Pawns in a Game of Chess

We are simply pawns in a game of chess

Just the tools of someone's game, to win we must be their vice

We cannot win, always lose, we are the sacrifice.

When I wake up the next morning I walk down to the dining hall, like every other single day. I hate routines, but I stick to them to stay alive. There are many people in my general age group sitting down and already eating. I see that my usual table of people are sitting at the usual table like usual. It kinda pisses me off. Why can't anybody just change something so simple for once? Rosie looks up at me and waves enthusiastically. Rosie is a quite large and extremely tall girl who is only sixteen. Her name's really Valerie, but she refuses to be called by that. Kinda how I feel about the name Contessa. Rosie suits her better anyway because that it exactly what her personality is, rosy. She has brown hair, tanned skin and brown eyes, like most of us. I go to quickly smile at her before she thinks I'm being rude but notice an unfamiliar face at our table. Well not unfamiliar as in I don't know her, I'm very good at recognizing people and retaining the memory of them. But it wasn't someone who usually sat with us. No, our usuals were Adrian, sometimes Hayley, Rosie, Devin, Josh, Clove and I. Not Big Boobs. It wasn't just that she was sitting with us, but that she was hanging off of the arm of my boyfriend! I walked over briskly and I could see everyone had found something to do to avoid the fight that they were sure would ensue. I sat down without even a glance in Adrian's way. If he wanted to be childish, then he could be childish. I was the best at this game, and he knew it, so I would most definitely win. It's not like I'm an idiot, if he wants to flirt, I'm going to as well. With everyone, just like Big Boobs does. To show I didn't care and di in fact notice her hanging of the arm of the guy who was supposed to be my boyfriend like a leech, I nodded to her and said "Slut." Oops. That wasn't what I meant to say. Oh shit. Everybody just looked back and forth between us with wide eyes. The dining hall kinda got quiet too. I suppose everyone had been waiting until I sat down to see if there was gonna be a fight. I didn't mean to start one but I guess my mouth doesn't have a filter to my brain. I meant to say "Jacobs." As in her last name, but it kinda slipped out since that's what I was thinking in my head at the time. And I'm kinda thinking it now too. "What?" She looked at me with this kinda furious look on her face. "I'd say sorry because I didn't mean to say it, but I'm kinda not." I shrugged. I swear if we were in a cartoon, steam would have been coming out of her ears. "Fine. Bring it on bitch." She stepped out an indicated for me to initiate my fighting stance. Her curly agro hair was wild as usual, swinging around her head like a halo. Her long lashed dark eyes were narrowed, whether it was because she was mad or just concentrating, I do not know. I know I can beat her, she's not exactly smart. She may have height and weight over me, maybe even strength but I know I'm smarter, faster and more lethal. But she seems to think that she has a chance and there's a vicious gleam in her eye as she looks at me as if I'm a bug that she is going to squish underneath her foot. I shrug again and stand up, a grin on my face. This will only take a few minutes. My eyes flick over to my table. Devin and josh seem to find this amusing, Hayley and Rosie look kinda scared, Clove looks thrilled at the idea for a fight, and she'd only be more excited if it were her in the middle of the fight. And Adrian, he was telling me to back down. His look said it all. No, he wasn't going to behave coldly to me and then let me look like a fool for not battling Big Boobs. That's not fair. So I turned my back on Adrian and face my enemy. I stand still, waiting for her to attack. I'm gonna take her out without a single hit. It doesn't take her long to rush at me, obviously she does not know my tactic, or understand that it is better to plan in a fight. At the last second I step to the side and she launches herself at me, then hits the floor. She growls and way too slowly lunges back to her initial position. "You know, it would have been much more effective if you had attacked straight away so I would have been surprised. Come on try again. I'll give you lessons if you'd like." I taunt her by fixing my hair. She tries my tactic or surprise, though of course it isn't really a surprise anymore since I suggested it, and throws a punch that should hit my face, it connects with the wall. With a howl of pain she retracts her arm and inspects her fist. I thought I heard a crack, she probably fractured it, maybe even broke it. and to think that it could have been my face. But it wasn't. "What is going on in here?" The officials came in with Cain in the middle of the pack. They broke away and he came forward, his green eyes flashed with anger, or maybe something else, something like delight. I'm pretty sure he actually loves when fights broke out, it meant maybe a little bit of entertainment for him. "She broke my hand!" Big Boobs pointing the finger of her good hand at me and stuck out her bottom lip like a baby. She even stamped her foot, which added to the