Daylight

SEVENTEEN

Elizabeth...

I looked down at my bloody hands and breathed a sigh of relief. My knuckles were red and my head started to feel light. It was hot.

My whole body pulsed at once, except my head, which was just burning. I lay on the floor, sweat dripping down my arms and head. I felt trapped in hot water.

I looked next to me, and found Victoria on the floor. She looked almost dead.

"Is this really what he had you doing?" She huffed, and then continued to pant.

"Almost..." I breathed, "try pushing yourself a little more."

"More?" She groaned.

I laughed, then grabbed my stomach in pain. I was sore all over. It wouldn't do me any good to lay in my sweat, so I painfully got up. I had been getting used to living normally. I became a civilian, and God it's been so different.

Charles and Tori keep nagging me about telling Aaron, but I keep putting it off for obvious reasons. I don't want any drama, especially not with family. I know he's going to be mad, anyone would.

I might be the snake, but even I fear the lion.

"Is this regular for you?" Tori groaned.

"Vic wanted to keep me sharp, and I didn't disagree." I said, and took off the bandages on my hand. My knuckles were still red. "And, I thought you were the one who wanted to learn anyways."

She grinned, rolling on her back. I wanted to pull her up from the floor and give her a scolding about how it was dirty.

"Well, Charles wanted me to learn self defense. I only said yes because I wanted to be able to knock you out." She stuck out her tounge.

I glared at her and grabbed the towel from the stool. The place where I was working was a lot like how it used to be with Vic. Charles let us work out in one area of an abandoned building, much like how Vic sent me to an abandoned warehouse. I guess the only difference was that his men weren't here.

Tori finally got up and massaged her knuckles.

"Where's Charles?" She asked.

"Him and Aaron are both doing a one on one in another area," I answered, "probably making out though." I mumbled.

"Elizabeth!" Tori gasped at me, a truly fearful expression on her, "That's my dad!"

I laughed and walked out of the room.

...

"You didn't tell me the real reason." I said. Charles looked to me and put his mug down.

"What do you mean?"

"Your training us like soldiers. That doesn't happen unless there's something big going on. It doesn't happen with you."

Charles shrugged and scoffed. "I don't know what your talking about. I just want to prepare Tori for anything."

It was my turn to scoff. I looked at him, eyes glaring and an all knowing smile.

"You wouldn't do that - I know that you'd never let anyone hurt her. She's safest with you. So why are you making her practice fighting?"

Charles huffed and put his cup in the sink. He looked tired - more so than usual. He walked away.

"Hey!" I called for him. He looked behind his shoulder lazily. "I'm not - I know you can keep her safe. But this is bigger than her," liar, "so I have a right to know too. I'm trying to keep her safe too, you know, in my own way."