The Final TestThe air was hazy with smoke and blood.Flora cleaned her blade against her sleeve, breathing hard and fast. Bodies littered the ground around her-some still twitching, others unnervingly still. The battle had been a mess from the very beginning. Now, they were down to the last stretch, but the odds weren't in their Favor."On your left!" Adrian's voice cut through the chaos.She spun around just in time to duck, the bullet grazing her shoulder, making her stagger. She didn’t have time to react before Adrian was there, pulling her down behind the rubble, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.Adrian was already moving, sword a blur of motion as he sliced through the other opponent. They had worked together long enough by now; words were sparse. A look, a shift in stride—a look sufficed.But it wasn't survival anymore.At least, it wasn't with him.Neither with her.Adrian snagged her wrist and pulled her behind him at the very last moment, so an arrow could whistle past
The Price of Loyalty“You shouldn’t be up.”Flora barely glanced up as Adrian stepped inside the tent, his voice low but laced with frustration. He stood at the entrance, arms crossed, silhouetted against the dim lantern light.“I’m fine,” she said, though the stiffness in her movements told a different story.Adrian exhaled sharply, stepping closer. “You got stabbed, Flora. That’s not ‘fine.’”She waved him off. "It's not like I planned it."His jaw tightened. He crouched beside her, eyes scanning her wrapped wound. She looked better than she had hours ago-less pale, more steady-but that didn't change what had happened. What could've happened."You scared the hell out of me," he muttered.Flora's expression softened. "I know.For a moment, there was no answer. The heft of that night yet hovered between them and would not shake. Outside the camp stirred: low murmurs, the soft shuffle of boot on dirt. Their people rallied, recovered, but the war was not over.Not yet."Where is Lorne?"
Sacrifices"You're hesitating."Flora's voice cut like a blade through the silence. Adrian stood at the edge of the clearing, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. It was thick with tension; the weight of his decision pressed down on him like a storm, threatening to break loose."I'm not," he finally said, though even he didn't believe the words.Flora took another step in closer. "Yes, you are."Adrian turned to her; eyes dark, unreadable. "You don't understand."Flora's face hardened. "Then make me understand."He exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. "If I go after Lorne, I leave the pack vulnerable. If I stay, I let him get away. Either way, someone loses."Flora watched him. "And you think you have to make that choice alone?"Adrian didn't answer.She shook her head. "You always do this. You take everything on yourself, like you're the only one who can fix it.""Because it's my responsibility," he snapped.Flora didn't flinch. "No. It's our responsibility. Yours. Mine. Jace
Alice Returns"You thought you were free of me, didn't you?"Adrian froze onto the voice, his body reacting before his mind kicked in. Beside him, Flora tensed up, her fingers curling into fists. The air charged with something sharp and electric.Out from the shadows stepped Alice herself, that smirk still the same-old confident, knowing, dangerous.Jace had been leaning indolently against the door frame, and at her voice, he straightened. "Well. This is a surprise."Alice titled her head, her eyes never leaving Adrian's face. "Is it? You should have known I'd come back."Adrian exhaled through his nose, hands tensing and releasing at his sides. "What do you want, Alice?"She laughed. The sound was low and amused. "Straight to business. No 'how have you been?' No 'I thought you were dead?'"Flora crossed her arms. "We didn't think. We hoped."Alice's eyes flicked to her, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Flora. Still sharp-tongued, I see."Flora didn't blink. "And you're still alive. Unfo
The Last DecisionThe shot rent the night.Adrian moved before he thought. Instinct. Training. Whatever it was, it sent him diving toward Flora, pulling her down as a bullet whizzed past where she had been standing.She gasped as they hit the ground. "What the hell—""Stay down," Adrian growled. His heart pulsed in his ears. He scanned the darkness for movement.Already on his feet, gun drawn, eyes sharp, Jace repeated, "Where?"Cursing under her breath, Alice said, "I didn't see."Another shot sounded. This one hit the wall behind them, splintering the wood.Flora tensed beneath him. "They're not aiming to miss."No, they weren’t.His mind racing, Adrian thought, the shooter wasn't sloppy. They weren't panicked. That meant one thing: trained.And trained meant sent."They found us," Alice muttered. Jace huffed a sigh that was close to a curse. "Figures."Adrian yanked Flora up behind cover. "You hurt?"She shook her head. "Not yet.""Stay that way."More bullets. This time closer.A
The Cliffhanger"Adrian!"Flora's scream rent the air as Adrian crumpled to the ground.Time slowed. The world narrowed. Nothing existed except the red spreading beneath him."No, no, no—Adrian!" She was already on her knees beside him, hands pressing against the wound before she even realized she'd moved. His blood was hot, slick, slipping between her fingers. Too much.Adrian's breathing was ragged, uneven. His eyes fluttered. "Flora…"Shh, don't talk," she whispered. "You're gonna be fine. You hear me? You have to be fine."Jace was shouting something, Alice was moving, but all of it was distant. White noise. The only thing that mattered was Adrian, and the fact that he was bleeding out beneath her hands.Then—another gunshot.Flora flinched, ducking instinctively over Adrian's body."Sniper!" Jace's voice was sharp. "We need to move—now!Alice cursed. “They’re trying to pick us off.”Flora barely registered the words. She was too focused on Adrian’s pale face. “Adrian, stay with m
