[PAUSED] 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 • 𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘮 𝘫𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

14 • 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘐𝘐

The trip she always anticipated never came. She was just a dumb kid who believed everyone around her.

Hyerim, but from now on Leah, stood at the freshly cut grass, wearing her training clothes.

She was now 15 years old and soon to become a real member of the gang. Next to her stood her good old friend Yoodam, now known as Snow.

'We will now begin training. First of all, get to pairs' the instructor ordered.

The two girls immediately looked at each other and held their hands. While the others paired up, the instructor brought a lot of weapons from the "rookie dorm" they stayed at.

'I will call you by your names. The pair I choose to step up' he said and took out his notepad.

'Leah and Snow? Why don't you start?' he smiled, but it was obviously forced.

They both nervously gulped and slowly approached the front. They stood in front of each other, a few meters away.

Leah could see a bench behind Snow, on the edge of the grassy field. The bench was filled with "rookies" who are training to become "support forces", meaning they have less physical training and more intelligence related ones.

She hated the fact she couldn't join them. It was the first thing she asked when she learned about positions. However, the leader herself determines the positions the roomies will train for based on her "intuition".

Based on her intuition, Leah is suited to be a front rower. Debatably the hardest position to exist in the gangs. You need to have it all. Combat skills, good aim, good persuading and overall talking skills, speed and many more.

Snow on the other hand trained to become a weapon specialist. She trained to become a support and combat person in one. She learned everything about guns and how to use them and where to get them. However, this knowledge is also useful on the battlefield.

They stood there, looking at each other with nervous expressions.

'So ladies, I have weapons for you' he smiled mischievously.

He handed Snow a baseball bat and Leah gun.

The girls looked at each other in confusion. The instructor just laughed.

'Fight. Till the first one is knocked out' he grinned.

Everyone started whispering. They were supposed to fight each other with real weapons.

'How is gun fair against baseball bat?' someone from the roomie crowd complained.

Leah looked at Snow. They both nodded and threw the weapons away. The instructor laughed as they jumped on each other, fighting hand to hand.

'You know like this, you will never knock the other down' he enjoyed his view.

Snow held Leah pinned to the ground, not sure what to do next. She didn't want to punch her. But Leah's reassuring nod made her close her eyes and punch her best friend.

'That's boring. Leah, grab the goddamn gun' he now spoke madly.

Leah glanced at the gun which was a few centimeters away from her right hand. However, her arms were still pinned to the ground.

'Now' his deep, angry voice echoed in everyone's heads.

She gasped and pulled her hands from Snow's grip. She kicked her stomach which made her fly off. Leah took the gun and pointed it at Snow.

The crowd gasped. Snow looked at her in disbelief.

'Now shoot her.'

Leah's eyes widened. Was she supposed to kill her?

'Don't kill her. Just shoot her' he said heartlessly.

Leah couldn't do it. She understood it was one of their tactics to block their emotions away, but she was just too loving for that.

Snow's small nod made her eyes grow wide. She was willing to get shot because of some stupid training. Leah didn't want to work here like this. She didn't want to hurt people. She always wanted to help them.

'Leah, do it. Now!' the instructor shouted.

Snow saw on her friend's face that she isn't going to shoot. Not now, but never.

She quickly kicked herself back up and grabbed the baseball bat. It all happened so fast that Leah didn't even realize Snow is on top of her again.

'Girl, you need to pull yourself together' she whispered through her teeth.

'I can't do this Yoodam, I really can't' she cried oh silently.

'Come on, you are strong and-'

'Stop. You know it. I can't hurt people. It eats me alive. I don't want to be front line' Leah's tears now just fell.

Everyone watched them on the ground, not knowing what are they doing as they heard nothing.

'Olivia chose you, there is no other choice' Snow's eyes were getting teary.

'Hit me.'

'What?!' Snow spitted out.

Leah eyes her left knee and Snow immediately knew what was she up to.

'You can't be seri-'

'Do it for me. Please. I don't want to fight. I want to hide from the world. I don't want to hurt anyone. This is the only choice. Olivia won't send a permanently hurt person outside as a front' she begged.

'I can't do this' Snow cried.

'Please. It's for the best' Leah smiled at her.

Snow looked shocked. She didn't understand how calm is she about this as well as determined. However, it didn't mean Snow enjoyed hurting her friends.

She took a deep breath and charged her baseball bat. With full force, she hit her knee from the front.

Leah screamed in agony. But she knew, it will continue. To destroy her knee, she needed to hit at least one more from the side.

And she did. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped the baseball bat. Leah laid on her side, holding her knee while crying like a little kid.

Everyone stood there shook, even the instructor.

'Leah!'

Snow ignored the girl passing her, getting on Leah's level. It was Yerim, now Red, a girl training to become a medic.

'Perfect Snow! You created us training mission for our medic. Great job' he patted her head.

Snow slowly lost the grip of the bat and just cried expressionless.

Leah sure knew this landed her permanent seat at either hacker or medic position. The enormous pain in her knee blocked the happy emotions she should be experiencing.

Neither Leah nor Snow we're the same after this absurd training.