Heathen Series - Changed

Chapter 18 - Wrath and Redemption

Stephanie's POV

Pain. That's all I felt. Pain.

I was badly bruised and utterly exhausted from being punched, kicked, and thrown around like a beanbag. The fight wasn't going as well as I had planned—or rather, as I had hoped—and I was starting to regret this as the match neared its end. I had lasted the whole first round, even though Kyle had won it easily. At least I'd landed a few hits and managed to defend myself better than I'd expected.

I was out of breath, bleeding from my lip, and covered in fresh bruises. I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and could feel the cut on my lip beginning to swell. We had an intermission where I sat heaving, trying to control the pain as parts of my body started to go numb. Just what I need—my body turning against me. I pushed the agony to the back of my mind, though it didn't help much. Sweat coated my skin and I ached in places I didn't know could ache. I looked up and saw the Right-Hand-Witch complimenting Kyle, while the General and the Captain were deep in conversation. Kyle turned to look at me, smirking as he ran his hands through his hair.

***

Round two was much worse. Kyle fought as if it were second nature to him; I wasn't surprised, considering the rumors at school. His movements were smooth, and he was barely out of breath. He kept his eyes locked on mine and struck at every opportunity. I blocked as best as I could, but it felt useless. Then, he started taunting me.

I expected it; knowing his reputation at school, I knew it would come eventually. Still, his whispers caused me to lose focus. He knocked me hard onto my ass, and I lost the second round as expected.

***

I gulped down water during the final intermission and scanned the crowd. Under a tree, apart from the other soldiers, sat the group I'd seen the Captain training with. I could have sworn I saw one of them with a tail, but I brushed it off, blaming the hits to my head.

People surrounded Kyle, cheering. The RHW laughed with them while glaring at me over Kyle's shoulder. The Captain and General remained in their seats, staring at me. The Captain smiled, while the General studied me with an intrigued, intense gaze. I looked down and took a breath. Intermission was over; it was time for the final round. I was losing, and I knew I couldn't beat him in my current state.

***

Kyle didn't hold back. He punched, kicked, and threw me without remorse. I hit the ground so hard I thought I'd broken a few ribs. The pain made my movements jagged, but I forced myself up every time.

"I knew you would be easy to beat," Kyle mocked, "but I didn't think you'd be this easy."

I threw a punch; he blocked it and struck back. "I was worried you'd be a threat. I guess I was wrong." He hit me in the stomach, sending me down with a groan. Then, he leaned in. "I know what happened to you. It's such a shame I wasn't there. I would have done it right, and I would have had a lot of fun, too."

"Shut up! You don't know what you're talking about!"

I managed to hit him, but he came back fast, pinning me to the ground. My breath was gone. I was so tired.

"The Right-Hand was right about you," he hissed into my ear. "You deserved what happened. I'll make sure the next time is even better. I can only imagine how tight and wet you'll be for me when I finally make you mine!"

Time stopped. The scene of that night flashed through my head with terrifying clarity. He knows. It wasn't just a nightmare anymore; it was the fuel I needed. I took a deep, shaky breath and pushed him off. I got up, dusted my pants off, and took my stance.

This was not over. I glared at Kyle, feeling nothing but pure, unadulterated rage. I pulled on that wrath, using it to energize my broken body. He moved to kick me, but I blocked it and hit him—again and again and again. I unleashed everything on him. He became flustered as I grew more confident. His movements became rash. I used every ounce of strength I had left and kicked him hard across the head.

He fell and lay still. He moved for a moment, but he wasn't getting up. I stepped forward, pulled him up by his collar, and punched him one last time. I watched him black out and fought to calm my racing heart.

One, two, three... time was up. I had actually won.

The Captain stood and started clapping. The General followed suit, and then the rest of the crowd joined in—everyone except the RHW. I took a very painful bow, feeling like my spine might collapse. The first-aid team rushed to Kyle, but I barely noticed. I fell to my knees, shaking uncontrollably. I rolled onto my back and stared at the clouds, wondering if it would rain.

The Captain strutted over, looking at me with genuine care. He smiled as he pulled me up. The General gave a speech, but my head was ringing so loudly I couldn't hear a word. I just focused on the Captain's hand on my lower back, keeping me upright. Once the speech ended, he took me to my room and laid me on the bed gently. I felt a damp cloth being pressed against my skin before I succumbed to the darkness. For some reason, I felt safe.

***

I awoke to find the Captain leaning over me protectively. To my shock, he pressed his forehead to mine and took a deep breath. Did he just... smell me? He moved back slowly, acting as if nothing had happened.

"I'm impressed," he said. "You actually did it. Well done. The General says you have until tomorrow to rest, then the real work begins. Kyle was sent home yesterday. You're in the program."

He took a strand of my hair and began twirling it around his finger. I pulled away and tried to sit up, wincing at the effort. I realized I was in a different room—a different bunker.

"Where... where are we?" I grumbled.

"We had to move you to a different base," he explained. "This is where the real work begins. You'll need testing to ensure your health is okay after that beating."

"What kind of work?" I looked down, realizing I was in a skin-tight top and pajama shorts. I blushed and pulled the blanket higher, despite the pain.

"You'll be briefed after your check-up," he chuckled.

"Why all the secrecy?"

He walked over and handed me a glass of water. I gulped it down. He stood by the door, watching me. "Why all the questions?" he teased.

"Curiosity." I noticed all my belongings had been moved here, too.

"It's cute. You need to rest; the General will check on you tomorrow. I'm glad to see I was right about the match."

A slight smile touched my bruised face. "Right and wrong."

"Yes," he chuckled lightly. "Right and wrong." He opened the door to leave.

"Thank you, Captain."

"It's Sebastian," he replied. "And you are most definitely welcome."