A Whisper in the Flame (The Ragers Series Book 1) Read online

  After each run, Jake leads me through core and strength training exercises. It's almost like being back in gym class, except I'm actually getting better. Maybe it's that I'm more determined than ever to prove myself or maybe it's who's teaching me. Maybe it's a mixture of both. Regardless, I can see a visible transformation in my muscles and body. It gives me hope.

  The mental transformation, on the other hand, is a bit of a work in progress. I have to persuade myself to get up each morning. To put in the work. Mom is gone, Will is gone. If I want a chance at finding Dad and Lauren… if I want to help save others and stop this mess... I've first got to save myself. Jake, Jamie, and Kye – they can only do so much. The rest is me. I've got to start believing in myself.

  Easier said than done.

  "Are you sure this is such a great idea?" I ask, twiddling my fingers as I walk next to Jake. Kye is at the edge of the clearing stretching and kicking into thin air.

  "I'm positive," Jake chuckles. "Honestly, he is the best at hand-to-hand combat. He even helped train some of the new cadets when they came on to the base."

  My eyes continue watching Kye's movements with nervous apprehension. His form is great. He is swift and almost elegant with the fluidity of his moves. Maybe that's what has me more worried than anything else. I know Kye is strong. I also know that he thinks I am a total klutz. I'm terrified that he will see right through me. That maybe he will try to convince Jake and Jamie that I am going to be a hindrance to them, and they will kick me out on my own. I'm not ready for that.

  Jake grabs my arm lightly, stopping us as he measures me. "Hey, I know you're a little scared," he sees right through me, "but you can get through this. You are a lot more capable that you give yourself credit for."

  "I'm not sure that's true."

  "Look, you are the one that came to me and asked to be trained. You've made it through so much already and you have come out stronger for it. Even these last two weeks of training. You're tired, exhausted, yet you continue to get up each morning ready for more.

  "This is Kye we're talking about. He's not going to hurt you, but he is going to test you. You can do this Emma, but you're going to have to push yourself."

  I nod my head, trying to tell myself that he's right.

  "And hey," he adds as we walk the last few yards to Kye, "I'll be right here to use as your own personal punching bag."

  "My own punching bag, that's what I've always dreamed of," I smile, feeling a little better.

  Kye is grinning ear to ear as we meet him.

  "Morning," he offers in a sly tone. I can tell he is going to thoroughly enjoy this.

  "Morning," we reply together.

  "Whoa, same time and everything. You two have been hanging out with each other way too much."

  My face flushes.

  "Shut up, Kye. Get on with it," Jake laughs.

  Kye shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and then turns his full attention to me.

  "Alright Emma, I've been watching your training so far and I'm pretty impressed. You're not AS big of a spaz as I thought you were."

  "Wow, well thanks, Kye," I say dryly.

  "The first thing we need to do is warm up so you can stretch out. After that, I'll teach you some basic maneuvers that we'll end up putting all together as you progress.

  "Come on, let's run the perimeter." He starts lifting his feet jogging in place before running ahead of us, beckoning us to follow suit.

  Jake and I follow beside him, keeping a light, easy pace as my muscles begin warming and loosening up.

  "Feeling good?" Kye asks.

  "Yeah, fine."

  "Okay, then let's go a bit faster."

  We kick our speed up as we circle around behind the house, elevating my heart rate but still keeping steady.

  Halfway around the loop Kye calls "Faster!" kicking our speed into a full-on run.

  This is a test; I think as I struggle to keep up with their long strides.

  Bring it. Out of everything, running I can do. I push myself, keeping right on their heels as we round the forest’s edge.

  "Okay, back to a jog," Kye says breathily as we reduce our speed, nearing our starting point. Hearing him breathing heavily makes me smile a bit to myself, knowing that he was pushing himself as well as me.

  Returning to our starting place, Kye continues to jog in place. He presses his fingers to his neck as he feels for his pulse, monitoring it as it returns to a normal heart rate.

  "Great job," he tells me as he picks up his water sack for a drink.