The AmbushThe gunshot pierced the simulated silence.Flora had slightly a moment to reply before Jace seized her, yanking her to the floor as an alternate bullet ripped through the wall above her head. The air filled with the sharp scent of gunpowder." Stay down!" Jace barked, his voice slightly audible over the unforeseen barrage of gunfire.Lorne cursed, ducking behind a capsized table and drawing his weapon." You led them then?!"" No," Adrian gritted out, floundering to sit up. He was still weak, his body slightly recovered from the last fight." It's not just them." His breath came suddenly." It's worse."Flora's palpitation pounded. She risked a regard toward the door, but the murk outdoors made it insolvable to tell how numerous enemies there were.also, out of the chaos, a voice cut through the night like a blade." Adrian," the figure said, stepping into the dim light of the doorway." You should've no way come back."Flora's stomach twisted. The voice was full of venom but w
The BetrayalThe silence in the room was thick enough to choke on.Jace's hand tightened on the stock of his gun. Alice was frozen, her breath coming sharp and unsteadily. Adrian, weakened but defiant, forced himself to his feet, blood trickling from the fresh wound on his arm.Then, the masked figure stepped forward.Slowly, deliberately, they reached up and pulled off the mask.Kade.The air felt like it had been sucked out of the room."You?" Adrian's voice barely above a whisper, his face alight with incredulity. "You were supposed to be dead."Kade gave a mirthless laugh as he shook his head. "That's rich, coming from you." He took one slow step forward, the gun in his hand still not raised, but also still not set back at his side. "You had one chance to choose a side, Adrian. And you chose her?"Flora's spine went ramrod-straight as Kade's gaze flashed cold toward her.Adrian huffed out a sharp breath. "I never chose sides, Kade. I chose what was right."Kade snorted. "What's ri
A Father's Woeful Demise" Flora, run — there's been a extremity at the sanitarium!" Marissa cried in a pulsing hurry as she nearly dragged Flora out of the small safehouse door.Flora's blood was pounding in her ears." What's it? What passed?" she was suitable to query, her own voice no further than a soft tale, laden with call.Marissa's bright, encouraging eyes were veiled in gashes." It's your father I looked out and there was a crowd of people. They are yelling, and someone said he is getting beaten up by a mob. Flora, I am so sorry."" Beaten?" Flora's voice shook, a mix of disbelief and a deep, eating fear." No it can not be.".While contending down the avenue, Marissa rumored constantly," They're at St. Joseph's Hospital. I heeded to the temptress of the ambulance and heard the cries. You need to see him."In the corridor of the sanitarium, uneasiness prevailed heavy and mutters filled the terrain. Malik, a tired- looking nurse, approached them." Are you Flora? There's an exig
Consequences Unleashed" What have you done, Flora?" Malik's voice cut through the angry hum as he had her backed into the salon doorway. His tone was sharp, eyes narrowed in unbelief.Flora's reply was cold," I did what was demanded, Malik. Alice would n't leave anyone in peace, and now see what she does.".Across the room, a low moan erupted as Alice gripped her side, her face blench from the impact. “ You — Flora, you’ve gone too far this time, ” she whizzed, staggering as she tried to undergird herself against a counter.“ Too far? ” snapped a husky guard, stepping forward. “ You’ve disrespected our pride, and now you’re bleeding on our bottom. ”Alice's voice quivered with wrathfulness," I simply spoke the verity! You know what I said, do not you? I said Flora was nothing but a shadow, a broken oath."There was a murmuration of outrage among the patrons of the salon." That is enough!" a cry came from the reverse, and also voices chimed in with whoops for justice.Flora's eyes bur
The Salon Incident" Flora, did you see that? I heard someone mention Alice was then again," rumored Jasmine as she shifted the security examiner near the salon door.Flora's reply was tense, her voice kept low," Yes, Jasmine. I know whom you're pertaining to. And I'm not in the mood for her capers moment.".Across the room, Malik, the shift administrator, joined in, “ You sure you’re ready for this, Flora? Alice always knows how to stir trouble. ”Flora’s tone was steely, “ I’ve had enough of her prying and her trim smile. I’m then to cover this place, not to be lowered by her arrogance. ”The frontal door chimed just also as a familiar, mocking voice cut through the noise of exertion." Flora, sweetie pie, is not it? Still playing guard like you always did? How cute."Flora's eyes grew narrower, and she approached the door, her voice refocused and clear," Alice. What do you want? I allowed you'd learned your assignment."Alice's laugh was jingling and pathetic," Oh, Flora, always so
