She nearly cried with relief as she found the coffee and immediately put the kettle on while Dec and Hugo whipped up a meal for the three of them before thy both left with their boxes in hand and Issy collapsed onto her bed.
xXx
Her feet skidded to a stop as the burning beam fell in front of her, spitting sparks at her. She clutched Reece to her chest tighter, his head burrowed in her neck and his legs locked around her waist. Issy spun around the banister, ran down the hall and into the kitchen. She could feel Reece's tears against her skin and tried to keep her own at bay. Hurrying to the back door Issy tried to open it with one hand but she couldn't. It was jammed. She glanced around but couldn't find another way out. Issy untangled Reece's legs from her waist and his arms from her neck. He cried out and tried to latch back on but Issy shushed him.
"It's okay Ree, it's okay." Issy ran her shaking hands through his soft brown locks and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Be strong for me and don't move. Don't move as I open this door, okay?" He mumbled something but nodded his head. She watched him sit down on the floor before she jumped into action. Issy scoured the draws for something useful before grabbing a large knife along with a smaller one. Back at the door she slide the larger knife through the tiny gap and then added the other knife before jerking the blades around. A few moments passed before the door clicked and swung open an inch. Issy exhaled deeply, wiping her forehead as she slung the knives onto the table and picked Reece back up. Immediately his legs went back around her waist and his arms went around her neck. "My brave boy." Issy murmured as she pushed the door, running into fresh, clean air. She ran until she stood at the every edge of their garden, bordering into the cluster of trees that lies behind their house. Issy tried not to stare at their home for too long before she set off again, into the trees.
Reece's breathing slowed as he drifted off. She sniffed, noticing the smell of smoke followed them. Her feet dragged as she walked for who knows how long. She halted to a stop, accidently waking Reece, when she heard a branch snap. Issy gasped and took a step back when Jeremy stepped forward. He worn a crisp blue suit with not a single cringle. His strong jaw was covered in silvery stubble, giving him a wise, experienced vibe. His equally slivery hair was parted neatly and professionally. Jeremy fiddled with a cuff of his suit as he smirked at them, and Issy gently pressed Reece's head into the nook of her shoulder.
"Tut. Tut. Tut. Issy," He drawled slowly, his head cocked to the side as he took a calculated step forward. "I'm glad I found both of you. Your family's worried sick. Come on," He raised his arm out to cradle her shoulders and guide her back. A small voice whispered he was lying but Issy wanted her brothers back, she wanted her mum and dad and she was so tired. Reece turned to Jeremy, gurgling happily and raised his small hands up. Jeremy smiled, but it came out like a grimace as he picked his nephew up. He stared critically at Reece, holding him up in different angles and gently pulled the skin under his eyes down while Jeremy gazed at his eyes. Her uncle's shoulders slumped and he huffed in disappointment. "What a shame." Jeremy sighed. "It appears EX1," He turned to Issy with a sadistic grin and she took a cautious step back. "Or Reece, took in too much smoke, going by the time it took you to get out of the house, of course his body is still growing but it can have such a grand effect on such a little body." Jeremy held Reece up higher, his grin slowly fading into a frown, and with speed Issy didn't think her uncle was capable of, he slammed Reece's head down with a sickening crack and a scream crawled out of her throat as Reece fell to the floor –
Issy jerked awake. Sweat covered her body as her chest heaved and she tucked her chin onto her knees. Her heavy breathing and the beeping of her alarm was the only noise in her room. Issy turned the alarm off and threw her covers off. It had been a while since one of those dreams had plagued her and every time she wasn't ready for the fear that ran through her body each time she remembered.
Despite the nightmare, she had slept well that night, falling asleep around ten until her alarm had awoken her. Six hours sleep wasn't bad compared to the nights when she only slept for three. She knew she had around an hour and a half before she was due to meet Hec in the cafeteria and she sighed. Her chest still heaved as she jumped up from her bed, shaking out her limbs and quickly pulling out a pair of workout leggings, a sports bra, underwear and a tank top ready for when she came out of the shower. Issy grabbed her phone and put all on her songs on shuffle and turned the volume way up. With her phone in her hand she walked into her bathroom, singing softly as she turned her shower on.
"Home. A place where I can go to take this off my shoulders. Someone take me home. Home. A place where I can go to take this off my shoulders. Someone take me home." Issy stepped into the shower once it came to a suitable temperature and leaned her forehead on the cool tiles, exhaling slowly.
