Chapter 32: Training

It was nighttime once I got back to the apartment, Ms. Clare was sitting on the couch watching TV. I told her about what happened and first, she seemed annoyed and a little angry, telling me that I shouldn’t have strayed so far from the city. I told her I was sorry and she sighed; thankful that nothing bad happened to us. I told her about training with Mr. Bose, and while she was highly against it she said I wouldn’t get much progress training under my usual conditions. So, she reluctantly agreed. “How long do you three plan to train with these adult experiments?” She asked. “I originally thought two months but really thinking about it, three might be the best way.” I responded. She nodded in agreement and that settled it, we would train with Mr. Bose and Ms. Avery for three months and use the last one to relax. “That reminds me, how was your lunch with Mr. Buck?” “Huh? Oh, it went well, we’re meeting again tomorrow.”

The next day, the twins and I met up and headed to Fulbret Forest to meet with Mr. Bose and Ms. Avery. When we got there, they greeted us and didn’t waste time getting our training started. “So here’s how it’s going to go,” Mr. Bose started, “Avery will take the twins and I’ll be working with you, Ferral.” The three of us nodded and went separate ways, being taken to other opposite sides of the forest. Mr. Bose took me further into the forest and we stopped at an area with multiple tall wooden poles in the ground. Mr. Bose jumped atop one of the poles, I did the same and almost fell because these poles were spaced out to where you could easily fall in between them with a wrong step. “Today, we’re going to work on your instincts,” Mr. Bose said as he hopped across some of the poles getting farther away from me, “You’ve been relying mainly on your eyesight, but you’ve got four other senses that can be strengthened and honed to your benefit.” He took out a blindfold and tied it around his eyes. “I want you to see and learn how harnessing all your senses and trusting your instincts will better you as a fighter. Now, try and knock me off.” “....A-Alright!” I put one foot back, and almost fell off immediately but caught my balance and got into position. I charged at Mr. Bose; hopping from one pole to another and went for a punch but when I threw it he dodged it and I fell off the poles back to the ground.

I groaned as I got back up and jumped back on a pole. I charged back at him, this time memorizing what poles were in the back of him to catch my footing. I struck, but he dodged it again this time I stayed on the poles and continued my attack. He was fast and agile even blindfolded, he must know this area extremely well. Distracted, I lunged forward and threw myself over the edge hitting the ground again. I got back up and tried again. And again, and again…and again. But the more I failed, the more I understood this area. One thing that I couldn’t get out of my mind was how he was able to block and dodge each one of my attacks while blindfolded. He said I have to use my other four senses other than sight, now I just need to remember which ones they are. It’s sight, taste, hearing, touch, and smell. But what is he using to predict my attacks? Hearing? That could be one, the sound of the impact my feet have with the poles. Don’t think he’s tasting anything, smell could be one. I usually see where things are based on their scents. That just leaves touch…but what is he touching?! Maybe he’s just guessing…but to be right every time! Maybe he’s doing what I’m supposed to do and using my natural instincts as well as his senses.

We continued this for another hour, and by the end of it…I was still unable to knock him off. He jumped off the poles barely breathing hard, I laid on the ground tired with bruises and scrapes on my hands, arms, and face. He took off the blindfold and looked down at me, “I can see we have a lot to work on.” He said, chuckling. After I recovered a little, we walked back to his house and saw Ms. Avery with the twins walking back as well. Belle and Ezekiel looked exhausted, with vacant expressions on their faces. “So uhh…how’d it go with you two?” I asked them. “She’s a monster.” Belle said. “I can’t feel my everything.” Ezekiel added. “All we did was some simple flexibility training and muscle strengthening exercises.” Ms. Avery replied. I chuckled, and I thought my training seemed hard but I’m nearly as tired as they are. “As far as first-day impressions go, you three do have a lot to learn,” Mr. Bose said, “But if three months is what Avery and I have to work with, that’ll be more than enough time to get you three ready for this test.”

And so, for the next three months, we trained till we couldn’t move. Even after we left for the day, I continued my training. I didn’t care how tired I was, I knew I had to keep training till the day of the final test came. I didn’t even care about taking a break, there was no time. Ms. Clare told me I shouldn’t work myself too hard, but the more I did the better I knew I was becoming. I was going to keep getting strong, for not only me but for everyone I cared about. On the last day of training with Mr. Bose and Ms. Avery, Mr. Bose and I walked to the outskirts of the forest and onto a beach to relax. We sat together on the sand, staring at the ocean…..the fact this felt too familiar to when I and my mother did this scared me. I wanted to tell him let’s go back, but I didn’t want to keep thinking about that day, the worst day of my life. “Hey, Mr. Bose,” He looked at me, “I was told that Central City isn’t connected to any land, so how did we get here?” I asked. “Well, a long time ago there was an overpopulation problem so the World Union, an organization with members of every big country, came together and decided on a plan to build five massive man-made islands. They would place the homeless or those close to it would be put on them…then killed them all.”

He paused to let me process what he said. Which I needed because I couldn’t believe that people would do something that terrible. “Everyone called it “The Death of Poverty,” Mr. Bose continued, “Because they made sure that those of the homeless and lower class were all gone. After that, these islands were repurposed and made into fully functioning cities. They named these islands Heaven's North, East Isle, South’s Harbor, Village of the West, and Central City. But about twenty-five years ago a terrible accident happened to Heaven’s North; a nuclear meltdown that caused hundreds of deaths and rendered the island uninhabitable. They even renamed the island after that incident….Devil’s Cove.” That sounded like a scary name for just an island.
“You seem to know a lot about what happened, Mr. Bose. How old are you?” I asked. “Forty-two, but I still feel twenty.” He laughed. There was a silence for a while, I didn’t know what else to say or ask. “D-Do you think we’ll win?” I asked. “Well, seeing the progress you and your friends have made in just a short amount of time, I believe you’re more than ready,” He answered, “But never let your guard down, not even for a second. You’re going into a free for all which means you’ll have very little if not any time to rest.” I nodded, “Yeah….BUT, I know we can win and that everything will turn out okay.” I responded boldly. Mr. Bose laughed, then started to reach into his pocket. “There’s one more thing I wanted to give you before you head off,” He took out a necklace with what looked like animal claws. “This a necklace one of the scientists gave me back when I was at the Facility,” Mr. Bose said, “It has silver-coated claws from, of course, a black panther.” He extended the necklace out to give it to me. “The scientist who gave it to me said it will give determination, pride, and strength to whoever wears it. I want you to take it so that it too will give those things in trials ahead.” I stuck out my hand and he dropped the necklace into it. I looked at it and held it tightly in my hand, “I promise I will NEVER lose this,” I told him, “Thank you, Mr. Bose.” He smiled, “You’re welcome, Ferral.”