The Higher Define (2018)

10

The cold water from the showerhead rains down on me. I sigh as I stand in a pool of icy cold water, hating that I can't go out but I can't stay in this horrible quality shower stall at the same time.

I ignore the banging on the door and let the droplets of freezing water tangle my hair and slide along my skin. I need time to think about everything- the mission, Reyna's suspicions and how I'm going to live in such an unconducive environment.

I pull open my tab as the banging starts to die down and compose a wireless to Hayley.

[Private Message to Hayley Weathers]

I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I don't know how long I'll be here. Hopefully, it's enough to draw the person who's after me away.

I send it and change into my sleepwear just as thunder bellowed from outside. There's no noise besides the beginning of a steady patter of rain.

I leave the stall to find that everybody has already left. I have been in the stall for such a long time that the other girls in the second shift having went off to complete their duties.

The batch of girls on the first shift are headed my way- I can see the thick line that grows large from where I stand so I quickly leave the room.

I bump into one of the girls as I make my way back to the room.

"Hey," She gently tugs at the hem of my shirt, "Reyna wanted me to relay to you that your team has no duties for tonight. The first batch has already completed the rounds for you. You can head back to the room and your leader will debrief you on the drill."

I give her a brief nod and mutter a 'thanks' as I run towards the building for the girls' sleeping area. Lightning flashes overhead as my feet slap against the stone pavement.

I make it to the room fast enough but when I open the door, I see that there's someone new standing in the middle of the room.

She leans just beside my mat, the shadows of the tree from outside playing across her features and making her look eerie. She exudes a strong sense of confidence and authority, her body pressed against the wall in a manner that seemed to put Reyna's stance to shame.

"You're late." She says to me calmly. I give her a nod but don't say anything. Her eyes feel like they're drilling a hole right through me and the look on her face makes me feel like all my secrets no longer feel like classified information.

She heaves a sigh and beckons me to close the door. I slam it shut as she starts towards the middle pf the room, allowing me to return to the position beside my mat.

"Since you're all here, I'll begin the debrief." The lady says. I stop her before she starts, to her annoyance.

"Wait- what's your name?"

The lady turns to Reyna, her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a line of disapproval, "You didn't tell her?"

Reyna shrugs as if it's the most ordinary thing. "I didn't think it was important."

The lady turns her attention back to me.

"My name's Emma but all of you need to call me Captain Emma or Leader Emma- whichever you prefer. I'm the leader of team Alpha, Beta, Cosmo, Siren and Lunar. Team Lunar is your team."

"That's a lot of teams. Surely, you can't fit us all in in one schedule?" I queried.

Emma turns her terrifying gaze back to Reyna who looks almost bored.

"You didn't tell her anything."

Reyna makes a noise of bitter mirth atvthe back of her throat, "Why would I tell her everything? She's a fake Define, Emma!"

My throat feels like it's being clogged up with words. I want to scream at Reyna and everyone else in the room that I'm a real Higher Define and that they're all wrong. That I'm just covering up, I'm just here to get promoted to my next year of Higher Define.

But no words come out. Because as much as I want to force them out, as much as I want to hear the ringing silence as the girls realise the truth, I know that it'll destroy the mission. I'll be betraying Spencer and everyone would knkw that he's a liar, too.

Emma's sound of weariness jerks me out of my thoughts.

"You're right- I can't handle all five teams at once. That's why there's an appointed leader in every group that's just one level below the main leader. Kayla's your leader."

Kayla nods at this statement, her pale face illuminated by the moonlight.

"So now that I have introduced myself, I would like to begin my debrief. I have one more team to debrief after you and I don't wish to keep them waiting."

I open my mouth to ask if she would like to know my name and then shut it quickly. She obviously has no time for me, fake Define or real Corrupt. So I let her speak.

"You will all need to be alert when your hear the sirens tomorrow. If you don't move fast enough, those patrolling will catch you and you'll face punishment. Move to your designated destinations in an orderly manner and make sure that no one gets left behind." Emma pauses to give Reyna a glance that's bursting with warning, "You will not leave the new girl behind."

"Sure." Reyna replies lazily, almost drawling.

Emma ignores her snarky remark.

"Remember that these emergency drills are all we have to prepare ourselves. Our logistics are low and resources are insufficient as compares to those who are potential attackers."

"Wait, I have a question." I'm scared that I might be creating a bigger hole for myself but I ask, anyway. "What are these drills for?"

Kayla's head swievels towards my direction as a feeling of dread ignites in my chest. There's a look of sadness that's apparent on her face.

"I forget that you're new here. Sometimes the Defines are sent out to patrol the borders and sniff out Corrupts who have ran away. They don't know that there's this small community of Corrupts that lives here. When there's a new batch of Defines that are assigned to check this area out, they almost always call for backup to clear the community."

"Clear? Clear as in-" I slap a hand over my mouth, my body shuddering. I have to force my spine against the wall so that my figure stops quivering like a frightened leaf in a storm.

"Clear as in kill." Reyna finishes for me, her voice heavy with anger and her fingernails clawing at the rubber material that the mat is made of. Her eyes feel like daggers and they flash almost dangerously.

"Oh." My voice is soft and weak. I din't know why it comes as a shock to me when I should know this by now. After all, I have always read about a Corrupt community that gets caught by the Defines on code tabloids. I guess that I just don't soend much time thinking about the Corrupts, being too fixated on myself.

"Back to the debrief- ensure that you don't get caught, no matter what. If you need to run into an area that is not marked as designated, do it. I know that this might sound drastic, being a drill but we need to make use of every drill that we have." The last part of Emma's statement is arrowed at me. I glance away, biting my lip.

Surely, she knows that I'll conform to her rules?

Emma turns to leave as Alice calls out a goodbye. The door opens and closes quickly. In the dark room where there is no electricity- it's all used to power the dim streetlamps, the only thing that I find solace in is the steady rate of Alice's snores.

I'm not able to sleep a wink tonight.