The moon is really bright tonight.
You’ve barely moved in two days.
Ugh. Fine.
Win then you can run back to your room.
“On my mark…get set…”
“Go,” I breathe.
My feet pound against the ground as soon as the permission slips from my lips.
The crunch of leaves and the cracks of limbs echo around me. The foliage continues to tell me where Riven is with every stride.
A few steps behind, but not far.
The air is already burning my nose and lungs. The familiar pain used to piss me off so bad.
I hate running. I hate working out. I hate training.
Always have and evidently always will.
It’s a necessary evil.
That pisses me off too.
Each pump of my arms has the glow stick illuminating my way, and I map my course with every tree coming up in mind. I dodge and weave through the low-hanging branches or those that’ve already fallen.
A few of the prickly vines leave searing scratches against my calves, and I bite back the hisses that try to escape me.
The ground blurs beneath my feet and everything’s aching. I don’t understand how running toward the meadow is both easier and harder than the first time I did it. We’ve already passed the spot I stopped at and Yemi snuck up on me.
Physically, I’m so much stronger than I was that day.
Mentally…I’m crumbling.
I’m brittle like the twigs I’m crushing beneath my feet.
My back muscles pull tighter with every leap and stride. Phantom pain throbs across my skin and I shudder.
It’s not real.
It feels real.
It feels too real.
If I slow down, the lashes will catch me again.
No.
My breath hitches, legs threaten to buckle, and I flinch so hard I nearly go tumbling forward.
“Don’t stop, Thayla. Keep going. I’m here.”
Riven’s command pierces my ears as he passes me by and I mutter a curse.
My heart slams against my ribs like it wants to escape, but I force myself to pick my pace up as I watch his back continue to grow farther from me.
