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Chapter 20

TJ

I am not sure how long my sister and I train with Leon. The days have no hours or minutes, just moments that are long, brief, or seemingly endless. We continue our morning exercises until the pain of the grainy sand under my toes, the sting of frigid water on my palms, and hard wood on my knuckles becomes desensitized. Perhaps that's what Leon wants. Us to be able to bear pain.

We would train all day and afternoon, even late at night, only breaking to eat or use the restroom. We eat meals mostly comprised of raw vegetables and very lean meat or fish. Leon makes us eat a lot of fish. It is usually lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, and some other hot spice that was piquant and savory. At every meal there is always a large cast-iron pot with steamed brown rice. There wasn't much variety, but I didn't complain. Nor did I think I could. Besides I was grateful the moments where I didn't have to punch something or lift heavy sandbags.

Leon taught us more about our bodies and how they adapt easier than most humans. I did notice that every morning, the cuts on my knuckles and toes seemed to heal rather quickly. I also noticed that carrying heavy buckets of water got easier the more I did it. When I showered the other day, I peered in one of the few mirrors that wasn't broken or smashed in the facility.

My shoulders seemed broader. My legs were more defined as well as my arms. My chest looked heavier and sinewy. But only a little bit. I was still flimsy and pasty all over.

I noticed my sister's body begin to shift as well. Her long arms were stronger and her blooming curves were being replaced by tight muscles. It didn't make sense though. Although I wasn't able to keep count really of the days and time, we couldn't have been here for more than two or three weeks. Nobody's body developed that quickly.

Leon took us down in lower tunnels that were beyond the three main ones in the entrance on certain days. Inside them were rooms with huge spaces and various landscapes. One of them had a big race track that circled around the entire room. We ran it everyday after we got done with punching wood. Leon placed heavy weighted vests on my sister and I. The first time I had to wear it and run, I passed out within ten minutes. Now I barely feel it at all when I run.

We also had to clean the wooden floors of the facility on certain days. Although I had no calendar, I knew that this task came at least two days during the week. We'd scrub the dojo floors on our hands and knees with thick brushes Leon gave us. My back ached and throbbed after we finished.

There were other rooms where we learned how to manipulate and heighten our reflexes. One of them had metal pillars of different height we had to climb and jump from. I fell a lot and so did Natalie. But Leon didn't allow us to stop for pain. We kept the weighted vests on, but now Leon made us put ankle and wrist weights on too. I was worried that all the pressure would destroy our joints, but apparently our bodies could withstand a lot of things other people couldn't. He made sure we tested just how much they did.

To Leon there were no such thing as limits. He told us if we found one in ourselves, then it was up to us to push past them. I didn't know how to do that. I tried to be strong, not cry out when my knuckles split against the stiff wood, when my legs burned from the endless running, or when my chest felt like it would collapse on itself. I didn't see the point of trying to push past my limits when they were immovable.

I could tell my sister was getting frustrated with the cycle of training we were doing. She struggled so much every day to keep her temper under control. Leon's snide and sometimes cruel remarks or criticisms to our progress were hurtful. Even my fear of him started being replaced by anger. We weren't even learning how to fight yet, which was the most infuriating part.

I had to force myself to think about my parents. Training had consumed every part of me, not just physically. Whenever Natalie and I would be free to relax or at meals, they would float into my mind. Something bitter and sour filled my stomach when I thought about what the DGD could be potentially doing to them. They could be mutilating them or removing their limbs. They could be dead right now and I wouldn't even know it. Or be able to do anything about it.

"That's it!" Natalie says throwing a sandbag down hard on the floor. It makes a heavy thud against the concrete and the room shakes a little. I look at her nervously and see her face is flushed angry red. Her nostrils are flared and her fists are clenched.

"I'm not moving anymore damn sandbags! I'm not walking in any more sand! I'm not carrying anymore water—-

"Is there a problem?" Comes a dark, deep voice from behind me. I freeze and feel my sweat drip down my forehead. I feel Leon's strange body heat press into my back, but I know he's at least a few feet away from me by the door.

Natalie turns to him, her eyes full of nerves and fire, and says "I'm not doing this anymore. We've been doing the same thing over and over for weeks now. This is not learning how to fight. These are chores!"

I say nothing but I completely agree with my sister. For once. But I know that her insolence will not go over well with Leon. She's been trying her best to keep her anger in check, but now I see it about to explode.

