The Narval House felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode. The combat exam had everyone so freaked out, it was like no other topic even existed in their conversations. Laura had been in the front yard since six a.m. as if she wasn't already the strongest of all of us.

Mark, on the other hand, had spent the morning rolling around in bed, whining nonstop. He kept calling today his worst nightmare, which, coming from him, wasn't exactly surprising.

And me? Well, I figured I'd give it a shot. Not that I had much chance, but it wasn't like I had another option, either.

I woke up early and went for a run along the wall, but this time, I wasn't alone. Many others had the same idea, all because of the test. So when I crossed paths with Heather, sadly I couldn't stop and we just exchanged a quick glance.

It was crazy to think that we were finally about to become officials, well, only if I passed the exam, which I wasn't entirely confident about. Luckily, Laura had helped me with my training. I asked her to be as tough as she could, no mercy at all, and I have to say, she didn't hold back. It was incredible to see how much she'd improved since our last sparring session. She kept locking me into hold after hold, and it took what felt like forever before I finally managed to trap her in one. Just once.

"How do you see it? Do you think I have a chance?" I asked as she helped me up from the floor after one of her deadly locks.

Laura wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel. "There's a huge luck factor in this test. At this point, I think we all have a chance."

"I don't like that answer." I sighed. "I'd prefer something like: Yeah, Grace, you don't need luck; you're so strong, you'll be amazing."

Laura laughed. "I'm just being honest. You're good at combat, but you're out of shape right now, let's not deny it. So, I'd suggest focusing on anticipating your opponent's moves and using your agility instead of relying on strength."

She wasn't wrong. Speed was my only shot. If there even was a shot.

· · ·

As the sun moved beyond the border, we all gathered in the training field, ready for that long-expected but equally feared combat test. The floor marks outlining the combat area had been freshly laid, and the grass had been trimmed. There was a table where Lea was arranging a collection of strange tech artifacts I had never seen before.

Kate was testing one of them. They kind of looked like headphones, but a cable connected them to a thin metal plate that rested just beneath her right eye.

"Okay, kiddos, come here, gather around." Everyone closed in around Kate as she stretched her arms out in front of her. All her joints let out a cracking sound.

"The exam's gonna go down like this," she continued. "You'll wear the Combat Simulator, and there will be three rounds. Each one will be tougher than the last. The Simulator will show you whatever seems necessary to test you. So, expect some wild stuff, but try not to shit your pants, just keep fighting."

Whispers filled the training yard, and Kate paused until Lea shushed us.

"Remember, you can't take off the Simulator, or you'll be kicked out faster than you can blink. The last fight will be against me."

A collective gasp echoed around us, and Kate let out a laugh. "Good luck, folks. You're gonna need it!"

Lea stepped forward. "So, who goes first?"

Laura stepped out from the crowd. "I will."

Not in a million years would I have gone first. Not even if they paid me with a thousand apple pies. No way.

"Okay, we have a brave girl here," Kate said. "Big applause for her!"

I whistled as everyone clapped while Lea placed the Simulator on Laura's head. I had no idea what that weird half-headphones, half-glasses contraption was supposed to do; I'd missed those classes while I was in the hospital. All I could do was hope for a bit of luck. Yes, please. An easy combat, and, most importantly, for Heather not to show up. I could handle my colleagues watching me make a fool of myself, even Kate laughing at my clumsiness. But Heather? No way.

Laura moved to the center of the combat area while Kate programmed something on a digital device that seemed connected to the Combat Simulator.

"Okay, done! Let's go!" she said.

Suddenly, Laura's eyes widened in amazement, and she looked around as if she was seeing something unbelievable.

"Oh my god, this is so real." She said.

Then, Laura's expression shifted. She seemed tense, almost scared. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her fists clenched, ready to fight. I couldn't make out all the details she was seeing, but if you looked closely, you could spot a faintly glowing wireframe, vaguely shaped like a person, standing in front of her. I guess that was her opponent?

