JADE COLLINS

We passed through lots of corners.

After what seemed like eternity, we finally stepped through a set of white doors and it was like I stepped into another world. This large hall had so many make shift cubicles. I guess so many recruits were brought in with me. I could see makeup artists, designers, hairstylists already working on some recruits. The guard guided me to a station where my pictures were promptly taken. Close up, Profile, Full body shot. It was like I was getting ready for a shoot.

"Come with me", the guard said rather roughly after my pictures had been taken. He directed me to a cubicle where future recruits were having their weights taken. "60kg, NEXT" Boomed the person taking our weights. We were on a queue waiting to be weighed, soon enough it got to my turn "52, NEXT". And I was dragged off to get dressed in a red top and shorts.

After I got changed, I was directed to another station where I saw 2 other recruits seated in red top and shorts. I took the 3rd sit and sat. Immediately I sat down, the hairstylists started dyeing our hair. We all got copper red color. We were later directed to a hall which was more like a gym.... for fighters. "Hmmph" I involuntarily coughed out after I was pushed towards a trainer.

The trainer told me to stretch my body to warm up for the task I had infront of me........

The guard had to literally dump me in my cell or room or whatever you would call it. I was so exhausted. Don't even ask me what I was put through. I vaguely heard sniggers and chuckles from Black and Silver.

"How did it go Princes- no, Red" Silver corrected himself.

I gave him a reluctant grunt in reply, rolling my eyes and turning away to block out Black and Silver's taunts.

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My training went on with the same pattern for a week and to say it was exhausting would be an understatement. I overheard my trainer speaking to Sam on the day he decided to pay the recruits in training rare visits to see how we were doing.

"She's underweight Sam. A little stronger than she looks but put her up with her fellow recruits, she's going to get smashed"

Sam gave my trainer one of his scary smiles.

"You don't have to be extremely strong to win a match Doug. I believe Red is my most promising recruit yet. I hope she doesn't let me down. And if she does..... oh well." He turned to look over at me, I mistakenly punched my speed bag and it bounced bag angrily on my face, my eye specifically. I obviously hobbled in pain cradling my eye. My trainer quickly gave me an ice pack.

"Tut tut tut. You really need to try harder recruit" Doug said.

I looked up and saw Sam at another training station nodding at another recruit training. Strangely, I felt a strong pang in my chest and I wanted him to be impressed at me too.

Ughhh, what do they call this thing? Stockholm syndrome?

Whatever. I just want to leave the recruits in training boot camp quarters. I heard that the complete recruits could leave this place anytime. I want to trace my steps back and figure out where I came from. I'm sure my loved ones would be looking for me.

When I got back to my cell or open room as I would like to call it. I noticed Black and Silver were not in theirs. Did they get promoted? My heart did a quick start. Even though I didn't like how Black never went straight to the point with her stories and Silver was always teasing me, they were kind of the first people I got to know when I woke up and they were kind of friends to me.

Maybe it's another motivation for me to work harder so I could meet them in the house. I scrubbed my body and opened the shower allowing cold water rain on my skin. I kept thinking about Silver and Black, wondering whether new training recruits would be put at their cells.

After dressing up in my all red shirt and trouser, I went back to my bed.

"Hey Red, miss me?" I almost got whiplash looking at the owner of the voice.

"Silver, I thought you were gone. Ummm, what happened to your face" I peered at his injuries. I wondered how he was still breathing.

"Don't make me laugh Princess. My stomach took a good plummeting." Silver smiled at my facial expression.

"You didn't think I would leave you alone right? Black won her fight. I lost mine." He said smiling. Even through the smile, I knew he was sad.

"Don't sit up" I said as he was trying to get up, "You have to lie down and rest. And don't worry about the test, we can just take it together and I'm sure you would do great".

"You don't understand do you? You only get 3 chances. I didn't pass the first one and clearly I have failed the second one. And only 3 of the best recruits in training are selected. Imagine getting to the fourth place, I could almost taste it. If I don't get it at my 3rd trial, I become one of the forgotten. I wouldn't have an identity. My color would be stripped off and given to another person. I wouldn't be a real person" Silver started panicking.

"Silver calm down, you would get through this time, I promise." I said. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Silver grunted "I'm happy she got through though, it's what she always wanted".

I didn't say anything because what could I say? I know Silver was happy for Black but it might have been better if both of them crossed over together. I'm sure he was scared of the unknown.

I turned on my bed to face the wall in my cell after I heard snores from a very tired Silver confirming he already fell asleep.

Thinking about how I've fared so far in all my trainings, I don't think I'm actually cut out for this. I really don't want to be left and forgotten in this cell. Looking at the different patterns on my wall, I suddenly felt a deep wave of sadness wash over me and before I knew it, I slept off.

Days turned to weeks, months, and I guess years? We are not allowed to have any contact with the outside world while training to be a recruit so I don't really know how much time has gone. I'm obviously stronger and faster now but we would know for sure once I pass my recruit exam. I weigh 55kg now, so that should count for something.

I have failed 2 exams now and these days, I'm reminded painfully of Silver losing his match in his 3rd and final try. He's getting his colour and identity stripped off tomorrow, after my 3rd and final exam try. I guess Sam didn't want to stress manpower so he decided to have the losers that had their final exam last match and the losers who would emerge from their last fight tomorrow strip off their colours together.

I couldn't even face Silver when he hobbled into his cell in defeat. I, having been in a similar situation and knowing how this feels with my final match coming up know that nothing I say right now would make him feel better. And why should he?

Silver worked really hard for this. I watched the fight and saw that his opponent cheated. I don't know how Sam allowed this to happen, I thought he hated cheats.

After a while in silence, Sam comes strolling into the cells. He does this now before every fight after I tried to escape the night before my first fight. Yayy me, I guess.

Apparently, I'm the first recruit in training to do this. 

"Tut tut tut. How are you doing, Red?"

"Better than you actually" I replied.

"At least I didn't look away while someone cheated an upcoming recruit in the last fight". Sam's irritating smile fell off his puppy face.

"What did you say?" He asked extremely quietly.

Uh oh. Probably Sam truly didn't know and I just accused him.

"I said what did you say?" He looked at me directly clearly waiting for an answer.

"Umm, it was quite obvious Orange cheated Silver in the fight. He snuck out a knife and stabbed Silver." Sam turned fully to me and looked at me for a while before saying "follow me" then walked away.