PRESENT DAY

He huffed and hid behind the tree, his brother not so far away from him but hiding behind the trees across him. They exchanged looks and waited for anything; a sound, footsteps, snapping twigs or even a shift in the air.

Ryker looked in front of him and his eyes hardened. Right there was a soldier crouched behind a bush with his back to him. He wasted no time, raised his Glock and pulled the trigger, causing the rubber bullet to shoot through the air and strike the target on his back; hitting his armor.

The man was jerked forward a bit by the force of the close range shot. Before he could turn and give away Ryker's location, Ryker crouched to the ground and hid behind the tall thick plants that were right in front of him. The man's eyes scanned the area but caught no one and he frowned.

"Where in the world-" he began.

"Agent Wellington, you have been eliminated, please report back to the base." A monotonous voice said, ringing through the silent air.

The soldier grunted and got on his feet, walking away. Ryker stayed hidden behind the plants, cautious of lingering eyes that scanned the spot for the shooter which was him.

There were two teams left. Gunner's team, and Kace's team. In each team, there were three soldiers. Gunner's team was still intact while Kace's team only had two members left.

They were currently in the recently opened training section. It was last team standing and the task seemed harder now that there was less people.

Suddenly a grunt was heard somewhere in the background, followed by another right after what seemed to be two gunshots fired at the exact same time. Ryker looked up at the screen on the wall above them. One of his teammate was down as well as the other teammate in Kace's team.

"Agents Jax and Hryke, you have been eliminated, please report back to the base."

Just as the voice finished, Ryker was tackled to the ground by a huge mass tackling him to the ground. He let out a grunt due to the force his head had hit the hard ground. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his attacker.

Kace stood over him, his lips turned down into a scowl as he picked up Ryker's Glock.

"Pathetic." he said and clicked off the safety.

Ryker gritted his teeth and brought his leg up, kicking the gun from the unsuspecting soldier's hand then flung himself at him tackling him to the ground and landing a punch on his face as well as another, the sound of cracking bone satisfying him; driving him to crave for more.

Kace groaned before he acted and brought his arm back then swung it at Ryker's jaw, momentarily catching him off guard. Taking the opportunity, he shifted and turned them around so he got the upper hand and was about to swing a hook at him when there was a gunshot followed by a sharp piercing pain of the rubber bullet hitting the side of his neck.

"Agent Kace you have been eliminated, please report back to the base."

He looked to the right where the shot had come from and gritted his teeth as Gunner rose on his feet, a sniper held in his hand. He looked back at Ryker who meet his gaze with his one blank one and swing his fist which was still in the air at Ryker.

It however never reached the desired target as Ryker blocked it with his left forearm and swung his right fist on the guy's jaw causing him to swing off him and drop on his left, grunting in pain. Gunner was in front of his brother in no time and extended his arm to help him up.

Ryker dusted off his shorts before he turned back to Kace, a blank look on his face as he struggled to get up. Blood oozed from his nose and he had a huge bruise on his jaw.

Ryker gritted his teeth, keeping his gaze fixed on Agent Kace with Gunner shifting his gun from his right hand to his left one, flicking the safety back on.

"Good work, soldiers, you are the top three survivors. Report back to base." A voice suddenly said, cutting through the tension in the air.

Ryker huffed and picked up his gun. Gunner's eyes hardened as he glared at Kace the second his lips parted.

"Aw, your big brother had to jump in to save you, how sweet." he said, trying to get on Ryker's nerves.

"Enough, Kace." Gunner said, sticking up to his brother who was silently watching the man bleeding on the ground.

"What? Little Ry can't speak for himself." Kace said, smirking, "oh that's right, he doesn't even know who he is-."

The soldier never got to finish what he said because Ryker suddenly lifted his gun and took a shot at Kace, aiming right for his already busted up nose, a hard look on his face. That was all he got to do before Gunner put a hand on his chest to stop him from doing anything else.

How he wished it was an actual bullet instead of a rubber one. Gunner had a massive scowl of his own on his face as he stood between Ryker and Kace, staring into his brother's eyes.

Don't, they're watching us Ryker, it's a test

Gunner said after peering into Ryker's mind. Mind-linking was the only thing they had for themselves. Not even the council knew about it. Ryker gritted his teeth and looked away, back at the man on the ground who was grinning sardonically completely unconcerned by the blood oozing down his nose. He looked back at Gunner before he licked his lips and walked off saying nothing.

