Aberrant (22 page)

Reluctantly, I pulled myself from bed, careful not to hit my
head on the top bunk as I climbed out. After having a good night's sleep, I
felt refreshed.

"You awake?" I heard Joshua's voice and glanced up
at him with a smile.

"I am." I gave a nod. "How'd you sleep?"
He was looking better than he had the last time I'd seen him. I imagined I
looked better too.

"I was out cold all night," he admitted. "Had
the strangest dream," he shook his head. "Want to shower and grab
breakfast?"

"I do," I nodded, climbing off the bed. I glanced
around the room seeing a few other recruits waking up. Most still seemed to be
in bed. My stomach grumbled as I grabbed our training outfit and headed for the
bathroom. "Meet you in the cafeteria," Joshua nodded towards me as I
made my way down the opposite corridor to the women's showers. We hadn't eaten
yesterday, and I was looking forward to breakfast.

Rounding the corner, the bathroom was completely empty. I
walked into the double door stall, closing the first door and locking it. Dropping
my clothes on the bench, I shut the curtain to keep the water from spraying
them before turning on the shower. It took no time for the warm water to
trickle down as I stood beneath the spray. I let my body relax, taking the
first moment I had to really enjoy some time alone. It wasn't that I didn't
like being around Joshua, it had more to do with the other recruits and lack of
privacy. I wasn't used to sleeping in a dormitory, let alone the test and
procedure they'd put us through. I was nervous to think of what was next.

I shampooed my hair and soaped my skin. Aside from the
needle puncture from the sedative, I hadn’t notice any additional bumps or
bruises from the procedure and certainly no incision marks. Feeling the cold
water trickling down my back, I knew that meant I needed to finish. It was a
surprisingly welcome reminder that some things should not be taken for granted.

I dried off and dressed, heading to the cafeteria. My eyes
scoped out the scene. There was plenty of food to choose from, and my stomach
instantly sounded. Joshua was nowhere in sight. I didn't dwell on it as Cate,
Mason and Elsa were eating together. I knew Elsa didn't have a partner with the
training sessions, but I hated to see her mingling with Cate. I grabbed some
eggs for breakfast, taking them to sit down at the furthest end of the table. Maybe
I wasn't being the most polite toward them, but I really didn't want to pretend
to be friends. I took a bite of breakfast, relieved when Joshua came into the
cafeteria. Cate was the first to speak up quite loudly at him. "I see you
still have your head," she sniggered, referencing the near-miss of an
arrow just two days ago. Mason joined in laughing, seeming to fall in line with
everything Cate did. I wondered if he was infatuated or just using her to do
well on the tests. Elsa gave an apologetic look but then smiled with Cate,
doing her best to befriend her.

Joshua gave them a look, grabbed his food and then sat
across from me. "Lucky it was me out there and not you," he answered
Cate with a warm smile, "Otherwise there'd be two recruits going home in
body bags." Joshua knew how to stand on his own. It was no wonder he'd
made it this far.

Joshua gestured for us to move further to the opposite end
of the table. I wasn't sure that was possible but shifted my plate and scooted
down on the bench. "What's up?" I asked having the sneaking suspicion
he didn't want to be overheard.

"I, uh, I'm not sure how to ask this," he hesitated,
staring at me. "Did you have any interesting dreams last night?"

I shook my head no. "I don't really remember dreaming
anything," I admitted. "Why?"

He kept his voice low so only I could hear him. He leaned
forward as he sat across from me at the table, "I dreamt about you."
He smiled and stared at me, gauging my reaction.

"What about?" I shook my head curiously.

"Doesn't matter," Joshua countered, skirting the
question. "I was just curious because I thought maybe the procedure had
done something to modify our dreams. Make us dream together, but that's a
stupid idea." He laughed at himself and what he was suggesting.

I sighed, thinking it over. "I guess it's possible, but
I really don't remember if I dreamt anything. Dreams can feel real, though, you
know?"

Joshua nodded. "Sometimes a little too real." He
admitted having a bite of his breakfast and some orange juice. I was almost
certain his cheeks had flushed. Was he flustered? Nervous? I couldn’t quite
read him.

