Orphan

Chapter 26 - The Next Day

"Put this on, and come outside." Liam had entered and left my room, dropping a black top and a pair of dark jeans. Knowing how angry he would be, I changed and walked out.I was trying to forget what had happened yesterday. I didn't get very far before I heard the screams of boys and girls.Children were running back and forward, half-dressed in pyjamas, as black-suited men tried to catch them. It looked like a zoo. Boys and girls were trying to swing their arms, and kick at the butlers. It only made them get captured and dragged down the stairs."Come on, kids, get a move on." Zoe's voice boomed on the speakers. "Go to your trainers." I hated her. She was a cold-blooded killer. How could she have just watched us run for our lives in the previous test? She didn't even try to save the kids that were still alive. One day, I really hoped she would end up running in the test as well. Maybe then she would learn to be nicer."I am not going! " A loud voice boomed right next to me. I recognised the voice, it was Augustus, he had his arms stretched on either side of the door, and yelling as two of the suited men tried to pull him out."Like I said last time fat boy. You don't have a choice. And because you're being so difficult, you're going to be the first to be thrown into the next test. I can't always have children trying to fight me."Augustus' mouth dropped, his eyes bulged out, and his whole body started to tremble. He looked shocked, and in a flash, the butlers made a move. Grabbing his arms and legs and pealing him off the wall, they lifted him into the air as he wailed and screamed like a baby down the stairs."I take it back. I take it back. Pretend I didn't say anything.""No, take backsies. You are definitely going to be one of the first." "For everyone else, go to your teachers, don't make me repeat, we are already late, and I hate being late."The four trainers were standing at the bottom — each with a line of children behind them.I walked down the stairs."Evelyn, oh my god. We're in the same team!""I can't thank you enough for what you did back at the first...""Xie Li told me we are going to go to a stadium today! The type that has big bright lights, a massive stage and hundreds of seats. But she won't tell me the rest. She said it's a secret.""Oh, and have you met Tina?"He pointed to a girl that looked like a trainer herself. Dressed in full green, tank top, cargo pants, and boots. Her eyes were as cold as steel. She was the first to be chosen by Xie Li.She looked scary. I definitely didn't want to be on her wrong side.We stood and waited for what seemed like hours, watching children running back and forward as the staff rounded them up, and brought them to the teachers. Our group had at least 100 kids when we finally all assembled."How many of you know how to swim?"A handful of hands shot up. "Great!" Xie Li's hand moved to cover her eyes as if she was ashamed of us. "Well for the rest of you. You are in for a steep learning curve.""Why?""You'll see. Follow me.""Where do you think she's bringing us?" I whispered to Caleb."Maybe to a swimming pool." I had never swum before. I had only heard of the stories from the older kids at the orphanage. They had always said it was like riding a bike. Not that I knew how to do that either. Maybe Xie Li was going to teach us. She was a trainer, after all. We followed her out of the hall and into another room. The room was small and wasn't as lavish as the rest of the castle. It was dark, with only one light bulb in the centre, which glowed a musky yellow. The carpet was a dull green and looked old and torn. It was as if no one had entered this room for centries. Xie Li walked across the room, and we followed until we hit a wooden door with an electric screen on it. We watched as she pressed a combination of numbers, and with a click, the door opened, and we followed her inside.