In this chapter, Dimitri is switching back and forth between his memories and reality. It's a little confusing, but I'm hoping that my formatting will help with that.

DPOV

I sat down heavily on the bench and Eddie sat down beside me. We were both drenched in sweat from another heavy session.

I glanced around the room, and marvelled at how much larger…and emptier it seemed than from this time two days previously.

(Flashback)

"We have to go straight to the gym" Eddie began,

"Because Mr. Mazur is holding a meeting." Mason continued.

"Apparently some people are going to get kicked out." Eddie whispered.

I blinked at them in shock.

Shit.

"But I've only been here a few days!" I said worriedly. "They can't judge you that quickly… can they?"

"It's a sort of routine." Mason said.

"Except it isn't." Eddie butted in, confusing the sentence entirely.

"It's not often this happens," Mason continued.

"After all, we haven't been here that long either, only a few months." Eddie said.

"Look, can you just explain?" I asked. When both of them went to open their mouths I stopped them. "One of you."

"Look," Eddie said. "It just means that they're either promoting someone, switching their courses or…"

"Getting rid of some people," Mason supplied. "It's only happened once before, but…"

"It was drastic," Eddie whispered. "About half the people were…"

"Gone." They said in unison.

Half the people? Half the people?

We ended up outside a meeting room, and we were let inside to reveal Mr. Mazur sat down with a select few of the most elite guardians.

(Momentary glimpse at reality)

Eddie passed me a bottle and I drank the water gratefully. We were (or at least I was) lucky to still be here.

(Back to Flashback)

"Look, this may come as a shock to some of you but this job isn't to be taken lightly." Mr. Mazur said. "I only want the best of the best looking after my daughter, and decisions have to be made. I'm sorry, but if your name is called, please wait in the lobby outside." He began rattling off a list of names, and one by one people would walk out of the room. "And finally, Belikov."

I glanced frantically at Eddie and Mason. They gave me sad smiles and a small wave. I left out the door, the group of people behind me significantly smaller from what the group was before.

Mr. Mazur soon joined us.

"Okay, I think many of you have potential." He paused and his eyes scanned over the crowd. "But, like I said, repercussions have to be made. Today, you will be training as a group so I can personally assess you skills and chose who stays…." His eyes stared deeply into mine as he continued. "or those who go."

We were ushered into another room, and the competition to stay began.

I leant back and picked up my phone, checking to see if I had any messages. There was still no reply from Rose, and it disheartened me a little bit. It had been over a day by now, and I knew she had seen the message just not replied. Not wanting to seem desperate (or too eager) I had decided to let her reply in her own time.

No matter how worried it made me.

I knocked another opponent to the ground and pinned him.

"5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Dimitri Belikov is the winner!"

I clambered off him, and helped him to his feet. We shook hands and parted ways.

The air in the room was tense. This job was indeed important. Not just for me, but for everyone in the room.

There was an electronic billboard set up on a wall that showed the scores of the selection of people in the room.

My name was at the top. Another number was added to my wins, making it 11 in total, and the losses section remained empty.

I wasn't sure why I had been put in this group. None of the men were bad, but I had not lost once, and had beaten everyone easily. I was on par skills wise with both Eddie and Mason, yet they were let through easily.

I shrugged it off and got into a fighting stance as the next game started.

(Back to Reality)

Block.

Hit.

Duck.

Dodge.

Punch.

I swerved around the oncoming fist and barrelled into Eddie, knocking him off his feet and pinning him in a mere few seconds.

I helped him up off the ground and turned to see Abe Mazur grinning at me.

(More Flashbacks)

"Well done Belikov." He commented. "You seem to be the best in this 'competition' of sorts." He said, gesturing to the board on the wall, where my name was still proudly at the top with 19 wins and 0 losses.

"Thank you, Sir." I replied stiffly.

"Look Belikov," he said, the tone of his voice going to friendly to warning in an instant, "You're good, there's no denying it, but I'm not sure you've got what it takes. I wasn't joking in your interview, I do think you'll be perfect for the job, but you've been brought up in a different environment from those around you." He glanced around the room. "Look at them. Tell me what they're doing differently than from you."

