The Trial

Chapter 2

As the four of us entered the building, we spread out beside each other. the large room was empty and almost pitch black. in the center of the room, Simon was standing next to a small table. I couldn't see what was on the table. 

"today, you will be given three things you must decide upon by the time you return tomorrow morning. the first is a weapon. the second is armor. the third is tactics. I encourage you to choose wising and take your time to do so." he motioned to the table next to him and added "these are our current and past weapons and armor. each of you can choose the same weapons and armor even your tactics can be the same. however, I advise that you remember this is what you will be taking with you when you attempt to change our past. what you choose for a tactic can change, but your armor and weapons will not be able to change. once your choice is made, we will need to make the necessary changes to the time machine to allow your weapons and armor to make the journey with you." 

he started to back away into the darkness. the door was slammed shut behind us, and we were standing in complete darkness. "your first test begins now." 

I took a deep breathe and closed my eyes, stopping my eyes from attempting to adjust to the darkness, since it was basically useless. I knew how many steps I'd taken away from the door, so I retraced my steps, backing up slowly and as silently as possible. I could hear the other three making their way toward the table, which I still didn't think held any weapons. it was too flat. it had to be a trick. the only thing that could be on that table had to be flat, since I couldn't see anything sticking up off it. it had to be books with pictures of our weapons and armor; not real, usable things. 

when my back hit the wall and door, I slid away from the door. I wasn't sure how big the room was, but I knew I needed to be in a corner where nothing and no one could sneak up behind me. I was pretty good at sensing when someone or something was close to me, but I'd never put it to the test in a pitch black room where I couldn't turn and see what or who was there. I needed a clear head and a safe spot to sit and wait for whatever was going to happen. 

it felt like an eternity, before I finally found a corner. the room was getting warmer and warmer by the minute. I could hear the other three moving about the room. none of them seemed to have the sense to be silent. who knew what was in here with us. I'd heard horror stories of this place, and I wasn't about to be one of the minds that cracked in a twisted version of a sensory deprivation chamber. 

as the room became nearly unbearably hot, I kept hearing this soft scraping noise. I wasn't sure if it was one of the others or not, but I had a sinking feeling that it wasn't. I wanted to call out to the others and ask, but that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach told me not too. 

a muffled scream made my heart skip a beat and start to race. I needed to calm it down, immediately. with my eyes still closed, I focused on my heart beats and breathing, quickly calming myself down, even after another scream erupted in the darkness. I kept my calm and sat there, listening to every tiny sound. footsteps all around the room. they were almost silent, but there was a tiny squealtching sound of the soles of their shoes that gave them away. there was someone or something in here, hunting us. 

after the third scream, which was too close for comfort, I thought about moving, but I didn't want to give my position away. if I moved, I'd make noise, so I stayed put, focusing on my breathing and heartbeats to keep calm and quiet. after a long silence, I heard the faintest of whispers but couldn't make them out. they were too far away, which was good for me. 

I could hear them to my left toward the door, to my right along the wall I assumed, and in the middle of the room. listening harder, it sounded like they were moving toward me, in a wide sweeping grid. I had to move and quickly, so I silently slipped off my shoes and held them close to my chest as I cautiously stood up, opening my eyes and finally letting them adjust.

i glanced down at my shoes and could just make them out in the darkness. I frowned. I still couldn't see anything, unless it was right in front of me. listening for the sound of their almost silent steps, I carefully made my way across the room, hoping they had already searched the other side for me. I could tell that I was getting close to something or someone, so I paused. I couldn't hear footsteps, so I hoped it was the table in the middle of the room. hesitantly, I moved sideways, counting my steps, and went around the object, not wanting to risk being caught if it wasn't the table. 

when I finally reached the other side, it took me a few minutes to decide which way to go. I felt along the wall and headed for what I hoped was a corner furthest away from whoever was in here. I had only taken a few steps, when a loud beeping sound went off. after so much silence, it was deafening. I cringed at the sound but kept moving, picking up my pace and hoping the beeping noise would drown out my movements. 

"the first test has been completed." Simon's voice echoed through the room, and the lights were suddenly switched on. I had to shut my eyes and slowly open them, squinting at the brightness and glancing around the room. eight others stood around the room, including myself, the other three trainees, Simon, and three more. they weren't students or instructors. they were true Hunters; the shifters of our kind. I gaped at the three of them that were standing near the other three trainees. the other three were sitting where i assumed they'd been caught, and the Hunters that caught them stood over them. 

Simon turned his attention to me with the faintest hint of a smirk. "I'm impressed, Rebecca. very few have ever passed this part of the test. none of which have ever been female."

"Thank you, sir." I breathed, feeling relieved and anxious at the same time. turning to glance around at the Hunters, he asked "did she truly evade your senses?" each of the hunters gave a single nod, and Simon gave a wave of his hand. a moment later, the hunters began to move toward the door at the opposite side that we had come in. 

glancing at the three that had come in with me, Simon said "you may rise and accept your defeat. tomorrow, we will begin the second portion of the tests. team work will be a great part of the second test, so I suggest you get to know your allies." he gestured to each of us, before he added "you may leave, now. tomorrow will be the last day you see your loved ones, until the testing and Trial are over, so make this evening count." there was a slight hint of sadness in his tone, and I was a little surprised to hear any emotion at all. that alone made me worry for tomorrow.