Chapter 4
I go east. Not because I have a solid plan but simply because I have less chance of running into any dragons the further east I go. The last thing I need is running into another clan, they’ll either think I’m a Rebel or get in touch with my parents when they find out I’ve gone Rogue. Being a Rogue isn’t the most ideal status but being lugged together with Rebel dragons is something no Rogue dragon wants for themselves.
I drive for a week; none stop before I finally feel safe enough to stop in one place for longer than a night. I spend a couple of days in a small town called Summer Springs before I pack up because the lady at the hotel looked like the type to call the cops on teenagers she things might cause her trouble. I drive three towns over, stopping in Lunar Valley. The town looks big enough for people to mind their own business and when I step into a café no one looks at me like they know I don’t belong.
“What can I get you?” The guy behind the counter asks, looking bored of repeating the same line yet again. I order a hot chocolate and a dark chocolate chip muffin, getting distracted by the flyer of a training camp in a paper box that looks like it’s seen better days. I hand the guy some cash, grabbing the flyer as I stuff the change he hands me into my coat. By the time my food comes I’ve programmed my GPS and eat my muffin on the way to the camp.
The place I pull up to doesn’t look like much, but I’ve visited enough training camps with my brother to know the more run down the place looks the better chance you have at improving your skill. The main building is labeled as such so I park my car in front of it. A greying old man steps out of it before my feet even reaches the ground and he stands at the top of the five steps like he’s guarding gold from thieves.
“You don’t fit in here.” He’s decided in his assessment, having looked at nothing more than my car and myself.
“You don’t know that.” He’s a human, lucky for me in the sense that he won’t sense I’m a dragon, unlucky for me in the sense that they don’t trust outsiders easily.
“I know your type.” He nods at the car and then looks back at me. “Rich man’s kid thinking a training camp is a fun way to pass some time. You never last here, so go find somewhere else to waste your time. I hear a few diners in town are looking for some help, if you feel charity inclined.” I frown, anger building up inside of me, not enough to make me lose control but enough to make me want to fight back, no matter how old this human is.
“Let me prove to you I have skills. If I don’t you can keep my car.” I should probably have ditched it a long time ago, but I doubt my parents will think to look this far east for me. I have never left the safety of our clan without them right beside me so I know they won’t see reason to think I’m all the way out here. He looks between me and the car before nodding.
“Hand to hand combat.” He announces, walking down from the steps, stepping into the large clearing the buildings provide. I look around before following his lead, hoping no one that passes by thinks I’m fighting with this old dude to just be picking a fight.
We circle each other once before he lunges at me and I step out of his way, surprised at how fast he can move. His next lunge I’m a little more prepared for so I catch his arm and kick him in the back of his leg before landing a blow on his side. He swings his leg around, landing a solid kick in my side, effectively forcing me to let him go, both of us taking a couple of steps back. He smirks, lunges forward with a series of punches that I dodge, landing one when he fails to protect his left side and he lands one straight in my stomach as I do so. We go at it for a bit more, finding ourselves rolling around in the dust before he takes three decided steps back and bows out of the sparring match.
“You can keep your car.” He huffs, a faint sheen of sweat covering his brow.
“Can I stay?” A dissatisfied grunt is his reply as he motions for me to follow him back to the main building.
“You will earn your stay here. Everyone does chores, helping around where they can. You will follow your training schedule and show up on time.” He narrows his eyes as he opens the door to the building, allowing me to step into the surprisingly cool building. “If you cause trouble, you are out, no bargaining. No second chances.” I nod as he hands me a packet of forms. “Fill that in. Don’t lie about your family, we need to contact them in case something serious happens to you, otherwise it’s your business why they’re not coming on family days is your story alone. We have those once a month, no other acceptations.” The packet feels heavy in my hands, but I fill in the information required anyway.
“There you go.” I smile when I hand him the papers back. He grunts, types something on his computer, there’s the sound of a machine working and then he’s producing a key card underneath his desk.
“Take this, drive around the main building and take the second exit on your left, keep driving until you see the gate. Use the card, ask for Blue and don’t put your car up for a gamble again.” I nod, refraining from saluting him like a soldier, instead I just leave the office with thanks and pull away from the main building.
I drive half an hour more before I see the gate and when I pull through it I’m glad I put my car up for gamble to get in here. The place is bustling with life and I’m not sure I’ve seen even half of it. I park my car in the lot clearly labeled for it, turning in a circle like an idiot when I get out of it to try and see everything at once.
“You’re Hydra?” A laughing voice asks from behind me and I turn around, cheeks a little warm, to find a girl with bright blue hair smiling at me.
“You’re Blue?” She laughs and shakes her head.
“Heaven’s no. I’m Cally, we can be friends. Come, I’ll take you to meet Blue.” She locks her arm around mine and as she leads me inside the building closest to us I can’t help but feel I’ve made the right choice.