Page 9 of Failed State

“There are rules here. Everyone has to follow them,” she presses as I open the bread bag and sigh in relief when it’s edible.

Gritting my teeth as she moves closer, I concentrate on getting a portion of meat on the bread, then dressing it up with the condiments and veggies. I’m not used to someone bugging me and if she behaves like this with others, she’ll be the pariah of this place quickly. “I didn’t break any of the rules and if I had,you wouldn’t be in charge of enforcing them. Get your nose out of my business.”

“You aren’t very friendly. The other girls told me about you, loner girl. You snub everyone but those boys. You’re probably fucking them, right?”

For fuck’s sake. I am running out of patience.

“Look, whoever you are. What and who I do are also none of your goddamn beeswax. I just want to eat and study. It wasn’t a great day, which I guess is why you’re pestering me.” Putting my sandwich on my paper towel, I walk to the fridge and get the water, pouring myself a glass. “Find another punching bag to take your fears out on. Today is not the day and I amnevergoing to be the one for you to screw with.”

Her mouth drops open and I smirk at her as I walk away.

Dogs aren’t the only ones who bite when cornered.

I lock myself in my room with my food, not wanting any surprise visitors. This announcement is drawing all the dickfaces out of the woodwork and though my stay here has been pretty drama-free, the addition of new faces to round out the teams may change that. Dropping onto the bed, I wiggle until I get comfortable and finally take a bite of my dinner. It’s not great, but it’s been four years since I’ve had anything actually tasty.

Even your taste buds adapt eventually.

Eating quietly, I close my eyes and let the stress of the day flitter away. This bullshit would be easier if I had a damn clue what the hell my mom was, but Dad insisted it wasn’t important. We’d deal with it if I ever manifested anything from her, he always said. But I only gained magic, like him, and none of itwas very powerful. The collar isn’t keeping me from doing much, though its presence irks the fuck out of me.

Once I’m done, I clean up the trash, making sure it goes down the chute in the hall fully. People who don’t keep their rooms tidy get rats or bugs pretty quickly and no one from the management gives a shit. You’re on your own getting rid of them, and no one has the extra money unless they’re doing something I want no part of. Having spare cash is reserved for the orphans who do illegal or questionable things to get it, and again… no, thanks.

My luck would be that I’d get caught and sold in some stupid human market.

The door shuts behind me and I turn the lock again, then walk over to grab my textbooks. I have a few hours before they shut the lights off in my building and I need to get this damn studying in. I know they said they were going to change up our schedules, but I don’t believe a thing the people in charge say anymore. They lie, they steal, and they have zero regard for our lives—this challenge proves that.

They’re not going to catch me unprepared—not ever.

The loud klaxon announcing it’s time to wake startles me out of a dream. I can’t remember what it was when my eyes are open and I frown. I hate that; it happens all the time and every time, I try harder to figure out what my mind was doing while I slept. It’s always just out of reach, though, and it drives me batty.

Rolling out of bed, I freshen up in the communal shower, avoiding all the other females hanging about using banned products to highlight their features and hair. Everyone shares whatever they can get their hands on, and I bet they’d let me inon it, but I don’t need that shit. My ticket out of here isn't being someone’s mistress or lover. I’m getting the hell out of here based on something besides my ass.

No shade—out is out and we all use what we have to work with.

After I dry off, I pull the dark pants, dark shirt, and socks that comprise my uniform for F.E.A.R. Academy. There’s a logo on the left breast of the short sleeved shirt and the pants have pockets like the cargos people used to wear. I chose to take the male uniform because I didn’t want the attention or inconvenience of the skirt and skimpy blouse they give the females. The guards bitched, but when I insisted I could tailor them myself so it wasn’t baggy and ill-fitting, they gave up.

One of the things our old next door neighbor, an Arachne shifter, taught me pre-Unveiling was how to sew. I’ve been good at it since I was young, and I did exactly what I said I would, so no one complained. The other girls seem perfectly fine with me being dressed down, and I’mdefinitelyfine with it. The big bonus is the steel-toed combat boots they get rather than Mary Jane flats. My feet don’t ever get trampled because I’m protected.

They’re gonna regret their choices when these damn challenges get handed out or whatever.

I run a brush through my long hair carefully, then braid it tightly as I do every single day. Keeping it out of my face and out of other’s reach is practical, plus it doesn’t get dirty as often as the chicks putting crap on theirs in the bathroom right now. I check myself to make certain everything is exactly how the guards expect it to be, then I pick up my bag and sling it over my shoulder.

Today is the day we’re supposed to meet new supes to fill out our teams. I don’t know how they planned to get them here so quickly or where they’ve been keeping the new residents ofTempest Seven. Huck might have info once I meet the two of them on the street; he always has his ears to the ground.

At least he’s useful for something besides pissing me off.

Trudging down the stairs, I breeze through the front room and into the kitchen to grab a few small snack items to put in my bag. If I’m up quickly enough, I make it in here before others take the individually wrapped shit, so I always move quickly in the morning. I’m able to get one weak ass cup of coffee out of the pot, tossing it down as fast as I can before I sneak out the back door.The less contact I have with the buzzing supes in my tenement, the better my day will be.

I walk fast, unlike yesterday, and I’m at the crossroads where Thad and Huck find me within minutes. As predicted, the huge bear shifter is yawning and ambling along, while the demon is nowhere to be seen. I frown, trying to figure out if I’m upset that he’s not here or relieved. Before I can decide, a finger taps me on the shoulder and I whirl around, my fist making contact with a face hard.

“Jesus jumping Jehoshaphat, sweet pea.” Huck groans as he rubs his jaw ruefully. “Your left hook gets better and better. Thad, our girl is a powerhouse.”

“Quit freaking her out before school, man.” Thad yawns again, then reaches out to give my shoulder a squeeze. “Morning, Syd.”

For once, the soft-hearted bear has it right—it’s morning, but it’s definitely not good.

THIS IS GOING TO SUCK

THADDEUS

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