'Find Notorious Jaw and bring him to the army's quarters.' The mission reads.
I stared at the mission slip in disbelief. Notorious Jaw, the infamous thief feared across all of Nehemas. He has a reputation for his cunning and deadly skills which made him popular. This wasn't a mission; it was suicide.
Why would they assign something so dangerous to an inexperienced student?
"Why did you give them impossible tasks? This should be handled by us, not by kids," I overheard an officer whispered nearby and that made me grit my teeth. Even though they were a good distance away, I could clearly hear them.
"Don't you get it?" the commander replied with his tone cold. "This is not about testing them. It's about eliminating them to reduce their number."
"What are you talking about, sir?" The curious officer wondered. After a minute of silence, she suddenly gasped and asked, "To reduce their popularity? Is the economy going down?"
"This is not about the economy. This is about selecting the useful ones," he answered remorselessly. "The useless ones don't belong in our society. They should be killed instead. Only the capable should live and profit the society," he further explained.
"But father, this is not fair. They are young people who don't deserve this," she answered and pointed at some students who weren't given missions. "What about those kids who didn't get missions? Why are they exempted?"
The commander sighed. "They came from well recognized and noble families. Their place in the society is guaranteed."
"This is outrageous!" the officer protested.
"Enough, Dianne," the commander snapped. "Don't let me hear another word from you. For your own good, keep your mouth shut. No one should hear of this."
I clenched my fists, shaking my head in disgust. So, it was the same story as always, the rich protected, and the powerless discarded like trash. Not surprised at all.
I glanced over my shoulder and caught the female officer looking in my direction. When our eyes met, she quickly turned away.
"Reggie, we're in the same group!" a shrill voice called out. A voice I recognized too well. I looked up to see Stephanie waving at me with a smug grin.
"Don't get in my way," she sneered. "Let me bring the thief to the officers while you play the sacrificial lamb. Prove your love for me by capturing Notorious jaw. I know he will kill you, but it is the sacrifice you have to pay. Don't worry, I'll make sure to remember you in your grave. Maybe I will even give you that kiss you've always wanted." She winked before she joggled off to her friends.
Maki's voice echoed in my mind. "Do you want me to kill her, Master?"
I stared at her retreating figure, with disgust overwhelming me. Stephanie, the girl I had a crush on, but she chose John over me.
"I haven't decided yet," I muttered, and went after my group.
They had paired me with the worst team: Stephanie, Ben, and Kelly, all John's cronies and the ones who tormented me in school. They hate me and never miss a minute to show it.
"Is this weakling seriously in our group?" Kelly sneered, with his voice dripping with irritation. "Its crazy enough they joined me with you two, but with Reggie? Are they nut or something?"
Stephanie smirked, stepping closer. "Don't be harsh, Kelly. Reggie is here for me."
Ben rolled his eyes, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked off without a word. "Where is he going?" Kelly asked and went after him. Stephanie followed next, leaving me behind.
I exhaled deeply and trailed after them. The three of them moved swiftly through the dense forest, using their abilities as an advantage. For me, I could only go in a slow pace, with my crutches clicking against the ground. To make them unsuspecting, I needed to act like the Reggie they all know, weak and vulnerable.
I stumbled a few times, unable to keep up fast.
After a chase, I finally caught up with them, but that took a lot of strength running that distance. I rested my hands on my knees, bending a bit, while trying to catch my breath. Looking up, my eyes fell on my group members who stood in a clearing, surrounding someone. Taking a closer look at who it was, my heart raced as I recognized him.
Notorious Jaw.
What was he doing so close to the school?
Ben stepped forward but kept a distance away from Jaw. His eyes glowed with energy, and even though he was trying to maintain a safe distance, I could feel the growing hunger in him to attack. "Your time is up, thief. You're coming with us," he said, wearing a smug grin.
Jaw smirked, not showing any fear for us. Well I wasn't surprised. We are nothing compared to his energy. "You little children. How dare those officers look down on me by sending kids?" He asked, pissed off.
"We're not kids!" Stephanie snapped, her voice shrill.
He laughed and shook his head in mockery. "Go back to your mummies, I have a serious business to attend to with adults," he said.
As he turned to leave, Stephanie smirked and pushed me forward. I stumbled, collided with Jaw, and we both fell to the ground. She chuckled, not feeling remorseful.
"There is no where for you to hide now, Notorious jaw," Ben said and a blazing arrow emerged from his palm.
Before I could recover from the fall, Jaw wrapped an arm around my neck, holding an ice dagger against my throat. "One more move," he warned, "and he is dead."
Silence fell for a second before laughter erupted. Just the reaction I had expected.
"Are you kidding me?" Kelly laughed hysterically. "Do you even know who you are holding hostage? You've made a huge mistake, Jaw. Go ahead, kill him! We've been waiting for him to die with that stench of his."
I frowned and bit my lower lip. They hated me that much? Not even the slightest sympathy? I thought at least one of them might beg for my life. Just a little, but no. Nothing.
Even as a Delta, I was still their trash. Worthless in their eyes and always would be. I lowered my head, cursing my pathetic life.
"You think I'm bluffing?" Notorious Jaw snapped, pressing the iced dagger deeper into my neck. The blade cut my skin and blood trickled down slowly coating his hand. He didn't flinch but remained still, not making a move to take the blade out. "I will kill him!" He threatened.
"You're coming with us, Jaw," Ben said, stepping forward.
Jaw growled and dug the dagger in further. Sharp pain lanced through me. "Please… don't," I whispered. But no one listened. None of them even looked at me.
"Stay back!" Jaw barked. "All of you!"
Kelly scoffed. "You still think this is a joke?"
"We were told to bring you in alive, and I'll kill anyone who stands in the way of that mission." Ben's eyes locked on mine and he smirked, "And right now, Reggie is in my way."
He raised his hand and pointed a fiery arrow at me. The arrow blazed to life, engulfed in orange flames.
"ARROW OF THE SOUTHERN WARRIORS!" Ben chanted. "Blaze with terror and consume the ones who threaten your strength!" He released it.
"No!!" I screamed and shut my eyes, bracing for death again.
But a voice echoed in my head and words let my lips, "REALM OF DOMINANCE, EXTEND!"