Ivory's Point of View

     "She really hates my guts," I say.

     "Well how do you know?" My friend says.

     "I don't know Kirianna, I just have this feeling. Like she's jealous of me," I reply, shrugging.

     "That can't be true," Kirianna says back.

     "She gives me those 'jealous-stares'. And she always tries to one-up me," I lean back in my chair, jabbering away all my complaints.

     It's not like I don't like being my new rank, but Karmen just really likes to test my already very little patience. My friend, Kirianna and I, are sitting in her dorm. I take a small gum wrapper and try folding it into a mini airplane.

     "So is it any different from being a Silver?" Kirianna asks.

     "I guess, we still train against each other. I usually win," I admit.

     "Well that's why you're there in the first place, you're just naturally good," Kirianna pipes in cheerfully. "I'd love to be ranked up as a Gold."

     "We don't really do anything. I honestly expected more exciting things, like dangerous missions or something," I reply to her dejectedly.

     "Something is bound to come up sooner or later," Kira says in return. "Just be lucky you're a Gold Rank."

     Just then I get a notification on my phone. Crud I forgot about the meeting today. I open it and read the words 'Elite Meeting' from my calendar.

     "What's that?" Kira asks.

     "Meh, just more Elite stuff," I stand from my seat and whisk my duffle bag around my shoulder. "I'll c'ya later."

     "Good luck!" Kirianna calls to me as I shut the door and head down the hall.

     Now what was this meeting for again? I'm pretty sure we were getting another new member. It was odd, it was so rare that new members came within the same week. Erm- well did I still count as a newbie since there's another person now? Would it be another shapeshifter? I swear, shapeshifters are too common in this place. But I guess that does count as a gift.
     The hallways are split painted with white industrial walls on the top half and a pale blue with white trim on the bottom half. The floors were marble. Classy. I had to haul my duffle bag and bring it back up to my shoulder, it wouldn't stop slipping gah. I quickly stop by the bathrooms to change into my training suit. I then rush into a set of double doors across the hall, no one seemed to be in here. I came up to the one sided window and gazed into the other room, crud, they were all waiting for me. I quickly placed my duffle bag on the floor and entered the bigger room beyond the window, it was large and spacious.

     First thing I notice is that Karmen immediately glares me in the eyes. She's tall with reddish- brown hair. It almost looks ginger in the sunlight. I don't understand why she resents me so much, I only came here a week ago. Matthew is here, he had dark black hair with brown eyes. He's about the height of Karmen, just a bit taller. I notice Marcy standing next to him. Wait a second, was that Lin?

     "Took you long enough," Karmen says with the slightest hint of sass.

     "Perfect, we have everyone. Ivory, I have the head of the S.G.A. here," Marcy says to me and gestures toward Lin. I remember her, she was the one who allowed me to be in the Elite Force in the first place.

     "We're just waiting on Maxwell, let's hope he didn't get lost." Lin says, folding her arms. She's a tall woman with lean stature and greyed hair. Her eyes are a commanding green, perfectly matching her attitude.

    The double doors to this room open and we all stare to see the newbie standing at the door.

     "Did you get lost or something?" Lin says strictly. She's harsh, but she doesn't mean it, it's just the way she is. In order to run this nightmare of an agency you need to be exactly  like her.

     "Nooooo-" he says shrugging his arms. He looks pale, like...really pale. His ears are slightly pointed and his eyes are a mohogany red-brown. His hair dangles along his head, its a deep brown color, it matches his red shirt. He's like a tower over me, or I guess everyone here towers over me. I'm too short for this world. Man, he was attractive.

     "Well everyone, this is Maxwell, he will be the new addition to the Elite Force." Marcy says to us.

     "Just, Max, is alright." Max says, guessing he doesn't like his full name.

     I glance over at Karmen, and she gives Max that same look she gives me. Maybe she's scared he'll take the leading role. Ha.
     I look to see Matthew's impression of Max. I can tell he isn't pleased. Even though Matt is timid and quiet he still clearly shows his hate for Max. And I can tell why.

