What's it like being born to die?

Not an emotion I could describe. Yet here I was, listening to people as they told me I was chained to this organization until I perished. But I listened to them, cause I had nothing better to do. Their words registered in my mind, and I accepted. Cause I had learned to accept anything they threw at me by this point.

They told me that I was a prisoner to the thrill. I gave myself up to the adrenaline ever since I started looking for an escape from my past. I was pronounced an addict, and told I was going to eventually die for the cause. Because once it had you hooked, you were captive until death. Forever written in its name.

Being an adrenaline addict was equivalent to being born to die.

I was swallowed in darkness. The sleeping quarters were flushed in pitch black. Everyone els was sound asleep, but I lay awake in my bed, watching the concrete ceiling like the answers to all my problems had been etched into it.

My life had been completely flipped upside down in the space of 24 hours. My bedroom, I now shared with four other people. My friends, I had been forced to exchange them for new ones, not that I didn't like Dawn but I missed Drew and May. My mother, I could no longer ask for her motherly advise or help her in our bakery. My home, wasn't a small apartment in a cozy town, it was a fortress of cold concrete walls. My education, it no longer consisted of learning parkour at Drew's gym but rather how to carry the worlds survival on my shoulders.

This prevented me from getting any sleep.

Fortunately, the night was timeless. Hours slipped by like minuets, mostly due to the entertainment of a mind raging in turmoil. It was cluttered to the brim with nostalgia and yearning for home. It was conflicted with acceptance for my new life. I spent the night letting go of what I once had and moving on. The W.O. I. I was bigger than the power of myself, and fighting against it was a certain loss that I didn't have the energy or effort to proceed with.

Before long, the lights automatically switched on, causing me to curl inwards as brightness stung my dark adapted eyes. A chorus of moans that could practically form a choir erupted around me. Slowly, the atmosphere began to stir and the five of us awakened into our first morning at the W.O.I. I.

I sat up in bed, feeling the mattress spring beneath me. My short honey blonde locks bounced into my face as I let out an unattractive yawn. My hair used to be long and rich when I was younger, until the day I escaped my father's wrath. Once my mother and I settled into Vaniville town, I chopped it short with my own craft scissors in my own hands.

To me, it was more than just a new hair style. It was a symbol that I had moved on, I was no longer my father's daughter. I was no longer the perfect little girl. I had changed so dramatically that day, I could no longer be the same person.

"Morning Sere!" A bubbly voice called beside me. I turned to see Dawn grinning at me, her pearly teeth shining like mirrors. Her bedhead waves of blue hair sprang around her face like a lions mane. She seemed surprisingly cheery seeing as she had just woken up.

"Good morning Dawn." I croaked back, throwing the sheets off me and placing my delicate feet on the frost bitten floor.

"Aren't you excited? We get our weapons today!" She squealed as she pranced out of bed with the enthusiasm of a springbuck on steroids. Her nimble legs leaped over the bed frame with ease as she bounced over to my side. Gary watched her with wide eyes wondering -the same as me- how she was so full of energy at this hour. Even the plum haired girl looked puzzled at the bluenette. However, I couldn't help but notice Ash, in the bed across from me, was still sound asleep.

"Yeah, real excited." I mumbled sarcastically. Dawn frowned at me, obviously unpleased with my judgement.

"You heard what General Chip said yesterday! We get personalized weapons!" The bluenette cheered causing Gary, the nameless girl and I to raise a disbelieving eyebrow at her.

"Daddy didn't buy you personalized weapons, princess?" I questioned. People often told me I was grumpy in the mornings, and they were not wrong.

"No! He claimed they were too dangerous or something. Absolutely repulsive!" She yelled and Gary had to plug his ears in order to keep his hearing. I was concerned how Ash continued to sleep through all of this.

"How tragic..." I muttered under my breath. Dawn was too caught up in her sulky mood to hear me, which I was thankful for.

With one last yawn, I stood up and the sensation of the cold concrete floor on my bare feet sent a shiver down my spine. I could still feel the dampness in the air, causing a strangle feeling to tickle my skin. After a quick stretch, I felt somewhat ready to face whatever challenge Miss Fisher was going to throw at me today. An indescribable emotion settled in my stomach, a small ache missing home, but it was bearable for now.

