Palinoia

Chapter 12

"Welcome back ladies!"

I scoffed, remembering his different personality when Thomas showed up but I resisted the urge to make such comment. One punishment was enough to me.

"Before we begin, there's another piece of information I would like to give you all," Cliff added.

"Isn't there always," Peter murmured next to me. He let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms.

"There's going to be an exam," Cliff said.

I frowned, reading back over the information booklet. There was no notice of an exam.

"Obviously it hasn't been mentioned in the booklet so don't look so confused. Also, the exam won't take place until after your series of training. Now this is exam not only determines how much you've learnt but whether you'll be a part of the armed forces. If you fail, you will be released from the force," Cliff explained.

I nodded, thinking to myself. I expected such a thing to take place so it didn't really bother. I just hoped that there was some theory work involved and it wasn't all just practical. I was more worried about that than being released.

"Now. You're going to be placed in another group of twelve. This time you'll be placed in a team based on your skill. Each team will also be given a mentor for the next couple of weeks until the exam."

I showed visible discomfort, remembering my previous actions. It had been over a week since that happened but knowing how they behaved, they probably took it into account.

I folded my arms together and watched Cliff who stood at the centre and pulled out a sheet of paper from behind his back. He always seemed to have anything related to paper handy. The trees would hate him.

"Listen carefully because I'm about to call out the group names. There are twelve groups so listen to your name," Cliff began.

"Group one. Timothy Roes, Hayes Smith, Gordon Wade..."

I listened as each name was called out and looked out for my name. So far I wasn't called and neither was Peter so that gave me some hope. It felt like eternity waiting for my name to be called.

"Now. Group six. Lucas Saterius. Chase Micheals. Zachariah Murray. Sebastian Turner. Brie Chevlet. Cameron Leati. Peterson Andrews. James Rayn. Donatello Loreth. Dean Matts. Darius Ivri. Velvet Omari."

Peter gave me a high five and cheered. "Get to be on a team with my best buddy. Woo!" He was as loud as ever but some people didn't seem to mind. I tried to give him an annoyed look but was internally relieved.

I still hadn't told him of the nightmare I had over a week ago but it was mainly because I didn't have any other nightmares since then and I had brushed it off as the negative events that took place that day.

Still. It didn't feel like any ordinary nightmare. It almost felt like something or someone was trying to tell me something. Something extremely important.

Peter nudged my elbow. "We need to go over to our new team," he told me.

I nodded and followed after him. I searched for where our group was supposed to be and soon found it where the other ten were.

Once I was close enough, I took a good look at each one of them. The first person I immediately noticed was Aggressive girl and she widened her eyes when she saw me.

"It's you," she spoke, her voice sounding uncomfortable.

My face was expressionless. "It's you too..."