"Okay, Laura, let's start the fun." Said Kate as she pressed buttons on her digital device.

Laura raced at the wireframe and lunged a fast and precise kick that landed on its head making it crash to the floor. The crowd erupted in a chorus of cheers. Then she flipped to his back and locked them on the floor.

"Come on, Laura, this is just a warm-up for you!" Kate cheered her on.

The opponent struggled, but Laura was strong. After a minute, an alarm rang. The first combat was over. Applause echoed throughout the field, and Laura rose with a confident smile, taking a deep breath.

"Well done, Laura! Let's move on to the next one!" Kate said.

As the second combat began, I noticed someone slipping through the crowd.

No. No. No.

Heather. She didn't stop moving until she found the perfect spot to watch the test. Why was she even here? There was no way I would look like a clumsy idiot in front of her. Damn it.

Okey Grace, just focus on Laura's movement, memorize each step.

Laura was incredible. She held her ground like a champion, and everyone cheered when the alarm rang and she locked her two opponents in an amazing double hold.

Now it was Kate's turn. The last fight. Laura tightened her ponytail, and although she was breathing fast and sweat covered her face, she looked confident.

Before stepping into the field, Kate pressed a couple of buttons on her digital device and waited for something to happen. Just moments later, Laura turned around abruptly, as if something had appeared before her. Her expression shifted, and soon she looked utterly horrified. What the heck?

She screamed.

Whispers of concern filled the crowd. Laura kept turning her gaze toward that invisible scenery as if it were her worst nightmare. What on earth was she seeing? Kate didn't seem surprised by her reaction, and neither did Lea.

I glanced at Heather. She was watching Laura, not a hint of surprise on her face. Whatever was happening to Laura seemed to be exactly what all the Leads had expected.

After a while, Kate joined the combat area.

"Alright, that's enough. Stop it." She said to Lea, who quickly pressed a button on the device.

"Let's get back to fighting." Kate said as she entered the training field and positioned herself in front of Laura.

Lea removed Laura's Combat Simulator, and she glared at Kate. "What was that? What the hell?"

"Focus, girl!" Kate shouted, then she lunged at her to fight. 

Laura was totally unfocused. It was as if whatever she had seen on the Simulator had put out her flame and now was weaker than a baby bird. Kate didn't show mercy and tackled her to the ground with a strong kick to her legs that made her go crashing into the grass. Then she secured her arms with a judo lock as she grimaced in pain.

"Come on, Laura, you can do it!" I shouted.

"Yeah! You're stronger than this, girl!" Mark said.

Laura tried. She really did. You could see it in her clenched jaw and the way her muscles tensed, but Kate had her trapped well.

"Laura, don't let it get to you. Just breathe, focus, and show her what you're made of!" I shouted. 

Gradually, everyone joined in, and the field became a chaotic yet encouraging chorus for Laura. It seemed to work because, at some point, she gathered enough strength to explode from the immobilizing hold, slashing her arms through the air like a warrior breaking free from chains.

After that, Laura seemed unstoppable. She kept Kate on her toes the entire time, and Kate couldn't catch her again until the alarm finally rang. We shouted, we clapped, and the crowd went wild for her. I couldn't have been prouder. She deserved that victory more than anyone. Our eyes met for a brief moment as she stood up, smiling at me. Well done, Laura.

"The results of the test will be revealed on commissioning day. Now, take some rest." Kate said.

"Alright, who's up next?" Lea asked.

· · ·

One combat after another passed, each following the same pattern. The first fight seemed easy, the second a bit tougher but still doable. But by the end... before the last fight against Kate... Lea programmed something into the device, and suddenly everyone looked horrified. What the hell was that?

I kept stalling my turn, letting everyone go ahead of me. Maybe if I went last, Kate would be tired, and it'd be easier. Plus, if I waited long enough, maybe Heather would leave. I couldn't get rid of the feeling of her watching. Why had she even come?

