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“That would be Annabelle,” I confirm.
“Right, thanks.” He replies, “Well, we saw her, and we freaked out. We went the opposite way to her to try and avoid her, but you can see for yourself how that went.”
“So, you have no ideas on where we could be?” I ask.
“No, unfortunately. We got here not long before you did, and they haven’t turned on the lights this whole time, so we don’t even know what the room looks like. All we’ve heard are whispers of a place called the DDO,” beside me, Tyler inhales so deeply that I wonder if he is beginning to suffocate.
“DDO boot camp,” Tyler stammers. His voice is a brick, solid and plain; just like when we first saw Anabelle. I wonder if this has something to do with his past, the one thing that he would never talk about. “It stands for Discipline for Disobedient Orphans. It’s not a great place.” He sighs, like he knows exactly what goes on in there.
“But we aren’t orphans.” Aubrey questions, “well not all of us.”
“It was originally for orphans, but more recently they’ve opened it up so that anyone can go.” Tyler answers, all signs of flirtation gone from his voice, “did they say that all of us were going there?”
“I’m not sure,” replies Mason.
“They never even mentioned anyone else coming in here, did they, Mas?” Aubrey says.
“No, we just thought that it was going to be us.”
Tyler takes a sigh of relief. What really happened to him before he got sent to Calveron? I feel a bit guilty for not wondering more about his past, but I had always just assumed that he got caught here after running away from The Test. That’s what he told me, at least.
“I’m Tyler Dixon by the way,” he says, attempting to bring the normal accent back into his voice. “Nice to meet y’all!”
“Dixon?” Mason wonders.
“Yeah, my sister’s Nya.” I remember him mentioning the name a couple of times on those rare occasions where he would let his confidence slide and tell me pieces of his life in Beast Eye.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Crusoe’s voice is full of sorrow.
“Loss?” Tyler asks, “what do you mean loss?”
“Well, she’s dead, isn’t she?” Hayden’s blunt tone slices through the air like a dagger.
“HAYDEN.” Aubrey yells, “That is so rude. Just because you hate everyone doesn’t mean that you have to-”
“Oh please, blondie, stop trying to act like you’re so nice.” Hayden retorts.
“Guys, stop arguing.” Crusoe interjects but it’s too late.
“Don’t you find it the LEAST bit suspicious that Emerson goes missing, and then we get trapped with a boy who conveniently knows where she is? Don’t you want to know what he’s done to her?”
“I’m sure that it’s just a coincidence,” Aubrey reasons.
“I haven’t done anything to-” I start.
“If you even laid a finger on her and I find out about it, I swear on my life that I will kill you.” His voice is filled with so much hatred that I believe he will really do it.
“Guys,” Mason tries to step in again but this time no one is listening. Hayden is yelling at me, and the clanking of chains tells me that he is probably trying to break free. I hear Crusoe sighing, obviously resigned to his fate. All the while Aubrey is trying to reason for Emerson’s sake, Tyler is hopelessly trying to defend me and explain that his sister isn’t dead, and I am just trying to prove that I don’t mean any harm.
“ATTENTION EVERYONE!” A feminine voice sounds from speakers that must have been planted in the roof. We all fall silent immediately. “It seems that you have already made yourselves well acquainted, so I suppose that introductions aren’t really necessary, but for the sake of formalities,” a click is heard, and the lights flick on. I blink excessively, trying to get my eyes to adjust to the light as quickly as possible. “Welcome to Black Opps.”
Chapter 15 - Hayden Martinez
As soon as the lights come up, I instinctively reach for where my gun should be, ready for a fight. But I forgot that they took away my weapons on sight. It’s a real shame, because as soon as my eyes adjust and I lock eyes with the faces across the room, I desperately want to get out my gun and pull the trigger.
I’m not concerned about Tyler, and my eyes slide past him easily. I’ve heard at least enough about his sister to know that he is no threat.
It’s the other boy that I’m worried about. Because I know he’s going to break Emerson’s heart. He has perfectly messy, sandy blond hair and his dark, brown eyes hold the same intensity as his fathers. As our eyes lock, I see the ruthlessness hidden behind them. Ruthlessness that could tear through the soul and kill thousands without a single doubt crossing his mind.
