𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 ༄ 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗈𝖽𝖺𝗂𝗋

28 ༄ to win a war

- TO WIN A WAR -

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THERE WEREN'T MANY things Nadia was allowed to do. For the things she was enabled, she wasn't offered the courtesy of doing them without supervision.

For instance, she wasn't even allowed to use the bathroom without someone standing guard outside the door in case she tried fixing something into a weapon or tried finding a means to escape. Julia even went as far as to say she was concerned she'd drown herself.

Nadia couldn't even deny the precaution was out of line. She'd like to say all her thoughts remained lighthearted to preserve her sanity, but that'd be a lie not even she could sell. Her demons creep in from the moment she wakes to the second she rests her head and even then, in her deep sleep, she can't get away.

To keep herself from falling into insanity, which she'd hate to say was growing harder and harder everyday, she used Sonny as a buffer to block out the dark thoughts.

For someone who couldn't talk, Sonny's presence oozed a comfort she hadn't felt in weeks. It was nice to let her mind rest in the safety and peace that was this young girl.

     She tried not to think of all the ways she reminded her of Paisley with her shy tendencies or Emory with her competitive spirit. It's why she cared for her so deeply. But she didn't like thinking about them, uncertain of if they were even alive.

When Nadia was waiting for another client to be added to the roster, there wasn't much she could do to pass the time. That is until Sonny showed up in her room at the usual time to keep an eye on her, only now she brought with her a deck of playing cards most days.

Nadia was surprised they got away with it for as long as they have, the woman believing this to be their ninth straight day without a Peacekeeper swiping their game away and torturing them for having an ounce of fun.

It was never for long and it may not seem like anything, but for the small amount of time she gets to spend with Sonny playing a game of War, were moments she spent away from everything else. It was silly, really, but she wasn't sure what she'd do without it.

She'd spent years playing this game with her brother when they were kids, and she quickly became the best of the best. But never had she met an opponent so evenly matched to herself.

Some would argue it's a game of chance, others it wasn't a game at all, but foolish child's play. But Nadia wouldn't accept any of these doubts as she was the reigning champion and finally, she has discovered a worthy opponent.

They were completely even, twenty-six cards in Nadia's hand and twenty-six cards in Sonny's when the ultimate round of War began.

There was this palpable tensity between the two from where they faced each other with their lessening decks stacked face down in their palms and each time they'd draw a card, it held the same value as the other's, forming a tie.

It had to be the longest battle in the history of this game and Nadia was relishing in the iconic moment that would unfortunately only be seen by the two sets of eyes in the room.

With only two cards left in each of their palms, Nadia could only hope she'd flip her card to show a value higher than Sonny's or she'd have to give up her title.

"This is it... Winner takes all." Nadia muttered, voice hoarse as even her water portions weren't near enough to sustain her. She didn't mind in the moment as her competitive nature focused her priorities elsewhere.