The Annex

Chapter 34

Last night had been a bombshell and a relief all at once. Ella, Humphrey, Atlas and I had all stayed after to talk about it. Ella had voiced her disappointment that they never even brought up Killian. His memory had just faded into the past, slipping right through our fingers. We had shared our relief that we wouldn't have to go through anything beyond interviews though. We had decided to meet on top of the wall tonight to honor Killian once more.

This morning, I was on a mission. Finnegan had arrived late last night and he had yet to visit me. I had gotten up early and I was heading to training as usual. Even without an impending physical final trial, I liked the confidence that came with physical training and preparation. I knew that I could handle whatever came my way. And I missed training sessions with Tomas. With my hair tied up into a quick ponytail and my training gear on, I made my way to the training grounds.

"Cara," Tomas grinned as he caught sight of me and met me with a bear hug.

"I've missed you," I beamed as I ruffled his hair.

"Geez, it's only been a day. I haven't missed you at all. It's been so nice and quiet and peaceful without you around," he joked and I rolled my eyes.

"Goddess, I forget how early Grim makes us get up for training," I rubbed my eyes.

"Why are you here, from what I hear, you don't have to be," he said as he raised a single brow.

"I don't know. I like the way that training makes me feel. Not helpless."

"That actually makes sense. Which means a lot, coming from you." I socked him playfully in the shoulder as Grim appeared.

"Run your laps, last one to finish cleans the pig trough," Grim hollered.

"Does he mean the actual pig troughs," I gasped, horrified.

"No, even worse. Pig troughs is the nickname we give the giant laundry bins for the entire barracks. Once a month they have to get scrubbed and washed because they're filthy," Tomas quickly explained as we took off after the rest of the pack. Bruises from the battle haunted my aching body, but the idea of having to scrub the barracks laundry bins haunted me even more. Tomas pushed our pace and I kept with him, each step further away from a smelly fate. Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for some poor new recruit, Tomas and I had not come in last.

"Have you seen the Commander," I asked Tomas as we practiced hand to hand combat. I caught his fist as ducked under and threw his body weight at my midsection. We landed in a heap on the ground as he responded.

"He was here earlier. He left just before I saw you." I landed a kick and he let out a grunt. "You know, I'm not blind. I see what's going on between you two. I didn't ask out of respect but now I think you owe me an answer. The Commander?"

I narrowly avoided Tomas' fist and regained my balance.

"It's different."

"Different how? Different than with Atlas?"

Kick.

Duck.

"With Atlas we both realized it wasn't love. With the Commander it's different." I had to remind myself not to call him Finnegan. I wasn't sure that anyone really knew his name, it had been long buried in his history and it wasn't my place to uncover it.

Punch.

"Elaborate."

"I didn't know I had feelings and then it just hit me. He doesn't try to tell me what to do or control me, but at the same time, I know he's going to be there to pick me up if I fall. And he's just so, so good. He inspires me. He's seen so much darkness in his life, and it hasn't broken him. He's the strongest person I know. I never intended to love him, but it just happened. He found his way into my heart." I had stopped the fight completely as I poured my love for the Commander out to Tomas, who stood still, slightly shell shocked.