Chapter 7- Training begins
1126 Words
Angelica’s point of view
I woke up angry.
Not screaming or throwing things type of angry.
The quiet kind.
The kind that sits heavy in your chest and refuses to move.
The room felt too big.
Everything in this mansion felt wrong.
I missed my small room at home.
My tiny mirror with the crack on the side.
My old pink blanket.
I missed normal.
A knock came at my door.
“Get dressed,” Leon’s voice said from outside. “Training starts in ten minutes.”
Training.
I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me.
“I’m not your soldier,” I muttered.
But I still got up.
Because even if I hated him right now…
I knew he meant it.
The gym was on the lower floor. Cold. Clean. Quiet.
Marcus was already there.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Serious expression.
He didn’t smile.
“Morning,” he said.
I didn’t answer.
Leon stood near the wall, watching.
“She needs to learn,” Leon said calmly. “No excuses.”
“I don’t need this,” I snapped. “I’m not staying here forever.”
Leon looked at me. His eyes were steady. Unmovable.
“You don’t get to choose that,” he said.
That hurt more than I expected.
“I had a life,” I said. “Friends. School. Plans.”
“And now you have enemies,” Leon replied. “So you’ll learn.”
Then he walked out.
Just like that.
I wanted to scream.
Marcus clapped his hands once.
“Okay. We start simple.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You don’t have to want to,” he replied. “You just have to survive.”
That shut me up.
He showed me how to stand.
“Feet apart. Not too close. Balance.”
I copied him.
Wrong.
He nudged my foot with his shoe.
“Like this.”
I tried again.
Still wrong.
I stumbled and almost fell.
He grabbed my arm before I hit the floor.
I pulled away quickly. “I’m fine.”
“You’re clumsy,” he said flatly.
“I’ve never done this before!”
“I know.”
He handed me gloves.
“Punch the bag.”
I stared at the large black punching bag like it had personally offended me.
I punched it.
Softly.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Is that a love tap?”
I punched harder.
The bag swung back and nearly hit my face.
I yelped and jumped away.
Marcus sighed. “This will be a long week.”
After thirty minutes, my arms felt like they were falling off.
My legs trembled.
I dropped to the floor.
“I hate this.”
Marcus handed me water.
“Good.”
I frowned. “Good?”
“Hate means you care.”
“I don’t care.”
“You do.”
I looked away.
Because he was right.
If I learned how to fight…
That meant this was real.
That meant I wasn’t going home anytime soon.
Leon returned later and leaned against the doorway.
“Progress?” he asked.
“She falls a lot,” Marcus said.
I shot him a glare.
“But she keeps getting up,” he added.
Leon’s gaze shifted to me.
Something softer flickered there.
“Again,” Leon said.
“I can’t feel my arms.”
“Good.”
I forced myself up.
“I used to worry about exams,” I muttered. “Now I’m punching bags in a prison.”
“This isn’t a prison.”
“It feels like one.”
He stepped closer.
“You think I enjoy this?” he asked quietly.
I didn’t answer.
“My enemies don’t fight fair. If they can’t reach me, they’ll reach you.”
My stomach twisted.
I didn’t choose this.
“I know,” he said softly, as if reading my thoughts.
And for once… he didn’t sound cold.
Marcus taught me how to block.
“Hands up. Protect your face.”
Too slow.
He tapped my forehead lightly.
“Dead.”
Again.
Tap.
“Dead.”
Again.
Tap.
“Dead.”
Tears burned behind my eyes.
“I’m not built for this!” I shouted.
Marcus crouched in front of me.
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not! I’m not like you people!”
“What people?”
Dangerous people. Cold people. People like Leon.
I didn’t say it out loud.
“Strength isn’t muscles,” Marcus said. “It’s getting up when you want to quit.”
I stared at my shaking hands.
“I miss my old life.”
“I know.”
“You can’t go back,” he added gently.
And that hurt most of all.
Because he was right.
That night, I stood on the balcony.
The city lights glowed in the distance.
So close… but unreachable.
Leon stepped outside quietly.
“You’ll get better,” he said.
“I don’t want to get better at this.”
He stood beside me.
“You’re angry at me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s fair.”
I blinked, surprised.
“I didn’t ask for this life either,” he said quietly.
For a second, he looked tired.
Not powerful.
Just tired.
“I hate traffickers,” he continued. “They destroy families.”
I swallowed.
“I know.”
“Training won’t fix everything,” he said. “But it gives you a chance.”
A chance.
That word stayed with me.
The next morning, I went to the gym without being told.
Marcus looked surprised.
“You’re early.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
He nodded. “Show me your stance.”
I stood balanced.
He nodded once.
“Better.”
I punched the bag.
Harder.
It pushed me back, but I didn’t fall.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Marcus tried to tap my forehead.
I blocked.
His hand stopped midair.
“Not dead,” he said.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Leon watched from the doorway.
I saw him this time.
But I didn’t complain.
If I was stuck here…
I would not be weak.
After training, Leon walked over.
“You didn’t quit.”
“I wanted to.”
“But you didn’t.”
I looked at him.
“I can’t go back, can I?”
“No.”
It hurt.
But it cleared something inside me.
“Then teach me everything,” I said.
Leon’s eyes darkened.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m more scared of being helpless.”
Silence.
Then he nodded.
“Tomorrow. We start for real.”
I looked at my bruised hands.
They were shaking.
But they were learning.
For the first time…
I didn’t feel like a victim.
I felt like someone who might survive.
- Writer
