A/N Another update! Let me know what you think.
"Come Eliza. We don't have all day"
Pulling away the needle from the recorder, Madame sighed and clutched her temple in frustration. We're perfecting the new steps of our dance and Eliza can't manage to twist without falling on her last jump. It's now her fifth attempt, and it seems like she's never going to get it right. Rising up from the floor, Eliza started again and was about to near the moment to jump when Madame stopped her.
Crossing the room with a click of her red heels, she instructed "Arms up" Madame placed Eliza's hands where they should be "As you move to jump, don't hesitate. Build momentum. Push your body up. It must be graceful and swift, like a dove taking flight – not a pigeon"
Walking back to the side, Madam started the recording again as Eliza positioned herself. The jump was better this time but as for the landing, she hadn't fallen, but it was far from graceful as her feet hit the ground with a thud.
A handful of hours passed us by when our ballet lesson was over. Heading toward the door to leave, Madame called my name "Katya. Come here" pausing, I turned around to see her sitting on a chair next to the recorder. The other girls had all filed out by the time I stood in front of Madam. Lifting her left hand, she clutched a lit cigarette and pushed the end between her red lips whilst breathing in "The Doctor wishes to speak with you"
"Did he say what for?" I asked.
"No" Madame took another drag of her cigarette.
Nodding my head, I could see she wanted to say something else but had refrained from doing so. Instead she looked away from me and placed the needle back onto the recorder, letting symphony play out into the air. I took that as my cue to leave and I proceeded down the hall to the Doctors office and knocked.
I waited "Come in" entering the room, the Doctor looked up from his medical tray "Katya. Are you done already?" he asked, trying to make light conversation. What for, I didn't know. Doctor Krupin isn't here so there's no reason for him to play the caring game and I highly doubt that he's being genuine.
"Yes. Madame said you wished to speak with me" my face is blank of any kindness and I'm being blunt and straight to the point.
"Ah, yes. Another examination. Come" he said while tapping the gurney "Take a seat" walking over, I sat in an upright position. With the tips of his fingers, the Doctor began to feel the back of my head again as well as using the pen light to see my pupils "Are you feeling better? No dizziness or headaches?"
"No, I feel fine" I didn't want to tell him anything more; that I do become dizzy and that I do have headaches. Now that I know he's helping Rachael, I don't trust him. There's something off about the Doctor and I couldn't ignore it.
"Alright then" he said.
Turning his body to the right, the Doctor reached to the tray he was working on before and lifted up a rather large needle. What was that? Furrowing my brow, he turned back and took the cap off while reaching for my neck. Grabbing his wrist, I twisted the hand holding it the needle away from me. The Doctor winced and gave me a wide eyed look.
"Katya, stop!" he shouted "You're going to break my wrist!"
Ignoring his plea, I took the needle from his hand and held it in front of him "What is this?"
"It's to help with your headaches. It'll make you feel better. That's it, I swear" the Doctor panted and drew his lips back into a thin line, a crease forming between his eyebrows.
"I told you I'm feeling fine"
"I know you're not fine" he retorted "You fractured your skull"
What? Squeezing his wrist tighter, the Doctor let out another cry of pain "You said I wasn't injured. Why didn't you tell me?" I have a right to know. Was he keeping it from me on purpose? To sabotage my health?
"I'm not allowed to tell you, it's against protocol. I only inform doctor Krupin. It's his orders, not mine"
Glancing over the Doctors face as it contorted, I shoved him back and he clutched his wrist to sooth the pain. After he was finished, he looked up at me as I held the needle out for him to take. Hesitating, the Doctor grabbed it and tilted my neck to the side. As it breathed in, I felt the sting of the sharp steel as it slid into my skin. The cold fluid inside travelled through my veins.
"Alright" he said while taking a step back "You can go now"
Hoping off the gurney, I'd gone back to the sleeping quarters to get dressed for our next lesson in the combat room. It wasn't until I read the clock on the wall that I realised I was a near half-hour late. Quickly hurrying to get ready, I rushed to get to the room when the door opened and two people stepped out.
Leaning against the guard for support Ashley hadn't bothered to look up at me. From where I was standing I could see the string of blood dripping down from her face, her ankle is swollen beyond recognition and several cuts and bruises are scattered over her body. It's clear the person responsible was less than merciful on their assault to the girl.