"You want to tell me about it?" I offered, more curious
than ever what he could have dreamt about. Whether it was his subconscious or a
test, I wanted to know more.

He glanced up from his breakfast. "I do, but now isn't
the best time." His eyes met mine for a moment longer than necessary. He
held something back, I could feel it.

"Okay." I smiled weakly. He didn't look upset. At
least it hadn't been a bad dream. I considered what the Chancellor would have
wanted with us, why he would have cared about our dreams and how that would
have any relation at all to the tests. It didn't make sense. "Maybe the
dream is just a side effect?" I offered in explanation to Joshua. "We
were heavily sedated during the procedure. Is it possible the dreams seemed
more vivid because of it?"

"Possible, but unlikely." He gazed at me as he ate
another bite of his eggs. "I'm telling you, it felt real. Everything about
it," he paused, putting his fork down and having another sip to drink. "I've
never had a dream so matter of fact, until I woke up to find it wasn't real at
all."

"I suppose we'll find out later today what the
procedure was for." I finished the last bite of my breakfast. "As
much as they'd liked to keep us in the dark forever, I have the distinct
impression they'll want results sooner rather than later." I glanced down,
reaching for my drink when I heard Joshua's faint whisper.

It scares me.

"It scares me, too," I admitted glancing up at
him.

His eyes widened, "How did you?"

"What?" I frowned staring at him.

How did you do that?

This time my eyes never left his, I realized his lips hadn't
moved and I'd read his thoughts. Had that been the same thing that had happened
the previous night when he told me to be quiet, except in reverse? My eyes
narrowed, thinking as hard as I could back to him,
You did it to me last
night.

"When?" He shook his head, astonished.

I nearly laughed, realizing half our conversation was in our
heads and the other half aloud. We needed to be careful. We could have a huge
advantage over the others if this was what they'd done to us. Especially if the
others hadn't developed the ability yet. "Last night I was thinking
something," my voice dropped again so that only Joshua could hear me. "You
answered me," I told him bluntly.

His eyes widened.
That's when you called me Joshua!

I laughed, feeling more at ease. I just hoped the
instructor, Chancellor, and the rest of the town couldn't get a glimpse into our
heads. "Yes, but we should be more careful." I stared at him
seriously. "Whoever did this to us could potentially be
eavesdropping."

"You're right, Jacqueline." He nodded
understanding my words. As strange as it was to hear another name from his lips
as he spoke to me, it was getting easier to accept.
Any idea what they'll
expect of us today?

I shook my head, glancing at the other recruits as they'd
all made their way now into the cafeteria, either in line getting food or
seated at the table.
It's about to get very interesting.

CHAPTER 22

Finishing breakfast, we gathered once again outside by the
shooting range. The bows and arrows were lined up at everyone's stall. I stood
beside Joshua, no one saying a word.

Maya spoke up, "Recruits. Please find your assigned
stations." Everyone moved to their respective booths. Joshua brushed
against me as we walked towards ours, standing there, awaiting our next
direction.

"Today we will see how well the activation of
Mindonsiphan is for each of you. Elsa, you are now partners for the remainder
of our training sessions with Hazel." Elsa walked over to Hazel, standing
beside her at the booth. "Everyone pay attention. It is imperative you
listen and follow directions closely. We will be training one group at a time. If
any of you so much as raise your bow when it is not your turn, you will be
immediately disqualified and fail the tests."

I heard a murmur of whispers all around us. Neither Joshua
nor I said a word. I glanced at him and saw the look on his face – he was still
worried someone would disobey, no matter the consequence.

Maya continued, "Concentration and complete silence is
essential. We could separate each group, but we feel it to be a better training
experience to let everyone witness and understand why we do this." Again a
few whispers erupted and she raised a hand, silencing the recruits. "You
are not to try any of this on your own, outside of my instruction. Safety
mechanisms are put into place while I'm here," she insisted. I wondered
what she meant by that. "Do I have any groups volunteer to go first?"

No one raised their hand. No one spoke another word. "Well
then," Maya glanced at each recruit down the row, walking in front of us
and stopping. I was certain I was holding my breath when she stared at me.
"How about Adam and Jacqueline go first?"

