SYNERGY

Monster within 18.

"Hurry up," Kip demanded at me while quickening his pace.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"The gym," he said shortly.

"Wow, you're in an unusually pleasant mood today aren't you!" I laid on as much sarcasm as I could.

Clearly not feeling this conversation he glared at me. I didn't dare say another word. The look on his face cold, I couldn't feel any emotion any energy coming from him.

He opened the gym door with one hand gesturing in. "Now the real training begins."

I nervously walked over to the bench. He threw an olive-green uniform and some combat boots at my feet.

"Get dressed," he demanded his eyes darkening. What happened to that vulnerable boy who poured his past out to me the past couple months?

When I came back out he was standing in the middle of the gym with two swords in his hands.

"Your first mission is in almost two month."

My heart skipped a beat, "what?!"

"You heard me, one month and you have yet to control your power. Mr. Walston thinks you'll be ready if we up your training, I don't think you will be."

My blood began to boil, who does he think he is?

Then what he was saying registered. My face became sweat lined and we hadn't even done anything yet.

He eyed me then pointed one of his swords at another set of swords on the ground, his presence demanding, expecting me to pick them up. As soon as the swords were in my hands he was on me teeth -barred. It was at that moment I realized he has been holding back the entire time we've trained together. I fell backwards holding my swords up in defense as he swung down a powerful blow. Our swords collided, vibration ran through my arms. He stared me down, eyes empty. We hadn't even begun sword work. Luckily I had done some fencing when I was a kid, so I had some basic footwork down. But I didn't understand why he was on me like a fox on a rabbit.... no more like a wolf with those dark eyes.

I stood up and found my footing, I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. Taking a deep breath, I attacked. Our swords intercepted again. Every blow I would throw at him he would block with prestige. I thought I had an opening and went for it. However he was fast catching my sword with both swords, sliding them in the air. The sound of metal on metal rang through my ears. Next thing I knew he swept his foot undermine knocking me down.

"Again!" He shouted while taking a couple steps back.

My face felt hot with embarrassment. Looking at him he didn't care. He was obviously stronger than me, but if I could overpower him somehow I might stand a chance. I stood up thinking of all my energy training with Mr. Endwell. Throwing one of my swords to the side I stared at him. Images began to flash through my mind, my mom kissing me on the forehead, my dad playing soccer with me, and then of Mrs. Kaepernick torturing me. My lower lip began to shake, but I held my tears back. I heard Violet's voice in my head, turn your pain into power.

Holding my hand out a stream of energy shot forward knocking one of his swords out of his hands. He looked surprised, I took the opportunity and pounced on him, our swords clanged together, we were fighting in synchronized motion. I kept imagining my energy overpowering him but could feel him fighting it.

The dead look in his eyes, he was blocking all his own emotions, so I couldn't overpower him, "finally, you give me something I can work with," he snarled before kicking my legs out again.

I landed on my back, and he swung down, a killing blow. Just like before everything slowed down and I reached in front of my mind for the ball of light wrapping it around me. I transported myself behind him and held him by the neck with my sword.

"Don't move," I breathed.

"Astrid, it's me!" Fosters voice cried out.

My sword was against fosters neck now, but how!? Kip was just there, did Foster come looking for me? Did I accidentally tranceport myself behind him? My sword clattered to the ground and in a split-second Foster flipped me over like Kip had done in our previous training and had me by the throat, he was smiling while I stared at him in disbelief.

Kip's voice began to speak, "one may smile, and smile, and be a villain."

Then Fosters face started shifting, his eyes darkened to black. Kips face was now over me. I swung my fist hard punching him in the face forcing him to let go and I scooted back.

"What the hell was that?!" I shouted, fists out just in case. He rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth, it was streaked with blood.

Good, I thought.

He was smirking, "you did it, you transported."

"Was that what this was about? You almost killed me!" I thundered.

"I had too, If I didn't you wouldn't have done it, and you need to be able to do it. It's the only way you're going to survive out there." His voice seemed to crack a little bit.

Suddenly it clicked he had to have me believe he would really hurt me if he didn't, I wouldn't have tried, and I wouldn't have tranceported. My mission is in a month, and he needed to know I could take care of myself, my whole body began to shake.

"You can shapeshift!? Why haven't you told me you can do that!?"

I felt like I was staring at a completely different person. Different from the boy who smiled at me every morning before we train, this was a darker version of a scarier truth about the world outside.

"It's not something I want people to know, it keeps me safe not exposing my gift."

The room felt like it was closing in. I had no idea who this person was, and I needed to get out of here. I focused my energy again imagining the apple tree in the courtyard and with a whoosh I tranceported myself there.