The Traitor

Chapter Five: Called Out

The train pulled into the only station on Daine territory and screeched to a stop. We quickly grabbed our luggage and hauled it to the tram, which transported us to the Singles dorms, where we would all be staying. 

I checked in at the front desk in the Lobby and found out I was rooming with a girl my age named Lauren, who had been on the last train to the Daine Side. I eagerly dragged my suitcases and backpack up to the fourth floor and searched the room numbers above the doors for number 451. My room was located at the end of the hall and I used my room key I had been given to unlock the door. The room was surprisingly big and included a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a bedroom with two full-sized beds, which leaned up against opposite walls. There was also a wooden desk next to each bed, where a girl with short, curly brown hair sat typing on her laptop. 

She turned when she heard me come in and I watched her face light up.

"Oh my gosh! You must be Teya. I'm your roommate, Lauren. It's so nice to finally meet you! I've been waiting for you to arrive since I found out you were coming a couple weeks ago!" I set my luggage down and she ran over and gave me a tight squeeze while I stood there, speechless. I wasn't expecting that much of an energetic welcome. "Sorry, I didn't mean to overwhelm you, I'm just so excited that you're here!"

"It's okay. Me too," I told her, and it was true. I was excited to start my new life and find out where it would take me.

"So," she began, casually, then her tone became serious. "I heard about the train attack. That's so scary."

"Yeah, it was pretty scary. Luckily, the Wens missed the train, or it might've been a lot worse," I responded. I was starting to see the extent of the war that I hadn't seen before since I had never been that close to an attack. Who knew what would've happened had the Wens not missed the train.

"Yeah. Thank goodness," she added. "Well, you should probably start unpacking. The dinner party starts at six and you don't wanna be late."

"Dinner party? But, I thought-"

"There's always a huge dinner party on the days when the new recruits arrive." She winked. "That's you, so don't be late. I'll see you at dinner." She gave me one more hug before running out the door. 

I knelt down on the carpeted floor of my new bedroom and unzipped my suitcase, then began transferring all my clothes into the dresser that sat at the end of my bed. After that, I started unloading my other suitcase into my desk and closet. 

I had nearly finished when a knock came at the door. Wondering who it might be, I walked over to the door and peered out the side window. A woman in a tight, knee-length pencil skirt and matching blazer was waiting patiently behind the closed door. She had a white name tag pinned to her blazer and wore a stern expression that clearly meant business. I reached over and unlocked the door, then pulled it open. The woman's serious face didn't change as she looked at me, then down at the clipboard in her hand.

"Teya Raine, I presume?" Her voice sounded bored as she uncapped her pen and checked my name off her list of new recruits.

"Yes," I replied hesitantly, wondering how she knew it was me. Then again, there were only five new Daines, three of which were girls, so I was sure it wasn't hard to guess.

She acted as though she didn't hear me and continued in the same monotone voice, "All new recruits are to report to the office near the train station 20 minutes prior to dinner. No exceptions. Oh, and welcome to Daine Territory." She gave a fake smile as she said the last part, then turned and left before I had a chance to respond.

Okay... I thought. I looked down at my watch, which read 5:30. I decided to start heading down since I realized I had no idea how to get to the office and would need time to find it. I grabbed my room key and slipped it into my pocket, then began making my way down the hall to the elevator. Inside, I pressed L for 'Lobby' and felt the elevator begin its descent. The doors opened and I walked out, bumping directly into Sophia.