"We have a new student with us today."

Einar sank into his seat, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. He was now dressed like everyone else. After speaking with X the previous day, he was given a map, shown to the barracks where the students slept on cots, and issued a set of clothes that was required to be worn by everyone. He didn't know what they had done with his clothes from Iceland, and he assumed they were thrown away.

Upon waking up that first morning in The Compound, Einar found a man with dark features standing over him. He was told he needed to get dressed for the day quickly, and that this man (who introduced himself as Caesar) would be doubling as an interpreter and guide for Einar. Having a companion made Einar feel even more out of place than he already did. In spite of his hang-ups regarding the situation, after a quick breakfast in a large cafeteria he reluctantly followed Caesar to a classroom.

The class all twisted in their seats to stare at him, and he felt himself blush at the teacher's words.

"Please come to the front of the class."

Einar looked imploringly at the interpreter. "Do I have to?"

Caesar answered by frowning. Einar got to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the now-silent room. On shaking legs he walked, coming to stop at the teacher. Awkwardly turned to the class and looked at his feet, holding his arm.

Shockingly, the teacher whacked him against the head with her open palm. Einar openly gawked at her. When she raised her hand to strike him again, he flinched. She smiled, but it was strict.

"We do not cower, nor do we slouch," she said sharply. "We stand at our full height, chin up, arms at your sides."

Not wanting to be hit again, Einar stood properly. The teacher nodded in approval.

"Introduce yourself."

Einar glanced helplessly at Caesar, which earned him another smack.

"I said introduce yourself, not look pathetically at your interpreter!"

Einar wrung his hands in front of him. "But I don't speak English-"

The woman with flaming red hair hit him again. "I didn't say give me excuses-speak!"

"I'm Einar -"

"Louder, so the class can actually hear you."

That earned some snickers. Swallowing, Einar spoke loudly. "My name is Einar ."

"And where are you from, Einar?"

"Iceland." Tears sprung to his eyes. Now he looked desperately at the teacher. "I don't understand-where am I? What country is this, what-"

"Sit down."

His eyes grew wider. "But-"

She raised her hand, threatening to backhand him. "I said sit down!"

Cringing away from the woman, he scampered back to his desk.

Thankfully, that was the last time he was called on during that class period.

~

Einar had just slipped into his issued grey pajamas. It was the only outfit that wasn't all black. Thankfully, he sank onto his cot. He could tell it was going to be a day where he would start sleeping as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The day had been ridden with fear and frustration. He went through what seemed like a normal educational curriculum; math and science, history, geography, global current event issues. Everyone, from what he could tell, was required to take English. He was thrown into it mid-lesson, being told he was expected to catch up quickly with the rest of his class with the aid of Caesar. Einar had left that class almost reduced to tears, thanks to the instructor calling on him several times; he had never spoken English in his life.

There was also physical education. While that in it of itself seemed benign, it was the furious rigor that seemed off. Furthermore, he was told that he would have to take an exam after a week for placement.

"Placement for what?" he had asked his instructor.

The man had merely smiled, saying, "You'll see."

With that unknown floating through his head, he was forced to join a rigorous gym class. It was long-too long, in his opinion. It started with warm ups (which once again didn't raise any red flags). Einar was surprised when they were led outside, single file, out into the jungle.

His nerves went on edge when he noticed several men and women with police batons had joined their ranks. Everyone started running; his interpreter told him they would be running a mile. Einar was horrified by the fact that whenever anyone slowed down or acted like they might stop, they were hit by one of the adults with a baton. By the time the mile run was over, he was absolutely drenched in sweat; at least he had kept up and hadn't been beaten.

Afterwards they were led back into The Compound, single file, into another gymnasium. This one was outfitted with rock walls, ropes, and aerial obstacle courses. When they entered file and rank, Einar openly gawked at the ropes and planks hanging above their heads. Some of the students were running and jumping at breakneck speeds. What shocked Einar most, however, were those doing hand-to-hand combat. Some were fighting with wooden practice weapons. With seemingly no rhyme or reason, some students wore full safety gear while yet others weren't even so much in a climbing harness.

After being shown the ropes, literally (Einar was thankful he was rigged with full climbing gear, including a helmet), they left this area and were led to yet another gym. This was, to his shock and embarrassment, a ballet and gymnastics class. He was instructed on the basics; he balked at one point, declaring he wouldn't do ballet. Einar sang a different tune when, after his interpreter told the gym instructor this, the teacher pulled out a taser and powered it on.

Einar never knew he could be so physically exhausted. After the dance-gymnastics class, the group was led to yet another, final gym. This was a mixed martial arts class. It seemed like any and all kinds of martial arts were being taught, from boxing and wrestling, to qinggong and parkour. There was a corner of the massive gym dedicated to weapon fighting. One of the most infuriating things about The Compound was the lack of clocks; he had no idea how long they trained here for, only knowing when it was finally done he was instructed to shower for dinner.