"Ashy-boy, wake up." Gary exclaimed as he shook his friend's right shoulder. The raven haired boy didn't budge an inch. I watched, completely intrigued as Gary attempted to wake him again. Ash was a strange boy...but somehow compelling. It was as if his cocky and up front attitude was oddly attractive. No, that can't be it, maybe there was something els? His hazel eyes? Bright smile? Gosh...what am I say? I've known this boy for literal hours and he's already snatched a place in my head.

"Ash, wake up!" Gary yelled louder.

Ash snapped up at this. His jet hair was wild, spiked in a windswept state I loved. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head, introducing himself to the day. His auburn eyes flittered across the room, drinking in his surroundings.

"Morning already?" He muttered "Damn, I had a good sleep."

"I know he's unfairly attractive, but staring at him is not gonna help your case." Someone whispered in my ear. I jumped due to fright but relaxed a little when I realized it was only Dawn.

"What case? There is no case!" I hissed back. How Dawn thought I wanted anything to do with that hotheaded pig was beyond me. He called me pretty for arceus sake! My friend just shrugged with a malicious and all knowing smile playing on her lips. I frowned at her but she was too caught up in her fantasies to care. I sighed then continued to stand in place with a certain matter on my mind.

"What do we do now?" I voiced my thoughts and thus captured the attention of everyone els. For a moment me were all in thought, attempting to summon an answer.

"Get dressed and eat breakfast, I suppose." Gary piped. I shrugged and started heading towards the changing rooms. Not that I was one to follow a Dawn-claimed-fuckboy, but he was the only person with a reasonable suggestion. After all, Miss Fisher had said that there were cloths provided for us in our lockers,

Right?

➰➰➰

"What the hell is this?" I shrieked, looking at myself in the mirror. My new attire was not in the designer stores of Lumious City, I tell you.

It was a dark navy blue. Incredibly snug, so much so it felt like my skin was unable to breath. The one-piece jumpsuit extended all the way to my wrists and ankles. I ran my fingers along the leathery material which was cool to the touch. The blue fabric reflected light like fish scales. It had fluorescent veins that ran along its exterior, illuminated only under bright lights. But as if by magic, I felt like all my reflexes had been upgraded in this suit. It made me feel as if my blood was pumping 100 times faster.

"It's not fashionable, but I kinda like it." Dawn stated as she admired her own reflection in the mirror.

"But, what is it made out of?" I queried, trying to pinch the clothing away from my skin but it was almost glued on.

"It's a special material that was invented last year. It compresses your muscles in a certain way to improve your performance, that's why it's so tight." Said a foreign voice behind us. Dawn and I spun around to glimpse the speaker.

It was the girl with olive skin and mauve hair.

"O-oh, c-cool. How did you k-know?" I questioned, still half in shock. Dawn's lips had parted to form an 'o', indicating that she couldn't believe this girl was talking to us.

"Miss Fisher told me." She said in a bland tone. Her eyes trekked over me, and soon after, Dawn, as she tried to conclude if she could trust us.

"What's your name?" I asked, stepping closer to her in order to hold a decent conversation. At first she tensed up but after a brief moment, she relaxed. I could tell she needed a little time to warm up to people.

"Iris." She answered. Not a girl of many words.

"Nice to meet you Iris." I extended a hand. Hesitantly, she shook it, though very tensely. Her eyes where a warm brown, however currently swirling with conflict.

"N-nice to meet you too." She nodded then released my grip. I was about ask her another question but she quickly pivoted on her heel and walked away. I watched her go, sighing under the bow shape of my upper lip. She left the changing room without uttering another word.

"Well...that was odd." Dawn exclaimed behind me.

"Yes, very. At least we know her name now." I replied in a low voice. Dawn and I were the only ones left in the changing room and we should've been heading out soon.

"And that she's not a mute." The bluenette pipped. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"You weren't seriously considering that, were you?" I questioned.

"She didn't respond when I talked to her so it's always been a possibility." She shrugged and I had to suppress the urge to laugh. Dawn was an interesting girl.

"You can be a bit overwhelming, you know?" I told her in a joking manner.

"What can I say? I like making friends!" She cheered then danced around on the spot.

"Well congratulations, you've befriended one member of you're team. Now you can continue to make friends at breakfast, let's go." I took her hand, in the midst of her dancing, and dragged her out of the changing room. The girl stumbled behind me, tripping over her own footing.

We were greeted by the other three members of our team. Ash and Gary who sat talking on their respective beds and Iris who was again meditating on her own. Our loud circus-of-an-entrance caused everyone to glance at us.

