His World

Chapter 22

Laylie

"5 more minutes"

"Hold it. Keep yourself steady!"

"Grasp every muscle in your body."

My body aches physically. But mentally I feel empowered. I woke up and was dressed and ready to go at 5:30 am.

Asher was gone by then doing I assume business of some sort. However, he had left me a note with instructions on who will be training me and where I will meet them. The events of yesterday replay over and over in my head. But today I need to focus. I need to push that away for now and learn how to manage these two ordeals in my life now.

"2 minutes left" Elijah yells. He is a tall extremely fit guy and let me tell you. This man literally has an eight-pack. I feel like everyone here is tan and gorgeous and me I'm just... blah.. whatever.

The moment we met in the foyer, I was told we'd be running 3 miles. He said that's for starters, but for someone who has never had any sort of physical training or background, that was a killer. Believe me when I say I thought that was the end for me. But of course, after that run and my dying breath was left gasping, he informed me that now that we have warmed up we can start the training. I almost died after he said that.

"Okay, time!" Elijah says and I drop to the floor as I release my grip on the bar after holding my weight for 30 minutes. He says I have to endure such timely pain and gain endurance.

I fall to my knees and take in the relief and let my arms hang and dangle on my sides. This will pay off, endure it and seek it until the end.

"Okay, take a five-minute break. Stay hydrated, I don't need you passing out on me." Elijah says in an annoyed tone. He's been like that through our session, cold. As I sit cross-legged on the concrete floor, Elijah leans against the metal rod and shuts his eyes breathing deeply. He doesn't seem to be very fond of me.

The cool water runs down my throat. I can feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead but at the same time, a cool breeze hits my skin.

"Just tell me why you're acting as such towards me," I say bluntly. I know it's random timing and all but I just can't stand the tension between us. I'm supposed to focus on my training. Not some stupid drama.

His head turns towards me as he glares and clenches his jaw. "I just can't grasp the thought of training the daughter of a bloodthirsty man. I mean does Asher really know you? How do we know you're not just here to have us all slaughtered." He says. his words hit me. I can understand how mostly everyone can be cautious with me. How they still have their theories and suspicions. I guess I just need to eventually gain their trust.

"I know its hard to trust me knowing who my father is, but all I can say is to trust what I'm telling you. Never in my life have I had a clue of my father's doing. What he did for work or any of that. He left my life before I even had the chance to suspect." I exhale. "He's been in your world longer than he has in mine. You all know him better then I do, and yet I have been dragged in this. That is the only reason I am still here, why I am chasing him. Because I need answers, and a way to escape this world." I say and stand up. I notice him clench his jaw and he takes in my words. He soon stands up as well.

"Okay, let us continue," Elijah says.

********

Asher

He's there. He has to be. Standing in front of a map, I stare at the red pin placed on the small island. We have spent countless hours determining Volevoy's whereabouts and this time I think we may have figured it out. A small off the grid island near the Caribbean's. Research led to hacking led to interrogation and soon this is what we came up with.