Einar ate alone. Self-consciousness draped around him. His eyes darted around, hoping to catch someone speaking Icelandic, but that never came. The cafeteria was massive and all the voices blended together in one indescribable hum. So, as he ate, he looked across to Caesar, who was eating an apple and looking bored.

"What is this place?" Einar asked.

Caesar stopped chewing, giving him the side eye. "You really don't know?"

Einar shook his head.

Caesar seemed to be muling things in his head. Finally, he merely said, "That's odd. What are you doing here then?"

Einar hated the reminder that he didn't know the answer to that question. "I don't know. I was kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Caesar, who had been leaning against his palm, sat upright in surprised attention. "What do you mean, 'kidnapped'?"

"I mean," Einar explained testily, "a man showed up in my bedroom in the middle of the night, snuck me out of my house, and I was brought here, blind-folded and gagged on a boat and then an airplane."

For a long while, Caesar made no indication he was going to do anything further than just stare at Einar with a look of disbelief on his face. Finally, he went back into his relaxed position and took a bite of his apple. "Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, I don't think it's my place to tell you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Caesar flicked his eyes up at Einar. "Exactly what I said."

After dinner, there were two more classes which led up until nine PM. Einar only knew that because once he was led back to the bunks, he saw the clock read a little past then. Caesar made sure Einar made it back to his assigned cot, and then turned away.

"Where are you going?" Einar asked in a panic.

Caesar looked over his shoulder. "To my bunks."

"There are different bunks?"

"Yes, there are several barracks-we're grouped by class."

Einar looked around himself. "Why was I placed here? Isn't there some sort of beginner regimine? I feel like I'm worlds behind everyone."

"I don't know why. I try to not ask too many questions." Caesar glanced about himself, and when he spoke he had dropped his voice. It was the first time Einar felt he had acted human all day. "I suggest you try not to, either."

Suddenly there was a bustling, and someone whistled. Everyone scrambled to stand in front of their cot in various stages of undress. Caesar looked towards the doors, and likewise stepped in front of the cot, dragging Einar with him.

"At attention," Caesar instructed in a whisper. "No slouching, no talking."

"You're talking," Einar muttered bitterly, which earned him a soft but swift kick in the shins.

"At ease," X told everyone, smiling, as he made his way down the row of cots. Once he said that, everyone continued about their business and went back to chatting.

"Well," Caesar began to say, "I'll see you in the-"

"Einar ."

Einar and Caesar froze. X had called him. Caesar seemed just as surprised as Einar felt, and stayed rooted in his spot. Einar didn't miss a few fellow students glancing at him. X walked up, the beaming smile never leaving his face. Once he was at the pair, he looked at Caesar and gave a curt nod.

"Thank you Caesar for your time today; you are dismissed."

Caesar didn't reply, simply bending at the waist in a bow before scurrying off. Einar wish he didn't have to leave; that feeling was compounded when he caught Caesar glancing over his shoulder back at him, looking worried.

"Come with me," X said to Einar , slipping an arm around his shoulders.

Swallowing, Einar could do nothing except allow himself to be led away by the ever-smiling X. Einar noticed more people staring at them as they walked by towards the door. Some of the looks were perplexed; others were sneers, and yet others were glares of jealousy. Einar tried to ignore them all, but he could feel eyes stabbing him in the back even as they left the sleeping quarters.

"How was your first day?" X asked excitedly, removing his arm from around Einar and continuing to walk with his hands clasped behind his back.

Einar hesitated. "Okay."

"Okay? Just okay?"

Einar didn't reply. In fact, he was downright scared to.

"Well," X prodded gently as they crossed the main courtyard everything was centered around. It wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been during the day, but people still milled about. "What was your favorite part?"

I'm supposed to have a favorite part? Einar thought. It caused the voice in his head that was not his own to laugh, which made him visibly start. If X noticed him jump, he didn't chose to draw attention to it.

"I was told you did well," X continued as they began to climb up the first set of stairs.

"I didn't know what I was doing," Einar said quietly, finding it rather difficult to meet X's eyes.

"You hid it well," X told him as they then ascended the second floor stairs. "Or, rather, you at least had the wits about you to just listen."

What else could I have done? Einar thought bitterly.

Say that, the other voice said.

What? No! I'm not going to say that!

"Are you always so quiet?"

Always? Einar thought. You mean, every time I'm kidnapped and brought somewhere against my will?

The voice cackled.

"Yes," Einar said simply, now walking up the third flight of stairs.

"Shy?"

Einar glanced at X. He didn't like how he was being looked at, so he looked away again. "Confused is more what it is."

"Ah. I understand. Well, yes, of course you would have questions. This is all very new to you." They started to climb the fourth floor. "Go ahead, ask."

