y reached a small clearing surrounded by thick bush, he shoved her forward without a word. Harper stumbled but caught herself. Her eyes immediate

the guard barked before disappe

h interest, some with contempt. She met

whip in hand. Without warning, he struck her arm. The sting

She didn't flinch. She

e as he gave a satisfied nod. "Today's training i

ted in unison, voices

er fingers trembled slightly as she pulled it out, but she masked

e up there! If you're left behind

earth. Chaos erupted. Bodies collided. Shouts, curses, pain. Harper hadn't

rson groaned. "This gir

un. She couldn't see-only feel-the wind brushing past her ears, the uneven groun

led from he

, she

she thought, panting. I don't even

n she hit something solid-the tree-she yanke

s lips. There was a line drawn clearly on the ground, and be

d, so you will

d? What d

lash. Warm, thic

oo

ed as she wiped her face, trembling. Five b

training right away!"

et. Harper was still fr

ans getting killed

p quickly before you get e

her legs straight. They were each hande

If they couldn't, they'd die. If

t. And cu

red and tore again. She bled, cried silently, a

t, rough and uneven. She bound her chest tight under her uniform, trying to erase all signs of fe

er. Touched h

he en

. His favoritism meant she had food when others didn't. It meant

who couldn't keep up, whose arm

d counting

The Boss ca

once soft, was now sharpened by strug

" she said,

office. The room smelled like cigar

walked in like she owned the place-shoulders back, head high. Her all-black outfit

the skin of

grown up, Harpe

, boss. You c

ur traini

y we

e of their best fi

o survive

t's the en

, bo

almost

ost

rs that you've been here, but

ou," she said, s

proud,

t me to be

be my personal guard and

greed to t

ou right here now so you can train harder and p

a settle for being your

ou can't have any power

give it to me,

t? You can't do anyth

by making me Logan's

hat? You wanna work with my boss? Then yo

you s

belong to me. You'll serve me and not Logan. Y

You just serve Logan by the side as well. Wh

u. But you need to prove

do you

serve Logan. Then I'll gi

urned and walked out witho

too much opportunity, bos

nity is neve

against y

have the powe

e power. What if she tells everything about all the b

l never

hing to lose. S

She's full of anger, and she needs vengeance against those who w

her to Logan becau

l be a great help to me whenev

you forget about her sister

w the winning team. And everything Logan has is sti

elieve in

oo