Half an hour later, Issy walked into her kitchen with her phone in her back pocket and her workout clothes on. She pulled out the coffee jar from her newly stocked cupboard, followed by the sugar jar and a mug from the rack. She boiled the kettle and dumped a teaspoon of coffee and sugar into the mug. Issy started to stretch out her limbs, warming up for the day ahead of her until the kettle finished boiling. After she had poured the water into her mug and stirred, she placed the cup on the island and bent herself over the mug while she unlocked her phone and typed out on email to Hec to make sure he was up. Her phone pinged with her response ten minutes later.
Yes Issy, I'm up. Meet me in the cafeteria in 30 minutes?
She smirked over the rim of her mug at his message as the coffee kicked in and suddenly she realised she was raring to go. Sure thing chicken wing. She typed back and received a winking face in return. With her coffee all gone and her mug in the sink, Issy walked back into her bedroom quickly, snapping her watch around her wrist and pulled a light hoodie out of a draw. She pulled it over her head as she walked blindingly back to her kitchen, walking into the wall once or twice. Placing her phone in her pocket she grabbed her keys and stepped out of her flat and locked the door. Instead of heading towards the lifts, Issy headed to the stairs and switched between lightly jogged and walking down them.
Not many people were up at 05:30 but those who were up wore patrol, fence or guard uniforms. The uniforms weren't very different. Fence uniforms had a grey strip around the forearm and guard uniforms had a purple strip instead. Patrol units were easily distinguished by the unique squad patch that is sewn onto the left shoulder like a coat of arms. Issy noticed that the cafeteria was filled with many in these uniforms along with a few leaders.
"ISSY!" Her head snaps to the every end of the hall where Hec stands with his arms up in the air. She grins as she jogs towards him and notices Uriah is also sat at the table looking very serious in patrol gear while he talks with Harrison. She sits opposite Hec and picks at his plate.
"Morning all." She says with a smirk as she swipes a piece of bacon off of Hec's plate. "You never mentioned you were part of a patrol squad Uri."
"Must have slipped my mind." He grins back and Issy notices the patch on the shoulder of his jacket. It had a grey hand gun surrounded by red tribal flames. Her eyes flicker back up to Uri grinning down at her. "My patrol patch. Its an all male squad. The Flaming Bullets." Uriah states with a smirk and Issy exchanges a look with Hec.
"Original." Hec's voice is dry and Issy hides her smile behind her hand.
Harrison speaks up, glancing between them. "The squad name and patch is unique to each squad captain. Some aren't as creative as others."
Hector grins again before he looks down at his watch. "Hey Iss, we better get going. Its twenty to now."
"Yeah." Issy stands up when Hec does and a giddy feeling runs through her. "Later guys!" She waves at them over her shoulder as she follows Hector out. They turn a corner and Hec nearly bumps into Max and Eric. They exchange smiles with their Leaders and a hand squeezes hers as they walk past. She glances back to Eric and winks at his smirking face. Issy looks forward again and Hector raises his eyebrow knowingly. She shoves him forward a step. "Shut up."
The area around the fighting mats were cleaner and safer than the other parts of the compound. Mats were boxed off in the middle of raised seats. A few people wandered through it but who they were looking for were grouped together, some were leaned against one of the walls and two others were sat on one of the raised seats. They laughed, shoving each other's shoulders. As they got closer a woman elbowed an older man and he turned around. Issy and Hec came to a stop in front of them with their backs straight and their hands clasped behind their backs. The squad surveyed them and vice visa. The women, the only woman in the group, stood out the most with a pixie cut dyed like a rainbow and deep brown eyes. She was flanked by two men, one appeared the same age as her dad with red hair, it wasn't like a gingery-red but a bright poppy red. His eyes were also the same colour, as were the Chinese dragons that were inked into his forearms. The other man was the bulkiest within the group and for some reason Issy could have sworn she's met him before. The two that were sat down looked at them with curiosity in their eyes. One had actual ginger hair gelled back with buzzed sides and freckles all over his face and the other honestly looked like the youngest with neat brown hair and surprisingly soft brown eyes. Issy looked the older man, guessing that this was Clark. He was definitely older and she could practically feel the experience rolling off of him. Her golden eyes stared into his wise dark eyes, refusing to back down.
He smirked, tilting his head to the side. "Max mentioned that this year's class were tightly knit." His voice was softer than she had expected, welcoming, and yet it made Issy wary of him. "Well done. You've passed your first test: teamwork." Issy and Hec exchanged confused looks as some of the squaddies snickered into their hands. "I purposely sent that text to only one of you just to see if you could work together by communicating with each other. In this squad we go by nicknames given by your fellow colleagues which has been a tradition since 226 was first formed and it will be carried on until the end of time. Real names don't really matter here and so I'm Captain and as captain of this squad it seemed obvious apparently. This lovely lass is Rainbow and he is Red, both are quite obvious as to why." He points to each of them in turn before pointing to Mr. Bulky. "This is Bulldozer or BD for short. You'll find out why soon. Over here we have Geek," He points to the ginger. "And finally we have Billy. His real name isn't Billy, we thought he just looked like a Billy."
