I find myself watching him move and weave through the attacking figures, dodging their attacks while killing and slaughtering these fake people.

I stood there, I could feel my heart beating through my chest, I don't know if that was from the intense conversation we just had or seeing him fight. My mind flashed back to the last night I was locked up, when I tried to escape. Flashes of blood while screams filled the air.

I can feel my breathing getting quicker, quicker with every flashback I get. I close my eyes, I take a deep breath in through my nose, the cold air slicing through my nose and a deep breath out. Slowly my heart reduces back to my normal rate.

With my breath still shaky, I pull myself away from watching, if he sees me still staring at him once he's done, his ego is going to be bigger than this school.

I turn my body to face the punching bag, all I wanted was to be able to come in here and practise, by myself. That's the whole point why I was given this card, to not get flashbacks and to be able to train in peace. But of course even that can't happen. I feel myself getting angry, my body starting to heat up and begin punching the bag.

My knuckles hitting the hard material of the bag echoes between the four walls of the nearly empty building, my breathing getting heavier with each punch, my mind focusing on the bag, focusing on my punches.

I could tell my punches weren't strong, it's not like I can build strength within 5 minutes between my last set, but I felt an improvement. Maybe it was the anger, Maybe it was the flashbacks, Maybe it was him?

A couple minutes go by, and I finally stop. My hands were red raw, my arms aching and my breathing was out of control. Big breaths in and out and I could feel my lungs getting bigger and smaller with every breath. I sit down on the bench next to the punching bag. I put my face in my hands just trying to recover.

Shit I'm not fit at all.

I slowly recuperate and lift my head up, it wasn't hard for my eyes to land on him, he was over by the weapons room, lifting up different tools and weapons. He first lifted up a big heavy knife with a cool shape for the body, but he put it down. He then picked up this smaller knife, his eyes lit up as he felt the knife in his hand.

And suddenly his head snaps up to look at me, his dark eyes piercing straight through me, but for some reason I didn't look away. With his eyes connected he slowly moved the knife with his left hand and placed it in his pocket. My eyebrows furrow with confusion, did he just steal one of the knives? I ask my thoughts.

As his empty left hand pulls out from his pocket, he brings his hand to his lips and motioned "shhh" and he turned away. I scoff and roll my eyes at him, not my problem. I sigh as I think I'm done for tonight, that was a big step for me to get into this building and get through a little session. Wish it could have been alone but hey we don't win everything in life, clearly.

Small steps closer to recovering. At least that's what I'm hoping.

I stand up and dust myself off, I grab my key pass and start making my way out of the training facilities. I push open the heavy door and the fresh crisp air of the night hit my face quickly, flushing away the red in my cheeks from my session.

I start walking out the door and towards the common room, my eyes felt droopy as my blinks became heavier, I didn't realise how tired I was until I was out of that building and already thinking about bed. The tiny little pebbles move underneath my feet with each step I take, making the only noise amongst the quiet night, that was until I heard the door that I had just shut myself close again, I didn't realise how tense I was until then as my head snatched around to look behind me and I notice Landon walking a fair distance behind me now. He must of finished his session as well. I roll my eyes, I swear if I have to meet with him one more time tonight, I will lose my shit.

I continue walking, even picking up the pace so I can avoid him and his rude remarks. I turn the last corner of the school and my eyes land on the Marnock common room. It was quite a beautiful building to look at and admire. The tall stature looked like it was built 100 years ago, with green vines growing through the sand coloured bricks and the large windows all through out the building made it all the more stunning. I make my way over and come close to the entrance, the two doors that blocked between the outside and the common room were monumental, the dark rich red paint coated the door perfectly, the round golden handles just looked expensive

Can gold handles look expensive?

I place my left hand on the left gold handle to turn the lock and open but it comes to a sudden jolt and doesn't let me go any further, my heart plummets to the bottom of my stomach. Fuck. The fingerprint scanner. My brain goes into overdrive, thinking of how I'm going to get in. Like a lightbulb moment in my head, my arm reaches into my pocket and I feel the thin rectangle that helped me get into the training facility and I quickly take it out of my pocket and my breathing stops with anticipation that this will work.