Leon walks past me gracefully to stand in between us. His usual all black clothes comprised of a sleeveless shirt and sweats were present just like they always were. I watch his strong body stand sternly with his arms folded behind his back. He shifted his head back and forth between us. His eyes were cold and blank, but always had a hidden warmth to me deep behind them. I thought, maybe in another life, he could have been a very kind man.

"So you don't like my training, do you?" Leon asks softly.

My sister nods her head and says "I just don't think it's fair you haven't taught us anything real yet! Our parents—-

She chokes a little when she speaks about them. Her eyes gloss over a little.

"Are perfectly fine." Leon says slowly as he pursed his lips into a tight line.

"How would you know?" Natalie almost scathes. I want to tell her to watch her tone but I know it's too late. "You don't know what that DGD is doing to them!"

Leon sighs irritably and in one quick motion he pulls out a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He unfolds it and glares at Natalie darkly. Then he turns to me and holds out the paper to me.

I walk slowly over to him to grab it. It is a small, square sheet of memo paper. There's quick, messy handwriting that covers it, but I can read it all the same. I read aloud

TJ and Natalie,

Your parents are fine. Trust me. They are safe. For now anyway. Stay where you're at. Keep training. We are doing what we can up here. The DGD is on the move. The city may fall into their hands. We are trying to stop it. I will send another update soon.

P.S. I hope your mouths haven't gotten your eyes snatched out of your head or worse, killed.

Amar.

I glanced over it two more times and then looked up at Leon and Natalie. Leon was still standing still between us and I saw my sister's face contorted with confusion and lingering anger.

"So now you know they're safe. You can continue." Leon says plainly.

Natalie shakes her head and says "No. Not until you teach us how to fight."

Leon says nothing. He walks past me again and faces the door. "You will continue or you can leave."

He disappears in a dark flash leaving us in the sand room again. Natalie huffs and wipes sand off her sweats. She motions toward the door and says "Then we're leaving. Come on TJ."

I stand still and look down at my bloody and cracked toes. As much as I want to leave, it wouldn't be smart. We are safe here.

"No." I mumble quietly with my back turned to her.

Natalie rounds on me angrily and shouts "What are you saying? You want to stay here with this lunatic, breaking our knuckles against wood blocks, climbing columns, scrubbing floors. That's not going to save our parents! We'll find another way. Now come!"

I round on her this time with my fist clenched tight against my sides. I look at her angry wide eyes and face.

"We can't leave. If we go up there, who knows what'll happen. We are safe here. We need to keep training. You heard Amar."

Natalie scoffs and rolls her eyes. She folds her arms that are bruised purple and green across her chest.

"You're so damn gullible, TJ. You really think Amar sent that? There's no way some unknown government department can take over an entire city. Stuff like that doesn't happen anymore, remember? Our parents, you know the ones that are somewhere probably being sliced and hacked right now, stopped that from happening!"

I say nothing to her. I turn away from her and begin pulling sandbags onto my shoulders. As I feel their pressure on my neck I hear Natalie yell in frustration.

She leaves. I don't know if she will abandon me or not.

All I can think about now is my mother. I think of her blonde hair and bright eyes. Her warm smile in the mornings and evenings. I think about her humming as she crushed pecans in her small, but strong palms, throwing them in a bowl to make cookies or brownies with. She always smelled of warmth and safety.

I think of my father. I see his tall frame, full of muscle doubled over his car in our garage. I see his arms move carefully under the complex hood and around the engine. I see his tattoos, the same one that now trace my back, peek under the collar of his white shirt. He is so focused that he doesn't see me watching. Or at least he doesn't acknowledge me. He smells of sweat, soap, and motor oil. But still, it is like my mother, warm and safe.

Something wet and salty trails into the corners of my mouth. I blink and feel the sandbags on my shoulders again. I toss them down and wipe my face with my arm. My chest feels heavy like I have the weighted vest on again. But when I clutch my chest, I grab nothing but the fabric of my sweat stained shirt. I try to breathe and calm myself, but now I am gasping for short breaths. My knees buckle a little and I slide to the floor. I feel the harsh grains of sand cut into my shins and calves. I wipe my sandy hands on my sweats many times over. They are sweaty and shaking. I press my palms into my eyes.

"No crying. No crying." I mutter to myself. But I cannot stop myself from seeing their faces, happy and laughing. Our house whole again. Us whole again.

I miss them.

I hear a noise, like light footsteps outside the door. It must be my sister. But when I look up slowly I see no one.

I feel strange heat flood the room for only a moment. Then it is gone.

short chapter. TJ will be taking over for awhile with the memories. hope you enjoy reading! till next time.