CHAPTER NINE

When I reach the barracks, I expect to walk into chaos, the same chaos I left behind.

However, the place has been cleaned spotless, and for a moment, I stand in the doorway, staring at the dark barracks, soft snores reaching my ears.

Did I dream everything?

It’s Sam’s gentle tap on my shoulder that has me blinking. His voice is amused, “Go on. You can still catch a couple of hours of shut eye.”

Hesitating, I make my way to my bed, and I can see Beth’s figure huddled under the blanket, her glasses on the side table, as she sleeps soundly. Even in the darkness, I can make out her face. She’s fast asleep.

The exhaustion of the day finally catches up to me, and I climb up on my bunk and pull up the sheets. The moment my head hits the pillow, my world descends into darkness.

***

It’s the tugging sensation on my foot which has me jerking awake.

“Wha—” Groggy and still desperate to go back to sleep, I half sit up, “What’s—”

“Wake up, Taylor!” Beth is pulling on my foot, her voice urgent. “We’re late! The ferry will leave in fifteen minutes.”

“What?” My heart is pounding now. “What ferry? Where are we going?”

It’s then that I notice the packet at the edge of my bed. “What’s this?”

“We all got one,” Beth pulls on a sweater. “It’s a map of the islands. It’s got labels and everything and ferry timings. Turns out we get to eat at the mess! Let’s go!”

I climb down the bunk and Beth hands me a cardigan. “It’s really cold outside. I opened your bag and folded your clothes as well. They’re in the drawer above mine.”

I give her a grateful smile.

I quickly wash up and find Beth waiting for me. A few of the kids have already left for the ferry.

We’re all tired and subdued as we make our way to the ferry. On reaching the harbor, I blink. “That’s not a ferry.”

It’s a smaller boat but we get on. Everybody is studying the maps and schedule we’ve been given.

I decide to do the same.

All five islands have names, it turns out. The island we arrived at yesterday is called Lorne Island, and the one we’re living on is called Misty Island. While the mess is going to be shared by everyone, the Zeroes and Ones will be sharing classes.

Our schedule is jampacked, without even an hour to ourselves.

I feel a faint irritation. “This isn’t camp; it’s a personalized hell. Classes until seven in the evening?”

Beth yawns, leaning against me, and eyes my schedule. “We have the same schedule. We only have normal learning lessons until one in the afternoon. Then we have outside lessons. I’ve always wanted to learn archery.”

One of the boys, Landon, makes a face. “What’s speed control?”

“A fancy way of saying ‘running’?” I suggest.

Landon was sent here because he tried to steal a car. He’s pretty nimble with his fingers as was evident when he helped us crack open the small drawers whose keys weren’t working.

“I hate running,” he scowls.

“Maybe they’ll let you steal a car,” I offer, hopefully, and there’s nervous laughter around us as he gives me a dirty look.

He does have a point though. The outside activities are strange.

***

Until one in the afternoon, Beth is my constant companion in subjects like math and geography. We also have a course called Mythical Creatures and Origins, and a random course called, “Humans vs Non-Humans”.

So far, those are the most interesting classes.

We just get reading material for the class which I’m a little curious about. I’ve heard that colleges have courses like mythology but to have it at a camp? That’s a little unexpected.

I see Quill in the distance, but he’s with a group of Ones. I don’t call out to him, and when he does notice me, he lifts a hand in greeting.

However, he joins me and Beth when we are on our way to our martial arts class. I’m calling it martial arts. It says hand to hand techniques on the schedule we have.

“Hey!” Quill sounds out of breath as he swings his arm around my neck. “Long time, no see!”

“I just saw you yesterday,” I respond, dryly, ducking under and slipping out from under his arm. “And stop touching me.”

He doesn’t seem too bothered. “I’m so glad we have classes together at least.”

“You made friends,” Beth smiles at him, softly.

He shrugs. “Not friends. Just people to talk to. Did you know everybody here was this close to going to juvie?” He holds his thumb and forefinger close together.

“Not me!” Beth looks alarmed.

Quill beams at her. “You’re too nice to go to juvie, so they sent you here instead.”

I watch Beth blush under his words, and I find the sight interesting.

“Anyway,” he turns around, facing us as he walks backwards, “turns out, we’ll be getting our uniforms tonight. All of us. We have to wear them to classes.”

I see a woman walk toward us, “Alright, people, come grab a number from the bowl on the table to the right. Find your partner.”

There’s no introduction or anything, and we all queue up, discontented murmurs sounding from the class.

“This may be martial arts, but you will first be assessed by how skilled you are as a fighter.”

“If anything, shouldn’t they be teaching us less violence?” I mutter under my breath to Quill.

Quill snickers. “I hope they have a class which lets us blow stuff up.”

I give him a disgusted look. “You’re not normal.”

“That coming from the poster child of normalcy?” he retorts, mockingly.

However, it’s time to pick out my number, and a few moments later, I’m standing face to face with Anderson.

“You’re not dead,” I comment lightly. “Pity.”

He looks better, although he has bandages wrapped around his calves.

He narrows his eye at me. “You think you’re going to mess me up, and I’m just going to let you get away with it?”

I smile at him, “No. If only you had that many brain cells.”

His eyes flash with anger, and he takes a step toward me, only to be checked by the instructor, “I’ve not told you to move yet!”

Anderson goes still, and I sneer, “Yeah. Listen to the teacher. You’re a little accident prone. Best to follow instructions.”

The instructor shoots me a sharp look, and I hold up my hands in a placating manner. She narrows her eyes at me before continuing, “For now, I want you to disarm your opponent without hurting them. Pick up the batons next to you and begin.”

Disarming?

Almost immediately, I’m forced to be on the defensive with Anderson attacking me in every way possible. However, I manage to hold him off, surprised that the teacher hasn’t noticed the vicious nature of his attacks.

He’s aiming for my eyes and neck, all dangerous points.

Does he plan to kill me or take out an eye?!

I try to go on the offensive, but he is fueled by rage, and a few students around us stop, watching in alarm. The teacher, however, continues to ignore us.

I protect my face to the best of my abilities, only for him to kick me straight in the chest, making me fly back, his strength terrifying.

I let out a startled yell, and it’s Quill who rushes forward, grabbing me before my back can make contact with the tree.

“Are you crazy?!” He shouts at Anderson. “You could have killed her!”

Anderson just sneers and that’s when the instructor steps forward. “Get up, Taylor. And you, you didn’t manage to disarm her. All that effort for nothing.”

I stare at the instructor in shock before gasping, looking up at Quill, “Is it just me or did she really just tell him that he tried to kill me in vain?”

Quill gives me a wary look, “An underground water prison is starting to sound nice right about now, right?”