by Elle Grace
“I can hear you; you know?” I jested and Colt sighed looking at me worrying.
“She is going to be fine. The infirmary smuggled something for me in my backpack.” He confessed and proceeded to hand me a small glass vial. “Drink all of that. It is going to taste bad.” He warned and I undid the tiny cork that bunged the glass shut. I gulped down the brown liquid. Tristan was right. It tasted terrible, like dirt and spoiled milk. My body tingled from it.
“You were not kidding, that is disgusting. Why couldn’t it taste like strawberries, I like strawberries.” I muttered to Tristan, a little bit delusional from pain and blood loss, he shook his head at me.
“It is an extra strong healing tonic. Hard to get hold of. Your side should heal in a few minutes, but you lost a lot of blood and I cannot replace that. So, you are going to be a little bit weak still.” He confessed.
“I can handle that.” I whispered moving to get up. Colt pressed me back down softly and I resisted trying to get up again.
“Get some rest Viola.” Tristan soothed, pushing me back down on to the sofa and I closed my eyes. My body forced me to sleep.
When I woke everyone was sat around, some people were chatting, others looking through their backpacks. Mike sat on the kitchen counter nosily eating an apple. Colt and Tristan were whispering to each other in the kitchen. I assumed I was getting a vote of no confidence. I thought, I probably deserved it. They probably did not really want me there. I needed some air, so I quietly got up and headed for the door and stepped outside. James made me jump as he was sat on the step to the cottage. I went and sat next to him.
“Thank you for earlier.” I said. Placing my head on my shoulder. “I don’t know where I would have been without your support.”
“You would have been fine; you are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.” He smiled, glancing inside to see where the others were.
“I’m not too sure about that.” I mumbled looking at my feet.
“When I found out you had been hurt, my heart sank, I have never met someone like you.” He was being candid, but I really was not in the mind set for his feelings. Earlier I had needed some support and just to know that I was not alone in all of the craziness around me. Since the simulation had started, I had to keep my head in the right place. I did not want the team to hate me because I was too concerned over flirting with a guy, I had a crush on. It was not fair to them especially as I was new, and they had been working hard for a few months. Not to mention the huge secret I was now hiding from everyone. I was completely unsure how to broach that. I remembered everything and I knew I could give myself away at any point. I was living a dangerous lie and I was not even sure that Colt, James, or anyone else would see me in the same light once it was all over.
“Thanks, but I’m sure you have.” I brushed him off. “We should go back inside. I think everyone will want to discuss some strategies.” I got up and walked back in the door turning back to see his head in his hands. He was disappointed, but I could not do anything to change that.
34
Colt
1pm 12th September 2025
The debate had been thoroughly heated and I realised a lot of people in the team had some views about how the team should be run. I was sure I was disappointing them all. I was not the leader they needed me to be.
“We need a better plan guys.” I quietened everyone down as their voices grew out of control. “Tristan, I like your idea about scouting out the nest before we do anything else. We cannot just go running in there not knowing what we are facing.”
“It’s such a waste of time. Lance and his team certainly won’t be playing it safe.” Sam jumped in. They were right, but I was not ready to charge into a situation I did not know. I was not about to risk the whole situation on a whim.
“It doesn’t matter what their team does.” I replied. “Our job here is to get that amulet back. If we know nothing about the nest or the creatures, we are fighting then I don’t see how we can do that.” I explained and everyone listened.
“They might get it before we do though?” Cameron sounded worried.
“Sure, they might.” I responded. “That behaviour would be risky though. I probably have no place in leading you incredibly capable individuals but from what I have seen of the Inperium is that taking dangerous risks is not really a behaviour they like. I refuse to put any one in harm’s way to get back some artefact. No matter how important it is. That is just my style. We will do some recon. Get some information and go into this knowing exactly what our stance is.” I finished and everyone looked at me. I waited for a new argument, but none came. Viola looked at me pleasantly surprised, I think she appreciated the way I was now speaking to them.
“Well then, I think it is sorted. It’s recon time!” Vi said trying to get everyone on side.
“Let’s sort ourselves out and meet outside in ten minutes.” I instructed everyone. “Cameron, can I ask you a favour?” I turned to him and he nodded dutifully.
“Sure.” He said sort of excited. I knew that the Inperium had not been a great place for him and everyone had treated him horrifically. I also knew from his weakness at training that he was the weakest link in the team. He was bound for a desk job or light duty that would suit him. I wanted to keep him and the rest of the time as safe as possible.
“I need you to stay here. We need to keep our base protected. Could you do that?” I asked hoping it was the right approach.
“It would be my pleasure.” He looked a little relieved. I wondered how he had passed his trial. However, I remembered that the trial tested a lot more than fighting ability, it tested loyalty too and Cameron was probably the most loyal person I had ever meet.
Everyone dispersed, busying themselves. I picked up my bag and placed it on the worn table, going through the contents.
“You made a great call.” Tristan came and stood beside me as I packed up my bag.
