Running On The Line

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Mason

I find it insanely unfair that I am in charge of training Kimberly. That girl is a nightmare. She's stubborn, rebellious and frankly annoying. She's also beautiful but that's not important. It was 5:58 am. She had two minutes to wake up. She looked a lot more peaceful sleeping and it was hard to imagine that she was threatening to kill Aless less than 24 hours ago. I knew Meg was right. I couldn't judge her for fighting to survive. But when she aimed the gun at her, I thought she would press the trigger. It's hard to trust someone after that, and I honestly doubt that I ever will. But sometimes I'll catch her staring at me and I don't know why my heart speeds up for two seconds. And it's not because I like her. I refuse that notion entirely. Her eyes flashed open and immediately fixated on me. She had slept the entire time leaning on that Sean guy and with her little sister wrapped around her arm. Like a small family. I turned away and looked at Meg, who was crumpled on the couch. A bit of blood trickled down her nose and I felt like everything was just going to hell all over again. Last night... it was if a veil of anger had come at me the minute Sean attacked Aless. Like my father. I didn't want to be like my father. Not even remotely. And I hated looking in the mirror because every day I saw resemblance of him. In my eyes, in my jaw structure. I fought to hang onto what I looked like that resembled my mom but there was very little of it. "Should I wake up my friends? For training?" Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I nodded. She booped Lana on the nose and the kid crunched her nose before blinking her eyes open. "Is it time?" She mumbled sleepily. I grinned. She reminded me of when Meg was little. But why was she waking up Lana? Surely the kid wasn't going to be a rebel! "Don't worry; she's not going to be a rebel. But I'm not leaving her alone." It must've been written on my face because she answered my questions without voicing them out loud. I had to work on keeping a cold face like when Emy is talking to the Royals. "You can just leave her here, with Meg." She barked out a laugh that stirred Sean. "Never in a million years." I glared at her. "If it wasn't for my sister, I would have killed you yesterday." She smiled at me. Like an actual smile. "I never said I hated your sister, I am grateful that I didn't die. I do think I could take you, though." I smirked. I was taller and bigger than her but she claims that she can take me down. She's got guts. "I highly doubt it. Besides, did you take me down while I was shoving you against a wall?" Lana giggled and I smiled at the kid. Kimberly leaned forward and held out her hand. "I was taken by surprise. Listen, I'm sorry about yesterday. Can we start over?" I don't know why my hand immediately went out to hers. But when my hand touched hers it felt right. "Of course. Nice to meet you, I'm Mason." She laughed a bit and shook my hand once before letting go. "Kimberly."

Emy barged into the room as if she owned the place. Although that wasn't surprising. She entered most rooms that way. "UP! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, CHANGE AND LETS MOVE, BITCHES!" Kimberly gaped at Emy. I wanted to laugh. Emy had her moment of weakness yesterday. That wasn't going to happen again. And Emy hadn't forgiven her. Aless hopped in right after, trying to put on her boots. Instead of our usual work clothes, we were wearing our casual clothes because there was no way in hell that we were going back there. The guards were probably waiting for us. She threw some clothes at Kimberly and her friends, including small ones cut especially for Lana. They ran into the room previously occupied and changed in the span of 30 seconds. Understandable. I mean if Emy runs in like that, I would get changed quickly too. When they walked out, they looked weird. I mean they resembled us outfit wise but when it came to their faces it was different. Shinier. Even if they were roughed up yesterday in the fight, they look clean. That wasn't something that could be fixed. It wasn't something that should be fixed. But they would stand out. They'd have to learn how to defend themselves because if some insane Royals decide that their blood could be a cure, which we have no proof of, they could kill them for it. "GET INTO A LINE!" Emy shouted at them and they immediately scrambled into this awkward, mismatched line. I bit my lip to fight back a laugh. They looked so nervous. Then again, the knife in Emy's hand could make a karate prodigy pee his pants. She stood in front of them, Aless beside her but a little bit behind in her general pose. She had a new earring to replace the one stolen by our former boss. Meg had woken up and was standing by my side. Even if she looked sick again, it wasn't nearly as bad as yesterday morning. She was focused. She had a bit of fire in her eyes. Then I realised the knife on her waist. "You're going to train?!" She nodded once. I gaped. "But you'll infect them!" She laughed. "They won't be able to tell I'm sick. Besides, I am part of this rebellion. I'm not gonna lie down anymore. If they get sick, they'll have to work for the cure. Like you had to do." I sighed. She couldn't train like that. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a black bandana. I wrapped it around the mouth and nose. "There you go kiddo." She nodded at me and I could tell she was smiling. Emy nodded at the line. "You walk in before me. And when I enter, you kneel. Understood?" They all nodded. She smirked. "Let's go."