Recruitment | A FIVE

"So, how's everything been?"

"Great," I enthused into the phone. "I joined a club and it's really been so much fun."

"Oh, that's good." There was a brief silence. "... You're really doing okay, right?" Apprehension visible in her voice.

"Of course, mum. Uncle Louie's been taking really good care of me. He lets me dive in the pool after closing hours and orders ice cream sundaes. He brings PG 13 films over too."

"So basically no different than when you were five."

"Yeah," I admitted.

She sighed and I could just imagine her shaking her head. "Right, just don't tell your father any of that. You know how he gets worried his brother is still the immature teenager from when they were younger."

I could perfectly understand him on that point. "Got it. How's the store doing?"

"Oh, we're alright. Nothing much to mention, really. Same old, same old."

"I'll come over this weekend."

"Oh, Stevie there's no need for that! Focus on your studies. You can't keep coming around like that. Don't inconvenience yourself."

"... Is grandma around?" I suspected.

"Yes." Mum's voice was barely above a whisper. "The crazy crone is insisting that you should only visit us once you've gotten pregnant-what century does she think we're in?!"

I chuckled. "I'm glad to know she mentions me though."

"Mmm, I guess somewhere in that wrinkled vessel lies a shrivelled beating heart. Oh, no she's giving me that evil eye. Gotta go, sweetheart. See you soon."

"Okay. Bye."

"Love you."

"Love you too."

I walked peacefully to the school the following morning with Ashton by my side. Liam was faking a cold to avoid coming in to class because the central hospital would be making their rounds for blood donations. Liam was terrified of needles so that was not happening. Not to mention, a friend of his leaked a spoiler of this sci-fi show he loved so he's adamant on binge watching the episodes to catch up.

Seizing the rare opportunity of this girl time, I confided in Ashton about Shaun.

"A cute athlete who likes old timey detective stories? Sounds like the perfect match for you."

Even if she was only teasing, the thought had me giddy. "Really?"

"Yeah, but he might be bent."

"Hey." I smacked her arm.

"Just being honest, there's many things to consider here," she justified. "I never thought you'd become a player though."

"A player?"

"Yes, that's what they call 'em. Unless Amina knows you're seeing someone else on the side." Ashton smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Very funny."

"Having an affair is no joking matter, Stevie but as your beloved friend, I won't tell either of them."

"I think I'd rather have you not speak to them in general."

As the academy entrance was in sight, I felt like it was a stroke of luck spotting Amina stepping out of a BMW. The car took off and her line of vision shifted into my field. I smiled, waving. Only not to receive any form of recognition in return as she tore her gaze, striding through the gates.

Ashton frowned. "What was that about?"

"I dunno..." I watched Amina's figure merging into the multitude pouring in with confusion. She definitely saw me.

"Well maybe she's going through something," Ashton suggested.

"Yeah, maybe." My tone however, couldn't hide my skepticism.

Catching onto it, Ashton was quick to nudge me. "Don't lose your head over it, Steves." With an urging smile, I forced myself to shrug it off as we continued our steps. "So anyways, I was thinking for lunch we could head out to that new bistro on east street."

"Is that the one with...?" My sentence was cut off by the sudden blaring noise of an engine.

The sleek black body of a convertible speedily pulled up right in front of us. It appeared so abruptly that we both yelped, bones nearly jumping out of our skin. The shrill noise of screeching-rubber burning on asphalt before hitting on the brakes, parked between the road and the pathway.

A steel faced man was situated behind the wheel. Judging from his attire, he was a chauffeur and seated by him was Garren. Then sat at the back were Ben and Will. All three boys had their faces hidden behind sunglasses and windswept hair that still looked stylish.

"You nearly ran us over you pricks!" Ashton fumed.

Garren paid no mind to her livid tone and turned to his loyal foot soldiers with a nod. It seemed to be some sort of signal as the two boys immediately stepped out of the car and without warning, fastened their arms around me.

"What are you-? Oi!"