For a long while Einar simply walked up the stairs, his head all in a whirl. It wasn't until they were on the fifth floor and were halfway to X's office did the young man figure out what he wanted to ask first.

"What is this place?"

X looked pleased. "The Compound is an elite training facility. The best of the best. Everything under one roof."

They turned the corner and saw the door that X's office sat behind. It was during this second time through that Einar noticed this hallway was the only one not lined with rooms.

"Other outfits-the yakuza, for example-splinter too much. I have found it best for everyone to be under one untied group, a cohesive unit without different chapters spread throughout. Not only does it cut out being found by government bodies and law officials, but it creates a comradery other syndicates sorely lack."

Einar had stopped walking. X was standing at his door, not realizing the boy had fallen out of step. Hand on the doorknob, he turned back and offered Einar a patient smile.

"What?" Einar gaped.

"For many, many years, your father was a hired hit man."

X opened the door, gesturing the boy in. Feeling numb, Einar stumbled forward, not knowing what else to do. Once they were both in, X quietly shut the door.

Einar looked evenly at X. "No he wasn't."

"Yes, he was." With a cool, smooth, menacing movement, X stepped forward. "He worked for me-in fact, he was one of the best. He trained here, just as you will be trained-just like he wanted."

"A hitman?" Einar repeated.

X waved a hand, sitting behind his desk. "Hitman, assassin, enforcer-call it what you will. It's all the same."

The voice in Einar's head began to quietly laugh, which was equal parts disturbing and distracting. Shaking his head a bit, he tried to ignore it.

"You said he wanted me here-"

"Yes."

"Well, what if I don't want to be?" Einar shouted suddenly.

X hadn't even flinched. "It's what your father wanted."

"I don't care-" Einar cut himself off, feeling sick. "The night my family was murdered-that was you, wasn't it?"

X looked horrified. "What? No! I loved your father."

"But the people," Einar continued, trying not to cry. "The people from that night. The people that killed my family-"

"Is that what happened?"

"Yes!" he shouted again. "A bunch of people dressed in black came in and started killing everyone!"

"Hmm," X said, looking off to the side thoughtfully. "I was wondering where your house went. When we went to collect you, the address your father had given us was, well, gone."

"Because the bastards burned it down," Einar said fiercely through tears that now ran freely.

"Look," X replied smoothly, "I'm sure whatever dreadful thing happened on that day, it was unfortunately just his past catching up with him. These things happen in this sort of work."

"I'm not doing this," Einar spat, wiping off his face. "I don't care what my father did! I'm not him, and I don't want to die, or kill, and I'm not throwing my life away-"

X got to his feet, palms pressed against the desk. Even though his lips smiled, his eyes glinted threateningly.

"Do you know where we are, Einar?"

Einar swallowed thickly, breaking out into a sweat.

"Do you even know what country you are in?"

Einar swallowed again, trying to stop his mouth from being so suddenly dry.

"Answer me. Do you?"

"No, I don't."

"The way I see it," X said, coming around the desk, slinking like a predatory cat stalking its prey, "is that, you don't know where you are. Miles of jungle surround us. You don't know a soul here, and your family is dead."

Einar shuddered as X stood directly before him. He nearly fainted when X put his hand on his shoulder.

"Even if you did manage to leave The Compound-which you won't, by the way-how would you leave? Do you have a boat, a plane? Do you even know how to drive a car?"

Einar began to weep quietly again. The sympathetic look returned to X's face, and he gently brushed a tear from the young man's cheek. Einar's skin crawled.

"You look so much like your father..."

After staring at Einar in an almost longing fashion for a few moments more, X let go of his shoulder and walked back to his desk. Trembling worse than a leaf in a hurricane, Einar quickly wiped off the rest of his tears.

"Now," X said in a downright jovial manner, "there's just one final formality we need to take care of. Everyone here has an alias-no one uses their real name. Is there any particular name you like? Any name at all?"

Einar thought a moment before responding. "Cyrus."

X uncapped a pen, sliding a piece of paper over to him. "Write it for me."

Einar blinked. "I'm-I-I don't know how."

X rose an eyebrow.

"I've only heard the name spoken."

X chuckled, shaking his head. "Do your best, then."

Hastily he scribbled 'Sires' and shoved the paper back. X glanced at it and looked bemused. "Mmmm...close enough. Tomorrow you will be going by Sires and only Sires-do you understand me?"

Remembering the gunmen at the entrance of The Compound, and thinking about the conversation he just had, Einar resigned himself to the fact that he really was stuck here. Crying once more, he nodded.

"Good. Now, have you got your map on you?"

Einar nodded.

"Excellent. Go back to your barracks. I'd escort you, but you have to find your way around this place sooner or later. Dismissed."

Einar nodded a final time and slowly made his way to the door. Feeling utterly defeated, he made his way back to the sleeping quarters, crying all the way.