The boy stood apart from the rest, a fearless soul despite being caked in mud and filth. His eyes burned with a cold defiance that seemed too intense for someone his age. On that fateful afternoon, his piercing gaze struck her numb heart like a razor-sharp arrow. Suddenly, she felt trapped in a bottomless, repulsive swamp, desperate to grasp at a ray of light. He was that longed-for beacon of hope.Jensen was rescued by Kohen, the younger brother of Hayes of the McCray family. Kohen had never brought an orphan into their home before, marking Jensen as an extraordinary exception. One day, Kohen grinned at Hayes. "This boy is fascinating. Train him for me, but be careful not to break him."Hayes, a mischievous glint in his eye, toyed with the knife in his hand, chuckling. "I'm not the heartless monster you imagine. I don't decide their fates. Here, survival depends entirely on their own skills and willpower." He tossed the knife to land at Jensen's feet, pointing at the other boys and
"Fantastic!" Hayes declared, his eyes lighting up with anticipation as he sat up straight. He addressed the young men and women gathered in the courtyard. "Give it everything you've got. If you lose, there's no point in continuing your training. Coincidentally, some friends of mine have been experimenting with intriguing games lately, and they're in need of a few test subjects."As Hayes spoke, a chill ran down the spines of the young men and women in the courtyard. Despite Jensen's seemingly fragile appearance, his icy demeanor was imposing. As he stepped into the courtyard, dagger in hand, not a single person dared to confront him.Hayes smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, fear has gripped you all now? I expected better after all the training I have put you through.""Mia." He suddenly shifted his gaze to her. "You've always been my star student. It's time for you to prove your worth against him."Mia could not help but clench her dagger tightly. She had never been a c
Mia and Jensen finally clashed in a heated battle. As Hayes had pointed out, the young man seemed inexperienced and even fragile. It did not take long for Mia to seize the advantage, but Jensen stubbornly refused to accept defeat. After being knocked down, he quickly sprang back up, his determination driving him to face Mia once more. Throughout their fierce exchange, Mia held back, skillfully redirecting a potentially deadly blow to Jensen's chest so that it merely grazed his arm instead.Kohen watched, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he glanced over at Hayes, who sat in a nearby chair. Hayes wore a chilling expression, his icy gaze fixated on the fighting duo.After more heart-pounding combat, Mia's blade pressed against Jensen's chest while his was poised at her throat. They found themselves in a tense deadlock.One of the other girls jeered at Mia. "Mia, you're always so ruthless toward us, never showing us any mercy. Why are you treating this pretty boy with such tenderness
A group of girls swarmed around Mia, their taunts and jeers cutting through the air. Mia picked at the grass, her eyes locked on the retreating figure of the young man she had just met. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, wondering if she had truly lost her senses. The usually cold and ruthless Mia had shown mercy to a complete stranger. But as his indifferent silhouette faded into the distance, she felt no regret, only a sense of resignation.Against all odds, Jensen found himself staying with the wealthy McCray family, enduring the relentless brutality of the training camp. Each assassin-in-training had their own room, nestled in the nearby courtyard, the boys' and girls' quarters arranged in parallel rows. The elegance and serenity of the McCray estate belied the bloody, vicious reality of their daily lives.As dusk settled, Hayes's bodyguards came to escort Mia away. She braced herself, knowing that she might never return. As she followed them, her heart caught in her throat when sh
As Mia stared in disbelief, Hayes' lips twisted into a wicked smile."Spend one night with me, and you can avoid the Velvet Vagabonds."Mia's shock intensified, and she could not help but feel repulsed. Rumors swirled about Hayes, with many girls attempting to seduce him, but none succeeding. She was at a loss as to why he was suddenly making such a proposition to her.The cigarette between his fingers burned away, and Hayes fixed her with an impatient stare."Well? Make your choice. I don't have all day."Mia's hands clenched, her heart warring within her. If not for the captivating young man she had met, she might have been tempted by the offer laid before her now. However, that young man had become a ray of hope in her heart, and she longed to pursue that light unblemished.As if a sudden resolve gripped her, she gazed at the formidable man before her with a fierce, unwavering determination for the first time."I... I'll go to the Velvet Vagabonds."To her surprise, Hayes sh
Mia's heart raced as she was repulsed by the touch of an unfamiliar man. With a surge of adrenaline, she wrenched herself free from his grasp and retreated a couple of steps.The man, Kenneth, was instantly incensed. His sneer was icy as he spat. "What's wrong? Can't handle a little attention from me? Don't get cocky just because you're a little easy on the eyes. You're not special. I could throw you in a cage and let the dogs have their way with you!"Another man laughed menacingly. "Kenneth, she just finds you repulsive. Now, if you looked like Hayes, do you think she'd still push you away?""True," chimed in another voice. "It's a shame that Hayes isn't interested in women, though. No matter how beautiful, they don't seem to catch his eye."Truth be told, this group of privileged young men was striking, especially Hayes. The McCray family's genes were undeniably exceptional. Hayes had a brooding and terrifying air about him, yet his face was more captivating than most women's. H
The deadly archery contest they referred to was far from ordinary; it involved using living, breathing human beings as targets. In the past, this chilling game had claimed lives and those who survived were left crippled for the rest of their lives. Their shooting skills were nothing to brag about; they played for the adrenaline rush it provided.In no time, Mia found herself bound and spread-eagled to a large spinning wheel. Fear surged through her veins as her hands clenched into fists. Yet, compared to the prospect of being thrown into a cage to battle a wild beast, this option seemed marginally more bearable.The men swiftly split into teams. One of them stared at Mia's hauntingly beautiful face, lamenting, "Why'd you have to be so stubborn? If only you'd been like the woman earlier, just a single night with one of us would have granted you your freedom. Such a senseless choice!"Mia bit down on her lip, internally agreeing with the man's sentiment.'Yes, why be so obstinate? It
The wheel spun wildly, faster than they could handle. They were all terrible shots, except for Hayes' one perfect arrow. Mia, though unharmed by Hayes' shot, was left bloodied by the others. Some arrows merely grazed her arms and legs, while others pierced her shoulder deeply. By the time the game ended, Mia was soaked in blood, resembling a gruesome, bloody figure. Her teeth gritted, sweat dripping down her spine and forehead, her face was as pale as paper. Yet, despite all of this, she did not appear the least bit broken. Instead, she exuded a fragile beauty and an undeniable, captivating resilience.The game's outcome was soon clear. Hayes' team had won, all thanks to his one arrow. Mia was released from the spinning wheel, struggling to stand and collapsing to one knee. Kenneth glanced at her and then sidled up to Hayes, chuckling. "Hayes, this woman's got some luck on her side, surviving that ordeal.""It's all thanks to your mercy," Hayes replied with a wry smile.The other me