Billy rolls his eyes, flipping the bird at him. "Gee, thanks." He says sarcastically.
"Now," Captain starts more seriously. "If you didn't know already, at the beginning of each month Harrison places a squad in charge of the rotas of which squad will patrol where. This will be from seven 'til six every day unless we're sent out to patrol a faction for a week and then we'll camp out in that faction." The man who she assumes is Clark starts to walk away as he talks and they quickly step behind him with the other squaddies following. They walk out of the Pit and down a wide corridor. "I suggest you buy a phone if you haven't already. It saves time trying to track you down manually. Training you guys will be easier seeing as you've both came out of initiation and patrol training is basically just an extension of initiation just more in depth. When Dauntless first started patrolling the other factions each squad member had a specific job. Nowadays patrolling isn't as tasking as it was but Harrison likes to keep tradition so each squad member will have their own jobs. In the first week of training we'll test you on your skills and that will lead to which job you'll be given within the squad. Tracker and Scout are up for grabs. Billy is the other scout but due to unfortunate events we're down two trackers." They stop at a large double door with a key card slot. Captain takes out a card and swipes it until there's a dull click and the door groans as it opens an inch. "This is where you'll spend most of your time." Captain opens the doors and leads the way in.
They walk into a long wide room. On the very opposite of the room are four large garage doors and one of the was slowing closing after one of Dauntless' bullet proof trucks came rolling in. Along the right side of the room were where all of Dauntless' trucks were parked and it looked like there was enough to fit all of they faction if needed. In the very corner to the right of where they stood was another door with a keypad. On the left side of the room by the garage doors were several old frames of different vehicles ranging from bike to cars and in the opposite corner to Issy's right was another door. Along the wall, behind the old frames were several doors, each were evenly space and had numbers on them. Captain led them to a corridor branching off from the left side where there were more doors with numbers on them. They stopped at the third door on the right which had 226 spray painted on. Captain pulled out another key card and unlocked the door. Inside the room was one large round table with ten chairs around it. A counter ran along the far side with a sink, a few cupboards and a fridge. One of the walls was completely covered by a map of Chicago.
"Welcome to the common room." Captain said, spreading his arms out wide as Bulldozer slumped into the nearest chair. "Please, sit." Issy and Hec sat side by side as the squaddies sat around them. All eyes were on Issy and Hector and they stared straight back. Issy cocked an eyebrow at Captain and Rainbow giggled.
"I like her." She smiled.
Captain shook his head and reached into a draw. He pulled out two bags, chucking them to Issy and Hec. "In there is three key cards, yellow one for the common, blue one for the garage and red one for the S.W.A.L.T room – which we'll look at in a mo. There is also a code for your lockers where you'll keep your personal belongings while on a patrol, it'll also store your rifle which you be in charge of. There is a small round gadget with a thin screen and a button that you'll need to keep on you always. When there's an emergency or something important I'll press mine and it'll make the alarm in yours go off and on the small screen will be the location that I'll need you get to asap and the button is to turn the alarm off. Finally your squad jackets with our patch already sewn on." Each of the key cards had a small hole punched into the corner, making it easier to attach it to the rest of her keys. There's also a small loop tied onto the gadget so she adds it to her key rings. Now her key ring seems awfully heavy compared to that very morning when she only had her own key on it. On the left shoulder of the jacket is the side view of a yellow lion mid run with two arrows embedded in its ribs. A silver banner flows from the bottom of its mane and it ends over the lion's eyes. In the banner are the words BE NOT AFRAID and above the lion in a script font is Sun's Pride. Issy shoots a grin at Hector as she slips the jacket on over her hoodie and she snuggles into it. Its similar to the one Dec gave her except it doesn't hand off of her like the other one did.
"I like her." Rainbow repeats with a grin as she looks around the room and Issy grins back.
Geek hands them both a small bungee cord with a clip on both ends. "These stop you from losing your keys. Clip on end to your keys and the other to a loop on your jacket or jeans." Both Issy and Hec do as he says.
