Monday, October 5th, 2015
Urban Predator
Training Facility
Toulouse, France
Zeta Squad Lair
Rylee's sixth sense went haywire soon after the last lesson of the day.
"What is it?" Simon asked as he recognised Rylee's body language.
"I don't know . . . but something is very wrong," Rylee replied. "Where's Tanya, Turner, and Xiāngxìn?"
"Dunno," Simon commented. "I think Tanya was talking to the instructor as we left."
"I'm going to go look for them – you take Lin and search the vehicle garage while I head for the dining hall."
"Hi, guys!"
"Xiāngxìn!" Simon exclaimed. "You seen Turner or Tanya – Rylee thinks something's up."
"What's up?" Harper asked as she came out of the bathroom.
"Tanya and Turner."
"I'll stay here with Harper," Xiāngxìn said and Rylee nodded. "If they come back, one of us will come and find you."
"Thanks," Rylee said as she and Simon bolted out of the door.
..._..
Simon sprinted for the vehicle garage, his eyes searching for either of his friends.
Along the way, somebody mentioned that they had seen Turner outside and Lin vanished off in that direction.
"Hi, Simon!" Hudson called out a few moments later.
Simon studied the boy for a moment.
"Hudson – come with me."
The boy dutifully followed Simon as they both ran down the corridor, zigzagging around the other Predators as they went. Simon asked every other person if they had seen either Turner or Tanya, but no one had. The pair thundered into the vehicle garage only to find the place devoid of Predators.
"Girl's toilets?" Hudson offered.
Simon took off, racing down the corridors before shoving open the door to the girl's toilets.
"Turner! Tanya!"
"What the fuck?" Charlotte exclaimed.
"We're looking for Turner and Tanya," Hudson stated.
"I figured that – they're not in here," Charlotte responded.
Both boys bolted and they made for the classrooms before Simon heard glass shattering, and he looked at Hudson.
"The dining hall!" Hudson exclaimed and both boys began to sprint in that direction.
Simon was more than a little concerned about what they might find when they arrived.
The Dining Hall
Rylee was shaking violently.
Her hands and her lower arms were covered in blood and bloody-remains. Her mind was a mess of anger and vengeance which was rapidly subsiding, being replaced by shock. The youngster sat on the floor of the dining hall, surrounded by broken glass and pools of blood. To her right, lay the dead body of a half-naked girl. To her left, the headless corpse of a boy, warm blood still pulsing from the torn neck and pooling around Rylee's legs. In her blood-sodden crotch lay a severed head, the dark green eyes staring upward into nothing.
Rylee's eyes too, stared into nothing.
..._...
Strangely, her organised mind was still working like nothing had happened.
That same mind was telling her that the body pulsing blood contained about two-thirds of a gallon of blood and should run dry very soon, not to mention that a goodly portion existed in the head she held. Her mind also told her that the boy would be dead with such a loss of blood, her mind ignoring the minor neck wound. For some reason, another thought entered her tortured mind and she giggled.
"Tis but a scratch. . ." Rylee muttered to herself before giggling again. "Just a flesh-wound. . ."
Rylee laughed out loud as she equated the bloody scene around her with a Monty Python movie which she and her friends had watched just a few night's previously. Her damaged mind noted the blood and the bodily detritus, but whereas a normal person might feel horrified to be surrounded by such horror, for Rylee's wretched mind, it was simply wonderful.
It was almost a full minute before her mind registered the doors to the dining hall being flung open and footsteps suddenly stopping a second later.
..._...
Simon was the first into the room, just as Tanya was struggling to get to her feet.
The boy made directly for his friend, dropping to his knees and pressing his first and second fingers into Rylee's neck, feeling for the pulse of her carotid artery. Simon sighed with relief as he found it, pounding strongly.
"He lost his head, you know – shame; we had a smashing time."
"She's fucking lost it," Simon muttered. "Gimme that head."
Rylee shrugged off her friend like they were playing basketball. After taking a deep breath, Rylee clambered to her feet, looking down at her shorts and blood-spattered legs.
"That bastard's blood is never going to come out!" she complained before she threw the head like a bowling ball, vaguely in the direction of a group of chairs.
The head hit the floor once, before crashing into the chairs and sending them flying.
