10- Bull castle

LOCATION: BULL CASTEL DEL MONTE, ITALY - 4 PM

TRAINING GROUNDS

PATRICIA POV

It was the sixth month of the year, and as tradition demanded, Bull Castle recruited new candidates. Not many survived the training. Fewer made it to the end. I joined for one reason only...revenge. Despite knowing how deadly Bull Castle is, especially for a girl, I didn't care. I was here to learn. To fight. And to kill.

There were eight of us, five men and three women. We stood in silence, muscles taut and breaths uneven after the relay we'd just completed.

We are on the fielding waiting for instructions from one of our trainers.

"New recruits, gather around!" Aaron's booming voice cut through the tension. He was a towering figure, scarred and merciless, his presence enough to silence even the wind.

I gulped down a bottle of water and passed it to my partner who did the same.

Aaron's eyes scanned us, calculating, judging. "Today, we begin firearms training," he barked. His gaze hardened. "Have any of you ever killed a person?"

The question was a hammer striking stone. I looked around, expecting one or two to raise their hands, but surprisedly, no one did. No one moved. Not even the men. The silence stretched, thick with unease. Slowly, I raised my hand.

Aaron's sharp eyes landed on me. "You." His voice was steel. "Step forward."

I stepped out of line, feeling the other recruits' stares burrow into my back like knives.

"You've killed someone?" His tone was as if he already knew the answer.

"Yes," I replied, my voice steady despite the knot in my throat.

"Tell us the experience."

I hesitated, then began. "My father was a police officer. He taught me how to defend myself... and how to shoot." My throat tightened. "But he lost his job. Became an addict and became violent to me and mum." I paused, meeting Aaron's unflinching gaze.

"Listen, we are not here to hear your family stories, go straight to the point," Aaron commented, his voice hard and firm.

"Right," I said before continuing.

"One night, he came for me and my mother. I defended us. I shot him with his gun." I concluded, looking at the ground.

"And you got away with it?" Aaron asked with sudden interest.

"I was arrested but deemed a minor, acting in self-defense. I served a reduced sentence."

The other trainees gasped at my confession.

Aaron's face remained unreadable. He simply nodded, turning to the rest of the group. "When shooting, focus on the target. Never flinch. And remember, hesitation will get you killed."

The rest of the day was a blur of gunshots, shouted instructions, and aching muscles. By the time we retired to the dormitory, we were so tired.

"Phew, what a long day..." Ano groaned, collapsing onto her bed with a can of cola in hand.

I sat, scrolling through my phone when Klaus stormed over and grabbed me by my shoulder.

"You think you are special, don't you? I know you are trying to win favors, but better don't get in the way!" Klaus charged at me, holding my collar.

I shoved his hand off, glaring. "What's the matter? Ashamed a girl's outperforming you?"

His laugh was dark, dripping with malice. "

"You'll see. Girls like you don't last here. Soon, you'll be sent to the girl's apartment, where you will be dolled up for sexual pleasure while I'll be promoted, working with Boss Lorenzo himself." Klaus said with confidence.

"Let's wait and see." I sneered at him and left.

Going for a walk will calm my anger; I don't want to fight that jerk, or we both will be kicked out, so it's better to ignore him.

Later that evening, as I wandered outside for air, I spotted Lorenzo's assistant, Conti, leading a young woman across the courtyard. She looked terrified, her steps hesitant.

Aaron approached Conti, and they began to chit-chat; Conti was so lost in the conservation that he did not notice the lady slipping away, disappearing into the forest.

I should have ignored it, I should mind my business, I turned the other way but... my conscience won't allow me. What if that girl falls in danger? What if she needs help?

Without thinking much, I followed her.

"Hey," I called softly, catching up to her. She turned, startled, her wide eyes shimmering with fear.

"I'm Patricia. Call me Pat." I said to her, offering a handshake.

"Summer," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Are you new here?"

She nodded, her hands trembling. "I was tricked. A contract I didn't understand. Now I'm... trapped."

"Same here, though I have spent three days here." I giggled.

"Were you brought here against your wish also?" She asked, feeling worried.

"No. I'm one of the new recruits. Were you brought against your wish?" I asked her, looking deep into her eyes.

"Yes, the white wizard tricked me into signing a contract with him. Now, here I am, stuck in a strange country."

" White wizard?" I asked, I didn't know we had a wizard here.

"Yes, tall man, blue eyes, masks, always wearing white."

"Oh you mean Boss Lorenzo?"

She nodded.

"That's sad," I said, I couldn't help but notice her soft features, her eyes, cheekbones, lips... they are all beautiful.

"So, which service are you offering to the boss?" I asked her.

"Service?"

"Yes. Do you want to join us, going for operations or... you want to dance and use your body or you want to be a maid?" I asked and she raised her brow in amusement.

"I just want to go home, honestly." She replied.

I held her hands, and my heart pounded. Her hands were just soft and delicate.

"You can't just go home after signing a contract with the boss. you have to look for a way to survive here then you plan your escape." I said to her, looking at her lips. "Don't worry, I will protect you, Summer." I gently pressed her hand.

"uhn thank you. I have to go." She nervously jerked her hands from mine and left.

"Does she even know where she is going?" I said, smiling.

"Hey wait up," I shouted as I jogged after her.

I showed Summer around, telling her the names of building and their purposes, and yes, of course, she asked too many questions.

As we talked, our steps led us deeper into the woods, away from the main grounds. A small, soundproof house emerged, its windows glowing faintly. Inside, a guard drummed on a table, oblivious to our presence.

"Let's go back," I whispered, but Summer's curiosity got the better of her.

Summer and I sneaked passed the guard and went to the backyard.

The door of the backyard was opened, and Summer was about to go in when I stopped her.

"We just can't go in anywhere. This place deals with protocols. Let's go back." I said, holding her hands.

"Okay." She shrugged.

We were about to leave when we heard a scream.

We froze. The sound came from the house. Another scream followed, louder, raw with agony.

"Someone's in trouble," Summer whispered.

We looked at each other, then at the building. Feeling curious, We went into the building.

The back door was ajar, and against all common sense, we slipped inside.

We heard the scream again, this time louder.

We followed the voice to a room with a slightly open door.

Together, we peeped in and saw a man on his knees, his body bloody and covered in injury.

Lorenzo stood over him, a pistol in his hand.

"You still won't talk?" Lorenzo asked, pacing around. His tone was calm yet chilling.

The man sobbed, pleading for mercy.

Lorenzo shrugged. "Suit yourself." He pulled the trigger, ending the man's life.

I watched with amusement, I can't wait to start working with boss Lorenzo.

Summer gasped, stumbling back and hit a metal cabinet. The clang echoed through the room.

"Who's there?" one of Lorenzo's guards barked, moving toward the noise and walking in our direction.

My heart thundered as we pressed ourselves against the wall, the footsteps growing closer.

We panicked.

"This is the end." Summer silently said she was shivering in fear.