Icelamb

Chapter 19

There are different training spots in the arena. I walk feebly as I listen to Mobo speak as I shake in fear. He wears an evil gleam as he speaks.

I stay in line as he starts arranging us in groups by assigning us to groups. Initially, I think of going to Naade as I hope we will be in the same group.

I however stay in my place because I feel that he being the boss's son will probably earn him intense grilling. As I am pondering, I suddenly recoil on reflex as I feel the girl in front of me step on my toes.

"Yeh!"

I whimper quietly.
"Sorry!" She whispers to me. I notice her anxiety as I see her rub her elbows repeatedly. I smile at her despite the pain.

"Its no problem"

Soon the guard assigned to my group steps in front of us. He is a tall, black man. He wears a serious look on his face.

"We are going to practice today." He says. He speaks aggressively like every word he says, he wants to attack us with.

I flinch every time he speaks and I notice others do the same. He finally finishes talking after rambling through a bunch of instructions.

"Follow me" he commands. He takes us further into another room which has more equipment than the previous room. He calls more guard into the room and we start training.
.............After five hours of running, drills, exercising, gun training, my knees turn jelly.

Every time I want to stop, One of the guards pours water on my body and lashes a whip at me. I try as much as possible to continue but I fall down.

"Ah" I groan as I feel another lash at my back. "You think this is a joke?" The man questions angrily. Really after 5 hours of intense drilling? "We are not here to play"

Finally when they see everyone on the floor....."Alright, stop for today"
He says in a bored tone. "I can't believe this is the bunch of lazybones I have to work with." The head of the guard laments.

My group and I look at each other. All our hard work to keep up with the drill was in vain? We don't say anything. They leave us angrily; all of them. What did they expect from us.

I lay on the floor and I finally assess the group I am to work with. Everyone is groaning on the floor. There are about 20 of us in the group. I think so though, I mentally calculate in my head.

I stand up to head to my room but I fall to the floor again. I start crawling when I see others do the same. I don't look up to see anyone's face.

I get to my room despite feeling excruciating pains in my body. I see Naade in the room already drinking a bottle of orange juice looking like he just had a spa treatment. He looks like he is trying hard not to laugh."hello to you too" he says with a smirk on his face. I don't even have the heart to react. "How was your training?" I just ignore him.

He doesn't even offer to help. Really though, what do I expect. I crawl to the bathroom. I see the bathroom door closed.

I turn to Naade only to find him staring at him as he drinks his juice.

"What?" He taunts me.
"Please help me open the bathroom door" my voice comes out calmer than I expect.

"Playing tough will not help you Ara" he says wagging his finger at me.

"But I survived the first day, didn't I?" I reply him, stating the fact.

"You got a lucky start"

"Then what do you want from me?" I question loudly. "If I speak, its a problem. If I don't speak, its still a problem"

He shrugs his shoulder like I did not just utter a word. "Whatever"

I sigh heavily and I gesture towards the door. He doesn't move an inch from where he stands.

I groan in pain as I try to open the door. As I reach for the door knob, I trip as the door opens sharply.

I turn to the culprit and I see him with a remote control in his hands. "That's for mentioning our 'business' when I specifically told you not to talk without chewing the 'gummy'. Well I just jumped from frying pan to fire. Didn't I?

"Be thankful I already changed the cameras of the room." I forgot about that but I don't say a word.

I hold my tears and crawl fast to the bathtub. I notice a container at the edge of the tub. I pick it up and it reads 'muscle soak'.

I wonder who put it. For a minute, I think it is Mobo or someone from 'Aye' but I don't think they care. Or is it Naade? Nah! I don't think so. I shake the content into the tub. I use the whole container.

I turn the lever of the bathtub to warm water. I watch the water fill to the brim before I turn the lever.

I whimper in pain as I discard my clothing carefully whilst holding my breath in. I step into the water after the uncomfortable exercise.

I soak in the water as I feel relief! The 'muscle soak' does relax the muscles. I plunge my head into water and stay still for some time before coming out of water again. I repeat this then stop after a while. I feel reinvigorated after a couple of minutes.

I leave the tub after a comforting time in the tub. I don't feel much pain like before.

I grab a towel and dry my body. I pick new clothes from the drawer and wear it. I limp a little as I walk. I see Naade on the bed waiting.

"What took you so long?"

"What do you mean?" I look at him puzzled. He slaps his palm together.

"You are supposed to meet my team today."he says through clenched teeth.
I shrug my shoulders. "Well, I am sorry. I am tired"

He frowns at me. "You signed on the paper remember".

"I don't care" I move to the bed but he grabs my arm. "Don't waste my time. I waited for you" he gives me a daring look. "Please!' I beg.

He ignores me. "Okay" I agree when he doesn't budge. I make for the door when I feel his hands around me as he lifts me up from the floor.

I startle as I stare though I don't stop him. "With your pace, you won't catch up" he replies my questioning stare.
Wow he...is...a little nice.

I am really tired. His grip is firm and I relax a little in his arms.

My face drops when I notice a familiar face. 

"Aramade.."

Wow! What a day Ara had. Do you think she will survive? Did Naade put the 'muscle soak in there'?

***********************To be continued*************************

Watch out for part II