"St-rrriiiike!" Rylee laughed.
Simon exchanged a look with Hudson, then Rylee's grin vanished from her face as her eyes focused on the other dead body. Simon's eyes fell on the same body, his expression one of sorrow. Rylee sagged to her knees, dragging Turner close and hugging her tightly. Tears flooded down from the face of the living and splattered onto the face of the one, so recently alive. Rylee's entire body shook as she sobbed. While she cared not one ounce for the dead rapist, she cared for Turner like no other.
"Why?" Rylee sobbed as she struggled to process the death of someone so close to her.
Her mind would not accept it. Turner could not be dead.
"No! Turner – open your eyes . . . please . . . I beg you . . . please . . . you can't die. . ."
Simon felt tears of his own flooding down his cheeks as he watched his friends, one dead, and one alive. Simon barely noticed that others had appeared in the room, but he was shaken back to reality by an appalled Hudson.
"Come on, Ry – you need to let her go," Simon said as kindly as he could.
Tanya was on her feet and she was trying to take in the scene of carnage, which was once a place, to eat food. She saw Turner being hugged by Rylee. She saw the limp body and she began to sob just as badly as Rylee. She dropped down and she took hold of a hand which was still warm to the touch. The hand did not respond, hanging limply in Tanya's hand. Tanya knew what had to be done and she nodded at Simon. They each took one of Rylee's arms and they tried to release Turner. Hudson could see three security guards standing a respectful distance away, not getting involved, knowing and respecting what Simon and Tanya were trying to do for their friends. The adults were appalled by what had occurred, easily figuring out the scene.
It took both Simon and Tanya to pull Rylee's arms apart so that a pair of security guards could place Turner's corpse into a body bag. As Turner's body was taken from Rylee the girl screamed and howled as she was physically held back by Simon, Tanya, and Hudson. The girl was quite literally beside herself with grief as she saw her friend being taken from her.
"No," Rylee said. "No."
As the body bag was zipped up, Rylee struggled, pulling away from Simon and Tanya.
..._...
"NO!" Rylee screamed as she watched her friend's face vanish under the black canvas.
The youngster pushed past Instructor Monroe and bolted from the dining hall. Predators making for the dining hall for their dinner stood back as the blood-soaked Rylee ran past with Simon, Tanya, and Hudson close behind. Sky Abbott found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time as she emerged from the library a few feet from Rylee who never missed a beat as she slammed a fist into the unfortunate fourteen-year-old's face, putting her down. Rylee did not stop until she reached the gymnasium, shoving open the double doors and turning for the punchbags which hung in an alcove. Seemingly on autopilot, Rylee pulled on protective gloves and she proceeded to beat the shit out of a vertical bag, alternating punches with kicks, sending the bag flying as each punch and kick landed with notable power. Simon dutifully stood behind the bag, catching it, and returning it into place for Rylee to strike again . . . and again . . . and again.
For an entire hour, Rylee continued, Simon and Tanya alternating behind the punchbag. Xiāngxìn, Lin, Harper, and Hudson stood by, all in shock by the evening's events. Others had come to watch, but no one dared intervene – not even a pissed off Christina whose sister was in the hospital wing having her bleeding face dealt with. Then, out of the blue, Rylee suddenly stopped, and she stood perfectly still, the sweat pouring down her face, intermingled with the tears. Her entire body was soaked with sweat, and the floor beneath her was awash with blood which had been washed from her body by the sweat.
Then, the ten-year-old girl simply collapsed to the ground and lay still.
Wednesday, October 7th, 2015
The Hospital Wing
For two days, Rylee did nothing but lie in a bed and stare up at the ceiling.
She never said a word as she lay there. She ate her meals without argument, but otherwise ignored the questions and the attention of her friends. Simon and Tanya had confirmed that Rylee was not in trouble; indeed, she had done everyone a service. While deaths at Urban Predator facilities were not common, deaths happened, and it was seen as a part of the training. Those who failed to live up to expectations, died from a bullet to the head. Some died as a direct result of the training which was often harsh, and accidents happened. Death was simply a fact of life for the Predators. However, for the death of Turner, it was not a normal death. Whereas the average Predator's death could be blamed on the instructors, Turner had had her life taken by one of their own. Even worse, she had been raped. Not one person mourned Barnabus – the bitch twins did not count – and his passing had not been missed. All meals had been moved into the vehicle garage – apparently, the dining hall needed a deep clean due to the blood and glass scattered all around. Those meals had been sombre occasions as everybody was stunned by what had occurred.
