Orphan

Chapter 39 - Rogue

In the darkroom where the technicians had been watching the candidates. A shadow of a stiletto moved across the room, stopping at one of the computers, quietly tapping the keyboard on the desk. The screen changed with every stroke, as the individual opened a file.The technicians were asleep. Their heads resting over their keyboard. They were still alive. Breathing softly and sticking out of their neck were tiny needles.Candidate: 007/1000Name: EvelynHeight: 133 CMWeight: 33 KGEye Colour: GreenBlood: OAge: 7Team Leader: Xie Li.Weapon(S): Whip, Daggers, Ninja Star.Speed Test: CompletedSwim Test: CompletedStealth Test: N/A..............Status: AliveThe individual closed the file.* * *I was awake and alive. But for how much longer?Every day felt like a rollercoaster. You didn't know what was going to happen next, one day you could be at the top of your game and the next you could be dead. Even when the teachers tell you that there will be no deaths today, it could still happen.No one was safe.Zoe told us to get ready early this morning and make our way to meet our trainers. We were supposed to have our first real official class with our trainers. But was there really a point? Were we going to even be able to use these skills we acquired?Stop Evelyn, I told myself.Maria always said that we should focus on the positive. Instead of the negative. If we focus on the bad stuff then bad things were bound to happen. Maybe this class will be good. Maybe it will be useful. Maybe there will be some skills that I could learn that I could use in the future.Dropping the negative thoughts. I changed. I was dressed in full black today. Black dress, black socks, black shoes and even a black hair tie. It looked as if I was going to someone's funeral.When I heard a loud knock and Liam barged in, hands holding onto two red buckets. "Oh, you're awake this morning. How disappointing...I guess I won't be using these to wake you up."Liam must really enjoy waking up kids with buckets of icy water? He looked so disappointed, there was even a frown on his face as if he was a big kid who missed out on an activity he really wanted to do."Well Evelyn, do you know where you're off to today?""Yes...""Good, well move along then."I walked out of the door and went straight up the stairs. It looked different today, kids were moving by themselves, there were no screams, no shouts, just kids walking up and down the stairs, looking down at their feet. It actually looked like they had given up. On the bright side, there were also groups of children walking together, chatting as if nothing had happened in the past week. Maybe that was a good approach, I mean just enjoy the moment instead of focusing on the past. It's much better than focusing on all those that had died and the possibility today would be our last day.You only get to live once, so even if today is our last, we should really try to make the most of it."Welcome, Evelyn. Still in one piece! I see that you have recovered well."It was Xie Li, my saviour. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I would still be here.She was dressed in an unusually tight Chinese dress that made her look like a stick. She passed me a coin and I walked straight towards Caleb, who was sitting next to Janice."Evelyn, how are you doing?" "I'm...""She looks fine, she'll live there's not a single bruise or scratch on her. Maybe this will teach her a lesson to not be so popular."What was with Janice, every single word she said were like knives aimed and ready to stab deep inside me."What happened to you guys yesterday? How come you were not on the bus?" "I think what happened was that the teachers split us all back to our original group from Day 1. We were driven to the edge of the forest where we found a desert. "And?""Well, one of the girls on the bus stepped into the sand and disappeared. Not like straight away, but a very slow process. And every time she tried to pull herself out, she only sank deeper. We were later told that it was quicksand that had taken her.""Why didn't the teacher save her?""Well, Owen said that if she wants out then she has to figure it out herself."That's terrible. How could the teacher just stand there and watch as one of the students died?"What about you?""We went to a forest where we came across a giant dragon.""No way! Are you serious?""No joke.""She must be lying through her teeth. How can you even believe her?" "Am not!" "Are you kids done yapping? More importantly, did anyone see Sophie?""She's dead.""What happened?""Zoe said a snake took snatched her and feed her to her babies.""Argh...how I hate Zoe. She always seems to target my children. First, it was you, and now she has even let Sophie get killed.""Oh well, that means that our team is reduced to 99. Which means that from today, you kids will need to work really hard. We can't afford to lose any more of you."Xie li walked us into the room, we were standing in a circle just like the last time. Xie Li moving around the room, bumping into kids and occasionally telling them that they needed to reorganize themselves back into the circle. "Now that we are all settled. Let's begin. Most of you must have thought about what we could be learning today that would help with ensuring you survive in the upcoming tests.""Could I get any ideas? Does anyone want to give it a try?"Not a single hand shot up and no one seemed eager to join in. "Oh well, I don't have much time today so I am going to be as straight forward as I can. Today's lesson is going to be a stealth lesson. Does anyone know why they would want this skill and where this may come useful?""Yes"It was Janice who replied."Go on girl, tell the class where this skill may be useful.""Stealth is the process where you can go around with others without them knowing that you were there. It is useful because it can be used to allow you to stalk and get close to people, and potentially even steal from them. It is also useful when you are running away and need a way to hide.""And what kind of person would want such a skill?""Thieves.""And why would they like this skill?""Because they steal from others.""Perfect. You are correct.""Well, boys and girls, in today's lesson we are going to learn about the process of how we can use stealth to our advantage and it will also be a good test, to see how many of you can also acquire the other skill which is to efficiently steal from another person.""May I start by asking you all to split into teams of 2. Once this has been completed, I would like you to take out the coin I gave you when you entered the room."Why would anyone want to steal? It was wrong. Maria had always taught me and the other orphans that stealing is wrong, even when our lives depended on it.I ended up joining the girl who had lost her friend. Her name was Charlotte. She was 13 and was also an orphan."Miss...I lost my flag.""Me too.""I could have sworn I placed it into my pocket."Janice looked as if she was fuming. But I didn't know why until she spoke."You idiots, of course, it's gone, the coin was taken away from you by the teacher. If you had been looking carefully instead of chatting with your friends, you would have picked it up when she nudged you."Everyone turned their attention to her, even Xie Li looked as if she was shocked."Did you see what happened? What sharp eyes you have."Xie Li dug her hands into her pocket and pulled out a total of 5 coins. Janice was smart, her attention to detail was so good. I would have never guessed that the teacher was taking the coins back. "How did you see it?""Well, back at my orphanage, one of the skills we had to acquire was learning how to steal. It was like our bread and butter, and the only way we could feed ourselves." "Tell me more." The teacher said as if wanting to poke out the information out of Janice."The Father taught us the skills, he said that if we wanted to live at the orphanage, we would need to make him some money, so each and every day we would need to hunt.""If we wanted to eat, we would have to steal it. If we wanted to stay at the orphanage then we needed to steal money to pay for the rent. If you couldn't do either you were thrown out and chucked onto the street.""Did you learn this skill?""I had too.""So, from your experience what were the biggest hardships that you faced?""Being caught. It brought shame to you, it also meant that the next time that you tried to steal it would be harder as people would have their eyes open for you. The beating and running into alleyways were not too bad. You do get used to it.""So, if I was to let you tell the class, what would be the best way to steal, what would it be in your opinion?""In crowded places, that's the best, because everyone is busy being distracted by all the things that are coming and going.""Spot on.""But why would you want to steal from others? It doesn't sound really nice. My teacher has always taught me that you need to earn what you want.""Innocent girl, what would you do if you needed some money and some food?""I would start by asking.""And what if they don't give it to you?""That's okay, I would ask them if there is anything, I could do for them, or any work I could do to earn that little bit of cash or food.""And if they still don't give it to you?""I would ask the next person. Just because one door closes, doesn't mean all the doors will close. Besides maria always said that when a door closes another door opens.""Haha, that is right, the opening door could be stealing."