Untamed

Chapter 11

chapter

eleven

Haven

Ilimp out of the drill hall, dragging my sweat-ridden, aching body along with me.

We went at it for another hour. At least we fought in pairs the second time around.

There were no more free-for-alls, which worked in my favor, because nobody seems to like me.

Maybe it’s Aric and Rei’s animosity that is tainting their opinion of me, but everyone seems to agree that I do not belong here.

“Need help?”

I glance up at Spider, and anger chokes me.

“You.”

He looks behind him, as if my tone is intended for someone else. He points to his chest and bats his lashes innocently.

“Me?”

“You picked me for this…for this torture chamber,” I say.

As curious as I am about Ender and Block A and the regime’s secret, I have no intentions of dying in the pursuit of knowledge.

Because that is exactly what Black Star is—a death sentence.

How am I supposed to win against a group of Gifted when I cannot use my powers?

And how am I going to make it to the end when only one of us is intended to survive?

It is a savage training program intended to weed out the weak until only the strong remain, and I am being pitted against the best of the best.

“I did recommend you, but the final choice was Ender’s,” Spider says. “It took him a couple of days to come around to it, but he must have seen something in you.”

“Of course, it was Ender who picked me,” I say bitterly. “He’s been looking for a reason to kill me since the moment we met.”

“Yeah, he’s tough as nails,” Spider says in an admiring tone.

The door cracks open, and Knox steps out.

“Leave her alone, Spider,” he says. “Come on, Mercy. I’ll take you to medical.”

I give Spider a nasty look over my shoulder. This is all his fault. He could have at least given me a heads-up.

Spider simply blows me a kiss in response.

“Jackass,” I mumble.

Knox laughs loosely. “Not a fan of Spider?”

“I’d stab him in the throat if I got the chance!”

“Get in line,” Knox says. “Nobody likes him.”

“I wonder why,” I say.

“He’s not bad,” Knox says. “Just loud, obnoxious, and crass.”

“That’s a glowing review,” I say. “I can’t wait to braid friendship bracelets with him.”

Knox chuckles. “I’m surprised Ender stuck with his pick. Spider is unconventional. And you weren’t who I was expecting.”

“Yeah, a lowly Common,” I say, my voice edged with a bite.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Knox says gently. “You’re a good fighter, but you’re outmatched. Those recruits don’t like sharing space with someone like you. You have a target on your back.”

“They’ll have to get in line.”

“You’re going to be moved to the private rooms in Block A. I recommend keeping your door locked at all times. The others will be in the same wing. You’ll have to be careful.”

“Can’t I just stay in the dormitory in Block C?” I ask. “Around people I trust.”

Sora is my only friend here. I don’t know any of the other recruits, and I’m not fond of Ender’s friends. Except for Knox.

He shakes his head. “Our sessions run long. It’s easier this way.”

“Fine,” I grumble. “But can I eat at the mess hall?”

“If you don’t mind the walk. I’ll get you an access badge so you can move between the buildings,” he says. “And before I forget, I sent a contract to your tablet. I require a signature, in case of any liabilities.”

“Liabilities?”

“It protects us if you die.”

“And if I refuse?”

“That’s not an option.”

I grit my teeth and nod in acceptance. This contract makes no difference. Warrick would never come after them for killing me.

The medical wing is silent in a way that makes my skin itch.

White light glares overhead, stark as a lightning strike.

The space is clean and sterile. The girl I stabbed is sitting on one of the cots, glaring at me.

Her cotton pants are sliced at the thigh, blood oozing from the wound like a leaking sap.

I ignore her as Knox guides me inside, his hand hovering near my elbow, in case I stumble.

He’s nice, I’ll give him that. I don’t know how he retains his humanity when he works so closely with Ender. He doesn’t have the psychotic glint in his eye like Spider, or the cold indifference Orion and Clover wear like armor.

An old woman with graying hair and a stern look in her eye approaches us.

“Training injury?”

“Define injury,” I mutter. “I think I’m dying.”

Knox gives my limp a pointed look. “She took a hit to the ribs, shoulder strain, and possible concussion.”

The medic sighs, waving me towards the empty bed. “Sit.”

She presses an icepack to my bruised skin and begins to run her scans. Knox sticks around, which comforts me.

The other girl is being overseen by another medic, but I don’t want to be left alone in a room with her. Even though she’s worse off than me, I don’t want to be put through another fight so soon.

“We don’t have our doctor in today,” she says. “You’ll have to rely on good old medicine.”

All doctors are Gifted who can fix wounds, seal broken skin, and mend bones with just a touch of their hand. Medics are Commons who practice traditional medicine, and aides are doctors-in-training who are also Gifted and are doing their mandatory placement.

It would be nice to be patched up good as new by the doctor, but it looks like I’ll have to choke back pills instead.

“You’re lucky,” the medic says finally. “No fractures. You’ll feel worse tomorrow.”

“Great,” I mumble.

She hands me a small packet of pain suppressants and a wrap for my ribs.

“Don’t overdo it,” she advises.

