The briefing room was a small room that was one door past the entrance to the cadre area. There were no chairs, just an easel standing in the corner with some paper. Leaning against the wall was a cadre member looking upset as he waited for us to all arrive for the mission brief.

“Hurry up, you maggot, we haven’t got all day,” he snarled when I peeked my head in the door.

I immediately stepped in, but I also immediately regretted my decision and wanted to return. Jace was leaning against the side wall, where I wasn’t initially able to see him. His scowl and stare informed me of what he expected me to do. While considering changing my escape plans, I had no intention of giving up my rank or my spot on a team. Plus, I wanted to rub the notion that Jace couldn’t just get what he wanted in his face.

I folded my arms, stood in the center of the room, and waited for further instructions. Two more cadets came in, the same ones that assaulted me in the hallway.

“Close the door, so we can get this started,” the cadre member said after the two came in.

“This is it, sergeant?” I asked. I barely remembered to say sergeant since my heart was suddenly beating like a snare drummer on a caffeine overdose.

“Yes,” he said. “Now shut up so I can get through this. It’s a time-sensitive mission.” It seemed that either the sergeant was unhappy, or he just plain didn’t like me. Because he didn’t bother to yell at Jace’s cronies when they came in after me. However, it’s not like his actions were any different from how other cadres always treated us. Jace snickered and chuckled in obvious derision of my comment, and when the sergeant ignored the outburst, it became even more evident that it was just directed to me.

I ignored them all and just waited for the mission brief.

“Okay,” the sergeant started. “About sixty minutes ago, one of the proximity alarms was tripped about two kilometers west of the facility. Thirty minutes ago, our close-range camera picked up visuals of what we believe is an enemy scout. At this time, there is only one confirmed individual. We do not think that there are any additional threats. Analysis of the video indicates that the individual is armed with a small-caliber rifle, which shouldn’t threaten any of your hardened physiques.

Your mission is to make contact with the intruder and to capture or neutralize. Cadet Masters, as usual, is the team leader.” He was talking about Jace. We all knew his name, and while many of us use last names just like in the military, all the other Carpenters and I make sure to use his first name so he doesn’t get a big head.

“This is a short-range mission. You aren’t expected to go beyond the one-kilometer mark. If you reach that point, then head back. You will be using the northeast exit, and your gear is already waiting. Any questions?” The inquiry for questions was geared toward Jace, the team leader for this mission. He shook his head in the negative.

“Then you’re dismissed.”

“Is there something you want to say?” Jace had stopped leaning against the wall and was staring at me with hate in his eyes. He wanted me to tell the sergeant that I could not go on the mission and then turn in my rank.

“What are you talking about?” I played dumb. I wanted to smile so bad, but I held it in.

I could see his fist clenched in anger, but that was the only outward sign he showed. “Fine,” he said and started moving toward the door.

The sergeant didn’t say anything about our exchange, so I ignored him and followed Jace. I didn’t want to follow him, but he was the mission’s leader. Plus, I had no clue where the northeastern exit was.

As I exited the room, Jace was halfway down the hallway, walking purposefully. I jogged to catch up with him, then fell in step behind him and to the left, per military regulation.

“You’re going to pay for that decision, Alson,” he stated without looking in my direction.

“You’ve already made that abundantly clear, Jace. I also think I’ve made it clear what I’m going to do. But right now, maybe we should focus on the mission. I’m sure you don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize that.” Jace didn’t respond. He just scowled as he continued to walk.

I made sure to pay attention to where we were going. I wanted to know about all the exits to the camp. While we continued to walk silently, I lamented that I didn’t know any of them. Escaping was an act I had been passionate about for years, but I didn’t bother to learn where any way I could get out. I made a personal vow to discover every way out of the camp I could find.

Then I began to think about how I would have escaped without going on a mission. I realized then that I had a perfect place to try and escape. The garden was open on top, it was minimally staffed, and with my abilities, making it out through there would have been easy.

Finally, we entered a small room. At the far end was a thick metal door with a large circular handle, precisely like the one to my barracks. On the right side of the room were four small rucksacks. They were packed with equipment for our mission, but I didn’t have time to inspect what was packed in them. Three of the rucks were lined with metallic poles. Since I wasn’t supposed to be able to manipulate metal, I grabbed the one without the bars. It didn’t explain what I was supposed to use once we left the camp’s perimeter.

“What weapon am I supposed to use?” I asked Jace.

Instead of answering my question, he just gave us the order to fall in.

Jace’s cronies and I all lined up and went to attention. Jace ignored the other two and went right to me. He began to check my equipment. He went to my rucksack, and I could feel it as he loosened the straps and started digging inside.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“It’s a short mission. You won’t need all this equipment.”

I was close to turning around and getting into an altercation before he said anything. However, when he explained what he was doing, I understood his purpose, so I let him continue.

I decided to trust him for the mission since he was in charge and had been on missions before. I regretted it when he walked back to the front of our little formation. He had a smug look on his face and was holding my canteen.

“You won’t need this either,” he said as he poured the water out. “Let’s get this mission started. Fall out.” His cronies stepped back and then went to the door and opened it.

Light streamed in, followed by a cool breeze that smelled of pine. After they exited, I headed to the door. Before I walked out of the room, Jace’s powerful hand slammed into my chest. I grunted at the force and was stopped dead in my tracks. Before I could say anything, he was in my face.

“Do what you’re told. Keep your mouth shut. Stay the hell out of our way. Do all that, and maybe, you’ll make it back alive, twig.”

Jace didn’t wait for me to respond. He turned, walked out the door, and into the open air.