ASHER
Wednesday morning came too fast, I'd barely slept the past two nights. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Reed's face. Heard his threat.
If you die out there, it won't be the rogues who kill you. It'll be me.
Now I was standing in the main hall at 5:45 AM, my pack loaded with supplies, and watching other paired students file in with expressions ranging from terrified to grimly determined.
Reed was already there, of course he was. He stood near the front, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. His pack was military-precise, everything strapped down and organized, and mine looked like I'd thrown random shit in a bag and hoped for the best because that's exactly what I'd done.
D
The Dean entered at exactly six o'clock.
"Listen carefully," he said without preamble. "You will be in the field for seventy-two hours minimum, and longer if conditions require it. Each pair has been assigned a sector based on recent rogue activity patterns."
