Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,19

and I bring my hands up to block the direct pressure against my nose and mouth. I wipe my eyes and look down. The water running away from my body is muddy and tinged red. After the mud is gone, I step away from the spray of water. My clothes cling to my body. I shiver in the night air and follow the group inside.

Chapter 7

Inside the gymnasium we line up in a row along the wall. We’re pressed shoulder to shoulder, trying to draw body heat from each other. I glance around for Bryce, the guy who just kicked the crap out of me, but now his face is calm, like – outside the ring – there’s no animosity.

Kane steps forward, holding a data screen. The room falls silent as he prepares to read the results of the race. The first eight names, all but one, are guys. The seventh name on the list belongs to Sam. I am immensely proud of her. I catch her eyes down the line, and the people around her playfully shove at her, ruffling her hair. She cracks a smile.

Kane prints the full list and goes to the wall to post it. People begin rushing toward it. I know my name will appear last and I have no desire to see it in print – that is, if my name is on the list at all. I’m not even sure what I’m doing here. I know they’re testing me, but this seems more like a try out to see if I have what it takes to be a soldier. And suddenly, I want this. I want to be part of this group, part of the camaraderie, even the brutality. I want to get strong, to try and figure out a way out of this place. And there’s zero chance of that happening while I’m chained to a hospital bed.

I shove my way forward through the crowd, and though I’m not tall enough to see around people, I head straight for the list. I push my way past shoulders, and people begin to part for me. When I reach it, I see my name, Sterling 5491, dead last, at the bottom. I tear the page from the wall and crumple it. “Let’s go again!” I call in my loudest voice.

I hear yells and whoops of encouragement from the crowd. They’re cheering me on. Someone slaps me on the back, as if congratulating my insanity.

Will presses his lips together to keep from smiling, and seeing that expression on his face seems completely out of place. I realize for the first time, that despite his demeanor and position of authority, he’s a boy, only a few years older than me. I jump up and down, waving the crumpled paper in my fist.

O’Donovan approaches from behind and rips the paper from my hand. “My, quite the feisty one we have here.”

I stand still in front of him, hoping I haven’t done something else wrong.

“The rest of you are dismissed.” He places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes, his fingers digging in. “But you stay put.”

The soldiers, escorted by Kane, file out through the open doors. Will stays behind, and once the room clears, it’s just the three of us. The amusement on his face is gone. We both wait for O’Donovan to say something. Will gives me a quick look. His jaw is tense; the vein in his neck is throbbing. And suddenly I’m fearful they’ll actually make me repeat the course. But then I notice the dark circles under O’Donovan’s eyes and how he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. It’s the middle of the night and I can tell he’s tired. He won’t want to wait around another hour or more for me to finish the course.

“Quite a scene you made,” O’Donovan breaks the silence.

I bring my hand to my lip, wiping away the blood I can taste.

“Let me take her into the training program,” Will says.

O’Donovan studies him. “She won’t be able to catch up with the others.”

“What’s the harm? If she doesn’t – I’ll send her back to the beds,” Will says casually.

It’s clear neither of them believes I can actually do this – become a fearless soldier – but I desperately want the chance to prove them wrong.

“Fine. It’s your choice. She’ll be your responsibility,” O’Donovan warns.

Will nods once. “I can handle it.”

And just like that, I’ve traded teams.

“Sterling, come with me,” Will’s voice is stern, but I