Chapter 23
1153 Words
The next morning
Something cold doused on me and my body shot up before my brain could comprehend what was going on.
I shivered on touching the cold tiles, “What the hell” I shrieked, only to see Mika standing carelessly a bucket in one hand and a small smile on her lips,
I understood instantly, “What was that for?” I snapped
“I had to wake you, this is the most effective way”
“Dousing me with a bucket of cold water. My bed is drenched, and it's not day break yet,the sky is literally dark” I yelled
Her eyes narrowed, “Keep yelling and you'll lose your voice before it's time, you have ten minutes to wear something comfortable and I'd drag you out with whatever you have on, even this” her eyes trailed down my half bare body and I instantly felt self conscious.
I wrapped my hand round my body, “what are you looking at”
She smacked her lips, “Don't flatter yourself princess, Get dressed. Cassy will sort out the bed later on if you're that worried.”
She walked ahead, towards the door, she stopped with her hands on the knob, “Nine minutes now, don't keep me waiting” with that she walked out.
I nearly felt like strangling her, dragging my body to the bed. I sat back on it trying to find a dry part to continue my well deserved sleep, but her warning echoed in my ears.
Something told me she wasn't bluffing, my eyes went to the clock by the bed table, ‘4:05’
“I better get ready before that witch decides to make good on her promise” I rushed to the closet, I don't fear her but you know what they always say, “Better safe than sorry.”
*************************************
At the Training Ground
I dragged my weak body to stand across from Mika, except for her I could barely make out most of the surroundings.
Was I sleepy?
No.
Why?
A certain cold water combined with the current cold air had sent the sleep packing.
Something tells me she's had it out for me, but I just can't prove it.
“Stand straight,” she ordered.
“Bite me.” I scoffed.
She only smiled lightly, “In the course of this training you'll see that I'm not as soft as Prez.”
“Cain and Soft in one sentence? Oh please” I rolled my eyes.
“If you say so” she shrugged, “Now attack”
I froze.
“Just like that? You won't train me properly? Give me some techniques to practice and to hit a dummy or something, you know? The drill and all that?”
“No. Hit me with your strongest punch, fight.”
I looked at her skeptically, “Are you sure?”
“Attack in a minute or don't blame me when I do” her voice turned cold, like she was fed up.
“Calm down warrior, always so angry” I mumbled.
“Okay” I inhaled and exhaled, “here goes nothing” I cracked my shoulders and hand, and with a battle cry I lunged.
She caught my hands easily, twisted it and elbowed me so hard that I fell to the ground retching but nothing came out, only saliva.
My stomach was empty.
“Get up.” Her voice was cold and hard.
“You cheated” I snarled, feeling my vision blur from the pain.
“I said attack, I never said I won't defend. Get up and attack again.”
Gritting my teeth I forced myself up, “fine” I lunged again.
This time she sent me flying with a slap, I could have sworn that I saw stars, my body twirled so hard till I found myself on the ground, biting into the sand.
“Get up.” She snapped harshly.
Tears sprung to my eyes, but I wasn't going to let her see, I forced myself up, and this time I circled her, trying to imitate what I had seen in movies.
She only stood, letting me do what I wanted. I attacked once more, but she caught it simply and flipped me over.
My body bounced off the sand, something metallic and warm spread through my mouth instantly, pain radiated through every part of me.
I remained slumped on the ground, barely moving, my entire existence flashed right through me, the pain blinding.
“Stand.” Her voice was devoid of sympathy.
We continued like this for the rest of the day, by the time it was over I could barely feel or hear anything, not even myself.
From the corner of my eyes I saw her standing above my limp body the same blank expression on her face,
“That'll be all for today, I expect to see you here tomorrow, same time.” She replied and turned to leave.
Anger surged through me, my lips parted but no words came out, I could only watch her leave while I lay, the liquid from my body painting the ground beneath crimson.
My eyes felt heavy, I could barely see anything, I only had one question as I gave into the darkness.
Why do they hate me?
*************
(Aria's Room)
Pain, that was the first thing I felt as my eyes blinked open, feeling the familiar soft mattress beneath me and the scent I knew I was in my room.
I moved to stand but a moan slipped past my lips,
“Aria, you're awake. Don't move” I heard Cassy, she quickly dropped the book in her hand and moved to help me.
“Water.”
She handed me a glass, I downed it in one go, feeling my parched throat freshen up.
“What happened?” I remember passing out on the sand.
“Oh, you were carried back.”
“By who?” I asked.
She looked away, “Some people. You don't know them. How are you feeling.”
Weird, I had a feeling she was hiding something but deciding not to push it I let it go,
“like a truck rammed into me.”
“Fair” she chuckled, "Miss Mika really held back, to think you're awake so early”
I glared at her, “You call this restraint?”
“Yes. If she had gone all out you'd be dead or in Coma and unable to move for months, with your current state you'd be up and running by morning.”
I rolled my eyes, “I highly doubt that.”
“If you say so, I'll get your dinner, after that you'll need to go to bed early, you need all the rest you can get”
“The heck, I’m really doing this again?”
She chuckled but didn’t respond.
- Writer
