Her hand shook as she grasped the cold metal in her hands. It was heavy and sat uncomfortably in her hands. Her finger trembled as it floated above the trigger. Her eyes were trained ahead at the figure before her with the target if in its chest. There were gunshots all around her the kids that had been here before her already taking their aims. But here she stood a shaking mess. Koharu was scared...She had been in a constant state of fear ever since she had been bought to this place and the adults standing over them watching them with scrutinizing gazes didn't not help with her nerves. Her brows furrowed at the target, she gripped her pistol tight. So tight it hurt. She finally pulled the trigger.
She hissed in pain at the force of the weapon. Her shoulders aching. She looked at the target and saw her mark... it had hit. But it was no where near the bullseye. She glanced back at the watching adults. Their faces betrayed nothing and they continued writing into their clip boards. She looked down at her feet as she raised the gun again. Aiming, this time there was less hesitance. She had done it once... She could do it again. She could...BANG
It was closer to the bullseye.
This training continued on top of the other classes that her Section had to go through. Her aim improved as did her stance. The longer she stayed the more she became accustomed to the environment. She was still scared. She was terrified. But she wasn't helpless. 1235 stayed at her side throughout the next few weeks. Forming a small friendship between the two. They kept this on the down low however...They were machines they had just one purpose and friendships were a distraction. 1235, however, gave Koharu confidence. She made her want to try and not give up. Koharu really liked her, she really did. Very much.
"You have to widen your stance." 1235 whispered one night facing Koharu, even though neither girl could see each other they knew they had the others attention.
"Aim your pistol higher and then you'll get the bullseye...we have to do it soon...or they'll get impatient..." Koharu tiltex her head, snuggling further into the pillow she looked at her questioningly
"Impatient?" she whispered. 1235 let out a small sound of affirmation. Koharu heard her shift in her own futons, the chains rattling quietly as she moved. Both of them tensed and stilled for a few moments to make sure she wasn't heard. 1235 sighed softly in relief. She swollowed thickly, eyes trained on where she thought Koharu would be.
"Every two months they come in and get rid of the kids that aren't reaching their standards..."
"What happens to them?"
"We don't know...But everyone thinks they get....y'know..." Koharu winced hiding her face in the pillow. The next one was due soon. Koharu and 1235 both knew they had to up their game if they wanted to survive. It was scary. So very scary. But with 1235, with a friend by her side Koharu could find herself relax. This night was a safe night. The two of them could delight in each other's company until the morning...and then it was back to training and trying to stay within the game.
One shot. Two shots. Three shots. All in quick succession. Koharu had been doing this for two months now, she had taken the advice from 1235 and had became a good shot. Each and everyone of her shots meeting their mark. Smoking away at the target. She gently placed the gun down. Looking at her feet as she passed the Instructors. Mouth set into a thin line. She couldn't grow excited over her new achievement... The subjects weren't supposed to express extreme emotions. Emotions were a weakness. Koharu knew however it was fear that was keeping them all alive. She watched as her fellow students took their shots. Tilting her head at the realisation that she was ahead. How that had happened she had no clue but she would bet it on being because of 1235's help. Koharu would thank her that night. She was really thankful.
Learning about the different weapons was Koharu's easiest subject, she breezed through it easily and understood many of the concepts. Besides her 1235 was working at the same pace. The two of them learning from each other. Whilst they worked they hid little giggles that would get them scolded heavily by the Instructor that was overseeing them because they were quirkless Delta made sure to train the kids in each and every weapon. To show them how to fight against all sorts of opponents. Section 123 hadn't reached the physical fighting stage yet. They had been told that would take another two years. Right now they were learning how to handle these weapons and all if their properties. 1235 had especially enjoyed the sessions on poisons.
Though Koharu and improved many in their class had not. They were all scared little children after all and people responded differently under stress. Koharu's made her work even harder however with some it made them completely shut down. 1235 had told her about the event. The Culling. Where those in charge of the whole Operation would enter the dormitories at the dead of night and take away the ones they thought were under performing. Koharu had put the event to the back of her mind, not wanting to think about such a thing happening. But as the night drew closer she found her anxiety peaking. She was fearful of going to sleep. She wouldn't be able to sleep. She was terrified. What if she was one of those kids that got taken away? What if? 1235 had gotten stiff as well. Her smiles strained and eyes darting everywhere throughout the day. Koharu caught her hand shaking whilst she had been handling a dagger that day.
Her unease worsened Koharu's as she had always viewed 1235 as the strongest of them there. She always was so cheerful, calm and collected. She always knew what she had to do. Knew where to look. Knew what to touch and what not to touch. She was Koharu's ankor in this hellhole and to see her panicking made Koharu's nerves rise it was unbelievable. It was unbearable and when they were finally taken to their dorms and chained to the floor the entire room fell into silence straight away.