While nobody blinked twice about hurting or teasing the crap out of another Predator, there were certain lines which were never crossed. Yes, the two sexes were integrated and there was very little separation. They showered together. They slept in the same room. But while there was some consensual sexual activity amongst the older Predators, there was never any question of someone forcing themselves sexually onto another, nor was there very much in the way of inappropriate touching. Okay, boys tended to play with themselves in the shower and Rylee was no novice at public masturbation herself. Most girls had seen a boy jacking off in the shower and some of the boys had witnessed a girl bringing herself off too. Barnabus had crossed the line on more than one occasion, losing his life as a result. The nurse had put Rylee's state down to PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder. As long as Rylee at and drank, there was not much else they could do for her. Her friends were allowed to visit when they were not at lessons which helped all Rylee, it seemed, to come to terms with events.
Indeed, Senior Instructor Ramsey had summoned the remaining members of Zeta Squad into a classroom the previous evening, and he had pressed play on a DVD-Player.
..._...
The high-definition video showed the empty dining hall for a few moments and then two people entering.
One was Turner while the other was that bastard, Barnabus. As they watched, Turner was viciously attacked, punched and slapped to the ground. Her joggers were seized and yanked down, along with her underwear. The bastard was behaving like an animal. Harper was stunned, as was Xiāngxìn. Both girls were crying after a minute of watching their friend being brutally assaulted and ultimately raped. Tanya stayed back, with Simon, knowing what was about to happen. As they continued to watch, the boy arched his back as he came. Throughout the attack, his hands and feet had pinned the small girl while the hand pinning her head down also covered her mouth. The boy was so entranced by his orgasm that he never heard Turner choking and by the time he released her, the girl was blue in the face.
Tanya came into shot, punching and kicking Barnabus. The boy was slightly hampered by the fact that his joggers were around his ankles along with his shorts, his wet dick sticking out ahead of him. However, he was able to punch Tanya away long enough to yank up his joggers, just as Rylee came into shot. Many people severely underestimated the youngster, to their cost, due to her slim body and, shorter than most, height. However, should you provoke the girl, you had better be ready for a hurricane-like assault. As the friends watched the screen, Rylee went ballistic – to put it mildly. Barnabus spent a good deal of time attempting to defeat Rylee's frenzied assaults. Six in every ten strikes had the boy yelping with pain while Rylee received her own bruises from the boy's fists and kicks. Rylee never let up, despite being out fought by the boy due to his vastly superior experience and stature. However, the fight was almost equal as Tanya was able to fight alongside Rylee.
At one point, both girls coordinated with a joint kick which sent Barnabus flying backwards into one of the glass panels which guarded The Hole. The glass panel gave way in an explosion of glass as the boy fell through onto one of the grates. Rylee and Tanya leapt after the boy, kicking and punching him as he struggled back to his feet. The boy was angrier than a raging bull as he fought back against his female aggressors. A swift kick of his sent Tanya flying backwards where she took her head off a table and then fell to the floor, not moving. In the classroom, Tanya rubbed the back of her head which was still sore.
Then came the bloody finale as Rylee and Barnabus fought to the death. It was obvious that Barnabus wanted to kill as he seized a fragment of glass and he brought it around, but Rylee had beaten the boy to it suddenly Barnabus froze as he found Rylee's left and right hands at his throat, fists clenched. Rylee pulled her hands away and it was possible to see jagged pieces of glass clenched in each fist. As the glass was removed from the boy's throat, blood fountained out, fighting through the thirteen-year-old boy's desperate fingers. His legs gave way as he sagged to the ground. Then Rylee went for the jugular, quite literally, as she stabbed and stabbed at the boy's neck until he ceased struggling and died of acute blood loss.
The DVD ended just as the body slumped to the ground, minus the head.
That evening
The Hospital Wing
When Simon headed to the hospital wing, he grinned happily as he saw Rylee sitting up in bed, finishing off her evening meal.
