Page 33 of Exordium

Instructor Storm turned to me, “If you yell one more thing, I’ll make her do this course twice, that’s assuming she even makes it out this time.” I nodded at the dick and turned my attention back to Cassandra once more.

Cassandra took a deep breath and started climbing down. The water that had begun slowly sped up considerably and ran down in streams. Her foot slipped; letting out a scream, she scrambled to find another foothold before she lost her grip and fell to the bottom. She was able to get the tip of her toe on the next hold and, slipping and sliding, finally reached the bottom.

I released the breath I had been holding but wanted to start biting my nails when I looked at the next wall. The hand and footholds were spaced so far apart that you had to push off with your foot to get enough height to grab the next handhold. If that wasn’t bad enough, they were positioned where you had to climb the wall in a zigzag pattern. It would take much longer to get to the top of this wall, and upper body strength would come into play.

As Cassandra stepped up to start her climb, water began dripping from the top of this wall, too. Taking a deep breath, she stepped on the first hold; pushing off, she grabbed the next hold and carefully pulled herself up until she could place her foot on the hold to the right, stretching her legs to their limit. Even though she had tied her skirt up, it was still impeding her movements. I heard a crackling noise and looked up. I couldn’tbelieve what I was seeing. The water was slowly freezing into sheets of ice. Looking back at Cassandra, I saw her face lose all color. Fuck! This was crazy, I was scared to see what the Academy threw out next.

“Did you Passives really believe the Academy would make it easy for you?” Instructor Storm laughed. “Emberhold has all kinds of surprises to test your mettle and ensure you’re worthy of being part of a Faction.”

Cassandra had come to a complete halt. She was too terrified to move. This rock wall was probably about 30 feet tall, so she had a way to go. Hearing laughter and jeering coming from the stands, I saw the Bitch Brigade had joined Kristine and Sophie.

“What a fucking idiot. This dumbass hasn’t spent any time training. She needs to fall already and let the next Passive go.” Sophie started laughing loudly, encouraging the other girls to join in. I hoped Instructor Storm would put an end to it.

“You better get moving girl. I don’t think Emberhold will allow you to just hang there like a piece of meat,” His smile looked identical to the Grinch’s after he ruined Christmas. What a taint-licking asshole.

I opened my mouth to encourage Cassandra, but no sound came out. Trying again, it felt like my throat had closed. I turned to look at Instructor Storm, he winked at me. What the fuck? Was he doing this? But how? He wasn’t part of a Faction.

Trying not to panic, I looked up and saw Cassandra had started moving again and made it about halfway. I felt the hold on my voice release and glanced back at Storm, but he wasn’t paying me any attention. Hearing gasps all around me, I looked up just in time to see Cassandra’s holds disappear and her falling swiftly through the air.

Right when she should have hit the ground, the gym floor opened, and Cassandra disappeared through it. What in the fucking, fuck just happened?!

“Well, it seems that Emberhold felt like it was a good time for Cassandra Silt to be initiated,” Oren laughed maliciously. “I have serious doubts that we’ll be seeing her again.”

I saw panic on the faces around me and heard sobbing. A few Passives started running for the doors. Hearing my name yelled, I saw Nathan running in my direction. When he was almost to me, Oren stepped into his path. Nathan started to shove him out of the way, but right before he made contact, he fell onto his back like he had run into a brick wall.

“I guess you’re not as strong as you think you are. You better start working out, or you’ll be following right behind Miss Silt.” Storm smirked.

Nathan looked stunned but flipped from his back to his feet instantly. I was ninety nine percent sure Nathan had never made contact with him, so how had he fallen? Nathan walked up to Oren and reached into his pocket.

I yelled, “Don’t, Nathan, I’m OK. Go back to your group.”

Nathan halted his hand and gazed around Oren. “Are you sure, Reverie? I will slit this asshole’s throat if you need me,” he narrowed his eyes at Storm.

“I’d like to see you fucking try Passive,” Storm smiled in challenge.

“You’re a Passive too motherfucker, and I don’t need special powers to beat your ass,” Nathan gritted his teeth, stepping closer to Storm.

“Try me, boy, I dare you,” Storm was still smiling, but his right eye started twitching. Nathan had that effect on people.

“Yes, I’m sure. Please go.” I begged. Using our connection, I told Nathan,“We must be careful with him. Something's not right."He stared at me for a moment but nodded slightly in agreement. Both twins had walked up behind him and were staring at Oren in confusion. Reluctantly, Nathan turned and walked back to his group.

Zeke and Zane looked at me in concern but when I gave them a nod, they turned and followed Nathan. Of course, Nathan had to turn around and give ShitStorm the finger. I shouldn’t have expected any less.

“Your boyfriend better be glad you talked him into leaving. Any aggression perpetrated against a professor leads to instant expulsion and no chance of becoming Faction.” Storm told me in a bored voice.

Speaking to him with more caution than before, I said, “Nathan is a hothead, but he won’t cause any trouble.” I didn’t know what was going on, but I was determined to find out. Until then, I needed to be careful of antagonizing the dick.

“He better not because I’ll be watching closely. It would be a real shame if I had to report him before his initiation.” Winking at me, he called the next student to the course. The fool thought that Nathan was the threat. He had no idea I was the real danger. As much as my Psycho loved me, I returned those feelings twofold and wouldn’t tolerate any menace directed his way.

The next several Passives made it through the course, barely and not without trauma. These Passives had grown up in the Aurathion culture and had training. When they emerged from the tunnel, some had tears running down their faces, and some were so terrified that they had trouble speaking. But they did make it.

Several found Passives opted to drop out and had returned to their dorms to pack. I’d be surprised if they were allowed to leave that easily after the Council had gone to so much trouble to find them. Emberhold hadn’t taken anyone else to initiation, but each Passive knew it was only a matter of time.

Instructor Storm faced me, “It’s your turn, Hawthorne. I hope you inherited some talent from your famous mother. You’re going to need it.” Letting my temper get the best of me, I flipped him off. I knew he had left me last to build the anticipation andtry to get in my head. “Temper, temper. I’d hate to see you fail spectacularly in front of your boy toys.” He smiled mockingly in the direction of the Moon twins and Nathan. All three had walked closer, the twins looked worried, but Nathan was smiling in anticipation. He knew what I was capable of.

The other two groups had finished with just four Passives failing to complete their obstacle course. It made sense that Instructor ShitStorm would oversee the more difficult one. He was a dick like that.

Staring him dead in the eyes, I started taking off my boots, unstrapping the holster around my ankle containing my knife, and unbuttoning my pants. Other Passives had adjusted their wardrobe, but I was the first to strip down to my skivvies. I didn’t just want to complete the course; I wanted to make it my bitch.

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