Page 362 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Baxter snorts and we focus back on the screen. How the hell did we miss so much?
They have five men tied to trees, two passed out and Elsie looks like she has war paint on her face as she runs screaming towards a smaller looking man dressed in camo and a face mask. He has his back to her, and he turns just as she whacks him with a wooden bat. I search to see if any of them are my guys, but I spot them gaining on the girls. They’ve kept to the shadows and waited.
The boys emerge from the shadows making themselves known. I can instantly tell them apart by the way they move.
I'm drawn to watching Adrianne; she must be able to tell them apart enough to target Kalen. They circle each other, waiting for the other to make a move. Kalen moves forward quickly. Adrianne isn't trained well enough to dodge his attack, but he plays with her, coming in fast but choosing to slap her on the ass. I can’t see his face but his body shakes with laughter as he runs circles around her. Her face turns red with anger as she lunges for him. He sidesteps away from her, poking her in the arm on his way. I snort at them.
She screams like a banshee and runs at him, and he must be laughing again, distracted, because she manages to make him falter, enough to make him stumble back a few times. While he tries to right himself, she follows and just as he gains his footing she kicks him square in the nuts. He falls to the ground and curls into a ball. Adrianne stands over top of him with a big shit-eating grin on her face.
Slate is up against Emerson. I can tell it’s him and not Onyx because Onyx moves like a steam train. Slate is slightly more graceful. She meets him blow for blow, though. He throws a punch and she’s right there blocking it. Elsie runs up behind him and jumps onto his back as a distraction. He sways from side to side to try and knock her off, but she’s latched on.
I scour the screens and find Onyx. He is hunting his own mother. I find Maggie further ahead, moving around carefully and listening for his movements.
"I know you’re there, mother,” he taunts her. “I’m hurt, you didn't tell me you were such a badass.”
Maggie doesn't answer him; she knows he’s trying to get her to talk to give away her location. I watch on intently as Maggie camouflages herself and waits; she must be able to sense Onyx is close. He walks right past her, maybe five steps and she slips out behind him and raises her gun.
“Son.”
He turns, and I know him, he’ll play dirty. If Maggie understands her son at all, she’ll also know this. He slips off his mask and smiles at her. She doesn’t hesitate: she pulls the trigger, leaving a big red mark in the middle of his forehead.
The paint drips down his face. He is stunned silent for a moment before he laughs and runs to his mum, picking her up and spinning her around.
“She passed her test,” Baxter confirms.
“What was her test exactly?”
“It was the recreation of an ambush that happened when she was thirteen years old. She took out ten armed men on her own but she needed to remember a few key points to beat the guys in there because they knew most of what happened but not all, so she had to watch and see. To strike in their blind spots.”
“It really amazes me at the things you know and the things that you shouldn’t.”
He doesn’t bother to reply, slipping from the room on silent feet. Fucker. I need to get him to give me lessons in stealth.
I switch my attention back to the screen and flick between watching the other individual tests. They’re far less dramatic, the standard intelligence and emotional IQ tests, as well as verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and a few others I don’t know the name of but which don’t seem to pose too much of a challenge.
Things look to be winding down when Monty and Sawyer return.
“I have to say, I’m surprised that they’ve all made it, Amelie.” Monty grins, shaking my hand. “Well done. I think you should be commended by the board for your excellent picks.”
“About that, I want to introduce the women officially at my inauguration,” I tell him.
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to detract from your night.”
“Thank you, but I’m sure. Nothing will show the doubters in our midst that I mean business more than introducing them to the new recruits. And with a one hundred percent pass rate, they’ll have to eat their words and a slice of humble pie, or they’ll be eating bullets and getting fitted for their coffins.”
Monty coughs nervously. “Well, yes…exactly. Excuse me, but I have some business to attend to. Well done again, watching Maggie was quite something…”
He leaves, and I turn to Sawyer. “Was that too much? What I said?”
“Not at all. You’re filling the role nicely. We all know the policy; we fall into line or we’re taken out. It doesn’t hurt my dad to show him that you know that and you’re strong enough to follow through.”
“Thank you.” I smile at him and give him a quick peck on the cheek before the doors open and all of the women enter. I beam at them.
“You did it! Congratulations! You passed!” I cry, hugging the crap out of Elsie. She hugs me back equally as tight and a thousand words pass between us in that silent show of support. I am so pleased I get to navigate this journey with her by my side, but I’m also happy that I’m able to give Elsie a family who won’t betray her, and a place that she can truly belong.
The same for the other women too. I’m relieved that they all passed with flying colours, happy that their success shows me in a good light, but happier still that I can give them the things they need.
“Well done everyone. It shouldn’t surprise you to know that I was watching and rooting for you every step of the way, and I have to say, I am seriously impressed. You all surpassed my expectations and rose to the challenges thrown your way. You worked together exceptionally well as a team, and I’m proud of the strength, courage and resilience you all showed when facing your deepest fears. I know that can’t have been easy. I’m delighted to extend a formal invitation for you to officially join us within The Order.”
