Wicked games

Chapter 15

"CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON." Zero's voiced boomed throughout the forest.

Without thinking too much, I grabbed the belt that had six ninja stars caught to it. Of all the weapons I trained with these past seven months, the stars were still my favourites. It might have something to do with my love for stargazing, but the fact there were so small and easy to handle was another reason for my preference.

We were outside the agency, preparing for yet another training, one I was excited about. Getting to work with Japanese stars usually got me like this. And morning trainings with Kai. And maybe seeing Elijah as well.

"You've been through this before, so I don't see the point in repeating myself," Zero continued, hands behind his back while he seized every rookie. "However, there is something different with this training. While you'll focus on the targets, you, in turn, will be targets as well."

I frowned, wandering what the hell he was talking about.

"Ninja stars, knives and arrows will be pointed at you. Be aware of your surroundings, if you don't want to fail."

He then motioned for Alex to step forward.

"Just when I think things can't get any crazier," Taylor mumbled, her gaze fixated on Alex's turn.

"I'm sure it's easier than it sounds," Ayden comforted us—and maybe himself as well.

I stared intently as a target appeared behind Alex. He turned around swiftly, shooting an arrow in the middle of it. Another targer, another arrow landing on the middle effortlessly. By the time the third target appeared, something resembling a crossbow shot a knife in Alex's direction. The speed with which it moved was almost invisible to the eye, and I had to bit my lip, preventing me from shouting for him. Fortunately, he avoided the knife by humping to the left in the last second.

"Or not." I snorted at Ayden's comment.

"I don't know what you expected," I said, his shoulder nudging me playfully. "You know they never make training easy."

"Can't Kai give you some heads-up about the next trainings?"

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head at Taylor's question. "That won't happen."

"Well, then your friendship with him seems pointless."

Friends.

My relationship with Kai is ... weird, to put it lightly. I believe we've come a long way, from strangers to friends—because unlike a few months ago, I do think he views me as a friend now. I'm still getting used to him talking to me, which happens on more than one occasion. He opens up to me, and I get to see the real Kai more than often than not, which is a pleasant surprise.

Truth to be told, I get conflicted at times. With this new found friendship and this side I get to see, I know he's more than just my trainer. He's someone I can rely on, someone who gets me and is generally there when I need him.

But the way he looks at me sometimes—it makes my heart skip those troublesome beats.

"Stay sharp, okay?" Taylor's voice pulled me out of my daydream.

Shifting my eyes towards Alex, I realise he was now finishing his turn.

"Are you actually worrying about me?" There was a playful ring to Ayden's tone, which made Taylor roll her eyes. Though the shadow of a smile played on her lips.

Ayden was next, so I squeezed his arm lightly as some sort of encouragement. He shot me a smile before moving forward.

It's getting darker outside, and the creeping shadows makes it harder for us to spot the targets and even harder to see the crossbows. The night seems to conspire with the agents against us, and though I know what they are capable of, I also know Munir won't let them do anything to us.