It turns out self-defence training is just another name for “beat the crap out of each other class.” I try to do what Chad said. I try to scope out what other abilities I could borrow from, but I don’t know what to look for. Finally giving up, I look to the teacher, the same one we have for fitness, the same one that gave me those backhanded slaps that left me bruised for days. Chad said I should’ve borrowed from him in the last class. I’m shocked I’m even able to lift my arms at all after that class.
I focus on the trainer, breathe in deep, and instantly feel more powerful and stronger. It still hurts like a bitch when I get hit, but I don’t feel as weak anymore. I even get a few good jabs in myself. They’ve paired me with a girl, I’d say she’s only fifteen. I feel bad for hitting her, but it’s not like she’s not holding her own. In fact, I’d say she got me more times than I have her.
I’ve got two more classes left for the day, Covert Operations—whatever that is—and Analysis. Chad offered to come and get me from Self-Defence, but I told him I need to start finding things on my own, and I really should.
Making my way through the halls, I find Covert Operations without getting lost more than twice. I give myself silent praise for doing it—there’s hope for me yet.
I’m surprised to find my adviser, Lynch, to be running the class.
“Wow, and you’re not even late,” Chad says in a playful mocking tone as I sit down next to him.
“You know, if my muscles weren’t so sore, I’d be giving you the finger right now.”
“Class went that well then, did it?”
“I just can’t wait until tomorrow when I get to do it all again.”
Lynch starts off the class by explaining to Chad and me what it’s all about. The others in the class, who have been here before, don’t listen to the explanation. They all have their heads in textbooks.
“Basically what we teach here is how not to get caught when you’re on the outside. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure your safety at all times, but we understand things are different when you’re actually out there in the field. It’s all good and well to tell you what to do on paper, it’s another thing to put it into practice. I’ll give you two these books for you to take home tonight and peruse.” She collects two huge binder folders from the shelf and puts them on the desk in front of us. “Have fun.” She smirks and then walks back up to the front of the classroom.
“Gee, I can’t wait,” Chad mutters under his breath, clearly meant for only my ears. I, however, snort out loud, and suddenly everyone is looking at me. Chad starts laughing too which makes me laugh more, and now it’s an out of control train that I can’t stop. What he said wasn’t even that funny, and yet both of us are having difficulty breathing because of the laughter.
I finally manage to stop when Lynch gets angry. “Find something funny, do we? Would you find it funny if you ended up like this?” She clicks a remote which turns on a screen projector.
Great, more slideshows, I think, but there’s something very familiar about the photo she’s put up on the screen. I’ve seen this scene before. I was there. It’s a photo from Drew’s car accident. There’s a bloodied body in front of Drew’s car, but it’s not Jax.
What is going on?
“This was an accident that happened only a few months ago. See this person here?” She points to the body. “He was an agent with us who got found out. The person he was investigating discovered who he was, caused an accident, and now that agent is dead.”
Uh no, that’s not what happened at all. I realise I’m looking at more lies, more ways of scaring these kids into thinking we’re our own enemy; Defective people are dangerous.
These people have twisted this story around so it sounds like Jax was the bad guy, but he was the one who was killed, not Drew. That’s why Drew’s here and Jax isn’t. I can’t believe they took photos of this to make examples for classrooms on “what not to do.” This photo was clearly taken long after the accident, and it’s clear that the body in the photo is an actor or a lifelike dummy. I’m trying so hard to squash my anger down right now.
“That’s not how it happened,” I say just quiet enough for only Chad to hear.
“What’s not?” he whispers back.
“I was there, that’s not how that happened at all.”
“Not so funny now, is it, Miss Daniels,” Lynch says.
I’m quiet. It’s far from funny. There’s no humorous side to the lies they’re telling us. I sit silent for the rest of the class in fear of having an outburst that I really shouldn’t have.
Eventually the torturous class ends, and we’re let out to find our way to the Analysis class.
This one is all about the suspect, ways of finding out if they’re Defective and what their ability could possibly be.
Yes, this class will come in quite handy for learning to borrow abilities. Finally, I find a class I’m interested in. I sit quietly for the full hour and a half, concentrating, taking everything in that could be of use to me.