One Of Them

Chapter 4

"We're woken up every morning at five-thirty, that's insane!"

"Welcome to the IE honey."

I glare at Shawn, putting as much hatred as I can into my gaze since confidence is key. At last, he looks away. The coward. Confidence always wins, is what Mom always said. She was right.

"You'll get used to it," Alex says while tying up her shoes.

"I hope you're right," I mumble as I follow Ezra and some boy named Israel to the cafeteria for breakfast.

This morning it's some sort of porridge glob and cut-up peaches that I pick at. "Are they trying to starve us?" I haven't eaten in hours and my stomach is beginning to get unhappy. Grumbling.

"No. I think they're just trying to gross us out," Alex frowns, twirling her spoon, a bit of the glob splashing onto the plastic tablecloth.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "Well, it seems to be working."

"At least it's better than my mom's cooking," Daniella laughs.

I stare at the tall girl who sleeps in the bed next to mine. "You have to be kidding me?"

"I wish. My mom seriously has no clue how to cook."

At least you have a mom, I think, popping a peach into my mouth.

Two minutes later, Bruno comes for me and as I'm following him out of the room, I get the feeling that today is going to be a really long day.

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~Ashton~

"You called for me?" I enter Ethan's office, closing the door behind me.

"Yes, please, take a seat."

I lean against the door and stuff my hands in my pockets. "What is it?"

"We seemed to have gotten several complaints about the meals here."

"About time."

His face is expressionless. "I have chosen you and Sabina to do some grocery shopping."

Hold on what?

The smirk that was on my face is now gone. "You're joking, right?"

"No Ash, I'm not. Sabina's in training now with Bruno for the next half hour, after, you both are on grocery shopping duty."

"Why us?" It's hard to keep the whine out of my voice.

Now it's his turn to smirk, finally showing some expression as he leans forward onto his desk. "I know how hostile you usually are to the newbies and well... I thought you could use some bonding time."

"Really?" I grind my teeth. "Cause everyone always tells me what a pleasant guy I am to be around."

"Then prove that to our newbie Sabina. Cause when she's done with her training, she's going to become your new partner."

My hands ball into fists at that. Seriously? "First shouldn't we see if she survives the training and testing?"

His hazel eyes lock on me, holding me in place. "Oh she'll survive Ashton, just have a little faith."

I leave his office with the need to choke someone. And that someone is a seventeen-year-old girl who goes by the name of Sabina.

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~Sabina~

Once again my training consists of pushups and laps around the room. This is literally torture and child abuse. I now understand why you have to be at least eighteen to join the IE.