I looked around and tried to pinpoint it.

"They're more cautious?" I asked, unsure of what he was asking.

"Exactly." He said to my surprise. "They're cautious because they know that they're in this job to protect someone. If you're fighting off an attacker, you have to protect your charge and by being more cautious to your surroundings is crucial."

(End of Flashbacks)

Eddie and I circled one another, and I tried to become more in tune with my surroundings. I could see Mason sparring with someone out of the corner of my eye and on the other side I could still see Mr. Mazur watching me.

Looking for a change in my stance, technique,anything.

I held my fists up in front of me, and tried to imagine protecting someone behind me. I could only see that brown haired girl with the beautiful eyes from my dream, and decided to stick with that.

I imagined her scared behind me, and that Eddie was an attacker.

He's the attacker, a small voice in the back of my brain said.

So I let him attack. I dodged, deflected, and manoeuvred until I saw my chance to knock him down.

So, I did.

Mr. Mazur smiled. Whether it was from approval or not, I wasn't sure. He turned and exited through a door.

I did as Abe had said, and began focusing on my back more, and my score went up by a few but I also gained a few losses. The idea that I had to learn to protect someone, and not just fight baffled me slightly. I hadn't really thought about it like that.

I knew I was one of the best fighters here, but in the army, it was all about routine and staying alive. If you fought, it was for your life and there was no mercy. I was in a whole other ball game now.

"Your technique's improved." Eddie commented as we began on the weights. "Impressive."

I nodded my thanks as I continued lifting the weight above my head from where I was lying on the bench press.

I heard my phone chime, and I eagerly put the weight down and stood to see who it was from. "Hello?"

"Dimka?"

"Mama?"

"Oh! It is you! How has my baby been?" she asked eagerly, "any insights into a new job?"

"I'm in training." I told her warily, not sure how she'd react to the full story.

"For what?"

I was silent for a moment, contemplating how to tell her.

"A bodyguard."

"A WHAT?" she asked, shocked. I held the phone away from my ear as she began to rant, "YOU JUST CAME BACK FROM THE ARMY, AND YOU'RE PUTTING YOURSELF IN DANGER AGAIN! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU, AND NEITHER DO YOUR SISTERS! YOU'RE THE ONLY MALE FIGURE PAUL HAS EVER HAD IN HIS LIFE, YET YOU'RE NEVER HERE!"

"Mama-"

"I'M WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU AS IT IS, AND -"

"Mama-"

"-NOW IT'LL JUST GET WORSE!"

"Mama!" I said again, effectively silencing her, "I'm fine. It's not anything serious, just protecting a celebrity. I'm not in any danger."

She (reluctantly) agreed and I arranged to go for dinner that night, to let her know in person that I was okay.

Eddie chuckled as I hung up the phone.

I stopped by at my house before going to visit my family.

I got changed, and quickly checked my emails on my laptop.

After sorting through the junk, work and ones from my family, I came across one that I hadn't expected to see for a while.

It was from Roza.

I opened it, and to my surprise discovered that her phone had been broken.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and typed a reply.

September 14

Roza, I'm glad you're okay (even if your phone isn't!). I was getting worried because you didn't reply, but had seen my message!

I'm glad you and your father aren't fighting over me in particular, but maybe you should try to agree with him more? If it's just your personality traits clashing, I completely understand, but I don't want you to end up regretting anything you've ever said to him when it's too late.

The same goes for your mother, I know you said you'd rather speak of her in person, but I think, maybe, you should try and mend your relationship. From what you've said, it doesn't sound like a strong one.

I hope this 'fat, obnoxious cow' doesn't bother you too much. If you do have to work with her, make sure you take the lead part if you do one of your songs, then the public will know who has the real talent.

-Your Comrade.

I read back over the text and clicked 'send'.

I walked in through the front door, and to the kitchen to where I knew my mother would be waiting.

"Dimka!" she said excitedly. I chuckled and enveloped her in a hug.

"I'm fine." I murmured into her hair.

"I just don't want you getting hurt!" she scolded lightly, but there was an underlay of seriousness.

"I know," I reassured her. "I won't do anything stupid." I promised.