CHERUB 6

Wow, AGES since I last updated... *looks sheepish* SORRY! Hope you haven't given up on me... This is a short chapter, but I'm typing up the next one.

I rolled out of bed before rubbing my head. It felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. I staggered out of the room, one hand running along the wall as a guide. I managed to walk into the bathroom, and splashed water onto my face, looking in the mirror. What a sight... My hair looked like a bird had taken up residence in it, dark circles ran around my eyes, making the scar painfully obvious, and my jaw sported a huge bruise, probably from the fight with Bruce. I shook my head, water droplets flying off, and dried my face. Looking up again, I sensed someone behind me, and saw a rather annoyed looking Rachel standing in the doorway, foot tapping and fingers drumming. I grasped in my mind for any excuse to the impending question.

"Where. Have. You. Been?" She inquired sharply, her eyes blazing.

"Somewhere," I replied quietly, leaning against the sink.

"Where?"

I didn't reply.

"Kyle brought you back in last night, unconscious. Where were you?!"

"No where you need to know." I snarled back.

There was a polite cough from behind Rachel, and the psychologist stepped into the light. "Perhaps I should take it from here." She said quietly.

"Be my guest." Rachel said, storming off.

I closed my eyes tiredly, leaning my head back against the mirror.

"Looks like you took a fair beating. Was it the fight test?"

I jumped, staring at her, mouth hanging open.

She just smiled. "Been there, done that. Mac said you accepted..."

"Yes..."

"Welcome to the team."

I smiled properly, for the first time in years.

A month later, I stood on the kerb outside the home with a suitcase and a backpack, waiting for pickup from this dump. Kyle, who had been a recruiting agent from CHERUB, was laughing alongside James. I rolled my eyes, deciding that it was probably some really immature joke that I didn't want to know about. I stayed silent for the whole journey to campus, thinking about my past 'family', and wondering what this one would be like.

We arrived on campus after dark, but it didn't bother me. I had spent a good portion of my life in the dark. There were two people, both with clipboards, waiting for us. I could make out the figures, both female, but with the light from the buildings behind, I couldn't see any more detail. One voice asked for James, and Kyle slapped him on the back before striding off towards the residential building, leaving James go walk meekly over to the woman who had called him.

"Allyssianne Roth?" Asked the second woman. I walked over to her, keeping my face devoid of emotion. Now I was closer, I could see that she was quite wiry, but about twenty centimetres taller than I was. With black hair pinned back into a severe bun, she looked at me for a few moments before nodding.

"Follow." She said, walking towards the building.

"Welcome to CHERUB,