Breaking Away

Chapter VI: The Charming Bartender

Micah

"Hey, moron. Get dressed."

Levi throws the uniform Olivia left me to change into at me, waking me up. I must have drifted asleep examining the carvings on the roof of the bunk. Levi insisted that I sleep in the bottom one. Something about 'him owning the top one'. Whatever it was, I backed off. I don't want to get on his nerves any further.

As I climb out of the bunk I yawn, "How long was I asleep?"

I pull my plain grey shirt over my head. Balling it up, I toss it onto the mattress.

"Look, I didn't join the Nightdogs for smalltalk."

He takes his time climbing down the ladder of the top bunk and walking towards the other side of the cell.

"Why did you join then?"

I'm fully dressed in my uniform now. It consists of a long sleeved, tight fitting, black shirt, black pants, and black combat boots. I comb my dark brown hair with my fingers as I wait for a response.

"Redemption."

He turns to me as he says this, his eyes flash with a lingering evil. I shudder as I tie the strings of my boots up my calves.

A knock on the metal bars makes both of us jump as we turn our heads towards the culprit.

"You two friends yet?"

Olivia asked casually. Levi gives her a he-could-care-less look and she doesn't try to go any further with that question. She fumbles for the keys in her pocket. Her efforts fruitful, she lets out a small cry of triumph as she turns the key in the lock. She pops open the door with a smile.

"Follow me to the dining hall, boys."

We walk in a straight line behind her, Levi behind he. I haven't noticed until now, but Olivia has to be at least 23. You can tell by the way that she walks she is more mature than Levi, or Alexander.

The time that it takes to get from my cell to the dining hall is shorter than my first adventure in the compound. We round one last corner, and there are a pair of swinging doors. Olivia Pushes the doors open with both hands revealing a long room with a high ceiling. The walls, floors, and tables are all made out of wood. It's a dark room, but well-lit with lanterns. This room brings back memories.

"You may sit where you want, and help yourself to food when you wish to. At 8:30 a whistle will sound, meaning you have to find me. I will be at the trainer's table, over there."

She points to a table in the far right corner with fierce looking individuals. Among them sits Alexander. Why doesn't she look so mean like they do?

"I'll see you two then."

With that she walks towards a man with his arms open. He smiles as he takes her in for a long hug. The man whispers something in her ear and they sit down at the table next to each other. She almost looks like an...Opulent compared to him.

My thoughts return to my own body and I realize that Levi already found a table. He is seated next to some other guys taller than him, the same angry look in their eyes. You can tell he's known them for a while.

My eyes scan the crowd of tables for a promising one. They pause on a table with a few people already sitting at it. I make my way over to the table when a guy I don't see bumps into me.

"Oh, Sorry. Ah...."

His sudden introduction shocking both of us, he scratches the side of his neck. He pauses, his dark face and amber eyes wait for me to assure him.