CHAPTER 9

Several frightened heads nodded while I snorted under my breath. That sure is comforting.

Once he was satisfied with our collective responses, everyone got into the Jeeps and we started our journey. It was depressing to see what was once a striving, political city become nothing but dust and debris, the aftermath of all those wars humans stubbornly created plummeting the state and the earth.

The ride to our next destination wasn't long, and ahead of us, I noticed a large, metal ring built in an arc shape, standing in the middle of the road. At first, I was puzzled by it, but when the Jeeps drew closer, a loud siren went off and I could have sworn something shimmered in the air in the middle of the arc.

Without stopping the jeeps drove through the ring one after the other, and rather than seeing a deserted, dusty land of broken buildings and badly shaped roads on the other side, our vision was met instead by black towering black gates. I guess the portals still exist.

All four jeeps rode to a slow stop before the gates and I stared ahead with raised brows. Who knew the combination of magic and technology could work so well hand in hand with one another?

Tsk, if this kind of combination could have occurred centuries ago, life for me would have been so much easier.

The gates slowly groaned open before anyone had time to process anything and we were greeted by a large city. But seeing dozens or more of teenagers in coloured suits moving about, somehow made my stomach tighten a little bit with nerves.

Ever since we underwent training a month ago, my body has been craving for some real action, not some simulation shit done in the forest. Now I'm finally here, and though I have a clear mission I need to fulfil, my body still tingles with the need to cause serious bloodshed.

Hot damn, I think I turned myself on by the thought of it.

We drove through a narrowed gravel road, past brick buildings scattered on either side of the road for a lengthy period before coming to a stop in front of the largest freaking castle I have ever seen.

We were made to get down from the jeeps before following Warrior Ivan and his men into the castle, and as soon as we walked in I spotted a dark brown receptionist desk to the left.

Black and white marble outlined the floors while the walls are coated with white paint. A wooden spiral staircase is off to the side, and apart from a lone wooden door situated across the room, this floor is empty... and large.

2 guards in light grey uniforms stood and saluted the Warrior and his men, and with a nod of acknowledgement, he walked past them towards the lone door across the room.

While pushing the heavy door open the amount of noise it made floated into the silent hallway, one glance in and my brows raised again at the sight of the number of teenagers crowding the room in similar yellow suits.

"Every one of you, inside." Warrior Ivan instructed, and we silently obeyed.

The door banged close behind us and every pair of eyes in the room turned our way, shivering in the discomfort I stepped away from my group and walked further into the room.

Looking around, there was nothing special about the large ballroom, just similar white walls, marble flooring, and a painting of cherubims and angels on the ceiling.

I ignored the leering eyes of a group of guys and focused my attention on the stage in front, a wooden side door to the right suddenly opened and out walked a woman similar in age to Warrior Ivan.

Two young boys a year or two older than my host stood by her side with blank expressions on their faces.

Turning my attention back to the woman, I admired her long blonde hair in a tight ponytail and smooth porcelain skin, which just seems to compliment her silver grey eyes perfectly.

The boys standing on either side of the woman stood military straight with strong legs braced apart and large arms behind their backs. Both males look vaguely familiar, and I wonder if I've seen him before.

The one on the right has baby blue eyes which stared at nothing above our heads and his face was kept straight, without a single leak of emotion. He's buffed up as the other guy on the left, but his domineering height makes him look bigger.

The guy on the left looks at ease with himself, his accessing forest green eyes taking in everyone with a small lazy smile on his pouty pink lips. His dyed electric blue hair an awful sight. In terms of looks, I'll say they're both even, though the one on the right is more my type.

The woman's eyes moved through the crowd of faces surrounding the room as she stood in the middle of the stage with her arms behind her back as well, she commanded our attention easily and the noise level dropped to a silent whisper as we stared at the three of them.

"Good morning everyone, my name is Lola Ramirez and I am the person in charge of recruits. Now I know you all have questions but first I would like to say welcome, to the home base of Supernatural Elite Task Force (SETF) of the Elite Force Army (EFA)."

The woman, like the boys, is dressed in fitted blue pants that hugged their toned legs but wasn't too tight or constricting like our yellow suit. The pants are paired with grey shirts that are tucked in and black lace-up boots.