CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I was sweating profusely as I ran to catch up with Victoria and Mira who were obviously familiar with this kind of punishment. Of course, it was a punishment to me. My legs were already aching but I couldn't give up or stop running. If I stop, I'm going to lose track and get lost again.

I can't afford to get lost so I picked up my pace and increased my speed ignoring my hurting feet.

"Come on Aurora! You can do it." Victoria screamed glancing back.

"Well I'm trying!" I yelled back breathlessly.

This academy must be really crazy and demented. So they just decided to make all the students start jugging for a reason unknown to me. Who the hell make such an insane decision if they're not deranged.

Finally! I caught up with Victoria and Mira but I noticed their gaze were fixated somewhere else. I followed their gaze and noticed some people were fighting in a distance.

"What's happening over there?" I asked tired.

"Certainly there's a fight but we can't get the full information if we don't go there." Victoria replied.

"No, that's not even where we are suppose to go. Can we just continue jogging to our dorm in peace." I asked pleadingly.

"Aurora almost everyone is going there. Actually everyone is there." Victoria said again increasing her speed.

"But it's too far." I said lazily again.

I didn't even notice Mira was almost there. Victoria just shook her head then speeded leaving me behind.

I just hissed in annoyance.

Ugh! Now I have to go and watch some idiots fight.

I did not bother to run fast. I just jugged slowly knowing everybody was still gathered there.

After like six minutes, yes, six minutes and I'm not exaggerating it, I got there but this time nobody was fighting anybody. I looked at the crowd perplexed as I watched some of them laugh while the others had an amused expression.

"Who wants to go next?" The instructor asked as his eyes roamed about in the crowd.

"What happened." I whispered to Victoria who I later found.

"As long as this is Future Achievers, they'll always have a way of turning events. They turned the fight to a fighting contest."

I just rolled my eyes. This academy is already becoming tiring.

"Nathan." The instructor called.

Nathan just walked to the middle and people began cheering. I just watched him with curious eyes.

People were already wondering who he will call next as the instructor eyes kept traveling freely in the crowd.

"And Aurora." He finally voiced out.

I probably did not hear him well.

Well my hear must be dirty and the wax must be too much since I've been thinking non stop lately. That's even true, when last did I clean my ear?

"Aurora?" He called again.

"Uh..uh, can i i help with something?" I asked stuttering.

He looked at me blankly.

"Miss Walker, I believe you know why I called you."

I released a long breath then looked around.

Victoria just gave me a reassuring smile.

Mira also smiled a little and I noticed people were already whispering to themselves.

I gulped as I started walking towards another hell. Who knew I will be part of the idiot who will fight here?

No, not again, not after what happened with Collin.

I can't risk this again and get myself injured.

But what can I do? Absolutely nothing. I can actually do something zany or crazy but who's kidding? I don't want to embarrass myself.

I got to where Nathan was standing and he just gave me a little smile which I didn't bother to return.

"Start." The annoying instructor commanded.

Nathan Pov

I just stared at Aurora whose eyes never left mine. Gazing deeply at her, I noticed she wasn't scared but worried. Worried about what I had no idea of.

From the corner of my eye, I knew everyone was watching us and waiting for the first person to attack since the instructor, Mr. James had ordered us to start.

I had no intention of really fighting with Aurora. Infact, I intended on going easy on her, aware of the fact that she doesn't really know how to fight. Remembering what transpired between she and Collins, I knew she will be a good fighter and fast learner with the tactics she pulled.

I watched as she took a deep breath certain that everyone one was growing impatient. Alex glanced at me with a look that simply said, 'you better go easy on her'.

Then she charged with full force, her fist ready to collide with my face. I threw up my forearm in defense and took a step back. Aurora again, charged but I slipped to her side, put her arms down which almost made her loose balance out of surprise. Before I could think again, she rushed to her feet, running towards me but I quickly gripped her wrist, drove her arm over and back, and down.

