ABIGAIL'S DESTINY

CHAPTER 3 – TRAINING PROBLEMS

                I looked at my hand and saw what everyone was looking at, the scratches and the blood all over my right arm. I felt the pain when I saw it but I did not dare show it on my face. I had started training last month, every day after school and on weekends. Unlike my comrades who have their own family and social circle, I do not have anything else to worry about other than school and trainings. I am easily doing them both. I found the training confusing but not physically hard as I expected because the pain is tolerable. However, someone is finally expressing their annoyance of my existence in the field. Taylor, a girl my age, started hating me for some reason and is not really bothering to hide her distaste. She would mock me with words in the locker or in the field but never initiated something physical with me and I am okay with that. Her words were nothing compared to all the things I heard when I was out on the streets. I have learned from my observation of Luna Elizabeth that ignoring your enemy is the best way to deal with them and that is what I am doing. I just didn’t expect that I have a big heart after all.

                The training today are ropes and climbing. To my pure luck, I was partnered up with Taylor. The rule is that we were supposed to be tied at each end of the rope that is hanging on top of the tower. We are to help each other down with our weight. However, Taylor, in her annoyance, jumped down the tower before everything was tight and ready. The rope and the weight was not ready and I was pulled into the air while something broke on the pulley that was holding us and pushed us further away from the tower. The two of us were left hanging in the air, away from any solid thing to hold on to. Everyone started moving when they realized that we were too far away to reach so they took out anything that could catch us but the question now is that how do we get down? I looked directly below me, I was higher up the ground than Taylor and if I fall directly to the catcher they set up, I would still be injured or worse, break my head or any body parts. My only hope now is to pray that I’ll be able to do the actions right and support the damage with my own body. With a deep breath, I took out the pocket knife from my belt.

“I’m going to cut the rope!” I shouted and Taylor looked at me with wide eyes. If I cut the rope, we would both fall at the same time but I am the one in trouble.

                I nodded at Taylor then slashed the rope on my waist with the sharp knife. I felt the air and the creepy feeling of falling but I tried my best to focus on the ground that was approaching. I spread forward my arms and managed to touch the ground before I made myself roll. I felt dizzy when I stopped rolling but it is a relief because I am alive and in one piece. When they helped me stand up, I felt everyone around me looking at my right arm before I looked down. Although, I landed on the safety net that they set up, I still managed to get big scratches that are bleeding at the moment. It stings but I controlled my expression.

“You are still basically human before you can shift. Do not be reckless next time.” The pack doctor advised as she finally started wrapping my arm with a bandage after cleaning my wounds with liquids and creams that stung. “You should be thankful, you have no broken bones or else I’d put you in a cast.”

“Thank you doctor.” Captain Rico, who was sitting by the door, said when the doctor started fixing her things.

“Thank you ma’am.” I followed.

“No training for her for three days and you, do not get the bandage wet.” The doctor said for the last time before chasing us out of the clinic to tend to another patient.

“Well, you heard her.” Captain Rico said as we were walking back to the pack house. Taylor was sent to her room to rest before me. “It was a valiant thing what you did today. Although, we expect that fearless attitude, do not do it all the time. Yes?”

“Yes Captain.”

“Now go and rest, I will see you in the field in a week.”

“But the doctor said, three days.” I clarified and he laughed.

“Let us make it a week to be safe. Besides, that doctor and wife of mine would be happy to hear that I made you rest for a week.” The captain said and winked. I heard that Captain Rico is afraid of his wife, the pack doctor, but I think the Captain is just too in love with his wife.

                I found my duffel bag outside my room and brought it in. I did not really know what physical state I am in since there was no mirror in the clinic so the first thing I did was to go to the bathroom and look at my reflection in the mirror. My red hair is a bit messy and my right cheek has a small scratch on it. Nothing really seems out of the ordinary except my bandage and dirty clothes. It is not as worse as I suspected so I am safe to face the Luna. She is a bit childish so she’ll rub it on my face that I may have made the wrong decision. Since I could not get the bandage wet and it is covering my whole right arm, I managed to just wipe my body clean and put on a random loose cotton pant and an oversize sweater that would not hurt my arm but still manage to hide it for dinner later on. Just as I finished changing, someone knocked on the door and I expected the Luna or Mama Willa but behold, Taylor is standing there when I opened the door.

“May I come in?” She said a bit shyly and I stepped aside. I hesitated but still closed the door anyways.

“May I help you?” I said after we just stood there awkwardly. She fidgeted for a bit before sighing.

“I am not good at this but I just want to apologize for everything.” She started. “I am really sorry for being mean to you all this time.”

“Okay…” I managed to say after contemplating on what to say.

“Well, the thing is that I was or still am jealous of you. You make things look so easy while I’m always having a hard time. I just got frustrated because I could not do things calmly like you do. You excel at school and could do the trainings perfectly while I could not even balance both and I always have to choose between the two.” The words tumbled out of her mouth and I was not entirely surprised that she felt that way but I am surprised that she is jealous for that reason. I originally thought it was with the Luna Elizabeth thing.

“The thing is…”I said but paused to gather my words. “The only things I am literally doing in my life are school and training, other than that, I actually have nothing else going on. Unlike you, I am scared of socially interacting with people so…yeah. You have a lot more going on in your life compared to mine.”

“I do not know what to say.” Taylor said after a while of silence after my awkward “explanation”.

“So take it like I forgive you so maybe we can end this awkwardness.” I said and scratched my head.

“Okay.” Taylor said and walked to the door but she stopped and turned. “Thank you for today, you saved me. Thank you really.”

“You’re welcome.” I said and she smiled at me before dashing out of the room. The only thing I got out of that encounter is that, it is awkward being in the same room with someone who used to hate you or still hates you?