Page 10 of Specter Bred

There!

Archer burst from the far side of the structure.

She blended in so well that I hadn’t even seen her when I’d rounded the corner. The mud coating her uniform blended seamlessly with the course, turning her into little more than another shadow in the rain.

I whipped my rifle around and fired, but she reacted instantly, throwing her body sideways just before the round reached her. The shot sailed past as she accelerated, weaving across the course in an erratic pattern.

Left.

Right.

Left again.

Most recruits ran predictably when they panicked.

Archer didn't.

She zigzagged unpredictably, constantly changing speed and direction, making it difficult to track her movements.

Difficult, but not impossible.

I watched for several seconds, studying her pattern instead of taking another rushed shot. Eventually, I caught a subtle repetition in her movements. The moment she committed to it again, I fired ahead of her.

The round struck her thigh with a sharp crack. Colored powder exploded across her leg as she stumbled, nearly losing her footing in the mud. She doubled over, clutching her thigh as pain ripped through her.

Training rounds weren't lethal, but they hurt enough to make sure you remembered getting hit. To her credit, she recovered quickly. A lot quicker than Hayes. Within seconds she straightened, jaw clenched and eyes blazing as she fought through the pain.

I glanced toward the sidelines and the finish line, taking a head count. Thirty-five recruits. Everyone accounted for.

I lifted the megaphone and hit the siren, signaling the end of the exercise. The course fell silent almost immediately. As I passed Archer, she glared daggers at me from beneath mud-soaked strands of braided hair.

"Not fair," she muttered under her breath.

It was quiet enough that nobody else would have heard it. Unfortunately for her, I did.

I stopped and turned.

"What was that, Archer?" I barked.

Her expression immediately hardened.

"Nothing, sir."

I raised an eyebrow.

"It sounded like you said 'not fair.'"

"Well, it wasn't. You targeted me and Hayes."

Several recruits nearby immediately looked our direction.

"And what exactly wasn't fair about that Archer?"

She didn't answer. I could practically hear her grinding her teeth as she fought the urge to argue.

I took a step forward, looming over her. Despite standing six feet tall herself, she still had to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact with me. I was nearly a foot taller than her.

I lowered my voice.