“Don't forget it's fitness test time tomorrow." Ned helpfully reminded me.
Bollocks. Had to fit that in as well somehow. Great.
“I do need to have words with Markus about that again, I tell you." I sighed, annoyed.
“Forget it. You tried before. It's useless. He won't change his mind." Sam shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
“Well, maybe. But with Laura heading up this new team looking for in house mutterings, airing some of those grumbles could work to our advantage." I said with a glint in my eye.
“Jeez, don't start stirring Zack. If that comes back to you, Markus will give you hell!" Ned exclaimed.
“I'll just have to be clever about it then, won't I? Not a word from you two!" I threatened, though I already knew I could rely on them a hundred percent.
“On that note, I will leave you in peace. Get back to work. Say your goodbyes to Eliza. You won't see her for a while." I added.
Sam and Ned looked at each other and me with raised eyebrows, about to question me.
“Don't ask." I sighed and called Eliza over.
“Time to go, crazy girl. Give everyone a hug.”
She looked at me, pain in her eyes. She knew whatever was coming next wasn't going to be good or easy.
CHAPTER 53
Walking back to our room I felt like a lamb being brought to slaughter. Zack wasn't talking so I was left to my own thoughts, which to be honest weren't the most upbeat. I needed to gain control over them because I was imagining all sorts of bizarre scenarios as to how I was going to be severely tested. I'd hear all about it soon enough I told myself over and over again, until we got to our room.
“Sit down. We need to talk.”
Zack looked extremely serious and seemed eager to get it over and done with. I nodded and took the seat opposite him. There was nothing left of the jovial, relaxed Zack that he was when surrounded by his friends, he was just my unrelenting trainer now, intent on 'dealing' with me.
“Look. The mission was a partial success and on the whole you did well. I'm proud of how you dealt with the precarious situation you were in and the courage you showed.”
He paused for a second.
“Uh, thank you, Sir." I mumbled, unsure if he expected an answer.
I started picking up some agitation from him, although very subtle, barely noticeable.
“However, you made one big mistake. Can you tell me what you think that was?”
I'd been expecting this. I knew he wouldn't let it go.
“I didn't manage to use the signal to tell you it looked like it might become dangerous and to get me out.”
I had thought carefully about how to phrase it, hoping to make it sound like I'd wanted to make the call, but wasn't able to. Zack wasn't impressed though. His voice turning icily cold, but in total control.
“Bullshit. Don't make me angry, Miss Mankuzay. Try that again. Last chance.”
“Okay, okay. I didn't follow your order to use the signal when a dangerous situation threatened to unfold. But..." Zack interrupted.
“No buts. You disobeyed an order. One that I made very clear before you set off. That decision put yourself and others in danger. You took it upon yourself to make a call on something that you're not experienced enough to do. You thought you knew better and as a consequence of your actions, we lost him. Had you obeyed my orders we would still have tabs on him.”
He sighed in frustration.
“Ned's story obviously didn't make much impact on you so maybe you should experience the consequences yourself.”
He leaned forward, our faces just centimetres apart as I didn't dare move back.
“What do you think, Miss Mankuzay? Think carefully before you answer.”
He leant back into his chair and folded his arms. Mask fully on now. I couldn't read his feelings at all, or what he expected. I could hazard a guess though. Of course he was right. I had done exactly what he accused me of. At the time I thought it was the right call, but I shouldn't have done it. I did get it. Though inside me there was still a little voice saying that we wouldn't have all this information had I bailed out.
“I'm waiting for your reply, Eliza." he prompted.
Even though I knew he was right I still wanted to scream at him. How is this fair! I did what I thought best and it paid off'. How does that not count for something. Aaaaaargh! But I knew that would be totally counterproductive and probably make my predicament worse.
“I suppose I should, Sir." I started, but Zack's eyes turned dark immediately, he stood up shaking his head, giving off the scent of frustration now.
“I mean, yes I should, I should bear the consequences. Sir." I hastily rephrased, lowering my eyes, nodding my head.
That worked as he sat back down again.
“Okay. So you understand you have to go in isolation.”
It was more of a statement than a question, so I simply nodded my head.
“You know I've been tasked with testing your loyalty by our leaders. That means I'm going to make you endure our severest form of isolation. It will last at least four weeks, depending on your behaviour and I'll explain what is expected of you.”
He paused to observe me for a minute. My heart was racing and I felt sick to the stomach. A month of isolation! How was I going to cope with that? I sincerely didn't know if I could. Zack carried on regardless of my distress that he surely had picked up on as I wasn't making any effort to cloak.
“You will have no contact with any one apart from me. You will not be able to talk apart from answering questions with either yes Sir or no Sir. You stand up when spoken to. You will get one hour outside, accompanied by me alone. You'll be given
