4. Unwanted soldier
759 Words
Sarah’s muscles screamed in protest as she dragged herself across the campgrounds. The sun was high now, beating down on the concrete training field that stretched across the estate like a prison yard.
She wasn’t alone anymore.
All around her, men and women were scattered in groups—training, sparring, lifting, shooting. They moved like soldiers, dressed in black, eyes sharp, bodies disciplined. Sarah stuck out like a sore thumb, with her tired limbs and visible frustration.
Whispers followed her as she passed.
“That’s the girl from Ray’s house…”
“She’s the reason Rufus got shot.”
“Pretty face. Won’t last a week.”
She ignored them, jaw clenched. Her legs were jelly, her knuckles bruised, but her pride wouldn’t let her stop.
Luca barked instructions beside her, his voice slicing through the noise like a whip. “Ten push-ups. Now.”
“I just did ten,” she growled, breathless.
“Then do ten more.”
She dropped to the ground and pushed, each movement torture. She didn’t notice the girl watching her from across the field—lean, dark-haired, and deadly. Her name was Kaia, one of the top fighters in the camp—and clearly not a fan of newcomers.
Especially not ones who stayed in Ray Valerio’s house.
“Hey, princess,” Kaia called, sauntering over with her gloves on. “You look like you’re dying. You sure you’re not just a rich girl playing dress-up?”
Sarah looked up, wiped her face, and stood. “You need something?”
Kaia smirked. “Yeah. I need to stretch before my next round. And you look like the perfect warm-up.”
Before Sarah could answer, Kaia threw a punch. Fast. Controlled.
Sarah ducked, barely.
Luca stepped in, but Kaia raised a hand. “It’s a friendly fight, right? Just some camp bonding.”
Luca hesitated. Then stepped back.
Sarah clenched her fists. She didn’t know how to fight, but something in her burned. She didn’t want to be the weak girl anymore.
She swung—and missed.
Kaia laughed, dodging effortlessly. “You hit like a toddler.”
Sarah tried again. Sloppier this time. Kaia danced around her like it was a game—until Sarah caught her by surprise, landing a rough hit to her jaw.
Kaia’s smile disappeared.
One moment later, Sarah was on the ground, a knee pressed to her chest.
“Don’t touch me again,” Kaia whispered coldly.
She got off and walked away, leaving Sarah wheezing in the dirt.
Later that night, Sarah limped into Ray’s house—every inch of her body sore. She tried to sneak upstairs, but his voice stopped her.
“You picked a fight with Kaia?”
Sarah turned to see Ray leaning against the doorway to his study, a glass in his hand, a curious glint in his eyes.
“She picked a fight with me,” Sarah muttered.
He nodded slowly, pushing off the wall. “That’s how it works around here. You want respect? You fight for it.”
“Well, I don’t want to be respected. I want to go home.”
Ray walked toward her, each step slow and calculated. “This is your home now.”
“No, it’s not,” she said, her voice cracking. “This place is hell. I’m being trained like a soldier, threatened, mocked—your people hate me!”
He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could see the golden flecks in his eyes. “You think I care if they hate you?”
She stared up at him, her throat tightening. “Why am I even here?”
Ray tilted his head, something dangerous flashing across his face. “You’re here because you owe me. And you’ll pay it off with sweat, blood, and loyalty.”
She swallowed hard, backing up a step. “You're insane.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
He turned away and headed upstairs, Rufus silently following. But just before he disappeared, he said over his shoulder:
“You’ve got potential, Sarah. Don’t waste it trying to run.”
That night, Sarah didn’t sleep.
She lay awake in the dark room, her body aching, her mind racing. Everyone in this place had a purpose—trained killers, soldiers, spies. And her?
She was just a girl who lit a candle and lost everything.
But if she was going to survive—if she was going to make her parents proud —she had to become more.
And it started now.
---
- Writer
