wow, I haven't updated in a long time! Oh well, I'm updating now. This chapter is in the training centre. It won't be very long, but I plan on updating with a few chapters today and tomorrow. Enjoy :) Don't forget to read and review! Thank you for reading!
Training Part 1.
Esme's POV.
Before I knew it, we were being thrust into a training centre, where we were greeted not so warmly by a girl called Jane. She looked at us all like we were animals up for slaughter. I guess in a way, we were.
I felt confident in here. In the training centre. I had hunted with my father before. I knew how to use a bow and arrow, and I knew how to make snares. I could climb. I could climb well. Father had always told me to wait in the trees for him to come back when he was hunting larger prey. So I had my fair share of experience. But still there were things I knew I had to practise. Camouflage, throwing knives. I never intended to kill anyone, just catch my food. I would avoid hurting people at all costs. No family should have to have their child killed, to lose someone they love and care for.
My mind wandered as I glanced around the room, taking in my surroundings. I wasn't listening to what Jane was saying, only catching different parts of what she was saying. I was vaguely aware of Edward's presence beside me, only because I could hear his breath coming shakily.
Eventually, Jane sent us off to get to work. I wandered around for a while until I came to a stop beside a table of paints. Well, I had to start somewhere, right? Anything I could learn over the next few days would help me to protect myself, and to protect Edward. I listened carefully to what I was told about building textures, using different strokes, colours and how to make my own paints out there that I barely noticed the boy with the striking blonde hair standing behind me, also listening.
It was only when I began to try my own camouflage that I caught a glimpse of his arms moving beside me, lifting up his own paints. I started slightly, then regretted it, knowing that he would laugh and mock me, probably laugh at me again before he killed me.
But to my surprise, he acted like he didn't notice. Or perhaps he genuinely didn't. He looked up at me briefly and nodded once, speaking a single word. ''Hello.''
His voice was like honey, but it had some sort of roughness in it. Some emotion that he didn't want people to see. I kept my eyes on my work for a moment before glancing up at his bright blue eyes. I nodded once, not wanting to talk to him, knowing he'd be trying to kill me soon.
I heard him sigh slightly, before he went on, this time annoyance was clear in his voice. ''Look, I don't want to be in here anymore than you do. That much should be obvious. I think the least you could do is talk to me. Maybe we could be allies or something. Friends.'' He stared at me bitterly for a moment before looking away again. I automatically felt bad. I knew he wasn't like them - like the other careers. He seemed so genuine, so unwilling to be here. It was two whole minutes before I spoke quietly. ''I'm sorry. I just thought you would want to be allies with your career friends.'' I shrugged.
I watched him closely as he replied. ''No. All they want is death, and I don't want that. I could never want that. Everyone here is so focused on killing, so focused on winning. You and the boy are the only two who don't appear to be focused on showing off their skills.'' I narrowed my eyes slightly when he said that. Did he think I was too weak minded to kill? I wasn't sure. I tried to keep my voice level. '' His name is Edward. And we could kill someone if we wanted to. How do you know I'm just not some brutal killing machine that will kill you first chance I get?''
He stared into my eyes for a while before speaking quietly. ''Because I would kill you first.''
