Red Handed by Gena Showalter Page B

trainees and trainers are prohibited. You are legally an adult, yes, but you will not date or have any type of sexual relationship with the instructors.
    4. Do not use drugs. This includes: Onadyn in all its incarnations: Snow Angels, Breathless, Nose Candy, Puffs, and Flyers. All forms of cocaine, the White Pony, Whiz, Liquid Gold, Rush, Iron Brew, Jellies, Vallies, Chronic, Dragon Rocks, Doves, X, marijuana, or any other upper, dower, mixed, blended powder, liquid, or puffer not mentioned that will impair your judgment in any way. If you get sick, go to the clinic here. Do not self-medicate.
    5. Do not be late to class for any reason.
    We operate on a strike-three basis. Break one rule, you will be punished—severely as I mentioned above. Break two rules, you will be punished. Once again, the punishment will be severe. But if you break three rules, your memory will be wiped and you will be returned home.
    And know this, if you break a rule you will be caught. My eyes are everywhere.
    Good luck and welcome.
    Boss
    Page two
    The map. (Or rather, maze.) Building after building, all connected through intricate hallways and more hallways. There were classrooms, barracks for both boys and girls, two Commons, many restricted areas, a gym, a weapons room, an interrogation room (just the thought made my stomach hurt), and an observation room.
    Page three
    Things to do in your spare time:
    Exercise. Stamina is important.
    Study your notes from class. A sharp mind is important.
    Practice handling your pyre-gun. A steady hand is important. Be careful not to shoot your teammates.
    Practice sparring. Being able to take down an opponent is important.
    I pinched the bridge of my nose. Those were the things we should do with our spare time? Interesting that they didn’t mention slapping each other around or knifing each other while we slept. Hurting and killing were important . Right?
    Groaning, I flipped the page.
    Page four
    Classes you will attend over the next year:
    Alien anatomy
    Alien biology
    Weapons of the world—and otherworlds
    Combat
    Alien history and sociology
    Breaking and entering
    The art of stalking
    Alien races and relations
    Global governments
    Interrogation
    Computer sciences
    With a weary sigh, I put the manual aside and lay down. “Lights out,” I muttered. Instantly the light on my side of the room dimmed, throwing the room into pitch black. Most of the day had wasted away, anyway, and Kitten was already asleep. She and I had talked for hours, getting to know each other better. The more I learned about her, the more I liked.
    She was playful, witty, and loyal. She came from a big family and I could see the affection in her eyes every time she mentioned her sisters and brothers. If they needed her, she’d do anything and everything to get to them.
    I was a little envious. I’d always wanted a sister, but my mom hadn’t remarried or even dated since my dad left. She worked and took care of me, and that was about it. Maybe my dad had had another kid with his new wife. I could very well have a sister or brother I didn’t know about. Since leaving us, he hadn’t even called.
    A sharp pain tore through me with the thought.
    Just go to sleep . For the next few hours, I tossed and turned, unable to settle. I was wearing unfamiliar clothes, stiff and a little snug. The mattress was firmer than mine at home, and the blanket lacked the fresh smell I was used to. The room was too dark, the only hint of light coming from the wall clock. I could hear Kitten’s soft exhalations and purrs.
    My mind raced as pieces of the “welcome” letter in the manual continually took center stage. If I broke three rules, my memory would be wiped. How much of my memory, though? Everything or just camp? Everything might not be such a bad thing. I thought I might like starting from scratch, with nothing of the past to taint my thoughts.
    Still. I hadn’t known something like that was