(KASM)

Deo barely got to enjoy the feeling of Kest’s hand in his before she dropped it. “Here, train with these guys.”

At first, Deo was confused, unsure what she was talking about as he could only see her. Then he tilted his head down and saw the smaller children around. He tried to look back to Kest but she was already gone.

“New kid!” A voice barked. Deo snapped his gaze to the voice, subconsciously straightening up his spine. The voice came from an older boy standing above Deo and the little kids, “get in line,” he ordered.

“Huh?” tumbled out of Deo’s mouth before he could stop it.

The teen boy sighed then spoke through gritted teeth. “Get. In. Line.”

Stolen story; please report.

Deo looked around again and saw that all the kids were standing in orderly rows, equally distant from each other. Deo tried to shuffle into place. Eventually, the teen boy sighed again. “Whatever, close enough. Let’s begin.”

Deo did his best to follow along, limping through the motions, but found himself playing constant catch up. He quickly grew too tired to move. Finally he broke from the formation and limped over to the teen boy in charge, “I’m going to rest now, ok?”

“Huh? Who gave you permission? Get back in line.”

Deo flinched, curling in on himself a bit, “...but Kest said,” he responded in a weak voice.

“I don’t care what Kest said, she’s not in charge. Now, get back in line,” he waved his hand to dismiss Deo and turned his head. Deo looked around, hoping to find Kest but it was impossible to pick her out in a sea of kids that looked exactly the same. He took one step forward and his vision was swallowed by darkness.