Chapter 52: Private training session 2.

Letting go of her already healed ear, Kimberly's face darkened. Clenching her teeth together, determination washing through her.

“Again!” Nicholas instructed. “Take a deep breath, listen, focus. Tell me what you hear.”

Kimberly stood calm, taking in a long deep breath as she listened. Once again, she could hear the overlapping waves of the ocean, but that seemed not to be enough, so she concentrated harder. Then she could hear it clearly, nothing else, just the waves but louder.

Drifting her attention back to the trees, she could hear the birds singing. She paid more attention, in her head, the birds appeared to be singing closer than before.

“Tell me what you hear.” Nicholas repeated, his voice a slight distraction to her focus.

“I… hear… arghhh!” She yelped again, her face now burned red.

“Kimberly!” He sounded like a disappointed father. “Your reflexes are too weak, too dull!”

Kimberly felt an ache in her heart. “Okay, don't blame me for having to take a dozen dosages of medicati