Down End Road

I nimbly braided Ally's hair, twisting and plaiting her brunette tresses. A surge of adrenalin had coursed through my veins the moment I had woken up.

Ally was just as nervous as I was, her hand rhythmically tapped on the vanity desk. My hair was done up in two blonde french braids, whilst I plaited Ally's hair into a side braid.

A thunderous knock on the door hurried my fingers before Cassandra strode into the room. She wore a cashmere polo neck shirt with chunky high heels and tan belted trousers. She looked simplistically chic.

"Morning girls." Cassandra greeted, in her soft maternal tone. "Just wanted to deliver these to you and wish you the best of luck." She informed, Cassandra pulled out two orange sashes from her pocket and handed over the delicate fabrics to us.

I smiled at her in thanks. I tied the sash to my weapons belt in a tight knot.

The official uniform was our training garb. It consisted of a breastplate that crossed our chests. Two pads of armour on our triceps and posterior calfs. Twin plates of orange armour covered the tops of our thighs. The sword belt was slung low on our hips. The plates of our armour -like the rest of our stretchy body suits- was a bright shade of basketball orange.

Cassandra then handed me a pair of blacked out goggle-like glasses. I sighed shakily, I hadn't like being blinded last night. It made me feel vulnerable and not in control. I never liked that feeling, never will.

Cassandra, noticing my distress, covered my dainty hand with hers. "It's alright to be scared, but just know, you won't be alone." She soothed. I nodded, breathing still sporadic.

"Alright lets do this." I affirmed. Ally smiled tightly at me, then squealed in excitement. We laughed together and made our way down to the doors of Harkness Manor.

------------------------

Alexander Griffin

Us boys had been waiting at the doors of Harkness manor since eight in the morning. The previous night, in the boys dormitory, all the boys who participated in the 35 and above games had agreed to get up extra early and meet outside the front.

It was Jacks dumb idea, one that seemed to bring the boys together, but was still stupid nonetheless. My hands had grown numbly accustomed to the cold Colorado air, we had been warming up and talking for an hour and a half. During which, the tip of my nose had chilled and my neck had become insensitive to the whipping chill of Colorado.

Professors spilled out of the doors, parkas zipped up to the neck, steaming to-go cups of coffee and tea in hand. I missed tea. I missed it whenever I went to the states. There was nothing like custard creams and a cup of tea at nine o'clock.

Soon, the female participants began to flood through the doors. A girl I remembered as Kelly looked sourly up at the grey sky. Her nose crinkled in disapproval.

My head immediately turned to the doors when I saw a flash of strawberry blond plaits in my peripheral vision. The suit hugged her figure, the amber-orange colour of the armour made her look radiant. She looked ethereal as she stepped down the stairs.

I saw more than a few heads turn in her direction, but she remained completely oblivious to the attention as always. However, I did notice. The selfish, possessive, part of me wanted to punch everyone of those gutter minded boys' lights out.

Ally trailed behind her, she tapped her hand spastically on her thigh. I saw Mavericks luminous blonde head whip around towards her, a look of pure infatuation and admiration hung in his gaze. I smiled inwardly at him.

We walked over to the girls and met them half-way. "Morning." Myra chirped, an underlying shake in her perky voice. I smiled back at her.

"Morning back. You ready to fight blinded." Maverick said melodramatically. I saw her eyes widen a fraction and her smile falter before she nodded and hummed out a response.

I wanted to hug her, but that would be weird. "Let the games begin," Ally muttered when she saw Genevieve and Heidi amble toward our circle.

I internally groaned when I saw Heidi send me a flirtatious smile. What had I done to deserve this! "Hey guys," Genevieve said. She sent a knowing glance in Myra's direction, and the urge to move toward her overcame me as I slung my arm around her petite shoulders.

Her tenseness slowly melted away under the weight of my arm. She exhaled a long, quiet sigh. "You ready Myra?" Genevieve questioned with mock sincerity. She was so RUDE! My thoughts were especially loud that day, and I felt my insides scream at me to protect Myra.

When they had announced the challenge yesterday and I had seen the curious look Denise gave her and how her face had paled I had instantly felt a part of me urge my instincts to protect Myra. Why am I so protective over her!? The question fuelled my burning curiosity.

"Always," Myra said, an understated tone of threat in her voice. "Now lets get started on the game plan shall we?" I smiled at her efficiency.