In Different Worlds (MCU/PJO) COMPLETED

I - A Chance

Annushka

A slight scream does it. It sets it all off. The pain of the dance is excruciating, but if I am to succeed, I need to continue. The girl to my left and back is dragged out of the room without a question. Her position is gone as if it had never been there as the rest of us keep dancing. Our buns perfectly pulled back. All of us wishing to please Madame.

"Stop," Madame's firm command shoots off of her blood-red lips in perfect Russian. We all stop at her command. Madame never stops our dance practices. We always keep on going for longer than this. This has been the first time we ever stop early. But the question among us is quickly left remaining as more fill our heads when a woman walks into the classroom, an aura of menace following.

"Turn," Madame orders her piercing black gaze focusing on the girl to my right. Her name is Nadia, and she has a slightly nervous twitch in her turning as she begins. She turns for near to a minute before she falls. A terrible mistake. That can be fatal. But I can not let my pity show. For then Madame will see my weakness for others' pain. And any weakness is not allowed in the Red Room.

Nadia quickly tries to keep her composure as she stands up and takes her place back in line. Madame walks over and holds her cane in front of Nadia's chest. "Floppy," Madame critiques as she whacks her hard in the shoulder, the sound of the wood hitting her skin echoing across the room as Nadia falls, clutching her face in agony. But from what I can predict, I could be in Nadia's position as Madame stares at me giving the same order.

I do my prep and begin to turn. Breathe, rise, fall. I only think about my goal as to how I will impress Madame. Receive her approval.

My calf's burn from supporting my weight. My confidence is slowly breaking, and my world is the blurriest it has ever been, but I continue on. My balance wavers for a second and I briefly think it will be over but I keep going like it never happened. I don't know how long I have been going but my speed decreases, and I can hardly hold myself. But I continue to push myself. Out I push. Harder as I have been taught, and keep going for five pumps. Four pumps. Three pumps. Two pumps.

On the last one, I exit the turn hoping Madame is satisfied. I take my place when she says nothing. I would be lying to say that in ashamed that I have no comment. But in the Red Room, you will only get rewarded in two ways. With the graduation ceremony, or a mission. And I will make sure I get both.

Only two other girls match me in my turn. And they are the closest to friends I've ever had as far as I know. But we never talk. Only small gestures of kindness. But now that kindness is gone. For they are my competition. And now enemies.

_____________

After dance, we have the same thing every day: Our fights. All of us are nervous as always and my competitor is much bigger than me. Her name is Freya. She sizes me up as I do the same to her. But I keep my composure. Her grey clothing clings to her as does mine. Her brown hair is pulled back in a bun as everyone else. But I have an advantage over her.

The first fight begins. Almost as a dance. But an awful one. Blood spatters the polished floors of the courtyard. The only thing close to color in the Red Room. The same color as Madame's lips.

The girls have turned into monsters tearing each other apart until the other is down. A few minutes later one disappears through the door on a cot.

Now it is Bronya's turn. A fight I am excited for. She hides her fear well, and I can tell she wants to succeed due to the determination in her blue eyes. But she will never lose. And if she does today I will be number one.