Ten Years Ago

Location: Classified

‘You’re lucky you made it across,’ Ark said.

Olesya turned from her bunk bed to see Ark standing in the doorway of their quarters. It was just the two of them. Ark’s bed looked unkempt today. No hospital corners.

‘The only reason you’re here is to test my squad.’ Ark pointed to himself. ‘They want to see how I handle an untrained civilian.’

‘That’s what I’ve been saying,’ Olesya said.

‘No.’ Ark stepped into the quarters. ‘You don’t get it. In the real world, when they send me to get a hostage or something...’

Olesya nodded. ‘I’m the curveball.’

Ark raised his hand. ‘Let me explain. You’re the challenge. My squad almost failed today because of you. That was the real test. Not to train you. They don’t care about training you. They want to see if we can still make it through with you slowing us down.’

Olesya felt her cheeks flush. ‘I put myself on the line so your squad could make the right decision.’

‘And you couldn’t even do that right,’ he said.

‘You’re blaming the ambush on me?’ Olesya asked.

‘You shot me.’

‘I didn’t mean—’

‘I told you not to shoot,’ Ark said.

‘I shot the soldier,’ Olesya said. ‘You got in the way.’

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‘No, you got in the way,’ he said. ‘This is why you do everything I tell you. And why you don’t shoot at all. Can you get that through your thick skull?’

Olesya nodded.

‘Our final qualification is tomorrow and you’ll get through with us. I will make sure of it. And once we qualify, you’ll be out of here so fast you won’t know what hit you. Or maybe you will.’ He walked for the door.

‘Is that your plan?’ she asked.

Ark paused in the doorway. ‘Xiu sees something in you. If she’s wrong, then you’re dragging us down.’

‘And if she’s right?’

He turned to face her. ‘Then you’re dragging me down. And I won’t let that happen.’

‘My father never hit me,’ Olesya said. ‘I told you that to make you feel better.’

‘I don’t need you to make me feel better.’

‘The path of least resistance,’ she said. ‘I can choose the easy way out. I can adapt to the way you do things and shut my mouth. It’s better than making waves.’

He nodded. ‘Now you finally get it.’

‘If it goes on long enough, the resistance adds up,’ Olesya said. ‘It’s not worth it anymore. But you don’t realize that until it’s too late. Sometimes, the path of most resistance is actually the least.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘What are you trying to say?’

‘The person who hit you.’ She took one step toward him. ‘They were taller.’

‘No one hit me,’ he said.

Olesya took another step. ‘You flinch from above. And there’s a slight twitch when I mention your father.’

Ark closed the gap between them. ‘You say anything about my family again and you’ll be the one flinching.’ He wet his lips. ‘Tomorrow, you’re not firing a single round. I’m taking your magazine and I’m keeping it until it’s over. You got that?’

Olesya stared through him. ‘You’re not taking my magazine. Because I’m not giving it to you.’

She waited for him to say his final words and then storm off, but there was something different in his eyes now. She’d miscalculated. He lunged forward and grabbed her arm, tight.

‘You do what I say,’ he said in a low growl.

‘Disarming me is against the rules of engagement.’ Olesya tried to pull free. ‘You’ll get us disqualified if you do that.’

His grip tightened. ‘No! I’ll get us qualified.’

‘You’re not thinking—’

Ark held both her upper arms and shook her. ‘I’m the squad leader! You hear me?’

Olesya tilted her head back, focused on the ceiling to slow the dizziness. ‘Stop shaking me!’

He banged her head against the bunk. ‘Then. Stop. Resisting!’

Olesya fought through the pain. She slammed her forehead into his nose. The cartilage crunched under the impact, dispersing across her forehead. Ark fell backward and landed on the linoleum floor, blood coating his face.

‘What … what?’

‘The path of most resistance,’ Olesya said.