Let the Games Begin

I made my way back into the kitchen through the back door. It was still a mess, as I expected Apparently the people listening to me pretty well, there wasn't a single person anywhere near the kitchen, outside or inside. I had to wander around for 10 min before I found the broom closet. Grabbing a broom, a mop and pail, some rags, and soap I turned and made my way back to the kitchen.

First I sweep up the broken glass and sweep it into the pail, picking up scattered pots and pans in the process. I dumped the bucket in a dumpster outside and filled the pail with hot water and soap, then started mopping. I dried up the excess water with a rag and soaked the other one in pure alcohol and cleaned the counters with it.

I left to find someone and let them know the kitchen was open, and the first person I found was the lady who woke me up this morning.

"Oh ma'am! You didn't have any trouble, did you?" She asks, jogging towards me.

"No, it was fine. The kitchen is cleaned now, you can start cooking any time. By the way, I hadn't caught your name. What might your name be?" I say. She blushes and mutters something under her breath.

"What was that?" I say

" Madrid. My name is Madrid miss...?" I takes me a moment to realize she's asking my name, not just waiting for me to tell her what to do.

"Phoenix Gale." I say " Would you happen to know where the people I came here with are?" I ask her. I've decided I'd like to stick by the people I already have been acquainted with, rather than strangers.

"You mean the new transfers? They'll be here soon, so it's best you stay and rest up a little more. you've done a lot to help us." She says as she walks past me. I continue on my way and pass the group of people in the lobby again. They aren't muttering as much now, instead they look at me with curious and quick glances.

Whatever rumors they spread about me CAN'T be good... I think to myself. I start towards the stairs but a hand suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I turn to see who it is and am surprised to find one of the people from the fire grabbing my arm. Their eyes burn with determination, anger, but also thankfulness.

"You saved me last night. I am in your debt." They say and bow. I notice a bulge in their shirt and confirm they are a girl, with more and more androgynous people now you can never be for sure.

"It's ok, really. You don't have to bow and you don't have to be in debt. Just make sure you stay safe." I say and rest a hand on her shoulder. "I do have one question though, if you'd like to help me. Could you tell me why are those people in there looking at me weird?" I asked.

"They believe you are special, that is all I can say. You will know soon enough." She says as she stands up. She has dark brow hair that just touches her ears and curls at crazy angles. Her eyes are a forest green and she's about 5'6.

"What's your name?" I ask her. It's starting to sound like a trivia game on my side of this conversation.

"My name is Chrysanthemum, but you can call me Chrystie." She says "BTW I wouldn't go upstairs yet, the soldiers will be here soon" She says as she walks of.

Not even a few minutes later I hear footsteps coming from the entrance of the building, many heavy footsteps. Pretty soon a few soldiers step into view, followed by the people I came here with, and then more soldiers tailing them. I see Sierra's blond head in the middle of the crowd and I calm down a bit knowing she's alright. Even though I've only known her a short amount of time she's became a sort of familiar face to turn to.

The groups stops when the soldiers in front do. Someone from the front steps forward and I recognize him as the guy who helped us off the hyper-plane. I send a scowl his way, and I think he sees it.

"My name is Head Officer Daniels for those of you who don't know, and these are the new draftees. They will be housed on the first and second floor, except for Phoenix who has already been housed on the third. Now those of you who have been here longest get these newbies housed, and the rest of you clean this place up. " He says. At the end of his speech the soldiers he came with departed and a few people in the group around me stood up and started showing people to their rooms.

"Sierra! " I say as I jog towards her. She spins around just as I grab her shoulders.

"Phoenix! Good god I was so worried last night when you didn't come back! But look at you! Not a single scratch!" She says as she looks up and down my outstretched arms." And why are you on the third floor when I'm stuck below you?!"

"Because last night that was the door I opened first." I say as I walk her towards a paper that was put up on the wall. It showed who's rooms where where, Sierra's was on the second floor room number 234. With a huff she starts up the stairs.

Her room is at the end of the hallway, so we walk in silence for a little while. then she speaks.

"How... How did you do it?" She asks.

"What do you mean?" I say, confused.

"How did you... get the nerves... to just... run in a burning building to save people you don't even know?" She says while flinging her hands around. I can tell she's mad, that much is obvious, but I don't understand why she doesn't get why I had to do it.

