"You will have to sense the world around you, even in the dark." Michael's voice seeming that it was coming from everywhere in the dark room. It sounded as if he was on a speaker or something like that.

"But the dark isn't my friend," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. I was nervous, because I knew that something could pop up at me in any minute. "I've been trying to tell you that."

"So, what are you going to do about it? There is an exit that will lead you to the next test, but you will have to find it."

"Thanks for the help," I mumbled, sarcastically. I closed my eyes and started to do the "seeing" technique my dad had taught me before my sister died and my mark appeared.

~*~*~

"Easy now, Joes," my father used to say, smiling at me. He looked around, before he glanced at me. "Pay close attention to the details around you, even though it is dark."

"But Da-ad, why do I have to do this?" I used to ask when I didn't want to do it. I would huff and fold my arms across my chest. I pouted and looked at my father, wanting to just go back into my warm bed.

He smiled sadly at me. His green eyes held knowledge in them that I didn't even know about. However, he had kept silent about it. "You will understand, when it is time. Now, is not the time."

~*~*~

I sighed and pushed the memory away. I didn't want to go into more detail of my life, because that was one of the "better" times I had with my father. The rest of the time that I had spent with him was arguing. However, most of the time, he had ignored me.

It was as if he didn't care about me anymore. I shot that feeling down, not wanting to feel the hurt that I had always felt when he did that.

Concentrate, I thought, shaking my head and clearing my head from the thoughts of my father and what he had me do, a long time ago. I closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. You can do this. Your father- there, by the far left wall.

I opened my eyes and looked at the far left wall. I saw a little light that symboled that there was a door there. A smile appeared on my face, because I had found it. However, it turned into a frown, and I tensed, knowing that something was not right.

"It can't be that easy," I mumbled as I grabbed a knife out of my boot. I closed my eyes, again, and took a deep breath, letting my body relax. I could see everything in the room like this and knew that something was watching me. I looked around and saw something darker than the rest of the room. I paused and looked at it.

The mark on my wrist started to burn as the... thing started to move towards me. My mark usually started to burn, when something unnatural moved towards me. It was as if there was a mechanism in there, letting me know that something was dangerous.

"Knew it," I mumbled, opening my eyes to see that it was a shadowy figure. My heart started to pound like a runaway train, because it had to do with my mark, and it was what my dad had said. It was the thing that I had to watch out for. I could feel the fear going through my veins, but I knew that I couldn't let it control me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm my frayed nerves and my pounding heart. After a few minutes, I opened them and set a barrier against me and the shadow thing so it couldn't take over my mind. Something my father had said, had popped into my brain.

It groaned furiously and launched itself towards me. There were only tendrils for feet and arms. It was as if it was trying to suck me into darkness.

I dodged the attack and grew a bit angry and annoyed. "Jono fou," I yelled angrily, holding out my right palm. Fire burst out of it and at the shadow, leaving me drained.

It groaned and disappeared from sight, as if it was just a shadow to begin with.

After it had left, I sat down and panted, feeling sweat glisten on my forehead. That took a lot of energy from me, and I knew that I might have to face more than one in upcoming battles.

"Not bad... for a girl," Michael said, making me jump.

"Gee. Thanks for the help," I replied, sarcastically.

"You didn't need it. And you passed the first test."

"There are more tests?!"

"Two, actually. The second one tests you strength and the third one tests your wit. You need all of them to study and learn for what you have to become."

"Well that's good," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. I guess I'm actually in this even though I didn't want to be, I thought, frowning.

"Will you do the next test?"

"Like I don't have a choice," I replied, standing up. I started to walk towards the door, thinking about something. "You said that the next test will test my strength..."

"Yes. And..?"

"And does that mean I can fight someone?" I asked, going into the next room and saw the German knife dude from an hour ago. "Never mind, I think I just answered my own question."

"You don't sound surprised," Michael commented. I could tell that he had raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you kind of... answered my prayers. I had a rough day at school, so." I shrugged my shoulder.

"Why did you have a bad day at school?" asked the German speaking dude in English.

"Because... wait, did you just speak English? If so, then why did you need a translator?" I asked confused. I raised an eyebrow, wondering why he had me translate for him, even though he knew the language.

He smirked. "I'll answer your question later. You will have to get past me, without a weapon. The door is behind me." He nodded towards it.

"Ok, what about you? Will you use a weapon?"

"Nope."

"All right, then let's begin."

***

We started to circle each other, watching each others movements and such. We were trying to see what the other person was going to do, I guess.

"Will you attack first or will I?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If you attack me, then I got the right to attack you. It will be a bad idea, though," I replied.

He smiled at me, however, it turned into a sneer. "My name is Randolph Lore," he said. "And since I told you my name, I'm going to have to kill you." With that, he lunged at me.

I sensed him going to the right so I side-stepped towards the left. I folded my arms across my chest and watched him, staying patient. There was a time to attack and a time to stay put. So, I stayed put, waiting for the right time to attack.

He went past me and almost collided with the wall. He turned and looked at me, angrily. If he was a cartoon, then there would be smoke coming out of his ears right now.

"What?"

He growled in response and launched himself at me.

I ducked out of the way and tripped him, making him crash into the opposite wall.

He swore and stood up.

"Whoops," I said, innocently. "I didn't see you coming that way."

"I seriously am going to kill you," he growled out.

I smiled at him as he lunged towards me. I sidestepped him and brought the palm of my hand into his back, making him fall to the ground.

"That, is strike one," I said.

He stood up and looked at me. He looked hungry for blood. And he was only hungry for mine.

He lunged a fourth time, and I ducked out of the way, bringing out one leg and tripping him, again.

"Strike two. When are you going to learn?" I asked sadly, shaking my head. I clucked my tongue at him as if he was a child.

"You really want to annoy me?" he growled.

"Come and get me," I purred, batting my eyes at him. A smirk appeared on my face, while I waited for him to come at me.

He lunged at me, and I don't think he was going to learn, not to lunge at me.

"Strike three," I said, before I attacked.

It took about maybe ten minutes, until I had him on his stomach and had one of his arms behind his back. I was on my knees, and my kneecaps were digging into his back. "Give up?" I purred. "I can break your arm this way." I placed a small bit of pressure on it.

He started to struggle, so he could throw me of, which was stupid, because he couldn't.

I tightened my grip and pulled until he hollered in pain. I kept my hold on his arm, waiting for him to give up. "Give up 'cause I don't want to break your arm."

He stopped struggling and rested his head on the ground. His breath was labored, as if he was done fighting me. "Yes, I give up," he said.

I relaxed my grip and stood, stretching my muscles. I yawned and looked at him, lying there. "Here," I said holding out my hand, so I could help him up.

He struggled to stand and groaned. "I don't need your help," he growled.

"That was... interesting," Michael said.

"How was it interesting?" I asked sarcastically.

"Well, the way you fight."

"Can I go onto the next one please?" I asked, annoyed. I didn't care about how I fought. My dad had taught me most of everything, including different languages.

"Uh... sure right through that door," he said sounding a little surprised.

I sighed and walked to the door. I paused and looked at Randolph. "Hey, Randolph?" I asked.

"What?" he asked with a small growl as he looked at me.

I smiled at him. "Thanks for letting me fight you. I know my method... might not be really known, but it helps me cool down, and not wanting to scream my head off. So, ya... thanks."

He looked at me surprised, but he nodded his head in welcome

I smiled again and walked through the door to my final test, wondering what it was.