Chapter 7

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As I traveled through the huge building, I silently cursed myself. What was I thinking, telling Han my name? I had gone by that name for almost as long as I could remember. Anyone on the clouds, especially in this area, could recognize my name. I really had no choice but to tell him my name though. I had already told Sunshine. I could've made up my last name though. But it hardly mattered now. The only reason I was still alive, at this point, was luck. In most cases, I am not all that lucky either.

I went to the lunch room, hoping they still had some food in there, but I found the doors locked. I pressed my ear against the wall. Whispers leaked through. I held in my groan. The locked door meant no food. I would survive. I didn't exactly get three meals everyday before I was brought here either. I was able to 'afford' two if I was lucky. I found the group in the training room. I smiled. After hours of sitting still, I was ready to move. 

Sunshine caught me out of the corner of his eye and limped to me. 

"Here, he whispered, "take this." He held a piece of bread in his hand. "You just missed lunch by half of the hour."

I nodded thanks to him and he went back before anyone noticed the exchange. Bringing the bread was more likely than not against the rules.

I scanned the room. It seemed we were just doing what we did last time here. I grabbed a standard sword. I was glad to find this one balanced.

I heard a voice from behind me. "I'd like a rematch."

I whipped around. It was the boy from yesterday. I ground my teeth but nodded. I could use the practice.

I followed him into a open space in between some other fighters. He turned around so fast I had no time to prepare when he swung his sword. The best I could do was to jump back, the weapon only missing my neck by centimeters. 

"What is that for?" I said, almost yelling. 

He shrugged in a very annoying way and swung at me agin. At least this time I was ready. I stopped his blade with out any time to spare. He swung again and again, my sword meeting his own weapon in a clash of steel. His attacks came faster. It dawned me that yesterday he wan't even trying. 

I had no time to attack. I was all defense. In moments, my breaths were coming faster and less even. 

He smiled lazily. "Having trouble?"

I chose not to reply. I whirled to block his next blow and almost missed the next one. I was retreating very quickly. More quickly than I would've liked. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see that I was almost backed all the way to a wall. 

Our swords met and I pressed hard, but he was stronger. It was his mistake to not disengage. I pulled a knife out of my pocket, trying desperately to keep our blades locked together with one hand. 

I brought my knife to his throat. 

"Surrender," I said as his eyes widened. 

Then I was flung backwards by some force, my sword flying from my hand. He had kicked me. He briskly walked up to me with his sword and pointed it at my throat. 

"Surrender," he said mockingly.

I spat at him, but he didn't even blink.

A chuckle almost caused me to turn my head, but I remembered the very sharp object hovering above my neck.

It was the commander. 

"Lohan, don't kill anyone yet. Now is not the time. And I think you're scaring her," he said. 

Lohan lowered the sword, and I jumped up from the floor.

I glanced around the room. Everyone was gone. Was it already dinner time? The commander confirmed my thoughts.

"Go eat. You can work on your skills tomorrow. Tonight we are going to have some fun," he grinned and I wondered if his idea of 'fun' was going to end up killing me.

In the kitchen, I stayed away from Sunshine. I was too tired to talk. I was a thief. I wan't used to waking up so early in the morning. Normally I woke up late and went to sleep late. How dumb a thief would be to sneak into homes while the sun was still up. Until I got used to waking up early in the morning, I didn't think I would ever be fully awake.

Sunshine saw me and made his way over to where I was sitting. I groaned.

"Are you excited for tonight?" he asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

"We're all going to die."

"Then what is there to not be excited about?" He said it jokingly, but he was frowning at what I said anyways.

I was not excited about death, but I was still going to stay here until I absolutely had to leave. 

The commander came in and took us to the weapons room. The kids that lived up here, the ones that didn't get taken from their homes against their will, were already in the room waiting. 

The commander moved to the front. He said, "Hopefully, it hasn't been too long for you to forget your partners. Today is as simple as it gets. All of you will be fighting me one at a time. You can surrender when ever you want to, but you should do it before I kill you. The team that fights me the longest in total gets the most points. 

"Any volunteers?"

Nobody stepped forward. No one moved. 

I had it figured that this was going to be a long and terrifying night. 







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