Survival Mode

Chapter 7

That night I find it awfully hard to sleep. My mind is going through everything that has happened and it's like I can't breathe.

After I left the book back where I had found it I went back to the main area in the library. When Etan came back with two cups of coffee I had spent the whole time staring at it and avoiding eye contact. My brother knew something was wrong though and he asked me about it but I had forced myself to smile and act like nothing had happened.

After a few hours of Etan searching relentlessly on where our little brother could have been and me trying to avoid my big brother all together, we decided to call it a night.

That brings me here, lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It was only when I came back home when I suddenly remembered the note that was left for me on my bed the night before. I had been too distracted to remember. But now I remember and I'm too afraid to go to sleep.

Morning comes later than I want and I still haven't closed my eyes for more than a blink.

The alarm clock on my bedside table goes off at 6 o'clock and I jump out of bed immediately, grateful that nothing has happened.

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed I remember that I wanted to train with the others today and so I pick a bag, fill it with my stuff and set off.

I stop at the front door when I notice it's raining. I don't have an umbrella and the gym is pretty far from where I live.

I stand there, contemplating what to do when I hear a voice call me from behind. I instantly turn to see who it is.

"Hey Evin!" It's Ariana and she's chirpy as ever. I can't help it as a small smile grows on my face.

"Hey Aria."

"You going training too?" I nod. She smiles and opens her umbrella. "Well come on then! We're meeting a new trainer today and we don't want to make a bad impression now do we?"

We didn't. We practically ran all the way to the gym when we noticed how late it was.

After entering the changing room, we change and go find the others.

To my surprise there are many people training for the Rostra. Well not that many. There were definitely more than 15 of them though.

Amber had asked, more like ordered, me to tag along with them so I can start training hard-core instead of starting slow. The Commander wanted me on the Rostra and to get there I have to train.

As I heard from the whispers around this is kind of like a first session, meeting kind of thing. I spot April in the crowd and walk towards her with Aria. It's not until we get close that I notice her shuffling on her feet nervously. It's a weird sight to see. April is almost always confident about everything. If not confident then she's definitely mad. Seeing her nervous is unnerving.

"Hey," I say and my best friend jumps, giving a small shriek as she turns around to look at me, eyes wide.

She swallows. "Um... hi Evin. I didn't think you were coming today." She looks around anxiously. It takes me a few moments to realize she's not actually looking towards something but rather someone.

I look at the girl standing a few feet away, laughing with her friends. She is gorgeous. Her long dark locks tied up in a high pony tail, she's tall and slim and has black eyes.

I feel a smirk grow on my face as I turn to look at my tense best friend.

She notices me look and immediately drops her gaze to her feet.

"I told you I would come though, didn't I?" I tell her, still wearing the smirk. It's a proud smirk, trust me.

She hums but doesn't say anything. I notice Ariana is gone from my side and turn to see her chatting with a guy. Well more like bickering. I shake my head and turn to April.