Their grip was binding, compressing my movements to a substantial degree. I was like a slice of meat wedged between two pieces of bread.

"Let go of her!" I heard Ashton bark as I was hauled forward.

They hoisted me up to my feet hovering in the air and I thrashed my legs about but it went to be a futile effort, along with shouting. I was dropped into the back seats of the convertible, seatbelt shackling me into place in mere seconds and the next thing I knew, a petrified looking Ashton was getting further away from view as the car sped down the road.

"What the hell is going on? Where are you taking me?" I questioned.

"Are you lactose intolerant?" came Garren's query, over his shoulder.

I scrunched my brows. "What?"

He turned his head to meet my puzzled face, leaving no shadow of a doubt this time when he repeated it. "I said are you lactose intolerant?"

"What does that even have to do with anything? I asked a question. Where are you taking me?"

"And I'll answer yours, after you answer mine."

I narrowed my eyes. I didn't trust him in the slightest but I doubted he'd play fair, since he literally just forced me into a car. "... No, I'm not."

Garren reverted to his former position, muttering something to the driver. I sat in there, still with no explanation and the speed of the car packing the wind into a ruthless whirlwind, whipping my hair. I desperately tried and failed to maintain my mane of puffs from sprawling out chaotically with Ben and Will watching in awe at my futile attempts.

The one time I decide not to bunch up my hair, of course I end up abducted and once the car finally stopped, I no doubt resembled a dandelion.

The boys seemed not to have minded- or more like, cared as they ushered me forward into the petite café up ahead. Thankfully, Garren reserved for a private booth boarded by an ostentatiously large fish tank that hid me from other customers.

Making a scene would end up drawing attention regardless so I was forced to refrain from screaming at the dark haired devil for ruining my hairdo. I channeled my indignation on the pretty menus which were written in French.

In the middle of translating it in my head, a waiter appeared with a tray containing four beautifully decorated parfaits.

I stared up at the staff who only shot me a forced polite smile then back to the dessert. I may have been distracted but I knew none of my kidnappers had called to make an order within the span we'd been seated.

Will and Ben casually helped themselves to a parfait so I reluctantly copied them. Along with trying to avoid the way Garren seemed to be scrutinising my every move, irrespective of his eyes concealed by his shades.

When he pushed them to rest atop his head, I found that I was right. "Take a scoop. The place has exceptional ice cream."

I glanced at the other two. Ben's already halfway through his fudge sundae and Will had his focus on both of us.

I crossed my arms. "Tell me why the hell I've been dragged here first."

"To talk," he stated.

"Talk?" I echoed. "And that would've been difficult to do at school because...?"

"I'm not going anywhere near that building with those troops sent from the humanitarian quarters lurking around."

"You mean the blood drive? What, are you afraid of needles?"

"I'm frankly baffled if there's somebody that moronic to take such measures."

The image of Liam flickered to my mind and somehow, I felt I vicariously took the insult. "Then you don't donate?"

"I donate exclusively to my in-law's private clinic."

"What's the difference?"

I was met with stumped looks from the two boys on either side of me.

"You don't know? The best hospitals in this city are practically running through donations provided by Garren's family," said Will. "In return, they were required to abide by a few policies which included purchasing equipment company's approved on the Adler List."

"Why even ask for something like that?"

Garren chimed in to retort, "Wouldn't it make sense to try to ensure what you've put your money into is used in the best means possible? The reason those hospitals have remained at top tier is by the lucrative business partners my family screened for them."

"What if the hospital wanted to keep business with a partner not on The List?" I questioned.

The answer was mechanical as it was brisk. "Breach of the agreement would result in being cut off from the payroll."

"What? That doesn't sound like a donation. That's sounds more like pocket money."

Garren shrugged with an indifference only capable from a spawn of such an autocratic lineage.

"Anyway," Will continued. "That left many of the organisations that didn't make the list losing revenue and getting desperate to change that. So there's always at least one or two of those volunteers that take an opportunity like this to approach Garren to reconsider. Or if they begged enough, possibly get them a job at the top class hospitals."