child like tantrum scene. I held my hands up near my head in surrender. "Actually you broke your own hand. I didn't tell you to punch the wall." I smirked at her. Cain raised his dark eyebrows and paused for a second as if thinking. "Jacobs, go to the infirmary. Sage, come with me." I growl under my breath and secretly high five Clove's hidden out stretched hand. Trust her to congratulate me. I slink behind Cain and watch Big Boobs cradling her hand and giving the evil eye all the way out of the door. Clove isn't mean exactly. Well, okay, she kinda is. I mean, she's ruthless, sarcastic, rude and sometimes even cruel but there's other things about her that make all that bad stuff kinda disappear, or at least fade into the background for a while. I mean she's definitely smart, trustworthy, listens and has loyalty, which is all we have left in the world. Loyalty in love. The world has become so broken now days, everyone forgetting about others and only thinking of themselves. Even when they believe that they are thinking of the other person, it all somehow relates back to them. Sometimes I wish I would just die in the tests so that I could truly see who cared about me, and not who everyone wished I'd be. Clove has had a hard life, as have we all.

I found this old diary entry once. On a little expedition Clove, Adrian and I had gone on. There was this old abandoned grounds just past the edge of the gate. After clever planning and appropriate tools, we figured out how to get over the gate undetected. And with technolohy these days, it was hard. Life does get boring here a lot since we are set in this never ending routine called our lives. Anyway, on our expedition I found this old diary, must have been hundreds of years old so im surprised it kept, but the girl in it spoke of her parents. I read the whole thing, nine years of her life in that diary. It narrated her as a child growing into a teenager where it ended. What I found interesting though was the connection she had with her parents. Emotions such as love, envy, loathing and frustration all swirled together. But the whole time there was this underlying tone of loyalty, adoration and love. None of us even know who our parents are. Of course the exemption is if you are the Conductor since you have access to every file. But we never meet our parents, we know nothing of their personalities, looks, accomplishments. It had never bothered me before that night when I finished her diary that I didn't really know my parents, but reading all our her entries about her parents. Her complete and utter adoration of them from her child years, her frustration and forgiveness in her teenage years, and then when she neared her adult years, acceptance. She had taped a picture with one of the diary entries and it had almost made me cry. You could see a little girl grinning at the camera while a woman and a man looked down at her both proudly and in adulation. Ever since then, that is what I had wished for every year on my birthday since. It's never come true though, and it won't.

I walk into Cain's study, or office or whatever you'd like to call it. personally I call it the torture or interrogation room. I wonder if the fight with Big Boobs had messed up my hair. It would be must my luck to have it messed up from my starter sleek ponytail. I looked around nervously at Cain's guards who stood between me and him, and at the doors. Blocking my escape. Oh well, if worse comes to worse, I'll jump out of the window. I've always wanted to try that. All of his guards were huge, both in size, stature and in intimidation skills. Lesson 1, never show your enemy thy fear. Cain sat at his desk, casually as if I wasn't waiting for him to speak. I'm an impatient person myself and I absolutely hate when people drag things out to be dramatic. "So? Am I here for a reason, or am I just gonna stand here and looks pretty?" I smirked at him. I've learnt that humour and jokes are always a good way to hide fear and anxiousness. "Why the rush? Do you have somewhere to be?" His voice had little humour in it, not hard, but more like dangerous and sharp, icy. His blue eyes cracked as if they contained electricity, a sure sign he was either amused or about to end someones life. His amusement kinda tied together with fury and vengeance so it didn't surprise me that those two looks were so similar. "Well yeah! It's my day off and I thought I'd have some fun. You know, throw some bombs, throw someone out a window, set something on fire. The usual." I shrugged. Cain let out a kind of amused grunt at my joke. "Very amusing." The guards looked confused to see someone talk this way to another with higher authority. And they seemed unsure at what action to take. They almost cringed with every word I used, every tone and expression I conveyed. "It actually takes a lot of practice, hard work and dedication to be as amusing as I am. You could take a lesson." Cain looked at me for a second and cocked his head to the left as if he was some kind of animal surveying its prey. Looking for its weaknesses and working out where to hit it so that it fall down and doesn't get back up, ever. He waves his hands dismissively at the guards and one by one they dispersed out of the steel door I had previously entered from.

