The Beginning

The morning mist gave the world an unearthly edge; almost like the calm before a storm.  I was sprinting through the fog, feeling the familiar thrum of my heart as the soles of my shoes pounded into the track. 

I'd begun track running when I was nine, a determined child preparing herself to take on the world.  It gave me an advantage when the others in my school group were forced to begin physical training a year later. 

It didn't last long; the others quickly showed they were better at every sport.  The years on my own without a constant supply of food crippled my muscles and forbid me from much physical exertion.  But I still ran on. 

While the others in my group were allowed onto other more daunting tasks, such as learning to dodge bullets, jumping from airplanes, or hand to hand combat, I stayed at the running track.  Perhaps that was why I was chosen as a simple recruiter, instead of an agent.  But I didn't know that yet.

I paused in my running, jogging in place as I timed my pulse.  157 heartbeats a minute.  I shook my head, checking my watch to see how long I'd run.  I could do better, I decided, frowning. 

So I pushed myself harder, my legs aching and my lungs screaming for air. 

"Shorty!  Hold it, Eris, you know your rules.  You're only allowed to run seventeen miles before I'm supposed to make you take a break.  Sit down kiddo," my trainer demanded, stepping out on the track to stop me. I glared at him, trying to pant my protests out. 

"I've...only run...three hours...need to continue!"

"Sorry Shortstop, back to the bench." He handed me a bottle of water.  I snatched it away and drank like I was dying of thirst. 

"Gabe, I hate you," I growled bluntly once the water was gone.  

"Right back at you Sweetheart.  You better get to class, Eris."  Gabe gave me a push to the benches where my bag was dumped.  Sighing, I scooped it up and punched him in the arm, our usual goodbye.  I slouched off, heading to the classrooms for my daily training. 

How do I describe Gabe?  Well first off, he's probably my only friend.  He's been my trainer from the beginning, pushing me to new levels, seeing when I start to crack and making me stronger because of it.  He's tall, about 6 and a half feet with blond hair and dark eyes.  He enjoys teasing me, baseball, and watching Netflix.  Gabe isn't really older than me; he's probably only in his early twenties, but because of his height, he draws too much attention, making him unfit for most jobs our agency has to offer.  So he's content with babysitting me.  

I waved over my shoulder and he smiled back at me before I slipped into the building where my classes are located.  

"Hey kid, you lost? Oh wait, it's just little Eris!" The "cool guys" teased.  Ok, me being average is an over-statement.  Compared to everyone else, I'm pathetically small.  To the outside world, I'm probably normal height, but here...I'm a midget. 

I'm not popular, but I'm not a complete outcast. After all, I've been here over six years - longer then most. But I do have a personal trainer and I've also been excluded from those other, more physical activities.

I glared at the snickering boys in annoyance before dodging through the crowd.  I found my first class and pressed my thumb to the scanner, like I did every day.  I waited a few seconds...then a few seconds more.  Someone in my class shouted at me to hurry up so they could get in.  Face burning with embarrassment and anger, I slammed my fist into the scanner, trying to make it work. 

A girl shoved me out of the way and scanned her own thumb, then turned to stare at me with a mixture of curiosity and confusion as the door slid open.  "Eris's been dumped!" one of the girls giggled. 

My stomach instantly became a nest of butterflies, nervous to the extreme.  What if the agency had decided to let me go?  Then I shook my head, knocking the images of living on the street again out of my head. 

"I've just been switched to a different class.  I forgot to check my schedule this morning because it's always the same anyways," I protested, tapping my watch to bring up my schedule.   Then I frowned.  There was nothing on the list except this:

MEETING - Report to Commander

I quickly turned away so no one saw and sprinted through the hall.  Taunting echoed behind me, but I barely acknowledged it.  All through my life at the institution, I'd only met the Commander once, when I was first brought here. 

I don't remember much about him, except his strange curiosity.  He stared at me like he'd never seen a child before, muttering to himself, "She's not crying? Why isn't she scared?  What's wrong with her?" I stuck my tongue out at him, annoyed by his words.  Who did he think I was, a baby?

Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect.  A few moments later I was striding up to the offices building, where most trainers work and live.  Some full time agents do their research here too, before heading out to catch the villain. 

I hesitated before entering, wondering what the Commander wanted to say.  Was I going to be dumped out on the streets? I couldn't be sure. 

"Eris!"

"Gabe!" I shouted, twisting around.

"What are you doing here?  Did the top dog ask you to come too?" he questioned, and I nodded quickly. 

"It was on my schedule.  What do you think's happened? Am I in trouble?"

"I don't know kiddo.  Let's not keep him waiting though."

Together we entered the building and Gabe led me up the stairs to the Commander's office.  Putting a finger to his lips to show I shouldn't talk, Gabe opened the door. 

A huge man, taller than Gabe, sat stone faced in his chair.  He greeted me with a nod, completely devoid of emotion. 

"Eristina Samantha Coyle...I presume?" He asked.  I flinched at my full name, hoping no one from my classes would hear, even though they were far away.  If they ever found out my full name, I'd never hear the end of it.  I nodded sharply. 

Gabe stood silently beside me, but his hands were curled slightly, letting me know he'd fight on my side if it came to that. 

"You've been assigned a year early.  A Recruiter.  Congratulations.  You will leave to another institution tonight, and you'll be attending a school tomorrow morning.  Here are your first targets.  They're smart and strong, so it'll be easy to gain their trust."  The Commander slid a file across his desk to me. 

"But-!" I protested before I was cut off.  

"You will speak to no one about this.  Head to your dorm and prepare to leave.  You'll be collected this afternoon and transported to the institution."

"Sir...me?" Gabe asked, speaking his first words. 

"You were the girl's trainer.  You have been released from this duty.  Your new assignment is due to arrive soon.  Good day to you both."

"No!" I protested.  "If Gabe doesn't come with me, then I'm not going!"

"That is not your decision.  If you choose to walk away from this mission, then you are walking away from this life.  We will withdrawal our protection, our help, our care. Plainly, we will kill you.  You may not know it, but many want you dead."

"I don't care, it's Gabe or me.  Who do you want most?" I demanded.  The Commander stared coolly back at me, his gray green eyes reveling nothing. 

"Remove her," he spoke simply.  Someone grabbed me from behind held me in place as I fought and yelled.  I felt the familiar prick of a needle on the vein in my neck.

"No..." I sighed as my eyes began to close. Gabe was the thing I saw before my world faded away.

Ok thanks for reading my horrible story! It's really bad because I haven't had much time to edit it. Just letting you know now that I won't be able to write the next few days; I'm really behind on my homework. Soooo yeah! See ya!