CHAPTER 35
Mrs. Wilkins' gaze moved across the classroom, her eyes narrowing as she observed her students' nervous expressions. She allowed the stillness to continue for a minute, savoring the tension that hung in the air like a dense fog.
"As I mentioned earlier, this competition will be a grueling ordeal," she remarked, her voice cutting through the stillness like a knife. "It will put your determination and commitment to the ultimate test. As a result, you will not face this obstacle on your own.
Lila's heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts raced with possibilities. Will she be matched with Mia, her best friend and confidante? Or would fate have a crueler plan for her, forcing her to face the monsters of her past?
"You will be divided into groups of four," Mrs. Wilkins said, her to
