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The Sekai Taikai arena was alive with energy, the roaring crowd cheering as fighters stepped onto the mats for their one-on-one battles. Marisol tightened the strap of her Cobra Kai gi, her focus razor-sharp as she strode onto the mat. Across from her stood Axel from the Iron Dragons, his tall, muscular frame exuding confidence. He had a sly grin on his face as he rotated his shoulders, cracking his neck in preparation.

"Ready to see how Iron Dragons do it?" Axel teased, his tone light but challenging.

Marisol didn't respond verbally, only tilting her head slightly, her expression unreadable. She bowed formally, her movements crisp and precise. Axel mirrored her, though his smirk never wavered.

The referee's whistle pierced the air, signaling the start of the match.

Axel moved first, wasting no time in closing the distance between them. He threw a quick jab aimed at Marisol's face, testing her reflexes. Marisol deflected it effortlessly, her arm moving with practiced precision. Axel followed up with a low kick to her legs, but Marisol hopped back, dodging it cleanly.

"Fast," Axel commented, his grin widening as he circled her.

Marisol stayed silent, her stance firm and balanced. She watched his movements carefully, analyzing his patterns. Axel darted forward, this time throwing a combination of punches and a spinning back kick. Marisol blocked the punches with her forearms, the impact reverberating through her arms, but she didn't flinch. As his kick came toward her, she ducked low, spinning on her heel to deliver a sweeping kick to Axel's legs.

He stumbled but didn't fall, recovering quickly and pivoting to face her. "Not bad," he admitted, a glint of admiration in his eyes.

Marisol smirked faintly. "You're not making it easy," she said, her voice calm but firm.

Axel charged again, feinting a punch before shifting into a roundhouse kick aimed at her side. Marisol anticipated the move, sidestepping just in time. She grabbed his leg mid-kick, twisting her body to throw him off balance. Axel spun in the air, landing with a thud on the mat, but he rolled to his feet almost immediately.

"Impressive," he said, his voice breathless but still playful.

Marisol didn't respond. She advanced this time, closing the gap with a flurry of strikes-two quick punches followed by a low kick aimed at Axel's shin. He blocked the punches but wasn't fast enough to avoid the kick, and he winced as it connected. Marisol used the opening to pivot and land a spinning hook kick squarely to his chest.

Axel staggered back, clutching his chest as he caught his breath. But he didn't stay down, stepping forward with renewed determination. He lunged at her, throwing a barrage of punches and kicks in quick succession. Marisol blocked and dodged, her movements fluid and efficient. She saw an opening when Axel overextended on a punch and seized the opportunity, grabbing his arm and twisting it as she swept his legs out from under him.

This time, Axel hit the mat hard, and before he could recover, Marisol pressed her foot lightly against his chest, signaling the end of the match.

"Match over! Cobra Kai wins!" the referee declared, raising his hand toward Marisol.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Marisol stepped back, lowering her foot. She extended a hand to Axel, who took it and allowed her to pull him up.

"That was incredible," Axel said, his tone genuine this time. His smirk had softened into an earnest smile. "You're good. Really good."

Marisol's lips curved into a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks," she said simply. "You're not too bad yourself."

Axel chuckled, brushing off some dust from his gi. "Hope I get another shot at you someday."

"We'll see," Marisol replied, turning and walking off the mat.

As she approached the Cobra Kai group, Tory was already grinning at her. "Someone's got a crush on you," she teased, nudging Marisol with her elbow.

Marisol blinked, caught off guard. "What? No way," she said quickly, though a faint blush crept into her cheeks.

"Uh-huh," Tory said, clearly unconvinced. She tilted her head toward Axel, who was still sneaking glances at Marisol as he rejoined his team.

Marisol rolled her eyes and laughed softly. "I'm serious, Tory. No way."

Tory smirked, but her gaze shifted across the mat. Her eyes landed on Eli, who stood with his arms crossed, his eyes locked on Marisol. There was a flicker of something in his expression-something that made Tory's grin widen.

She leaned closer to Marisol, lowering her voice. "What about Hawk? You still hung up on him?"

Marisol hesitated, her smile faltering as she glanced toward Eli. She caught his gaze for a brief moment before looking away. She shrugged, her voice quieter now. "I'm not sure," she admitted.

Tory raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you better figure it out. Looks like you've got options."

Marisol shook her head, laughing again, though it lacked her usual confidence. "It's not that simple, Tory."

"Nothing ever is," Tory replied with a knowing smirk before turning her attention back to the ongoing matches.

Marisol took a deep breath, her thoughts swirling as she stood with her team. She tried to push the distractions aside, focusing instead on the next challenge. But despite herself, her gaze drifted toward Eli once more, her heart conflicted.

Mila sat alone in the cold, stark visiting room of the juvie center, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her face stoic but her mind whirling. The room felt like a cage, both physically and mentally. The walls, painted in a dull grey, made everything feel suffocating, as if the air was thicker than usual. She had been here for what felt like forever, with days blending into each other. And now, as usual, the minutes dragged slowly as she waited.

