Equilibrium

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

"Our background does not define us; our actions do."

I turn around to find nothing behind me. Nevertheless, I keep calm and concentrate fully on the sounds of nature and, most importantly, any sound that is out of place. I have been through this training so many times that I've learnt not to dismiss any suspicions I had.

From the corner of my eyes, I catch glance of a shadow moving towards me in the dark woods. My hands reach up to keep myself protected from whatever is coming for me. Almost instantly, the shadow seems to disappear.

This shadow is not a real person. It is a dummy specifically designed for this training. The woods I'm in is also not real. The scenery is similar to Light so I can get used to it. Jackson constantly remind Collin, Theresa and I that Light is far different from what we expect, even the setting of this training is not the same. Light is much brighter, or so I was told.

Footsteps approach fast. I keep my defensive stance and remember Level Eight Pain, enough to knock a person out. Level Ten Pain is enough to kill someone, which I am planning not to use when I'm in Light unless necessary.

As expected, the shadow hesitates when it notices that I'm not backing away or lurch myself towards him. I do not give him a chance to make a move by swiftly yet silently appearing behind him, kick him at the back of the knees that results the shadow to drop on the forest floor and wrapping my arms around his neck. I can almost feel the power vibrating in my veins as my victim trashes to escape from my locked arms until he stop moving all together. I can tell by the weak pulse in his neck that he's still alive, just not conscious.

I gently place my victim on the ground. The woods surrounding me is starting to get brighter. The flora and my victim disappear into the light.

I find myself in a wide white room that I'm familiar with and still wearing the all-white uniform I was required to wear.

The white door that blends in with the wall opens, revealing Jackson. He nods in approval.

"That was your last training and you passed," he tells me when I walk past him and out of the room.

"Thank you."

Theresa sits on the bench just outside of the white room, also wearing the white uniform. Collin is the only one wearing a dark blue shirt and dark blue pants that is called jeans. The clothes Collin is wearing is appropriate in Light. I can see Collin squirming in discomfort once in a while.

Theresa and I congratulate each other since she was the first one to pass today's training. Collin's is the last due to the fact that he does not master his gift as well as we do. Most of the time, he will have a private training with Jackson. Collin is the one who has to work a lot once we're in Light. He knows how does Light's body work and how different their systems work compared to us Dark. Collin is also responsible to find the murderer with the evidence from Benjamin's body and the crime scene. Theresa's job is to find out whoever looks suspicious from their body languages. Mine is to look out for suspicious teenagers and children in the school I'll be attending. We have eight months to find this murderer and if we fail to do so, we will be given extended time unless if Light somehow finds out that we're Dark.

"Those are your clothes," Jackson tells Theresa and I, pointing at two luggage bags by the washroom doors. "You are free to pick and wear any clothes provided in it. They are clothes Light prefer to wear."

Theresa enters the ladies' washroom after she grabs the luggage with her name on it. I do the same. The colours of the attire blind me for a moment. I take the time to go through each and every clothing in the luggage ranging from pants to shorts to shirts to jackets. I put on a white short-sleeved shirt and green pants that that is just below my knees. Now I know why Collin is so uncomfortable in these new clothes. I have never worn any shirts with short sleeves or pants shows my bare legs. I look at my reflection that does not look like Marcus anymore. All I have of my old self is my combed black hair and my face. Last but not least, I replace my shoes with sports shoes.