"How are you feeling," Simon asked, not expecting an answer as usual.
"Pretty good, despite this slop," Rylee replied.
"You speak!"
"Of course, I do," Rylee replied sharply. "I just chose not to. Thanks for being here for me – all of you."
Simon turned to see Xiāngxìn, Tanya, Lin, Harper, and Hudson smiling.
That night
The Morgue
Rylee hesitated as she entered the room
None of them had ever been there before. Xiāngxìn and Hudson stood back to allow Rylee, Simon, Lin, and Tanya space around the sheet-covered object which lay on the autopsy table. Senior Instructor Ramsey entered and nodded at the doctor who stepped out of the room.
"I can give you fifteen minutes with her body."
"What happens after that?" Rylee asked.
"She will be cremated," Ramsey replied.
"What will happen to her ashes?" Rylee persisted.
"There will be no ashes remaining due to the ultra-high temperatures used."
Rylee grimaced and a single tear flowed down her right cheek.
"Fifteen minutes."
Ramsey left the room, leaving the six youngsters alone. Simon stepped forward and he pulled back the pristine white sheet and folded it just below Turner's neck. Rylee began to sob as she looked down at her friend. The anger swelled up inside her and her fists opened and closed.
"Five hundred and fifty-six days we kept each other alive," Rylee stated. "A little over forty-eight million seconds. I failed you Turner . . . I am so sorry. I should have killed that bastard long before he laid a hand on you . . . that the bastard raped you – I will take that failed responsibility to my grave. I promise that I will not let the rest of my team down like I do you, Turner. That boy is dead, and he will never hurt another living soul. Rest in peace, Turner."
Rylee turned and she walked away, leaving the rest with Turner's body.
Almost two weeks later
Thursday, October 18th, 2015
Rylee had decided that her mourning period was over, and she had quietly put Turner to one side, knowing that she would understand.
The ten-year-old concentrated on her training. She lived from day to day, exercising, learning, eating, sleeping. One interesting lesson had involved an Urban Predator traitor. It was a young girl, nine-years-old. Her name was Stephanie Walker. Rylee's mind drifted back to her first day of incarceration when she had met a small girl called Stephanie. There was a standing kill order out should anyone see the girl. It was, apparently, unprecedented. No one had ever escaped Urban Predator, let alone been able to betray that which had created them. On a more positive note, it was the birthday of a friend.
"Happy Birthday, Shannon," Rylee whispered to her friend.
"How did you know?" Shannon replied with a grin as she rubbed her upper left arm.
"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," Rylee grinned. "What's wrong?"
"A thirteenth birthday gift from Urban Predator. Birth control – I can now fuck without being fucked up."
"That's worth looking forward to," Rylee grimaced sardonically. "Sorry to hear about that."
"Could be worse, I suppose. How are you?"
"Managing."
"I don't know if you know, but Ramsey's been going around the dormitories and explaining, briefly, about what happened to Turner. He also said that you were not going to be punished for what you did – I'm glad about that. He gave the boy's a nasty look and warned them not to push themselves on a girl, or they might end up like that headless cunt. Well done taking him apart, by the way; creative."
"Thanks, Shannon – you're a good friend."
"You too, Rylee – stay safe."
"You know me."
"Yes, I do," Shannon replied darkly.
Shannon watched as Rylee headed off down the corridor – that girl was a true enigma, she thought.
Sunday, November 29th, 2015
Time sped on and October soon moved into November.
The weather was cold and often wet. Zeta Squad was a true team as the seven of them pounded around the facility in all weathers. They would come in, soaked to the skin, shivering, covered in mud, but very happy after having run a few miles. Being a team, they ran at the speed of the slowest – Harper – and never left anyone behind. Zeta Squad was a shining example to the rest of the facility, but it was also a point of contention for some, such as the twins. However, the twins were not privy to the decisions of Urban Predator management and they had no idea that Zeta Squad was being groomed for something big – mind you, Zeta Squad had no idea what they were being groomed for either.
