Broken Away

Friends

Chase sighed as she looked at the stained ceiling. She wasn't given a roommate, but she doubted anyone would even want to live in this room. The sheets had brown stains and holes from numerous cigarettes. Chase had to strip the mattress bare before laying down. She ended up using her backpack as her pillow, her pack of gum uncomfortable denting into the back of her head. The room was small, barely containing a bed and a closet. Chase and the other trainees were to share bathrooms and showers, so they didn't even manage to cram that into the room.

Chase's body ached from taking down two boys and being taken down herself. Her head ached as she struggled to let sleep overtake her. The events that occurred today replayed in her head like a broken recorder.

The next morning, Chase rolled out of bed at 6 AM, her eyes containing emphasized dark circles, despite her brown skin. She grabbed her body wash, extra set of her uniform, her toothbrush, and toothpaste. Her body groaned in protest as she stumbled to the bathroom and cleaned herself. Although the cold shower did not help with her body's pain, it did wake her up. Chase walked back to her dorm, tossing her materials into her room and heading to the cafeteria. She quickly grabbed a few damp pancakes and found a seat in a corner. She didn't feel like dealing with people's words that morning. The pancakes made her feel more uneasy. Her stomach grumbled for better food.

More people flooded into the cafeteria. They chatted with each other happily, as if they didn't sleep horribly. Smiles etched onto their faces as if some of them hadn't just sent their friends home, causing them to be dead to their family. Chase noticed how their pancakes were all fluffy, with butter and syrup coated on them.

One of the guards walked to the front of the cafeteria and cleared his throat. He emitted a very small sound, yet everyone's voices shut off immediately.

"Yo, runts," he started, "the king and lieutenant want to have a small discussion with you. You have three minutes to finish eating. You'll need to sit in a line with a group of a maximum of eight people. In three minutes, you will follow me out of the cafeteria to the king's palace."

The chatter began again as everyone did their best to finish their breakfast. Chase got up, throwing away the rest of her pancakes and walked to the front, waiting beside the guard.

"Eager beaver, aren't you, Chase Never?"

Chase raised an eyebrow, "how do you know my name?"

The guard chuckled, "everyone knows your name, Chase. They know your face and know how to avoid you. I'm surprised you made it past that little start-up yesterday. I would've assumed you'd be one of the losers."

Chase's mouth turned into a sneer, "people can count on me, and I can count on them."

"Mind telling me the names of those people?"

Chase calmed down, her face becoming monotone, "like you said, people also avoid me. I guess I don't know their names."

The guard didn't get a chance to reply as the other trainees surrounded him, excited to meet the king. Everyone got into a single file line behind the guard as he led them out of the building. They walked across the courtyard and into the pavement surrounding the palace. The palace was a pearly white, looking lavishing against the rose bushes surrounding its walls. The guard led them inside and across the white and gold marbled floors. The pillars were all white with gold details.

The trainees filed into the room and saw multiple pillars near the back.

"Everyone get in a line like I told you along those pillars facing the front of the room."

Everyone quickly shuffled into their groups and sat down. Out of habit, Chase walked to Isla's line. She was about to sit down when the harsh voice of Arik spoke to her, "did you not get the memo? We don't want to be associated with you. Go bother someone else."

Chase immediately walked off, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. Everyone else already had eight people in their lines. Chase saw one line with seven people. The only issue was that those girls were the ones that hated her with an equal amount of hate from Chase as well. Chase sat down hesitantly as they all sneered at her, but didn't say anything.

A girl in a black bodysuit with a sword and dagger fastened to her belt walked in. She wore her brown hair into a sleek, high ponytail. She had a crossbow and arrows strapped to her back, positioned so that she could easily access it mid-battle. Chase knew who this was. The girl that shone above others last year. The one that overtook and gained the position of the king's lieutenant. Lexi Spear, a stuck-up rich girl who had insane combat skills. Even though she was only seventeen, Lexi looked like she was twenty-five years old. Her makeup was flawless, black eyeliner around her eyes paired with dark purple lipstick. She was beside the king of the nation. Darrel Montague was a fat man that wore a navy blue robe with gold decals. His face was pudgy and red as he stood in front of the trainees.

"Welcome to training camp! here, you will go through preparation for fighting in my army. Failure to do so will result in shame and hardship on your family. So don't fail yourself, you family, and most importantly, me. Lieutenant Spear was promoted last year for being an exceptional trainee. She was able to overtake the lieutenant before her. Maybe one of you will do that," he let out a hearty laugh. Spear's eyebrows scrunched together as her eyes landed on Chase.

Montague yawned, "well, I'm going back to bed. Good luck, cadets. Spear can take care of you guys." He walked out the door, his robe trailing behind him.

Spear's eyes locked onto Chase, "alright, trainees. First test of your loyalty. Kill Chase Never."

Chase's eyes widened. She immediately scooted back as the girl in front of her tried grabbing her. She felt hands grab her armpits and lift her up. Someone punched her in the face, blurring her vision as she heard the crunch of her nose. The person reeled back for another punch, but Chase had already seen it coming. There were more people around her now, the twenty-three other trainees, especially the ones with small knives were trying to get to her. One slit and Chase would be gone. Chase kicked out out her foot, causing the person trying to punch her to fall to the floor, clutching their shin.

Chase dropped her head down and snapped it back, making contact with the person behind her. Their nose also emitted a sound similar to the one Chase heard a few seconds ago. The person removed their hands, dropping Chase and putting them on their bleeding nose. Chase got up off the floor as someone with a knife came at her. They swung, nicking Chase's forehead as she ducked down. Chase whipped around to see multiple people, including her old friends, guarding the door. Spear was still watching from the front, her mouth in a smile.

Chase tumbled to the floor as someone hit her on the head. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to get up. Someone's elbow crashed into her spine, making her fall down again. Chase swung her fist back, making contact with a head. Someone else lunged for her but she rolled out of the way. With as much willpower as she could muster, Chase was able to get back to her feet. She wiped off the blood dripping into her eyes, not even knowing whose blood it was. Without thinking, Chase ran full speed to the door. The people guarding it were taken aback. Due to instinct they all moved out of the way, allowing Chase to push open the door and start running down the hall. Her legs screeched in protest, but Chase ignored the burning. She spotted some elegant stairs leading upwards. Footsteps behind her caused her to react impulsively. She immediately ran up the stairs and into the nearest door she spotted. She held her back to the door, listening as the footsteps bounded across the hallway.

The adrenaline rushed through her as she spotted a mattress with sheets. She could easily rip it up and use it as a rope to get down onto the courtyard. She rushed into the room, only to realize she wasn't alone. A teenage boy, around the same age as her, stood against the window, his arms crossed. His short brown hair was wet and tousled. He was wearing jeans and a grey t-shirt. His green eyes bore into Chase. His perfect eyebrow was raised skeptically as he took in the mess that was Chase.

"Who are you and why are you in my room?"