C76 Trial By Fire

Robert barked, his voice like a whip as he too got down and assumed the push up stance.

Yin and Yang exchanged a quick, panicked look before dropping to the floor. Their arms trembled as they started the push-ups, their muscles burning from the exhaustion of the drills they had already endured.

"I cant hear you counting!"

Robert roared, hearing this the girls started counting out loud only for Robert to roar again even louder.

"I said f*cking louder!"

Yin's breath came in ragged gasps, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Her arms felt like they were going to give out at any second, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might explode.

Yang wasn't faring much better. Her arms shook violently as she struggled to keep her body from collapsing.

Tears of frustration and exhaustion streamed down her face, but she gritted her teeth, determined not to break.

"You think this is hard?!"

Darius barked as he approached, looming over them.

"It's only the first day, and you're already crying?! Pathetic!"

Yin's tears fell freely now, her vision blurring as she forced herself to keep going. The pain was overwhelming, but the fear of failing, the fear of being seen as weak, pushed her forward.

"Keep pushing!"

Julian added, pacing back and forth.

"The weak don't survive out here! If you want to make it, you better get used to the pain!"

Yin's arms finally gave out, her body collapsed onto the cold metal floor. She gasped for air, her entire body trembling. Yang collapsed beside her, her breath coming in short, desperate bursts.

But they didn't stop. Despite the exhaustion, the pain, the tears, both sisters forced themselves back up, continuing the push-ups through sheer willpower alone.

After what felt like an eternity, Robert finally called it.

"Get up, both of you,"

He growled.

"Now get your skinny asses to the showers before I decide to make you run laps through the ship."

Yin and Yang staggered to their feet, their bodies aching and their hearts still pounding in their chests.

The showers couldn't come fast enough, but the dread of what was still to come lingered in the air. They were only at the beginning, and the Iron Fenrirs weren't going to show them any mercy.

Yin and Yang finally stumbled into the communal showers, their bodies aching from the relentless push-ups and drills.

The cold steel under their slippers felt grounding, but the atmosphere around them was heavy with exhaustion and fear.

The women filed in, some looking as drained as they were, others managing to keep their composure.

Yin slipped off her underwear and stepped under one of the showerheads, the cold water pouring over her tired muscles.

She closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breaths as the cold water cascaded over her, washing away the sweat and grime.

Beside her, Yang did the same, their shared silence filled with an unspoken understanding of the nightmare they were living.

But just as Yin was starting to relax, a movement caught her eye. Across the room, one of the younger recruits a girl who couldn't have been older than 19 was standing at the far end of the showers, her pale body trembling.

The girl's orange eyes were wide and vacant, and in her hand, glinting under the fluorescent lights, was a razor blade taken from a disposable shaver.

Yin's heart sank as she watched in horror. Before she could fully process what was happening, the girl dragged the razor across her wrist, the thin line of blood blooming in sharp contrast against her pale skin. 

"Oh no..."

Yin whispered, eyes wide.

Without thinking, she sprinted across the wet floor, not caring about her own n*kedness as she reached the girl.

She grabbed the nearest towel, pressing it hard against the girl's bleeding wrist, the panic rising in her chest.

"Yang! Call for help! Now!"

Yin screamed, her voice filled with terror.

The other women in the showers froze, their eyes locked on the scene unfolding in front of them. Some gasped, hands covering their mouths, while others looked away, unable to watch.

Yang, eyes wide with fear as she ran out from the common shower without any walls between the shower heads.

"Stay with me!"

Yin cried, holding the towel tight against the girl's wrist, blood soaking through the fabric. The girl was barely conscious, her head lolling back as her knees buckled.

Before Yin could lose her grip on the girl, the doors to the showers burst open, and in stormed Airid and Darius. They wasted no time, rushing over to the scene. 

"Move aside,"

Airid barked, his face set in a hard line as he crouched down next to the bleeding girl.

Yin, tears streaming down her face, stepped back, her hands covered in blood as Airid took over. He removed the blood-soaked towel and pressed down on the girl's wrist, his grip firm but steady.

Darius, standing just behind, quickly pulled out a small laser pen from Airids med backpack. Without a word, he handed it to Airid, who activated it and hovered the device over the open wound.

"You're going to be alright,"

Airid muttered as he cauterized the wound with a sharp hiss, sealing the bleeding veins with precision.

The girl whimpered weakly, barely responsive, but the bleeding stopped.

Airid's eyes flicked to the other women standing around, their faces pale with fear and shock. His expression hardened, and his voice boomed across the showers.

"All of you! Get the f*ck out and hit the sack! Now!"

He ordered, his voice carrying the weight of authority. 

The women scrambled to obey, rushing out of the showers without another word. Yin and Yang, still in shock, quickly pulled their underwear back on and hurried out with the others, their hearts racing.

As they made their way back to the barracks, Yin's hands still shook from the adrenaline, her mind replaying the scene over and over. The sight of the girl's wrist, the blood spilling out, it wouldn't leave her head.