Chapter One:
An annoying ringing came to my attention and blearily, I opened my eyes seeing the angry red numbers read to me that it was only a little past five in the morning. I groaned, slamming the snooze button with gusto.
The blanket shifted off of my shoulder a bit, causing me to shiver violently. On top of the ungodly hour I was forced to wake up at, the temperature was ridiculously low— which only aided in irritating me further.
I tugged the blanket up, ignoring the pounding that appeared at my door which only worsened my mood considerably. My bed was warm and my pillow was deep. All I wanted to do was sleep. Fucking Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about.
"Isabella!" a voice boomed on the other side of the door, "Damn it Isabella, get your lazy ass out of bed before I do it for you!" the deep baritone voice barked at me through the barrier of my feeble door.
I moaned, nuzzling my pillow lovingly, "Go away Paul!" I yelled, my cheek cuddling against the soft satin as if they were old lovers, finally reunited once more.
A few seconds later, my door slammed open, plastering itself to the wall beside my bed with a loud thump. My eyes opened a crack, to see my enormous trainer hovering over my bed, furious and his face a furious red color in the dim light from the hallway.
Six-foot four, jet black hair and two hundred and twenty pounds of muscle made up my trainer. Most people found him frightening— but I knew that it took some getting used to. In fact, he was less dangerous than I was.
Paul sneered at me as I slowly woke up, reluctantly separating me from comfort, "Finally awake, are we? Why don't we just follow orders like we're told, hmm?" he spat in a hateful tone that could only make me chuckle.
I yawned widely once more, ridding the last bit of sleep with that action and painstakingly aware of the proverbial icicles hanging off of my ceiling, "Some idiot trainer let me go to bed around one in the morning and woke me up at this ungodly hour," I bit, laughing silently as I turned over, relinquishing the warmth for a couple more seconds.
Slowly, I counted down in my head before bounding out of my bed as Paul's arm snapped out to grab me. My back was against the wall, facing my monster sized trainer. He growled at me, grabbing my bed with ease and throwing it at me once more.
I laughed, easily rolling underneath the flying object and standing toe to toe with him. Not many people had the balls to do this sort of action— but then again, I'm not many people, "Missed," I whispered with a giggle, ducking down as his arms tried to grab me once more.
Paul snarled at me, profanities coming in a tidal wave under his breath, "Ah, ah, ah!" I sang, enjoying the game very much, "No cussing in my bedroom," I said with mock stern, pointing my index finger in a scolding motion at him.
My lips couldn't help but be curled into a smile. With that said, Paul charged at me, his head down in concentration. I rolled my eyes and lithely stepped out of the way, allowing him to crash through the arches of my doorway, and into the door across from me. I sighed, tutting softly at him, grabbing my towel and hairbrush off of my dresser before I walked over to his dazed form that sat on the floor with a dumbfounded expression, "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to shower," I teased, leaving Paul in his dazed state, giving a slight wave as my best friend and neighbor, Jake, popped his sleepy head out of the door.
~TMW01~
Once I was dressed in a well fitted shirt and leggings, I returned to my room, my wet hair seeping through the shirt in an uncomfortable manner. The bed was back in its original position, courtesy of Paul, with a small peach note placed with precision on my pillow. I took one glance at it, recognizing the handwriting from afar— it was Paul's excuse for manly handwriting. Quickly I pulled my chocolate colored hair into a wet ponytail, picking up the note and unable to help but laugh at the girlish handwriting that not even I could pull off.
Isabella,
Report to the gym.
-p
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to be informal as I crumpled the note into a ball and throwing it into my wastebasket. Paul tried his damnest to keep distance with me. As my trainer, it was his job to be hard on me— but he couldn't help but love me like a little sister.
What can I say? I'm a loveable person.
I switched the light in my door off, closing it gently and locking it behind me. I skipped over to the door next to me and rapped on it three times, "Get up Jake! The sun's about to come up!" I hollered, whirling around and continuing down the poorly decorated hallway; beginning journey to the gym.
It was drizzling when I exited, causing my hair to become saturated as I ran through it, the icy droplets sliding across my pale skin. As I finally ran under some shelter, a lock of my brown hair fell in front of my face. I blew at the stubborn strand with frustration. My hair never cooperated and the fact that it rained constantly here did not help my chances of winning the war I waged against it.
I paused in front of the glass doors of the gym, checking my reflection for once in my life.
The girl that stood before me stood so serious. Her mouth was in a thin line; her straight brown hair was pulled back into a strict ponytail except for one strand that curled behind her ear. Her brown eyes glowed with excitement— the only child-like aspect of her, it seemed. The frame was medium like but her build seemed frail, almost crystal like. To an onlooker, she seemed to be a vulnerable girl.
I had worked hard to make that appearance.
I squared my shoulders and entered the dark building with caution— fully aware that the lights should be one. I pushed past the double doors into the chilly gymnasium, freezing in my tracks as the double doors closed with the locks clocking behind me.
I whipped around to see two masked figures behind me, dressed in from head to toe in black. My lips curled back into a sneer as I crouched into defense position. Both of them attacked at once, causing me to freeze up in alarm.