Ryker's barely spoken ever since that day in the council's office. He was quieter than he had been before, something Gunner was told by his fellow soldiers. He frowned and watched him walk away.

"Help me up, partner." Kace's voice said as he actually had the audacity to chuckle.

Gunner's eyebrows creases and he turned to face him. He lifted the gun, flicked off the safety and pulled the trigger. Kace cried in pain clutching his shoulder as he glared up at him. Gunner watched him wither in the multiple pain he was going through.

He had made such to fire at his left shoulder; a weakness of his that only Gunner knew about. The impact of the bullet was meant to be painful, having the same impact as that of a real one but it doesn't penetrate the skin. He licked his lips and turned, leaving him withering and cursing behind him.

He followed Ryker, his eyes cast on the ground. Something happened in that office because he can't seem to remember anything from before that day. He gritted his teeth and stepped out of the section and into the base.

It was an open area with tents here and there. Some had weapons fixed with rubber bullets, armor, uniforms and others had first - aiders waiting for any injured soldier to come their way.

He scanned the area for Ryker, spotting his dyed black hair seated in an empty tent as far away from the others. He approached him and took a seat beside him before gazing ahead at the open space in front of them, it stretched for approximately 200 km where a massive metal fence restricted them from the outside world; if there was any.

Hell, one could see the fence from all the way to where they sat because of how high it stood.

Gunner frowned, finding himself in a situation where he wondered what lays beyond that fence. What was out there? Was this really the only place where there was life as they'd been told by the council? Where did they even come from? Did they have a family?

"Frustrating isn't it." Ryker said so low, Gunner almost missed it.

"The more you think about it, the more questions you have." he continued turning his head towards his brother who looked back out onto the open.

"I feel like I have the answers, like they are right on the tip of my tongue. I think-."

"All soldiers report back to the Centre please. Your training is done for the day,"

"This feels wrong, Gunner." Ryker said, his eyes rocking left and right as he gazed out at the open, "there has to be something out there." He paused and snapped his gaze back towards Gunner.

I can feel it.

Gunner nodded, believing him, partly because he did and partly because he can feel it too.

"Let's head back." He said and they both got up.

They took off their armor which consisted of a chest and back pad made out of metal to minimize the force of the rubber bullets as when as helmets.

Now clad in only black boots, a black tank top and military shorts, the two made their way out through an automatic gate. Seeing as they were the last ones out, the metal plates drew together and clashed noisily as soon as they stepped out before a thick long horizontal metal piece dropped in the middle of the gate.

The brothers paid little attention to it as they walked on. Or at least, it seemed they did but in reality, they took in every single little detail they can about this place in general, completely convinced that something was going on; that something didn't feel right.

🔱🔱🔱

"Alright, so we scouted around this part of the Centre and there was still no sign of a way in, or out. Our source from the inside says that the council will open up a new section for Apex training that will lead to them choosing new soldiers who will strictly be in charge of finding and recruiting more 'unique beings' into the Centre," Glaze said, leaning over a map spread on the table in front of them.

"So that means we have to work twice as hard to get more people on our side." Ditrix said.

"Exactly, we-." Glaze begun,

"What about Gunner and Ryker, Glaze. Are they still-?" Ziera chipped in, concern written all over her face.

Glaze, Faby, Ditrix and Dragha frowned, their eyes narrowed.

"They joined the Apex soldiers Ziera," Dragha begun, "you can't seriously think they're still on our side."

"But he was always so scornful of the group, it's not like him to-."Ziera continued, now speaking about Ryker specifically.

"I guess its true what the humans say then, people change." Faby said, gritting his teeth.

"How can you say that?" Secile suddenly boomed, her eyes shining with rage, "-he sacrificed himself for us! If anything you should owe him your lives."

There was a long chilling silence before she broke the silence herself,

"What did the source tell you about them?"

Everyone turned to Glaze who's face scrunched up as he tried to remember,

"He said that they seem off. They're more guarded than usual. Talk to no one but themselves and that, one day they're frowning and glaring at everyone like they usually would then the next they're blank as ever, as if they-" he stopped and looked up, "-as if they've forgotten themselves."

