Chapter 2 Cameron
CAMERON
The isolation chamber isn’t so bad after thirty days. I actually kind of enjoy it. There’s nothing like sitting with your thoughts and talking to gray walls, gray ceilings, and gray barred doors. Left wondering if you’re still sane or if you ever were to begin with.
My back is against the cold floor, legs bent at the knees as I toss a rubber-band ball into the air repeatedly.
It’s my only entertainment besides pacing around the room and waiting for my punishment to end.
It’s not like I hate being alone—in fact, I prefer it—but imagining what’s taking place out there in my absence is driving me up a goddamn wall.
My squad needs me. I’ve let Lieutenant Erik down enough as it is.
I pound my palm to the side of my head a few times. I won’t kill my next partner. I won’t. I drill the words into my head.
It’s not like I mean to.
God, how many times is it now, though? Three? My hand freezes with the thought and the rubber ball smacks my forehead. I blink and exhale slowly. Fuck.
Last time I only had to be isolated for ten days, who knows how much longer this will take. I sit up and move to the sink, gripping both sides of the porcelain before looking at myself. My green eyes are duller than usual these days, and my skin has paled considerably without sunlight.
I adjust the bandage over my eyelid and check to see if the cut has healed any more since Lieutenant Erik slashed my eye.
I didn’t lose my sight, thankfully, though it does still occasionally bleed from the sclera.
It’s mostly healed now. I still can’t open it entirely, but I’m not much of one to complain.
I toss the bandage into the garbage bin.
I feel pretty good despite the fact that I look like I’m dying.
My ruffled pale blond hair has faded almost to white.
That’s caused by the drugs the Dark Forces has me on; the natural light brown hue of my hair lightened remarkably.
The dark circles beneath my eyes make me look merciless.
Well, aren’t I? I shake my head and smack my palm against my temple again.
I’m going to change. I won’t kill the next one.
At some point as I’m lost in my self-motivational pep talk, the metal lock scrapes against the gears and the door to my cell opens. I tilt my head and expect to see Erik strolling in to retrieve me finally, but that’s not at all who comes through the door.
General Nolan?
He’s a few inches shorter than me, and I’m six foot four so he’s not small by any means, but what catches my eye is the small-framed woman standing beside him with pink hair.
Not bubblegum pink. More like a pastel pink rose blooming in late spring, petals unraveling as the sun dawns on them.
Her olive-toned skin is smooth and lovely; her eyes are unlike any I’ve ever known.
They pierce me, as golden brown as a thunderstorm meeting a forest fire.
My breath stutters and a sinking sensation drops into the pit of my stomach. What is a creature as lithe and soft as her doing here? I force my eyes back to the general, hoping he isn’t about to do something terribly irrational.
Nolan hates my guts. All I ever do is create more paperwork for him, so it makes sense that he despises me. He’s constantly having to recruit new people from the pool of criminals, but I’ve never known him to be this petty.
Please don’t do what I think you’re doing. My eyes skate over my messy cell. The mattress with blankets on the ground is unmade, and my desk in the corner has papers and books strewn carelessly across it like I have no class.
I wasn’t expecting guests.
A little heads-up would’ve been nice. I rub the back of my neck, flustered.
Nolan clears his throat and smirks at me. “Mori, I’ve decided to start having you meet your partners here in solitary rather than getting trained ones ready for the slaughter. Less time wasted, you know?”
Oh yeah, he’s pissed at me. Wait, did he just say my new partner?
My eyes widen as I take that information in, letting my gaze move back to the small woman beside him.
She looks meek, standing uncertainly with her hands clasped together in front of her.
I’m having a hard time picturing what someone who seems as well-mannered as her is doing mixed up in the business of the Dark Forces.
He pats the woman’s shoulder before shoving her toward me.
She gasps and stops herself before running straight into my chest. Our eyes meet as she glances up, having to tilt her chin to meet my gaze. Her supple lips are merely a few breaths away.
My jaw muscles flex and I slowly look up at the general. “This really isn’t a good idea.” My voice is low. He knows I’ll kill her in the next ten minutes if I’m left alone with her.
I simply can’t help it. I’m a twisted, fucked-up soldier, and he knows it.
Nolan shrugs and waves his hand behind his head as he mutters, “One day. That’s all you need to prove to me. That you can keep her alive for one night alone together, then we’ll progress with this girl.”
“But—”
“Shut up! I’m so sick of your bullshit, Mori. I’m not having any more trained soldiers wasted on you. You’ll be teamed up with anyone you don’t kill off right out of the gates. Got it?” Nolan shouts. His voice bounces off the walls, sending chills up my arms.
I nod, side-eyeing the small woman next to me. She looks so brittle with her slim bone structure. I think I could wrap an entire hand around her throat and— No. Don’t think like that.
“Good.” Nolan flicks his burned-out cigar at my chest. It falls to the floor, embers still burning orange at the tip.
He reaches into his side pocket before extending his hand to me.
I already know he probably has a few pills for me so I eagerly raise my palm to his.
He drops three capsules; they’re black with little white font reading DF.
It means they’re for the use of the Dark Forces only.
We’re always the test rats for anything that’s being considered for the forces “upstairs.”
Supplements, weapons, trainings, you name it.
This is a batch I’m particularly addicted to and one that they are eager to put to final test trials. They want what every fucked-up military wants. Enhanced soldiers. This series dulls my sense of any form of pain. I can see better, run faster, do everything…well, better.
It’s fucking amazing. I roll the pills in my palm, staring down at them like they’re my salvation.
The only setback is that they make me fucking crazy.
Nolan considers me with a gruff look before he leaves.
He doesn’t bother saying anything to the girl.
The metal door slams shut behind him, and I’m left in the worst fucking scenario.
An eerie silence fills the void of the small cement room.
I swallow the knot in my throat before turning to look at my new soon-to-be-dead roomie.
Her eyes are like two steeled blades. Distrust burns in them as she backs herself against the far wall.
“Stay the fuck away from me,” she snarls viciously.
I can’t help but find it adorable. I mean for God’s sake, her hair is pink.
She might as well be a little garden snake with a harmless bite.
My eyes soften as I take her in, deciding that she’s too lovely to be in a place like this.
She’d only get in the way like Titan did.
And look what I did to him.
I grin hopelessly. “I’ll try.”