Masked

Chapter 6

"Four hundred and twenty one....four hundred and twenty two..four hundred and twenty three."

Oh god...I....can't....

Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. She clenched her teeth and continued with the push-ups. Her limbs ached from too much exertion. She was close to falling flat but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"....Four hundred and ninety nine... five hundred.....You're done for today. Go get some rest. " Will turned around to leave.

"What?! What does this have to do with sword play?! You just made me do five hundred sit ups...I thought it was warm up...at least teach me how to hold it right! " Arya shouted in frustration.

William looked back and raised an eyebrow "One, who's the teacher here? ME. So don't talk to me that way. And two," he looked me up and down and smirked "we need to get you physically fit..you're too...let's just say..unfit."  Saying that, he left.

Did he just call me fat?!  I'm going to get him back for that..."

But she was too tired to come up with a plan. She slowly dragged herself back to her room and slumped on her bed. The bed creaked and protested under her weight.

She groaned. Maybe I do need to get fitter...

She slowly drifted off to sleep.

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Masked men stood in a circle, their hands interwoven. Only their bloodshot eyes were visible.
In the center of the circle lay a pitiful figure, barely alive, twitching in pain. No one moved, no one made a sound.

From the shadows, a man emerged. He like the others, was wearing a mask. But there was something different about him....something more sinister....and  there was an aura of power around him. He slowly walked forward, savoring the scene.

"I gather you didn't extract anything from him?"

"No sire."

He flicked his hands. "No matter, one more life isn't going  to make a difference....now, tell me, which one of you is ready for the next task?"

The men raised their hands in sync. "I am." They voiced together.

The dying man let out a final inhuman sound and slumped. Dead.

The leader barely glanced at him. "There has been news of a young lady in town....Arya. We may have been chasing the wrong goose. I want one of you to follow her around and report her every move.....no matter the cost, I want to find THE ONE."

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Arya woke up from her long sleep. She rubbed her eyes.

What time is it?

She looked at the wall clock and bolted upright. "5:30! " she sweared. If her mother had heard, she would have washed her mouth with soap.

Father wanted me to take him to that place in the forest...

She quickly got out of bed and ran down the stairs, fixing her hair on the way.

She met her mother on her way down.  "Where are you off to in such a hurry? " she asked.

"Father...?"

"He has gone out with William... I don't know what for. Why?"

What?!

"Nothing...."

She silently fumed. That idiot!
I'm going anyway...

She, like before, crept past the stable boy. (What IS he doing? Someone fire him.)

She got onto a horse and rode full speed, towards the forest.

"Oi! Come back!"

She turned around and laughed. She rode farther and farther away from home. Soon she found herself in the forest.

The sun had almost fallen, the sky a beautiful shade of orange and red. Strips of pink here and there.

Suddenly the hair at the nape of her head pricked. She felt as if someone was watching her. She slowly turned around. There was no one there.

I don't think this was such a good idea.....