The Power of Whispers

The following day, Kelly's eyes burned with purpose, starkly contrasting with the fear that had gripped her the night before. Her movements were deliberate, her mind sharp with a singular focus. She had woken up with a plan, and nothing—no whispers, stares, and certainly no games—would derail her.

The intercom buzzed sharply, its shrill tone cutting through the murmur of waking trainees. "Get up, trainees. Today will be different," a cold, disembodied voice announced.

"Different?" someone muttered, their voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Different, how?" another asked, their words quivering.

The intercom continued, "Today, your training will be in the dome as usual. However, Commander Dro will be observing your progress personally. Try not to let it affect your performance."

A wave of tension rippled through the room like an electric current.

"Commander Dro?" someone whispered, their voice almost reverent, laced with fear.

"This is it," another trainee said, excitement brimming in their tone. "This is our chance to impress her!"

Kelly remained quiet; her brow furrowed in thought. "Why now?" she murmured, her skepticism gnawing at her. "Something's not right."

From across the room, Tera's head snapped toward Carter. "Did you hear that?" she whispered harshly, her tone conspiratorial.

"I did," Carter replied, shrugging as if uninterested. "So what?"

Kelly's sharp eyes caught their exchange, and Tera, noticing the attention, sent a glare that could pierce steel. She muttered something to Carter and moved away, the two disappearing into a quieter corner.

Kelly frowned, suspicion tightening in her chest. "Why are they so eager?" she muttered under her breath.

"Maybe because they know how to play the game," came a smooth, familiar voice behind her.

Kelly turned to find Damion leaning casually against the wall, his smirk annoyingly confident. His hazel eyes glinted with mischief as he studied her.

Her stomach flipped involuntarily, but she masked it with a cold expression and turned away, walking quickly. Too quickly.

"Hey, wait up!" Damion called, his easy laugh trailing behind her. "Why are you running, Kel?"

"Oh, I'm not running," she said coolly, her pace steadying. "Just getting ready for training."

"Training?" he teased, falling into step beside her. "I thought you didn't care about all this."

"I don't," she said, stopping abruptly to face him. "But I don't trust anyone here, Damion. Not Tera. Not Carter. Not even you. I have to rely on myself. And when I see Commander Dro, I'll demand the answers I deserve."

His smirk faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his face. "You can't just walk up to her, Kelly. She's... dangerous. And powerful. She is a bitch! She's not someone you can confront like that."

Kelly folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Why not? You seem to do whatever you want. After all, you're good at keeping secrets, aren't you? Like banging Naomi."

Damion froze, his cocky demeanor crumbling. "Kelly, I—"

"Save it," she cut in, her tone razor-sharp. "I don't need an explanation. I barely remember you, but I can guess the type. And now I get why Naomi stares at me like she wants to fucking rip me apart."

"It's not what you think," he stammered, his voice faltering. "When you were... gone, I didn't know if you'd ever wake up. I was lost, Kelly. I—"

"You moved on," she finished for him, her words dripping with bitterness. "Great. Good for you." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "But don't you dare tell me you love me! Not when you don't even know what that means. Loverboy"

Her words hung in the air, heavy with finality.

"Kelly," he tried again, but she was already walking away.

The intercom buzzed once more, its sharp tone echoing through the room. "Training begins in ten minutes. Gather your belongings and prepare to enter the dome."

The announcement barely registered as Naomi brushed past Kelly, her presence suffocating, every step radiating smug superiority. The slight was deliberate, a silent taunt, and it hit its mark. Kelly's restraint snapped like a fragile thread pulled too tight.

"You can have him!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the room like a blade.

A hush fell instantly, the weight of her words crashing over the crowd. Every head turned, eyes darting between Kelly and Naomi, the air heavy with anticipation.

Naomi froze mid-step. Slowly, deliberately, she turned, her smile curling into something cold and wicked, a grin that dared Kelly to strike. Her voice dripped with venom as she replied,

"I already do."