SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 13: Unseen Nightmares

The Narval House felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode. The combat exam had everyone so freaked out, it was like no other topic even existed in their conversations. Laura had been in the front yard since six a.m. as if she wasn't already the strongest of all of us.

Mark, on the other hand, had spent the morning rolling around in bed, whining nonstop. He kept calling today his worst nightmare, which, coming from him, wasn't exactly surprising.

And me? Well, I figured I'd give it a shot. Not that I had much chance, but it wasn't like I had another option, either.

I woke up early and went for a run along the wall, but this time, I wasn't alone. Many others had the same idea, all because of the test. So when I crossed paths with Heather, sadly I couldn't stop and we just exchanged a quick glance.

It was crazy to think that we were finally about to become officials, well, only if I passed the exam, which I wasn't entirely confident about. Luckily, Laura had helped me with my training. I asked her to be as tough as she could, no mercy at all, and I have to say, she didn't hold back. It was incredible to see how much she'd improved since our last sparring session. She kept locking me into hold after hold, and it took what felt like forever before I finally managed to trap her in one. Just once.

"How do you see it? Do you think I have a chance?" I asked as she helped me up from the floor after one of her deadly locks.

Laura wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel. "There's a huge luck factor in this test. At this point, I think we all have a chance."

"I don't like that answer." I sighed. "I'd prefer something like: Yeah, Grace, you don't need luck; you're so strong, you'll be amazing."

Laura laughed. "I'm just being honest. You're good at combat, but you're out of shape right now, let's not deny it. So, I'd suggest focusing on anticipating your opponent's moves and using your agility instead of relying on strength."

She wasn't wrong. Speed was my only shot. If there even was a shot.

· · ·

As the sun moved beyond the border, we all gathered in the training field, ready for that long-expected but equally feared combat test. The floor marks outlining the combat area had been freshly laid, and the grass had been trimmed. There was a table where Lea was arranging a collection of strange tech artifacts I had never seen before.

Kate was testing one of them. They kind of looked like headphones, but a cable connected them to a thin metal plate that rested just beneath her right eye.

"Okay, kiddos, come here, gather around." Everyone closed in around Kate as she stretched her arms out in front of her. All her joints let out a cracking sound.

"The exam's gonna go down like this," she continued. "You'll wear the Combat Simulator, and there will be three rounds. Each one will be tougher than the last. The Simulator will show you whatever seems necessary to test you. So, expect some wild stuff, but try not to shit your pants, just keep fighting."

Whispers filled the training yard, and Kate paused until Lea shushed us.

"Remember, you can't take off the Simulator, or you'll be kicked out faster than you can blink. The last fight will be against me."

A collective gasp echoed around us, and Kate let out a laugh. "Good luck, folks. You're gonna need it!"

Lea stepped forward. "So, who goes first?"

Laura stepped out from the crowd. "I will."

Not in a million years would I have gone first. Not even if they paid me with a thousand apple pies. No way.