It was not until the first light of dawn began to paint the horizon that Callie finally settled into an exhausted sleep.Elias’s fingers brushed against her hair, still damp from yet another shower.His calm face masked the maelstrom of thoughts that raged within him.As his mind played out scenarios of vengeance, Elias’s grip on Callie tightened, vowing silently to shield her from harm’s reach.He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened if he had not made it back in time, if Callie had been left alone in the clutches of Simon.***The blinding sunlight streamed through the curtains, painting the room in shades of gold.Callie’s eyes fluttered open, her mind still foggy from a nightmarish haze.Her heart raced as she tried to piece together what had happened.The last clear thought she had was talking to Simon, relieved and glad that he was finally leaving the academy, and then…She bolted upright, her chest heaving as the memories rushed back like a tidal wave.The pain
Elias’s hands moved with purpose, his touch igniting sparks along her skin.They were both seeking refuge in each other, using the language of touch to banish the shadows that threatened to consume them.As their bodies melded together, their connection became a lifeline, a lifeline that they held onto with unwavering determination.Afterwards, Callie and Elias lay tangled in each other’s arms, panting.The room was cloaked in a contented stillness, a sanctuary from the outside world.Elias’s gaze shifted from the ceiling to Callie, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.‘Well, I’d say that was one hell of a morning,’ he quipped, his voice a low rumble.Callie giggled.Then she pulled the pillow over her face, suddenly feeling shy after the fact. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’‘Hey.’ Elias traced a finger on her arm. ‘You are my wife. What you did is perfectly natural.’He added with a grin, ‘And much appreciated.’The burnt toast sat neglected on the kitchen counter.Elias pu
With another sigh, Callie curled up on the sofa, seeking comfort in Elias’s arms.Her voice was soft as she spoke, uncertainty tainting her words. ‘What will people at the academy say if they know about this?’‘This?’‘About…what happened last night.’Elias’s voice was resolute. ‘They will say Simon is a scumbag who deserves to be locked up. They’ll say you did the right thing to break up with him.’Callie was less confident. ‘What if they judge me, look at me funny? People will talk.’‘About what? You did nothing wrong.’Callie bit her bottom lip. ‘I shouldn’t have agreed to have that walk with him. I just thought it would be the last I saw of him in a long while.’Elias listened patiently.‘And... During the two weeks when he worked at the health centre, he really acted as if he’d gotten over me. So, I thought I was just saying goodbye to a colleague. I never imagined he’d—’‘Don’t.’ Elias’s voice cut through her words.He turned her to face him, his eyes locking onto hers. ‘Callie,
Angelia smiled, a cold, smug smile. ‘What I did? I helped patch you up at Captain Santana’s request. I gave you pain meds. Without me, you’d be screaming in pain right now.’She added with a taunt, ‘As for anything else you claim I did….Well, you don’t have evidence, do you?’Simon’s face contorted with frustration as he realised the truth of Angelia’s words.He had been played, manipulated from the very beginning.He was sure she was the one who placed the phial on his desk, but no one saw it.She was the one who kept saying love was worth fighting for and encouraged him to go for it, knowing full well that Callie was already married.She was the one who told him where Callie would be last night, but no one else heard it.Angelia leaned in closer.‘You see, Simon,’ she purred, her voice dripping with malice. ‘You’re in no position to threaten anyone.’Simon’s face flushed with humiliation, his rage impotent in the face of Angelia’s calculated manipulation. ‘B*tch!’‘Save your theatri
Elias cracked his knuckles. ‘Now, the first thing you need to know is how to disarm an opponent who’s got a blade on you.’Callie squared her shoulders. ‘I know how to handle a blade.’‘I’m not talking about a surgical scalpel.’ Elias shook his head. ‘I’m talking about the weapon most commonly used by civilians in armed attacks. It’s a crucial skill. You never know when you might find yourself in a tight spot.’Callie took a deep breath. ‘Okay, I’m ready.’Elias reached into his belt and withdrew a training knife with a rubber blade. ‘All right, Callie, pay attention. The key here is to control the situation. You want to stay calm and focused.’Callie nodded, her fingers tightening around the straps of her gloves.Elias lunged forward, the rubber blade glinting in the fluorescent light.Callie’s instincts kicked in, and she sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack.‘Nice move,’ Elias commented.He lunged again, this time feinting to the left before coming in from the right.Callie ba
Elias guided her through the motion. ‘Good. But remember, timing is crucial. You strike when he’s off balance, caught off guard.’Callie practised the move repeatedly.Elias was relentless. ‘Higher!… No, use the tip of your shoe…Pivot, make use of momentum…Again!...Again, and more force!...’By the time the moon was high in the sky, every one of Callie’s muscles ached and sweat was pouring down her face in tiny rivulets.Elias’s lips curved into a proud smile. ‘Let’s call it a day. You did great, Callie. But you’ll have to keep practising.’Callie nodded and flexed her small biceps. ‘I feel stronger already.’‘I’m not the best instructor to teach you self-defence,’ Elias said, taking her hand as they left the stadium. ‘The techniques I learned are aimed to maim or kill, not just incapacitate, but what you picked up today should suffice. When we have the time later, I’ll teach you how to shoot.’But if he could help it, he hoped she never had to use a gun.***After Elias made sure Cal
The moon hung low in the night sky, casting eerie shadows over the secluded campus.In the distance, the academy’s front gate was illuminated by harsh floodlights.Simon slowed down the truck.His heart pounded in rhythm with the thudding footsteps of the sentries who approached.He clenched his fists, a silent prayer on his lips.The sentries, stern-faced and vigilant, stepped forward, their rifles held steady.One of them, a rugged soldier with a no-nonsense demeanour, gestured for Simon to wind down the window.PFC Silva’s tone was firm as he demanded, ‘Hold up there, buddy. Where do you think you’re going at this hour?’Simon’s pulse raced, his voice laced with urgency as he struggled to put on a facade of innocence.‘There’s an emergency at the health centre,’ he said, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible. ‘We’ve run out of critical medical supplies, and I need to get them from town.’The sentries exchanged a glance, their suspicions evident in their furrowed brows.PFC
PFC Ward’s hand twitched toward his handcuffs.Simon’s eyes darted around, desperately searching for an opening.In a heartbeat, he seized his chance, his limbs propelling him forward in a desperate dash for freedom.‘Hey, hold it right there!’ Ward’s voice cracked like a whip as he lunged after Simon.The gravel crunching under Simon’s hurried footsteps only added to the urgency of the moment.His heart hammered against his ribcage.His body was still hurting from the beatdown received from both Elias and Lemuel, but adrenaline pushed him forward.The front gate was less than ten metres ahead.If he could make it, he could disappear into the dense woods where nobody could find him.He was unfamiliar with the terrain and had zero knowledge about surviving in the wild, but that would be the concern for another day.But the chase was short-lived.Both Ward’s and Silva’s training kicked in as they pumped their legs.In a blur of motion, Ward intercepted Simon, his arms wrapping around Si