Morning light seeps through the window. Or, rather, it would if there wasn't heavy curtains in front of them. I feel stronger today, more energetic, like a taunt string. K and I collapsed last night like corpses. Footsteps approach. Plat plat plat. A knocking on the door.
"Alex asks you to meet for an introduction with all the newbies in the Opening" The same voice that busted through the door yesterday booms. Plat plat plat. And he's gone.
I shift Karen awake and walk to the door. She gets up to follow me.
"K, whatever they say today, keep your wits about you, and agree to nothing"
She nods to me and without another spoken word we leave.
It takes two seconds to distinguish where the Opening is. What sounds like a sparring match is coming from one side of the camp. As it comes into view, it's just dirt. The ground is so torn it looks like a bombing field. There are all the other people I remember stumbling into the camp, lined up.
The two people sparing stop and look up, and everybody else follows suit.
Alex welcomes us. "Ah, Kindred, Karen, now we can begin" He moves to the centre of the Opening.
All of the Risen look shaken and mildly horrified. Alex and all his group approach, arms folded. Alex steps forward.
"We understand your loss, and that you have no reason to trust us. But you need not trust us. You need only learn from us the bare essentials to live solitary and as a pack. My name is Alex and I will be overseeing your training. This is Joseph" He points to the man who woke us up "and he is my second in command".
He goes on to name the rest of them but the names are generic and I do not care enough to remember them.
"We ask you to keep to this clearing, unless in a guided hunt, as we do not want you getting shot and sometimes there are things worse than Stalkers out there" He gestures outward.
"You will feel changes to your body that will make you far from human physically, but I'll leave that to Joseph to deliver the details. You are a danger to those around you the second you Rose. Please take care not to harm your fellow initiates" He says initiates like we asked for this.
"But I can see all of your starving faces and how my words are captivating you so. I will leave Anch to show you the way. Now, are there any questions?" He smiles at us all.
"Yeah I have a question for you Dipshits, where the fuck is my phone?" A blonde haired guy steps out from the others with a pissed look on his face.
"Your phones have been destroyed, you can have no contact with anybody from the inside world"
"Fan-Fucking-Tastic" He roots himself in place and glares at Alex.
"Yeah I have a question." A tall brunette looks him in the eye" how are you now all dead? Surely technology is enough to kill you all. Guns, bombs, chemical warfare? Why aren't you dead?"
The lot of them burst into laughter. She stands there with a blank look until it dies off and finally Anch answers.
"You will learn in training why this is a predator prey relationship most of the time" The Brunette doesn't look satisfied with the answer.
When it seems that they are all done with questions Anch gestures for us to follow him. AS he is walking away Alex grabs his elbow and whispers "Be careful with them, alright?"
Everybody trudges to the edge of the clearing and he begins. The sun is still bearing down on us, irritation my skin.
"Alright, name time" He pulls a wide grin. He looks me in the eye. Name time? How old are we?
I shake my head at him.
He starts at the other end. The tall Brunette answers "Amelia"
Next is the blonde guy "Andrew"
A smaller, almost kid whispers "Bal" He couldn't be more than 13-14.
Karen says he name after Bal and then Anch turns to me, and I give him a flat look.
"And this outspoken lady is Kindred. And if I were you I'd cover your abdomen around her" He gives me a teasing look. Then I remember, this was the guy who I kicked into a tree. Well, not saying it was fair but I'm also not saying sorry.
He gives up and gets serious "You will follow me at all times through this forest. If I tell you to run you run. If I tell you to do anything you must follow. Not only for your own safety but for the safety of your pack." And on goes the metaphorical leash.
"And without further tediousness, let us Hunt".