There was another wave of silence was everyone processed what he just said. It didn't make any sense.

"But why would they join-." Dragha begun, trailing off before he shook his head.

"I guess they weren't who we thought they were from the beginning?" Faby asked, not even sure himself.

"But then, why would they help us escape?" Ditrix asked, a frown on his face as he licked his lips; an action that reminded them painfully of Ryker.

A lump formed in their chests but Glaze was quick enough to change the subject,

"Anyway, our guy said he'll give us information on who'll be assigned to the recruiting department in two days. In the meantime, we need to get to more people before they do."

They nodded and he picked up the map of the Centre -something that Gunner was freely willing to get for him and dismissed them back to wherever they would go. Ziera stayed behind the dining room where they had all gathered, her eyes sunken look on her face. So sunken that it made Glaze's almost non-existent heart clench painfully across his half-mechanic chest.

"What troubles you, Ziera?" He said, almost literally sounding like Ryker.

It seems they all picked something from his cold, quiet demise.

"I'm worried about-."

"Ryker?"

"Not just him, Glaze. Gunner, you," she stopped but only to lift her head, "all of us."

"Sometimes, Ziera, you have to just live with the moment and worry about the consequences later. You can't always live wondering about the -what ifs,"

She eyed him suspiciously," Where'd you get that from?"

Glaze smirked, "How-to-be-a-great-leader.com." He said adding a wink for effect.

She shook her head, "Funny,"

Glaze tilted his head back and let out a chuckle causing Ziera to grin.

"But really, don't worry, Zee. We'll make up a plan as we go on,"

"What about them Glaze," she somewhat asked, watching him carefully, knowing that if he'd lie she would know.

Glaze let out a sigh and looked over her shoulder making sure none of the others were within ear shot.

"There's a chance they'll be in the recruiting department. We could get to them easily if they're free to roam outside the Centre," he said and watched as hope shone in Ziera's pitch black eyes.

"I'm not sure if I was meant to hear that or not," A deep voice said from behind them.

Glaze let out a groan and looked at Ditrix who was casually sprawled on the couch, his arms behind his head as he laid facing away from them.

"You weren't, Ditrix," Glaze said, cursing himself for forgetting about his enhanced hearing abilities.

"Why not tell the others, G?" He asked, not at all moving from him relaxed position. He probably had his eyes closed.

"I plan to," Glaze paused, walking past Ziera with the map tucked under his arm," when I'm sure they made the department,"

Ditrix said nothing more as he listened to Glaze slow footsteps walk up the stairs to his room followed by the soft thud of his bedroom door. He let out a sigh and opened his eyes and stared up at the white ceiling, hearing Ziera's footsteps drawing closer towards him.

"Something troubles him." She said and he sat up, not bothering to look at her but at the black screen of the TV.

"Well, if anyone can talk to him, it's you." He said, his jaw working.

Ziera frowned at the action but decided to pay not head to it. She stayed quiet, knowing that silence was heaven to Ditrix. He lived in silence as it was such irony to him. How in the day time he get tortured by the different kinds of noises from almost 15 km away.

Of course he's learned to control it and tune out the least important ones but he still can't help but over hear conversations from people close to any room he's in. Ziera could tell he keeps many secrets to himself. Secrets that he isn't even meant to hold, that have nothing to do with him and he with them but has no choice but to listen.

It must drive him mad.

But does he know about her and her feelings for Ryker, what exactly has he heard that had to do with her? Does he think lowly of her for liking him? Has he told-?

"Your heart is racing, Ziera." His deep voice suddenly said, breaking the silence.

She pursed her lips and looked away from his side profile, frowning.

"Have you told any-?"

"No. It's not my place to tell. I was never meant to hear it anyway." He said, remembering the day Ryker sacrificed himself for them and the confession she said to him.

"Thank you," was all she could think of saying.

Ditrix only clenched his jaw and got on his feet, licking his lips sub-consciously.

"We'll get him back Ditrix."

"It's not him I'm worried about." He said, his maroon eyes searching hers before he forced himself to look away,

"Goodnight." He added, before he walked away with a heavy heart and as he climbed up the stairs to his room.

He flopped on his bed and stared into the dark, knowing that he couldn't have that one thing that he dreamed about having for so long.

He shut his eyes and forced himself to sleep.

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