Adding to my impatience, Cain still remained silent, and to add another round of curiosity and impatience to my first layer, he set to work looking through a filing cabinet. He ruffled though the papers for a few minutes. I tapped my foot in irritation while I waited patiently. Well at least my definition of patient. Suddenly he quirked a smile and reached into the cabinet and pull out a file he had already passed and looked at. So he was doing this to irritate me. Too bad I wasn't allowed to irritate him. Because I think it would be fun to glue every furniture item of his to the roof. He sat down with my file, flipping through it and pausing every so often to glance in my direction as if accessing me. I was really getting frustrated. I could be out in the sunshine right now with my friends, out laughing at Big Boobs. Either option made me happy. Being stuck in this room however for an extended period time of waiting however, did not. "If this a patience test, I choose to lose." He glanced up at me. "Your file proved very.. interesting." Wow how very cryptic of him. That tells me absolutely, hmm nothing! I tried to hide my annoyance and let him carry on with his spiel I'm sure he had rehearsed for hours in front of the mirror trying to perfect the combination or annoying twit and frustrating prick. "It says here that you are manipulative, feisty, don't listen to rules, talk back and constantly get into fights, mostly verbal however." He looks up at me again gouging my reaction. I flick a smirk on my face. "Oh stop with the flattery." He continues however, obviously tired with my sarcasm. "It also says that you have been seen on various occasions in romantic conduct with Adrian Emory." These kind of conversations made feel extremely awkward. I mean yeah I'd been seen in a more than friendly way with Adrian in public, but I wasn't sure if that kind of behaviour was going to be happening in public or even private anymore. I honestly don't know what is happening with him lately. I've devoted a lot of my time to him, considering all of it should have been spent training. people had always said we were the perfect couple. Not just because we were both high levels and it was expected, but also because Adrian could be quiet and rationalized where I was loud and always acted without thinking. We kinda evened each other out. In a good way of course. At least I had thought so. To be honest, maybe mine and Adrian's relationship was a mistake. I mean we did kind of end up liking each other by accident. To be honest I couldn't stand him at first because even as a young boy he was always reprimanding me for whatever I was doing at the time. I'm sure then it would have been over indulging on food that was not on our diet plan. Now it's for much bigger things, such as when I breached the gate's security and we got out and went to an abandoned building, or the time when I hacked their database and could access the governments files. He stopped me before I could actually see anything of course. But especially when we were thirteen we despised each other. We had mutual friends which is how we always ended up hanging out despite our constant fights. I suppose what also fuelled out hate towards each other was how every adult in the community always tried to pair us up as a couple because of our high levels. We would constantly fight about stupid things like my diet and me talking more than I learned. I'm not going to pretend that it was a fairytale romance where we found out that despite our completely different personalities, we have the same views and actually have a lot in common, because we don't. to be honest, if someone asked me why I loved Adrian, all I'd be able to say would be 'Because he's Adrian. I mean I just do.'. When you love someone they constantly frustrate you at how happy and sad and angry and loved they can make you feel in the course of two minutes. You don't have to have a lot in common. Love is an unexplainable feeling. But Adrian and I ended up being partner sfor some stupid school training assignment and ever since then we had crazy fights, and then made up. But few notable ones which weren't sorted out in the first few minutes. To be honest, this fight scares me because it just doesn't feel like all the rest, like something coming. Something that definitely isn't good.

