Lone Fight

Chapter 2

                

It's been a few weeks since I've started working with the trainees. Luckily, there hasn't been any sign of the glitch since that first day; it's nothing more than a distant memory that no one speaks of. As for training, I suppose they've gotten a little better, but I still don't have any hope for them. Right now, they're making their way through a jungle setting of the room. The flag they need to find is hidden somewhere near the center of the forest. It's going to take them a while to find it so I just let my mind wander to how I only know three of their names, Matt, Hannah, and Chris.

Hannah is a slim brunette with bright blue eyes. She's pretty perky, but utterly useless at basically everything, it amazes me that she's even able to wake up in the morning. Chris is the boy who is always the first one to set off traps, like on the first day when he fell into the hole. At the moment he is dangling upside down from a tangle of vines. The only reason I know their names is because they're the trainees I'm hoping will quit first. Chris is hopeless and clumsy, Hannah is useless and annoying, and Matt is too curious for his own good. He's nosy and is always questioning what I do.

After a while, the scenery finally fades away as someone finds the flag. I glance at the time shown on the screen of the control panel and call out that it's time for lunch. They brush themselves off as they walk out and head down the hall, their voices echoing noisily. I follow them out but don't head to the cafeteria. Instead, I walk down a series of hallways that lead to a large section of elevators.

I hop into one, press a button, and let it carry me up and up. After a minute or so I finally hear a ding and the doors smoothly slide open; I squint against the bright natural light pouring through the windows of the lobby. It's been in a while since I've spent time outside just for the sake of it, I might as well go for a walk and clear my head. Casually, I head down the dusty road, it's hot and dry from a long morning of summer sun, but after a while I start to grow weary. Usually, there are people and cars constantly going by, giving the streets a buzzing life; however, today everything is silent...

Curiosity is pulling at me, nudging me on. I slowly make my way down the deserted streets, if this were an old western movie this is the part where they would have a tumble weed bounce across the screen. There's not a sign of life anywhere. As I pass an ally, a sudden movement catches my eye. I don't see anything in it except for rusting trash cans and garbage... "Well that's strange." Clouds move in front of the sun and cast an eerie shadow. I hear a strange scraping noise from the alley, but when I go to take a step closer, there's suddenly the sound of shattering glass behind me.

I spin around on my heels, but I'm not quick enough. I receive a fist slamming into my gut, knocking the air out of my lungs as I collapse to the ground. Dust is kicked up as I struggle to get away from the mob of people who seem to have just suddenly appeared out of thin air. My vision blurs as my head slams against the hard concrete, my arms and legs being pinned down. My heart races and my mind starts to panic; suddenly the next thing I know, I'm no longer being held down. In confusion I slowly sit up, my vision clears as I look around me to see Matt and a few of the other trainees standing there while the rest finish dealing with the thugs who jumped me. I curse under my breath and stand up dusting myself off, ignoring Matt's outstretched hand.

"What are you doing here?" I mutter.

"Jeez, don't look so grateful" he says sarcastically.

"I could have handled them." I say crossing my arms, I don't need or want his 'help'. Matt is about to say something, but someone cuts him off.

"Of course, you could, but we figured this way would be quicker. There's an assembly for all the agents, and it's about to start." She says. I nod slightly and start back towards the base, ignoring the pounding pain in my head and the fact that they all followed me out here. They trail behind me noisily chatting amongst each other, though Matt stays silent; I can practically feel his eyes boring into the back of my head, but he can stare at me all day for all I care, I'm not going to give in. Back at S.R.F. we get into an elevator that brings us back down into the base; the above ground levels are where computers and scanners are kept for monitoring. Right now the hallways are pretty much empty as we walk, most people are probably already at the assembly. The assembly hall is a large room filled with chairs, the trainees sit in the front, but I choose to stand against the back wall.