Runaway Lover // Andy Leo

Chapter Four

I can safely say that I did not expect the Rebellion's headquarters to be so vast. I've only seen one room - the one we're all standing in - and I'm trying very hard to keep my chin off of the floor. The building (I'm presuming) is based off of this one room, with several different corridors leading off into different parts of the complex. The 'training room' that we're stood in is, however, nicer than anything I've ever seen under the Empire. 

The far wall has been transformed into a shooting range, with four large targets pinned to it. The room is split either side of that, with the right side acting as a sort of canteen, and the left being filled with punching bags and training mats. People occupied all of these areas, all wearing some form of black clothing. 

I feel like an outsider as I enter next to Andy and Dave, with Megan and Brandon behind us. Not very many people notice us as we make our way through the hall, but those that do immediately straighten up and give us nods of respect. I try to make my composure and posture match Dave's so that I don't look an entire idiot, but also so that I don't look like I'm trying to show up Andy by matching his. 

We pass through the section of the room filled with punching bags, and I try to not stare at the people sparring. I do watch them though, trying to look attentive and knowledgeable. People have gathered around the training mat in the middle of the room, shouting and yelling. On the mat two men, one with bleach blonde hair and the other with dirty blonde hair spar with each other. They both wear the same skull cloths as Andy, Dave, Brandon and Megan. They stop momentarily as we pass to smile at the others and give me looks of curiosity and confusion before turning back to each other.

Eventually we come into a meeting room of sorts. Everyone sits down, with Andy at the foot of the table, then Dave, Brandon and Megan. I stay standing, not entirely sure of what to do. I look around me; The room is the smartest I've seen yet, with the back wall behind Andy filled with various computer screens and Tv's. 

"Right. Usually theres a big spiel that comes with this, but I'm going to spare you it." Andy looks up at me and grins. "We all get why you're here. But, as tradition goes, you're still gonna have to go through the Initiation process."

I cock my eyebrow at him. "Initiation process?"

"Yup." Dave answers, sending a smirk in Andy's direction. "Can't tell you anything about that one - you gotta find out what it is all by yourself. Sorry." He gives me a fake sympathetic look, complete with a pouty lip.

"Great. Thanks for the info." I make sure my voice is rich with sarcasm as I reply.

"Anyway..." Andy cuts in before I could find some way to make another joke, "The sooner you go through Initiation, the sooner you can actually be one of us. So," He flashes me a smile that makes my stomach flip a little, "You ready?" I nod, trying to fake a little more confidence than I have.
"Great." He slams his hands against the table and gestures for me to follow him. I try to act unphased as I shimmy around the table to follow him through the door behind it.

The door leads us into a dark corridor with one door at the end of it, with a red light flashing above it. Andy stops in the doorway and gestures toward the end of the corridor.

"Initiation room's there. The door will lock behind you, and then you'll have to finish whatever's in there before the other one will unlock." He places a hand on my shoulder, and I feel myself drawn to it's warmth. "Good luck!"

He drops his arm and goes back into the meeting room, allowing the door to close behind him. I try to steady my heartbeat as I walk along the corridor, and my hand from shaking as I open the door.

I step into an entirely white room and my eyes fly shut. I open them slowly, allowing them to adapt to the drastic change of lighting. The room is bare; only a plastic chair and a wooden table occupy it.