Captured by Him

Chapter 6

Today, I find out who I will specifically be training with to learn my best abilities. There are two groups. One is where the physically strong go and the other is where the quicker and leaner ones go. I'm hoping that I'm in group two. There's no way that I'm strong.

Walking to he training room I'm all buzzed up with energy. I am totally ready for this.

"Well someone's excited." Ace comments, eyeing me wearily.

"What can I say?" I look up at him. "I'm an excited learner." I jump ahead of him eyeing the training room just a few feet in front of me.

"Is that even a thing?" Ace calls after me.

I turn towards him, walking backwards. "It is in my book!" I beam at him, that is until I run into something rock hard.

I turn around shocked by the impact and see Oliver standing there. Embarrassed, I clear my throat and sheepishly apologize. "My bad."

He looks down at me emotionless. He starts to lean towards my face. I get butterflies from his closeness. "We have got to stop meeting like this." Oliver says into my ear. His breath send shivers down my spine and I hope he doesn't notice.

Obviously realizing the effect that he has on me, he smirks and struts away without another word. I'm left breathless; my heart beating a million miles an hour.

~*~

"When I call your name, please step to the left side of me!" Oliver's voice booms around the training room. "You will be group one! Ethan Reyes. John Mclean. Hale Jefferson..." I block out all the names he calls of, too caught up in my mind.

Oliver actually acknowledged us ever meeting before. I try not to focus on the way his perfect mouth moves as he talks, or how his muscles are easily shown through his shirt, or his piercing blue eyes. But I can't help myself.

I don't even realize that I am the last person standing, having not been chosen for a group yet. I automatically assume that I'm team two and start to walk towards them, but I'm stopped.

"Have a seat, Crane." Oliver says firmly. "I need to get these guys started. We need to have a chat." This earns me a few snickers, some thinking that I'm in trouble. Most of the guys look at me worriedly, especially Ace. I give him a reassuring smile and go to sit down.

"Team one." Oliver acknowledges. "This is your advisor. He goes by Sergeant." He gestures to an older man with white hair but rippling muscles. I mean, this guy is totally ripped. He even bigger than Oliver. Sergeant wears a permanent scowl on his face a addressed team one.

"We are here to learn our strongest abilities. There will be no horseplay. No stupidity. No disobedience. Fail to do so there will be consequences. You do have me for 3 weeks, so I wouldn't take that threat lightly. Now follow me, Girl Scouts, so we can get started."

Team one goes with Sergeant, leaving Tean two with Oliver and a tall, muscular lady. She had flawless chocolate brown skin with her hair buzzed to her scalp. She looks a lot less menacing than Sergeant but could kick your ass with a flick of a wrist.

"Team two, this is your advisor, Gabrielle Ryder." Oliver introduced the woman.

She gives Team two a warm smile. "You can call me Ryder. My rules are the same as Sergeants, so I hope you were paying attention." She pivots on her heals beckoning for Team two to follow.

That leaves just me and Oliver. He has his back to me, as if contemplating what to say. I hear him sigh and he turns around quickly to face me.

My hazel eyes peer into his blue ones, questioning what is next. In two long strides his figure stands above me.

"Stand up." He instructs me. I abide obediently. "You and I have private sessions. I'm assuming you know why." He quirks his eyebrow at me.

"Um..." I think racking my brain for an answer. Then it hits me. "Because I'm supposed to be an assassin?"

"That is correct." He gives me no praise. "And I am the best one to train you."

"Hey now. Let's no get cocky." I say jokingly. But I'm left with his normal looking bitch face.

"I'll let this one slide, Crane. Don't. Do. It. Again." With each word he leans down closer to my face for effect.

Strangely, it still gives me butterflies even though he is trying to intimidate me. "Sir, yes, sir." I say as strongly as I can.

"Good. 20 laps on the double."

~*~

Slowly. Dying. I never thought I'd die from exhaustion. That's exactly how I feel now. I'm only on lap 10 and my legs are on fire and my lungs screaming for oxygen.

Still running I look at Oliver to see his reaction. Immediately I regret looking at him. All I see is disappointment and doubt. Does he doubt my capability to be an assassin? Is he disappointed that I was not the right one? Oh, hell no.

Determined I push myself as fast as I can go. I can feel the adrenaline rushing in my veins and my legs burn from speed. I finish my last 10 laps in a breeze.

Tired, I jog up to Oliver smirking. "How's that for a first day's training?" I ask smugly.

Looking down at his stop watch he says, "I've seen better. And that was just part of your warmup." Now he's the one smirking. "We're not even close to being done with the day, Crane."

My smirk immediately disappears, replaced with a frown. "But I-"

"No but's! If you can't run 2 miles without even a heavy breath, then how can you be a trustworthy assassin? You want to be respected? Then stop complaining and suck it up. 'Cause as of right now, I don't think you have what it takes to become one. You don't have what it takes to be a soldier." He turns and leaves me alone. His words hurt me a lot more than they should have.

Did I make the wrong choice? Maybe I should've chosen to be a slave...

No.

NO.

I am Artemis Crane. I will be a good soldier. I will be an assassin. And I will be the best. 'Cause when I want something... Well I sure as hell better get it.

Sorry if it's shorter than normal. Just a filler. (If there are any mistakes, please let me know- it's greatly appreciated) We'll get to the good stuff in the next few chapters 😁
~Autumn Stormm