Don't Piss Off the Redhead

Testing

I was very glad I'd suggested a knife throwing contest, because every time I threw, Brianna's stupid face was on the center of the target. Not literally, of course. That would be too good.

But I won.

"So, Kalin, what's with the sudden aggression toward the target? Did it steal your sweet potato fries or something?" asked Niev when we were done.

"Brianna," was all I replied. I scowled at the target. The sun of understanding rose on Niev's face. Brianna was a mutual enemy to all. "I need an assignment. But I have to teach Aiden. Saints be with me." I looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"Kalin? I'm going to suggest something to knock your socks off, so prepare yourself," Niev said. "I'm coming with you."

"Oh, Niev, you're a lifesaver!"

"Yeah, Aiden's. Pretty sure you'd beat him to death if I'm not there," She winked at me.

"Managed not to do it yesterday," I countered.

"Today's a new day. And I'm determined to not let you fail, and kill your first recruit."

"Thanks, Niev. Such confidence."

"Is that sarcasm I hear?" Niev put a hand to her ear.

"Why, yes it is! Let's go get our victim, shall we?" I linked arms with Niev, and we skipped off to find Aiden.

Literally.

***************

Rich was leading me around the headquarters, (which was really freaking huge, how had no one found this yet? It's under a clothes shop, for Chrissakes!) when Kalin and her friend came skipping around the corner.

"Rich, have you led them to me?" I asked.

"Bro, I'm pretty sure they have their own personal radar. You have no hope, sorry. Kalin's been here longer than pretty much all the people our age here. And where you find Kalin, you find Niev, so..."

"Oi! Did I hear my name?" called out the one that I assumed was Niev.

"Yes, we were just discussing our plots to kill you," replied Rich. The girls were level with us now.

Niev scoffed. "Only in your unluckiest dreams, mocha boy,"

Rich grimaced at the apparent nickname. "Never living that down, am I?" he asked. Both girls nodded their heads sagely. I was completely lost.

Kalin smiled sweetly, and I read my demise in it. "Do you mind if we borrow Aiden here for a while?"

"What are going to do with me?" I demanded, a little bit horrified.

"Just some tests," she replied. And apparently everyone knew what that meant. There were grins with various degrees of evil all around. 

My apprehension increased. They were probably going to do experiments on my body, see how much pain I could handle. Or, even worse, they'd make me do a standardized test. I was told none of my scholarly information was important. I'd abandoned my knowledge back at the bubble room!

Rich slung an arm around my shoulders, and I was momentarily relieved. He wasn't going to let them take me! But then, "Sure, you can test him, but I want to watch."

Thanks, traitorous jackass. Thought we were friends.

***************

So far the only thing Aiden was good at was hiding and making remarks while doing it. And, of course, the whole pickpocketing thing. So far he'd stolen the watch I'd stolen from my latest mark, and both Rich and Niev's phones, which even I admitted as impressive.

He'd hit the wall to the side of the target with the gun, bow and arrows, and only grazed the target with the crossbow, but I was convinced that was luck. He could only do 17 push ups, 30 crunches, and 2 pull-ups. He ran a mile in 15 minutes. His sprints were mediocre, he failed the polygraph test when I asked him what his favorite color was, and by the time we'd finished all the tests, I was starving and ready to shoot Aiden.

I wasn't allowed to shoot Aiden, so I settled for leaving him with Rich and getting dinner with Niev. We went to the closest café and had a long philosophical talk about weapons. It was a good ending to a crappy day.