Harper, Xiāngxìn, and Hudson were proving to be perfect team members and Harper had lost the chip off her shoulder during the previous month, even tolerating Naomi to a point. Simon was very pleased with their little team and he was always there to chivvy everybody on, just that little bit more. Rylee had designed a training schedule which would allow Zeta Squad to become the very best Predators ever. Simon had explained to Harper, Xiāngxìn, and Hudson how everything Rylee did had to be perfect. They began to train on more-specialised weapons which included the rope-dart and bō-staff. Their instructors were ramping up their training in languages, tactics, planning, everything. It was hard for them all, but they all helped one another to persevere and get through each week in one piece. The twins had not given up on their vendetta and they enjoyed targeting Zeta Squad whenever a member was alone – which was very rare. Rylee had ensured that the younger members of Zeta Squad were able to defend themselves against the older Predators, just in case.
However, the twins were able to humiliate Shannon, but in a way, which actually backfired most spectacularly on the two bitches.
The following afternoon
Tuesday, November 30th, 2015
The Dining Hall
"What the fuck is wrong with you, Shannon?" Rylee demanded.
For some reason, Shannon appeared totally out of it. To Rylee's mind, it was damn creepy. Guinevere was the first to explain as made her way past the Zeta Squad table often frequented by the other Phase 2 and junior Phase 3 Predators. Yes, Shannon was also a Phase 3 Predator having been promoted the day after she turned thirteen.
"She's just had the time of her life," Guinevere grinned as she strolled off, grinning broadly.
"She sucked," Sky commented. "Her stupid little tits. Her incoherent attempts at fucking that boy."
"It was hilarious!" Christina added scornfully.
Rylee scowled up at Christina, surprised that Shannon ignored both twins.
"Leave her alone, freak of nature," Marc suggested.
"Your attempts were pathetic, just like that dick of yours," Sky responded.
"Well done, Stormtide! Well done, Tempest!" Instructor Primon said. "Credit where credit's due. Top marks, the both of you."
"What!" Sky growled as the instructor walked off.
"Top marks for that!" Christina exclaimed.
Shannon grinned up at the twins.
"Fuck the both of you," Shannon said with both middle fingers raised. "I understand you both got an F – F for frigid!"
Christina and Sky scowled and they both stalked off as everybody laughed.
..._...
Four days later, Marc Ryan was gone.
Shannon told Rylee and Simon that he had been deployed with Sarah Hampton, just that morning. Shannon confided that it was supposed to be her, but the instructors felt that they might not have their mind on the mission – after the carnal display the pair had put on. Shannon was very morose over the next few days and she spent some evenings huddled on a Zeta Squad beanbag thinking about Marc and if she would ever see the boy again.
"I want my first fuck to be Simon," Rylee stated that evening.
Simon blushed furiously and he had no idea how to respond.
"Don't let us stop you," Tanya grinned.
"Not right now – not before I'm thirteen," Rylee responded with a twinkle in her eye. "Hopefully, his dick'll be a bit bigger by then."
The girls all had a good laugh at Simon's expense.
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
The old year had drifted into the new year with very little celebration.
Rylee and Simon did exchange a brief kiss at midnight, but that was not the real show. Tanya managed to shock the hell out of everybody by kissing Owen Brahms – the boy was just as shocked, to be honest – full on the lips.
"Brazen hussy!" Rylee hissed at her friend once the two had separated.
Yes, Owen was the eighth member of Zeta Squad, much to Simon's annoyance – he hated the boy. However, Rylee believed it to be the instructors fucking with them again. It wasn't that the boy had no talent – he did, but he was just so goddamn smug and such a damn perfectionist.
"Him and Rylee are like peas in a goddamn pod!" Xiāngxìn had commented one evening.
Simon had had to agree all while pushing down the urge of jealousy. Simon was stupid enough to think that Rylee might be more interested in Owen than him, but it took Kendra to point out that Rylee also hated the boy's guts.
..._...
It was during January that everything began to change.
On the twenty-third day of that month, a tearful Shannon pushed open the door to Zeta Squad and she slumped down onto a beanbag. She was instantly surrounded by Rylee and Tanya, both demanding to know what was wrong.
"I'm off to England. I deploy in four hours."
Rylee could not prevent the tears from falling. Shannon had been with her ever since the very start and Rylee could not comprehend not having her around. However, Stormtide, as she was known, had a mission ahead of her. It was a rite of passage for every Phase 3 Predator, but Shannon did not want to leave.
