My eyes opened slowly, squinting against the uncomfortable light that seemed to land only on my eyes. I moved to roll over, to go back to sleep as the Bell hadn’t woken me up. The pain rushing in from the movement seemed to bring everything back to me. The test. The lack of scores. The two men.

Sitting up quickly, I glanced around. I wasn’t in a building. The walls around me where canvas as seemed to shift with every hint of a breeze. The bed below me seemed to resemble that of a single piece of fabric stretched tightly around four legs. The blankets rough against my exposed shins and the clothes wrapped around me lighter than anything I have ever worn before.

My clothes.

Shifting my attention to myself, I slowly pinched the shirt I was now wearing. The neck coming above my collar bones and the sleeves ending just past my shoulders, the bright pink nearly blinding in the sun. Lifting the scratchy blanket that was stamped with a large U.S. I saw that my waist was covered with a pair of shorts. The fabric ending just above my knee, the peculiar coloring matching that of the ocean in a storm. Even growing up in a gray world I knew that murky blue and neon pink did not match.

“I hope you don’t mind da knew outfit.” A gruff voice sounded from the corner, drawing my attention quickly.

Seeing the speaker, my face slowly shifted to the darkest shade of red. The man before me was the one who had deemed it necessary to knock me out. I had never spoken to a man, let alone have one change me.

As if reading my thoughts, the tanned male laughed. “I didn’t pick ‘em out. An’ I certainly didn’t change ya.”

I could see that he had washed the dye out. The darkness of his hair allowing his eyes to truly glow against his skin.

“Where am I?” My voice came out cracked, dry, and sticky. My lips shaping what should be familiar words into wobbly imitations. My tongue protested the movement and demanded water instead.

As if noticing the uncommon thickness, Gruffy pointed to the small metal cup resting next to me. “Da Borderlands.”

His statement made my already dry mouth become like the desert. Reaching for the tin cup, I threw back the water. Giving my best glare to the man before me in an attempt to disprove his statement. He didn’t waver, only the hint of a smile tugging his cracked lips up.

“Why? I should have passed.” The wobble to my words could no longer be blamed on a dry mouth, bonafide terror was running through me. Is this where they sent those who failed? The Borderlands to be caught in the crossfire of the War.

“You did pass. Thas why we stole ya. Can’t let da Convention have too many jewels in their godforsaken crown.” Gruff seemed content with his answer until he viewed my face, quickly adding onto it. “You got perfect in every section. Convention woulda raised you up to be da next dictator.”

Once more, from somewhere deep inside a bloodcurdling scream came from me. Before my mind could catch up, I was running towards that smug face. Hands wrapping as far around the man’s neck as they could before toppling us both to the ground.

“Y-you no good! No good evil man!” Every negative adjective I knew spilling from my mouth, though before his face could grow even the tad bit red, I was ripped away.

A familiar iron grip on both of my arms while my feet still kicked out in an attempt to harm the slowly recovering man.

“Little juak got a lotta gusto.” Gruff laughed lightly, slowly rising from the ground and brushing the dust off of him. “You should be thankin us. You woulda probably died, too tiny.”

His eyes seemed to be twinkling with each insult he said about me, probably amused at how despite being restrained I was still kicking out towards him.

Slowly, I stopped kicking. Letting out a huff and allowing my eyes to wander silently to the two other’s grabbing my arms. The one holding the left was the same man from before, black hair and reddened cheek easily remembered. However, on the right stood a woman with tightly braided hair. A slight smile showing her amusement at the whole scenario.

“Let me go.” My voice managed to come out clear and strong, any hint of weakness gone. Though the face my hands were shaking probally gave it away.

Hesitantly, Slappy and Braid let go of my arms. Standing nearby in case I decided to attack again.

“It seems we started on da wrong foot missy. My name iz Kane.” Gruffy said, smiling kindly as I carefully smoothed my hair down. “The young man over there is Finn. The other missy would be Quin.”

“I’m-” I began, stopping quickly as Finn decided to speak for me.

“Ina. Originally from Urk, Block A. You were raised by Ira and Jason, you had one younger sister, Julia.” As if impressed with himself, a smile sealed his statement.

He lacked the accent that corrupted Gruffy, or Kane’s, speech. Instead using the formal dialect taught to all those in the National Convention.

“Ya know, Finn was like you. But much smarter. He managed to give me a bruise on my cheek.” Kane spoke once more, Quin laughing and nodding in agreement.

“Is Finn your given name?” My eyes turned from the strange Kane to meet the more...delicate looking Finn.

His black hair was shaved close on the sides, the hair down the middle braided elegantly to keep it out of his face. Leaving the tanned skin avaliable for my eyes to study. Blue eyes pierced his skin, the tan brightening to a sunburnt red over his nose and cheekbones. Through the red, one could make out the lightest dusting of freckles. The leather vest he wore showing off broad shoulders dotted with more freckles. The rest of him was covered with a dark fabric, not leather and not wool. Most likely the same synthetic mesh my current clothes were made of. Sewn into his pants over his thighs and calves seemed to be patched of padding, the whole ensemble confusing me.

His face was all soft edges and kindness while his clothes screamed battle trained soldier.

“My given name was Frederick. Though I prefer Finn.” His voice, no longer reciting facts, was clear and had a musical quality.

“You failed three years ago.” The words came out blunt, all sharp points and offense.

He shrugged with an almost sense wince like quality, obviously the jab had hit home.

“Just like you, I scored perfect in everything. Kane took me out just like we took you out. You’ll thank him eventually.”

An involuntary snort left me, quickly raising a hans to cover my face at the realization that such a noise had left me. Standing in silence for a few seconds, I composed myself before speaking.

“I will never thank him. I want my life back.” Every aspect of my voice sounded like a little child demanding her doll be returned after being taken by an older sibling.

“No one wants to live the life you were bound for.” Quin spoke softly, a darkness tinting her green brown eyes for a second before they cleared to a springy green.

An eyeroll followed that, my arms crossing in front of my chest. “I doubt it.”

The rest of my thought was interrupted with a scream from somewhere close. Probably committing emitting from the canvas shelter next to me. Though this scream didn’t have the high pitched nature of mine.

If anything it sounded more like a roar, followed by the sound of wood shattering.

“It seems jewel number two woke up.” Kane spoke with a chuckle, rising from his seat and heading to the overlapping flaps that acted as a door.

Sliding one to the side to allow my first view of where I was.

This was the Borderlands?