Free Hold: Hold & Hide Book 1 by Marilyn Grey Page A

Anthony said, “of failure. Take note, okay? This is not the way to do this.” Someone escorted Audrey toward the door as he continued, “We want to see power and a will to survive. Ready?”
    Some of us nodded. Some of us didn’t. You can guess what I did and you’ll be right. 
    “201,” he said. “You’re next.”
    Blake turned to me. “Don’t think less of me.”
    “Wait!” I raised my hand like we were taught in school.
    “Yes, 413?”
    My cheeks flushed and my palms shook as sweat formed. The accelerated thump of my heart loudened in my ears and throbbed in my neck. “Never mind. I’m sorry.”
    They took Audrey into the room with a sign on the door that said, Losing Your Mind is the First Step to Finding It.
    I wanted to take her place, but when he looked at me I lost the desire behind a heavy coating of fear.
    “You’re a horrible sister,” Mother’s voice disturbed me. “Selfish. How could you not take her place?”
    Blake also chose a chicken. I counted those of us left standing. Thirty one. And there were only three chickens left. What if I got stuck with a cow? Or worse.
    Blake immediately took the chicken into his hands, looked at the ceiling, and broke the poor thing’s neck. He didn’t wait for it to stop shaking to start skinning it. He ripped the feathers with force, then peeled the skin from the chicken’s leg, held it down with his knee, and yanked the rest of the skin until he got every last bit off. I bet his Dad taught him that over the summer. He was a big hunter. Him and Brayden. Not Blake though. He didn’t even eat animals because he thought their lives were more important than his own, which I never quite agreed with, but still.
    He held the skinned chicken to his chest, buried his face in it, and although no one else could tell ... I knew he was wetting the bird with his tears.
    “Wonderful.” Sir Anthony tapped Blake’s back. “Everyone, this is an example of success. You may exit, 201. Thank you.”
    But he didn’t move. He dropped the animal, then his knuckles turned white as he squeezed his face and howled like a wild bear. I ran and knelt beside him as he dug his nails into his cheeks. 
    “Blake,” I said. “Stop. Look at me.” The whites of his eyes turned red. “Please, Blake.”
    “Oh, isn’t that nice?” Sir Anthony said. 
    I grabbed Blake’s hands as he screamed out in a tone so horrific even the animals quieted. He bent over, sobbed, and when he picked his head up he belted out, “Who am I?” And again. And then again as two men escorted him out, his feet dragging along behind him. They stopped at the door for those who “succeed,” snapped three times, whispered something in his ear, and immediately his legs straightened, his demeanor calmed, and he walked out of the room without their assistance. 
    I watched the next person kill and skin another chicken with ease and I tried to tell myself to be numb, to turn off my emotions. I thought of Blake, then looked across the room to Brayden who looked like Blake. It didn’t make sense.
    I should’ve taken Audrey’s place. I knew I’d be there myself anyway. At least only one of us would had endured more torture.
    Torture. 
    We were being tortured. 
    A thousand thoughts sporadically entered my mind. Questions. Fears. Regrets.
    “Stop!” I screamed. “All of this. What’s the point? Tell me the purpose. Why are we doing this? Why are we here?”
    Sir Anthony congratulated the guy who skinned the chicken, then glided over to me in his usual strange way. I swear the man floated like a breeze when he swept across a room. Kinda like that Cinderella character. He stood close to me. So close I could smell his minty breath. 
    I focused on the crumb between his two front teeth as he opened his mouth to speak. 
    “The purpose is to develop fine leaders.” He looked up at everyone else, then back to me. “To equip you with the skills to change the world.”
    “Change it into what?”
    He