Wicked Games

Chapter 17

ROSEANNE

Lisa sits up and slams her blade into the table. "Then let the training begin. We knew we'd have to train. The Never Woods, the militia, all they do is increase the importance of everyone being able to fight competently. Right, everyone up. We'll do a couple of hours now, and then you can all go for the night."

I get up, my brain still swirling with thoughts of Hyeri. I grip her arm.

"Promise you'll stay quiet?" I breathe.

Hyeri raises an eyebrow at me, her lips pursed. "It's a disaster waiting to happen."

I dig my nails into her arm, pull her closer and hiss, "Promise me."

"Fine," she shucks me off. "I promise. But if they find out and they ask me, I'm not taking the fall for you."

She stalks off to find a place on the mats. And I'm left wondering what happens when Lisa discovers who I am? I didn't use to care. Let her find out because all we wanted was to kill each other.

But now... Now things are changing. I don't want the games to end. I don't want... whatever we have—

"Roseanne, move your arse," Lisa says, using the blade to spank my cheek.

I scuttle to the middle of the warehouse where Jennie is laying mats out that she must have sourced from somewhere.

Lisa pairs everyone up. Hyeri and Taehyung, as they are almost as tall as each other. Though part of me wonders if she's paired Hyeri with a buff guy in the hope she gets her arse handed to her. Lisa doesn't have to say she's jealous, I can tell from the stiffness in her jaw every time she sends a glance Hyeri's way. If she feels like that, maybe she'll forgive me for not telling her who I am.

Lisa puts Jennie and Jisoo together, a terrible idea if you ask me. And by the vicious glare Jisoo gives Lisa, I'm actually worried for her safety, given Jisoo's power.

But that leaves me partnered with Lisa.

The chance to throw her around would usually appeal, but my mind is filled with thoughts of what if, and what happens when?

Lisa takes a deep breath and her voice booms around the warehouse. The tone changes. More serious, deeper, stricter, commanding.

I like it. I want to do exactly what she says, whatever she says. She enjoys being in front and teaching. I can tell because of the way a tiny crinkle appears in the corner of her eyes. It's only ever there when she's content. It's rare Lisa gives away anything facially. She's usually stoic, part of her original Assassin training, no doubt. But I've spent enough time with her now to notice the differences, and this, she loves. I decide, for whatever reason, to try a little harder for her.

"First, we learn defence. The chances are the militia will attack when we're least expecting it. We need to be prepared to defend ourselves," Lisa says, projecting and gesturing with big movements.

Everyone nods, and Lisa continues.

"Number one. Do not defend with the squishy soft parts of your body. You defend with hard bones and absolutely no areas where you have arteries. For example," she points to the outside of her forearm, "you use the outer edge as it's all bone. If you expose your wrist to an attacker, and they have a knife, they could cut your wrist and you'll bleed out."

I move from foot to foot, the realisation of how serious the game I'm playing is dawning on me. This is life or death: mine, father's, the militia's, the teams. Lisa demonstrates a variety of blocks, low ones to block kicks, high ones overhead to block arms dropping axes and weapons on us.