When we step back into the corridor, Knox slows his pace.

“You should know that Ender doesn’t pick people for Black Star to kill them,” he says.

“He wants to see if they’ll break,” Knox continues. “The rebels are strong. The Untamed have powers that are outlawed for a reason. We need to be the best to win.”

We reach the junction where the corridor splits, and he leads me up the stairs to the fourth floor. Knox taps his badge, and the sealed doors open. Everything is gray and metallic here. There are no windows. Just blank walls that stretch on for ages. It’s kind of an eyesore.

There are five doors lined up on either side.

“Yours is the last one on the left,” he says. “Lock your door. Don’t trust the others. And if Spider offers to ‘help’—”

“I’ll stab him in the heart,” I finish.

“See? You’re learning.”

Knox shows me the temporary code to unlock my door. Once my badge comes in, the code will reset, and only I will be able to access my bedroom. That information comforts me.

“Good night,” Knox says.

I take a step forward when his voice stops me in my tracks.

“Mercy.”

I glance back. It’ll never get any easier hearing my sister’s name.

“For what it’s worth, I think you killed it out there,” Knox says. “You really held your own.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

Every step sends pain flaring through my ribs, but I push forward. The door seals shut behind me with a soft hiss.

The room is nothing like the shared dormitory.

It’s large and spacious. I press the button by the wall, hearing the satisfying click of the lock.

The walls are made of a hard gray stone.

A double bed is built into the far wall, neatly made with crisp sheets, and a single fleece blanket folded with military precision lies on the foot.

A low desk sits beneath a barred window that looks out over the inner courtyard of Block A.

To the right, a compact washroom is partially concealed behind a sliding panel. Marble sink. Oval mirror. A shower stall barely wide enough to turn around in, but it’s a lot better than the communal bathroom with the grime-stained floors and tangled hair that choked the drains like a wiry rat.

I could get used to this.

There’s a locker beside the bed, tall and narrow, with a biometric lock already keyed to my fingerprint. There are some training clothes and nightwear inside. I eye the wall and am unsurprised to see a camera. Of course, there are cameras. So, much for privacy.

There are two of them. One in the corner near the ceiling, and another disguised within a potted plant. This place is a holding cell with better furnishings.

I limp to the bed and sit, the mattress barely giving under my weight.

I set my pistols on the windowsill and unstrap my blades, keeping them within close reach.

Even if I engage the lock, I know that someone with the right access badge could enter the room at any moment.

Or worse, the recruits could attempt to hack it if they are clever enough.

Private room or not, one thing is clear. Block A isn’t any safer.

I’m going to have to learn to survive this place or risk losing everything.

I arrive at the mess hall before dinner ends.

The food is tasteless and dry. I almost regret not eating in Block A, but I can’t bear the idea of being stuck with the others.

At least Aric and Rei won’t come here now that they have been transferred.

Apparently, there is a decent chef at Block A.

One who makes protein-rich, edible meals.

Sora straightens, waving to me eagerly.

“Where did you go?” she asks. “You were gone all day. I asked the sergeants, and they said you were reassigned. I figured that was code for ‘you’re dead’. I’ve been freaking out.”

“I’m fine,” I say. “And I did get reassigned.” I hesitate. “I can’t talk about it. They made me sign a ten-page contract—shit, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that either.”

“It’s okay,” Sora says. “I understand. I’m glad you’re okay.”

Her eyes are clouded with worry. She can see the bruises and cuts on me.

I’m in a short-sleeve shirt; wearing a jacket was too taxing on me.

I have my main gun, Sullivan’s gift, and that’s it.

I left the rest of my weapons behind. My clothes fit better and mold to my body.

It’s all black. No more of that oversized brown uniform.

I hate that I can’t talk to her about what I went through. I need to bitch about Aric and Rei to someone, but I can’t tell the one person I trust. I can’t even confide in my sister. Ender is keeping her from me, guarding her like a prize jewel.

I wonder if he likes her and worries that I’ll corrupt her. I almost laugh at the thought of Ender Vale falling in love.

“I miss my sister,” I say with a deep sigh.

“You have a sister?” Sora asks.

I nod. “A twin.”

“Identical?”

“Yup.”

“That’s so cool,” she says. “I’d love to have an identical twin.”

“It’s great now, but when we were kids, we hated each other. My mom couldn’t keep us apart,” I say with a faint smile. “My sister always had an insult on her tongue, and I always met her with my fists.”

Sora chuckles. “That sounds about right.”

“Hey, I’m not a violent person!” I exclaim. “She just really pushed my buttons.”

I yawn, stretching my arms. Training starts before sunrise, and if I want any chance of waking up to my alarm, I have to sleep now.

“I’ll see you at lunch and dinner,” I say.

Breakfast would have to be an apple. I’d rather sleep in than waste time sitting around and eating.

“See you,” Sora says. “And, Mercy, be careful.”

She knows that wherever I’ve been moved to can’t be good. Nothing in the Forge ever is.

I nod. “I will.”

I won’t let this place break me. I refuse to give Ender Vale the satisfaction.