I wondered briefly why she chose us and why we always seemed
to get picked on. We were most certainly the least trained and ill-prepared at
archery. Was this to humiliate us in front of the other recruits? Neither of us
said anything. I gave a nod. "Good," Maya spoke up. "Jacqueline,
I'd like you to take the bow first. Adam you're to come with me," she
instructed.

I took the bow and an arrow, watching hesitantly as she
walked with him out onto the range, standing in front of the target. "Are
you kidding?" This was absurd! She wanted me to what, kill him?

Maya saw my expression and seemed unfazed by it. "You
should trust us," she insisted. "You are to aim and shoot at Adam’s
head."

This was nuts! I put the bow down. "Absolutely
not!" Did they really want me to kill him?

Cate spoke up with a smirk, "I'll do it! I'll shoot
Adam." She beamed with excitement.

Maya's eyes narrowed. "You will be quiet, Cate. Another
word and you'll be joining Aidan." Cate immediately shut her mouth,
looking anything but defeated. I was certain she'd try and hurt me later for
getting reamed in front of the recruits. As if it somehow had been my fault. Maya
turned to face me. "The procedure will enhance certain skill sets,"
she explained. "However, you can't reach them without taking the first
step."

"You're serious?" I couldn't believe what they
were asking me to do. It was ludicrous! This had to be a test. I wasn’t going
to shoot Joshua. I couldn’t!

If it wasn't unsettling enough, I felt Joshua's gaze.
Just
do it.
I heard his voice in my head.
I trust you.

How could he trust me? It wasn’t as though I was shooting at
something beside him! They wanted me to shoot at him. "I don't trust
myself!" I screamed back at Joshua though no one had heard his thoughts, I
didn't care. "I'll kill him!"

Maya frowned. "Your fear is only getting the better of
you. Would you prefer to be disqualified and fail the training?"

I wondered if it meant I'd fail the tests automatically,
too. It seemed that way, with Aidan leaving and Maya threatening to do the same
to Cate. "What about Aidan? He shot an arrow at Adam and you failed him.” I
narrowed my eyes at Maya. “This is a trick.” I wouldn’t fall for her games.

Maya shook her head. “It’s nothing of the sort,” she assured
me. “I could place an apple on his head and have you aim at that if you’d
prefer?”

Was she serious? I stood there mouth agape for a solid
minute without responding. At least if I aimed at the apple there was a tiny
chance it wouldn’t hit Joshua. “I want the apple instead of Joshua,” I
demanded. I could bargain, right?

“You can’t have it all, Jacqueline,” Maya shook her head. “Elsa,
go grab an apple from the cafeteria.” She called to the girl. Elsa jogged off
back into the building while we waited patiently.

My hands visibly shook, and I took a few deep breaths to
settle myself down. I knew if I worked myself up into a frenzy, I’d definitely
do more harm than good.
It’s okay
. I heard Joshua’s voice and glanced up
at him.

This is not okay
.
No part of this is acceptable.
I didn’t care if anyone else heard us or not. Joshua needed to know how I felt
about what they were making me do.

“Got it!” Elsa called running back with a shiny red apple in
her hand. She held it up and tossed it to Maya.

Maya caught it immediately and backed Joshua up a few more
feet. With his back to the haystack she placed the apple atop his head. “You
only get one chance.” Maya reminded me.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I muttered beneath my
breath. I aimed my bow, taking my time, having no idea how I would do this
without marring him. Maybe if I aimed too high it would breeze right over his
head. Maya would be disappointed, but Joshua would be alive and well.

"Aim lower." I heard Maya's voice as I
intentionally positioned the bow higher than his head. I lowered it just
slightly, hoping that would appease her. "Lower," she repeated again,
and I studied where I thought the arrow would go, calculating in my mind the trajectory
it would take.

With a sharp intake of breath,
forgive me,
I gasped
letting the arrow glide past my fingers, certain I was sending him to his
death.

Shocked, the arrow stopped mid-stride, just inches from his
head. It had been aimed directly at the apple, but had failed to reach it.