Phoenix Warriors

Chapter 5

I was running.

My legs burned with every step, and my lungs felt like they were on fire, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't slow down. The night was endless, a thick, suffocating blanket of darkness, and I had no idea where I was going—just that I had to get away. Away from the footsteps pounding behind me, growing louder and faster, closing in.

My heart hammered in my chest, a wild, frantic beat that matched the panic coursing through my veins. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All I knew was that I had to keep running, even though my body was screaming at me to stop, to give up. But I couldn't. Not when they were so close.

And then, my legs gave out.

I hit the ground hard, my body slamming into the cold, unforgiving earth. Before I could push myself back up, strong hands wrapped around me—rough and unyielding, pulling me down into the darkness. I kicked and thrashed, but it was no use. A hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my scream before it could even escape. I tried again, desperate to make a sound, but nothing came out. It was like my voice had been stolen, lost in the void.

I was trapped. Helpless.

I woke up with a start, shooting up in bed, my body drenched in sweat. My heart was still racing, the phantom hands lingering on my skin. I gasped for breath, trying to shake off the lingering terror of the nightmare, but it clung to me, heavy and suffocating.

It took a moment to realize where I was, to remind myself that I wasn't there anymore. I was in my room at the academy, far away from that dark memory. But it didn't matter—the fear was still there, sitting in my chest like a stone.

I ran a hand through my damp hair, trying to steady my breathing, but I couldn't calm down. The walls of my room felt like they were closing in on me, the silence too loud, too oppressive. I needed to get out, to clear my head and breathe.

Throwing on a jacket, I slipped quietly out of my room and into the dark hallways. Everything was still and silent, the only sound my soft footsteps echoing off the stone. The cold night air hit me as soon as I stepped outside, sharp and biting against my skin. I pulled the jacket tighter around me, but it did little to keep out the chill. My breath fogged in front of me, swirling in the night air as I made my way toward the courtyard.

I found myself walking toward the same tree where I'd laid a week ago, the one Garick had found me under. There was something about that spot—something quiet, removed, like the world didn't reach it. I needed that right now. The night was clear, the stars scattered across the sky like pinpricks of light, and the cold air was fresh in my lungs, helping to chase away the lingering haze of the nightmare.

I lay down under the tree, the cold grass pressing against my back as I looked up at the stars. For a moment, I let myself focus on the sky, on the vastness of it, trying to push everything else away. I could still feel the tightness in my chest, but the cold air helped, grounding me in the present.

I had barely settled into the quiet when voices broke through the stillness.

I turned my head toward the sound and saw them—Xavier and Professor Frederick—standing not far from where I lay. Even from here, I could tell something was wrong. Their postures were tense, and their voices carried with a sharp edge. I knew I shouldn't listen, but I couldn't help it. Curiosity, fear, maybe something else kept me rooted there, hiding behind the tree.

"You don't see how badly this could go," Xavier's voice was low, but I could hear the frustration simmering beneath it. "Not just for the warriors, but for the entire kingdom."

Frederick's tone was calm, almost dismissive. "Xavier, I understand your concerns, but my decision has already been made. There's nothing we can do now. She will continue in this tournament, and the only way she leaves is if she dies. Looking at her, I'd say she won't even make it past the first trial. You don't have anything to worry about."