  Before I can even move toward mine, Jake tosses it to me and then sits on the ground, drinking his own. We hydrate our bodies for a few minutes before limbering up with deep stretches. With each stretch my anxiety rises, ready to start.

  "Come on, Kye!" I plead, coming out of an arm stretch. "Teach me some moves." I punch the air a couple of times smiling with anticipation.

  "Well, first of all," he laughs, grabbing my right hand mid punch, "you're balling your fists all wrong." He forces my fingers open and then closes them again, placing my thumb over my index finger. "Thumbs always go on the outside. Less chance of you breaking them when you throw a punch."

  "Oh, yikes. Yeah, that would definitely suck." I punch the air a couple more times, the correct way, hopping on the balls of my feet as Jake laughs and Kye rolls his eyes.

  "Alright, pipsqueak, settle down. Let's talk about your stance. It needs a bit of work. Kye moves my fists close to my face and pushes my elbows into my sides. Then he stands back into his own position.

  "Keep your fists hovering slightly below your eyes and your elbows tucked tight to your body. Now widen your stance a bit. You're right-handed, right?"

  I nod, slightly in awe of how quickly Kye shifted to serious instructor mode.

  "Okay, so put that leg slightly forward but keep most of your weight on your back leg."

  "What does that do?"

  "It helps you be able to move more swiftly. You can block and strike back quick. Now tuck your chin slightly... not too much. You want to keep your posture relaxed and your muscles loose. Okay, good, Emma."

  I'm trying to remember everything he says: Fists to face, elbows tucked, wide stance with weight on back foot, jaw tucked, posture relaxed and muscles loose. It all is a little contradicting to me, but I do my best to keep my mouth shut and do as I'm told.

  "Now that you've got your stance under control, let's go over a few blocking techniques.

  "Let me be clear, you will more than likely not be blocking much. It's a good thing to know, but it is always better to act rather than react."

  We go through the basics of the bob and weave, sliding and blocking punches, to slipping. He throws some punches at me slowly, giving me time to learn each move and gain fluidity.

  As I get more comfortable, Kye speeds up. He throws multiple punches consecutively. I'm moving, twisting, and blocking with my arms but I can feel myself getting increasingly dizzy from the speed.

  "Kye, slow down," Jake calls as Kye throws a punch towards my face. I block it with my arm, but he sees the opening and lurches a fist into my stomach.

  The air leaves my body and I hinge forward at my hips cradling my stomach in my hands.

  "Kye!" Jake exclaims heatedly from the side-line.

  Anger rises in my belly and I let out a guttural growl. I launch myself up and at Kye, aiming a punch right for his smug face.

  "There it is," he smirks, catching my punch between his arms, "there is the anger and ferocity I've been looking for. Use that. If you have to use defensive maneuvers, you should follow it up with an offensive one.

  "Now, that punch wasn't bad. What you essentially did is called a cross-punch. The only two adjustments I want you to make is to use a slightly upward movement instead of downward and rely more on your shoulder for power, rather than your arm. Jake, come let her practice on you."

  When Jake literally leaps off the ground, a bit of my anger is released in amusement. He’s a bit too eager for this.
He gets in position in front of me, smiling, and I can feel my cheeks set fire.

  "Go ahead, Emma, try the cross again. And remember, use your anger," Kye encourages.

  I steady myself, ready to release. This time I mentally tell my shoulder to push. Turning my arm slightly upward I connect with Jake's arm as he blocks my punch.

  "Much better. Again, this time faster."

  Not even a second passes after Kye says this when I connect my fist to Jake's unguarded chest. We both moan and grumble as one. Him, from the pain in his chest and me from my fist. His chest is much harder than I expected and now my fist is throbbing. I shake my hand, blowing on it while Kye watches us with mild entertainment.

  "Cheater," Jake pokes his tongue out at me.

  "Not my fault you left yourself open." I stick mine out in return.

  "Alright, children, let's move on," Kye jumps in, "the easiest punch is called a jab. It basically helps to keep your opponent away or bid your time long enough to build up strength for another punch. All you do is turn your left hand straight out like this."

