Teresa was ready to kill Satan at the moment. She did not want to have some stupid training session after going through a six months military course.

"Can I just rest? It's literally six," she grumbled groggily as Karen pulled her by the arm.

"No no honey. We're always told that 'Rest ain't making you the best, simply pests'," Karen preached.

Teresa smiled a little out of annoyance. For a second, she almost believed that she had found a friend in Karen, but she shrugged that thought off instantly.

Can't have emotional attachments here.

A few steps later, Teresa realized how dark it had become everywhere. In fact, she had no clue where she was being taken. She could feel herself go down a narrow stairway with walls on either side of her. Karen guided her from the front, holding her arm. It almost felt like some historical secret passage.

The stairs ended, and soon they walked on a flat surface which was sloped downwards.

The passage smelt of sweat, moisture and wet mud altogether. At this point, Teresa was almost claustrophobic.

Ugh.

"Where are we going?" she asked worriedly.

"Oh! To our gym to train. Didn't I tell you that? Must've slipped my mind ha! This house has more to it than you think Teresa," Karen giggled.

Oh, that's comforting indeed.

She was afraid that Karen was part of some demonic cult, and she was the fresh human sacrifice. Of course, she hoped that was not true. Karen seemed crazy, cute and weird but definitely not devilish mad.

Or she hoped.

Yes, cause you expected angels in a mafia. Nice.

Just as she thought she was going to die of nausea, she saw light up ahead. It was just a doorway made of stone, without a door that is. For the first time, Teresa touched the walls of the tunnel. It was cool and smooth. Like marble, only this was stonework.

They came out into a massive room. It was more than just a room. It was like an entire arena itself. There before her was a big gym centre on her left, a fighting ring in the middle and a weapon's area on the right side. It was majestically designed.

She felt as if she walked right into a Hunger Games practice arena.

Teresa saw Jordan lifting some weights, Benjamin practising with a punching bag fervently and Seth doing yoga. The three of them were sweating already. Benjamin, Ben for short, heard them enter almost instantly and started to take his big red gloves off.

"Finally! I thought you got lost or something!" Benjamin exclaimed as he threw the gloves away.

He took big strides towards Karen, who tightened her grip on Teresa's arm. Benjamin leaned forward until they were barely inches apart.

Oh my God, people are going to make out right before me.

However, Karen brought her knee to his stomach, and he reeled over coughing.

"You got me this time," he gasped.

"I get you every time douchebag," she laughed and let him up.

Teresa saw how the entire space was floored with mats. She could fall face-first on the floor and not get hurt. This was awesome.

Seth walked over to her as Karen and Benjamin played among themselves. She saw that he wasn't lean like Benjamin. There was a hint of some abs peeking out of his sweaty, white tank top. The muscles in his arms flexed as he held out an arm to Teresa. A small smile lingered on his wide lips. It looked like he was trying to be friends.

Hard pass, Teresa said as she shook his hand.

I won't be fr-

Seth yanked her hand hard and swept her off her feet. Her back landed hard on the mat, and her head hit the floor, which made her see stars in daylight.

Not soft.

She was glad she didn't fall face first. She didn't need a broken nose on her day one.

"As soon as you enter this place, training starts. Lesson one: Never let your guard down," his deep voice echoed in the quiet.

And just like that, the asshole walked away. Teresa stood up with gritted teeth and looked around. Jordan was wiping sweat off his brow, and Karen and Benjamin were actually fighting. Ben was strong and fast, but Karen was more flexible. She was tiny and went from between his legs and blocked half of his attacks.

Benjamin feigned, and Karen got confused. He lifted Karen with ease and slapped her down hard on the mat.

"Checkmate love," he grinned proudly.

"I was just warming up," she pouted.

Karen got up and saw Teresa gawking at them. She had obviously not seen a male and woman fight like that in training. Touching in places.

"You should practice with a partner too! This is how we train," she shouted.

Teresa barely tried to see understanding in that.

"What? With whom? You?" she asked back baffled.

"Nope me. Seth Clemont," someone buzzed beside her ear.

Teresa cautiously turned to him, creating some respectful distance between the two. Intimacy was the last thing she had in mind.

"I don't want to train with you," she bluntly said.

Seth smirked as he stretched his back. His bones squeaked and groaned as he twisted his body from side to side.

"Well, you have two options. You can fight the big guy there or me. Choose," he said.

Teresa observed the big guy who was Jordan. She saw him lift weights equal to her own as his biceps bulged and tensed with every lift. Teresa quietly gulped as his forearm muscles flexed and toned with every exercise.

It wasn't on her wish-list to get beaten to a pulp just yet.

She glared at Seth, who looked like he was clearly enjoying the show. She quickly snaked an arm about his arm and locked her elbow into his armpit. Then with a swift jerk, she threw him over her shoulder.

"Argh!" he groaned.

"Way to go hun!" Karen cheered before being catapulted by Benjamin from behind.

"Lesson two: Don't enjoy the show too much. It can cost you," she taunted back at him and tightened her ponytail.

On the other side of the fighting ring, Ben and Karen smiled sweetly and hopefully towards the two of them.

"I think Seth has finally found the one for him," Karen whispered to Ben.

Ben looked at them doubtfully, a smile still on his face.

"How do you know that she won't turn out like Sophia?" he asked.

Karen's eyes lit up slightly as she saw the two bickering from afar.

"I don't. But I can feel it"

*****

Can you feel it too?

We're at the end of yet another chapter and I thank you for being a part of this journey so far. I won't disappoint you. I'll try my best not to!

This chapter is dedicated to @ArianaJones599 who motivated me to go and has been in touch since we met through the small ways that brought a smile to my face!