The arena has been transformed for my final test. My body is numb as I descend the mission room steps. I don`t remember our morning run and couldn`t eat breakfast. I watched the squad. Their laughter, the fluid way they move together, the respect they have for one another, even when bickering. And their ease in including me, right from the start.

　　I accepted I`d never belong anywhere. I made peace with it. But all morning, watching them, I`ve clutched at my stomach to squeeze away this unfamiliar emptiness that has nothing to do with skipping breakfast.

　　The final test is a live combat exercise with only the captain and I. It`s her assessment time with me. Completing the mission objective is not an automatic pass. I can still fail based off the squad`s scores from the mission room and what the captain observes in the field.

　　I wasn`t told what the squad will be grading but a failed mission objective and insubordination should be enough to send me home. The squad prides itself on team work and having a 100% success rate. I blow out a queasy breath with what I have to do.

　　I meet the captain by the load out carts. The simulated Mist atmosphere seeps out from under the arena doors and my powers flare anticipating a fight. The demons must already be loose inside.

　　The captain straps on her side arm. I dig a fist into my sternum at the building pressure inside. My powers are overriding her calming effect in the face of a demon threat. Which is a relief at least. But I can`t use them during this test. I`m being tracked with high tech equipment and observed from all angles.

　　"Good morning." I stand a little taller and turn to see Dr. Quinn waving me over. "What an exciting day."

　　 He`s like a live wire, bouncing in place. He places a hand on each of my shoulders before giving me a shake.

　　"All your equipment is on the cart. Better get ready." He pats me once and rushes off to a group of technicians.

　　I start strapping on my gear. I insert my com last and right away, Iva`s in my ear.

　　"You ready for this Oren?"

　　"Check, ready."

　　"Oren, check?" The captain tests our connection.

　　"Loud and clear, captain."

　　"Let`s move out."

　　I jog over to her side as the techs open the arena doors. A wall of fog greets us. It`s built up to the captain`s head.

　　"We`re jumping right in." She says and pulls her goggles over her eyes.

　　I do the same and wait for her command.

　　"You follow my lead." Her calm, sure voice sounds through my comm link as she surveys the arena around us and the doors seal us in.

　　"How many targets?"

　　I glide my feet soundlessly a step behind her. A soft squeak rings out from somewhere above followed by the stench of sulfur. I push some power into my sight and press the button on the side of my goggles when bright blue flashes through my eyes.

　　"I don`t know."

　　I speed up next to her not sure I heard correctly. She`s still surveying the arena. Her head and eyes never stopping. She slides her feet forward. Feeling the terrain before adding weight. I fall back into position and follow as she leads us towards a crop of trees on the right.

　　"You don`t know?" I whisper as I crouch beside her against the trees.

　　"Nope." She pops her p` like the twins.

　　The air swirls several yards ahead. Looks like a couple of Flick demons are teleporting around the arena.

　　"The mission is to trap the Blaze herd." She stands up. "So, there must be Blaze demons."

　　She smiles down at me and I can`t help narrow my eyes at her humor. She`s on the move again, around the trees and advancing. I inhale a deep breath. Ethanol floats around us. She`s on a direct path to the herd. But something else is up ahead.

　　A pulling sensation grows in my chest and the hair on my arms stand. It`s similar to the Rex demon from the lab. But they wouldn`t risk him for a training exercise. I shake my arms out. My abilities have been suppressed too long. I catch up to the captain`s slow deliberate steps.Stolen novel; please report.

　　"Do you really think taking out the herd before securing the Flicks is the way to go?"

　　She doesn`t stop but her step stalls at my question.

　　"How do you know there`s a Flick?" She squeezes behind a rock formation leaving some space for me.

　　"We always have Blaze and Flick demons in live combat." I answer, patting myself on the back for my quick thinking.

　　She eyes me hard. The air current shifts across the back of my neck. A Flick is close. Her eyes shift to check behind me but it`s moved on.

　　"Unless we have visible confirmation of a threat, we stick to tracking our mission objective and only our objective." She proceeds to the next tree line.

　　"But, if there are Flicks, visual confirmation only happens when they`re close enough to kill. Why not prepare to take them out before we`re faced with multiple enemies?"

　　I`m questioning too much, being argumentative with a direct command, in the middle of combat. I can`t count on failing the objective to get me sent home. I have to show I`m a risk not an asset.