"You're joking, right?"

To my disbelief, no sign of humour was on their faces.

"The worst was definitely that one time after Gary's aunt was having hip surgery and there was this woman that went and-"

"Enough."

Will and Ben flinched instantly from the one word that left Garren's lips. Though, it was the darkened look I caught in his eyes that held me on edge.

The mood at the table had gone jarringly still, with me left to question if I were to blame for asking something wrong. It wasn't like I wanted to, I had yet to even understand what I was doing here.

I grabbed my spoon, desperate to have something that made sense. Food never failed in that category. I shovelled a heap of the creamy delight laced in vanilla and syrup coating, slipping it down my throat. It was heavenly.

"Good, right?" Garren smirked. No trace of that former expression, I suddenly grew unsure if it had ever truly been there.

I crossed my arms, ignoring the exuberant flavour dancing on my taste buds. "I'd like to know what justified bringing me here against my will now, please."

I didn't appreciate the fact I was unintentionally skyving for the first time ever. The boy was ruining my perfect attendance record.

Garren placed his elbows on the table. "You see, Stevie, life is a lot like a game of snakes and ladders," he started. "Some people, no matter what they do, will always remain at the bottom because that's who they are. At times, they'll fight stubbornly against their destiny. They try to reach higher, throw the dice constantly and endlessly to be somewhere they don't belong. They inevitably run into a snake and sink even lower to rot."

"Like garbage," chimed Ben.

"Exactly." Garren nodded. "They're garbage. Now, the other people- the better people are naturally born winners. Whichever way the dice falls, they can only go up and stay at the top. Like me, for example."

"Right..." I muttered.

"Then recently, I discovered... there is another group. This group lives amongst the garbage people but actually have potential. That's you." He pointed.

I blinked.

"If they're fortunate enough, they'll roll a dice that lands them on a one-way ladder right to the top. To join the winners. They're transformers. Like a butterfly out of the cocoon. You see what I'm getting at?"

I slowly nodded, lips pursed as I desperately racked my brain to understand his words. Unfortunately, I wasn't fluent in the language of arrogant, rich twats. "... Yeah no, not really."

Garren's jaw clenched.

Will let out a chuckle. "See, I told you she wouldn't get the metaphors."

"Yeah, you should've went with Twister," said Ben. "That's way more fun and no one really plays snakes and ladders anymore-"

"Shut the hell up, Ben," Garren snapped. He took a breath, linking his fingers together. "What I'm saying is... I'm granting you an opportunity for that potential to be fully recognised."

My lips pursed, eyes darting between the three who were staring at me in an expectant manner. That had me nervous for several reasons. "Recognised how, exactly?"

"By becoming one of us- an Ace."

At that, I froze. I had no clue what my expression was like in that moment, but it evoked a smile on Garren's face that was unbearably smug. Just when I thought he couldn't say anything more crazier to have me taken aback, he had proved me wrong.

"... You, you want me to be an Ace?" I stammered.

"Despite your unfortunate genetic profile, you have noteworthy skills the rest of those so-called associates in Coeus lack."

I squinted my eyes. "My genetic profile?"

Will hoarsely cleared his throat. "That was a poor way to phrase it. He doesn't mean it like that, we don't care what your skin colour is- I, I mean, we do but not that it's a problem. What Garren means is, um-"

"You know, you having a vagina and stuff," Ben piped.

No emotion could even seem to properly process with how flippantly he had said it out. All I could do was wordlessly cock my head back to Will who looked somewhere between wishing he wasn't here and whacking the brown haired boy.

Gradually, Will just squeezed his eyes in defeat and groaned. "Yes, thank you, Benny."

I arched my eyebrows, my jaw clenching. "Oh. And that's considered unfortunate?" There was no distortion in my emotions now, my voice fully embracing the unrelenting rage and disgust.

Yet it seemed like neither went registered to their leader.

