The Runners: Positivity

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Training that evening was the same as usual. You started off with a simple target, but the meet up with Kendalle had messed with your head, so your aim is a bit off center. Eventually, you have shaken off the memory and Heather sets up some moving targets for you to practice on. Your 150% vision is much sharper than other Positives and the average neutral 100%, so it is easy to see the targets zooming at different speeds at the end of the large private training room. Heather cheers whenever you hit a target in the center. Her 120% Level 4 vision wasn't as sharp as yours so she often times became overexcited.

Eventually an alarm rings throughout the training center, signaling that it was curfew time. You slowly come to a walk, panting from the agility course that Heather had set up for you. Despite your high level, agility wasn't quite your thing, not as much as shooting, but you still gave yourself enough credit to say your skill was above average for your age.

You walk up the stairs, as all agility and obstacle courses were underground. Heather marches up the stairs ahead of you, seemingly eager to get back to the cabins.

Tired out from the agility work, your legs grow weaker as you trudge up the never ending staircase. "Hey, Heather, wait up."

She stops abruptly halfway up the stairs and turns sharply on her heel, causing you to bump into her. "Seriously? Raygen? The highest ranked Positive in the history of our society and you're complaining about climbing a flight of stairs? You could be going into the Labyrinth-"

"And you would need a submission to do that, right Heather? You're just the people I was looking for" Rowan appears seemingly out of nowhere behind Heather.

Her eyes widened and her face softened to worry as Heather turned around slowly again. "Uh, yeah. Definitely. Great to see you here Rowan, but we've really got to get back before the lights-out alarm goes off..."

Rowan's dark eyes glittered and you saw the slightest bit of malice in her smile, "Oh, there'll be no need for that, take a walk with me please, they won't yell at you as long as you're with me." She turned around and continued walking up the remaining stairs, her hips swaying with confidence, stopping once to motion us on, "Come on now."

You and Heather exchange a nervous glance and you know what Rowan is here for.

Obeying Rowan's demand, you walk out into the fresh night air, the sun has already set, leaving the bright street lamps and buildings as only source of light. As you follow Rowan and Heather down the quiet asphalt road, you look around, noticing this half of your sector.

Everything around you is so artificial, the bright white fluorescent lights that shine on the dark road. They give the small town a laboratory like vibe, even the white lights of the wooden cabins. It was like a huge experiment site.

You stop under a street lamp, looking up into the brightness. Back in your home sector you would have seen a swarm of bugs gathering under the light. But here, everything is silent. No bugs to bother you during day, no comforting crickets to sing you to sleep, no beautiful fireflies lighting up the night sky above you, no wind rustling the tree leaves of the forest. It was so foreign, yet so familiar at the same time.

Heather taps your shoulder, snapping you out of your trance. "C'mon, Rowan doesn't like to be kept waiting."

You look back at Rowan, who taps her foot impatiently on the ground. "Alright."

Meeting up with Rowan was easier than expected. Apparently, Rowan was merely concerned about your progress, since you were the highest level Positive and yet, you still haven't been submitted. She was actually being very kind, and it turned out Kendalle hadn't told on you and Heather. Her kindness had caused you and Heather to have a laugh in the cabin later that night before you went to bed.