　　"Yes, the odds and previous exercises indicate a high probability of Flick demons being present. But as you so helpfully pointed out, we can`t exactly track them to take them out. So, we proceed with the objective, in radio silence."

　　Her shoulders rise high with a deep inhale before resuming her path. I follow but make my steps loud this time. She grunts whenever I snap a branch or clear my throat. Her head turns back to me, eyes glaring green. My plan is working. She`s more focused on me than the surroundings.

　　"What other signs would identify targets when we don`t have visible confirmation?" I ask while I have her attention.

　　"You`re asking great questions at the worst time, warrior. Chatter outside of mission details or instructions is distracting to your team." Her sigh is not audible through the comm but I pick it up.

　　"Don`t you think it`s important for me to be up to speed with your strategy?" I want to keep her on edge, but she ignores me this time.

　　We make our way across the arena and my senses catch the unknown demon from before. It`s stationed high in the rafters, moving with us from above. The air shifts a few feet behind me. The Flick demons are moving in.

　　A pulling sensation hits me hard and my steps stutter kicking up dirt. An invisible force beckons me forward and I have to reach out to grab the nearest tree to steady myself. I push power into my legs for reinforcement.

　　"How does Kane have the speed and stealth to disappear and reappear right before your eyes?" The captain`s question gives me something to focus on, something to break the unseen force.

　　"How does Addy channel all her spontaneous energy into pinpointing an enemy`s location in under five minutes?"

　　Now she`s asking questions instead of answering mine. These are the questions I`ve been plagued with since I got here. All my training and all my spying hasn`t gotten me closer to an answer.

　　"Warrior, I suspect you see, hear, and understand things to a degree we lack." Her voice is soft and steady as she takes an incline at an impressive clip. "And like each of your squad mates, it`s indecipherable to comprehend how."

　　She stops under a canopy of heavy branches and pulls out the traps from her bag. "Why is that?"

　　The chuffing of the Blaze herd sounds from the next clearing. They`re still against the doors from the lab where they entered.

　　"You take the far side." She hands me two traps and lays two more on the ground in front of her.

　　 "Why?"

　　"It`s an order, that`s why." She huffs and turns her back to me.

　　"No, I mean why can the squad do what they do?"

　　We have Flicks teleporting close, a herd to trap, and a test to fail, but I`m about to get the answers I`ve been looking for. Is the squad like me? It`s a stupid thought, one I haven`t dared to dwell on. One I keep circling back to.

　　Because it`s the only answer I want. I want her to tell me I`m not the only one with freak abilities. I want her to tell me there`s a place with people like me. I want her to tell me I`m not alone. Even though it`s not true. I can`t move without hearing her answer.

　　She secures her pack to her back and turns to look at me. I don`t mask myself. Her breath releases slow through her nose, taking in whatever I`m showing her.

　　I stand longer than I should but I`m on a precipice. I could go either way with what she says next. I could succeed, pass this test, and stay in Centrum. Stay with warriors that have unique abilities, maybe not like me, but different from others. Or I could go home to learn the truth about my family and keep my powers hidden and safe from others on my own, alone.

　　"The same way you became the best graduate. Being different, in this world, is death or banishment. But what happens when you`re the irritating spec of dirt the oyster can`t spit out. The more they try to bury what doesn`t belong, the harder, more priceless it becomes."

　　Her eyes dart behind mine. She`s caught the shimmer of a Flick teleporting.

　　"Move warrior, into position."

　　And that`s it, she`s not giving me anymore. A hollow wave rolls through my insides as I leave her and move out silently to the other side of the herd. I approach the herd through the trees, careful about my speed.

　　The captain`s steady heartbeat moves further and further away and something new alerts my senses. The air is static, electric, vibrating. A high-pitched frequency starts to hum above me. The herd kicks up dust as they scramble around each other in reaction to the hum.

　　"Move in slow and set your traps." The captain commands.

　　My eyes can`t fix on her position. She`s no longer by her traps where I left her. But her voice is sure through my comm, so I move as instructed.

　　I place my traps to align opposite of hers. The Blaze demons will be contained to this area against the wall behind the trap`s barrier. The mission objective is almost complete. Only thing to do is turn them on. I could damage my traps. A simple squeeze with my enhanced strength and they`ll be useless.

　　"Activate your traps in three, two . . ."

　　Wait, did she say one?

　　"Captain, say again?"

　　Heavy static replies through the comm as two Flick demons appear in her last position.

　　"Captain?"