The boys seemed to have been assigned a slightly different uniform than Dawn, Iris and I. The bottom half was the same scaly leather, however, they wore a skin hugging cotton t-shirt that I found accented their toned arms. The fortunate-unfortunate, bitter sweet, rain on a sunny day coincidence of having two good looking guys on your secret agent team.

Good luck Serena.

"Breakfast?" Dawn said in an unsure and meek voice. Her wondering blue eyes expressed hunger as she gently cupped her stomach with the hand that wasn't engulfed in my grasp.

"Man I'm starving, let's go." Gary exclaimed, jumping off his bed. Ash followed but with less enthusiasm. Iris peeled one eye open and glanced at me before gracefully uncrossing her legs and lifting herself onto her feet with the poise of a ballerina. Her suit glistened like a fish straight out of water as she walked towards the door with Dawn and I following.

The heavy metal frame opened with a small tug, revealing a labyrinth style fortress we were now faced with navigating through. The emptiness of the corridor before us left our group submerged in silence. We pushed our way out the sleeping quarters, piling on top of each other like over-excited dogs.

"Does anyone remember where the hell we go?" A husky voice said from behind me and I immediately recognized it to be Ash. The obnoxious, self-absorbed thief who was undeniably attractive. It bugged me that I found him so alluring. The thing was, I always liked boys I shouldn't.

"Lucky for everyone, I have photographic memory!" Dawn informed. Everyone glanced at her with a funny look but she continued to smile on.

"Alright, lead the way Dawn." I suggested, gesturing for her to move to the front of our bunch. She happily pranced down the corridor, not bothering to check if everyone was following her. The rest of us shrugged and trudged behind, seeing as there were currently no other options.

We wondered aimlessly around the many twists and turns for a while. Dawn danced around corners as if she knew the place like the back of her hand. But it wasn't long until she started to second guess herself, using inny-miney-moe to pick left or right. We found ourselves going no where but circles.

"Photographic memory, huh Dawn?" I raised an eyebrow at her and she smiled sheepishly in return.

"Maybe that was a tinsy-winsy over exaggeration." She bit the curve of her lower lip. "I don't exactly have photographic memory, but, I thought I remembered the way." She added.

"Well now we're lost in the middle of  fucking nowhere!" Gary moaned, causing all of us to flinch, excluding Ash.

"Yeah, thanks a lot Dee-Dee." Ash complained as he rolled his eyes with a lack of effort.

"Hey! I do not appreciate the name calling!" Dawn exclaimed with a hurtful expression. At this, Iris decided it was a good time to interfere.

"Maybe if you three stop squabbling, we'll have a chance at finding the canteen!" She stated in a strict tone that could send shivers down ones back given the right circumstances.

"Oh look! She speaks!" Gary cried with a false smile.

"Oh look! He's more annoying than I thought." Iris mocked as she rolled her eyes and brushed off the arrogant adolescent.

"I might have to agree with you on that..." I mumbled but unfortunately, Gary heard me, which wasn't exactly intensional.

"I haven't said a fucking word to you, Sere. You have no right to claim anything." The mahogany haired boy argued back.

"Well you're really great at first impressions, aren't ya? And since when did we establish nicknames?" I questioned, raising a curious eyebrow at my teammate.

"Since prejudice seemed to-"

"Come on you fools, the canteen is this way!" A familiar voice bellowed, belonging to none other than Miss Fisher. She strut around the corner in a flat ironed blazer and branded heels that clicked with her every step. The embodiment of business took us all in the grasp of her stare, hushing us to silence.

We followed her without the utterance of a single word. Miss Fisher guided us until we reached the somewhat familiar entrance of the canteen. It was already bustling and busy, brimming with agents clad in the same uniform as ours. A warm aroma of food wafted through the steel doors, causing my mouth to bubble over with water. I suddenly realized how hungry I was, having not eaten since the incident with the Pokechicken samples.

"Help yourselves to whatever you'd like. Team XXA has been assigned table sixteen, which is in the far corner. And do watch your step, falling into another agent with a plate full of food is sure to get you a broken bone. They're not too fond of the rookies who haven't experienced much training. But don't worry yourselves too much, they'll warm up after you've passed a few of our tests." Miss Fisher informed us before strutting off and leaving us to our own devices.

I had to admit, the food at W. O. I. I was good, enough to tingle my taste buds in almost the same way my mother's cooking did. Unfortunately, it could never be compared to the treats of  Grace's Cake Shop, which was my mother's bakery. Her blueberry maple cupcakes were amongst the best I had ever tasted, considering my father and I had a thing for that flavor a very very long time ago. Eating blueberry maple cupcakes was something I tried to give up after leaving my father, but somethings are just impossible.