So what do I answer to Cain's question? "Mm I suppose it would seem that way, wouldn't it?" Cain's ice cold blue eyes pierced into me. I felt like I was in a titanic scenario with his ice blue eyes boring into mine I had a sudden sinking feeling. He was way too observant a person. "You're fiddling with your hair. Why do you do that?" I stopped suddenly and willed my fingers so cease their movement. I fiddle with my hair when I feel uncomfortable or scared. "I don't know why. A habit I guess." I mumble and shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. I had told Adrian numerous times about how uncomfortable Cain made me feel. I didn't just feel uncomfortable or intimidated. He made me feel like I needed to take a million showers every time he just looked at me. That's how oily his personality was. But every time I mentioned this to Adrian he just shrugged and didn't seem to care. You'd think that as my boyfriend he'd get mad or at least be bothered when other guys seemed to take an interest in me. I know I sure as hell get pissed when girls flirt with him when they know that we're together, and have been for a few years. "So am I like in trouble, or.. can I leave? I told Hayley that I'd see her straight after her classes." Lie. I hoped he didn't notice my lie. I'd become somewhat of a master at lying and hardly anyone could tell when I was telling the truth or not. Lying was definitely a game you needed to know how to play in my world. I mean I am constantly thinking about our government system, questioning it. Sometimes I mention it to Hayley and Adrian but rarely. If we ever got caught talking about questioning their authority and the tests, we would all be not just killed, we would be publicly executed. It had been done before. I was young at the time, but that had sure been a wakeup call for me. I'd started crying and had gotten hit by one of the people on the government board. I must not show weakness. I had always been brought up so that I could be as stoic as possible. Luckily because of friends I never turned out like some others did. Those people who have no friends, never talk and seem in a constant battle in their heads about their life and choices. Occasionally people escape the fence that goes around the whole city and most get caught. The rare few make it out, but they would die within a day without supplies or shelter. The weather is always extremely hot thanks to global warming, and it is nearly impossible to get your own supplies. I would never try to get out for good, unless of course it was absolutely the only way. "Hmm Hayley is not supposed to finish until three o clock, which leaves you with two more hours until you have to catch up with her. Hayley is the level 5 you insist on associating with, isn't she? I don't suppose you're going to see that boyfriend of yours." The disdain in his voice for Hayley made me want to punch him in the face, or better yet, kick him where is hurt. A low blow I know, but he kinda deserves it. he helped create or at the continue this tradition of hierarchy. "I mean my best friend. And I don't think it's any of your business whether I want to meet up with him or whatever I want to do in my private time with him." I could feel my face flushing with anger. I hadn't meant to say the last part, but it had kind of slipped out of my mouth. That definitely sounded like I was revealing my personal life. Cain was of course still as calm and calculating as ever. He raised his dark eyebrows at me in question. "It says here that you are a virgin." My eyes snapped from where they had been staring out of the window, to his. I could see the training centre from here and knew that Hayley and Adrian would both be there which meant no back up for me. Ii was seething with rage. The idea that someone that doesn't know you at all, and you don't want to know you can learn everything about you from a stupid book. Maybe even things I don't even know about myself. I bit my tongue, hard. He was just trying to rile me up like he always did. He flicked through the pages of someone else's file and then glanced up at me while saying calmly and evenly "It says that your little boyfriend isn't a virgin. And obviously since you are still one, it wasn't you." He gave me a little smile. That was it. I took three long strides forward so that I was right in front of his desk. "How fucking dare you! You think you can just push people until they fall over the edge? I honestly cannot wait until Adrian replaces you. I think everyone's waiting for that day, actually." I say with a sneer on my face and malice in my voice. His eyes flashed and I had to take a step back from the fire crackling in his eyes towards me. He pushed the desk roughly to the