Aberrant (19 page)

"Yeah," Joshua smiled. "Just waiting for
you."

"Oh! I'm done." I laughed, turning around to face
him. "So, I guess it's back to the cafeteria until they tell us where else
to go?" It seemed the most logical place to be, with the other recruits. I
still had a million questions and hoped Jaxon and the others would be willing
to share more details with us. I had a feeling, though, that with only five
spots and nine recruits, I could expect things to get competitive quickly.

CHAPTER 17

We headed back into the cafeteria after meeting with
Chancellor Collins in the dormitory. Dressed in the recruit uniform, I gripped
Joshua's hand as we scanned the now empty room. We hadn't been gone more than
ten minutes. "That's odd. Where did everyone go?"

Joshua let go of my hand and walked further into the
cafeteria. I didn’t know what he expected to find, perhaps some of the recruits
hiding behind the line for food? "Think this is some kind of test? See how
daring we are to explore the compound?"

"I doubt it." There was no way they’d willingly
let us leave the premise. Not with the way things had been going for us. "It's
more likely the Chancellor wants us locked up in this place." As if on
cue, an announcement was made across the intercom.

"Would all recruits please meet in the gymnasium."

"Collins." Joshua nodded, recognizing the voice.
"I guess we should head there."

"I don't really see any other choice." I knew our
training was about to begin and for the first time I didn’t feel nervous. After
all we'd been through together, this I could handle.

We walked down the hallway in the opposite direction of the
dormitory. A plaque on the wall read, Gymnasium, with an arrow pointing to the
left. Joshua and I followed the sign until we reached a set of double doors. At
least the building was well-labeled with directions. If it hadn't been for its
size alone we'd have been lost for hours.

I hesitated for only a moment before I pulled open the heavy
doors, making my way in first ahead of Joshua. I was pleasantly surprised to
see Jaxon and Margo already sitting on the floor along with several other
recruits. I counted seven on the floor, knowing we had arrived last.

A woman in her late twenties stood over us in a similar
uniform as we sat down with the others. I grabbed a seat on the ground beside
Jaxon, and Joshua sat down to my right. At least we knew someone. I hoped it
would make things easier.

"Now that everyone is here, I'm Maya," The olive-skinned
brunette introduced herself to the group. She had strange cat-like eyes and a
surprisingly rare thousand-watt smile. "You are all here so we can determine
the very best and brightest that the rebel alliance has to offer. I know many
of you have a lot of questions, and some of you may even be questioning the
legitimacy of us allowing two additional recruits this year to join us." I
felt all seven sets of eyes turn towards us. After a brief moment, the
attention returned back to Maya, and I let out a heavy breath. "Let me
start off by reminding you only five will be accepted. Should five of you fail,
then we will accept four. We have no issue accepting none of you, should you all
fail to meet the minimum requirements. Over the next two weeks, you will be
training rigorously to prove your commitment and your reliability to our
community. Should you fail any test, it will be over for you. Should you be
removed from training for failure to cooperate, it will be over for you."

She hadn't used the words 'sent home'. All the recruits knew
it was a one-way ticket. Pass or die. I didn't like the odds that five would
pass. I raised my hand.

"Yes, Jacqueline." The instructor knew my name and
I was surprised by her demeanor. She seemed pleasant enough considering the
situation. "What if all nine of us pass?"

"We will take the best five. There is only room for
five," she reminded us. "Score high and you needn’t worry. Besides,
in all our years, it's rare that all seven pass. They're difficult and
challenging for a reason. We don't want anyone holding our community or the
rebel alliance back. Your contribution to society will be rewarded if you pass
the tests."

Jaxon turned around whispering to us, "It's a very
lucrative job."

I wondered what that meant. At home, everyone was deemed
equal and provided the same necessitates. When we stayed in Haven, I had recognized
some differences like the ability to choose where and what to eat. I hadn't
fully understood how the community worked, but I knew Haven had luxuries I never
would have seen in Genesis. Now, I was more curious what this town offered that
Haven hadn't. I'd seen the cabin we'd stayed in and assumed most of the town
had similar housing. It reminded me of home, having only what you needed and
nothing more. Maybe I'd been mistaken. But one night didn’t give me enough time
to judge a town. Maya continued to speak, and I realized I'd zoned out. I tried
to catch up, refocus my attention back on her. There were no second chances.