"Commonly, yes," Garren shamelessly answered. "As much as many would like to believe with all the propaganda currently saying otherwise, let's not kid ourselves into taking it for more than what it is- a marketing scheme. I'm generally not one to bother challenging the stupid social order but meeting an intellectual mind that could rival the likes of mine, it's such a shame to waste.

So anyway, I thought about it all night and discussed it with the guys and reached an agreement. I'm willing to give this a go and with some polishing- I'm confident you'll fit right in with us."

My fingers had been tightly clammed around the spoon throughout each word, simply staring and tragically hoping this all an elaborate joke. It wasn't.

This world would just never cease to amaze me, would it?

"Wow, this is seriously happening right now..." I ran hand through my hair. "Yeah um, no thank you."

Garren's smile instantly fell and he paused. His friends appeared stumped. Eventually, he recoiled. "What did you just say? I don't think I caught that right."

"She said-"

Garren silenced Ben with one finger. "I wasn't asking you." His eyes swayed back to me with a tight lipped smile. "Come again?"

"I said no," I repeated nice and slowly. "I have no interest in being anything like you people. I'm also very happy with having a vagina and it's not an unfortunate genetic, it's this stupid system that thinks the world can't have us coexisting without one side having to be on the losing end."

Garren scoffed, "So you'd choose to be a loser?"

"I choose to keep my principles."

He shrugged. "Same difference."

"Like you and that private clinic?"

Garren paused once again but his right eye appeared to be on the fritz as it was twitching. "Do you realise what you're saying right now? I'm offering you the opportunity of a lifetime. What anyone at that damn school would kill for."

"Well, go ask anyone else then," I replied.

Garren's eyes narrowed. "There's no need to put up an act, Powell. I can see it in you that you want it. To stand out and let everyone see just how superior you are."

"You don't know a thing about me."

"I don't need to. Everybody's the same when it comes to power. Everybody wants to be in control." At the resolute glint in Garren's eyes, I knew he meant it solemnly. "It may be difficult right now to see it but you and I are alike."

I scoffed at that point. "I am nothing like you."

"Yes, you are. There's the natural human instinct to live, to survive but our kind don't only want to survive. We have the inborn initiative to rule. Sometimes you can detect which people have it by the they way they act, their taste. Like my chair for example." My eyes widened at that. "You had other options to sit but you chose that one. The biggest chair. The one with a dominant characteristic."

"How did you know I sat-?"

"It's my chair. Of course I'd know. That sort of thing can't be hidden from me."

At his vague response, I noticed Ben was suddenly having trouble to look me in the eye and Will was intently studying the table. So much for secrets.

"Okay, whatever. So I sat in your stupid chair. That doesn't mean anything. I don't want to be a part of your cult."

Despite my blunt refusal, Garren wore a smile like he'd won. "Okay, you're overwhelmed. I get it. This is a big life-changing moment. I'll give you some time to process it all and get back to me."

Could someone be this vain? "Are actual words coming out of my mouth right now or what?"

"I'm not a patient person so don't waste time."

"I won't change my mind."

"We'll see."

I rose up from the table, unable to stand the overblown ego radiating out and marched off with only the regret being that I couldn't finish my divine sundae. So I quickly scuttled back to take one last bite, though not to give the wrong idea, I defiantly dropped the spoon after.

I'd deduced the best route to get to class before I could be late for second period and as I started for the course, I heard a voice call out.

"Stevie, wait."

I turned to see Will approaching. "What is it?"

"Listen, Garren isn't as bad as he seems."

I cocked a brow, unconvinced. "Really?"

"He's not used to giving out compliments so he's a little out of practice."

"Where in that misogynistic absurdity that he just spewed was there a compliment?"

Will raised his hands in a show of surrender. "Okay, okay so it was shit. I did try to tell him the plan was terrible but I was outvoted. Though, I'm being completely honest when I say, I've never seen Garren admit to being completely out of his depth. That was the only reason I agreed to this because someone capable of making that guy do that, would be someone I'd like to get to know better. Vagina and all."