"You go for it, Stormy," Rylee grinned.
Shannon scowled.
"Don't call me that."
"You got a partner?"
"Not yet – bet I end up running around England with some little shit!"
"Look after yourself and remember that we're thinking of you," Tanya insisted, wiping away her own tears.
As Rylee hugged Shannon, she looked up at the older girl. Both of them had grown up together during almost two years of hell.
"We'll see each other again, I promise," Rylee said, meaning every word.
"If anyone can survive, you can, Rylee Gibson," Shannon replied.
"You too, Shannon Drake."
Shannon had changed her name when she had turned thirteen as she had no longer wanted the memory of her father and what he had done to her. Senior Instructor Ramsey had approved, and the change had been made. Shannon said goodbye to everyone there before leaving to finish kitting up for her departure.
She left a rather morose Rylee in her wake who was decidedly unhappy with seeing people she cared for vanish.
..._...
In other news, thoughts of people vanishing were briefly distracted by the antics of the twins.
Apparently, the pair had received permission to dye their hair – Sky had opted for a fiery-red colour while her sister, Christina, had gone for a dirty blonde colour.
"Always knew you were a dumb blonde inside!" Guinevere had commented nastily.
"You can change your hair colour," Eva grinned, "but you'll both always be a pain in the fucking arse!"
There was much laughter at the comments, however, many were wondering why they were being treated to such changes, although some hoped it meant that the twins were about to be deployed.
Thursday, January 14th, 2016
The Climbing Wall
If Rylee disliked Owen before, she thoroughly hated the little twat now.
Owen was racing Rylee up the climbing wall and he appeared to be winning – it was their fourth run through with Rylee having won twice and Owen once. It was the best of five and Simon was not sure which way it was going to go. He also knew that Rylee would be hell to live with should she lose to Owen. Rylee was incensed that the little bastard would actually try to outdo her. For Rylee it had to be the gold or nothing – silver was worse than dying to her. The pair were neck and neck as they went scurrying up the difficult vertical wall of protruding foot and hand holds. Neither backed down as their toes and fingers sought out beneficial holds which might boost them up the wall. Owen had longer legs than Rylee so he could raise his feet higher and thus get a good push off to grasp a higher handhold. Each time Owen moved even a single inch ahead of Rylee, Simon saw her expression harden and her muscles push even harder than before.
Simon and Tanya were struggling not to laugh at their friend's antics as Rylee became angrier and angrier the higher, she climbed. Owen's expression told the world that he was determined to beat Rylee, no matter what.
"I think Rylee'll chop his balls off if he beats her," Hudson commented.
"I agree," Lin replied with a grin.
"Oh, shit!" Tanya breathed as Owen's hand struck the bell at the top of the climbing wall a fraction of a second before Rylee.
Rylee gently lowered herself down a rope to the ground where Owen was waiting. "We go again in two five minutes," she growled.
"You just signed your own death warrant," Lin told Owen.
"I'll survive," Owen reasoned.
"You really need to learn how to lose graciously, Ry."
"Fuck off, Simon."
Simon laughed as Rylee scowled.
..._...
The final round was to be the last – winner takes all.
A small crowd was gathering to watch the finale; many of those watching were hoping to see some major fireworks should Rylee lose. As Xiāngxìn blew a whistle, Rylee and Owen jumped for the first grips on the climbing wall. The crowd below began chanting – most for Rylee, but there was some cheering for Owen; mostly to annoy Rylee. Owen quickly moved ahead of Rylee, cutting the girl off as he reached for the best handholds. However, Rylee was hot on his heels as she angrily pursued the boy. A ripple of laughter spread through those watching as Rylee reached up between the boy's legs to grasp a handhold, wrapping her knuckles across his balls as she went. Owen's feet lost their grip and for a moment, the boy was suspended by just his right hand. He lost precious seconds as Rylee sailed on past towards the top.
