She hadn’t used the words ‘sent home’. All the recruits knew it was a one-way ticket. Pass or die. I didn’t like the odds that five would pass. I raised my hand.
“Yes, Jacqueline.” The instructor knew my name and I was surprised by her demeanor. She seemed pleasant enough considering the situation. “What if all nine of us pass?”
“We will take the best five. There is only room for five,” she reminded us. “Score high and you needn’t worry. Besides, in all our years, it’s rare that all seven pass. They’re difficult and challenging for a reason. We don’t want anyone holding our community or the rebel alliance back. Your contribution to society will be rewarded if you pass the tests.”
Jaxon turned around whispering to us, “It’s a very lucrative job.”
I wondered what that meant. At home, everyone was deemed equal and provided the same necessitates. When we stayed in Haven, I had recognized some differences like the ability to choose where and what to eat. I hadn’t fully understood how the community worked, but I knew Haven had luxuries I never would have seen in Genesis. Now, I was more curious what this town offered that Haven hadn’t. I’d seen the cabin we’d stayed in and assumed most of the town had similar housing. It reminded me of home, having only what you needed and nothing more. Maybe I’d been mistaken. But one night didn’t give me enough time to judge a town. Maya continued to speak, and I realized I’d zoned out. I tried to catch up, refocus my attention back on her. There were no second chances.
“You’ll begin your training together as one group. You will be scored together with your partner from home and as an individual. We do this to instill teamwork along with competition,” Maya explained. “It is important to us that both you and your partner excel. That’s not to say we won’t take only one of you if it comes down to the fifth and final space when we choose who will stay with our community.”
Again I swallowed, hating the way Maya used the words ‘stay with the community’ as if banishment was an option. I’d happily be banished. I wondered what happened to those who didn’t pass and survived the tests. I let out an anxious breath. There was no point in thinking like that. I couldn’t allow myself to consider failure as an option. Joshua and I, or rather Adam and Jacqueline, would pass the tests. No matter what it took.
“Stand up,” Maya instructed, gesturing for everyone to rise and be on their feet. “Everyone pair off with your partner. I know we have nine recruits so one will be without a partner. Elsa,” she gestured to the girl without a partner. “Your score will be doubled for the partner scores. This may very well be an advantage for you if you do well. Or it could easily destroy you if you’re not up to the challenge.” Elsa nodded in understanding. “Good,” Maya quipped, eyeing each of us standing beside our partners. “Our first lesson is bravery. You will each be assigned the task of archery.”
I glanced at Joshua, wondering how difficult this would be for him. I never so much as touched a bow and arrow, let alone seen one up close. I’d read about such devices and imagined in some of the government towns that hunted, the citizens probably used tools like bows and arrows all the time. I couldn’t help but feel nervous as we followed Maya outside where a shooting range was set up. I hadn’t noticed it earlier that morning when we’d arrived, but I also noted that we hadn’t walked around to the north side of the building. It was possible it had been there all along.
Maya continued to talk, “I will show you the proper stance and position for shooting. You will have all day to practice and perfect your skill. I suggest you take note of the weather, the wind, take into account all these aspects to understand how your bow will guide your arrow.” She scanned each group. “You are required at all times to be respectful to the other groups and each other. When the whistle blows, shooting is absolutely forbidden. If you are caught shooting an arrow after the whistle is blown, it will mean immediate failure. Only after you hear the whistle may you go retrieve your arrows. This is training. We do not want any accidents or injuries,” she firmly reminded all of us. “Again you will have all day to practice and perfect your talent. Jaxon and Margo, you both take position one.” She showed them the first booth with one bow and several arrows set up. It was clear they were to take turns sharing the equipment. “Booth two is for Elsa.” I wondered how this would be fair, her having twice the amount of time to practice than the rest of us. “Booth three is Cate and Mason. Booth four is Jacqueline and Adam. Booth five is Aidan and Hazel.”
I hadn’t met the two couples we would be sandwiched between. Joshua and I headed to booth four. Cate leaned closer toward Mason, her long chestnut hair falling in waves as she whispered something in his ear. He snickered in response, and the dusting of freckles on his cheeks only further reddened matching his copper hair. Mason’s eyes narrowed as he glared at me. Cate smirked all-knowingly, shifting on her feet as she took the bow first. If she was trying to intimidate us, it was working. Cate spoke up proudly, “Can we start, Maya?” It was obvious she was trained in archery and wanted to show off her skills. Already, I despised her.
“In a moment,” Maya answered, walking past each booth, making sure we had all the necessary equipment. “If the bow doesn’t feel right for you, we have other bows on the stand behind you,” she explained. “Depending on your height, weight and strength you may find a different bow more suited to your body type.” I didn’t ask if this was part of the test, to see if we were capable of using their standard equipment, but it crossed my mind.
“Do you want to go first?” I offered to Joshua as I glanced across the field toward the targets attached to five separate bales of hay.
“Ladies first,” he offered. I knew he was nervous because I was, too. Seeing Cate pull an arrow from the quiver, she aimed it with precision and waited for Maya’s announcement to begin.
“Okay. Might as well.” Maybe confidence was all we needed. Maya blew the whistle letting everyone know to start. I took the bow and found it awkward to hold, but I didn’t complain. I grimaced with its weight and size as I pulled an arrow from the quiver and did my best to aim for the bulls-eye a few hundred yards away. Cate stood to the left of me and let the arrow go. She hit the dead center of her target. I muttered a brief curse, trying to copy her stance and movements before I released the arrow, flying it far past the intended target. I wasn’t even remotely close, and I’d thought I’d aimed it well. So much for having natural talent.
Joshua smiled reassuringly and patted me gently on the back. “It’s okay. You’ll get it.” He handed me another arrow. “You should keep practicing until she calls the whistle, then we’ll switch.” I worried that even with his plan we’d struggle for hours. I felt Maya’s presence behind us as she walked the length of the each booth, studying us. If I wasn’t such a terrible shot to begin with, I’d have blamed my inability on nerves.
Maya came up behind me. “May I?” she asked, showing me how to aim and place my fingers properly on the bow. “Wait for it,” she instructed, as the wind died down and helped me release. Although I didn’t hit the bulls-eye, I did hit the outer ring of the target. “See, good job,” she acknowledged. “Now, you try it on your own,” Maya insisted, stepping back with Joshua to watch.