Once each one of us scoffed down a plateful of breakfast goods, the canteen was practically empty. Most agents had left ages ago and none tried to speak to us. On the occasion we got a sideways glare, but nothing too troublesome. They were intimidating to the eye, most many years older and holding polished weapons on their belts. Not inviting, I admit.

Our meal was mostly eaten in silence with the exception of forks scraping over plates. Dawn continued to glare at Ash from across the table as a result of the prior name calling and Gary would pierce me with the stare of his own due to my apparent prejudice. However, I also felt the gaze of another browned eyed boy fall onto me every so often. Ash would glance from the corner of his eye and attempt to figure me out. The same could be said for myself, as I became increasingly more intrigued with the raven haired boy.

"Alright, breakfast is over. It's time for your first training session." Miss Fisher's voiced echoed through the canteen as she entered the empty canteen. Everyone perked up at her entrance, mixed emotions clouding the space between my teammates. A smile jumped onto Dawn's face as excitement creased her features.

Oh boy, here we go...

➰➰➰

The training facility was like one of the jungle gyms I used to play on as a kid. It resembled Drew's gym, with an abstract collection of iron bars that connected like scaffolding. It reached the high ceiling and had thick ropes knotted to it. The expanse was dead empty, highlighting it's dull grey walls that had a rough finish.

"Team XXA, welcome to the rookie training area. It's all yours." Miss Fisher welcomed. Eyes were wide, lips parted in a mixture of awe and shock and negligible gasps sucking in the damp air. The criss-cross pattern of the bars reminded me of home so much I felt my heart tighten. And my lips quivered, but I blinked back whatever feelings were brimming.

Almost mindlessly, I walked up to the bars, being meagerly overwhelmed by their sheer size. My trembling fingers lifted, hovering inches over the cast iron surface. And when they coiled around it, I felt a flood of strange feelings hit me. It was reminders of home. The little ache inside my gut that knew I wouldn't be going home in a long time, fighting it.

I remembered one day when Drew, May and I were in his gym. We had just finished a workout on the bars and were hanging aimlessly amongst them, making small chitchat. May and I liked to think our parkour was up to Drew's standard, though we really weren't. Drew was an expert and had been learning since he was a young kid, whereas, May and I had been training only 2 and a half years by that point. That day, I remember taking a good look at my friend and thinking, this is where I want to be, forever. And now I had been ripped away from it.

"Serena? Serena!" Some one called my name, snapping me out of my daze. I lifted my head to see Mrs. Fisher standing with a new woman. She had an angular face of pale skin and her chestnut hair was strung into a messy bun with bangs that hung lethargically over her teal green eyes. She was slim, dressed in the same special suit as I. Around her waist was a belt, pocketed with knives in guards. I gulped.

"This is professor Juniper. She will be your close combat trainer. She's a longtime agent who specializes in throwing knives. Miss Juniper will be teaching you all she knows about the weapons. Listen to her and don't make trouble." Miss Fisher informed me before walking away in her noisy heels. I noticed that everyone els had left with their own trainer, leaving me alone with professor Juniper. I smiled weakly at her.

"Nice to meet you Serena." She extended a hand for me to shake. After slight hesitation, I took her boney hand into my grasp. "As Miss Fisher explained, I will be your close combat trainer. Which means you'll be spending most of your early training sessions with me. As you were told by General Chip, everyone has be given a weapon to study, personalized to you. Which is where I come in." She explained in a cheery voice that somewhat calmed my nerves.

"I have to learn how to throw those?" I questioned, eyeing the arrangement of knives strapped to her belt. The handles where decorated in carvings of orchids and humming birds. A beautiful collection, I had to admit.

"Correct. And your fingers! They're the perfect shape, you'll be great at this!" She exclaimed while studying my fingers.

"Umm...thanks?" It came out more like a question, as I gave the professor a funny look.

"Come with me, I'll take you to my training room. I have some targets set up for you to learn on. Your own personal collection of knives is almost done being made by our weapon specialist! Your gonna love them!" She said in a giddy voice before beginning to drag me away.

And this is where the killer inside me, the closest thing to my father, began to gnaw at the deepest chambers of my heart. This was where that sweet little girl was finally squandered into nothing.

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Finally I've got a new chapter out! Hope you enjoy!