【 𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 】 Nicholas chavez

2.0

The day started early at the training camp, the cool morning air still hanging around as everyone got to work. I had already gone through a warm-up that left most people panting—a combination of stretches, lunges, and sprints to get our blood flowing. The instructors didn't go easy on us; they made sure everyone was sweating within the first ten minutes, and I hated every second of it.

After the warm-up, we moved onto drills that were all about speed and precision. I raced through a tire course, my legs pumping fast, my eyes fixed on the path ahead. I hurdled over obstacles and sprinted through the markers like my life depended on it. It wasn't just about strength here—it was about discipline and focus. I could feel the strain in my calves, the burn in my lungs, but I didn't let up. Every step was a reminder that I was getting closer to the goal. Becoming a cop wasn't just a job—it was a promise to myself.

Next up was the endurance training. We had to carry sandbags up and down a steep hill, over and over again, the weight digging into our shoulders. Sweat was pouring down my back by this point, but I powered through it, determined not to let myself slow down. My arms ached from holding the weight, ny legs felt like they were on fire, but I kept going. Tabyana was right beside me, huffing and puffing just as hard.

"If I die on this hill, tell my mom I love her." I laughed, barely able to breathe myself but still managing to joke back.

"If we die out here, I think they'll just leave us to be one with nature."

Tabyana groaned, dropping the sandbag at the top of the hill with a dramatic thud, and bent over, trying to catch her breath.

"Why didn't anyone warn us that training to become a cop was just code for 'slow torture'?"

I shrugged, tossing my sandbag down as well. "Guess they figured we'd quit if they told us the truth."

Tabyana shook her head, stretching her arms as she looked out over the rest of the camp "Man, if I ever make it through this, I'm gonna eat like five burgers and sleep for a week."

"Make it six burgers and I'm with you."

We laughed, leaning against the fence at the top of the hill, watching the others struggle with their sandbags. The day was only halfway through, and we still had more drills, more exercises, more of everything designed to push us to the edge. I was exhausted, but in a way that felt good. I could feel my body getting stronger, my mind sharpening with every task.

"I wonder if they'll make us run that obstacle course again today. You know, the one where we almost drowned last time."

I winced, remembering the water challenge from the week before. It had been brutal—climbing walls, wading through deep, freezing cold water, crawling under barbed wire. But it was all part of the training. We had to be ready for anything.

"I hope not. My legs are still sore from that."

"Oh, come on, where's your spirit of adventure?"

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but laugh. Tabyana always managed to find humor in even the worst situations, and that was part of what made getting through these grueling days bearable. We

joked around some more, talking about what they'd do when they finally graduated from the program and became full-fledged officers. The dream was always on our minds, pushing us forward through the pain and exhaustion.

Our conversation carried us through the next few sets of push-ups, squats, and deadlifts. We were in the middle of talking about some TV show we'd both been binging when the next break came around, allowing us a chance to catch our breath and drink some water. Tabyana leaned back, stretching her arms over her head.