  "Like this?" I mimic his movement.

  "Yep, you got it. Now do that ten times fast."

  We spend the next hour or so learning hooks, upper-cuts and combos of them all.

  Jab-cross, jab-jab-cross, block, jab-cross-hook. We practice over and over again. My body is exhausted and sore. I'm shaky with hunger, but Kye keeps pushing. Jab-jab-uppercut.

  Jake swirls to the left out of my reach and I tumble forward from my own momentum.

  "Whoa, Ems," he hooks his arm around my waist to catch me. Instead, we both fall to the ground on our backs, laughing like little kids.

  “I think it’s about time for you to have a break,” he rolls to his side to look me in my face, and I can still see the laughter in his.

  "I'll make a deal with you," Kye's voice interrupts. I almost forgot he was here for a moment. "If Jake goes inside to get us lunch, we can stop when he comes back with it."

  "Ugh, sure," I try to say confidently. Instead, it sounds timid and completely unsure.

  Jake helps to pull me to my feet before wishing me luck and heading to the house.

  "So, how am I doing, Master?" I joke, trying to ease my nerves.

  "You'd probably be doing much better if you weren't flirting with the punching bag so much."

  "What?! I... I am not flirting."

  "Uh huh, sure. Don't worry, he was flirting back." He watches me as I gulp hard, gawking at him, feeling flustered. "Emma, I need you to focus now, though. Let's go." He beats his hands together getting into position.

  Before I'm even ready he throws a jab at me that catches my chest.

  "I said, let's go. You have to be prepared or your opponent will have the upper hand."

  He comes at me again with a jab and a cross but this time I weave out of the way. Before I have time to center myself, he lands another punch on my cheek.

  "Remember what I told you, every block should be followed by a punch. Imagine if I wasn't taking it easy on you."

  This time, I get the first punch in, letting my anger slip through. Jab, jab-cross-hook. He blocks my hook and lands a punch to my stomach. Again, he comes at me, but I block I and throw back. Cross-hook-uppercut, blocked. He gets me again before I am able to block.

  "Ugh," he cries out in frustration. "Emma, you have to be faster. I know this is training, but out there it's not. Nobody is going to take it easy on you or slow down. This is life or death. If you let them, if you are too slow for even a second, they can take you down. They will hurt you, or bite you, or kill you. They have no remorse. So you better act fast."

  "I'm trying, Kye. I am!"

  "I know... I know, I'm sorry." He brings his hand to his head, "You are doing well. I think sometimes I get caught up in the moment. And I... I worry about Jamie. I want to make sure that if y'all are out on your own, you can handle yourself. I don't want Jamie to get slowed down by trying to protect you and wind up getting hurt herself. And I'm sorry if this is coming out wrong or uncaring towards you, it's just that I..."

  "You love her," I finish for him. "Listen, you're right. I can't be a hindrance to you guys. I promise I'm going to be able to hold my own. Give me some time, please. Maybe soon I'll even be able to take you down in a fight."

  "Ha, in your dreams, Little Red." Kye's temperament lightens as he smirks at me, mock sizing me up.

  We practice a few minutes longer until Jake and Jamie return with lunch and a refill of water. Jamie lays out a big square blanket for us and we all sit to enjoy our soup and crackers.

  I forgot how hungry I was for a bit, but now the delicious smell of chicken noodle is beckoning me to scoop it down. After inhaling a few bites, I ask, "So tell me; how did you two end up together?" Referring to Jamie and Kye.

  "I don't think Jake even knows the full story," Jamie laughs lightly, blushing. "Have you even told him what happened before you both left?" she asks Kye with a gentle smile.

  "Nope. But, well I guess you are about to hear it." He directs his attention to me as he tells his story. "Honestly, I knew I was in love with Jamie for a long time. But, for the sake of my friendship with Jake, I never acted on it. At least up until that night.

  "When Jake and I decided to join the Army, I was happy and ready to leave. But I couldn't stop thinking; what if something happens and I never see this girl again. I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave without letting her know how I felt.

