man decided he was now deaf and shuffled off humming a tune and chuckling to himself.

I started to walk away and she yelled after me. “Hey! I’m not done talking to you.”

Lady, we’re done if I say we’re done. I didn’t say anything as I continued to walk away and when I got far enough from her I stretched some more and set off in a light jog, increasing my pace a little after every few minutes so that by the time I circled back to the dorms I was in a full sprint.

By this time everyone was up and heading towards the showers so I followed suit. There were towels and soaps provided in each stall along with a shower cap. I dried off quickly and dressed in black leggings, a sports bra and a sweater.

When we were all done we exited the building and found Warren waiting for us with his tablet as usual. “Good morning, candidates. I trust we all slept well. Please proceed to the hall for breakfast and get your energy up. You’ll need it for what’s to come.” He said. Was that a little smirk on his face?

“I don’t suppose your connection has told you what stage four is.” Abel said from beside me as we filled our trays with food in the hall and walked to a table.

I shook my head, then told him what the construction guy had said that morning. He nodded, listening intently.

“Plenty opportunities to kill each other. It sounds like we’re going to be going one on one. Worried?” He asked me.

“No. Why would I be?”

“Because Christa over there looks like she can’t wait to get her hands on you, and not in a sexual way.”

Christa? I turned in the direction he was looking and, surprise surprise, it was the purple haired girl.