Chapter 5 Natalie's POV

Morning came too quickly. I blinked against the sunlight spilling into the room, only to realize Kate was already up and... chattering again. "You're talking to me now? This room might not be so boring after all," she grinned, and I couldn't help but laugh a little. I dragged myself out of bed, went into the bathroom, brushed, and took a quick shower. Kate followed right after me. Just as we finished, a bell rang loudly through the compound. "Thank God we bathed early," Kate said, rushing to pull on her clothes. We joined the others and were directed to the dining hall.

The room was filled with familiar faces from yesterday, all looking as anxious as I felt. Breakfast was served, and to my surprise, it wasn't bad at all. "Wow, this food tastes heavenly," Kate said with a dramatic sigh, already on her second bite. "I know right," I muttered, savoring the flavors. This was the best meal I'd had in weeks. But the moment didn't last. The same instructor from yesterday appeared, face hard, eyes sharper than blades. "Today at 4 PM will determine whether you stay... or you go," he announced. My appetite vanished. I'm not going to lie, I was scared. I had never fought anyone before. I always avoided trouble like the plague. "I hope we both win," Kate said, her arm slinging over my shoulders. I gently removed it, not used to affection. Only Vanessa had ever hugged me like that. Vanessa. Ah, fuck. I didn't even tell her I was leaving. She must be worried sick by now. I sighed. I'd have to explain later. She's the only person in my life who never hurt me. Now Kate is trying to be my friend, and honestly... she doesn't seem bad. I might give her a chance. But damn, I miss Vanessa already. So fucking much. After breakfast, we all retired to our quarters to rest, but my mind wouldn't let me. Before I knew it, 4 PM arrived. We all gathered in the training hall. The instructor walked in again. His deep voice echoed through the space like a thunderclap. "Welcome back," he said. "Today decides your fate. Like I told you yesterday, once you're in, you're in for life. There's no turning back." He paused, his eyes scanning us one by one. "This is your last chance to walk away." Nobody moved. You could cut the tension with a knife. Even Kate, the chatterbox, was stone silent. Seeing no one backed out, he continued. "You'll all pick a partner. You'll fight. The winners stay. The weak ones..." he smirked, "get thrown out like trash." "Now pick!" I turned to Kate. "There is no way in hell I'm fighting you," she said, her eyes wide. "We both have to win, Natalie." I chuckled, despite the storm in my chest. "Alright, run along," I said. She gave me a quick hug, one that made me freeze for a second, but then I found myself hugging her back. She smiled and disappeared into the crowd, glancing back at me a few times. Everyone picked a partner. Except me. I looked around, and my stomach dropped. The only one left was a tall, muscular guy, the type that looked like he bench-pressed tigers for breakfast. My breath caught. What the actual fuck? Out of everyone... this is what I get? I could barely throw a punch, and they gave me someone who looked like he fought in underground death matches for fun? But I straightened my shoulders. No. I won't back down. I might not know how to fight, but I sure as hell know how to survive. And today... I refuse to be thrown out. I could hear whispers already "This girl and this huge guy? Does she want to die but I didn't pay attention to any of them I looked around and I saw Kate she ended up with a girl and I could see the worried looked on her face but I gave her a small smile. I could already hear the whispers swirling around me. "This girl and that huge guy? Does she want to die?" But I didn't pay them any attention. Their words meant nothing to me. I was here for one thing only-revenge. I looked around the crowd and caught sight of Kate. She had ended up paired with a girl. I could see the worry in her eyes, but I gave her a small reassuring smile. She nodded back, but I knew the fear hadn't left her face. "You all, follow Kai," the instructor commanded. "He will lead you to the underground ring." A woman came forward, handing out torches to everyone. Torches? Are we using them to fight? I wondered silently, confused. But the moment we stepped into the underground tunnel, it all made sense. Pitch black. The kind of darkness that could swallow you whole. We clicked on our torches, their narrow beams cutting through the suffocating void. My breath quickened as I tried to steady my nerves. Then we reached it, the ring. Surprisingly, it wasn't dark like the tunnels. Light fixtures hung above, casting a harsh, cold glow on the circular pit below. The ground was worn, stained, scarred. The kind of place where people lost their pride... or their lives. I swallowed hard. We all filed in, the silence loud with tension. Kai turned to face us. His voice was gravelly, emotionless. "Once you hear the bell... you start." "Give up, girl. I wouldn't wanna kill someone," the muscular guy said casually, cracking his knuckles like he was about to squash a fly. I didn't respond. I walked forward, my boots crunching softly against the gritty floor, and stood beside him in the ring. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my face blank. I refused to show fear. I looked around. So many faces. So many members. The base was much bigger than I thought, and all eyes were now on me, the girl crazy enough to go against a beast. But I couldn't dwell on that thought. Because the bell rang. Claaang! In a flash, the guy charged at me like a bull. No hesitation. No mercy. His fist flew through the air toward my face. I barely dodged it. What the hell?! This guy actually wants to kill me! The force of the punch whooshed past my cheek. I staggered backward, trying to steady my breath, my feet unsure but my mind alert.