Page 2 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Awful.”Evangeline leans over to see Billie.“You think this meeting is about—”

The iron doors’ echoing slam quiets the gym, leaving a few scattered coughs and sneezes.Two tall members click their heels across the hardwood floor.They reach the center, where the giant, black Elite insignia lies polished—two mirrored Es inside a diamond.

Commander Rebecca Foster clears her throat.Her long, wavy black hair frames her round face.

“I’m not sure if everyone is here.Quite frankly, I don’t care, so we’re gonna get started,” she begins.“Anyone working evening or overnight shifts right now will receive the info in the forum on the app.As we know, another dragon was killed.Another concern is the increasing number of homicides.Master Azul is urging us to report any suspicious activity.”

Billie rests her elbow on her bouncing leg and whispers, “This could’ve been an email.”

“Should we engage in an activity that requires physical de-escalation, remember combat is first, and our powers are second.”Rebecca raises her right arm.A white tattoo flashes against her cool-toned ebony forearm.Her Trace Mark.“I honestly don’t care what you do, but this is my routine reminder.”

Translation: Master Azul told her to remind us because Rebecca genuinely doesn’t care.Some call her laid back, but I say she harbors a silent, caffeine-fueled hatred toward us.

The members murmur and whisper amongst each other, echoing Billie’s earlier comment.

“Everyone shut up.I’m not done yet!”Rebecca barks.

My gaze wanders to the gym windows.The sky is clear and perky blue again.Rebecca’s speech continues for another ten minutes.She gives us a rundown on obvious things we know as Elite members: Make sure you’re wearing your uniform during missions and patrols, make sure your badge is visible for people to see, respect everyone, log your hours and notes in the app, complete all the missions in the queue, and most importantly, don’t get caught up with Ultima.Who knows what’ll happen if we do.

Someone raises their hand and asks about solutions to the dragon situation.

“Ultima handles dragon matters, so they may be deployed.If they or the monarchs ask us for help, then we’ll step in.Until then, we need to focus on the missions we receive.You’re dismissed.”

The bleachers creak and groan as members get up in an unorganized manner to leave the gym.Rebecca and the blond-haired woman behind her, Brooke, stay planted in their positions while everyone files out.I’m lost in the shuffle but eventually reunite with Billie and Evangeline.Before we can escape, Billie rushes to Brooke.

I practically see the squeal vibrating in Billie’s throat.“Hi, Brooke!”

Brooke lazily locks eyes with Billie, sighs, and shrugs.“Oh, hi.”

Billie tries to continue the conversation with her older sister, but Brooke ignores her and looks elsewhere.It’s sad to watch.I contemplate how long Billie can humiliate herself before I drag her away.

Rebecca’s sharp gaze locks on me and Evangeline.

“Alice,” Rebecca says.Her expression is light and content.

“Hi.”

“What do you think about these murders?It wasn’t you, was it?”Rebecca asks, glowering at me.

“It’s alarming, obviously.I don’t know why you would assume it was me.”

She shrugs.“Seems to me the uptick started when Azul gave you permission to explore outside the base.”

I tilt my head and grin, stretching from ear to ear.“I guess that means I killed them, doesn’t it?”

Rebecca’s stony eye twitches as she flips her hair that’s as black as her soul.We stare at each other, silently communicating all the unpleasantries and profanities with our eyes.Billie’s voice is faintly in the background, still in her conversation with a blond brick wall.

Rebecca steadily keeps her eyes on me.“Springtown.How were the auditions?”

“Good, there’s one whose application seems a little suspicious, though,” Evangeline says.

“Leave a note in my office.”Rebecca breaks her glare with me and waves at Brooke, prompting her to tighten her already perfect posture and follow Rebecca out of the gym.Billie turns to us with slumped shoulders.She does this to herself every time.

“You think Rebecca will ever get over you being a Special Agent?”Evangeline asks, nudging my arm with her bony elbow.Ow.

“No way,” I chortle.“Like I’ve said, being a Special Agent just means I’m cooped up in the base more and practically forgotten by civilization.I JUST started getting non-assignment outside privileges beyond the property like some gently handled, unsupervised bomb.”

“Is it great?Is it everything you dreamed of and more?”Billie cracks a smile, but sadness shrouds the texture of her face.

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