Then Owen attempted to barge past and Rylee slipped, dropping eight inches before she could grasp a protruding 'rock' with her left hand and prevent an embarrassing plunge to the crash mat beneath. Rylee was steaming as she pushed using every muscle she possessed. Indeed, Rylee's stamina after four previous ascents appeared to be her ticket to success as Owen's stamina was waning. The cheering and supportive yells increased as Rylee rapidly overhauled the boy who dared to make a run on her crown. Sweat dripped off her, making gripping difficult but she persevered with her climb, nonetheless. Rylee could hear the chanting and the cheering from below and that galvanised her into completing her task and putting the little cunt down.
Rylee took great joy in grinning down at the furious Owen as she rang the bell.
..._...
Rylee was both pleased and angry as she regained the ground.
She felt like punching the living daylights out of Owen, but she relented when the boy held out his hand to Rylee, holding back any bad joke he had thought up. Rylee took the outstretched had and she took it.
"You almost killed me!" Rylee growled. "Even worse, I could have come second! Uggh!"
Rylee stormed off for a shower, glaring back at Owen as she did so.
"She really needs to get her priorities right," Hudson commented as Simon simply shook his head wearily.
Wednesday, February 24th, 2016
Urban Predator Training Facility
Toulouse, France
The training was being ramped up for everybody, from the lowliest Apprentice Predator, all the oldest Phase 3 Predator.
However, things were changing around them. Most never really noticed, simply focussing on themselves and their own training, however, the more astute Predators noticed people vanishing and security increasing. Tanya and Rylee found themselves very put out when Charlotte and Jake vanished one afternoon at the end of February – they had not realised how much they enjoyed having the pair around - and others began to appear. Something was going on, but whatever it was, all the instructors were very tight-lipped about it. While Rylee and Tanya were concerned to see friends vanish, they were also concerned by the new arrivals. A good twenty or so Predators had arrived to swell the ranks and, it seemed, to serve no other purpose than to make the queues even longer at mealtimes.
Okay, there was much more to concern a Predator than simply delayed food – although not all that much – but major change to a carefully planned regime caused insecurity to set in and that caused friction amongst the Predators who revelled in organised organisation. Rylee began to feel insecure, and that simply caused her temper to come to the fore. Rylee would lash out at anybody who upset her, including her friends.
"Harpy!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Look, Harpy, you clatty bitch, your dirty towel goes in the damn tub, not half fucking out!"
Harper was astounded that such a little thing should cause such a problem. However, she was smarter than most and she simply flipped her towel into the tub.
"Ry?" Simon commented.
"What?!" Rylee exclaimed angrily.
Tanya looked up, startled; Rylee never shouted at Simon. However, Rylee was not the first Predator Tanya had seen rattled. Some very unsavoury types had moved in, recently, and even the bitch twins gave those a wide berth. They were no longer the alphas at the top of the food chain.
"I'm sorry, Harpy, but I'm getting a little fucked off by the slacking off around here."
Harpy made to retort but Simon shook his head and Harpy wisely backed off.
Instead, Tanya grabbed Rylee and dragged her off to the gymnasium where they could both exercise their troubles on punchbags.
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
The Dining Hall
The two newest arrivals were a Phase 2 boy and a Phase 3 girl.
"Hi, I'm Hunter Graves."
Simon nodded at the twelve-year-old boy.
"I'm Simon, and these are Rylee, Tanya, Lin, Xiāngxìn, Harper, and Hudson."
"I'm Natalie Parent."
"Hi."
"Where'd you guys come from?" Rylee asked.
"We flew in from Colorado, just today," Natalie replied.
"USA?"
"Yeah," Hunter confirmed.
"You have any idea what's going on?" Lin asked.
"No – we were just ordered to pack," Natalie replied. "They flew us out here and we were hoping you guys might know what is happening."
"I think Urban Predator is coming apart," Owen commented as he sat down with his tray of food.
"The dick has a point," Tanya grinned. "He's Owen, by the way."
"But why send us to . . . where are we?" Hunter asked.
"France," Tanya said.
"Fucking queues are getting longer and I'm sure there's less food," Simon groused.
"Well, if there is a shortage," Owen grinned. "Tanya's got some spare in her butt."
"You fucking cunt!" Tanya growled.
"Touched a nerve, there!" Owen quipped.
Three days later
Friday, March 4th, 2016
The Vehicle Garage
Tanya watched the next group of Apprentice Predators arrive.
