Chapter 8
Ashley

Burglary. Robbery. Breaking and entering. These were just a few of the criminal convictions on Ashley Hagen’s record. And that was only what the government knew about. Her criminal resume was far more extensive, littered with jobs that had never even raised a red flag.
Unlike the typical juvenile delinquent, Ashley hadn’t come from a broken home or a life filled with trauma. Her parents ran a successful used car dealership and lived in a pristine suburban neighborhood just outside Detroit. No abuse. No neglect. No drugs. Her family was about as average as you could get.
So why did she turn to a life of crime? Even she wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe her life was too perfect. Too… normal. Some psychologists argue that a lack of adversity hinders growth and that young adults need challenges to overcome. But to Ashley, it was simpler than that. She got bored. And once she started pushing boundaries, she liked the thrill.
The thrill-seeker in her had emerged early, and by the time anyone noticed, it was too late to reel her back in. Her parents had tried everything. Therapy, reform programs, detention centers—they threw every resource they had at the problem. Nothing worked.
Some therapists had even suggested she might be bipolar, but Ashley never bought into the diagnosis. She wasn’t mentally unstable, at least not in her mind. She was just bored.
After several stints in juvenile detention for breaking and entering, the court sent her to MaryAnn’s Reform School. It was supposed to be her last chance to get on the right track. Instead, she got into more trouble. Sneaking in cigarettes, smashing the Vice Principal’s windshield—it didn’t take long before she was expelled from the school and eventually shipped off to the military academy.
Now, here she was. The Academy. Another place to hold her down.
Ashley wandered aimlessly through the academy campus, tugging at the purple military uniform in annoyance. Purple? Seriously? Who thought this was a good idea? The fabric itched at her skin, and the color was hideous.
Nothing about the place appealed to her—not the uniform, not the routines, and certainly not the other cadets. She wasn’t exactly fitting in. Most of the other female cadets were stiff, rule-following conformists, and she found it impossible to connect with them. They treated her like a delinquent—and she supposed she couldn’t blame them. After all, they weren’t wrong.
The physical drills were the only part she enjoyed. At least when she was running laps or doing push-ups, she didn’t have to think. She could just work out her aggression. Ashley had always been naturally athletic, but instead of using her skills to win championships, she’d used them to evade cops and break into houses.
Here at the academy, she quickly discovered she was faster and stronger than most of the other cadets—even the boys. But still, no one wanted anything to do with her. She spent her meals alone. No one talked to her unless they had to, and even then, it was brief.
Her roommate didn’t speak to her either, and Ashley was fairly certain the girl was scared of her. Not that she cared. She was used to being on her own.
Tonight, she found herself in the academy library, flipping through a book without really reading the words. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Colin and Tyree at a nearby table, whispering about something.
Against her better judgment, Ashley picked up her book and walked over. She dropped into the chair beside them without asking.
Colin and Tyree went silent, clearly not expecting her.
“What are you losers up to?” Ashley asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Colin let out an uneasy chuckle. “Well, we’re supposed to be doing homework, but… as you can see, we’re not really succeeding.”
Ashley glanced between the two of them. Tyree shot her a wary glance before turning back to his notebook. She could tell he didn’t like her. Fine by her—she didn’t care much for him either.
“Anything fun to do around here besides marching around like sheep?” she asked, leaning back in her chair.
Colin and Tyree exchanged a glance.
“Uh, not really,” Colin admitted.
Ashley scoffed. “This place sucks. Wanna sneak out, hop the fence, and hit the town?”
Colin smiled awkwardly, but Tyree wasn’t amused. “Yeah, we’re gonna pass on that,” he said, starting to pack up his books.
Ashley’s eyes narrowed as she watched them gather their things. Something about the way they were acting seemed… off. She noticed both of their sleeves bulging slightly like they were hiding something under their uniforms.
What’s up with that?
She didn’t get a good look, but whatever it was, it didn’t seem like just some old watch.
“Squares,” she muttered as they left the library.
Back in her room that night, Ashley lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was buzzing with irritation. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Colin and Tyree were hiding something. They were sneaking out tonight—she was sure of it.
But what bothered her the most was that they hadn’t included her. Not that she cared about being friends with them… but still.
She turned her head toward the window and saw two figures in the distance, moving toward the woods. Her eyes narrowed. It was definitely them.
So they’re sneaking off without me, huh?
Annoyance flared inside her. She wasn’t about to let them get away with it. Revenge bubbled up in her chest as she slipped out of bed, moving silently not to wake her roommate. Her old habits kicked in instantly. She’d spent enough years sneaking in and out of places to know how to move without a sound.
Ashley crept through the halls, avoiding the occasional patrol with ease. She might have been stuck in this military academy, but the skills she’d honed on the streets were still razor-sharp.
The door to Colin and Tyree’s dorm was unlocked—a mistake on their part, but one that worked in her favor.
Once inside, Ashley quickly scanned the room. It was a mess, cluttered with dirty clothes and comic books. Typical. She rifled through their drawers, looking for something of value, but everything seemed pretty mundane.
Then, as her gaze drifted toward their beds, she noticed a strange bulge under one of the mattresses.
Bingo.
Flipping the mattress, she found a bulky, old-fashioned watch. It wasn’t anything like the cheap stuff you’d find at the academy store. This was… different.
Intrigued, Ashley picked it up, feeling a strange pull toward it. Her fingers brushed over the surface, and before she realized what she was doing, she wrapped it around her wrist.
The moment the watch clicked into place, it began to glow.
Ashley froze, her heart pounding as a surge of energy rushed through her. She stood there, paralyzed with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
A voice echoed from the watch, cold and sharp.
“Who has woken me?”
Ashley’s breath caught in her throat. Before she could respond, darkness swallowed her vision.
She fainted.