Anita

The mess hall was crowded and loud, each Guardian chatting away amiably about their exploits in the day’s fights as cooks strolled around, dishing out their overly healthy slop. Every individual meal specifically catered to the makeup of each Guardian. Every calorie calculated and recalculated so the nutrients were perfectly dished out to make the strongest Guardian possible out of each and every one of them.

Anita wrinkled her nose as they placed hers on the short wooden bench she had claimed with Diaxel and Layette. The old thing was mostly rotted, held together through sheer determination, and a few strategically placed nails and supports. The bench groaned under their weight and Anita shifted uncomfortably, wanting nothing more than to just go outside and eat a cheeseburger.

Diaxel didn’t hold her reserves about the food and dug in eagerly, reaching over and stealing bites from her plate when she pushed it away. “You know,” he mumbled around a mouthful of food, “it’s not so bad if you don’t think about it.”

Anita shook her head, not feeling up to debating about the pros and cons of the virtual prison food they served. Not that she expected anything else considering this basically was a prison for Guardians. She drummed her fingers on the table, treacherous ideas of what it would be like to be out of here racing through her mind. Pulled from her thoughts by Diaxel’s muffled shout she turned in her seat to see the newest Guardians piling in. The kids shot uneasy glances around the mess hall, eyes wide as they tried to figure out what to do. Diaxel quickly swallow his food and called out, “Cassius!” with a wave of his hand before diving right back in.

Relief flowed across the kid’s face at the invitation and he quickly made his way over to them, apologizing frequently when he bumped into one of the other tables. “Thanks guys.” He smiled sheepishly as he sat and Anita cringed when he clasped his hands on the table, making it tilt slightly upwards. Cassius opened his mouth then closed it, folding his hands on his lap after apologizing a few times.

“No harm done,” Diaxel assured him, patting the kid roughly on the back. A cook quickly ran over, making Cassius stand up while he measured and weighed him before finally placing a plate of food in front of him.

“Uh..” Cassius frowned at the slop, “What..is this?”

“It’s better than it looks,” Layette encouraged, halfheartedly.

“It’s really not.” Anita scoffed and Layette shoved her lightly. Cassius tapped the mushy lump with a spoon before pushing it around his plate distractedly.

“So Cassius, bred or created?” Diaxel wrapped an arm around the kid’s shoulder as he spoke.

“What?” He gave the red Guardian a puzzled look and Diaxel sighed, not wanting to have to explain it.

“He means are you an experimental Guardian or were you actually bred through a Guardian and human,” Layette offered the explanation.

“They actually..create Guardians?” Cassius’s frown deepened and Anita rolled her eyes.

“Yes, how did you think the first Guardian came to be? They didn’t just hanky panky then poof,” Anita spread her hands in an exploding gesture, “crystals in their skin.”

He ducked his head in embarrassment, “Right, I just didn’t realise they still made them is all,” he mumbled.

“So you were bred then.” Diaxel nodded in satisfaction, “So was I, same with Layette.” He shot a grin at Anita, “You’re still the odd one out, street thug.”

“What?” Cassius glanced between them. “Street thug?”

“He means she was an orphan,” Layette sighed, “got her off the street and threw her in with the experimentals.”

“Not a pleasant experience.” Anita scowled at the reminder. “It takes a lot of time and pain to get a crystal to stick, and it takes a lot of them before any change actually happens.” The only benefit of the experimentals was that she didn’t have any of the crystals on her face. A fact she was especially grateful for after living under Robert for so long.

Thinking of the Keeper she spun around in her seat, frowning when she saw him speaking to Teagan, Diaxel and Cassius’s Keeper, and shooting glances at the new Guardian. That can’t be good, she swore under her breath. “I’ll see you guys later.” The words were barely out of her mouth before she was up, strolling towards the two Keepers.

“You know it’s not my decision who gets assigned to me, I can’t just send him off to your wing. Why does it even matter?” Teagan was saying as she got into earshot.

“I just think it would be..” Robert snapped his mouth shut when he noticed Anita. “What do you want, Guardian?”

Teagan laughed shortly, “See, now this is a tough Guardian. Did you see her take down that Alpha? I’m impressed,” she said, shaking Anita’s hand.

“Thank you, Keeper.” Anita dipped her head before turning to Robert. “I want to return to my room now.”

“So? You can wait until the others are finished and I’m in the middle of a conversation here, scram.”

Teagan frowned. “There’s nothing more to say, Rob. I can’t do what you’re asking, though I don’t really know why it would even matter. Take her up and I’ll bring the rest of yours when they’re done.”

“Fine,” Robert hissed, glaring at them both. “Get a move on.” He led her away like the dutiful little Keeper he wanted everyone to think he was but the second they were out of eyesight he twisted around, slamming her into the wall and pushing her arm up against her back. She grunted at the impact and he leaned close against her ear, “Why are you spying on me?”

When she didn’t respond he forced her arm up higher until she hissed in pain. “I’m not spying on you,” she spat and he increased the pressure.

“Then why not wait at your table like the rest of the Guardians instead of seeking me out?”

“I told you I just want to go back to my room.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“To shower. Just relax for fucks’ sakes,” she snarled and he released her, slamming his knee into her thigh as he did. She grit her teeth against a snarky remark and followed him back up to her room. I have to get out of here, the thought was the only thing on her mind as she limped up the stairs. The first chance I get, I’m gone.