One girl in particular looked so small that everyone was certain that she'd become an instant yellow, however, the urchin punched out a Yellow and somehow the little scrap of a girl stayed a Predator. 'What was the world coming to?' Tanya thought. At lunch, Tanya pointed out the girl to Simon and Rylee.
"Bet you she doesn't last the month," Rylee said.
"Three weeks," Simon countered.
"I say a month and a day," Tanya decided.
"I think her name is Kaitlin," Xiāngxìn commented.
"Stupid name!" Harper commented. "Almost as stupid as being called Naomi. Their names are so stupid, they could be related!"
Lin rolled her eyes – she thought that the Harper-Naomi spat was getting ridiculous.
"Cocky, aren't you, Harpy," Rylee said. "You going to make Phase 2?"
"Of course, I am!" Harper responded.
"Four days, Harpy!" Simon chuckled.
"I'll be fine," Harper stated, hope evident in her voice.
Yes, they wound her up about it, but all of Zeta Squad were rooting for her.
Saturday, March 5th, 2016
The Dining Hall
Naomi's mind was on anything but the other Predators.
If she as very lucky, in three days, she would be advanced to Phase 2 of her training. It was a landmark step for the nine-year-old. She had just turned nine a week previously and that put her ahead of that bitch, Harper Brown, who would not turn nine for another two weeks. God, she hoped that Brown would remain a Phase 2 Predator. She could see the girl in question with her buddies and that almost made her miss the new girl.
Naomi had seen the small girl at breakfast and there had been something about her, but Naomi could not figure out what. It had nagged at her mind for the rest of the morning, but she still could not figure out why the girl was familiar. Therefore, her curiosity peeked, Naomi saw the girl again – the little girl was sitting alone at a table in the corner of the large dining room – so Naomi took her tray of food and sat down across from the other girl. The young girl was staring forlornly down at her plate which held just a solitary sausage.
"You know, if you're going to survive in this place, you have got to eat a proper meal on a regular basis," Naomi offered.
"I know – my life sucks."
"Join the club – you'd better get used to it, er..."
The young girl looked up at Naomi and her expression quickly became one of confusion.
"I'm Kaitlin – Kaitlin Luton. You're Naomi – you're my cousin, Naomi Bedford."
"What – I don't have a cousin . . . at least I don't remember having one – this place does weird things to your brain. Anyway, my name is Naomi, but my surname: it's Ward, not Bedford."
"I remember you – my Mum told me that you went missing; it was about a year ago, I think – you look different, but I'm certain that it's you."
"If you say so..."
"You used to shout at me and call me names . . . you hated me."
Naomi looked pensive for a minute as she ate her toasted cheese sandwich.
"You were spoilt rotten – a daddy's girl; you always screamed when you couldn't get your own way and you always blamed others for your own failings. Yes, I hated you."
Kaitlin grinned.
"I was a nasty little girl – but I promise to be nice . . . if you'll help me."
"Just don't bring attention to us both."
Naomi was stunned by the rapid turn of events – what were the odds of finding someone she knew within Urban Predator? She was also surprised she could even remember the little girl. Maybe it had been Kaitlin's presence, helping her to remember.
Whatever, it was a minor improvement to life as Naomi now had the task of keeping her young cousin alive.
Three days later
Monday, March 8th, 2016
Zeta Squad Lair
"I – am - the – greatest!"
"The greatest twat?" Rylee enquired with a snarky grin.
"The greatest gobshite?" Tanya countered.
"The greatest imbecile?" Simon added.
"It can't be that she's a Phase 2 Predator," Rylee continued. "That could never happen."
"Nah," Simon responded. "She's crap at shooting, crap at fighting, crap at running, she can't drive in a straight line..."
"Neither can Tanya," Rylee quipped.
"Bitch!" Tanya laughed.
"Congratulations, Harper," Lin said.
"Well done!" Rylee said, leaping up off her beanbag and punching Harper hard on the arm.
"Aaah!" Harper yelled. "Dead arm!"
"Did Naomi Ward pass?" Simon asked.
"Yes," Harper growled despondently.
"Bet that smarts," Tanya laughed.
"Worse than a spiked tampon, I bet," Rylee grinned.
"Who would do that?" Harper enquired.
"No idea – just came to me," Rylee shrugged.
