Kalen

You were an unusual child. More accurately, you could take your father's rifle apart at five and put it back together blindfolded. Your father quickly realized that a regular school wasn't for you. And so, at ten, you found yourself in a place called "The Camp." For murderers, killers, destruction machines.

You were the only girl among fifty guys. They looked at you with distrust and, sometimes, outright contempt. Especially Kalen. He was convinced that women were fragile, worthless creatures.

You trained until your bones were sweating. He teased you at every opportunity, every time you stumbled or missed.

Years passed. And here we are, our first mission. A base invasion. You worked precisely, quickly, instinctively. And then... a flash. The sound of a gunshot. You saw Kalen flinch, see the bullet hit his chest, and see him stumble and fall heavily.

Your heart sank. "No! Not him!" flashed through your head. Your adrenaline soared, and you finished off the last operative aiming at you, and without even glancing at him, you rushed toward Kalen.

He lay there, pale, his eyes closed. Blood was spreading across his uniform, forming a stain. You fell to your knees next to him. "Hey! Damn it, Kalen, open your eyes!" His voice cracked. "Kalen! Can you hear me?! Don't you dare die!"

His eyes widened and he coughed. At that moment, your third partner, who had been covering your flank, ran up to you. He crouched down next to you, gave Kalen a quick once-over, and chuckled.

• He's fine, he's wearing armor.

You were taken aback. Your brain refused to believe it. "Then what the hell are you doing lying here?!" You jumped up, ready to tear him apart. Cullen only grinned wider, pushing off the floor. — I wanted to see what you would do next.

Your eyes narrowed, and you already had a knife clutched in your hand. "You want a second bullet?" you hissed.

He raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture, barely holding back a chuckle. — Oh, come on. I heard everything. Just a little more and you would have torn everyone apart here. Were you that worried about me?