Chapter 9: Arrivals

Eve sat up in bed and yawned. She frowned, confused at where she was but then she realized and crawled out of bed. She walked to the dresser, her eyes landing on the combat suit on the top. It had a sticky note that had her name on it, so she tossed the sticky note to the side and quickly pulled it on.

It was black, not a big jump from grey but a jump at least, with thin white stripes running downwards. The best way she could describe it is that it looked like a map of subways routes only they were all white. She tucked the black square Zion had given her in her back pocket.

She stepped outside, shutting the door firmly behind her, and headed to the cafeteria. Her stomach growled when she smelled food. She pushed the door open and instantly got in line behind Mouse.

“Good morning,” Mouse greeted her.

“Good morning,” she returned. “Did ya sleep well?”

“Like a rock,” she answered. “The beds are really comfortable.”

“A lot more comfortable than a rock-hard floor,” Eve laughed. She scooped up some eggs and dumped them on her plate and then grabbed a few strips of bacon along with a waffle and cup of milk.

“The Converts are coming today,” she reminded her. Eve nodded and slid in next to Kade who was already seated.

“Are ya nervous?” he asked.

“No,” Eve answered. “Should I be?”

“You’re only going to be hanging around the kids of some of the richest people in the world for three days, so nah, ya shouldn’t be,” Kade shrugged.

“Hey, there might be some good-looking ones too,” Mouse winked.

“That isn’t any motivation for Eve,” he butted in. “She already has her eye on someone.”

Eve elbowed him so hard in the ribs that choked on his eggs. “No, I don’t. And he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Ooh!” Mouse giggled. “Someone special.”

“You’re one to be talking about….” she started but Mouse kicked her under the table as Brodie set his tray down and sat down next to her.

“I’m nervous,” Brodie said, chin in hand.

“And why?” she questioned.

“We’re only going to be hanging around the kids of some of the richest people in the world for three days,” he answered.

Eve choked on her milk and Kade, who had finally recovered from being elbowed in the side spit his eggs out onto the floor. Mouse doubled over laughing at what he’d said and the reactions of the others.

“What?” Brodie asked, confused.

“Kade literally just said that!” Mouse managed.

Eve was thumping her chest, trying to breathe and Kade was now kicking the eggs he had spit on the floor under the table across from them, so nobody could blame it on him. Once he finished he turned and started hammering Eve on the back with the heel of his palm.

You can breathe water but you’re choking on water? He asked jokingly.

Water and milk are two different things and I don’t breathe water, I breathe the oxygen in the water! She continued to choke.

She could finally breathe again.

“Are you good?” Brodie asked, concerned.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “I don’t really see any reason to be worried. The only ones that will make it are the ones with the best average which means they won’t be totally wimps.”

“I was never really a social butterfly,” he shrugged.

Kade snorted. “Social butterfly. In my line of work, you can’t be a ‘butterfly’ ya got to be a hornet basically.”

Eve looked at him, confused. “And that means what exactly?”

“There’s no time for being nice,” he shrugged. She got was he was saying and went back to eating.

The intercom system crackled, startling everyone in the cafeteria. “This is Aswynn Pritchett reminding you that today the possible Converts arrive so please be ready!”

“They aren’t even here yet,” Kade muttered. Eve pushed her plate away and rested her chin in her elbows.

“They make it sound like the first day of summer camp or something fun like that,” she said with disgust. “They should say, ‘Good morning! Are you ready to die?’ or something along those lines.”

“You really have it out for these people,” Mouse noted.

That’s an understatement. She went to respond.

“That’s an understatement,” Kade said before she could. She glared at him and he smiled.

Stop reading my mind. She ordered.

He mentally shrugged. I can’t help it.

She rolled her eyes and looked at Mouse. “Yes, it’s a big understatement.”

“But why?” she questioned. “Why do you hate them so much when they’re trying to do so much for humanity?”

Kade stiffened and Eve shook her head. “The world may never know.”

Then again, we could always tell them. Kade told her.

Oh, yeah, totally. ‘Hey everyone! The people that are saving you are actually killing you!’ she said sarcastically.

You know what I mean. He said. Not everyone, but maybe the Converts deserve to know.

Right now we don’t even know who the other Converts are going to be. Eve reminded him.

And I’m almost positive that whoever pays Aswynn off the most will be number one.

Kade nodded. That’s all she’s about. Power and money.

“Are you two doing that whole telepathic thing?” Brodie asked, pointing a finger at each in turn.

“Yes,” they both said at the same time.

“Are you going to always do that?” Mouse asked.

“No,” they said again.

Stop! Eve yelled at Kade mentally.

Maybe you’re copycatting me. He laughed.

Not possible, you’re the one with the mind reading ability. She pointed out.

“They’re doing it again,” Mouse whispered to Brodie. “Talking in each other’s heads.”

“So what if we are?” Eve demanded. “What’cha gonna do about it?”

“I can’t stop you,” she shrugged, a playful smile spreading over her face. She went to say something, but the intercom turned on and Aswynn started to talk.

“Eve Williams, Brodie Pritchett, and Mouse Capaldi, could you please head down to the lobby?”

“That’s us,” Eve said, standing up.

“Well, I can’t go ’cause I wasn’t invited,” Kade said jokingly. “I guess I’ll just miss out on that awesome meeting.”

“You’re coming,” she laughed. She grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him up. “Come on.”

“I’m coming,” he said, following them out the door.

