Dauntless

Chapter 12

I wake up the next morning to the sound of ringing.
An alarm had been set by someone to wake us up in time. I looked at the clock on the wall, 7:30.
I jumped up and shook Ella and the boys awake.
"What?" Asked Ella groggily.
"It's 7:30! We have to be there in half an hour!" I shouted. Ella's eyes snapped open and she sat up. She put a hand to her head getting dizzy, but she jumped off her bed and started to grab her clothes.
I copied her, the rest of the dormitory was in the same process.
"But I set it for 7:00!" Said a voice from across the room.
"We were so tired we must have slept through the first one." Replied another, and everyone's rushing got a bit faster.
I ran to the bathroom with my clothes and I changed in a cubicle. I was confident about my body, like a lot of dauntless, but that didn't mean I was going to strip in front of everyone.
I put on my black leggings and a loose black t-shirt. I looked in the mirror and I combed through my hair, then I put it in a plait.
Outside Ella was ready, wearing black leggings and a dark blue tank top. I had a feeling that most of us would be wearing things like that, because we had no idea what we would be facing.
I slipped on my trainers, and together, Ella and I ran down to breakfast.
I grabbed a muffin and a glass of milk, then we sat down next to Zack and Adrian.
Unlike usual, they weren't talking, they're eyes were puffy and their movements sluggish. I'm sure I looked the same. But when I glanced at Ella she looked fresh and excited.
"How come you're so full of energy?" Asked Adrian, stealing the words from my mouth.
"I'm just so excited! It's the first day today!" She bubbled.
"We're excited too, but we got about three hours of sleep last night, not even that." Replied Zack. He hadn't had time to fix his hair and it fell messily over his eyes, but I couldn't help noticing how attractive he looked, even like that.
"What?" Zack asked, his mouthful. "Have I done something wrong?"
"Oh, no no no no no! I... Uhhm... course not!" I replied, resuming my breakfast, my face bright red. I realized that that was the first time I had blushed in a long time. What was he doing to me?
At 5 minutes to 8:00, we finished breakfast and sprinted to the training room. We arrived just in time, and Rico welcomed us in.
The training was very big and there was everything you could ever need in it. There was a row of targets on the wall, different types of weights, running machines, rowing machines and other machines I didn't know what for. The list goes on, but what attracted my attention was the collection of big blocks, full of knives, which was standing next to Rico.
Knives were my preferred weapon, as well as guns. But guns could be imprecise and if you just wanted to warn your opponent, it's easier to just cut them slightly rather than shoot them in the foot, because then if you needed them to, they wouldn't be able to walk. Unless your a really good shot and can just graze them, but that's unlikely. Also you can run out of bullets with a gun, a knife doesn't need anything to work. And even though knives were violent, there was something about a gun that made me think of horrible wounds and holes. But I'd rather not think about it.
When everyone had arrived, Rico spoke,
"So, today we will be working with knives," he began, no good morning or Hello. He gestured to the blocks, "these are the knives we will use, as some of you may have noticed." He looked at me staring at them, I looked back at him, and I held an unfaltering gaze. Rico's eyebrows furrowed and he carried on, unfazed.
"There are eleven targets on the wall, one for each of you. You will have a block each as well. Today's aim is to get bulls eye with the knives. So everybody, stand behind your desired target, behind the white line."
Every one organized themselves as told, the four of us in a row. Rico rolled a block to each of us, and when he reached me, he scrutinized me. I was determined not to be put off, so I returned the gesture.
Rico was tall and handsome, with jet black hair, and grass green eyes that stood out against his hair. His body was lean and muscular, his abs sticking out under his clinging black t-shirt, his biceps stood out of his arms without him even having to tense them. He could only have been two or three years older than me and he was incredibly handsome.
Someone coughed and Rico snapped his head towards them, I hesitated, I wanted to keep looking, but I slowly turned. Zack who was standing next to me, had his hands on his hips and was looking expectantly at Rico.
"I haven't got my knives yet." He said, his tone brittle. Rico just nodded and carried on with his job.
I watched him go, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zack staring at me. I quickly glanced at him, then turned to Ella on my other side.
She was pretending to examine the knives, but her eyes quickly flicked to mine and she smirked. I scowled at her, but my lips twitched upwards.
"Right." Rico said, getting everyone's attention. "Remember, inhale, aim, exhale, fire. This is the same for knife throwing as well as shooting. And you'd do well to remember it. You may start." And throughout his speech, he didn't look at me once.
I turned to my knives, I picked a sharp looking medium sized one. I licked my lips and prepared myself.
I held the knife in my right hand, behind my head. I inhaled, aimed for the red bulls eye, exhaled through my mouth, and I threw my knife.
Thud.
I looked up, and I growl of annoyance went through me. It hadn't hit my aim. It had landed instead, on the ring just outside the bulls eye.
I picked up another, knife. Inhale, aim, exhale, thud.
It was even further away now. I blew a strand of hair away from my face. And I repeated what I had done before. But to no avail.
Fifteen minutes later I gritted my teeth, and kicked the floor in frustration. I had not hit any closer to the Bulls eye than my first try. I huffed and turned around, but I jumped in shock as I was met by Rico standing right in front of me. So close that my lifted hand had brushed his chest. But this didn't faze him.
While I was failing at my knife throwing, he had been inspecting people's work, but I hadn't noticed him moving down the line.
"Show me." He said. I swallowed and grabbed a knife. I faced the target.
Inhale. Aim for that red bulls eye that was so adamant to stay untouched by the blade. Exhale. I threw the knife as I breathed out.
Thud.
I looked up, and my blood boiled, it was a third in, two thirds out of the red circle. So close!!!!!
I closed my eyes not daring to look at Rico. I heard a slight snicker come from him. Great! Now he's laughing at me! His handed clapped onto my back, and I started, my eyes snapping open.
"Well done!" He said impressed.
Wait a minute, impressed??!!
I looked at him, he smiled.
"Your good!"
"Good?" I asked, he nodded. "But I didn't even get it in the Bulls eye!" I said. And he snorted.
"Of course you didn't!" Oh... "No one has. Look." He said. I looked around me, and he was right. No one had hit the Bulls eye. Ella and Zack had reached about as far as me, they were a bit better though, Adrian a bit worse. But everyone else was mostly just hitting the edges, if even hitting it at all.
I smiled,
"Wow!" I said, Rico smiled and dropped his hand, and I felt a little upset, but I didn't show it.
"Keep it up!" He said and he moved on to Zack.
I smiled to myself, and picked up another knife.
So I wasn't as bad as I thought I was.

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So what do you think guys??!!
What ship name for Zack and Zoe? Coz they both have a Z at the beginning of their names :/ Zao Zock Zacoe Zoeck....

Or

Roe or Zico? (Rico + Zoe)

Please comment and tell me what you think!!!