Rebel Born [FIRST DRAFT]

Chapter 21: A Fighter's Elegance [PART 1]

That night I had the strangest dream. I was dressed up into a ballgown and was spinning across a dance floor. I was dancing. Faces around me were blurred out, and I was only aware of the people spinning around me, and the intricate and graceful movements of my feet as I weaved around the dancefloor full of people with ease. Of course, I wasn't dancing alone. But my partner was way too blurred out for me to be able to recognize him.

As I was twirled out, I could feel the cool metal of a sheath of a dagger pressed up against my thigh. I must have been hiding a weapon under the dress. I frowned. What was I doing with a weapon at an event like this? I supposed it was because I felt safer with a weapon around me.

I felt a slight tug on my arm as I was retracted from my outward twirl and found myself back in the arms of my partner. My focus shifted to him. I noticed how his hand held mine in a tight grip, while his other was placed at my hip. His warmth passed through the clothing and warmed me up as well. Everything else faded out as I tried to bring his face into focus. Half of his face was blocked by a half-face mask but bright hazel eyes stared back at me.

Where have I seen eyes like that before?

His appearance became clearer. But I still couldn't put a name to the face. It was at the tip of my tongue but I just couldn't seem to remember it.

He opened his mouth to speak.

"Am-"

I awoke with a sudden jolt. I snapped my eyes open and pushed myself up into a sitting position. Another buzz came from my tablet. I squinted my eyes as I tapped on the screen, the brightness blinding me. I lowered the brightness of the screen and rubbed my eyes. Leaning against the headboard, I looked at the message that was just sent to me.

It was a message from the Syndicate Management Team. I frowned and checked the time. It was 5 am, and the sun was just beginning to rise. I tapped on the message and something that looked like an invite popped onto the screen.

Amelia Walker

You have been given permission to attend private training sessions at the Syndicate Management Building. Please report to Kimberly Miller at 0900 today.

I stared at the screen as the words sank into my mind. I shut off the tablet, placed it on the table by my bed and snuggled back into my blanket. I was on morning patrol today so I can go during then.

I was planning on keeping this a secret. If I told anyone in the syndicate, they would have assumed that I'm doing this out of guilt and they would tell me to stop. They were right about the guilt, which was exactly why I didn't want to tell them. They have all already been through so much. I want to become stronger so that they don't have to be hurt again. That was definitely hard, being in a syndicate and all. But I am still going to try to protect them the best I can. I fell back into a dreamless sleep, resting as much as I could before I began my new training sessions.

Two hours later, I walked out of my shared room with Vanessa in the suite that the Syndicate was staying in. Vanessa was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, sipping a cup of coffee while flipping through channels on the TV. She saw me walk out and greeted me good morning before turning her attention back to the TV.

I walked to the fridge and dug out some fruits. I washed them quickly and chucked them into a blender, making a quick smoothie before joining Vanessa in watching the news on TV. At 8, I left the hotel for my patrol, but headed in the direction of the Syndicate Management Building.

When I got there, the staff immediately directed me towards Mrs. Miller. "Good morning, Amelia." She greeted as she saw me approach her. "Take a seat first, we have to go through some paperwork before we begin the training."