I wouldn’t say I became better, at heart after Emily’s words.

There was an improve, yes.

But I didn’t become better in my sword man ship, skills. No matter how I tried, I just couldn’t get it right.

While Elder Zu taught us the techniques everyday and made us practice, I came back to the battle ground each time.

Trying to learn, but nothing came out of it.

“The challenge would be in a fortnight to now, ladies.”

Knight Lydia announced one day, after gathering the 25 of us together.

“Only after that, would the winner face me.”

She was about walking away, when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, taking a view at us training.

“With what I’m seeing, I’m sure none of you would be able to combat with me, one on one.”

She snickered, before walking away.

The morning bell for breakfast rang instantly. I shook the snow off my boots, walking inside the castle to eat.

The beast’s Kingdom was starting to get cold and frosty.

Rain fell in combination with snow. But it didn’t mean I was giving up anytime soon.

“I think I’ve found it, Ava.”

Piper wrote to me in a letter one day.

“Someone in the castle was involved in your assault in the ship, that day.”

“Meet me in the restroom at midnight and I’ll tell you all.”

She concluded. I sighed, tearing off the paper.

When midnight fell, I snuck out of my room with an intent to meet Piper.

However, on my way there, I heard footsteps trailing behind me.

I looked back, only to see multiple shadows behind me. I wanted to turn back, but thinking Piper was alone all by herself in the restroom, made me not want to.

“Seize her!!”

My eyes widened when hands enclosed my mouth and my body was dragged forcefully.

I did try to scream but to no avail. They had overpowered me and there was nothing I could do.

I was taken to a dark room, with a sack over my head.

The minute the sack was removed, I looked only to see the vicious enemy of every pawn girl.

“T-Tania? What are you…”

“Quiet!” she snarled angrily.

There was a severe look of hate and disgust in her hands. I noticed there were lit lamps in the hands of people that supported her.

I knew Satandra was up to no good.

I couldn’t however recognize the girl beside Satandra. I didn’t remember seeing her around.

“Do you know what this is going to cost you when the beast finds out?”

I asked her immediately.

I struggled to get out of their hands, but it seemed like it was no good.

Tania began to cackle in a sinisterly tone, out of the blue. She leaned in with her hand pounding the wall beside me.

“He won’t.”

She seethed.

“This is a game, moreover. Of blood and bones.”

“Eliminating anyone earns points, not the other way round.”

Tania added.

“We found that out.”

Satandra seethed, with an evil glint.

“Wonder why Knight Lydia was protecting you ass.”

“You’re just a nobody like us, Ava. A mere pawn and don’t think you can cheat your way through.”

“B-But I wasn’t—”

“Never said you could speak!”

“We shouldn’t be doing this, Tania. We should be working our way towards freedom.”

I hurriedly let out, before she silenced me.

“Freedom? There is no freedom for any of us. This is why we fight for it..“

“Eliminating people like you.”

She finalized.

My eyes widened when she brought out a little knife from under cloth.

Still held by the girls, I realized her intent to harm me.

“Have this!”

I immediately hit one of them, in the groin, using the opportunity to bring my dagger from my stockings.

I slashed Satandra on her face and hands, instantly.

“You bitch!!”

She screamed instantly.

Tanya came forward, and I paced my step, studying her carefully.

“I’m not going down without a fight, Tanya.”

I said, preparing to combat with her.

“Bring it on, Ava.”

I threw the dagger towards her legs, which pierced through. I smiled, knowing she had been injured.

In pain, she fell to hold her leg.

I moved to take a hold of her little knife when I was kicked hardly from behind.

Shit.

I had been so distracted that I didn’t notice the other girl!

My body hit the ground forcefully and I laid flat, with the dagger falling from my hands.

I was about to pick it, when it was kicked away.

“Take that.”

Tanya said, using her little knife to slash my neckline. I felt a heavy stone hit my mid back, as kicks were countlessly given to me.

“No…”

I trailed out, not sure why I had said that.

I couldn’t die.

Not now.

I had many people that would cry if I would. Mum, Emily, Moses.

People that depended on me— Piper goddamit.

“See you soon in Hades, Ava.”

Tanya stated slyly, with an evil smirk. I could only see blurs right now.

With blood seeping slowly out of my neck.