"You'll begin your training together as one group. You
will be scored together with your partner from home and as an individual. We do
this to instill teamwork along with competition," Maya explained. "It
is important to us that both you and your partner excel. That's not to say we
won't take only one of you if it comes down to the fifth and final space when
we choose who will stay with our community."

Again I swallowed, hating the way Maya used the words 'stay
with the community' as if banishment was an option. I'd happily be banished. I
wondered what happened to those who didn't pass and survived the tests. I let
out an anxious breath. There was no point in thinking like that. I couldn't
allow myself to consider failure as an option. Joshua and I, or rather Adam and
Jacqueline, would pass the tests. No matter what it took.

"Stand up," Maya instructed, gesturing for
everyone to rise and be on their feet. "Everyone pair off with your
partner. I know we have nine recruits so one will be without a partner. Elsa,"
she gestured to the girl without a partner. "Your score will be doubled
for the partner scores. This may very well be an advantage for you if you do
well. Or it could easily destroy you if you're not up to the challenge." Elsa
nodded in understanding. "Good," Maya quipped, eyeing each of us
standing beside our partners. "Our first lesson is bravery. You will each
be assigned the task of archery."

I glanced at Joshua, wondering how difficult this would be
for him. I never so much as touched a bow and arrow, let alone seen one up
close. I'd read about such devices and imagined in some of the government towns
that hunted, the citizens probably used tools like bows and arrows all the
time. I couldn't help but feel nervous as we followed Maya outside where a
shooting range was set up. I hadn't noticed it earlier that morning when we'd
arrived, but I also noted that we hadn't walked around to the north side of the
building. It was possible it had been there all along.

Maya continued to talk, "I will show you the proper
stance and position for shooting. You will have all day to practice and perfect
your skill. I suggest you take note of the weather, the wind, take into account
all these aspects to understand how your bow will guide your arrow." She scanned
each group. "You are required at all times to be respectful to the other
groups and each other. When the whistle blows, shooting is absolutely
forbidden. If you are caught shooting an arrow after the whistle is blown, it
will mean immediate failure. Only after you hear the whistle may you go retrieve
your arrows. This is training. We do not want any accidents or injuries," she
firmly reminded all of us. "Again you will have all day to practice and
perfect your talent. Jaxon and Margo, you both take position one." She
showed them the first booth with one bow and several arrows set up. It was
clear they were to take turns sharing the equipment. "Booth two is for
Elsa." I wondered how this would be fair, her having twice the amount of
time to practice than the rest of us. "Booth three is Cate and Mason. Booth
four is Jacqueline and Adam. Booth five is Aidan and Hazel."

I hadn't met the two couples we would be sandwiched between.
Joshua and I headed to booth four. Cate leaned closer toward Mason, her long
chestnut hair falling in waves as she whispered something in his ear. He
snickered in response, and the dusting of freckles on his cheeks only further
reddened matching his copper hair. Mason's eyes narrowed as he glared at me. Cate
smirked all-knowingly, shifting on her feet as she took the bow first. If she
was trying to intimidate us, it was working. Cate spoke up proudly, "Can we
start, Maya?" It was obvious she was trained in archery and wanted to show
off her skills. Already, I despised her.

"In a moment," Maya answered, walking past each
booth, making sure we had all the necessary equipment. "If the bow doesn't
feel right for you, we have other bows on the stand behind you," she explained.
"Depending on your height, weight and strength you may find a different
bow more suited to your body type." I didn't ask if this was part of the
test, to see if we were capable of using their standard equipment, but it
crossed my mind.

"Do you want to go first?" I offered to Joshua as
I glanced across the field toward the targets attached to five separate bales
of hay.