side, reminding me just how great his strength was. He was trying to intimidate me, and it was working. I flinched but stood my ground. He bent over so that he was a centimetre from my face. I forced myself to stay still, moving would just aggravate him even more so. "You forget that I am the one that has all the power here little pawn. If I say jump, you jump. Got it?" I close my eyes and don't answer. I felt for one of the only times in my life like I was going to faint. My heart was beating so rapidly that I could hear pounding in my ears and my hands were shaking at my sides were I forced them to stay pinned to my sides instead of clutching my head like they wanted. "Got it?" I flinched again and tried to shrink back into the wall behind me. He was still only a breath away from my face and sounded as if he would kill me any second. My eyes were squeezed shut. I was scared that if I opened them I'd see his face and say something I regretted again. "I've got it." I whispered so softly that I was sure he couldn't have heard it. He simply leaned closer and tucked my hair behind left ear and whispers, "Good. I'm the one in charge here. Remember that sunshine." I turn my face to the side so I can avoid his gaze. The nickname sunshine from his lips just sounds so wrong. It's what Adrian calls me. Or at least used to. Because I brighten up his day like the sun, and make him hot. One of his rare jokes. If Cain knows about this rare nickname that I haven't even mentioned to Hayley, does he know about our discussions on his leadership? I don't ask. Cain walks slowly over to his desk and sits down in his recliner and smirks at me from where I'm still attached to the wall. I will not show weakness. I stand up straight and lift my chin up, crossing my arms in a frail attempt to look tough. He looks at me for a few more second then waves his hand dismissively. I walk out of the room strong and proud even though I feel like sprinting out without ever looking back. I feel his eyes bore into the back of me the whole walk to the door.

I'm such an idiot. Lately I've been reckless and it really has to stop. Cain literally holds my life in his hands, like he does with everyone else. So I take a few calming breaths and walk back to my dorm room. I decide to grab my Taser off of my bed. I usually never leave the house without it. Adrian usually carries his stupid ray gun. I personally think my Taser is simply cooler, and plus it doesn't kill the person where his does. I mean, he can set it on stun, but he usually doesn't. Plus, I got to customise my weapon. It looks like the ocean, a swirling and moving pattern of blue green waves. His is a boring old ray gun that is black. Practical he says. I quickly go to the mirror and fix my hair into a tightly pulled back sleek brown almost black ponytail. I rub my usually bright and vibrant brown eyes which seem to be more tired and droopy than usually. I look at my high cheekbones and tanned skin and thin lips. People do say I'm pretty, but pretty doesn't matter here. It would be better if I didn't look like this. If I looked big and intimidating, not petite and weak. I'm so sick of feeling as if nobody takes me seriously because of my attitude and my stature. Clove is the same size as me, but she has a malice that I can never seem to muster. She intimidates everyone, well except a few such as Adrian, Devin, Josh and I. Josh is just as intimidating and scary as her, apart from the fact that he is gigantic with bulging muscles and a huge six foot three frame. He has light features, blonde hair and blue eyes where clove is dark, like me, and most of the community. Brown is of course the dominant gene and blonde is dying out, just like red hair and green eyes are. Sometimes I wish I looked a bit more like Hayley or Rosie so that I was more feared. I mean, people think highly of me and I guess wouldn't want to get into a fight with me, but even though I'm just as dangerous as Adrian or Josh or Clove, I wouldn't be seen that way. I was definitely skinnier than my other fellow teenagers but it didn't bother me so much when I was younger because I figured I'd grow taller, brawnier and stronger. I knew by nearly seventeen that it wouldn't be happening as I had initially thought. I glared at my tiny frame in the bathrooms full length mirror. Every so often we had monthly check-ups, where the officials checked our weight, height, took blood tests, those kinds of things. It was humiliating because they did it in front of everyone. I looked once more at my figure in the mirror and threw my brush at it. Because of my impeccable aim I hit the mirror square in the mirror and watched as the pieces shattered to the floor like little sparkles and my image faded.

