JANUARY 8TH – CONTINENT DEMETER - APPlELEMUS ISLAND – GOVT SECRET FACILITY

A shot of raw adrenaline attenuated Alaya’s confidence in her ability to see it through. She jerked the rifle to her shoulder, sighted on the guard’s chest, and began to squeeze the trigger. “Bishop…” She screeched in pain with escaping tears, soaking her black cotton mask. “I can’t do this.”

The momentary lapse in judgment gave her opponent a window of opportunity to floor her. She fell heavily on her side, and the rifle fled her hands. The guard rose up from the floor and quickly mounted her, grabbing a hold of her windpipe and attempting to crush it within his bare hands. She hoisted her knees and starting jabbing them to his side, a futile attempt to inflict enough pain to loosen his grip. She clung to his hands wrapped dangerously around her neck and embedded her fingers beneath his flesh. Fear struck her when he still would not budge. At last, she gave in and slowly dropped both hands to her side as she took a final breath.

JANUARY 7TH

“The first part of your training will be based on ‘Rule of 3’.”The handsome instructor stepped one foot at a time into the water slowly as he spoke. ”As I’m sure you already know, considering that you went through a year or two of law enforcement training, human beings can survive 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water and 3 minutes without oxygen.” And he paused for dramatic effect then said, “Any questions?”

A baffled Alaya raised her left hand and spoke in a mild berated tone, “Yeah, just one.”She began with a hint of condescension, “I’m a renowned Data scientist and hacker. I took the job at the SSC because I wanted to be by my best friend’s side, not because I couldn’t be working for the government right now. So why the hell is it that I’m standing in a pool of artificial sewage water with someone who I can run circles around?”

The young man laughed. He wasn’t quite used to such forms of harassment of any kind, especially from women who often seek to beguile him with their beauty. In any case, he took no offense to her obvious release of pent up frustration.

“I understand that you’re frustrated. Anyone in your position would be.”

“Oh shut up. Spare me the supercilious jibber jabber and let’s get this over with.”

The young man acknowledged her request while arching a sly brow then took one last step forward before spreading wide his arms.

“Okay, please try to escape this pool before the cover closes us in.”

Alaya heard his words and became astonished. She began to giggle haughtily. “Wait, that’s it?” She smirked.

“Yep,” He responded promptly.

“Okay fine.”

And she began to move towards the pool walls when she was swiftly cut off by a whip wrapped around her left hand that viciously pulled her back into the water. She fell in and before she knew it, a pair of hands were making their way around her neck and suffocating her beneath the pungent water. Without a moment’s notice, she took in more water than oxygen before she had the opportunity to hold her breath.

Alaya reached up to feel out her opponent’s figure, and then she yanked at his head aggressively with both hands and attempted to maneuver herself above water level. She desperately struggled, kicking and pulling for another 2 and a half minutes before the sweet release was granted to her when the young man pulled her head up from below.

She coughed and inhaled violently loud as she tried to catch her breath. “You fucking asshole!” She yelled. “Are you trying to kill me?”

The young man simply took a few steps back and reclined to his previous position then said. “No, I’m not.” He assured her. “But if you get caught tomorrow… they will.”