They walked towards the lobby and arrived just in time to see a black limo pull up. Tinted windows kept them from seeing inside but the door opened, and they quickly saw who it was. A boy climbed out, brown hair a jumbled mess from running his hand through it to many times. He wore a white dress shirt with a suit coat over it, both sleeves rolled up to the elbow. He was on the taller side, tower a few inches over Aswynn when she went to shake his hand.

His eyes scanned the group that had gathered around. His eyes landed on Eve and she saw the faintest smile. He continued on through the crowd, looking at each person in turn.

“Hey,” he waved smoothly.

“Please, do come inside,” Aswynn was all smiles. “You don’t want to be out here for too long.”

“Sure,” he nodded, following her inside.

“I should probably introduce you to your instructor,” she said, walking over in Eve’s direction.

Eve tried not to be nervous, but it seemed like forever since she met anyone new, besides Mouse who was easy to get along with.

“This is Eve,” she introduced her. “She’ll be your instructor. Eve, this is Adam King.”

Eve looked up at him. His green eyes looked down at her but not in a condescending way.

“Hey,” she said. He held his hand out and she shook it.

“Nice to meet you,” he nodded.

“Ooh,” Kade leaned over and whispered into her ear. “We got an Adam on the premises.”

“So?” she asked, acting casual. She knew what he was getting at but if he said it, she’d kick him in the shin.

“Have you never read a Bible in your life?” he smiled. “It’s only the first account in it.”

“What are you trying to say?” she growled.

Adam, Eve, I don’t know. He said this part mentally much to her relief.

She kicked him in the shin like she told herself she would do. Not gonna happen.

Hey! It was a joke! He defended. He rubbed his leg.

“We have another person pulling up,” Aswynn announced.

Eve looked around and spotted Adam standing over by the staircase, arms folded in front of him, a bored look on his face.

“This is Thomas Good,” Aswynn introduced him. He had blonde hair with dull brown eyes and a few freckles. He looked at them all in a judgmental manner and didn’t even introduce himself.

I really hope he doesn’t get through. Eve told Kade.

He’s too judgy. He’s the guy that be pointing out everything wrong with everything and wouldn’t even notice that he got shot while doing so. He laughed.

She agreed.

“Jewels McKay.” She was of a darker complexion with seeking green eyes. She had straight black hair and high cheekbones which made her look pretty and smart.

She’s a model. Kade told Eve. Been on the cover of every fashion magazine twice.

She shrugged. She’s pretty.

Kade mentally agreed and she rolled her eyes.

“Hello,” Jewels held her hand out politely. “I’m Jewels McKay.”

“Eve,” she shook her hand.

“And I’m Kade,” he added, nodding.

“Nice to meet you!” she said with a little laugh. She joined Adam and Thomas over by the stairs.

The next was Legend Dairy, a medium height boy with blonde and brown hair and dark brown eyes. He introduced himself politely and went over to join the other group.

“His name is Legend Dairy,” Kade laughed. “Like legendary.”

“He probably hates his parents,” Eve said.

“I would love to have an awesome name like that,” he said.

Another car pulled up, but Eve didn’t pay attention to who got out. She was watching the group of kids over by the stairs. Most of them seemed to be minding their business or chatting amongst themselves quietly but she noticed Adam standing farther into the corner, his back up against the wall. He saw her looking at him and smiled slightly. She looked away and began to think.

He isn’t social like the others, he’s quiet. She thought. He’s gonna do good. He’d detached from the others, he hasn’t said much at all.

Eve was snapped from her own little world by Kade nudging her in the side. She focused on the face in front of her, a girl maybe a year or two younger than her with straight brown hair, a small nose, and bright green eyes. She smiled and extended her hand.

“I’m Hayley Jones,” she smiled.

Eve smiled and shook her hand. “I’m Eve, your instructor.”

“Any tips for me?” she joked.

“Just be you,” she told her.

Hayley turned and joined the others.

“So,” Brodie whispered to Eve. “What’cha think?”

Eve watched as a few other cars pulled up and people got out before she answered.

“Some have potential, and some don’t.”

Her eyes skimmed over the line of teens coming in the door. She would have a lot more hands to shake.

*****

Eve looked at all thirty of the faces in front of her and her heart began to speed up. The last time she’d talked to a large group of people it had been back at the Base before the whole launching process. She took in a steady deep breath and began.

“I am Eve and I will be monitoring you in the Elimination Rounds,” she started. “Before I go any farther, let me explain what those are.

“They are simulations that will present you with common obstacles that you would face in an apocalypse which will take place over the span of three days. Day one we’ll be testing physical endurance; Day two will be testing their survival skills in simulations; On day three we will have the last test. Emotions, mental stability, and that night will be the results.” she cringed when she realized she’d practically quoted Aswynn word for word. “Your overall score will be the average of all your scores put together. The ones at the top of the list make it through and the others go home. Any questions.”

“You said something about simulations,” Jewels spoke up. “Is it like a hallucination or VR?”

“It’s a highly developed Virtual Reality technology that the government has provided especially for this reason,” Eve told her. It was the truth but Aswynn had told her, so she couldn’t be too sure.

“Have you been through these VRs before?” Adam asked. He ran hand through his hair and waited for her response.

“No,” she answered without hesitation. “I survived something way harder called Life.”

She involuntarily rubbed the scars on his wrists, sending a shot of pain straight to her heart. She swallowed and looked at him. “Any more questions?”

The room was silent.

“Okay,” she said. “Eliminations start tomorrow at eight o’clock sharp.”

The room emptied out, but Kade stayed by the door, one shoulder leaning up against the wall.

“Eve, we need to talk.”