"Ladies first," he offered. I knew he was nervous
because I was, too. Seeing Cate pull an arrow from the quiver, she aimed it
with precision and waited for Maya's announcement to begin.

"Okay. Might as well." Maybe confidence was all we
needed. Maya blew the whistle letting everyone know to start. I took the bow
and found it awkward to hold, but I didn't complain. I grimaced with its weight
and size as I pulled an arrow from the quiver and did my best to aim for the
bulls-eye a few hundred yards away. Cate stood to the left of me and let the
arrow go. She hit the dead center of her target. I muttered a brief curse,
trying to copy her stance and movements before I released the arrow, flying it
far past the intended target. I wasn't even remotely close, and I'd thought I'd
aimed it well. So much for having natural talent.

Joshua smiled reassuringly and patted me gently on the back.
"It's okay. You'll get it." He handed me another arrow. "You
should keep practicing until she calls the whistle, then we'll switch." I worried
that even with his plan we’d struggle for hours. I felt Maya's presence behind us
as she walked the length of the each booth, studying us. If I wasn't such a
terrible shot to begin with, I'd have blamed my inability on nerves.

Maya came up behind me. "May I?" she asked,
showing me how to aim and place my fingers properly on the bow. "Wait for
it," she instructed, as the wind died down and helped me release. Although
I didn't hit the bulls-eye, I did hit the outer ring of the target. "See,
good job," she acknowledged. "Now, you try it on your own," Maya
insisted, stepping back with Joshua to watch.

I stood in the same stance and repeated the same motions. I
focused and held the arrow back, waiting, taking in a breath and trying to stay
calm and steady as I released the arrow letting it fly towards the target. I
hit the edge of the white paper. At least it hadn't hit far beyond the field
behind like the first shot I made.

"That's better. Just keep practicing," Maya
nodded. "You're getting it," she encouraged me. I did my best to
ignore the stares and snickers from my opponents.

I heard the whistle blow, and though I still had a few
arrows left I put the bow down, waiting to make sure everyone had stopped
before stepping out to retrieve my arrows from the target, including the first
one I'd shot far out into the field.

I headed toward the booth, noticing everyone else watching
me as they had all finished retrieving their arrows. I merely smiled, trying
not to show defeat. I knew Cate was good. I wondered if Mason could keep up
with her.

As Joshua began shooting, he struggled in the same way I
had. I didn't know how to help. I still didn't feel as though I'd done very
well, but at least he hit the hay bale holding the target when he'd missed. He
still had the right distance, just a little too high or too low. I watched
Mason hit the target, though not always the bulls-eye, each time. I studied our
other competitors one after the other, seeing them all successfully aiming and
nailing the target. Most had hit the inner rings. I felt stupid, pathetic up
against the recruits. We were in trouble. If bravery meant fighting with a bow,
we would fail. I hoped tomorrow didn't mean fighting other recruits. We had no
chance of survival if that were the case.

Maya came over again, this time helping Joshua aim and
release the arrow. She helped him two more times, watching before she walked
away. Joshua hit the target the next four times in a row, including a
bulls-eye. I was elated. "Nice one!" My eyes widened and I clapped
for Joshua, hoping I didn’t embarrass him too much. Cate turned, hearing my
commotion and gave me the stink eye.

Maya blew the whistle for everyone to stop shooting. Joshua was
the first to run out to retrieve his arrows when one whizzed by his head. He
dropped to the ground in horror as Maya blew the whistle a second time, louder.
"Aidan, you're out!" she shouted and pointed for him to head back
inside the building. Hazel gasped in shock, her face red and green eyes wide. I
didn’t know if it was from Aidan being dismissed or now having to face the
tests without a partner. She looked terrified. I felt sick, though it was a
mixture of Aidan's imminent death and Joshua nearly having an arrow shot
through his head.

Slowly Joshua pushed himself off the ground and stood,
eyeing the booths cautiously to make sure no one else was attacking him. Cate
snickered and grinned, giving a nod of approval toward Aidan as he walked out. I
wondered what would happen to him next.