florescent lights. “You think this is a game?” she asked, tilting her head. “That you’re here to have fun?” An edge crept into her voice.
“No,” I said. “I’m here because I have no choice. There’s nothing fun about it.”
She sighed. “Listen Ember, I didn’t publicly humiliate you because I enjoy hurting people.”
Oh really?
She could tell I wasn’t convinced. “You need to take this seriously,” she continued. “The government will be placing you in very dangerous situations. You must stand out for the right reasons — not the wrong ones. If you do not know how to conduct yourself professionally in these high stress situations, you will get someone killed — and that someone could be you.”
Later that afternoon I skipped training with Caden and instead laced up my running shoes. I had a lot of righteous indignation to burn, and I knew no better way of releasing it than going on a run. I had another reason as well; I wanted to check out the facility’s perimeter.
I nodded as I passed some other teleporters footsteps on my way to the back exit.
I pushed through the doors and looked uphill at the dirt path worn into the earth. I’d now attended classes twice outside, yet I still hadn’t gotten a good look at the fence that closed us in. Today I’d make sure I did.
I jogged uphill, eventually leaving the dirt trail to scout out the edge of the perimeter. Dry pine leaves crunching under my feet.
The air here was thinner but fresher, and I took deep gulps and breathed in the forest around me. I glanced back at the facility, now hardly visible between the branches and trunks of the coastal trees.
As I ran I let my emotions fuel me. My instructors’ unreasonable expectations, the government’s plans for me, Desiree’s presence in my life — it all pushed my legs harder.
Sweat trickled down my face and my sore muscles screamed at me. I didn’t care. I’d run until the endorphins could take away my pain.
I caught a flash of silver amongst the browns and greens that made up my surroundings. I slowed down and jogged closer.
A chain-link fence rose twenty feet into the air. It would’ve been an easy climb if razor wire wasn’t wound at its top. If I wanted to escape, I’d have to go under or through it.
Someone had mounted cameras along the fence, each roughly forty feet from the next. They were watching us, monitoring our movement near the perimeter.
I followed the fence uphill when a watchtower came into view. Inside I could make out an individual.
My gaze traveled down the length of the fence. Downhill I could make out another watchtower big enough to hold a person.
This wasn’t good.
On the other side of the fence, a dirt road ran parallel to it. I heard an engine in the distance and backed away into the trees, interested in what was heading my way. The seconds ticked by and slowly the sound increased, coming closer.
I caught sight of the car, some military vehicle that had been painted a lusterless mud green color. It moved slowly, and the men inside wore fatigues. I didn’t see any guns on them, but by the looks of them, they had to be armed.
They drove slow, watching the perimeter.
I cursed quietly. This place was highly guarded, which meant that escaping would be a much more long-term goal than I’d planned.
But, if I could find a way to escape, would I? I’d run once, and I’d gotten caught. I hadn’t been punished for it; however, if I ran and got caught again, I had a feeling the government wouldn’t be so lenient. And if I succeeded, I’d have to flee to Mexico; I’d have to leave the U.S. permanently.
With stakes that high, could I do it?
Yes.
I watched the car drive by and waited to see how long it would take for another car to drive the perimeter.
“You’re not leaving, princess.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I couldn’t get a moment.
I whirled around to face Caden, whose eyes had a hard glint to them. I’d been so focused on the
“No,” I said. “I’m here because I have no choice. There’s nothing fun about it.”
She sighed. “Listen Ember, I didn’t publicly humiliate you because I enjoy hurting people.”
Oh really?
She could tell I wasn’t convinced. “You need to take this seriously,” she continued. “The government will be placing you in very dangerous situations. You must stand out for the right reasons — not the wrong ones. If you do not know how to conduct yourself professionally in these high stress situations, you will get someone killed — and that someone could be you.”
Later that afternoon I skipped training with Caden and instead laced up my running shoes. I had a lot of righteous indignation to burn, and I knew no better way of releasing it than going on a run. I had another reason as well; I wanted to check out the facility’s perimeter.
I nodded as I passed some other teleporters footsteps on my way to the back exit.
I pushed through the doors and looked uphill at the dirt path worn into the earth. I’d now attended classes twice outside, yet I still hadn’t gotten a good look at the fence that closed us in. Today I’d make sure I did.
I jogged uphill, eventually leaving the dirt trail to scout out the edge of the perimeter. Dry pine leaves crunching under my feet.
The air here was thinner but fresher, and I took deep gulps and breathed in the forest around me. I glanced back at the facility, now hardly visible between the branches and trunks of the coastal trees.
As I ran I let my emotions fuel me. My instructors’ unreasonable expectations, the government’s plans for me, Desiree’s presence in my life — it all pushed my legs harder.
Sweat trickled down my face and my sore muscles screamed at me. I didn’t care. I’d run until the endorphins could take away my pain.
I caught a flash of silver amongst the browns and greens that made up my surroundings. I slowed down and jogged closer.
A chain-link fence rose twenty feet into the air. It would’ve been an easy climb if razor wire wasn’t wound at its top. If I wanted to escape, I’d have to go under or through it.
Someone had mounted cameras along the fence, each roughly forty feet from the next. They were watching us, monitoring our movement near the perimeter.
I followed the fence uphill when a watchtower came into view. Inside I could make out an individual.
My gaze traveled down the length of the fence. Downhill I could make out another watchtower big enough to hold a person.
This wasn’t good.
On the other side of the fence, a dirt road ran parallel to it. I heard an engine in the distance and backed away into the trees, interested in what was heading my way. The seconds ticked by and slowly the sound increased, coming closer.
I caught sight of the car, some military vehicle that had been painted a lusterless mud green color. It moved slowly, and the men inside wore fatigues. I didn’t see any guns on them, but by the looks of them, they had to be armed.
They drove slow, watching the perimeter.
I cursed quietly. This place was highly guarded, which meant that escaping would be a much more long-term goal than I’d planned.
But, if I could find a way to escape, would I? I’d run once, and I’d gotten caught. I hadn’t been punished for it; however, if I ran and got caught again, I had a feeling the government wouldn’t be so lenient. And if I succeeded, I’d have to flee to Mexico; I’d have to leave the U.S. permanently.
With stakes that high, could I do it?
Yes.
I watched the car drive by and waited to see how long it would take for another car to drive the perimeter.
“You’re not leaving, princess.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I couldn’t get a moment.
I whirled around to face Caden, whose eyes had a hard glint to them. I’d been so focused on the
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