Chapter 29

Three days had passed since we were in the middle of the forest or what looked like the middle of the forest... as we really couldn't tell.

It felt like time worked a little bit different here and the weather was always humid and dense.

But not only that, even gravity felt stronger, pulling your feet strongly into the ground and sounds too appeared muffled.

"This is the worst place for a date", Kael said pouting.

"Where is this place",Ian asked to Dorrien but was interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Lets go", Roshan said signaling them to get a move on. So far the had just been engaging in light sparring, landing a few kicks here and there so they wondered what they were about to do now.

We stood our eyes fixed on Roshan, preparing for what he were about to do.

"Today, we're going to take your fighting skills to the next level," he announced, his voice low and deadly. "But this time, you'll be fighting alone."

Kael, Dorrien, and I exchanged slightly nervous glances. We'd been training for weeks, but this test felt different .

Zimri walked round handing each of us a small tag.

"Your objective is to keep your tag safe the same as your task before but this time its on you," he explained, his eyes glinting with excitement. "If I take your tag, you're out of the game."

With that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving us to fend for ourselves spreading us to different parts of the forest.

I found myself alone, surrounded by the oppressive silence of the forest. The trees loomed above me, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.

I knew I had to move, but my legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. I forced myself to take a step forward, and then another, my senses on high alert.

Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the underbrush. I spun around, my heart pounding in my chest. But there was nothing there.

Or so I thought.

I caught a glimpse of Roshan's shadowy figure flitting between the trees. He was toying with me, using the cover of darkness to his advantage.

I knew I had to keep moving, but my senses were on overload. Every snap of a twig, every hoot of an owl, made me jump.

And then, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I spun around, but it was too late. Roshan's fingers closed around my tag, and he ripped it from my neck.

"You're out," he whispered, his breath cold against my ear smiling.

I stumbled back, my heart heavy with defeat. But as I looked around, I realized I wasn't alone. Dorrien and kael were standing nearby, their faces down and slightly disappointed.

We'd all been tagged out.

And as we stood there, surrounded by the darkness, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be easy.

XXXXXXX

A young girl walked passed the streets trying to take everything in. And some how, she wasn't sure where to go. Her blood red hair was covered by her hoodie and she walked casually trying to blend in.

She walked passed inns and coffee shops . Tables were laid outside with different people at the sides cheering for those with bulging muscles trying to defeat each other in an arm wrestle.

First thing on her agenda was to find a job something she could get by on. She really wasn't sure what, so on second thought, she decided to stroll through the city hoping for something to come to mind or would it..

In an alley way, May could pick up muffled screams coming from what sounded like a little child. It didn't seem so uncommon in this town as the way many kids went wailing about with snut dripping out their nostrils.

Standing to listen, her heightened senses could pick up their conversation.

"Give me the money you earned today,brat"

"I don't want to", the child answered clearly scared.

"Someone thinks he's a hero", another one taunted.

"You better give me all that money now, or someones not going home complete", the first voice continued.

"Let me go", the boy screamed making others laugh in return.

"Let him go", another voice said entering the scene none other than May.

"And I'm not going to ask twice"