“Without a doubt,” Kein said taking his spot and stretching out.


    That was all the incentive I needed.


    I went to the Keepers as usual the next morning. Damien reminded me of my mission as he sat me


    down.


    “Help her,” he whispered in my ear ncing at Rose, “you understand why you must.”


    I looked into his eyes and saw the promise of freedom.


    “Yes, Damien, I will work,” I whispered up to him.


    ALL morning I did my best. I tried to concentrate and help Rose. It was my job to keep my mind alert


    and awake. I had to stay strong and powerful. We had to escape.


    Christof came to feed me at lunch. We sat under the trees in the forest with Basin and Rose. She


    assured them I had tried and stayed faithful to the job. Christof smiled at me as we ate. He believed I


    was trying.


    The afternoon was difficult. I stepped into the warm water I loved and wanted to just slip into the quiet


    beneath the waves. Rose would not let me. She faced her own fear and we started to swim.


    Back and forth we went, feeling the water rush over us as we moved through it. It was rxing and


    invigorating all at once. Rose had been right, the exercise felt good after a while.


    The men showed up to pick me up and I saw the happiness in Damien’s face. He sped my shoulder


    and smiled. Bane did the same thing and Christof hugged me. They saw the improvement the right


    mindset had made in me.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Ang’s Library


    I wasn’t dull or clouded. I had not given up. For the first time in a long time, I felt energetic.


    The men handled the transport themselves today. Kein took the controls and we went to an area I’d


    never been before. It was set apart from the mainpound and there were just a few buildings.


    “Look around,” Damien encouraged as we stepped off the transport. Right away I saw the cameras in


    the tall walls. They were embedded in the rock faces around us, just Like in the mountains. The women


    watched this area very closely.


    “This seems familiar,” I murmured turning around and looking.


    The central area was walled off. In one section there was stadium type seating overlooking the main


    space. It was like standing in the middle of an arena.


    My eyes lit up when I realized how I knew this space. Damien had “fought” with me in my dreams in a


    ce like this. The central area was a sparring ground. The seats were so other men and boys could


    watch and learn or be entertained.


    I asked if I was right and Kein exined. This was the training ground for the children ted to be


    Warriors. Inside walls just like these was where my family spent a good portion of their childhood.


    This would be the perfect ce to train me. Other Warriors would not bother us and the boys were


    excused from this area for the day. It would be our private training ground.


    “Come on,” Christof encouraged pulling off my sparse ornamentation, “we have to get you dressed for


    this.”


    The outfit they had bought me to fight in was quickly pulled over my head and up my legs. Within a few


    moments I stood before them in boots, pants, a white linen shirt, and my cor & cuffs. Everything I


    wore, but the jewelry, was a replica of theirs. My hair was even pulled back and bound the way Evan


    did his own.


    My blood was pumping with excitement at the idea I was dressed Like this in thepound. This had


    always just been our secret. Hurriedly I looked around, but the yard was still deserted. It was quiet and


    secluded, just Like they’d promised.