Manipulate

Everyone heads either toward the training room or to the dorm.

“Is everyone here? Or are we still waiting on some people?” Max calls as we enter the training room.

“Headcount!” Alia calls.

Everyone counts off. “One! Two! Three!”

Everyone counts off until forty-eight. “We’re missing Mia and Abi!” Someone calls out.

Just as Max is about to say something, Mia and Abi come sprinting in.

“Sorry we’re late. We had to go to the bathroom,” Abi says while trying to catch her breath.

“Yeah, we’re sorry,” Mia agrees.

“If you dare to come late again, both of you will be on kitchen duty,” Max warns.

Mia and Abi nod.

“Okay, now that everyone is here. We’ll be splitting all of you guys into groups,” Alia announces.

“All the fifteen through eighteen-year old’s follow me. And all the ten through fourteen-year old’s follow Alia,” Max orders.

All the younger members follow Alia toward a line of targets. We follow Max to another set of targets.

“Everyone, find a partner and go grab a paintball gun,” Max orders.

Everyone scrambles to find a partner. I feel a light tap on my shoulder.

“Abhaya, do you want to be partners?” Theo asks.

“Sure,” I say.

Theo goes and grabs a paintball gun, while I go and grab paintballs. He comes back with the guns. We exchange the items

“Find a target,” Max orders. “Now!”

Everyone scrambles once again to find an open target. “We’ll be reviewing this all week. On Friday, it will be your test. The whole unit will be against the adults this year. We’re going to win. Does everyone understand?” Max says while pacing.

“Yes,” everyone echoes back.

“Good. Now start practicing. First person starts now,” Max orders as he starts a timer on his watch.

After five minutes, Theo has hit the target perfectly. Ten colors make a splattered piece of art on the target.

“Next person shooting go grab ten more paintballs,” Max states.

I grab ten paintballs and load them into the gun. My heart races in my chest and my hands begin to tremble. It doesn’t help that I’m in a room where everyone has done this before. I probably look like a fool.

“Start shooting now,” Max announces. He starts the timer once again.

Five minutes later the target is a bigger mess than it was when we started.

“And… Time!” Max yells. “One person goes to clean up the targets while the other one goes and puts up the equipment.”

Two hours later, Alia and Max have the whole unit back together. Alia has her arms crossed over her chest and Max copies her.

“You all have done great today. On Friday, which is four days from now, we’re going to slaughter those adults. Do you all understand?” She asks.

“Yes, ma’am!” Everyone choruses back.

“Good. Then you’re all dismissed until dinner,” Max states.

We all pile out of the training room and head back to the dorm.

“Theo, you’ve got something on your forehead,” I say, pointing to my own forehead to mimic where the paint stained his forehead.

“Oh. Thanks,” Theo says, completely stunned.

Theo grabs the end of his shirt and wipes his forehead. “Did I get it all?” He asks.

“Yep. You got it,” I say.

My mind is racing. I saw his stomach. Damn, he has some abs. God, he’s adorable, I think.

I shake my head. I’m here so I can find mom. I’m not here to fall in love.

Theo is sitting on his bunk. His brown hair is plastered to his head and sweat beads his forehead. Sweat drenches his shirt. Causing it to stick to his body.

“Hi, Abhaya,” Theo says with a smile.

“Hi,” I reply.

I push myself up onto my bunk. I collapse on the mattress when my body hits the unmade bed.

Theo chuckles when he sees me how I am. “Are you really that tired or are you just going to lay there?” Theo asks.

I prop myself up onto my elbows. “I’m just going to lay here and think,” I say.

Theo gives me a smile. “Wow, Abhaya. I’ve never met a girl that prefers sleeping over makeup and clothes.”

I chuckle. “Sleeping is better,”

“I agree,” Theo responds.

I smile at Theo. He gives me a smirk in return. “Oh my God, Theo. Don’t do that,” I say, laughing.

Theo still smirks when I look back at him. I laugh.

“Abhaya, what is so funny about someone smirking?” Theo questions.

“My brother used to do it all the time when I was little. So, I grew up thinking that smirking is funny,” I explain.

Theo runs a hand through his hair. “Wow. Just wow, Abhaya,” Theo manages to say.

I head to the bathroom. But when I get there, Nick and Peter are waiting there.

“You know that this is the girl’s bathroom, right?” I ask.

“We know,” Nick scoffs.

“Then let me go,” I say.

“No,” Nick says harshly. “Come on, Peter.”

Before I can object, Peter is grabbing my wrists and tying them together. My heart rate accelerates as my wrists are binded behind my back. Why can’t I be smart right now? I have a brain so why can’t I use it?