The Underbelly (First Draft)

Limitations Are Only Illusions

I woke up with another headache and I could feel someone hovering over me. I yelled and lashed out, I heard an unfamiliar grunt and a rueful voice broke through my groggy mind, "I guess I had that coming to me, common you're going to be late!" I opened my eyes to see a young girl, who was about ten, looking at me with earnest big blue eyes. She grew uncomfortable with my gaze and she began to tug at her light brown hair shyly, "I'm Yelena." I cleared my throat, "I'm Merissa." Yelena grinned, "everyone here knows who you are after we saw you kick some butt yesterday!" Her face screwed up in worry and her pale skin crinkled, "seriously though, we're going to be late, get up!"

I threw off my duvet and stood up, with Yelena moving back hastily. I strode over to the bathroom and looked at the arsenal I had at my disposal. Since I was on a time limit I would have to make do with minimal cover. I grabbed my basic survival kit and began to attack my face to make me semi human looking. I could see Yelena looking at me wistfully, I smiled and gestured to the lotion in my hand, "would you like to be a bit of moisturiser?"

She nodded eagerly and was soon giggling as I rubbed some onto her cherubic face. She hardly needed it but I guessed that she did have many interactions with girls and this was confirmed when she said, "I've always wanted a big sister." I was brushing her hair when she said that and I froze for a moment as I realised the implications of what she just said but she did not seem to notice, "I mean I love my big brothers but being the only girl and the youngest is not easy. I'm still way stronger than the other girls though! So it's not too bad." I could feel my eyes widen in horror, was this girl being trained to fight in my father's war?

She turned to look at me so I had hastily schooled my expression, "are we ready? The coaches are going to be mad if we're late!" I patted her thick hair, "don't worry I won't let them get bad at you." I may have only known Yelena abut twenty minutes I already could feel a bond being forged between us that was going to be very strong. "Yes, let's go."

I threw on my hoodie and followed Yelena out to the fields. The lights were almost blinding as I began my second day of training. Yelena led me over to a small group of red uniformed coaches, my stomach was a little uneasy when I saw Chaz among them. I still wasn't sure where we stood and I wasn't sure if my father had told him not to tell others about my escapades last night.

Yelena was all smiles when she reached them and a strict middle aged woman with greying hair and horn rimmed glasses glared at her sternly, "Yelena you were sent to get Merissa not to have your hair brushed and makeup done." Yelena blushed furiously and I interjected, "sorry, it was my fault. I was doing some basic stuff and I wanted Yelena to try." The stern woman turned her glare on me, "this is not a beauty salon Merissa. This is the academy where exceptional individuals learn to become freedom fighters." I returned her gaze coolly, "you're asking children to fight and die for you. If you are going to be that cruel you might as well let them indulge in normal pastimes every so often."

The stern woman began to bluster but Chaz cut across her, "relax Ésme." He turned to me, his gaze attempting to cut through me, "you need to learn respect. Now go warm up and come back to us when you're ready." He turned away in clear dismissal.

Yelena started to drag at my arm and I complied. She began to sprint towards a large group of guys, ranging in age from just older than Yelena to only a year or so younger than me. One of the older ones looked at me with hostile eyes, "what is she doing here? She's a Surface bitch." I ignored his antagonism but one of the more athletic younger guys punched the surly dark haired guy on his shoulder, "chillout Ray! Dad says that she's cool and since when has dad ever been wrong?" He turned to me with his smile bright, "I'm Zack and we're your brothers!" The rest of the guys cheered and I could not help a little smile in return.