Kenai P.O.V.

"Kenai?" A soft voice whispered from below me, "Are you awake?" I rolled over and peered over the edge of the bed to look at the boy below me, "I am now. Why?" "I'm scared. I don't wanna kill anyone." "It's either you kill them or the boss kills you. I've learned that the hard way kid." I replied rolling back over onto the bed. "Why do they do this? Why use kids?" "I guess we're easier to mold." I sighed "The younger we are when we're taken, the easier it is to mold us into what they want." "Is that why.....the others..." "Yeah." I cut across the kid "That's why the others are so emotionless. Emotions get you killed in this sort of work." "Oh." "Now get some sleep. We'll get our targets tomorrow." Laying on my back, I listened to the kid go quiet and eventually fall asleep. Starring up at the sky, I sighed and closed my eyes. 

Flashes of smoke, fire and screams echoed through my mind, as I bolted upright. "Chill. The boss isn't here with the target info yet." A chippy voice came from beside me. Glancing over I looked at the man who was the closest thing to a friend I had. "Shut it Charlie. It was just a nightmare." "The same one?" He asked softly "The burning village?" "Yeah. I don't know what it means though." "Maybe you'll find out one day." "Maybe, now what's for breakfast?" "Same as everyday. Stale bread or rotten eggs, your choice?" Never mind." I shook my head and climbed out of the bed. After getting dressed, I followed Charlie out of the room and into the commons. 

Looking around I sighed "Seems like they weeded out some more people." Charlie glanced around as well and then shook his head. "It still seems strange to me." I knew what he meant. Neither of us were all that buff but we were still standing. "It seems that those getting through are becoming less and less." "I'm not surprised. With the panic going around about kids being kidnapped, mothers must be hiding the children." "C'mon man, we both know why so little are getting through. They end up trying to escape or committing suicide." Charlie countered "I wish they'd just stop this. I want to go home." "So do I." I gave a sad smile "There's only one problem with that, almost none of us remember what or who we actually are. Much less where we come from and where home actually is." "I'm sorry." Charlie sighed sadly "It just hurts." I nodded.

Loud footsteps sounded from outside the room. "Boss is here." I moved to stand against the wall with Charlie and watched as the leaders of this group entered the room. "Now, listen up, I have 10 targets here. I only need 10 of you here. Those who come back from this will become part of the family and leave this room, those who fail or don't come back with a success, well, don't come back at all. Those of you who aren't chosen, well.....we have no use for you anymore." He laughed as several kids flinched, trembled and cried. "Now, I'm gonna name off the kids I need and what assignment goes to who." "The Boss needs the following people, Christian Stone, Alex Drake, Charlie North, Ryker Jones, Lukas Wolf, Asher James, Caiden James, Peter Matthews, Caspian Long, and Kenai Storm.

"Charlie North, you're target is Captain James Gray, captain of the First Regiment. Ryker Jones, you're target is Quinn Samina, governess of Alta. Alex Drake, you're target is Alina Saps, the  owner of the local brothel. Christian Stone, you're target is Commander Eric Lass, Commander of the 2nd Regiment. Lukas Wolf, you're target is Sammy and Jessica Andrews, twins from Sandy Village. Asher and Caiden James, you're targets are the duel commanders of the Private Imperial guards. Peter Matthews, you're target is The Soul, the enemy leading unit. Caspian Long, you're target is Hallie Morgan, daughter of Governor Morgan. Kenai Storm, you're target is Daren and Farlen, rebel commanders and the base of our enemies. Those who were named may leave for their missions now." 

I walked out of the room with Charlie. We headed down the hallway, when loud gunshots broke through the air behind us. Horrified screams and sounds of pleading plagued our ears as we both hurried down the rest of the hallway.