Blackstone Academy: The Rogue

14. Troy Roman

Troy (Male P.O.V) 

Date: October 1, 2238

Time slowly ticked down as we stood on the edge of the forest/gym floor, and with each passing second, my heart rate increased, threatening to leap from my chest.

"Where are you? Where are you?" I repeatedly muttered, my eyes roaming over every tree and bush.

I didn't trust any of it. There were too many places the mutants could appear. Even right in front of our faces. Although Sergeant Carter wouldn't be that cold-hearted, right?

I scoffed.

Yes. Yes, he would.

Who am I trying to kid?

The man ate, breathed, and lived for that shit. It was his way of ensuring we were adept to handle any situation that came our way.

My damp palms clenched tighter around the baton, holding it slanted across my chest, ready for any attack.

I glanced at Larry to see his stance copied mine down to a t.

We nodded at each other before turning back to face the unknown.

Ominous snarls surrounded us, silencing the other animals and asserting their dominance. Shit! The low and menacing sounds prickled my sweaty skin with goosebumps. Even though I knew it was a simulation, I couldn't fight my body's reaction.

But still, nothing appeared.

My eyes scanned left and right, high and low, trying to detect where the mutants would appear from first.

When suddenly, four mutants materialized out of the forest floor.

What the fuck? I clasped my lips together, suppressing my smile as eight clawed gray feet charged toward us. The yellowish and chipped claws dug into the soil, flinging it in different directions with each step. Slowly the rest of their body formed as they split into two groups coming towards Larry and me.

As the first mutant approached its body fully formed, I plunged my baton through its chest. A few wayward strands fell over my right eye, obscuring my vision. After quickly tucking them behind my ear, I looked at my baton sensors. In a blink of an eye, they flashed from green to red, then to green again.

"That was too easy," I muttered, rotating my shoulders while waiting for the next mutant to come closer.

A thick trail of saliva dangled from its snarling face, making me grimace. Somebody needs to get this thing: a tissue, leaf, or something. A shudder went through me as the saliva dripped from its mouth, reaching its chest until it landed with a splat on the ground.

God, that's disgusting. I stared into its lifeless black eyes to keep my gaze from drifting to its mouth. Enough was enough. He needed to die. Now.

I bounced on the toes of my boots and struck it in its head. A gash appeared on its forehead, oozing black as its body dropped to the ground, repeatedly blinking before disappearing into the simulation.

I looked at Larry just as he bashed the mutant nearest him on the side of its head and whipped toward me with a smug grin. Like he just took down a freaking army or something.

"I don't see you taking notes. If you need me to slow down, just let me know." Larry said before turning away to scan his surroundings.

"Please." I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "Don't try to use me as an excuse to slow down. You're sweating buckets over there. I can see it all over your face. If this is too much for you, just say it." I shifted my baton to my other hand and inched forward. "I won't think any less of you than I already do."