Rejected
Zion
"I'm gonna swing!" Malakas na kanta ni Heather, dahilan para magising ako't mahulog sa kamang hinihigaan ko. "From the chandelier!"
"What a nice alarm clock," Caleb said, sarcasm evident in his voice as he looked at Heather with annoyance.
"I thought training was already over?" Belle said who was standing across my room, her sleepy brown eyes looking directly at Heather's direction and said, "I want to sleep."
"Who said training's over?" Heather said as a creepy smile appeared on her face. "That was just a short practice Protectors," Aniya't nilapitan kami. "The real training was just about to begin."
Napatigil kami, naguguluhang nilingon ang paligid namin at napanganga nang makitang nasa ibang lugar kami.
This is not the Protectors Camp, sabi ko't napakunot ng noo. Where are we?
"Welcome to The Gods Tower, Protectors." A clear voice said, making us looked at Selene's direction as she raised her trident and said the words I dreaded the most. "Where our training begins."
"W-what?" Gulat na sabi ni Caleb, his hazel eyes showing confusion as he said, "Training? What kind of a joke is that?"
"Your past training was just a warmup, Protectors." Seryosong sabi ni Selene. "This is the real thing."
"S-sino naman ang kakalabanin namin?" Belle said with fear in her eyes. "Hades' dark creatures?"
"You'll be facing worst than that, Belle." Selene said with finality. "You'll be fighting against.."
"Me."
Napatigil kami sa narinig, 'tila hindi makapaniwalang ganito ang susunod na training namin kasabay ng mabilis na pag-iling ni Caleb.
"What?" Caleb said with wide hazel eyes. "We will be fighting against a goddess? A freaking powerful creature? Do you want us to die?"
"Calm down, Wolfram." A cold voice said, making all of us stare at Amara who was silent the whole time. "Act like a Protector."
Everyone fell silent after hearing Amara's words, thought everything was still a huge blow for the both of them and that this is not an easy fight.
"Listen, Protectors." Selene said, breaking the huge wall between us as she crossed her arms and looked at us with serious eyes. "The only instrument for success in this training is team work. The main goal is to defend not only yourselves but also your teammates. Act like a team, clear?"
Everyone nodded upon hearing Selene's instructions, thought that this is indeed a difficult fight lalo na't hindi pa nagkakaayos sina Caleb at Amara.
How can we survive in this training?
"Prepare yourselves, Protectors." Selene said before leaving us. "I am a dangerous opponent." Aniya't umalis na.
Nagkatinginan kaming lahat, 'tila hindi alam ang gagawin kasabay ng paglakad paalis ni Amara.
What should we do?
"Sorry," Caleb said, his hazel eyes facing the floor as he continued to avoid our gazes. "We might not be able to win this battle because of me. I'm sorry."
"Stop blaming yourself, Caleb." Belle said with a sigh. "We'll win this, trust me."
"Amara was hiding a deep scar," Sabi ng isang maliit na boses, making us turn our gazes towards Heather who just appeared out of nowhere. "So deep, it's too painful for her to forget."