I looked over to my wall and saw the time read 3:15. I was late to meet Hayley. I didn't necessarily have to meet Hayley there, I had been lying to Cain when I said I had, but I always felt better when someone was with her, in case something happened to her. I never used to worry about this, because Adrian and she had classes the same day, but since Adrian and I had that fight, I didn't expect him to do anything for me. I know that he gets mad when Devin talks to me, because Devin cancelled our plans the other day because of it. it would definitely take way too long to walk, even if I ran the way there so I took the hover board. I'd never been very good at it, and it didn't help that it was in the air because if you fell, you fell hard. Especially if you were hovering quite high. But it was my only choice. I don't own a hover bike, and we do have normal cars, but I honestly don't know how to drive one. I mean you have to use fuel for it, rather that the electricity from the reception with hover vehicles. Plus there are all these gears and blinkers and weird things. So I grabbed the board and ran out the door. I wonder if she's waiting outside or if she's already started walking already? The thought of her walking alone without a weapon made me run faster. When I was outside I jumped on the board and quickly bent down to press the ignition button and stood up quickly as it rose into the air. I really needed to buy a hover bike or scooter. I leaned slightly forward and it shot forward almost throwing me off. I took the path that Hayley and I usually took after her classes but couldn't find her among the throng of chattering and wary and silent people streaming through the streets. Hayley didn't understand the importance of carrying a weapon and being in a pack at all times. I'd even bought her a miniature ray gun of her own that could fit easily into the pocket of her jeans. "Hey Tessa. I haven't seen you use one in years." I looked down and saw Makena and Thane. They were twins, I jumped down on my board, pausing it for a second. Makena and Thane looked extremely alike with their light brown hair and hazel eyes and pale skin. The big difference minus their gender is their levels. They remain close as ever even though Makena is on level 4 and Thane is on an extremely higher level 7. "Yeah, I'm in a hurry so I used it. Have you seen Hayley anywhere?" They look at each other in an eerie way as if they communicate with each other through their minds. Like telepathic. It would be cool to have a sibling that you felt that close to. "I think she was behind us. Sorry, but we have to go, the crowds moving." I looked back at the roiling crowd and they were indeed a far distance ahead, all trying to keep in distance of each other. I waved them off with a thank you and Thane grabbed Makena's hand and ran with her towards the mound of people. Hayley wasn't with the group, which meant she was by herself. Leaning forward, the hover board shot ahead with ferocious speed. I was leaning so far forward that if I had to make a sudden shop I was sure that I would hit the cement head first and most probably get a concussion unless I could manoeuvre myself so that I landed properly. Still then, I would still break and arm, but it was better than a concussion.

As I neared a corner I could see Hayley tall red headed figure coming around the corner by herself. Thank god she was fine. She would be in trouble, but still safe. I slowed the board to reach her without knocking into her and saw that she was not in fact alone like I had initially thought. She was chatting away with a blonde guy. It was Adrian. I couldn't turn back now, Hayley had already seen me, and Adrian would in a few seconds. I already did the calculations of the time it would take me to start the speed of the hover board and round a different corner before the saw me or heard the board and my chances weren't likely. I slowed the board until it came to a complete stop beside them and got off, not so gracefully. I turned it off and put it under my arm unsure what to say. We all stood there awkwardly for a few seconds. Are we not together anymore? Why aren't you paying any attention to me lately? Do you understand how this makes me feel? Were all questions I wanted to ask. Also an added 'I hate you.' I don't mean it of course, but I did kind of in a way too. I settled for turning to Hayley and saying "Well I was coming to get you, but I guess that's not actually necessary now." I trailed off and Hayley added an extremely helpful "Yeah." It was Adrian who actually spoke in proper sentences. "Well I know how you get about Hayley being alone. And even though we're not or are.. you're, whatever." He turned down the street no longer facing me with his eyes focused on the ground. Hayley and I followed after him. I didn't think he really cared enough to do this for me. But I mean, maybe he would have years ago when we were fifteen. I knew how he felt when we were fifteen. He couldn't even finish the sentence about us though. Does that mean he wants to break up or get back together or that he's concluded that we are already broken up? "So Devin says you broke your