The Academy

Chapter 1

Yuri sat on the mat with the rest of her class, witnessing the seemingly endless comings and goings of their female seniors. These clients clearly had very specific needs and it made sense why they came to The Academy to fulfill them.

The Academy was the best facility of its kind. It was known for producing the very best bodyguards available for hire and catered to those that were wealthy enough to afford that kind of protection.

"There goes Raven!" one of her classmates exclaimed as the dark-haired guardian exited one of the interview rooms, "She always gets hired for contracts,"

"Apparently not this one" someone muttered when Raven's dark scowl turned their direction, obviously hearing them talk about her.

"Does anyone know what this contract is for?" a tall light-haired trainee voiced.

"I heard that it's for some celebrity and they'll only accept a woman," another trainee answered. This one was an older teenaged boy, and you could hear the bitter disappointment in his voice.

"Why are you so pissed?" Yuri's friend Emilia called over, "It's not like any of us are up for the job,"

Yuri began tuning out the idle conversation around her and focused on stretching, making sure that her muscles were warm and loose for the training session that was soon beginning.

The bodyguards in training continued to buzz with comments and opinions while the parade of potential candidates began to slow until it came to a stop. It appeared the client had finally offered someone the contract.

"Okay, trainees!" the instructor bellowed, signaling the start of the session, "Laps! Go!"

Yuri was up and running before the rest of her class had even stepped foot onto the track that circled around the gym. She focused on the feeling of the track beneath her feet and keeping her breathing in rhythm with her strides.

She had lost count of how many laps she had done when she lapped another one of her peers but began to slow when she noticed her mentor Harris approaching. He went straight to the instructor to say something. The instructor was obviously surprised by what he was hearing. They continued back and forth for a few moments before Harris ended the conversation with a firm nod.

"Yuri!" the instructor called, "Go with Harris,"

She sauntered over to her mentor, "What's going on?"

"The Director wants to see you," Harris answered gruffly.

"The Director?" Yuri immediately knew that something was happening, "He never asks to see trainees. What's going on?"

"Just follow me and let me do the talking," he dismissed.

Yuri followed Harris up the short set of stairs and soon realized that they were going to the interview room that everyone had been watching all morning. "Harris, there's clients in there!" she tried to stop him, not wanting them to interrupt the meeting that she knew was taking place.

"I know," he exhaled, knocking on the door before opening it and ushering Yuri inside.

Seated at the large table was the Director. And across from him were 3 men.

"Yuri!" the Director announced, despite having all eyes in the room on her.

"Sir, I really don't think this is right," Harris didn't give her the chance to speak, a reminder to her to allow him to do the talking. "She's not graduated yet—"


"Her class is due to graduate in just a few months' time," he turned to Harris with a commanding look, "Aren't you always the one boasting about how she's been ready for over a year?"