She hissed in pain and I let go of her hands as I watched her wince.

Aurora lunged at me again hitting me on my knee as she grabbed my foot. I actually expected it, anticipated it, and in the moment after the landing, I let my body relax.

It was so obvious that almost everyone knew I was just going easy on her.

I quickly stood up and she was about to attack again. I yanked my hand in the process, hitting her face. She stumbled back and I could even hear her heavy breath as sweats dripped from her face.

Aurora punched me at my face and by the third time, I grabbed her little fist and gave it a little twist which made her yelp. I knew for sure that if I keep on defending and I don't fight back, Mr. James can do the unthinkable and improbable

We kept repeating the same process, Aurora punching, kicking hitting, me defending, blocking and fighting back sometimes. She kept getting weaker and more tired every passing second.

Aurora pov

I stopped as I tried to catch my breath. I was now panting. I'm tired of throwing punch at Nathan. Can we just stop all this go back home. Not to our dorm but home, yes real home. Home where my mother was.

Tears tried to blur my vision but I used everything in me to block it out. I can't risk bringing out another weakness when I'm already so weak.

Again, Nathan blocked me with his hands. I felt like someone was hitting my head, my legs were hurt and my hands....they were going through serious pain. I was already so tired that I think I will faint anytime soon. All I want to do is to go home.

Ugh! Aurora, not that thought again.

Since I wasn't concentrating, I didn't even know when I fell to the floor. My body absorbed the trauma, slowly the pain, I kicked my way back to the surface. How I wish pain could just be an Illusory sensation that my mind could shut down but no! I was drowning in pain.

The only difference between fighting with Collin then and fighting with Nathan now is that somehow the night gave me hope and the gentle breeze that stroke my skin promised me I wasn't alone but now, this annoying sun is just burning my skin up.

I struggled to stand up but all I felt were pain throughout my body. I was drowning in pain. I hissed in anger. I don't really know why I'm angry but I knew I was and it feels like I should start crying. Angry that I don't have a mother. Angry that I did not come to this academy for all this. I did not sign up for a bloody mission! I tried standing up again but my body ached which caused me to release a loud scream.

"Can this all fucking stop now!" I yelled angrily.

I didn't need to know if the instructor agreed but all I know is that people were already turning their back, leaving me behind.

I was still on the floor when I saw someone stretching their hands. I looked up and saw Nathan. Alex was already walking to me.

"Get the hell out of here." I spat angrily.

"Aurora I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He began but I cut him short.

"I said leave!" I screamed getting sick of his obnoxious attitude.

"Fine." He said calmly.

Victoria, Mira and Alex we're still standing there.

"All of you too." I said.

Nathan whispered something to Alex ear and I watched as they both left. Mira also followed them.

"Fucking leave me." I said harshly to Victoria.

I don't have anger issues. I just became angry not at anyone but at life.

I don't know how I stood up and made it here. But here I am in front of my door. All I know is that I limped. I pushed the door with the little strength I had left.

I walked to the first possible bathroom I could see. On my way back to the dorm, I noticed my leg was bleeding due to the number of times it hit the floor.

I pushed the door to the bathroom open.

And no, I was probably not seeing clearly.

My retina must have definitely been affected since it's not giving me the right visual information.

There, Lizzy stood naked with her back facing me.

It was not even her nakedness that fazed me.

It was the large tattoo boldly resting on her back. To me, it was like another being.

It was more like a diabolical tattoo to me. It was drawn boldly in black and sharp red. There were stars surrounding a little girl. She tried to reach for one of the stars but she couldn't as part of her hand was cut off and bleeding. All of the Stars were even red. Under that, they wrote something which I couldn't see clearly.

Then she too, turned back and returned my expression.

Shock, horror, fright.

I heard a loud bang

The door was shut at my face.

It was then I noticed that I entered the wrong bathroom. My bathroom was just facing me.

But what the bloody hell was that?

Vote vote vote vote ❤️

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Don't forget to comment too