I was not sure how to proceed with two attacking at once.
Acting purely on instinct, I hugged the gymnasium floor and rolled out of the way. A sickening crunch came to my ears and I winced at the sound. Whoever it was attacking me would have a terrible headache for a very long while.
Taking the initiative, I pushed myself off of the floor and rolling onto the balls of my feet, tensing my muscles for attack. Both of the strangers recovered quickly, regaining their balance and returning to their feet. The attacker on my let unfolded a metal bar that had been hidden within the black clothing. I cussed under my breath at this. How fair was it if I didn't have weapons?
Nevertheless, I charged towards both of my attackers, with no weapons but my two fists. I slid in the last moment, tripping the one with a metal pole pointing at me— causing his weapon to fly backwards into my waiting hands.
I twisted the angle of my foot and in a smooth motion; I was standing once more, my weapon twisting in my hand. I grinned at them, "Let's dance," I hissed.
Quickly, the three of us jumped into action, fighting for dominance in the dim glow of the rising run from the glass ceiling. My head began to ache as I struggled to watch for both attackers.
Stupidly, I jabbed at one of my attackers shoulder, causing him to grab a hold of my weapon. It took a couple seconds for me to register as I was sent flying towards the east wall, head first.
I grit my teeth, snapping my hands out in front of me to brace my fall. The bones in my wrists creaked uncomfortably as I pushed off the wall to avoid a head on collision with the wall. With as much grace as I could muster, I landed on my feet, the planes of my feet burning uncomfortably in my sneakers. I scowled at my attackers, tired of the charade. Their style of attacks was unlike anything I had seen before…
Perhaps these were real intruders….
At that thought, I felt myself stiffen. With an outraged cry, I charged once more, my hands hanging by my side as I ran, waiting to be put to use.
My two attackers seemed surprised by my sudden change in tactic. I took a roundhouse kick to the closest intruder, sending him flying back ten feet. Using the extra adrenaline that was pumping in my system, I grabbed onto my second attacker's throat, slamming him into the wall I had bounced off moments ago.
"Who are you working for?" I snarled, my hand tightening against his windpipe, listening the body choke on what little air I was allowing him to have.
Before I could act even more rashly to my attacker, the sound of a single pair of hands applauding resounded through the gym. My head whipped to the side and I watched at Dr. Banner step out of the shadows, a satisfied smile painted on his face, "Well done Isabella," he praised.
The attacker that I had thrown across the floor rose with a groan, one hand on his head, "Her hits have gotten stronger," he spat, a heavy Brazilian accent evident. I laughed realizing who it was.
The mask was pulled off and I saw the stony face of my trainer Paul.
I turned to my attacker who I had nailed to the wall, wincing as I realized that my grip had actually never relented. I released the stranger and he gasped in obvious pain from lack from lack of air, writing on the floor for a moment before gasping out, outraged, "Damn it Isabella!" he rasped, tearing the mask off.
I smiled sheepishly, gazing at Jake's stunned face, "My bad, man," I apologized, patting him on the shoulder.
I then turned to Dr. Banner, "What's up Doc?" I asked with a timid smile, feeling confused by the whole thing. If Dr. Banner wanted to test me, he normally told me ahead of time that I was to be tested, but the whole sneak attack motion was new. Something was up.
Dr. Banner's face grew dark at me words, his expression serious and deadly. Something was definitely going on, and whatever it was, it wasn't good at all.
He held out his arm to me, beckoning me, "Let's talk in my office," he said quietly.
I grimaced at his choice of words; definitely not good.
~TMW01~
As soon as Dr. Banner shut the door with a soft click, he began speaking, not a moment to lose, "Do you remember Aro?" he asked quietly.
I couldn't suppress the shiver that came to my shoulders as I sank into the plush chair in front of his desk, my body convulsing as his name graced my ears like nails on a chalkboard. Aro, the bastard, had been my foster father. But it seemed that everywhere I turned, he had tried to either kill me, or seduce me into bed.
I remembered everything so well:
From his ebony hair, to his grimy nails and leering smile. The way he would sneer at me when I begged him to stop hitting me. With perfect clarity, I remembered how his long nails would dig into my arms as he dragged me to the closet— throwing me in and snarling, 'Good girls aren't afraid of the dark, Isabella'; he would then close the door, locking it for hours….sometimes days.
Dr. Banner cleared his throat, abruptly bringing me back from my trip down memory lane. He nodded at me, affirming that I did know who Aro was, "As I was saying," he resumed speaking, taking a seat behind his desk, taking authority of what he was explaining, "Aro had taken out our sister facility, with surprising ease. There was no trace of him to track, but we are nearly one hundred percent certain that it was him," Dr. Banner said with a grimace, rubbing the bridge of his nose roughly.
I felt my patience wear thin, "What does this have to do with me?" I asked, slumping in the plush seat.
Dr. Banner's face smoothed out as he assessed me, "Of course. Due to the recent failure of our sister facility, we have begun a full scale plan of war against Aro."
"What's the course of action?"
