Blind Sky

~Two Years Ago~

The entire Australian continent was inaccessible because we were at war, and the dictum killed or be killed was never more prominent and real than now. And though death was not something I tried to mediate on, training with the agency prepared me for life threatening missions, with no room for mistakes.

War was my reality and what I settled into, and any chance of having a regular life again seemed like a mirage of false hopes and dreams.

“Sky get up. They’re knocking on the door. They’re coming for us.”

“Leave me alone.”

“Sky stop playing and get up,” Misty yelled.

“Get up, get up,” the voice blared; poking the gun into my thigh. The sheet wrapped underneath my body was snatched from the top bunk where I laid. There wasn’t much I could see besides a shadow, shouting and ordering everyone to the front door. And Misty, despite looking tired, moved quickly, which was a feat, considering the bunker we shared seemed even smaller with another body patrolling around the room.

“Rule number one, always be prepared and alert. Leave nothing to chance,” our instructor Tadao, a petite and slender guy, with skin as translucent and smooth as a porcelain doll, and large almond shaped eyes yelled.

“Get into formation. Men to the right, women to the left,” he instructed, his almond shaped eyes piercing and stern.

The hallway quickly swarmed with recruits with bare feet, marching in line dressed in blue shorts and blue shirts, our mandatory sleep wear and uniform color, the blue representative of the agency’s color.

“Everyone march to the front of the building,” he ordered.

We stopped in front of the silver dome shaped facility, and it was still dark outside, and probably another two hours before the sun arrived. And though we have been summoned out of bed in the middle of the night before, it wasn’t something I ever got used to.

A row of guards approached marching in line to the commands over the speaker chanting their recited mantra. We won’t stop ’til… we win this fight. We won’t rest ’til… we find you. The sight was patriotic and served as a reminder of our dedication and devotion.

Logue groomed assassins and loyalty was a blatant necessity. Doubt and fickle learners were not tolerated within the agency. We were required to be tough and resilient. Humility didn’t fit, and as a female recruit, I was constantly tested.

Though there were several guards, only two were stationed near our formations, only one bothering to approach glancing up from his clip board scrutinizing me with his popping gray eyes, studying me underneath the brim of his hat that highlighted the shadow across his face.

“Name,” he shouted mechanically.

“Sky McClair.”

“Inside to the left, instructions will be given for your physical today. Name,” shouting again, examining Misty who was in line behind me.

“Name,” bellowing once again.

Misty stepped forward apprehensively.

“If you’re reluctant, maybe you shouldn’t be here,” not hiding the repugnant expression speckled across his face. And surprisingly, the guard wasn’t even distracted by her impressive 5’10 physique. Misty was beautiful with dark hair that hung effortlessly just above her collar bone, and was one thing I envied, because I instead had a cascade of curls to deal with.

I knew Misty wanted to be there, but could tell she was in pain from the drills yesterday, judging by her fidgeting uncomfortable in the line, and the way one side of her body collapsed awkwardly to the side.

“Come on. Give her a break. She’s just a little tired from yesterday that’s all.” Derek, my childhood best friend blurts standing third in the men’s line, with an undeterred look on his face, ruffling his hands through his dark hair.

The guard approached and despite Derek’s 6’3 well developed body, appeared minuscule compared to the guard’s grizzly shape.

“Name,” he yelled eyeballing Derek suspiciously.

“Derek Tillman.”

“Step aside,” the guard scowled.

I glanced over at Derek who was fuming and obviously annoyed. I prayed he didn’t do anything stupid because I knew him well enough to know, he would make a scene.

One of the guards approached Derek, his face scowled with disgust. Derek didn’t seemed bothered, which seemed to upset the guard even more.

“Why are you here?”

“Because I want to be,” Derek chimed.

“Wise guy huh,” punching Derek in the gut.

The second guard stationed like a manikin made no attempt to step in, positioning the clip board at his side, still as a frozen corpse, and on instinct I Jumped out of line. My heart was pounding and I tried to get Derek’s attention, but his focus was dead set on the guard.

“Sky stay back,” Derek advised brushing his self-off. “Don’t do anything.”

“What’s the problem here?”

The guard quickly saluted Tadao upon arrival.

“Would anyone care to explain what is going on?” glaring at Derek, then me examining our expression.

“What’s your name?” he asked, standing by the guard with his sleek black hair swiped across his face like an anime character inquired, employing a subtle tone that had a hint of interest.

“Sky.”

“Are you involved in this matter?”

“No, she wasn’t,” Derek yelled before I even had a chance to answer.

“Yes I was,” I reinforced.

Tadao glanced over at the guard who reverts back to his post, then surveyed Derek and I, rubbing his chin which had no visible hair, not even a stubble.

“What happened?” directing the question to me.

“That one,” pointing to the guard, “hit Derek in the stomach without reason.” And it took every fiber and muscle in my bone to restrain from kicking him in the jaw.

“Is this correct Bay,” his focus back on the guard.

“Yes sir. But only because he got out of line.”

“No he didn’t,” I yelled. He’s lying.”

Tadao turned towards us. “I apologize for the unwarranted behavior, but please do know the guards have permission to follow through with their job if they feel threatened. Do you both want to be here?” observing Derek and I.

And before the incident, I would have proudly said yes, but after everything that occurred, began to doubt my decision. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the agency, and unlike most 18- year olds filling out college applications or hanging out with friends, I instead enrolled with an elite recruiting agency that worked with the government.

I caught Derek’s awareness of my dilemma which he was always good at detecting. I was never good at hiding much from him. He knew me well.

“Yes,” we answered together.

Tadao paced back and forth, his hands behind his back, examining Derek and I like a scanning metal detector.

“Clip board.”

The guard handed it to him without reservation. He wrote something down, quickly returning it to the guard.