phone." Adrian continued to stare at the ground intently as if it held the answers of the universe beneath its gravel surface. "Um yeah." Wow I really do have a way with words. What was I supposed to say to that? It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Technically it didn't even need an answer. I looked over at Hayley that was standing between us with slightly raised eyebrows and widened eyes. This was one of her typical 'I so do not want to be here right now because it is totally awkward and I feel as if I'm intruding' looks. I looked at her for a few more seconds and her eyes connected with mine. I saw give me a weird look, one where she didn't want to get in trouble and slowly step slightly backwards so that she was behind us rather than in between us. I sighed exasperated and looked over to Adrian who seemed to notice Hayley's change in pace too. I really needed to cut my hair, I have so many split ends. Oops, I'm playing with my hair again. I still wore the bracelet Adrian gave me all those years ago and I wonder whether I should give it back to him or if that will offend him even more. I mean, there's not really any returns with these bracelets. You're supposed to give it to the person who you want to be with forever. I hope he never took offence that I'd never given him one back. Maybe it was a sign. "Well I tried calling you." Before I could reply, or even open my mouth to reply he carried on. "So, you got in trouble with Cain?" I looked at him quickly whose eyes were still on the ground. I looked back at Hayley to make sure she was still there for one, and also since she was my best friend, to see if she felt like this conversation was as awkward for her as it was for me. She widened her eyes to tell me without actually speaking that she was in complete agreement. Adrian's face was completely void of any emotion apart from the fact that his lips turned ever so slightly downward. His hands were in his pockets, and his shoulders slumped slightly forward, he dragged his feet. "Of course. Aren't you always the one telling me I get nothing but trouble from the things I do?" His green eyes looked up at me quickly, probably surprised at my words. I quickly averted my eyes from him and off into the distance as if I was interested in the stupid fence or something. I sighed. "What did he say to you?" I crossed my arms over my chest and avoided his gaze at all costs, which didn't seem to matter since he was looking out into the distance. I stayed quiet for a few seconds trying to stomach his words. This was something we used to fight about frequently, so I had to choose my words wisely. I saw him look over at me frustrated at my long pause. "Well, um. Nothing, he said nothing." I opted for this so he didn't roll his eyes or say something cryptic. He ran his fingers through his hair in a frustrated gesture. Well it seemed that no matter what I said, I always frustrated him. "Right." Adrian said this tightly and crossed his own arms. I couldn't believe how much his words hurt me. The way he said them at least. "Right." I whispered back, mirroring him. I could see Adrian squinting his eyes at me, scrutinising me. Maybe he could tell I was upset. And he had been the one to make me upset most frequently so he could probably tell that it was something that he had done. It was sunny, like every other day and it made his hair seem golden because of the sun. His pale green eyes were still looking at me. He towered over me at six foot and his tanned skin was more bronze than my own. I wished I could just see him smile. I liked his smiles. Hayley was now walking in front of us, since I like to be able to see her when we're walking in a small group.

Adrian opened his mouth to say something just as I felt a hand grab me around my waist. I whipped around the same time Adrian did, my eyes narrowed and my Taser pointing forward. Adrian had the same pose of as me, except with his ray gun. We lowered our weapons when we saw who it was. It was Shaggy. I mean, his name isn't Shaggy, but we call him it anyway because he looks like Shaggy from those really old Scooby Doo movies. I mean attitude and looks wise. He's always so utterly oblivious and constantly does stupid things like sneaking up on people with weapons that they aren't afraid to use. He was a level 2, rendering him completely harmless. He wasn't even allowed to carry a weapon because level 2's seem to die extremely quickly during the tests. They're usually the first ones to go and are known to accidently fire their weapon at someone that they should be working with. His sloppy smile fell off of his face when he saw the tension surrounding us. "Oh. Are you guys like a fight or something?" I looked away awkwardly. "But you guys are like the coolest couple. Really, you know I wouldn't be saying that if I didn't think you were." As he babbled on I could feel my face becoming even redder. He meant well, but he said and did really annoyingly stupid and embarrassing things all the time. I looked up and saw the dormitory building. I cleared my throat. "Well um yeah I have to you know, practice this move so. I'm going, bye." I hurry off pulling Hayley with me.