When she heard footsteps, she didn't look up. She knew who it was. Her father, George, was walking toward her with his usual slow, deliberate steps. His broad frame appeared as a comforting presence, but the look on his face was far from reassuring.

"Mila," he greeted, his voice deep but soft. There was a slight tremble in it, like he wasn't sure what he was walking into. He sat down across from her, settling into the metal chair with a heavy sigh.

She didn't respond at first, her eyes fixed on the table in front of her, tracing the scratches on its surface. The tension between them was palpable, but it wasn't from anything recent. It was a weight that had been building for months, ever since Mila had landed in juvie.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice breaking through the silence.

Mila didn't look up. "Same as usual," she muttered, her tone flat. "Not much changes in here."

George's eyes softened, but the worry was still evident in his expression. He ran a hand through his hair before taking a deep breath. "I have something I need to tell you, and it's... it's important."

Mila's stomach tightened, and she couldn't explain why. She didn't even know what the news was going to be, but she already knew it wouldn't be good. She felt the familiar knot in her chest start to form, one she couldn't seem to untangle no matter how many times she tried.

"Go ahead," she said, her voice laced with resignation.

George hesitated, his brow furrowing as if considering how best to say what was coming next. "It's about Marisol."

The way he said her name sent a jolt of panic through Mila's chest. She looked up, her eyes narrowing, searching her father's face. "What about her?"

"She... she rejoined Cobra Kai," George said, his voice quiet but firm, as if he wasn't sure how the news would land.

Mila froze, the words hanging in the air like a slap. Her body stiffened, and she could feel the blood drain from her face as disbelief and anger surged through her. "What?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking."

George shook his head, his expression somber. "I'm not joking. I came here as soon as I got the news from Johnny. I thought she was going with them. She told me she was."

Mila couldn't even process what he was saying. Her heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced. "No," she whispered, shaking her head as if willing the words to disappear. "No way. That's not... she wouldn't do that."

George's face softened, but there was something in his eyes-something that made Mila realize how much this had hurt him, too. "Apparently, she did this for you," he said quietly.

"For me?" Mila echoed, her voice breaking. "How does this even make sense? I'm here, locked up, and she goes back to them? To Cobra Kai?" Her voice rose, filled with bitterness and disbelief. "She promised me, Dad. She promised me she wasn't going back there. She said she was done with them."

"I know, kiddo," George murmured, looking at her with a sadness that mirrored her own. "But she said this was the only way she could be strong enough to handle everything. She said she's doing this for you-to get stronger so she can get you out of here. She thinks if she's with Cobra Kai, she'll be able to focus better and maybe even help you."

Mila blinked rapidly, feeling the sting of tears well up in her eyes. "I... I feel like I'm a burden," she whispered, her voice cracking as she looked down at her hands, clenched tightly into fists. "I'm stuck in here, and now Marisol's gone back to Cobra Kai because of me. It's my fault."

George's face softened further, and he reached across the table to place his hand gently over hers. "Mila, listen to me. You're not a burden. This isn't your fault. Marisol made this decision on her own. She's been struggling with a lot, and this is how she thinks she'll get through it. She loves you, and this-this is how she's dealing with it. But it's not your fault."

Mila let out a bitter laugh, tears now threatening to spill from her eyes. "You don't get it, Dad," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm here, and she's there, and I don't even know how to help her. I don't know how to help myself. I messed up everything, and now she's stuck in that world again. That world."

George shook his head, his eyes intense. "You're not stuck. You can still get out of here, Mila. Focus on yourself. Get stronger. Do what you need to do to get out of here, because you matter. Marisol... she made her own choices. You can't carry the weight of them, okay? You just need to focus on you."

"But it's so hard," Mila whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know what to do anymore. I can't even help myself, let alone her."

George's eyes softened, and he squeezed her hand. "All you can do is take it one day at a time. And remember-no matter what, you've got me, okay? You're not alone in this. Marisol's made her choice, but you're not responsible for it. She's an adult, Mila. She has to make her own way."

Mila nodded slowly, though the weight in her chest didn't disappear. "I'll try," she murmured, the words not quite reaching her heart.

"Good. That's all I ask," George said, his voice soft but full of resolve. "We're going to get through this. All of us."

Mila looked up at her father, seeing the determination in his eyes. But the anxiety gnawing at her didn't go away. She couldn't shake the thought that somehow, in some twisted way, everything that was happening-Marisol's return to Cobra Kai, her own situation in juvie-was her fault.

Marisol stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hotel hallway, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She was exhausted-physically and emotionally. The weight of everything that had been happening lately weighed heavily on her shoulders. Being back with Cobra Kai, the constant tension with her family, and the strain of trying to hold it all together was starting to take its toll. She just wanted to make it to her room and escape into the silence for a while.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, jolting her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the "Unknown Number" flashing in bold letters. Her stomach tightened, a sense of dread washing over her. She hesitated, staring at the screen for a moment longer before reluctantly answering.

