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Chapter Twenty Two - The Old Times

“We both have,” agreed Sophia.

“Ok, now try and stand on your leg,” said Lydia, getting back to Kate’s leg.

Kate got up slowly.

“How is it?” I asked.

“It’s ok, but when I walk I think it will hurt me,” she said.

“Try to stay off it as much as you can,” said Lydia.

 “Right, well let’s be prepared to stay the night,” I said.

“Of course. You’re alone in these woods,” answered Lydia.

We walked and walked until we came across oak tree.

“That’s perfect,” breathed out Isabella.

“Right, Lydia and Bella, go look for something to eat. Kara, just down there are some of the biggest leaves in the entire place. Get some, while Maddie and I look for stronger sticks and stones,” said Sophia.

“What about me?” asked Violet.

“You stay and look after Kate,” she said.

“Alright,” answered Violet.

Sophia and I went out searching for sticks and stones in the open woods.

Nobody said anything for a while, until I broke the silence.

“What did he say you were training for?”

“What do mean?” she replied.

“Well, he said we were going to do some training or something, did you?”

“Oh yes. I remember now,” she said. “He made us team up in pairs. Naturally Lydia and I went together. He told us how to use weapons and how to handle them. He taught us how to fight single handed and how to defend ourselves and provide fruit and water. It was almost like a fun camp if you forget how we got here and their evil smiles. He then told us to go deep into the woods and protect ourselves and partners. He said we were battling against one another,” she explained.

“Wow,” I said taking it all in. “What do you mean battling?”

“As in killing one another. The last pair that managed to stay alive won the whole thing. It was exactly like that old film, the hunger games,” she said laughing.

“It’s not funny,” I said tearing up.

Did my dad actually train people to kill each other? I thought. Wow, I really don’t know who he is anymore.