"Did you even carry the gun I got you with you?" Hayley blinked a couple of times. We sat on my plain bed, the standard. Though, it was of course wider and longer than hers. My room was definitely bigger too. She was staying the night, on account of us not seeing each other much recently. And we had to talk in private where no one could listen in because I planned to tell her about Cain. Hayley and Adrian are the only ones I've told the full extent of Cain's behaviour. "Don't avoid the subject of Adrian." She tossed onto her stomach and flipped through one of the booklets I had made about weapons. Tips, cheats, best places to hit someone. It was extremely useful but obviously she found it boring since she tired of flicking through it within thirty seconds and tossed it over onto my floor. I tucked my legs under me and glared at her for throwing my book, and because of her subject change. "You're the one trying to change the subject." She sighed and looked at me in a bored manner. "Fine. We're both trying to change the subject." She said stubbornly. "Yes, except your subject change involves your safety." She purses her lips for a second then says "No, I did not take that weapon because I don't even know how to use it and if we were attacked I'd probably accidently shoot you. Now back to you." I shake my head as if I'm five again and I'm refusing to eat my vegetables. Of course the officials always changed my mind about vegetables by holding a gun to my head. "Listen, you may be really tough on the exterior surface. Like physically. But you are the most emotionally fragile person I know. I'm the opposite, I know that." She shrugged. Hayley surprised me with her understanding and insight sometimes. I frowned. "There's not really anything to say." And I mean there was a lot to say between Adrian I, but nothing I could explain. "You should talk to him." I rolled my eyes at her. I mean, what was I supposed to say? And every time Adrian would try and talk to me something would happen to disrupt our conversation, such as today with Shaggy. "Whatever." Hayley was getting on my nerves. Sometimes she doesn't understand that it's not just that simple, and she doesn't really listen a lot of the time. But honestly I still love her, despite her annoying tendencies. Because I was in a bit of a pissy mood with her we went to bed fairy early. I just think that lately everyone was aggravating me and I seemed to prefer my own company above others'. I hadn't seen Devin since he called me to say he wasn't allowed to see me anymore because it made Adrian mad. He said Adrian said that it was unfair that other guys could talk to me when he himself couldn't. Honestly I don't know what it is that is stopping Adrian from talking to me, I sure aren't. Everything is just so much easier and harder at the same time for Hayley. She doesn't have to worry about proving herself like I am constantly forced to do and doesn't have to practice her fighting skills as often as I do. She's not reprimanded when she makes a tiny little mistake like I am with fail. She has others looking out for her safety, people like me. But at the same time, she has a less chance of making it through the tests. I mean she will make it through the tests because she'll be with me, but being a lower level doesn't exactly give you encouragement or the proper training. she is allowed a weapon, but aren't usually given high tech weapons that level 7's or 8's would be given. She uses a medieval kind of form of a gun, the one which needs bullets and gunpowder, and needs to be reloaded. It doesn't run on the power that our community produces. Radioactive energy I think. From all of the pollution under the ground, we can harness it to use as productive electricity to power our transport, kitchen appliances, weapons and a lot of other things that we commonly use in the community. Cain wants to rename our community Utopia. It doesn't seem to be catching on. He believes that this is the perfect society, perfect world. One that is full of violence and sadness and death seems to be Cain's own idea of a perfect world I guess. He says its survival of the fittest, just like he says has always happened. We are the descendants of the winners of the human race, we should be honoured. Sometimes I wish my family line had just died out though. So I wouldn't have to partake in this twisted idea of a utopian society. The people between the ages of thirteen and eighteen that partake in the tests are even called the programmed. Cain says it is because of our training, but to me it sounds as if they're implying that we are only pawns in this world. And I suppose we are.