CHAPTER 15 #2
I’m lost in thought, grinning ear to ear, internally laughing knowing that’s impossible but still a fun thought to toy with. However, the guard pushes me in front of… you have got to be kidding me.
“Well, hello.” He scowls.
I shut my eyes, feeling his eyes boring into me but I don’t want to look back. I can’t. Maybe if I don’t, he’ll leave me alone. I hesitantly open my eyes as I let out a shaky breath, glaring at the ceiling above that leaks water droplets against my cheek.
My jaw clenches with each drop, and I’m desperate to control my racing heart. I turn slowly and meet the eyes of Dryden.
“Hi.” I force a smile.
“So, a woman in the games?” His voice peaks with a curious tone. “How interesting.”
“As I have heard.” I swallow, my hands fidgeting behind my back, and try to control the tone in my voice. I cannot show them I am scared.
“Well, I am sorry.” He gives a slight nod.
“Sorry for being thrown into the games?”
“Sorry for having to die in them.” He leans forward. “I’d be glad to end your life so you won’t have to endure the agony that comes with being in here.”
The knot inside my throat grows by the second, my jaw clenching as my nostrils flare. I will not be scared. I am Serene Quinnell, I am not going to let these men kill me.
“What makes you think I will endure pain?” I snarl, my head tilting to the side. “Because I’m a woman?”
His lip tugs into an amusing smirk. “I’ve seen men, strong and fierce, die by these games.
I’ve had them beg for me to kill them, to take them out of their misery.
Men who have fought the deadly sea with me die within seconds and yet you…
” he takes a step, hovering over my petite body, “you think you are stronger than these men?”
“The thing is… all you speak of is,” I pause, taking a step towards him, “men.”
A thick, midnight-black brow lifts before he lets out a scuff.
“You have yet to witness the strength of a damn woman.” I smirk, raising my brows high before turning around and clasping my hands behind my back. “I’ll see you in the pit, Dryden.”
“I look forward to it.” He drags out the words slowly, pronouncing every syllable.
Goosebumps form along my back as I know, as his eyes are locked onto me, that he more than likely will be the death of me. But until my death, I will show no damn fear.
“QUINTON TARLIESK.” A WOMAN SPEAKS, introducing the men of the battle games. I believe forty-nine names have been called, but I might have lost count.
I know my turn is coming soon, the light from the tunnel is brightening and the torches are being replaced by colored stones in the shape of dragons.
With each step I take, my eyes close and I take a deep inhale.
“Lyrusk O’linado,” she continues. Fifty. I think. Which means… we are halfway through the names.
I peek around and begin to count; seven men are ahead of me. I pull back into line, quietly breathing so Dryden cannot hear my breath shaking. If he even senses my fear, I am dead. I could be dead already, but in order to try and survive this, the only way to do so is to force the fear away.
Become numb.
The line is moving faster. I’m pleading out internally for it to slow down, begging to the sky above for the names to just stop.
But they don’t. The man before me is next.
I can barely see outside by the burning star in the sky and we both have our hands across our brows, blocking as much light as we can.
Everything's a blur past him. But then his name is called.
“Skydance Keel.” His deep, chocolate curls bounce as he strides forward with confidence.
And that’s when it all hits me. My knees want to give out as they tremble uncontrollably.
My bottom lip shakes as the edges of eyes begin to see black…
shit, I cannot pass out. And just when I get the urge to run, to flee and head back for the dormitory, knowing I will get killed there anyway, she calls my name.
“Serene,” she says, but then pauses. “Serene.” She states my name again. I have no last name to her and the roars of the crowd go into a hush silence.
They know I am a woman. I exhale.
My chest tightens with apprehension, knowing once I take a step, all of this turns real. No more hiding in the dormitory, no more searching for my sister, but a game of survival. For the both of us. I won’t let this world see my weak side. My fearful side.
I will bring the woman from Seattle, the woman my father raised me to be, and let the rage I have been bottling up explode. At last.
I know I can do this.
I’m going to show them that a woman has the ability to fight just like men. Even if the men here aren’t like those back home. Even if I die trying.
I am going to show them that a woman has a dangerous side, a reckless side, especially when it comes to fighting for their loved ones.
Even if I might not be as strong, my heart will stop at nothing until I reach Tilly.
Despite the tremor in my hands, I calm my racing heart, knowing if Alice was here, she would kick me in the back, shoving my body forth.
She wouldn’t let me hide. She wouldn’t let my fear override me.
I must remember who I am, or this Realm could change me. For the best or the worst.
But one thing is for certain—they threw the wrong woman in the games. And no matter what, I’m going to show them all what a woman is capable of and that they should fear it. They should fear what I will do in order to leave this damn place.