     Max was a vampire.

     "You let a vampire into the S.G.A.?" Matthew immediately points out, taking a step back. I look to see Max and he wears an almost hirt expression, but his face mostly says 'What?' in the most offended way possible.

     It made sense. A vampire and a werewolf. Matthew rarely showed his displeasure for, well- anything. He was always so quiet with anything that happened. But now? Oh boy. He was mad. His fist was slowly balled into loose fist.

     "Yes. We did. And we certainly expect you all to GET ALONG." Lin says sternly, making us all listen and flinch.

     "He'll be here for training for now on, and will go on any missions if need be," Marcy says nodding to each of us.

     "Excellent." Lin claps her hands together. "I have other matters to deal with. They're all yours Marcy." She briskly walks out of the room.

     "Should we begin?" Marcy asks. Karmen, Matthew and I all look at each other. "We have an even number this time. Isn't it exciting?" Marcy asks us.

     We all shrug and give 'eh' faces.

     "Teenagers these days," Marcy says walking back into the control room. The lights are slightly dimmed, and a speaker comes on.

      "Alright. Since we have an even amount of people, we'll have 2v2 for training today." Marcy says through the speakers. "We'll have Karmen and Ivory versus Matthew and Max."

Man, she really wants us to fail this. Put two people who hate each other together. Great. Karmen and I back against one side of the room, onto a wall. Panels and walls rise from the floor, creating cover and obstacles. Bars lower from the ceiling and ramps incline from the walls. I see Matthew go to the opposite side of the room across from me, Max is probably across from Karmen.

     "You all know the rules. No killing, no powers or abilities, yada yada," Marcy says. Tell me something I don't know. The lights are dimmed even more. "Begin."

Karmen and I split up. No way I'm staying next to her. It doesn't matter if there are rules or not, I feel like she'd kill me if she even got a chance. I wonder what Matt's doing. Is he doing the same thing I'm doing right now? I hop over a black bar, scanning my eyes around the area. Before I know it I'm hurled to the ground and shoved up against a wall. I look up and gaze straight into Maxwell's deep red eyes. I'm stopped when Karmen comes and springs off the wall, leaving me in my spot.

"Well? Do something," Karmen says ducking a blow from Max.

Matthew comes out of nowhere to stop me, pinning me along the floor. I feel so useless, I can barley fight. Apparently Karmen was in my same situation. She was slammed against a wall and pinned by the neck, the lights came on and the session was over.

"That was so unfair," I hear Karmen mutter under her breathe.

"We're just better," Max says haughtily, Matthew still doesn't seem pleased.

"No, because I'm with her," Karmen rolls her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I say offended.

"You have your fancy little powers, but you can't do anything without them," she spits her words like fire searing my feelings. It was true, I just didn't want to believe it.

"I don't get it, why do you hate me so much. I only got here a week ago," I say with hatred.

"Because unlike you, I actually worked my way to this rank. And what, you've been in the S.G.A. for a week and already in the Elite Force?" She says waving het arms around while arguing.

"Guys quit fighting," Matthew tries to stop our quarrel.

"Go catch a mouse for me Karmen," I spit back to her. I couldn't take it anymore.

I hear Karmen hiss at me, extending her claws, her eyes turned into thin slits. I whip my head around, hearing Marcy run inside the room. The panels and obstacles begin to receed back into the walls and floor.

"Enough, enough," Marcy says holding her head. "You're all in the Elite Force. ACT LIKE IT." She says sternly, I watch as Karmen retracts her claws.

"Standing on thin ice you two," Marcy eyes both Karmen and I. She quickly walks away in irritation.

I hear Karmen give a frustrated grunt and shove another pair of doors. Matthew shrugs at me. Max stares, his face saying 'what the actual fuck'. I dart my eyes away from his, walking back into the one sided window room to grab my bags. I wanted to get out of this suit. Ugh.

Great, now Karmen is an enemy.