Chapter 36
Over the next two weeks, I keep my head down and my focus on my schoolwork.
Dr. Perez confirmed a tear in the ligament of my knee and prescribed a dose of painkillers. She showed me how to wrap it up and keep it protected at night, then ordered me to take it easy. Henry even altered my training schedule to focus more on upper-body work while my leg heals.
Trinity is also busy training with E-squad. It sounds a lot like cadet training if I’m being honest, but with the added bonus of learning how to torment other people.
Anytime I’m with Trin, her new friends tend to show up, almost as if they’re watching her, and I make myself scarce. They creep me out. And frighten me.
Sometimes I wonder if I’ll be scared of Trinity one day, too.
Edward isn’t faring well, either. He’s miserable without Trinity. I’m still upset by the way he spoke to me, but I try to remember we’re not always the best version of ourselves when we’re hurting.
I’ve also managed to avoid Knox, though he’s been desperately trying to corner me into talking. I’ve become a ghost, appearing in class just as the starting bell rings and then sneaking out the second it’s over.
My mom isn’t answering any of my texts, and I still haven’t heard from my father. The silence is the worst part.
Have they already forgotten me completely? Was I so unimportant?
Or is this some sick part of my punishment? Is my father plotting something that I can’t even fathom?
Trinity said her parents aren’t talking to her, either. Intrinsically, I understood what House lines meant and that they were the standard by which we all existed, but I refuse to believe they’re more important than a family’s love. Maybe I’m just being naive.
Through it all, I can’t stop an incessant itching from working its way under my skin. During an Empire Storm last night, the need to absorb the cloud bursts became a living thing beating against my ribs. I clutched the blanket and stared at the ceiling while my roommates slept silently.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.
The bright spot in my week was an email informing us about a special cadet training session happening this afternoon.
Domino, Journey, and I arrive at the training facility after lunch, their excitement infectious, and for the first time in weeks, I allow myself to cast off my worries and focus on what’s in store for us.
However, when I spot the same two Extinguishers from our first day of training standing in the corner, a prickle of fear works its way up the back of my neck. They’re here to watch us again.
“Welcome to a special exercise we have planned for you,” Henry says. “Today, you’ll enter the contained training simulation for the first time to test your endurance and agility, and to get a feel for what to expect when you’re manning the Storm Towers.”
He steps aside for Dr. Eze, who’s clutching her tablet with a huge smile.
“And we have wonderful news,” she says. “Something extra special. For years now, Tempestade scientists have been hard at work trying to contain the specific electric charge derived from Empire Storms in order to facilitate enhanced training for current and future Breakers like yourselves.”
She says these words with pride, but something prickles up the back of my neck.
“Until now, only General Sol has been able to ‘capture’ the plasma energy of Spark in a usable way, but our scientists have recently had a breakthrough. They’ve only been able to isolate a small charge,” she continues, “and most of it will be reserved for current Guard training until a reliable replication method can be achieved. But . . .” She smiles bigger.
“I managed to convince them to give us a small dose for each of you today.”
She’s acting as though this is the greatest news she’s ever shared. Her enthusiasm causes everyone to start smiling and talking at once.
“What if we get hit?” Domino asks, accompanied by several nods around the room. “Won’t we . . .”
Dr. Eze raises a hand. “There are some risks, yes,” she answers. “But I assure you, the charge is too small to cause a blitz. If you’re hit, you’ll be temporarily incapacitated. If that happens, we have doctors standing by to transport you to the med wing immediately.”
The room’s initial enthusiasm has dimmed somewhat in the face of this information. That’s when my gaze meets Rook’s across the room to find his permanent frown is etched a little deeper.
We’ve basically avoided each other since the incident in the cafeteria, but he holds my gaze steady now, and I feel warmth creeping up my cheeks. I look away.
“Cadets,” Henry says, his deep voice cutting through the din.
“This is what you signed up for. When you’re out on that tower, it’s you and the storm with nothing in between.
This is a breakthrough in the fight against one of our worst enemies, and we must embrace this new challenge.
Anyone wishing to abstain from the simulation today is welcome to sit out.
” He lifts a hand toward the door. “But you will not be welcome back. The Storm Guard has no room for cowards.”
His words are harsh, meant to either embolden or break us. I consider leaving. The risk of being discovered sits heavily in my chest. Uncomfortable silence is accompanied by the shuffling of feet and averted eyes as we consider our choices.
A woman near the front—a tall brunette from House Fiama—looks up, scans the room, and then walks toward the door. The Extinguishers move to intercept her. She stops and stares up at them.
“Come with us,” they say.
“What are they doing?” Domino whispers.
I shake my head. I’m not sure, but I have my suspicions. She’s drawn their attention by deciding to leave.
I swallow nervously.
If I enter that room and I’m hit and absorb Spark, then I’m exposing myself to the truth and potential incarceration.
Or possibly death, because let’s be real, no one seems to escape the Extinguishers.
I think of the woman from my test who was exiled to the Wastes.
A part of me wonders if I was being lied to that night.
Even if she did leave, how long could she survive out there all alone? Either way, it’s a grim fate.
But I also can’t walk away. Not only because I have to do this but because I don’t want to stamp an even larger target on my back. Either option is a risk, but at least I have a chance if I choose the simulator.
One of the Extinguishers leaves with the brunette, and we all watch the door close behind her with an ominous thud.
“Anyone else?” Henry asks.
No one moves.
“Then we’ll begin.”