Alpha (Jacob Seed X Deputy OC)

6 - The First Trial

'Get up.' Jacob grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me out of the bed. I was surprised to feel that my boots had been put on for me, laced up so tight that they squeezed my feet. Startled out of my slumber I swung for him but he stilled my punch by grabbing my wrist. Tutting, he carefully pulled my small thumb out from the inside of my fist and placed it outside. 'Tryin' to break your hand again?'

'Huh?' My brow furrowed in confusion.

'You remember? When I taught ya how to punch that asshole kid?' I cast my mind back and remembered the smell of freshly cut grass outside the woods where he mentored me.

'Oh! Yeah, of course!' I chuckled and I could've sworn Jacob gave a small smile. It vanished in an instant though as he wrenched my wrist behind my back and marched me outside. I let out a cry of pain. He was so good at catching me off guard. I really needed to stop falling for his tricks. The sun glinted down on the yard but it was far from warm. Passing by cages of people both alive and dead, we eventually stopped at what looked like an obstacle course and I cocked my head. 'What is this, gym class?' My sarcasm didn't please him and he shoved me forward.

'I wanna test your strength before your trial today. Need to make sure your arm ain't gonna hinder ya.'

'So I'm just meant to-'

'Go!' He barked, kicking me in the back of the legs to encourage me to run. Tripping over my feet, I caught myself and started to sprint. Boots pounding into the ground, I leapt up into the air and gripped onto the first metal monkey bar. Swinging across the iron rungs, I ignored the twinges of pain that tugged at my wounded arm. The only way through this was to hide any signs of weakness. He'd kill me if he thought I was a hindrance. My muscles burned as I jumped down and jogged through a set of tyres on the floor. 'Faster!' Jacob commanded and I poured energy into my muscles, throwing my body onto the ground and crawling beneath a tangled net. Huffing and puffing, I tore out from underneath it and sprung upright. Without hesitation, my feet left the floor as I dove into a pool of murky water. Frantically swimming to the other side, I used my upper body strength to pull myself up and out of the water. Drenched and cold, I shivered as the cold mountain breeze writhed through my clothes. Jacob gave a slow clap of his hands as he approached, nodding thoughtfully.

'H-how did I do?' My teeth chattered but stilled as Jacob placed a hand on my cheek.

'Perfect.' He grinned. Lost in his smile, I felt solace roll through me and then a sharp stabbing pain in my side. Looking down, a needle embedded itself through my shirt and into the crook of my waist. Jacob pressed down on the syringe and injected a green substance into me that I could only assume was Bliss.

'W-what are you doing?' My words were already incoherent and I fell forward, fingers balling into the fabric of his grey shirt.

'Shhhhh.' He hummed, removing the needle and patting my cheek mockingly. My green irises rolled into the back of my head and my brain was filled with stars as I slumped lifelessly against the soldier before me.

***

Click.

A bold red light filtered through my lashes as I blinked awake. I was acutely aware that I was restrained to a chair from the cold metal bonds pressing down on my wrists. Someone's fingers lingered on my hands as they spun the chair around. As the lenses in my eyes focussed I made out a face I'd longed to find since stepping into the Whitetail region.

'You shouldn't have come for me.' Pratt warned, frantically checking that I was secure within the chair. 'You should have run.' His nose was bloodied, as though he'd been punched with great force. Eyes darting up, panic filled Pratt's face and he scarpered away. Head lolling, I turned to look at what was happening in front of me.