Chapter 42: The Secret

We were back at the academy. The training was finished. Some of us made it to the next lesson. But not me. Me and Charlotte were stuck, Xie Li had advised us that we were not good enough and that we still needed to practice.

Improve our skills apparently.

There was no point moving to the next stage of the training when we were not even able to find places to hide. But it didn't bother me. I hated the idea of stealing. It was against everything I learned.

Charlotte was a bit upset. She had seen kids one after another move to the next stage. She felt that she was not good enough, and when she saw our closest friends move to the next stage, this only stressed her out even more.

Tina, Caleb, Janice and Gary.

They all made it to the next stage and began really playing cat and mouse.

But we were back at the academy, and Xie Li had given us one order, and it was to go back to our rooms and rest.

I didn't want to, though. I wanted to stop being a tree.

So, I left my room and walked straight out. I wanted to catch up with Zac. I wanted to check out what happened with Alex. I'm sure he would have some smart way around this.

And bump.

"It's you again…"

"Augustus…"

"Why is it every time something happens, I bump into you?"

"But I don't think I will ever get to see you again. Our team is going to kill each and every one of you."

"What?"

"Our Team leader Owen said we could bring our weapons and the best way to get what you want is to kill others. That's the order. Work together and kill the others so that you can escape."

This was terrible. Xie Li had told us as well that we could bring our weapons as well. She had explained that even in a stealth test, that having a weapon might be better than not having one at all. She also mentioned that even the best of people with stealth brought weapons.

Like the Assassin who would sneak in and kill the target, or the bounty hunter who would track an individual long into the night before killing them when they least expected it. Even the hunters with their bows and arrows walk silently in the woods to hunt down their food.

But she never mentioned that we could just go into this test, aiming to kill each other. This was way too scary. I was not even planning to bring my weapons.

"Thanks for letting me know. Are you going to go in and do that too?"

"You mean with my sloppy arms, my fat body, and the hammer I can barely even hold? No. I would be lucky if I could pick up whatever I needed to get out."

As terrible as the situation was, it was still funny to hear it from him. I really hoped he survived and did not need to succumb to fighting for his own life.

"Good luck Augustus. We will meet again if we both survive."

I moved past him, looking for Zac. But he was not here. He must have returned to his room.

Bummer. I really wanted to listen in to their plans. Oh well, it's time to return to my bedroom and be a tree.

And think of a plan.