“Thanks. I’m not sure everyone agrees.” I looked around and saw a couple of people watching me.
“They will come around to you in time, after all I did when you first got here, Viola will stand by you. You have allies in Doe and James.” He looked around the room. “Cameron will do anything you say based on his crazy respect on you and think Mike admires your intelligence. Although I’m not as sure you have any.” Tristan Jested. “The shifter is changeable so I’m not sure you will ever win them over.” I laughed at his little joke. I was still worried I was not making the right judgement. I was sure all the great leaders in history never doubted their decisions as much as I did.
35
Colt
2pm 12th September 2025
The group had set off and been walking for about an hour. We knew the nest was somewhere near the centre of the arena. As the cottage was closer to the edge, it was a fair distance to cover. Tristan and Vi had set off in front of me, they were whispering tightly to each other. That is new, I thought to myself. Behind me James and Sam made small talk, whilst Mike was attempting to flirt with Doe. It was not going well. I walked on in silence. Alone. A quiet determination to get to the nest and get out long before we were even noticed. The trees got thicker as we had cleared the hill and walked further into the forest. I had a weird feeling in my gut, but I pushed it down. The wood around us was quiet. Perhaps too quiet, I thought.
Gentle thuds hit the earth around us. My first thought was that Immortuuis had found us and were attacking as we had braved getting close to their nest. I thought that maybe the simulation had been created in a way that is designed to attack when people got close to the nest. But as I looked at the dirt covered faces, I realised that the other team were ambushing us. They had even covered their skin with moss and mud to blend into the trees. They advanced on us pushing the group together.
“Really?” I said angrily. “Can’t you guys just do the actual job as you were told?” I could see it was the other team trying to get to us. Caitlyn strode forward, a sharpened stick in her hand. Trying t
o look like a warrior princess, she looked silly.
“Your leader needs to step forward.” She barked. I went to move but Tristan held me back and shook his head. Telling me he thought I should not engage with her.
“Our leader does not have to do anything.” Tristan replied defensive. I muttered to him that it was okay and stepped forward.
“You have been found not worthy.” Caitlyn shouted and all of the rest of her team shouted hooting and hollering like birds. Repeating the words ‘not worthy’ repeatedly.
“Have you been reading Lord of the Flies or something?” Vi quipped from beside me. “Where is Lance? Did he not fancy coming out to play today?” Caitlyn did not see the funny side and tried to swipe at her with her stick. She missed. Her action made the entire situation devolve as my team lunged forward and began to fight back. A full brawl erupted. I fought with Caitlyn, punching her and getting her to the ground.
A horn trumpeted to life somewhere in the trees and I instinctively knew it was the Immortuuis. They must have heard us fighting, I thought.
“Retreat.” I bawled at my team that were still fighting. I ran past them, grabbing at them and pulling them away whilst shouting “Retreat.” Lance’s team had realised what was happening and began to retreat themselves. It was all so futile.
36
Colt
3.30pm 12th September 2025
We felt defeated and angry. I was just unsure as to how they had done it. Someone on his team must have followed us after the fight when we had first arrived. I knew the team were definitely doubting me after the ambush. I was so angry with myself and my own stupidity at not realising that his team would do something like that. Lance really had some nerve. Even in a simulation with a job to do he was still being a bigot and desperate to take down the hybrids.
“You look stressed.” Vi caught up with me as I had stridden ahead of the group.
“I am.” I breathed.
“We can beat them.” She said defiantly. “This is just a setback.”
“I’m not so sure.” I just wanted to have a moment to myself.
Vi looked at me for a moment and then shook her head.
“With you leading us, I am sure.” She smiled and I felt myself relax a little. She had a way of making me calm my mind.
“We need to have a talk.” I said quietly.
“What about?” She looked worried.
“I saw the pictures from the roof, from the night that they attacked you.”
“Yeah?” Something in her eye made me think there was a lot more too it.
“You decimated all three of them. How did you do that and survive? Lance has been training all his life and his pure hatred of hybrids is bound to get his adrenaline pumping.” I questioned.
“Two of them. Lance attacked one of his own as well.” She corrected me.
“He is such a prick.” I said angrily and she nearly chuckled.
“I barely survived, if you had not of found me, I would probably be dead.” She argued a little too defensively. She was different.
“You see I don’t think you would be.” I posed. Viola had changed. I just could not put my finger on it.
“What are you saying?” She looked at me slightly angry, daring me to suggest it.
“I’m not sure, but I feel like there is something different about you. I can’t put my finger on it but since I found you in that corridor, I can’t shake this weird feeling.” I said carefully.
“What weird feeling?” She frowned at me.
“I’m not sure, just a feeling.”
“Probably guilt.” She said coldly.
“What?” I was taken aback.
“You have let Lance and every other asshole get away with that kind of behaviour for so long, it is not wonder that he would try something like it again. He did it twice to me in two days and yet he is still here, acting as a commander. It's disgusting.” She was mad and highly defensive. I felt terrible and knew she was right. She begun to slow her pace, so she no longer walked with me. I have blown it.
