Tainted Love

Chapter 22

Rose's POV

"Hey, Rose! I thought you had class- wait, why are you cleaning up blood?" Abby asked as she pranced into the dorm. I was kneeling on the ground, trying my best to get to blood from me and that psycho out of the circle carpet in the living room and the hardwood everywhere else before on of them came back. Obviously, I had failed to do that.

I groaned. "Some guy broke into our room and attacked me. Then Sir Albert came in and explained that this was another one of those tests. I swear, these tests are insane."

Abby gasped. "Is that your blood?!"

I nodded. "And the other guy," I said. Abby rushed and hugged me. I automatically felt uncomfortable. I hated being shown affection and kindness. I didn't deserve it.

Rylee whipped open the door. "Guys! Beck's in a fight!"

Abby jumped. "Like Rose?!"

Rylee's eyes widened. "You got in a fight, too? This is insanity!"

Abby and I shared a glance. Yes, yes it was.

We ran outside our room, where a crowd of people had blocked the end of the corridor. Suddenly, we heard a loud grunt, followed by loud cheers. We shoved through the crowd to get a glimpse of the action. Beck was on top of the same guy that had attacked me, punching him senseless. Eventually, on probably the tenth blow, he knocked the guy out. Beck stood, holding his fists in the air. The small crowd erupted. Beck's entire face was bruised a bloodied, along with his arms and legs, but he was much better than the other guy.

"EVERYONE BACK TO YOUR ROOMS! IMMEDIATELY!" a voice boomed across the hallway. Sir Albert appeared next to a triumphant Beck, looking like the serial killer in a movie. Like magic, in a couple seconds, we had all turned around and we're entering our rooms. Abby and Rylee went before me. Then Grace went inside. I felt so sorry for her. Grace was as pale as snow. I guess she couldn't stand the gore.

I gently closed the door and turned to my worried friends, but the silence was quickly interrupted. "Rose! Get out here!"

All of our eyes widened. I froze. Couldn't this day just have gone normal? Rylee quickly pushed me out the door, more fearful for what might happen if I didn't go out than what I was out here for. Beck was still in the hallway, along with Sir Albert and the unconscious man.

"We need to talk, you two," he sighed. He looked at me, then at Beck. He motioned me to come to them.

"Rose, grab my Hunter. Beck isn't exactly in shape to," he said, sounding pretty annoyed. Beck grumbled something, but I was too offended to listen closely. "Why can't you?" I snapped. You're going to regret that.

Sir Albert glared at me. "Do it," he hissed. I reluctantly obeyed, returning his glare. I didn't care if I was on his bad side. At this point, I didn't care if I was on everyone's bad side.

The man wasn't extremely heavy - well, not when you have super strength, but I still strained to pick him up. Anyone here heard of common curtesy?! Why is the girl doing all the work?

We went onto the elevator, allowing me to put the man down. Almost immediately, he jerked awake. His eyes were wild for a second, then he saw Sir Albert.

"Sir," he nodded, as if he wasn't a bloody mess and this was a normal situation.

"Michael," Sir Albert said in a bored voice. The man stood up, leading to an extremely awkward ride to the main floor.

We were lead back the front entrance. Sir Albert took a turn just before all the rooms we were interrogated in. Inside was a fairly large office. Beck's and I awkwardly stood in front of his desk, with Michael next to a chair, while Sir Albert sat down.

"You two are interesting," he said, writing something down on the paper in front of him. "I've never had Ones who were too advanced for a class, let along a Combat class."

He looked up from his paper. "Michael, tell me about Beck, seeing that he was the most recent."

Michael groaned. "Beck can fight, but it's more street-like than honorable. I'm impressed how you managed to get me down, actually," he admitted. "You need to work on technique, however. While your moves are unpredictable, they're irrational. Throwing punches like a madman isn't going next time, I can assure you."

Beck scoffed. "How else do you fight, then? It's not like there's not going to be blood."

Michael glared at him. "You fight like Rose," he said simple. I gasped. When did I become the prime example? "She only went for blood when there was no other option, and payed attention to how I was fighting, learning my pattern. She didn't have to knock me out to immobilize me. However, I'm not sure how'd you do in a fight where fists mattered. A well balanced technique for all situations is necessary for both of you."

I felt Beck's heated eyes on me, but I continued to look straight. They're had to be something I wasn't doing right.

Sir Albert cleared his throat. "Alright, you two, by what I'm hearing, you both need some help before I actually put you with the others. Combat 2 will be at the same time and place, but I'd like you to be isolated from the group. I'll have Michael privately train you until he feels you're ready to join the rest of the class."

I sighed a breath of relief. I might actually enjoy this. Sir Albert dismissed us. I went to walk out, but Michael whispered something to Sir Albert. "Rose, you stay for a moment," he said calmly.

Beck gave me another glare before walking out closing the door behind him. I wish I was him in this situation.

"Listen to me carefully," Sir Albert said in a low voice. "I need you to understand how you performed." I gulped. Was it so bad that even Beck couldn't hear it?

He sighed. "It was practically seamless."

My eyes widened. Okay, so why am I here then? Sir Albert continued. "It was seamless in all the right ways, but as an attacker, not a defender." He paused. "Rose, I need you to understand the deference between defending your life and trying to take another's. They're very different. This is something Michael will teach you, but I just want you to be aware."

I nodded quickly. He dismissed me, allowing me to quickly scurry out of the office. I was walking so fast back I thought I'd get a speeding ticket. He was getting to close to figuring out what I was - a killer.