Defect - By Ryann Kerekes Page 0,22

of blood, but there are none. He must have a million of those shirts. In fact, he probably threw away the one I tainted.

When he finds me, his eyes stop. My face heats up and for the first time that day, I’m self-conscious about my swollen lip, my bruised face.

A few seconds later, another bell chimes and people begin getting up to clear their trays and follow Will outside.

The obstacle course has been cleared away and Kane is there, directing us to run laps. Kane stands off to the side, in the shade of the building and watches us, while Will takes off, setting the pace of the run. It’s much faster than the last time. I regret eating so much. It becomes a challenge to keep the contents of my stomach where they belong, but I manage.

Just like Will said, when we reach the split in the trail, everyone takes the path on the left, the easy side. Except him. My legs itch to scramble over the rough terrain again, to feel the lumpy rocks pushing up against the soles of my feet, but I don’t have the courage to stand out from the group just now. I follow Sam and we stay to the left, like everyone else. I can’t help but wonder why Will is running, let alone taking the harder path – to build up strength, I guess, like I said to him.

Will finishes first, as if to remind everyone why he’s in charge.

After the run, Will lines us up against the wall of the building. There are new faces I’ve never seen before. Guards, or rather, Defects in uniforms. They range in age from just a few years older than me to middle-aged. There are both men and women, but somehow they all take on a similar look. They appear hardened, with stiff shoulders, mouths pulled tight and eyes that watch everything.

“Today, you’re doing field work. You’ll be paired up with a guard to experience life on patrol.” The cheers around me tell me this is a welcomed activity – one that allows us to remain in the sunshine and fresh air, rather than training in the gym.

“Drew and Bryce, you’re with Kane. Lexi and Alex, you’re with 5609,” Will says reading a disheveled-looking man’s tattoo.

Suddenly I’m nervous about who I might be paired with as I study the faces before me. After everyone is placed with a guard, I am the last one left standing against the wall. Maybe Will has decided to keep me with him. My stomach twists into knots, unsure if that’s a good thing or not. “Eve, go with Rena.”

The fact he’s used her name gives me pause. I look to Rena, standing off to the side on her own. Her long hair is going silver around her temples, and lines branch out from her eyes – not making her look old – just wise somehow, like she’s seen enough of the world to last her a lifetime.

I walk toward Rena, feeling Will’s eyes follow me.

“You’re new here,” she says.

“Eve Sterling,” I say.

She takes a step back, like I’ve slugged her. “Sterling?” Her eyes question me.

I nod. Why does she seem frightened by my last name?

Will steps in between us, looking pointedly at Rena. “We’re not here to socialize.” He tips his head out toward the others, already heading away in groups. “She needs to train.”

Rena nods once and moves away from me, leading the way toward the fence.

After several hours of patrolling the compound on foot, I’m bored and tired. Surely there has to be more to it than this. I can’t imagine that this will be my assignment when I’m done with training. Rena has hardly said two words to me. She’s looked my way several times like she wanted to ask a question, then thought better of it and pressed her lips together.

“Is this really all we’re going to do today?” I ask when we round the corner of the facility for the third time.

“What did you have in mind?” she asks, looking straight ahead.

“I just thought I was supposed to be learning something.”

She smiles at my words, but keeps walking. She heads – with a sense of purpose in her stride – toward where Will is standing in the shade of the building, watching everything.

“Eve Sterling says she’d like to learn something today.”

His eyes spark with curiosity, looking from Rena back to me. “Rena, go have Kane get the pulse guns,” he says, his eyes not