The cottage was in the distance and as I looked at the stone building something just did not seem right. I thought at it for a second and realised that the team was not ready for another ambush. I shouted back to the team.
“Vi, can you go ahead and make sure the coast is clear?” I asked. I wanted her to go as I wanted to test her. To see if she really had changed and suddenly had new abilities like the scene from the roof had indicated. She nodded without speaking and ran ahead of us all following the command wordlessly. Something really was different.
37
Viola
4pm 12th September 2025
As I approached the cottage, I felt something was wrong. I suspected that was why Colt had sent me ahead. In case of another ambush. He was being increasingly aware I could deal with the situation alone if I needed to. I thought that Colt was beginning to suspect me as well. He was observant. I wondered if he had said anything to William in their meeting about his suspicions. I hoped not. I was beginning to think I could trust Colt. Was I wrong? I questioned.
The door to the cottage was off its hinges, I stepped inside cautiously. A knife raised in my hand. The furniture was destroyed, there had been one hell of a fight. Blood had splattered all over some of the broken remnants. Cameron was nowhere to be seen and a sinking feeling fell over me. I looked desperately in the back room for any signs of Cameron. Two legs stuck out from underneath an overturned table and I knew it was him. I lifted the table to reveal his lifeless body. Blood puddled around him. I knelt beside him begging him to walk up, trying to put pressure on his wounds. It looked like he had been stabbed multiple times.
“Help! We need help!” I screamed and shouting praying the others could hear me.
“Vi, is that you?” He whispered. It was barely audible. His eyes fluttered open. I made me startled for a second. Cameron really was a true fighter, I thought.
“Shush, it’s going to be ok. Save your strength, the others are coming, they can help.” I stroked his head gently.
“I tried to stop them.” He was so quiet. “I really tried to fight.”
“I know you did.” I smiled trying to hard back the utter waves of sadness that threatened to destroy my composure.
“It’s too cold.” He muttered.
“Just hold on the others will be here any moment. We will get you help.” I did not know what to do. I screamed for the others again.
“It’s too late.” He raggedly breathed.
“Don’t say that.” Tears stung at my eyes. “You are going to be fine.” Even though I knew from the amount of blood that covered the floor there was nothing to be done. Sod it, I thought. Even if it meant I would probably get caught I had to try and heal him. I placed my hands on his chest and took a deep breath. Letting the energy flow through me. Light danced out of my hands and across his body, but it was not enough. It fell through the floor. I was still too weak. Tristan came running into the room and stopped dead as he saw the light knowing what it meant. Cameron breathed his last, his whole body going completely limp. His eyes were open and vacant. Dead. My head fell onto his chest in anguish. Desperately trying to wake him. It was no use. I was too late to help him in the first place. Tristan just stared at me, before falling beside me.
“What the fuck are you doing? You remember?” He said quietly and I nodded. “Tell no one.” He equally instructed and warned me. I felt weak and overcome with grief. Tristan pulled me off Cameron and gently closed his eyes. He pulled down one of the lace curtains and draped it over him.
My pain turned to anger, and I silently vowed to destroy whoever had done this to Cameron and I knew exactly who had done it.
Tears flooded my eyes, but I held them back. Everything seemed like a blur as the rest of the team came running in. Colt grabbed me and dragged me outside away from the situation. I fought him. Eyeing Cameron’s help button crushed on the floor.
“Leave this to Tristan now Vi.” He said as we got outside e
ventually managing to drag me out. I tried to get past him, I did not want to leave Cameron alone. Colt pushed me to the ground hard. My whole body hurt from the pain of loss. I tried to get up, but Colt’s hands kept me down. “Stay there.” He hissed angry.
The same images playing out in my mind over and over. Cameron lying there, his blood all over me.
38
Viola
5pm 12th September 2025
“We should never have retreated. We should have fought them off.” I ranted outside the back of the cottage to Colt. I was incredibly angry. I was pacing and falling all over the place.
“What would you have me do Vi?” He shouted at me. “They could have killed us all, then where would we be?”
“Cameron did not deserve to die!” I snapped.
“No one deserves to die Vi. You did not deserve to get stabbed the other day. No one deserves the amount of pain Lance and this fucking place inflicts but there is truly little we can do about it.” He replied hopelessly.
“I can certainly think of a few things.” I stopped and stared at him.
“Don’t you dare even think about it. He is protected. You would be dead long before he was if you even tried.” He was getting even more angry with me, killing Lance was futile but it would make me feel better, I thought.
“We would see about that.” I muttered and he gave me challenging look.
We had not stopped arguing since we had gotten back to the cottage. He had kept me outside and away from the others whilst Tristan dealt with poor Cameron.
“One of the team members is dead. That is on you and your decision! I should have saved him… Done things differently.” I snapped. Angry tears streamed down my face. He could give me all the looks he wanted.