A Pacifier ushers us all out of the test room and guides us down the hallway for our next test.

I recall the rigorous training sessions with Uncle Sirius and I wonder: am I truly ready for this? Doubts begin to creep into my mind but I force them aside. The thought of disappointing my uncle is strong.

He would never forgive me for failing this test.

As I straightened my shoulder, a Veilborn girl collides with me, her shoulder slamming into mine with unexpected force. She doesn't even break stride, let alone apologize, as she strides away with an air of superiority, her long, curly hair bouncing behind her as she strides with an air of superiority. My eyes narrow and my fists clench. Who does she think she is?

"Veilbornes," an Ironclad girl walking next to me mutters, her voice low and bitter as she rubs her shoulder. She's clutching her shoulder, and I realize that the Veilborn girl didn't just knock into me - she'd also collided with this girl. "Think they own the place just because they won two times in a row in the past," she spits out, her eyes flashing with anger as she glares after the Veilborn girl.

Then she turns to me, her gaze piercing as she raises an eyebrow. "I have a strong feeling that Ironclad will win this one," she says, her voice filled with conviction. She eyes my mask and hood, her curiosity evident as she tilts her head. "What's with the mask and hood?" she asks, her voice softer now.

I hesitate, my mind racing for a plausible excuse as I fidget with my mask. I put my hand against the mask, trying to think of a lie. "I have a nasty burn," I say finally, trying to sound casual. "It's not pretty."

The Ironclad girl's expression softens, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Sorry to hear that. Must be painful."

She pauses, studying me with interest. "I'm Tonya, by the way. And you are...?"

I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. "156," I reply, leaving it at that.

Tonya chuckles, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "My bad. I'm 82. Nice to meet you, 156."

"Likewise, 82."

The Pacifier leads us to a massive-a warehouse-like expanse filled with obstacles that seem torn from a nightmare. Greased walls rise to impossible heights. Suspended ropes and spinning platforms dangle over deep pits of dark, foul-smelling mud. Narrow beams stretch out precariously over dizzying drops. The air smells like rust, sweat, and fear.

A booming voice echoes through the room, making us both jump. "Welcome, candidates, to the Physical Ability Test. Your goal is to navigate the obstacle course before you and reach the finish line. The candidate who completes the course in the shortest time will be declared the winner."

The voice pauses, and I feel a surge of adrenaline.

"The course will test your strength, agility, and endurance. You may use any means necessary to complete the course, but be warned: the obstacles are designed to push you to your limits."

The voice falls silent, and a moment later he continues. "A siren will sound and you will begin. Good luck."

Tonya turns to me and says, "Good luck!"

I stare at her, taken aback by her kindness. If she knew who I really was, she'd never say those words. But I just nod, my voice caught in my throat. "You too."

A horn blares, sharp and deafening, and the chaos begins.

I take off running, my boots pounding against the hard floor as I push forward. The obstacle course stretches out before me, a seemingly endless gauntlet of challenges designed to test my strength, agility, and endurance. The air is thick with tension, the only sound the pounding of feet and the distant hum of machinery.

The first obstacle is a towering, greased wall with multiple ropes dangling from the top, spaced out to prevent clustering. Candidates swarm the base, their hands scrabbling for purchase as they try to haul themselves up. I grab a rope, my hands burning as I pull myself upward, my feet searching for a grip against the slippery surface. My muscles scream, but I keep climbing, sweat dripping into my eyes. The rope bites into my palms, and I feel a jolt of pain as I haul myself up.

As I reach the top, I see Tonya, pulling herself up beside me We exchange a brief nod before dropping down to the next section, landing hard on the mat below. But as we hit the ground, the crowd surges forward, and we're swept apart by the throng of candidates.

I try to spot Tonya, but she's lost in the sea of faces. I push on, my heart racing as I tackle the spinning platforms, suspended high above a pit of thick, black mud. The air reeks of decay, and I catch sight of a girl splashing helplessly in the pit, her hands scrabbling for the edge. Her shrieking screams echo through the air, making my skin crawl. I feel a shiver run down my spine as I leap onto the first platform, my heart racing as it spins violently under my weight.

I steady myself and jump to the next, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The platforms seem to stretch on forever, each one spinning faster and more unpredictably than the last. I feel like I'm dancing on air, my feet barely touching the surface as I leap from one platform to the next.

The next obstacle is a narrow balance beam, one of several spaced out across the course. I step onto the beam, my arms outstretched for balance. My legs tremble beneath me, but I keep moving, one step at a time. The beam seems to stretch on forever, the ground far, far below.

