Page 7 of Finn
I’d outgrown the shared quarters of trainee life, but the so-called “upgrade” of a single room still didn’t feel like much of a reward.
The narrow cot, scarred wooden desk, and the single small window high up on the wall weren’t exactly anything to be excited about.
It didn’t matter; I’d lived with less. But tonight, everything felt suffocating.
Dropping to the floor, I started a set of pushups, counting out reps in a whisper, trying to exhaust myself into a dreamless sleep.
Tomorrow, the Elders would assign me my final mission. The one that would prove I’d earned the rank of senior hunter.
My stomach twisted at the thought, nerves snaking through me no matter how many pushups I ground out.
After the hundredth rep, I flopped back onto my bed, breath heaving, but still, I couldn’t relax.
I found myself thinking about Gabriel.
The memory of his last kiss burned into me, a moment stolen just before his final mission five years ago.
The Elders had said it was a success, that his team had taken down the vampire nest in the mountains.
Half of his team didn’t make it, including Gabriel, but I’d always doubted their explanation.
Their reports had been clinical, dismissive, like Gabriel had just been a disposable piece on a chessboard.
I’d tried to dig deeper, to find out the truth of how he’d really died.
My brothers, Asher and Donovan, had told me to drop it, said I needed to move on and focus on my training.
Still, Gabriel was gone, and the hole he left felt as deep as ever, especially tonight.
I could almost see his lopsided smile, feel the light press of his fingers brushing my cheek. My throat closed up.
Shutting my eyes, I fought the tight ache in my chest, then forced myself to turn and stare up at the ceiling.
I counted every single dot and crack until it grew bright enough outside to count the first hint of light seeping through the window.
Resigned to my sleeplessness, I finally threw on some clothes and headed to the cafeteria.
There, I grabbed a bowl of oatmeal, some fruit, and a coffee.
But my stomach knotted the moment I tried to eat, so I ended up pushing the food away, sipping the coffee in small, nervous sips that didn’t settle me at all.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Elders would have something special, or worse, something sinister waiting for me.
I nearly choked on a gulp of coffee when Asher and Donovan appeared, sliding into the seats across from me.
Donovan grinned, his usual cocky smirk in place.
“Nervous, little brother?” he teased, elbowing me.
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep.” I forced a smile, trying to appreciate their attempt at support or whatever this was supposed to be.
But the truth was, I wished it was Gabriel or even my cousin Blake sitting here, grinning at me, maybe making fun of me for being nervous.
But Blake was gone, and Gabriel… Well, I could only dream he’d still be here.
“You’ve worked your butt off for this moment for years,” Asher said, his voice low but steady. “Don’t screw it up.”
I laughed bitterly. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
