Perfect School

With a groan I grabbed my towel, wrapping it around my body and with a pile of clothes in my hands I went to shower. The hot water warmed me, and more importantly woke me up. Once I was awake it was easy enough to just linger but I stepped out anyway, drying and dressing for the day. I hung up my towel in the bathroom on my way out to the living room.

Jonah:

Our teacher and chaperone was not a talkative one. They chose to give us our information, and interact as little as possible otherwise. They had prepared a breakfast of eggs (poorly scrambled) and a berry shake that lacked flavor. But there was little time to go get breakfast as the first task would be starting soon. I was sitting at the table mindlessly eating when Kira came in.

I eyed the food for a moment before sitting down with a plate and a shake along with a mug of my medicine. I downed the sludge filled mug first before mechanically eating the eggs. The shake would be last but if the eggs were any indication it wouldn't be that good.

Jonah:

I watched her as I finished off the last of the shake. “Obstacle course today,” I said, even though she already knew. “You ready?”

"Some time to stretch would be nice. But I'll manage even without." I said as I methodically ate my way through my eggs. I focused on not thinking about the challenge before us today, and instead on relaxing myself so that I was ready for what ever might come.

Jonah

I stood up to put my dishes in the sink and on the way I casually touched Kira on her shoulder and brushed the back of her neck with my hand. “I'm sure there will be time to stretch there. Not a lengthy one, but one nonetheless.” I continued the conversation.

I fought the shiver that threatened to run it's way down my spine as his hand brushed the back of my neck. Instead I pushed aside my plate and focused on my smoothie. It was as bad as I'd expected, but I worked on downing it never the less. "I'll take what I can get."

Jonah:

I leaned against the counter, slightly out of her view, waiting for her to finish. “I think this will be a fun one. It's basically a giant playground for adults right?” I smiled to myself, thinking about it. The school had done opstical courses before, I had always enjoyed them.

"With bullets, razor-wire, and more I don't think it's really for adults either. But it will be interesting to see how it compares to the school's version." I finished half the smoothie before I decided I'd had enough. Taking both plate and cup to the sink I settled them in and moved over to Jonah. "Ready?"

Jonah:

“Absolutely.” I smiled down at her then offered to crook of my arm to her formally. “Shall we be off?”

I glanced at his offered arm. I very nearly took it, but I made myself move past him to the door where I waited with arms crossed and gaze fixated on the ground.

Jonah:

I chuckled and followed close after her, stepping through the door and holding it open for her with and guileful smile.

I ignored his smile and moved onto the porch then the path. I kept my arms folded until I was in the sun. I used the warmth of the bright sky to stretch up high, enjoying my languid stretch.

Jonah:

I would have liked to stroll leisurely down the path, but I also wanted time to warm my muscles up, so we walked briskly to the field where the course was set up. The majority of it was shielded by a mesh fence, but I could make out hints of what it would be. We were among the first to arrive and I steered us off to a corner to stretch in.

Once we had found our corner I dropped to the ground, legs together as I bent flat over them. I let out a sigh and moved through a brisk routine to loosen up and get the blood flowing. I enjoyed stretching, the feel of mucles pulling at themselves, and the slight discomfort that came from an especially good stretch.

Jonah:

I stretched alongside her watching the other people as I did so. Our competitors showed up quickly but kept to themselves, even the ones we had met last night did not come to speak to us, or anyone else. We were not friends in this, even if we had been friendly last night.

I was reminded of a question I'd asked myself when I was little and just starting the training regiment that had been designed for me. 'What would it be like to be normal?' The question danced it's way through my head as I glanced to the other kids. I decided it didn't matter, we might have been friendlier that way. But it was no use in debating what-ifs. Jonah and I had a competition to win.

Jonah:

Just as I was finishing up my stretch routine a woman came by and gave us each a belt with several loops and buckles on it. She said instructions would follow shortly and left us be. I looked the belt over, it was clearly for weapons or tools, but no one came to distribute anything else. I strapped it around my waist as I waited for conformation of what I thought the task would include.

I buckled on the belt, adjusting it so it fit snugly but wouldn't impede me in any form. I continued stretching, but chose to stand after that. With the belt I figured we might find weapons or items within the course. A brief glance was spared to Jonah as I considered discussing a game plan with him. But in the end I figured he'd help me get a gun or not. Ideally I could get a long range rifle, but I'd take anything they offered.

Jonah:

The instructions were, not only to make it through the obstacle course, but to collect weapons that we would use in a later task. If we we made it but did not find weapons, then we would surely lose the upcoming one. This wouldn't be a problem for us, I thought. They then split us up into separate small groups, so no one had our companion with us. We would be released into the course at different entrances, so we wouldn't cluster.

I gave a glance to Jonah then, face asking his game plan before we were separated. My goal was a gun. A sniper if possible, but I would go for any pistol or longer ranged one first.

Jonah:

I couldn't communicate anything to her without risking others seeing it as well. Besides, Kira was a big girl and she could formulate a plan of her own. If I was able, I would join her in the course, but if not I was sure we would both do well.

Someone shot a gun, not a genuine on I was sure, and hen we were released into the course.

I settled myself in the middle of the pack, knowing that blazing the unknown would have its advantages if you chose correctly, but would be devastating if you didn't. But I also didn't want to be in the back as it put you behind those who had the right track. The middle had it's own dangers as it was easiest to pick off those in the middle from front, behind, or beside. But I knew the risks.

Jonah:

A spray of pellets sent the people around me scattering. One caught me on the leg, It stung and would probably bruise, but it showed me they they weren't dangerous. One person braved the spray straight on, but I waited a moment, watching the patterns and calculating what route would keep me out of the line of fire.

I made it through, leaving the rest of them behind to try to follow my pathway with little success.

I jogged along, pleased I had chosen my path as those in the front fell into deep pits that had been masterfully covered. I vaulted over a few, going so far as to plant a hand atop a head climbing out to use them as a boost over a wider pit.