Breaking Away

Chapter V: Enemies Before Friends

Piper'

I look at the four apartment buildings in front of me. I can't depend on my instincts anymore. They would tell me to turn back. All I can do now is trust my heart. I rub the dove necklace nervously.

I'm doing this for you, Micah.

Sprinting across the apartment building, questioning my own ability, I launch myself across the alleyway. If I look down it would seem like I'm flying over a canyon, light as a feather.

I land on the second apartment roof and tumble a few more feet. I roll over to my side to see a large scrape on my left knee. The impact cut through my pants.

I slowly stand up, and the pain shoots through my leg as I do. Wincing, I try to walk. How am I going to do this?

No matter what, I have to keep pushing. The pain numbing my thoughts, I sprint across the roof. I start panic as I realize that I won't make it.

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Micah

Alexander orders a woman to unstrap me from the table. She walks over to me, her slim, tall figure moving elegantly. Her short, red hair falls over her round face as she unstraps me.

She holds out her olive hand to help me up. I take it gingerly, to be surprised by her kind smile. I suddenly feel trust as she pulls me up and off the table.

"The name's Olivia. I will be your trainer. I take it he's Micah?" On the last sentence, she turns her head to Alexander, who nods. She looks back at me, her face becoming serious.

"In the next couple of weeks, you will undergo a series of training exercises, testing each one of your abilities. The purpose of this is to train you to become a soldier of the Nightdogs, and to bring out your inner fighter."

Hold on. Did she say soldier?

I want to refuse, to turn back. But I know if I try, I will be in a worse position than I am in now. Instead I let her lead me out of the room, through a maze of corridors, counting each step that I take. Olivia stops infront of one of the many jail-looking cells.

I count 79.

She swivels on the toes of her feet to face me. "This will be your cell. Where you will sleep, eat, and do your business."

She removes a key from her belt and un-locks the door. It makes a popping as the metal-barred door opens. She comically gestures me inside.

Inside the cell isn't any more cozy than it looks from the outside. The floors and walls are made of concrete, and the room is complete with a stall with the toilet inside, a small window near the top of the wall, and a bunk bed.

"They should really work on some decorations in here." I laugh as I tell Olivia. She just shrugs.

I didn't notice until now, but there is someone on the top bunk, staring at me through his shaggy dark brown hair. His pale arms are crossed.

"And who is this child." He smirks as he says this, making his thin facial hair stretch.

I shoot an unfriendly glare in his direction, and all he does is roll his grey, lifeless eyes. Great. I already made an enemy, in the last place on earth I would want to make one.

"Levi, this is Micah, and vice versa. I suggest you two get to know each other."

At the sound of those words I cringe. I don't think Levi would want to get to know me. He looks about ready to pull a knife on me. She locks the jail cell with her key and shoves it in her pocket.

"Micah I will be coming to pick you up at seven o' clock sharp. You will be fed and then you will begin your training. You and Levi be ready by then."

Olivia smiles one last time before leaving me alone with him. I freeze as I hear Levi jump off of the top bunk and inch closer to me. A shiver goes down my spine as I glance towards him. His muscles aren't the largest, but they are certainly larger than mine.

Why am I making myself look so weak? I turn to him, and as he gets closer, I laugh inside to realize that he is a head shorter than me.

"You're pretty tall for your age, kid." Levi pokes me in the chest, making me rock back. "How old are you anyways?" He stares at me. Taunting me.

My instincts tell me to lie and make myself look stronger, I can't now. This is my new life.

"Eighteen." I say firmly.

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Piper

I yell out of agony as I struggle to hold onto the edge of the roof for dear life. My fingers are slowly being pulled down with the rest of my weight and they start to slip.

Nine.

I try to pull myself up with my upper body, kicking to give me some extra lift. My left knee is stinging.

Eight.

I scrape the brick wall with my boots, trying to get a grip and climb up. No use.

Seven.

What's wrong with me? I'm strong enough to do this. I just need to focus.

Six.

Taking in a deep breath. I try to calm myself. All at once, the muscles in my arms and legs flex, I push down on the edge, giving me leverage. My fingers regain their strength as I swing my leg onto the roof and pull myself over.

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Panting, I stand up with victory. The other two jumps were not nearly as hard as the last one. My heartbeat slows after a while and I sigh with relief. I go over to the edge of the roof and take a seat.

My stomach growls as I look at my watch. It reads 5:21. Auntie would be cooking dinner for both of us by now. With food on my mind, I swing my back pack next to me. I unzip the main compartment and bring out an orange and the water I drank from earlier. That seems like a century ago.

Swigging the water bottle, I see in the direction I came from the group of Opulents, just now walking away. I wear a smug grin as I think of my fight to get over here. I bet Micah wouldn't of been as clever as me, he probably would've fallen asleep in the alley.

I giggle at the thought of him sleeping. He looks ten times younger when his eyes are shut. I guess everyone does.

I un peel the orange, throwing the peels off of the edge and watching them fall onto the concrete sidewalk below.

Hah. That could've been me.

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(You thought Piper was gonna die didn't you....hehehe. I love writing this. I would seriously give up 100% of my day to writing this. But I can't:( Thanks for being patient though:) Don't forget to Comment, and Vote!!!!

Next chapter: Will Levi and Micah stay enemies? Can Piper find out where Micah is? What is life inside of the Nightdog compound like? ~ Anna )