Turning Point" Flora, are you absolutely sure about this?" Marissa asked, her voice pulsing with a blend of fear and stopgap as the two of them sat facing each other at a worn kitchen table in Flora's small new apartment.Flora spoke forcefully, yet a hint of pain colored what she said." I could not continue to do this in the same way, Marissa. diurnal excursions to the training grounds recall to mind that which I was created to do. I do not like it all the stress, the admonishment, being constantly compared to others."Marissa leaned in, her aspect sweeping over Flora's." But what about the work you did there? You motivated everyone. You pushed through those delicate sessions like nothing differently."Flora jounced, her voice hard but gentle." Inspiring them was an resultant of making it. It was not about getting a coach it was about proving to everyone that I was not that broken girl presently. I can not redeem myself by adhering to that history."" Are you quitting?" Marissa inqu
A Bitter Memorial" Flora, did you hear what they are saying about Adrian?" Marissa's voice quivered as she leaned in across the small café table, her words slightly above a tale.Flora's voice came back, low and flat," Yes, I did. They say he is been spotted with Alice again — mixed up in her schemes, of all effects. I can not believe it, Marissa. It's like a kick in the stomach, each over again."Marissa's eyes glistered," I know, Flora. It's like every time I'm trying to assure you that everything will be alright, this news comes and shatters whatever hope you had left. How do you cleave to anything when the one person who was supposed to be your future turns out to be so unstable?Her voice shook with rage and anguish," I was finished with it. I believed that awful day, the marriage treason, closed that chapter. But knowing Adrian's returned to Alice it's as though the history is oohing in to tell me some injuries noway actually heal."Marissa soughed heavily," It is n't a memoria
The Sting of Rejection" Flora, please, just one further chance to explain," Adrian contended as he stood outside the small café where Flora had agreed to meet. His voice, husky with remorse, quivered slightly as he looked up at her.Flora's eyes were frigid, her voice freezing and wounded as she replied," Explain? After everything that happened on our marriage day? You've formally explained it a thousand times with your empty defenses, Adrian."Adrian shifted, his shoulders dropping as he tried to bridge the gap between them." I know I hurt you — I know I left you when you demanded me most. But that exigency was not what you suppose.Flora strangled, crossing her arms." Not what I suppose? Adrian, you left me there in front of everyone. I was lowered, devastated, and you — your incuriosity was the worst possible treason."There was a silence in the air as Adrian's eyes searched hers." Flora, I have been trying to make restitutions. I have called, texted, indeed stopped by the pack ho
A Regard Of StrengthFlora stood in the center of the training field as early morning daylight poured through the high windows, the air being filled with the sound of determined voices and the metrical thud of exertion. Amidst the commotion, she was girdled by her fellow trainees, each one of them seeking to their limits. Now, the air hummed with further than just physical exertion; it was charged with the eventuality of reinvention, a chance to prove that she was further than the weight of her history.“ Flora, come on, you’ve got this! ” Coach Ramirez called out, his tone both establishment and encouraging as he circled around the group. His words cut through the noise like a lifeline, and Flora felt the familiar pressure of anticipation mingled with a shifting stopgap.Flora breathed heavily, her muscles burning as she pushed herself through a series of violent exercises. She broke between sets, her voice low but determined as she spoke to Marissa, who had joined her on the sideli
Breaking Free" Flora, are you really going?" Marissa's voice quivered as she spoke, her tone a blend of unbelief and anguish. In the muted morning sun, the normal noise of the family home hummed vocally around them, and Flora stood poised in the doorway, her hands shaking as she gripped a battered duffel bag." I've to, Marissa," Flora said, her voice low but bent ." Every day then's like suffocating under prospects that are quaint, in a script not meant for me." She talked in quick, decisive bursts as she stepped down from the worn welcome mat and into the uncertain bite of a new morning." Is it freedom you are chasing, or is it just getting down from then?" her brother Ethan questioned, standing in the doorway with a creased forepart. His tone was gentle but with an edge of concern." We always knew you were different, but you are immolating everything — your recollections, your family."Flora's aspect met his, and she replied," Ethan, you know I have tried to be what they wished.
New Onsets" Flora, are you ready for moment's session?" Coach Ramirez asked as gentle early morning sun filtered vocally through the training hall windows." Yes, Coach," Flora replied, her voice steady but with a hint of nervous anticipation." I have awaited so long for this."." Flash back, this is n't just an issue of physical strength," Coach Ramirez said, leaning forward with a warm smile." It's an issue of having the courage to stand alone. And you, Flora, have that courage in spades."Flora's eyes burned with resoluteness as she said," I know, and moment I am going to prove it — to the world, and to myself. I've to show that I can make a future on my own terms."" Good," intruded Marissa, her friend who had come along to advance support." We have all seen you struggle with the history, with all those heavy prospects. moment, you are reshaping your story."" Precisely," Flora answered, her voice growing more determined." I have been held back long enough by other people's prosp