What happened?
Heading through the doors, only a handful of the girls were waiting in line. The rest were either missing or covered in wounds similar to Ashley. Walking down to the end of the line, I stood next to Katlin "Where is everyone?" I whispered.
Katlin nodded her head to the two guards standing either side of the separate door of the private training room "The guards told us that were to go in one at a time when were called. They haven't said who's in there, and none of the girls are allowed to say"
I noticed Katlin's voice and body trembled a little when she spoke. It took me a minute to process what she'd said when a jolt of realisation hit me, it must be the Soldier. It's the only reasonable explanation; especially if he's supposed to be our new Instructor.
I didn't speak of it any further. Minutes passed but it felt like hours as we watched the same scenario. A girl would be called in and a few minutes later, she'd emerge covered in bruisers and blood. Observing, I realised that as the line got shorter, the more severe the damage. The last two girls both came out with some sort of bone broken clean in half. Almost as if the Soldier in the other room is getting frustrated.
"Katya" a guard called from his roster.
Stepping forward, I walked to the closed doorway and waited for it to open. As the guard pressed the button, the entrance slid open and I stepped on through. My eyes started adjust as the room was almost pitch black. Only the centre lights had been turned on, leaving the outside rim of the room shrouded in darkness.
I couldn't see the Soldier as I stepped into the middle. Carefully glancing around, I tried to find him. Looking around I tried to find him. Keeping my breathing quiet, I listened to find the squeak of his shoes or the shift of his uniform, but there's nothing. It's just silence.
A minute or two had past when out of nowhere, my body was roughly pushed from behind and I landed on the concrete. Getting up, I looked behind me but found nothing. I would have laughed if it were anyone else – he's toying with me.
Remaining calm, I kept my stance strong and this time I was ready as he lashed out from my left. Hitting me with several punches, I managed to block only a few. His movements quick and precise like a viper. It was like nothing I had ever witnessed, and just like that, the Soldier was gone again – disappearing into the darkness like a ghost.
Wiping the blood from my lip, he'd managed to flip the extra light switches on which temporarily blinded me. Shielding my eyes, I was again attacked from behind as I felt a solid boot hit the back of my legs causing them to give way. A shooting pain shot up my legs and arms as I braced myself from impact with the ground. Letting out a puff of air, I turned my gaze up from the floor. My vision came in contact with a pair of black clothed legs and thick military boots.
I didn't have time to inspect any further as the Soldier reached over and took hold of my hair with his metal arm. Pulling me up, I let out a whimper as I clutched onto his cold metal hand, trying to relieve the searing pressure. Dressed in the same military uniform, the Soldier still wore the black mask that covered the lower half of his face.
Plucking up the strength and courage, I brought my knee up with all my might to hit him in the stomach. Loosening his grip, I hit him in the face and watched as he took a step back. My knuckles throbbed from the contact with the metal mask, but I pushed the pain aside.
Not giving him the chance to fully recover, I ran to the wall behind him and used it as leverage to jump up onto his shoulders. Hooking my legs around the Soldiers neck for support, I could feel his fingers dig into the flesh of my thighs. Taking a breath, I reached and wrapped arms around neck and pulled back to slowly choke him.
Squeezing tighter, I'd hoped he would've passed out by now. The Soldier's resilient, I'll give him that. Suddenly bending over, I lost my balance and fell forward. Grabbing me, I stood with my back now flush against his chest. Putting me into a choke hold, the air immediately left my lungs. Bitter sweet revenge. A low growl emitted from me and I elbowed him more times than I could count, each one hitting his ribs or stomach but none of them making him falter.
Planting both my feet on the ground, I used all my weight to push us back hoping he would let go of me that way. Sprawling to the ground in a mass of flesh, landed on top of him the fall had caused his grip to loosen enough for me to sit up. Scrambling to get away, he came to and wrapped his legs around my own before I was able to stand.
Tugging me back down, the Soldier trapped me again. Squirming my breathing was beginning to decrease as I wasn't given enough time to recuperate. This is all becoming so familiar, like that time in the practice room. I'm going to black out at any minute. I have to think of something before I do. Reaching up behind me I went for the one thing I could think of – his mask.