The urge to curl my lips upwards tugged at the corners of my mouth but this was no time to be feeling amused by some vulgar joke. I bit down on my lip, dropping my gaze to the ground to avoid him noticing.

"The thing about Garren is, he grew up in a very different environment than you and me. It's what built the principles he lives by. He thinks how he views the world is reasonable and I agree, sometimes he's not wrong but I don't think it's right either."

"I find that hard to believe when you're not doing anything to stop him."

"Forcing something on someone who doesn't understand isn't going to change anything."

"You've just got an excuse for everything, don't you?"

Will simply shrugged. It wasn't indifferent or uncertain but calm in a way that pissed me off for some reason. "Garren might not think so, but he has his shortcomings. Everybody does. I don't think it's enough to warrant him not having people that can see past that."

In that moment, I immediately recalling that horrific dinner lady incident. He expected me to look past that? "If you're asking me to take pity on his inability to treat people decently, you've got the wrong girl."

"I'm not asking you to do that."

"Then what are you asking me?"

"I'm asking you to see Garren as a person- a human being. Not as some narcissist maniac or this psychotic overachiever but just consider the fact he can be a little helpless, too."

I became speechless. There was one part of me that was skeptical of his statements. That although Will didn't seem like a mindless puppet as opposed to Ben, that didn't mean he was any different. The speech could've all been a sob story to get to me. The other part of me that I thought was long gone after being fooled countless times, was rattled, holding this shred of hope it was maybe true.

"I'm not trying to put any pressure on you or anything," Will added.

"Little late for that."

"Oh, sorry," he apologised but still had a smile. I wanted to hate him for it, I really did. "Just think about it, okay?"

He didn't wait for a response and went back into the cafe.

***

On the bus ride to the academy, I contacted Ashton and she answered, hysterical. Once reassuring her I was fine, she calmed down and I explained everything that occurred. Which led to her falling hysterical again.

The school day followed through in a regular mundane pattern like any other day. I mostly spent my geography class staring at Shaun but we didn't pick up where left off like in those romance novels. The instance it was over, I had places to be and so did he. I did catch his eye as we were packing up and got a brief nod with a smile so there was still something.

After lessons, Michael had the members meet up at the rec room for another training game regime. Amina surprised me with a large hug and a charming smile. Her demeanour was so welcoming and she'd engage in chatter with me every chance she got that it made me question if this was the same girl who'd given me the cold shoulder the same morning. I decided that it had all just been a mistake. It must've been somebody else.

When done with club activities, I joined Ashton to pop by Liam's house. We were frequent visitors to the Sherwood household that his parents never minded our non-informed appearances. We were comfortable with it too so Ashton and I casually barged into his room without a seconds thought only to find the boy perched on his bed wearing headphones on, eating a bowl of Special K with his laptop in full view to see the unmistakable sight of a porno playing on screen.

That ensued a spiralling event of Liam's screams of startle and my screams of horror.

-

"Seriously, I don't know what's more ballsy- watching a hardcore porno with their folks just downstairs or eating cereal for woman," Ashton confessed.

She more amused at the situation while I, on the other hand, was trying to recover.

"Shut up," said Liam. "And there's nothing on the box that says the cereal is only for woman. They just broadcasted it as a diet brand to higher marketing and profits."

"Right." Ashton rolled her eyes.

"I thought you were watching that sci-fi series," I recalled.

"I was. I caught up with it a few hours earlier than I thought," Liam stated. "It made me realise just how much time I have stolen from me in school. In psych class, they mentioned how the essence of time is truly lengthened by mind. So, did I miss anything in that time consuming dump?"

"Mm, nothing really," Ashton said casually. "Just Stevie getting abducted by The Aces and Garren Adler trying to recruit her into his cult."

Liam paused. He read both of our expressions to find any trace of a joke. When he saw there was none, his mouth fell ajar. Then he let out a breath. "The one day I decide to skip school." He shook his head. "Tell me everything."