That's when I see him - 157, the Veilborne boy from earlier. He's stepping onto the beam behind me, his eyes locked onto mine with a cold, calculating gaze. I can see the hunger in his eyes, the desire to eliminate me from the test.

As I near the end of the beam, he makes his move, trying to push me off. But I'm ready for him, my reflexes honed from years of living on the streets. I sidestep his attack, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, we're face to face, our eyes locked in a fierce stare. Then I'm past him, my feet pounding against the beam as I sprint towards the next obstacle.

The next stretch looms ahead - a massive, steeply inclined climbing wall. I take a deep breath, my muscles burning as I begin the ascent. The wall seems to stretch up forever, the holds are are small and precarious. I feel like I'm climbing a never-ending mountain, my body screaming in protest.

As I near the top, I hear the sound of screams and groans from below, the muddy pit claiming more victims. Some of them are screaming about something in the water, something that's holding them down. I push the thought aside, focusing on the finish line.

I haul myself over the top of the wall, my body exhausted but my spirit unbroken. As I drop down to the other side, I'm met with a sight that makes my blood run cold. A massive pit yawns open before me, its depths shrouded in darkness. But what catches me off guard is how suddenly it appears. There's no warning, no indication that the ground drops away just a few feet from the wall.

I watch in horror as candidate after candidate climbs over the wall, only to take a few running steps before plummeting into the pit. They fall without warning, their screams echoing up from the depths as they disappear into the darkness. It's as if the pit is a trap, waiting to snatch the unwary.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the final challenge. I can see the finish line just beyond the pit, taunting me with its proximity. I approach the edge of the pit cautiously, my heart racing with fear. I can feel the ground trembling beneath my feet as I peer into the abyss.

I sprint forward, my legs pumping furiously as I launch myself into a final, desperate leap. Time seems to slow as I soar over the pit, my heart in my throat. I feel weightless, suspended in mid-air as I wait to see if I'll make it to the other side.

I land hard on the ground, my body crashing to the earth as I roll to absorb the impact. I'm exhausted, my muscles screaming in protest. But as I look up, I see that I've made it. I've crossed the finish line.

As I look up, I see the finish line banner fluttering above me, and beyond it, a sea of faces cheering and congratulating each other. But one face stands out among the rest - 157, the Veilborne boy who's been trying to eliminate me. He's standing at the finish line, his eyes fixed on me with a cold, calculating gaze. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the air thick with tension. Then, his expression twists into a scowl, and he turns away, disappearing into the crowd.

Sighing, I look around, I'm hoping to see Tonya's face among the crowd. Did she make it?

I feel a pang of worry as I crane my neck, searching for her in the sea of faces.

Tonya's nowhere to be seen.

Oh no, I think, my heart sinking.

Just as I'm starting to lose hope, I see a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. Tonya's sprinting towards the finish line, her face set in a determined expression. She's going to make it!

But as she leaps for the final stretch, her foot slips, and she starts to fall. My heart skips a beat as I see her hand grasping for the edge, her fingers slipping.

Without thinking, I lunge forward, grabbing her hand as it slips. For a moment, we're both teetering on the edge, our bodies swaying precariously over the abyss.

my muscles screaming in protest as I pull her up with all the strength I can muster. Tonya's weight feels like it's going to drag me into the pit with her, but I don't let go. Slowly, inch by inch, I haul her up until she's safely back on solid ground.

She collapses onto her knees, panting heavily, her face pale with shock. "You... you saved me," she says between gasps, her wide eyes locking onto mine.

I nod, trying to catch my own breath. "I couldn't let you fall," I say simply, my voice hoarse from the effort. "We Ironclads stick together."

Tonya's expression softens, and for a moment, the chaos of the course fades away. "Thank you," she says, her voice filled with gratitude.

Before I can respond, a loud horn blares, signaling the end of the test. Around us, the remaining candidates gather, some cheering, others grim-faced as they process what they've just been through. I glance back at the pit, its dark, gaping maw a reminder of how close Tonya came to being one of the casualties.

A voice booms over the speakers, cutting through the noise. "Congratulations to those who completed the course. You have proven your physical prowess. Wait for a Pacifier to lead you to the next test room."

Ahead, the Veilborne boy-157-turns to glance back at me, his eyes narrowing with unmistakable intent. I know one thing for certain: He's a threat.

"Be careful," Tonya whispers, noticing my tense expression as I watch him disappear into the crowd. "Veilbornes don't play fair."

I sigh heavily. I've survived the wild; I can survive this, too.

With that thought, I square my shoulders and step forward, ready for whatever comes next.

My number is still tattooed on my wrist which means I have not failed yet.