S.H.A.D.E. [{ Completed }]✔ (#Wattys2018)

Instruments of Death

10.

I wait for Scarlet outside my more-of-a-closet room.

It's exactly one hour when she strolls down the hall, carrying dark folded clothing in her hands. She, herself, is wearing a bright red suit with bright red lipstick to match and her dark hair is smoothed back into a stylish ponytail . It's like looking at a completely different person in comparison to what she looked like earlier.

"Here," she says, handing the clothes to me. "Change into these. They're great material, breathable and easy to move in. They don't tear easily either, which is a bonus, unless of course you're nabbed by a Demon." She gives me a knowing wink. Great, everyone's talking about my naked fiasco. She sees the look on my face and chuckles, "Oh, don't worry. Everyone thinks that it was ballsy. I don't think I would have even thought of that, and I'm practically a nudist."

"Good to know."

"There's actually a bathroom down the hall," she points, "so off you go, quick. We have a lot to do. I can't believe they're relocating you so fast, but Copper's being impatient. Probably wants to get back to what he and Black were working on."

I repress a snort."Black the Black?"

She grins. "I know, right? But what's worse is that there is a Shade out there named Orange. Can you imagine?"

For the first time since waking up in that basement, I laugh, a sincere genuine one. She smiles as I do, and I realize that I like Scarlet.

"When you're done changing, I'll take you to the training room. Don't expect anything fancy, it's just downstairs. Lots of rats."

"Wonderful," I drone, heading toward the way she had pointed.

Sure enough, there is a scummy little bathroom tucked away at the end of the hall.

I go in and quickly began to change, but stop when I catch sight of myself in the mirror.

Slowly, I bring a hand up to my face, touching it gently, as if I need to see that this is in fact me. A stranger, really.

I didn't expect to look like this, didn't feel like this, but the girl in the mirror is beautiful and strong. I am muscular, toned all over. I flex my arms and turn around to look at my bare back, watching the muscle roiling under my skin. I'm not huge by any means, but I look like an athlete.

Had I been an athlete before becoming Ebony?

I lean into my reflection, balancing my weight on the sink, and examine my eyes. They are a dark brown, full of depth. My skin is a rich, healthy caramel and my hair is a curly, glossy black. I smile at myself, feeling... proud, I guess? I hadn't expected this. I was so busy trying to survive before that I never really gave a thought towards my appearance.

"You done admiring yourself yet?"

I startle, almost hitting my head against the mirror.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm going."

Suddenly, I feel a bit excited for training. Excited to see what this body can do.

"You're going to find that most activities will be second nature to you and that your level of skill will be significantly higher than average."

"Man, was I like, an Olympian or something?"

"Or something. But listen, you still need to train regardless. I am not content with maintaining your state now, I want to make you into a Titan, into something indestructible. So, you'll not ease up just because it's easy for you -- maximum effort -- got it?"