"As much as I appreciate this, I have to leave."

All of their eyes were on me, studying my expression as I'd said that. "My friends are out there and only god knows whether they're alive or not."

Carter sat beside me. "And then what?"

"We'll go back to the oagle planet and kill the guy in charge," I stated and then added, "At least we'll be together."

"Like you did the first time?" Brandon chuckled. "Sorry."

"Burn, you're no use to anyone if you haven't trained yourself and your powers," Carter said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "My dad told me about your powers. Don't you want to see how to control them?"

"It's the reason you were added to Team Lorin without assessment. You have the potential of being a powerful apex," Bexley chimed in.

I frowned, "Earth and everyone on it are going to be destroyed until then."

Carter sighed. "What do you think we do on these missions, Burn?"

I shrugged and then he continued, "Go out there and save planets bit by bit. For earth, we've been able to take control of the major cities in Europe and Asia."

I was standing up all of a sudden. "You've seen Earth?!"

Trixie smiled. "They've captured most of the humans and eliminated those that didn't cooperate. We think they're planning to extract resources like the oagles have done in their previous targets."

My head felt heavy but it felt lightheaded at the same time. Was that even possible? All those families torn apart because of those disgusting aliens. I hadn't realised that I was frowning in disgust.

"How is it going to help anything?"

"What?"

"How is this whole charade going to help in stopping those monsters doing it somewhere else again?"

Carter shrugged. "We do the most we can."

"I'm out," I said, standing up and heading towards the exit.

Burn, stop.

I stopped in my tracks, knowing damn well who had spoken into my brain.

You can feel it, can't you? We have an unexplainable connection to each other.

"No, we don't."

Don't lie to me. You've been sent here to me for a reason. We're destined to be in each other's futures. For better or worse.

"You sound like you're taking a wedding vow," I stated bluntly.

You can't deny it, Burn."

I had to admit that I was tired of jumping from one place to another. I wanted to belong somewhere for once.

"Fine, when does training begin?"

Right now.

I spent the next few hours punching a bag that hung from the ceiling. My knuckles were bruised and a violent red was forming in my skin due to it.

The freckled blonde boy, Chase, and I weren't the only one's training. Apparently all initiates, including the ones from the other teams, were going to be training alongside us.

Among many, one downside included the fact that all these people had achieved a spot on The Hunt. Me, on the other hand, wasn't exactly fit and had no idea how to use my powers.

I observed the others as I leaned on my punching bag, drawing in large breaths. An even number of men and women, all similar looking to humans except the occasional blue skins.

Next to me stood Chase, the other Team Lorin initiate, and a macular boy on the other side.

"Is the princess out of breath already," he mocked.

He gained a chuckle from the girl standing across from us. "Your highness, would you like me to fetch you some water?"

I growled at both of them. "I'll split your eyeballs into two," I snarled at the girl.

She snorted, "Oh yeah? Try me, bitch."

I pushed the bag away from my body as I began walking towards her. Suddenly, Chase grabbed my shoulder and said, "They aren't worth it. Just keep your eye on the goal."

"Yeah, that's what I thought," the boy murmured.

I glared at him before beginning to punching the bag again. This time my hand was as red as the bag.

It must have been noon when the initiates began filing out for lunch. I couldn't help but think that the girl had been right. I received a spot on The Hunt for simply what I could do. It was handed to me. On top of that, I had no muscle to fight or shoot.

I continued to train on the kicking station as I fell on my butt with most kicks. The gym was mostly empty.

"You've got height on your kicks probably because of flexibility but there's no strength."

I ignored his remark. I already knew that and he sure as hell didn't need to remind me that I lacked strength.

Suddenly I felt a pair of hands being placed on my waist. I flinched at the touch but knew better than to say anything.

"You need to spin faster on the flying back kicks and the pivot needs to be greater before you take off," he stated, demonstrating the motion my waist should be going.

I nodded and tried again. This time the dummy rattled backward, definitely progress.

Carter smiled as I tried again. "As for strength, you need to eat. Something tells me that you haven't been eating much on the expedition here."

I smiled before attempting a hooking kick. It sounded exactly like something Sebastion would say. A flood of memories filed in. That first time he'd told me about his past. Before that, it was always Ash.

Ash and Burn.

No, it never was that. Might have sounded nice in my head but it was always something else. Ash and Eleanor. The golden pair.

Either way, they'd taken me in and helped me through everything. Including the times I'd been reckless; the burning house, the dragon, and the spider that had bitten me. I smiled at those adventures we'd had together.

Then there was Ivory and Tyson. The camouflaging bunny who'd help me escape from the dungeon and the werewolf that believed in me when nobody did.

"Are you okay?" Carter asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yes."

Raven's words after we'd kissed. He saved my life, knowing well the consequences. I had abandoned the ones that had helped me when no one stood by me.

Even though a new chapter in my life had begun, I knew that the old characters in my book would return.

We'll run into each other someday.