Eternity

CHAPTER 3: ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE

My fists ache as I punch the dummy, my heavy breaths pounding against my lungs. I fall to the ground, sweat dripping down my forehead. Even though I'm sweating, my arms are spotted with goosebumps from the chilling breeze of the dark realm. My head throbs and another migraine heads my way. I've had at least five since we’ve been down here, quite alarming considering it's only been a week. Damien has created courses for us to complete to ready us for the...invasion. The more I think about it, the worse it sounds. I get up again and push it to the back of my head. Steadily sucking in breaths, I begin punching again, each jab more efficient than the last.

Each preternatural is assigned a serpentine guard, mine is quite silent considering the fact that he chooses not to slither into my mind. His name is Xerxes. He watches me try and fail over and over again, never projecting any thoughts of advice or assistance. After a few weeks in what is known as the self-defense course, Xerxes seems to notice me for the first time and drags me into the next course without a thought. The weapons course. From the looks of it, each species of preternatural has a different weapon. So far, the illusionists had knives, medicinals-bows, and lurkers...scythes. Not to mention, the other 50 or so types of preternaturals. I wonder what the singularities will be given. As if on cue, Xerxes blocks my vision of the others and throws a long stick at me and then walks away. I look down at the stick and notice that it isn't any stick. It's a katana.

I swing the sword back and forth around the dummy, avoiding it, working on my aim. Then I finally hit it. It goes halfway through but hits a hard core in the middle. My brow furrows in frustration, and I reluctantly begin my routine again, my thoughts racing. Damien decided to separate us by type of power of course, so for the most part, I am alone with Xerxes. So, ever since that day at school I haven't seen Lawrence. I’m ecstatic. At this point, I’m not sure how I’ll react if I see him. I hate his kind with everything I have in me and more. I remember seeing my father be killed, that agonized expression on his face. Blood spilling from his nose as that God forsaken creature withers him away into nothingness. I swing my katana. It glides through like butter. The remains fall to the ground, I look at the core. Cement. Behind me, Xerxes forces himself to clap. I pass the weapons course.

On the east side of the dark realm, a separate building is reserved for the next course, that being one-on-one combat with a serpentine guard. When I walk in, I see hundreds of guards and preternaturals facing off. The serpents have armor and an assortment of weapons, but considering the fact that most of them are on the ground at the moment, I suppose they aren’t too coordinated or strong. Explains why Damien needed us.

It's only been one week and I've already beat around 20 guards, but for some reason, Xerxes hasn’t pushed me into the next course yet. I am not the only one who is confused, I have been stuck with the same preternaturals since the beginning. Once again, I take my stance in front of another new guard. “Begin.” Xerxes bellows in our heads, and once again, the uncoordinated blob that is my opponent attempts to swing at me. I step back and then jolt forward. Bracing my foot on his chest, I send him flying into another fighting pair. Suddenly, something collides with the back of my head and a sharp, ebbing pain begins. I scowl and swing around to see the source of the projectile. Across the room stands a few, chuckling dudes around my age. I only recognize one of them. Lawrence. My breath hitches. The familiar anger courses through my veins. He isn’t laughing along with the others. Instead, his expression is an equal mixture of concern and shock. I lower my brows and glare at him, his concern turns to sadness. Suddenly, the air is knocked out of me. I hunch over, frantically trying to suck in oxygen. I turn around just as the guard raises his knife. I panic and swing my katana. Crimson spills all over me and a sound of mortification and disgust escapes my lips. Then I look up. The guard is sliced entirely in two. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. “Congratulations, you passed the field course.” Xerxes drones dully. I whip around and get to my feet. ”But, I...I killed him.” I whisper. “Exactly.” His voice murmurs in my mind, he then walks away without a sound. The realization hits me. We were supposed to kill them.