Kate noticed me avoiding her gaze and, of course, made her way over.

"Hey Grace, you're very quiet. Do I scare you more than an acid rainstorm?" She flashed me a sly grin.

"Well, you're definitely a force of nature."

Kate laughed. "Come on, girl, to the field."

Shit. I glanced back at my colleagues. Mark and Laura both clenched their fists, like they were sending me strength. Then, I briefly checked where Heather was.

Please, be gone. Please, be gone. Please, be gone.

Nope. She'd even stepped forward for a better view. Great. A better view of what? My pathetic disaster?

Lea placed the Simulator on my head and adjusted it. It felt cold, and maybe a bit too tight. But I wasn't about to say anything. I didn't want to look like a picky asshole right from the start.

"Let the party begin!" Kate exclaimed as she pressed her device.

Suddenly, my surroundings vanished. The Narval House, the training field, the sky... All disappeared as if they had always been an illusion.

Numerous trees shot up from the ground and the scent of fresh grass after rain invaded my senses. I could still see the people around me, but they appeared somewhat translucent as if they were ghosts. What the hell was this tech?

"Watch out!" I heard from the audience.

Too late. Something struck me in the stomach, and I crashed to the floor. A sharp, nauseating pain shot up from my gut. What the heck? The fight might not be real, but the pain sure was. I looked at my assailant and saw a figure, well, more like a mannequin, completely white, with no face, standing in front of me.

"Come on, Grace, get up!" Laura's voice yelled.

The mannequin's leg shot up like a lightning bolt toward me, but I reacted just in time, trapping the leg with my hands.

I grinned. "Not so fast."

I landed a swift kick to its crotch, followed by a bone-crushing blow to its head. The mannequin staggered, teetering on the edge of defeat. But then, out of nowhere, the other leg swung toward my face. I barrel-rolled, thank God, just in time.

"Missed me, dummy!" I said, then landed a strike to its chest. Almost there. I locked its arms in a judo key, and after a moment, the alarm rang. The combat was over. My colleagues erupted in applause, cheering my victory.

"Ok Grace, let's see what you can do with this one." Kate said.

Okay. Come on. Combat two. I felt strong. I could do it.

Then... Oops. There wasn't just one opponent, but two.

I didn't even have time to think before they sprinted toward me, cornering me in the middle. At the last second, I managed to avoid them by crouching and rolling on the ground. God, I had to be faster this time, and a couple of extra eyes on my back wouldn't hurt.

With a quick acrobatic move, I tackled one from behind, holding the other in front until I collided with a tree. It was the perfect timing to immobilize them since they had no escape between me and the tree. I restrained them for as long as I could, and after a minute, the alarm rang. I couldn't believe it, I was almost done.

Just the fight against Kate, and it would be over. I searched for Heather in the audience. She didn't look excited, happy, or surprised... She looked concerned? I thought I'd done well so far... Why was she concerned?

"Okay, let's go with the final one." Kate said as she pressed a button on the digital device.

The lush trees, the vibrant grass, and the endless sky all vanished as if they were dreams. Crazy tech, really. It felt like the entire world had been wiped away, leaving me in unsettling darkness. Now, only the void swallowed me whole.

Get ready, Grace. Now is when the monster, the zombie, or the ghost will appear.

I felt my blood race through my body, my adrenaline boiling, and my hands so sweaty. But also... I was curious. I wanted to know what that thing was that made everybody shit their pants.

Then, I heard a familiar voice. It was like an echo, growing louder and louder. Gradually, my surroundings began to take shape, trees, a house, and a door in the ground, like a bunker. A chill ran through my skin. What the heck was happening?

Three figures emerged from the darkness, moving toward me. My heart pounded. I recognized them. It couldn't be.

Mom, Dad, and Michael.

And someone else.

Me.

A younger version of myself. Michael looked much younger too. Memories flooded in, and a wave of panic paralyzed me like scorpion venom.

This was the day my parents died.