"Right, c'mon then." Captain stands up from the chair and heads back to the door. "We'll give you the tour and get you kids some guns." He looks to the others and smirks. "Obviously you guys don't need the tour so we'll meet you in the S.W.A.L.T room." They nod, quickly standing up in parade rest with their backs straight and their hands clasped behind their backs before they relaxed and walked out of the room. Issy and Hec stood up from their chairs, grabbing their bags and walking out as Captain motioned them to go first. "First off: all these other doors are designated to a different squad. Never give your key to someone outside of our squad unless it's a Leader." He nods his head as he looks between them before he leads them back to the main room. "Due to unfortunate events, were down two members but now that we have them, and much to BD's disappointment and mine, we're gonna have to get a new truck. Statistics show the truck's limit is seven people plus all the gear we take. It was a risk having just that one more person and even Harrison said we were pushing it."
Issy listens to Captain as he tells them how long they've had that truck and how much of a difficulty it would to get a new one when her eyes focus on one of the bike frames. It was in good nick and it'd only need revamping and updating. An idea pops in her head and her eyes light up. "Hey Captain?" She cuts across his rambles, pulling them to a stop. "What are these old frames used for?"
His dark eyes focus on the frames to their left and he shrugs his shoulders. "Anything. If one of our trucks break down, we can either ask Erudite for the part – which is such a ball ache for us to ask those egotistic bastards for anything – or we take it from the frames here."
"But what about the bikes? I mean, I have yet to see a soldier use one."
"Uh," He pauses, scratching at his dark beard. "Well the bikes are just for projects I think... I don't really know, I've never asked." Captain's eyes are laced with curiosity as they settle on Issy. "Why?"
Issy shrugs her shoulders. "It was just an idea. If I fixed one of those bikes up to a good standard I could ride it. I know how to do it, I helped my dad and brothers when I was growing up. I just thought that if I did that, you wouldn't have to get a new truck and we'd be sorted." Issy leaves it hanging as Captain's eyes move to where the bikes are. Hec looks between them as Captain nods his head.
"I mean I'd have to ask Harrison if it'd be okay and then Steve – who's the head mechanic, you'll meet him later – and even if you can't you could always keep it as a project on the side. A good idea Issy, a good idea indeed." He shoots her a grin. "Which bike caught your eye?"
Issy grins back and motions them to follow her. She weaves through the other frames until she comes to one on the very end. "This one."
"Huh. Stay here."
As Captain wanders off to a smallish office in the corner near the garage doors, Hec moves closer. "Good thinking Batman." Issy snorts quietly as Hector laughs. He looks around before looking back to Issy. "So what do you think so far?"
"It's definitely something." She shifts in her jacket and looks to Hec. He cocks an eyebrow at her and she shakes her head. "I don't know. I'm loving it but it feels like a dream, like I'll wake up and I'll be in the dorms still in initiation."
"I know what your saying. I never thought of anything in initiation but initiation and even now with my own apartment and job, it just feels unreal right? Like after initiation there should just be another initation?" He smiles as Issy nods. "That's why I chose Patrolling 'cause Uri told me the training for this is just like initiation, just shorter, we learn more and you have to keep up with your fitness. You need to be the very best or you're just not good enough for it."
"I get ya. In a way it's like you want to move on with your life but you just don't want to move on from initiation because it just meant so much. It was what made us to be the Dauntless members we are."
"Exactly!" They laugh together, unaware of the audience they had gained.
"You know," Both Issy and Hec jump in surprise and they turn to see Captain had came back with Harrison and another guy who had dark blond hair cut short. Harrison smirks as he carries on. "I don't think I've ever heard a person say they miss initiation. Ever. Let alone two of them." He laughs a little as he shakes his head. "You know what, I'm telling Max this." They smile shyly at their Leader and Captain chuckles.
"As you know, this is Harrison, Leader and Head of this department. And this," Captain wraps an arm around the guy's shoulder. "Is Steve." Steve nodded his head at them as he rolled his sleeves to his elbows.
"So is this the bike you wanted to fix up?" Steve asked and Issy nodded her head. "Erudite-born?" He questions and Issy nods again. "What do you think?" Everyone looks to Harrison who nods his head.
"As you said, it'd be easier on both parties. I wouldn't have to mess about with what other squad would be better with a smaller truck and who wouldn't – which would take months – and then you wouldn't be out of patrols until you get a new truck. Let's do it." Harrison looks back to Issy who had been watching with rapt attention. "Patrol training lasts a month. In that time, like Uriah had sent to Hec here, training is like initiation so your squad will be pulled from the rota until training has finished."
"So I have a deadline for the end of training? In my own time obviously."
"Yes." Harrison nods. "Steve will move this bike into the S.W.A.L.T room. There's an area in there where people fiddle and play with projects of their own. Have fun the rest of your tour." He shoots them a smile as he walks away and Steve begins to move the bike.
"The keys for this will be in my office so when you're next free just pop your head round and ask yeah?"