"I couldn't save them all, and if that happens again I'll probably save less. Look, can we talk more later? I need some rest." I say hoping that will end the conversation.

"Oh wait, we have to meet with our "Troop Head" in a few. It'll be best to just go back downstairs." She says then disappears into her room.

I make my way downstairs slowly, thinking over what I told her. Next time I'll probably save less. I don't want there to be a next time. There Can't be a next time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once everyone is back in the lobby a chatter rises from the silence and soon breakfast is served. Eggs and oatmeal is brought around and dished out to those with the stomach to eat. I happily take a heaping of oatmeal and an egg. I still get the glances and murmurs every now and then while I eat but it doesn't bother me so much now that my stomach is full.

"Alright breakfast is done, time to report to your Troop Head!" Shouts Madrid as she clangs her spoon against the oatmeal pot. It clicks that she's the "Mother" of the place, waking people up, cooking, scheduling. Yet she lowered herself to me... Just what kind of rumors have been circling?

I find a few of the people I came with and wait with them. Finally an officer walks towards us. He scans over all of us as he walks closer, picking us apart at on glance. However, when he meets my gaze he pauses, whether he is unsure about me or impressed about something I can't tell, all I can pick out is I'm as unreadable as computer binary code in his eyes.

The Troop Head is tall, 6'3, and has light brown hair, and cool grey eyes. He's constantly calculating and adjusting something. His foot stance, his hand positioning, his gaze intensity; all always shifting just a bit. He looks like someone adjusting to a low level intelligence society after coming from a higher up in the world. He turns to walk to the end of our line-up and I see it.

He has a tail.

But no one else is affected by the sight of it, so I put on a mask and hide that I see it. It's not like a scaly dragon tail, nor is it a thin tail like those of demons. It's like a cat's tail. like a jaguars. With each step he takes it sways back and forth, maybe he's moving it of maybe it's just his steps. Maybe it's for balance, isn't that what most cats use their tails for?

"Alright cadets. Today is day one. Everything from your previous life doesn't matter, everything but your name and age. I am Troop Head Sebastian Young, you will call me Young or Officer Young. We will begin your training on day three, two days from now for those of you who can't count." He says with a smirk. Ah, so Kitty Cat does have feeling.

"However, you will need to know how to count and read to pass the examinations. We only pass the top 5 in each class, you will be divided into 3 classes. So, can someone tell me how many people will pass total?" I step forward and look him in the eye.

"15 sir." I say. I step back in line and wait for him to walk over. Just as I expected he does. He doesn't look exactly happy, but that's probably because I just spoke out of turn.

"Right. Who are you Miss?" He asks.

"Phoenix Gale, Sir. " I say enunciating the last word.

" Well Phoenix, Maybe I'll make you class 1 captain. How about... Captain of the Dragons, how does that sound?" He says with a smirk.

"Makes me sound like a high-tempered teen. Lets go with... Captain of the Jaguars." I say, giving him my smirk. He goes pale, and his tail starts swishing faster. I wasn't supposed to say that, but it's too late now.

" How di-" I cut him off by pulling him towards me so I can whisper in his ear. From an outsiders view point it looks like we're having an intimate moment, and hopefully people will pick up on that and leave us alone.

"Not everyone here can be fooled. I want to talk with you once the meeting is over." I say and release him. " Shall we make the classes then?" I ask innocently. I look around at the others and notice my plan worked, for the most part. Some of the others are gawking at my guts, pulling an officer in like that. Others are whispering or looking away, obviously uncomfortable.

" Fine. Sierra and Markus you two will be the other two class leaders Sierra, you'll be the Gila class. Markus you'll be the bears. Jaguars are red, Gilas are brown, and Bears are black. Your rooms have your colors in them already. Meeting dismissed." He says. Everyone files out except the two of us.

" Lets go" I say and start walking towards the kitchen. The lobby is empty, and I can hear both out footsteps echo behind us. I hope he knows where we're going, Don't want to loose him after I've just hooked him.

Now, time to get some answers.

~ Sebastian ~

She knows. How did she see it?

Was your "Glamour" on?

Yes you buffoon, she was the only one who saw after all.

Even so, how are you going to explain this?

I'll tell her the truth. After all, she is the Chosen One, right?