  "So, the night before we left, I finally built up the courage to tell her. I snuck into her window."

  "I thought he was in the wrong room," Jamie chimes in.

  "Which she told me. What were your exact words?"

  "Uh, Jake's room is down the hall," they laugh in unison.

  "I could see that something was up with him, though. He had this look in his eyes." She gazes at him in complete adoration and I can't help but feel sucked in by their story.

  "I told her, 'I'm exactly where I'm meant to be,' and I kissed her."

  "And that was it. I was done. I knew he was it for me," they lean in for a quick kiss while Jake looks like he'd rather be anywhere else but here.

  "Jake,” I say, trying for a speedy change of conversation for his benefit, “I told Kye that if he gives me some time, I'll be able to take him down in a fight."

  "Like I said, in your dreams."

  "I don't know, babe. She's got some gusto to her. She might have you on that." Jamie winks at me.

  "Let's place a bet on it," Jake starts. "In one month's time if Emma is able to take Kye down in a fight then Kye has to do all of the cooking for a week."

  "And when Emma inevitably loses, then she will have to do an obstacle course of my own design to prove she's ready to go out on a run again. What do you say?" Kye taunts.

  "Oh, it's a bet and you are totally going down.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Wait, you’re still going to teach me kicks, aren’t you? Don’t cheat me on that! And no Jiu-Jitsu allowed!"

  Chapter 27

  Today was brutal. Kye and I have been practicing nonstop for the past week and a half. Every time I start to feel semi-confident about myself, Kye digs his heels in more and beats the crap out of me.

  These past few days have been the worst by far. We added the kicks. My ribs feel bruised from multiple strikes to the stomach and my head is sore from having my legs knocked out from under me. My head smashes into the ground Every. Single. Time.

  Don't get me wrong, I've gotten in a few good kicks to the stomach as well, but nothing like Kye has done to me. Jake and Jamie keep trying to convince him to go a little easier on me, but Kye won't let up. He says no one's going to go easy on me out there so I need to be prepared.

  He's right. I'm thankful that he's pushing me so hard.

  With my hair still wet from the shower, I head to the kitchen to fill a bottle with ice for my stomach. The cubes are loud and cold as I twist and turn the ice tray to remove a few pieces. They clink into my bottle and I repl
ace the lid, moving it to my belly.

  Ugh, it feels so good against my tender skin. I work my way into the living room grabbing the guitar with my free hand as I mosey to the couch. I lower myself carefully to sit and prop myself into a comfy position, using one of the old moth-eaten pillows to hold the ice bottle to my stomach while I pull the guitar to my chest.

  I've had this song floating around in my head for the past few days and I'm dying to get it out. The chorus flows out of me with ease the first time I play it. My heart lightens as I lean into the music for a release.

  Words rise in my chest, half afraid to come out but hearing him from the other room, I find my voice.

  "The world keeps spinning

  Out of control.

  But I'll just stay right here.

  I'll keep singing this sweet, sweet song about you and me.

  This sweet, sweet song about you and me.

  This sweet, sweet song about you and me."

  "Hey," Jake's voice pulls me out of my head as my eyes snap open, "that was beautiful."

  "Thank you." My face must be beet read.

  "I've never heard it before, who's it by?"

  "Eh... Me." I flush, sure that whatever blood was just swelling to my cheeks has now drained out. I probably look like a ghost. Ugh!

  "You wrote that? Wait, wait, let me get this straight,” he smiles his handsome crooked grin. "You are incredibly smart, you really can run, you play guitar, and you can write and sing your own lyrics. You know that’s really unfair to the rest of us.”

  "Oh really? Coming from someone who’s, like, extraordinarily strong, willing to train me--and hey, strangely enough, I’m getting better. Was smart enough to get military secrets and the cure before escaping, AND you also play guitar.”

  He laughs, taking a seat next to me on the couch and I can hear a little tinkle reverberate in his chest.

  “Will you play some more?"

  "I can't. That's actually all I have."