"Right!" Captain claps. "On with the rest of the tour." Captain pointed out four key pads for the doors, mentioning only the Leaders and Steve can access them. He leads them across the room, only stopping to point out the markings on the floor. Yellow, he told them, must stay clear and white simply outlined where everything must be kept. On the end of the third row of trucks he stopped. "This is our truck. Bulldozer will be happy that we're keeping it." He looks around with a frown. "I'm not quite sure where we'll park you bike Issy... I'll ask Harrison the next time I see him. Off we go again." With long strides, he leads them to the door in the corner and inserts the red key before taking a step back. "Trainees first."
Issy followed Hector through the door and was greeted with another large room. There were four doors, three of which with keypads. One half of the room, like Steve had said were several stations, some with old frames next to them. The stations that were taken had names on them with their squad number. The other half of the room was cut of by a chain link fence and within the fence were smaller sections which had the squad's lockers. Captain led them to the section with 226 hung above the entry way.
"These two," He hits them with his knuckles. "Are yours. 32 is Issy's and 33 is Hec's. Enter your code that I gave you and then hold 0 ten seconds so then you can change the code to something you'll remember." Issy typed in a number she'd remember and opened her locker to find the equipment she needed to clear her rifle on a shelf above a rack to put her rifle along with a few hooks. She placed empty bag she had been carrying around on one of the hooks before shutting the door and relocking it. She turned back to Captain as Hec fiddled with something on his locker before also locking it back up. Captain smirks at them, before leading them back to the main room and points to the doors. "From left to right we have the tech room, the supply room, the weapons room and the training room. In our squad Geek handles the tech, Red handles supplies and Rainbows handles extra weapons the squad uses. Only these three will have the keys to those rooms along with three from each squad with the same job." He took out his own small buzzy-thingy but his also had a small keyboard. He typed where they were and looked up with a grin, his finger hovering over the button. "Ready?" He asked rhetorically before he pressed it. Issy and Hec winced at the blaring noise, unprepared for the shear loudness of it and quickly turned it off. The door of the training room slammed open and the rest of their squad tumbled through. "Rainbow, if you would?" He motioned to the door of the weapons room.
She smiled and fiddled about with her own set of keys and keycards attached to a vibrant purple bungee cord before she pulled a green keycard out and unlocked the door. The squad pile into the room and Hec looks around in awe. Every inch of the room is covered in weapons all neatly arranged. In the four walled room there were different types of weapons hung on the walls like throwing stars, different sized throwing knives, along with a few other bladed weapons. A few guns were also hung up and there were low tables with narrow draws full of handheld guns and holsters.
"Its beautiful." Hec whispered.
"Thanks." Rainbow said, winking at him and he blushes. "Aww, you're such a cutie pie." She teased, pausing for a moment before she gasps and her brown eyes lit up excitedly, slapping Captain's arm lightly. "Cutie Pie!" She almost shouts, pointing to Hector.
"We'll see." Captain laughs. "Arm them up and I'll think about it."
Rainbow almost bounces as she pulls Issy and Hector into the middle of the room. She unhooks two rifles from the wall and leans them against the drawers. "So these will stay in your lockers and will only be used on patrol or if you go out on the range and practice with them." Hec picks one up checking the safety is on before handing it to Issy. She takes it off of him and slings it onto her back the same time as Hec does. Rainbow pulls one of the draws open and looks up as she lightly throws two holsters onto the table. "Okay, now we have a hand gun for the both of you. These you can have on you at all times, its required of any soldier within a squad or with Leadership, including ambassadors and the such. These guns have a unique code that is registered to your name so try not to lose them." She pulled out two guns and lightly places them onto the table.
Issy watches, confused as Hec easily pulls on his holster and secures the gun into place. With a frown Issy looks to Rainbow. "Um –"
"You've never used a holster before, have you?" Issy shakes her head and Rainbow steps forward with the holster in hand. Issy watches as she clips it to her thigh at a distance Issy finds comfortable enough to slip her gun in and out.
Hector watches them for a moment before turning to Captain. "If we wanted to get more weapons, where do we go?"
"There's a shop in the Pit that sells them." He says as Issy and Rainbow are satisfied. "Just as a clarification, during training we will push you to your limits and beyond. We need soldiers who can keep stay calm in dire situations and I will not accept any less. If that's not for you and you know it then you can leave." Hec and Issy stand up straighter, meeting his stare with their own. Captain smirks, nodding. "Well then. Lets get started, shall we?"
The bike that I pictured there was a black/dark grey Triumph Bonneville Scrambler. I cannot for the life of me describe how the bike looked so check it out.