My backbone seemed injured. And that left me paralyzed on the floor.

I had a hard time moving and began to feel so dizzy.

A sudden urge to sleep, whooshed over me.

To sleep…

Or die, which one?

Was this the end, like Emily said?

Or just the beginning…

…

“Sister! Sister!”

Someone panted out, shrugging me from sleep.

I opened my eyes.

It was my little sister.

She looked so different. Not sick and palely like she did.

Instead, her face was all bright.

“J-Jasmine?”

I rubbed my eyes, calling out to her.

Where was I?

It looked so much beautiful around. There were amazing flowers and butterflies all around.

“Yes me, common stand up let’s go play! It’s sunny today!”

She exclaimed, pulling my hands up. I looked back down. Seemed like I had dozed off on the shrubs.

Was it all a dream then?

The dystopian world?

“Where is mum?”

I asked just to be sure.

“We took permission from her remember? She made us promise we’d be back before sun goes down.”

Jasmine said, taking my hands again. Remembering the way, she looked when she was terribly sick, made tears coat my eyes.

“Wait!”

I called out to her, pulling her closer. I wrapped her in a tight hug immediately.

“I missed you.”

I muttered, with more tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Huh?”

She let out, freezing in surprise still in my arms.

“I missed you, so much, Jasmine…”

“Why did you have to leave us? You promised big sister, that you’d fight for your life…

“You promised…”

I trailed on my words.

“You promised!”

I yelled out once more. But she just froze on her spot, with a confusing look on her face.

A harsh wind begun to blow suddenly.

The butterflies ran for shelter and some flowers were plucked from their roots. It scattered, everywhere like a nightmare.

Far from the fairytale it looked earlier. The weather begun to change from summer to storm.

Thunder bolts begun striking loudly. With lightening all around.

“I’m so scared, Ava.”

She let out with her small hands around my fingers. I recalled she had a fear of storms.

“Please take me home…”

“I’m so scared.”

“It’s okay, Jasmine. I won’t let any harm come to you.”

I muttered, lifting her in my arms.

“I promise.”

I instantly began running rapidly, towards our village.

Clearing the thorns in my paths.

“You can drop me down, if you’re tired. I can run too.”

“You don’t have to be in charge of it all, big sis.”

She timidly muttered, holding me tightly.

“Don’t worry, little sister.”

I said.

“Big sister got this…we would soon be home.”

I exclaimed, going faster with the droplets of harsh rain beating and piercing through my back as I ran.

My clothes tore and I had a few injury scrapes, but it didn’t matter.

What mattered was she was safe.

In my arms.

The minute we got home, I barged through the door, dropping Jasmine from my hands.

Still wet all over, I saw mum at the entrance, crying a lot.

Moses was by her side. And just in a little bed beside her, was Jasmine.

“Jasmine?”

I called out. I looked by my side to where I dropped her.

She had vanished.

B-but she had just been with me…

“Mum!! She was here right now, I promise!”

“She was with me! I promised to save her!!”

I yelled instantly, shaking her pale body in front of us all.

“Ava…”

Mum called out.

All of a sudden, it seemed like the scene changed to her burial.

And the stylish man who announced, from the choosing showed up.

He looked at me, as I cried and was swelling hot and boiling in anger.

“You need to calm down, Goodchild.”

He remarked.

“Shut.Up.”

My voice yelled. In a husky tone though, from the numerous shoutings.

“Jasmine…”

I trailed out, with tears rolling down my eyes as I held her grave closely.

Remembering her pig tails.

The way she liked playing with butterflies.

Or hated storms.

“Little sister…”

I muttered, closing my eyes and drifting into an unknown world.

I opened my eyes, only to see the beast Caspian. Staring right back at me, with her silver grey eyes.

It wasn’t a dream, after all.

“I’m sorry.”

He muttered, holding me closely.

“Sorry I was too late.”

“I let you fall into the hands of the enemy.”

“My sister…”

I trailed on my words, saying. Had a hard time deciphering reality right now.

“What sister?”

I became silent at his question, like one in grief.

Tears rolled out of my eyes, each time I remembered I lost her.

“It’s okay now.”

Caspian came closer, kissing my forehead while I cried.

“You have me to lean on, Ava.”

I hid that scar long time ago.

Locked it in, because I couldn’t handle it.

...

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