Chapter 11: Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Karina’s POV

I woke up, feeling like I hadn't slept at all. My entire body ached from yesterday. And the bandage on my arm reminded me of how hard yesterday was.

I took a deep breath, imagining how today was going to be. One thing is clear, though. Kole isn't going to take things easy on me, and I'd better start adjusting to that truth.

I got out of my bed slowly.

Every movement reminded me of yesterday. I felt my body shake with every step I took. This was going to be a long and hard day.

I dragged myself to the bathroom. took off my clothes and showered quickly.

I didn't want to be late. That would give them one more reason to look at me like I'm weak.

My stomach rumbled as I walked into the training ground. I forgot to eat before I came here. Great, not only did I not know how to fight, but I also won't have the energy to try.

I turned back for a second, considering going to the dining hall. And risking being late, but changed my mind.

In a surprising turn of events. Kole didn't show up early, and I was left standing alone for hours. Too afraid to leave.

I looked around and noticed most of the other warriors had diapered and wondered if I should leave too. After a few more minutes, I decided to leave. But just as I was walking out. Kole walked.

I stood frozen in my tracks for a few seconds before I turned to walk back into the room.

I greeted kole. As I walked to my spot, he didn't respond; he just started ahead of me like I was too insignificant to acknowledge.

I may have only known kole for a couple of days, but this was certainly different. Not different because he was acting cold. But because he didn't even look at me.

For a few minutes, we both stood there doing nothing.

“Start,” he said finally.

I hesitated for a few seconds, unsure of what start meant.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean?" I said shyly.

He looked at me finally and rolled his eyes.

"Take your stance, that's what I mean. You're going to have to learn to think for yourself if you wish to remain here. I don't train slow people." He said coldly. His words felt like a blade slicing me.

It felt uncalled for and very unlike him. Well, maybe I didn't know who this man who chose to rescue me was after all. Kole was obviously a man of many sides, unpredictable and different.

Slowly, I reached for my stance anyway. When I chose one, I noticed a warrior take it yesterday.

My hands shook slightly, but I forced them steady.

I waited for corrections from kole. But he didn’t even tell me what I was doing wrong.

“Again,” he said when I missed a move he showed me.

"You move too slowly." He said and kept on hollering insults at me.

Each word was sharp enough to cut without touching me. I was already exhausted before we even properly began.

“You’re slow,” he said again.

I bit my lip. And looked away, trying to hide the tears that were gathering in my eyes.

“I’m trying,” I said, my voice was shaky.

“Try harder,” he replied. He was cold and devoid of empathy.

This wasn’t encouragement. It was an attempt to belittle me.

I took my stance again and began, but I could barely hold myself upright now.

My legs felt like they were no longer mine, but I refused to fall. It would be too embarrassing. And only give kole more reason to tell me.

“Focus,” he snapped as I missed another move.

I was trying. But I couldn't keep up. It felt like my body was lagging behind my mind.

"Get ready to fight." He said and took a stance.

I stood froze for a minute, was he really going to fight me? I can't fight him. Especially not now.

I thought about telling him this, but I knew it would be hopeless, so I accepted my fate and took a stance quickly. While shaking with fear

He charged at me immediately and landed a kick on my legs, making me fall flat on my face. I picked myself up quickly and realized the only way I was going to get out of this was by doing my best to avoid his hits

It worked for some time, but suddenly there was a shift. It happened fast.

I didn’t even see his movement properly, just the flash of his blade, as a sharp sting cut through my arm.

I fell on the ground immediately. Clutching my arm. The rush of blood was immediate.

Ah.” I screamed out in pain. This was worse than what was done to me yesterday.

My arms were getting soaked in blood very quickly and were now leaking on the ground.

I looked up at kole. Afraid that he was going to attack me again. But he just stood there frozen as the entire world had just gone silent.

His expression was tangled up; I couldn't decipher what it meant. And it scared me.

“Karina..” he said suddenly and moved towards me.

I backed away, instinctively. Who's to say he wasn't going to hit me again?

He noticed my retreat and immediately stepped back.

For the first time all morning, he looked like the kole that had rescued me. I could tell from the look on his face that he hadn’t meant for it to happen.

Like he didn’t recognize what he had just done.

“I didn’t mean to...” he started, but stopped.

"Ouch." I cried out in pain. He moved toward me quickly. And reached for my arms, I flinched.

“Don’t—” I whispered.

He stopped and turned back.

“Get the doctor,” he ordered one of the guards nearby.

The guard moved immediately. But before the guards could leave, he yelled after them again.

“I’ll take her,” he said.

Before I could argue, he was already closing the distance between us. He moved slowly towards me this time. Careful. Like, I might break completely if he moved too fast.

“I’m fine, I don't need your help,” I said quickly, even though my arm was shaking.

“You’re bleeding,” he replied.

“I said I’m fine.”

He didn’t answer; he took my shoulders and lifted me effortlessly into his arms.

I wanted to resist. I really did, but my body was too tired to argue with fear and pain at the same time.

\------

The clinic smelled like antiseptic and clean cloth.

I sat on the edge of the bed while they cleaned my wound. It wasn't as deep as I feared it was, but it burned.

Kole stood near the wall. All through out, not saying anything, just watching.

When the doctor finished, they wrapped my arm and left.

I turned away from kole; I didn't want him to see the tears staining my face.

My eyelids felt heavy now. Soon, my eyes closed before I could stop them.

When I woke up, he was still there. He was sitting in a chair that he drew close to my side. I stayed still for a minute, not wanting him to know I had woken up yet.

He looked like a man plagued by guilt. And it confused me.

I shifted slightly. His eyes immediately lifted to me.

“You’re awake,” he said.

I swallowed. “Yeah,” I replied flatly.

We stayed silent for a few minutes before he broke the silence.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Sore,” I replied, looking at my wrapped-up arms. His guilt-filled eyes followed mine silently.

“I shouldn’t have pushed you that far,” he said. I felt tears gather at the corners of my eyes.

“I ignored you when you said you needed a break,” he continued. “That was a mistake.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

So I stayed quiet. I replied by nodding my head slightly.

"I don't understand you. Did you bring me here to suffer?" I asked. I could feel my voice breaking as I spoke and did my best to steady it.

Kole looked at me, like my question hurt him. "I didn't mean..." He started speaking but stopped. He got up from his seat and moved towards my bed slowly.

"I pushed too far. I'm sorry." He replied, I shaked my head, that wasn't what I asked him, but I was too tired to push further.

He sat on the chair closer to my bed.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked. His hands reached for me, and as soon as his hand touched me, I felt a strange jolt. it was small but it felt electric.

I stiffened slightly. I was confused about what had just happened.

Did he feel it too? I asked myself.

For a second, neither of us moved. But his expression changed almost immediately, tightening, like he’d noticed something he didn’t want to acknowledge.

Then he stood up. quickly. And backed away like he was desperate to put some distance between us.

“I’ll tell them to bring you food,” he said, and before I could respond, he was already walking out.