Koharu and 1235 weren't the only one's under threat that night...all of them were and they knew that they could do nothing. But wait. And wait... some of the children fell asleep as proven by the light breaths but the majority were awake throughout the night. Small whimpers could be heard and Koharu was tense as she clutched onto her cover, with her eyes screwed shut. Her heart caught in her chest as the doors were heard opening. The entire room stilled and the silence was deafening. Numerous footsteps were heard as the adults walked into the room. Koharu tensed her breathing caught in her throat as she heard sounds of a struggle and chains clanging loudly on the ground. This came from all direction and she bit back a scream as a child behind her cried out in terror. But before she could let out her own terrified shriek silence overcame the room once more. The darkness enveloped them.
The children stayed silent. The sobs were no longer heard as they collectively mourned the loss of their peers and thanked the gods for their own survival. In a world that the quirkless lived in, it was the survival of the fittest and soon they would learn to abandon empathy to keep themselves safe. After all, human attachments were a weakness. It would hinder their abilities and distract them from the task at hand. Section 123 lost five children that night and by the time morning had came, the children refused to look at the empty futons and the abandoned chains. They chose to forget what they could never forgive. After all the Quirkless were worthless and in Delta were merely pawns for the higher powers. They were no longer human, they were less than that. Koharu had to learn that or she would pay in the end.
She hit the floor with a loud hiss, quickly rolling away from the following attach that 1242 had sent her way. The baton hitting the ground with a loud smack. Koharu got to her feet glaring ahead at the boy infront of her, gripping onto her own baton tightly. She swiped at her bloody lip and prepared herself to move forward. 1242 glared back at her, hunching slightly and with a yell lunged for her again. Koharu dodged this time around. Looking around at her assailant. He huffed out in frustration. Whipping his hair out of his face. 1235 and 1241 watched the battle transfixed waiting for their own turns in the ring.
"Stop dodging, damnit..." She didn't respond whilst 1242 was a vocal fighter she was not. She preferred to attack silently, it kept her opponents guessing and also helped her within the intimidation factor. She tilted her head to the side instead, slightly mockingly. She wanted to rile him up. Each and everyone of them had flaws. Delta had made sure of that... in a case of a rebellious streak the adults would use these weaknesses to their advantage.... with Koharu it was the ability to swim and with 1242 it was his ability to keep control of his emotions.
Delta were master manipulators...They created scenarios and they failed to give the proper help to people which in the end made their conditions worse. They would then use these weaknesses go their advantages to control them. They were aware that the subjects of Project Delta were dangerous after 3 years of training, which is why they implemented these weaknesses. It was all about control.
Koharu slid between his legs as he charged at her with a angry yell. She glanced back up at him. Finally descides to go on the offensive. She hit his ankles hard with her baton. He yelped out in shock. Koharu frowned rolling her eyes. Lesson One: Never lose sight of your opponent. She got to her knees and hit his midriff as he went down. Placing the baton onto his chest. The two of them glaring at each other. He glared heatedly up at her and she eventually released him from her hold. Passing her baton to 1235. The white haired grinned at her. Patting her shoulder.
"Good win." Koharu grinned brightly as she stood to the side deciding to take care of her busted lip. 1242 was turned away from her glaring at the ground as he rubbed at his sore body. Koharu didn't hold any sympathy. They had been in the facility for nearly three years now and the ten year old only really cared for 1235. They had established a relationship early on and Koharu still leaned onto her for support. She was still her safe line, and Koharu was sure she always will be. She watched the fight between the two. Her face stoic. But her eyes watched 1235's every movement. She was one to learn from. She was one of the best... Koharu was lucky to have befriended her earlier on...She really was.
The fight finished with victory for 1235, however 1241 had gotten close, 1235 congratulated him and praised his good work whilst also giving him pointed a that he took in readily. Koharu watched the interaction interested. 1235 was always like that...Whilst everyone else had stopped caring it was obvious she still did. She still looked out for their peers. Koharu didn't know how she felt about that...She had done the same for her when she was still a scared little girl and now she was helping everyone else survive. Koharu knew that one of the reasons she wasn't a top student was because of her aiding the others...She allowed them to keep up. Koharu didn't understand why? The top in the class would earn their name first...and once you earned your name...you earned a small bit of freedom. Koharu couldn't understand why 1235 would not take that...why does she insist on helping others?
"It's the right thing to do...Besides...it makes me feel better when I know they have a chance for survival..."
"What about you?"
"Me? If I could go out protecting those I love...I would be satisfied."
"But why? What makes them worth it? They're going to die anyways."
"1249...I didn't leave you did I?"
"...no...and I'm thankful for that!"
"Precisely. I saved you, I can save them too."
"Are they worth it though?"
"Everyone's worth saving."