"Hello?" she said, her voice shaky despite her best efforts to sound calm.

"Marisol..." came the familiar voice on the other end, low and cold.

It was her mother, Katherine.

Marisol's breath caught in her throat. Her blood ran cold as memories of her mother's cruelty flooded her mind. Katherine's manipulative, controlling words, the trauma she had caused-everything came crashing down on her in that instant. She couldn't breathe.

Before she even realized what she was doing, her hand was trembling as she pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the screen. Her mother's voice continued to echo in her head, but Marisol couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking, she slammed the phone down, ending the call abruptly. The screen of her phone flickered before going black, but the chaos in her chest had already taken over.

She stumbled back, her hands shaking violently. A wave of panic hit her all at once-her vision blurred, her chest tightened as if someone had placed an iron grip around her ribs, and her breath came in short, sharp gasps. Her head spun, the walls closing in on her.

She felt her knees weaken, and before she knew it, she was clutching the nearest wall, trying to steady herself. Her body shook uncontrollably, her heart hammering in her chest. She couldn't breathe. Not now. Not like this.

"Marisol!"

She heard the voices before she saw them. The elevator doors had just opened, and Sam and Devon were standing there, rushing toward her the moment they saw the state she was in.

"Marisol, hey, hey-" Sam said, her voice full of concern as she reached out to catch her arm, steadying her.

Devon was right behind her, his face twisted with worry. "What's going on? What happened?"

Marisol couldn't answer. She just shook her head, trying to steady herself, but every breath felt like it was caught in her throat. She gasped for air, her vision still blurred with the overwhelming panic, and tears began to well in her eyes.

"Shh, it's okay. You're okay," Sam said softly, her hands gently pressing on Marisol's shoulders to ground her. Devon stood close by, his eyes flicking between Marisol and Sam, clearly unsure of what to do but willing to do anything to help.

Slowly, Sam and Devon guided her to a nearby bench, Marisol's legs barely holding her as they sat her down. Sam knelt in front of her, one hand on Marisol's knee, the other gently cupping her face. Devon hovered beside them, his expression full of quiet empathy.

Marisol's breathing started to slow, each inhale shaky but becoming more steady. Her head spun, but Sam's voice, soft and reassuring, seemed to bring her back to the present.

"Marisol, just breathe," Sam encouraged. "You're okay. We're here. You're safe."

Devon nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've got you. Don't worry about anything."

Marisol let out a shaky exhale, tears still streaming down her face. Slowly, the tightness in her chest loosened, and the panic attack that had consumed her started to subside. The world around her seemed to sharpen again as her breathing became more controlled. She felt embarrassed, but also grateful. She had never let her guard down like this, not in front of anyone. Not in front of them. But somehow, they had managed to help her calm down when no one else ever could.

When the last tremor of fear left her body, she wiped at her eyes, trying to compose herself. "Sorry," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I... I don't know what came over me."

Sam gave her a soft smile, squeezing her hand. "Don't apologize. You've been through a lot. It's okay to let it out."

Devon nodded, his tone calm. "Yeah, nobody expects you to be perfect."

Marisol took a deep breath, feeling the weight in her chest begin to ease. She wiped her face again, embarrassed, but thankful at the same time.

"Thanks," she murmured, still trying to regain some composure.

But as she stood up, her legs a little unsteady, she quickly pushed past them, heading toward the elevator. "I should... I should go," she said, her voice more distant now, as though she were already shutting down again.

Sam and Devon exchanged a look, but Sam took a step forward. "Marisol, wait."

Marisol paused, but didn't turn to face her. Sam stood in front of her, her eyes sincere. "I'm sorry. I didn't try hard enough to stop you from switching sides. I didn't want you to go back to them. I didn't want you to leave us."

Marisol's chest tightened again, but this time it wasn't from panic-it was something more complicated. She didn't know how to respond. She had chosen this path, even if she wasn't entirely sure of where it was taking her. She couldn't tell Sam that. Not now.

"I... I need to go," Marisol said, her voice quiet, but firm. She glanced up at Sam, but then quickly looked away, her gaze flickering toward the elevator. "I'm not sure where I belong anymore, Sam. And... I'm sorry too."

With that, she stepped past them both, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as the weight of the decision she had made continued to hang heavily in the air.

Sam watched her leave, her heart heavy with regret. She had tried, but she couldn't keep Marisol from making the choices that were eating away at her. And now, Marisol was walking away again-this time, not just from the fight, but from them.

ASH SPEAKS!

shortish chapter bc cobra kai wasnt really in ep 7... so onto ep8! sorry for the wait on this chapter :(

i think im getting sick

intro to mars and axels friendship!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)