Young and in Training

Chapter 15 - Good as gone

I sat on the edge of my chair until the ceremony. I couldn't ease my nerves until everyone was safe. I avoided eye contact with Xavier until he pulled me aside. 'Anne what's wrong? You haven't been talking to me all night.' I folded my arms across my chest and responded. 'What's going on with you and Mackenzie? And who do you want dead.' He looked at me like I was crazy. 'What are you talking about? Nothing is going on with Mackenzie and I don't want anyone dead.' Eric's voice came over the loud speaker announcing that everyone needed to return to their seats ASAP. I pushed past Xavier giving him the cold shoulder as we walked back to our seats. 'Could Anne Kilburney please come on stage?' Eric said through the microphone at the end of the training room on a raised platform, made up of blocks we would use for step ups. As I made my way up to the microphone, Ed joined me as all trainers were to accompany their so called 'assignments' on stage. 'Anne has been one of our best trainees this academies ever seen, and I have to say, she has done her Father proud. So without further delay, I present to you the first graduate for 2030!' Applause rang throughout the training room as Eric presented me with my certificate. For a single moment, I forgot about everything. *BANG* the shot ran out through the training room followed by screams of terror from the trainees and trainers. In front of me, Eric lay face flat on the raised platform with his white shirt stained red from his own blood. Fear filled me as I looked around for Mackenzie or a gun. I knelt down beside Eric and rolled him over. His face was white as a ghost with terror written all over his face. That bullet was meant for me. I was supposed to follow in my Fathers prints and finally see him again. Tears fell down my face and I ran my hand down Eric's face to close his eyes. All the leaders ran towards me, some to comfort me and some to cry over Eric. I looked around the room for a second time to see Xavier run out of the room. I got to my feet and stalked at him with my blood boiling. As I rounded the corner of the facility, Mackenzie and Xavier were in the alley way next to the Academy yelling at each other back and forth. 'What type of a shot was that? You were supposed to kill her not Eric! It was a set plan and you failed!' Xavier yelled at her with anger. 'It's not my fault! You set me up in the wrong angle and he got in the way!' I could hear the frustration in her voice. Something was thrown to the ground, something metal. 'If you want her dead so bad, go in there and kill her yourself.' Mackenzie screeched at him. I saw the gun just behind Xavier in reach. I leapt for the gun and held the warm metal grip in my hand and my finger closed around the trigger. 'Both of your hands up where I can see them or I will shoot!' Both of them looked shocked at my arrival. Xavier started to walk towards me. The gun was shaking violently in my hands as hot tears fell down my face. 'Don't move Xavier!' I screamed. He continued to come closer to me and a smirk crossed his face. 'I don't want any trouble Anne. Give me the gun and this will all end. I will get my wish and you will get to be with your parents.' I backed away with the gun still shaking in my hands. 'NEVER! Get away from me!' His expression changed in an instant as he fell to the concrete ground. Mackenzie was standing over him with a piece of jagged wood slung over her shoulder. 'We didn't kill Eric.' Tears flooded my face and Mackenzie dropped the wood and rushed over to me. Her arms squeezed me tightly as she hugged me trying to sooth me. 'I'm so sorry for everything.' She said. 'Ohhh but I'm not.' We both spun around to face the man looking down at us with his finger around the trigger. We were as good as gone.