Iron Will (sequel to Iron Soul)

Chapter Eighteen: Broken, Beat & Scarred

Jet's POV

        "Agent 15! Get your ass up! It's time to train!" I groan loudly and open my eyes. An unfamiliar setting is put around me. A cool, dark room. A loud, menacing voice. An overwhelming sense of fear and being lost. An unfamiliar place filled with unfamiliar voices. I sit up slowly. "Agent 15! I gave you an order! Up and out of bed, now!" I look around, the room filled with about 5 other beds. A small trunk rests at the edge of what I put together is my bed. The room is large and empty except for the beds and well, me. "Agent 15!!" I look at the large man in the door way. "Well thank you for finally acknowledging that I exist.  Now up! I want you in your training clothes and ready to go in 5 minutes. Do you understand me?" I nod, frightened by him. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." he snaps.

        "Yes... sir?" I try in a quiet and unsure voice. Is that even right? That feels right. Please be right.

        "What was that?"

        "Yes sir!" I snap.

        "Thank you agent 15. Now get moving before I have someone come and give you your first beating." Beating... yeah that does not sound good. I push myself to my feet and walk down to my trunk. I look for a way to open it, and find none. I stare at the trunk, completely dumbfounded. I sigh and squat next to it. There's a small, raised bar on it, almost invisible. I run my thumb over it. The truck's lid pops open. I look inside and see three piles of clothes. I take out the set that looks like something I would do this 'training' in. I pull on a black stretchy thing that looks like a type of bra? Oh! A sports bra! That's what that's called. I grab the electric blue thing next. I pull it over my head, my shoulders and back exposed, the material light and flowy. Next it is some really tight pants made of an athletic material. Leggings. They're called leggings. Next it's socks and shoes. I grab the laces in my hands and stop. I... I can't remember how to tie my shoes.... I sit down, staring at the two pieces in my hands. Why can't I remember?! My mind races, trying so desperately to remember how. I look at my shoes, the simplest of tasks being the most confusing thing ever. Tears sting my eyes as I try to tie them. I fail every time.

        "Agent 15! I said 5 min- whoa, hey are you okay?" the large man asks. The tears shake my body, my shoes laying untied at my feet. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asks, his voice loosing its rough edge and being replaced by a nicer one.

        "I can't remember how to tie my shoes." I say weakly, already have given up.

        "That's okay. It's easy. Here, I'll show you." he says, kneeling next to me. He takes the laces and puts one under the other. He tugs tightly and then forms two loops. He wraps one under the other and tugs again. "There. That's all it is. You try." I nod and try again. I wrap one lace under the other, making the foundation of my loop. Next I make two more loops and wrap one around and under. I tug lightly and look at my shoe. A perfect bow sits on the top of my foot, my shoes tied. "There yah go. That was easy, wasn't it?" he asks.

        "Yeah. I guess it was..." I say distantly. I stare at my shoes, completely and totally embarrassed by my own stupidity. I feel like I can just shrivel up like a raisin and hide in some unwanted corner for the rest of my life.

        "You okay J- agent 15?" the man asks.

        "Yeah, I'm fine." I reply bitterly. I stand up on my feet and glance around my new home.

        "Okay, now it's time for training." the man says, the tough edge return to his voice. "Follow me. Hydra can't know that I got a little soft there." He starts off on a quick pace that I have to practically jog to keep up with. We exit the room and out into a crowded hallway.