The Elite

Chapter 6

*Ember's POV*

Sit in the sun they say, you look pale and sickly. Eat your five a day and rest regularly, you're our girl and we want what is best for you. So just listen and you'll be back to your old self.

I'm sick and tired of being told what to do all the time. I'm home now, it's the day after I met the other recruits and my parents are hyper aware that my birthday is just five days away. They won't stop fussing or giving me pieces of fruit or ushering me outside. And quite frankly I've had enough already.

Since its summer it's quite warm and the sun is strong, I'm wearing a black and white stripy t-shirt dress and watching over Zoe splashing in the shallow paddling pool from the sun bed that has been placed on the patio for me.

Mum and dad are out food shopping, they were reluctant to leave but I pushed them to go since our fridge was empty. I know I've only been home for a day but I'm bored as hell, the only time I've been allowed outside is in the back garden but I want to go out.

"How about we go to the park Zoe?" I ask smiling at my little sister as I watch her pushing a small yellow duck around in the water.

She nods eagerly, "yes!" She squeals trying to step over the tall edge of the pool.

I get up quickly knowing that her small two year old legs won't be able to make it, I pick her up from under her arms and gently lift her over the edge. She starts running towards the door but I stop her just before she gets in the kitchen,

"You need to dry off first," I make my way towards her, wrapping a pink towel around her small body, "you also can't go to the park in your swim suit."

I manage to dry her off and get her dressed into her mint green dress with white birds on it and little white pumps with minimal fussing. I brush through and untangle the small amount of brown hair that she has, and put it into a tiny ponytail.

I send a quick text to both mum and dad telling them exactly what our plans are and where we're going, that way they can't complain and panic when we're not here when they get back. I know they won't be fans of me deciding to take Zoe out, worrying that something else could happen to me.

Sir said that him and his team couldn't come to the conclusion that the RTC that I was involved in was either a targeted attack on me because the person knows that I'm 'elite' or just a heartless hit and run.
I think I'd prefer the second option.

I pull on my converse and get Zoe's pushchair out from the cupboard, grabbing my small black bag resting the chain on my shoulder.

I reach for Zoe's hand noticing that she's holding her small stuffed giraffe toy in the other, I smile and roll my eyes.
She takes that thing everywhere, it probably needs a wash.

I lock the door behind us and we walk for the short time of just ten minutes to the park around the corner from our house, I too used to play there when I was Zoe's age.

It is a school day today and so the park is pretty empty, I would have gone to college myself if my parents would have let me. They say that the summer holidays are coming up soon and it doesn't really matter, on the other hand it's exam season and so I need to be in every class. Their excuse was that it's Friday and that I should have a long weekend, I'm going back Monday for definite.