Sequel to "You Make Me Brave"!! Please read that book first!!
Elsie and the gang have escaped the Maze! Now what? A city built on talent-and-behavior-fueled segregation and the mystery of it's lore and meeting their expectations is what.
As the gr...
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My group of friends had smiles on their faces when they saw me enter the cafeteria where they'd been seated for a couple minutes now.
I sat in my usual spot between Gally and Christina and planted a kiss on Gally's cheek. Plates full of fluffy waffles, steaming sausages, and pitchers of fruit juices and black coffee filled the tables.
"You seem extra happy today," Christina remarked. "What- did you get Peter into some deep trouble last night?"
"No, no, training," I told her. "I trained with Four this morning. I learned how to throw knives and I'm getting good at it."
"Told ya," Gally nudged me with a grin. "You're getting better at this already."
I blushed and nudged him back, then leaned against his shoulder. Thomas pushed around a sausage link on his plate, saying nothing.
"Hey," I nudged his leg under the table, not used to seeing him so down in the dumps. "What's up?"
Thomas looked up and pretended he had no idea what I was talking about. He shook his head and shifted the subject to a different topic.
But I think we both know what he was thinking about. And the longer it goes unaddressed, the longer it has to fester and boil.
"Peter was a real dick this morning."
"Shocker," I rolled my eyes. "What did he do now?"
"Nearly got himself knocked out," Gally grumbled next to me. "Wouldn't shut up about that Initiation Board and how you're at the bottom of it."
"For now," Ben chimed in. "At the rate you're going with this training and that positive attitude, you'll be at the top in days."
"Next to you," I smiled over at Gally.
"What?" He scoffed. "Me?"
"Yep. You're at the very top in the first slot. Quite literally the king of the Initiates."
"Oh," Gally nodded, a proud look on his face. "As it should be, then."
"I wonder what shit training they're gonna shove us through today," Thomas quickly changed the subject. Again.
I bit anyway. Not wanting to cause anything but making a mental note to pull him aside some time and talk to him.
"No idea. But that training room is full. There's all kinds of stuff in there."
"Regardless, food is fuel," Christina nudged me and nodded towards my empty plate. "Eat up, girl."
—
"Peter, in the ring," Eric looked towards me standing with Gally. "Elsie, also in the ring. Time to fight."
"What?" I scoffed. "You're joking."
"Do I look like I am, Initiate?" Eric scowled. "You can't afford to disobey anyway, can you?"
"What, freak? Too scared to get your ass beat?" Peter taunted from the middle of the fighting mat.