"I'm afraid that's classified," Dr. Banner said stonily.
I growled in frustration, "That's bullshit, how am I to help if I don't know the plan?"
Dr. Banner stood sharply; his tall, lean body towering over his desk and over me. For a majority of the time, Dr. Banner was a cool guy— but crossing him was on the list of things to never do.
In his own way, he was very scary, "You do not need to know," he stormed, his expression angry, "Remember your place, Isabella. You are one of our best, but you are only a soldier."
I stared right back at him, refusing to look away where he would interpret me as weak, "Yes sir. Sorry sir," I spat through gritted teeth. There was nothing I hated more than being let into a situation blind.
Dr. Banner groaned, rubbing his eyes vigorously with the heel of his palms, "Isabella, I don't mean to be rude— forgive me," he sighed, sinking back into his chair wearily.
I waved away his comments, my temper cooling down now, "It's all good," I said, my head cocking to the side in interest, "What do you want me to do?"
Dr. Banner began to play with a small pen that had been set on his desk, his face cautious as he spoke to me, "What occurred in the gym was your final exam. You passed— congratulations," he muttered, his eyes glued to the small pen that was spinning like a top between his hands.
I nodded curtly, "Thank you," I muttered politely, "Now where are you doing with this?" My patience was wearing thin and we were still no closer to what he wanted from me.
Dr. Banner stopped playing with the pen abruptly, placing his elbows onto the cherry wooden desk, leaning in closely. His tone dropped two notches in volume as he spoke, "About five years ago, we anticipated Aro moving to attack and we built an academy to train young people against the attack,"
Hastily, he stood, his eyes shining as she walked around the desk, his eyes never leaving my face, "Your task," he breathed, "is to travel to The First Academy for Boys and train a select group of students," he said in a flat voice.
For a moment, I felt as if I hadn't heard him correctly. After a few seconds, the weight of his words sank in and I shot out of my seat, angry beyond any sense of reason, "Whoa, whoa, hold on! You mean to say, that I'm…..teaching?" I shrieked, unable to believe the words, even as they flew out of my mouth.
Dr. Banner sighed, looking up at the ceiling, as if asking for divine intervention, "Yes, Isabella. As I said, you will be training a young group of students for a couple of months, do you understand?" he asked, his eyes snapping to me in a stern manner.
My nails dug into the back of the chair, wanting nothing more to scream. I had been put through vigorous training for nine years of my life and when I had reached above an beyond in every aspect of my training, had aced all my exams, and pulled all of my missions without a problem— it was only to end up teaching.
I had no right to my anger. The only thing was that I was no longer angry— I was seething.
"Questions?" Dr. Banner asked; an eyebrow arched at my obvious angst, challenging me to defy his order.
"A couple," I spat through gritted teeth.
Dr. Banner sighed dramatically— an action that only he could get away with, "Sit down Isabella. Once you have calmed down enough, you may ask your questions," he reasoned, gesturing to the plush chair I had in a death grip.
Slowly, I loosened my grip, forcing myself to take a seat, leaving behind eight holes in the top of the chair. I sank into the comfortable chair, still seething. Dr. Banner watched my patiently, his eyes never leaving my face. I tried my best to block his presence, closing my eyes and breathing deeply. Part of training included yoga— insanely hard when you first started, but relaxing and excellent for the muscular endurance.
I exhaled for the tenth time, opening my eyes, a little more relaxed— still angry, but definitely calmer. Dr. Banner nodded in approval, "You may ask your questions," he said to me, his face cautious.
I sighed, irritation making its slow ascension, "Why me?" I asked in a quiet tone.
Dr. Banner seemed startled by my question, as if that I was the last thing he expected, "Isabella, your are the only one who had experienced Aro's cruelty first hand," he explained softly, as if crooning to a child, "You know more about him than anyone else. You recognize his style in fighting— who else could we send?"
Grudgingly, I nodded, accepting the answer. Fair enough. Maybe it wouldn't be as terrible as I thought, "How many students?" I asked, resigned.
Dr. Banner gave me a small smile, "You will be teaching a class of fifteen boys, and—"
Wait," I cut him off sharply, "I have to teach thick headed males?" I spat through gritted teeth.
Dr. Banner gave me a stern look, "Yes, you will be training them for a period of nine months. Your job is to slam as much content as you possibly can," he explained, not improving my mood a bit.
"And if they aren't good enough, or refuse to learn?" I snarled.
Dr. Banner smiled, seeming to share a private joke with himself, "You are the teacher, Isabella. You are allowed to flunk them," he chortled.
I smiled at the thought. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad then….
"Also, I have a feeling that if they misbehave— you will, no doubt punish them," he added with a soft chuckle.
I grinned at this. Definitely not that bad, then.
"When do we leave?" I asked, unable to hide my newfound excitement.
"Now," Dr. Banner said, picking up his jacket and turning his lamp out. I shrugged, not surprised. This might be something good after all.
"Did I mention you get paid?" Dr. Banner called from the hallway.
I grinned at this. Oh yes; finally, something good.
A/N: Review!
Best wishes,
Themidnightwriter01