The card presses onto the fingerprint scanner and even though I thought it couldn't get any quieter, it did. Silence from the scanner. I roll my eyes in annoyance and my ears filled with goosebumps at this point pick up the slow yet subtle steps I hear behind me. Slowly getting closer and closer.

"Do you not know how to open a door?" He mockingly asks from behind my back, I don't even give him the satisfaction of turning around and giving him my attention. The footsteps come to a halt as his right shoulder comes up and brushes against my left. His strong cologne filled the air in front of me, smelt of dark fire wood and vanilla. I keep my eyes in front and wait for him to just open the door. Please.

"Hilarious." I scuff not even trying to persuade him and give him my attention. I can see him roll his dark eyes in my peripheral vision, he steps forward and faces his body in front of mine. My eye line is exactly the same height as the start of his throat. His Adam's apple prominent in the dim lighting, I could see the slight goosebumps that covered his throat.

"You need a man to do everything for you? Is that what it is?" A small smirk crept into the side of his mouth, but not a playful smirk, it was the opposite. He's trying to get under my skin.

I don't need anyone to do anything for me. If he knew my past, he'd know that. I don't need anyone. I don't depend on my parents to give me money and set me up for life, I don't depend on anyone to keep me alive but myself.

"I don't depend on anyone" I bite back. Clenching my jaw in frustration. He chuffed in response, slightly shaking his head.

"Doesn't look like it to me" he mumbles as his eyes leave mine and he turns around and places his left index finger on the scanner. The dim light above the door was shining gently on him as the scanner did its job, his back muscles showing slightly through his top.

I bite my tongue at his response, trying to pull myself away from going ballistic on him. We hear a click and he pushes open the door. It creaks slowly open, not so loud that you'd be able to hear it during the day but because there was no one else around, that's all that filled the air.

We both step in, and the warmth hits my face making me feel more comfortable and more eager to get into my bed. I could hear the slight crackle of the worn down fireplace in the corner of the room, the red dim lights were deep red but easily allowed us to see through the common room and up to our rooms.

Landon was walking in front of me as we start to walk through the room and past the kitchen. The kitchen was clean and tidy, from what I've noticed everyone is clean when it comes to doing dishes or tidying up this shared living space. I respect it.

We were both walking up the stairs, Landon in front and me behind. It was just silent. No other remarks or comments or even glares my way. And I was thankful for that. I was tired and purely over today. Thankfully I remember Tilly telling me that tomorrow was a late start with classes.

We reach the top, and Landon walks to the right and I start walking to the left, walking slowly down the rooms, waiting to get to room thirty seven.

I was about to reach the handle for room thirty seven when I felt someone grab my wrists and with a swift movement turned me around until I was faced with a hard chest and Landon's eyes were looking straight at me.

"What are yo-" I try to speak trying to wriggle my arms out of his grip. His eyes just looking at me, looking right through me. His eyes dark and gloomy, his thick eyebrows furrowed with despair. His hand covered my mouth quickly, making me shut my mouth quickly.

"If you think that you're going to make it here, think again." He spat out the words quickly and quietly, his harsh words hurt. Only moments I go I thought he might have been easing up. I was wrong. So wrong.

"Get off me" I mumble under his hand, my fear kicking in. Remember how he was in the training centre, I can't match him. He's too strong. But I try my best, trying to wriggle my way out of grip but he was too strong.

His head was so close to mine I could smell his minty breath that was warm on my cheeks, he was eating a chewy and looking at me harshly. But he came closer, moving his head to the side of my face and his lips grazing my ear

"Your nothing more then a useless charity case" he whispers in my ear, even though it was a whisper, his words cut into my deeply. My eyes start to fill with tears but I try my best to contain them.

"-there's a house party tomorrow night, and if you even think about showing your face, I'll make your life living hell." He whispered again but his jaw was clenched hard as he pulled away looking at my frightened face. The harsh words and violence was reminding me of home. The tears filled my eyes and were reaching the point of rolling down my face.

his facial expression changed ever so slightly, his eyebrows slightly lifted and his jaw unclenched and he looked at me one last time.

"See you around, princess"

———

Authors note:

Woah hey guys! That was a LONGGGG chapter, I think I got a bit excitedddddd!

Also a house partyyyyyyy?!?! I can't wait! By the way, "house party" just means a party within Marnocks common room that only students from marnock can attend.

Wanted to quickly say an apologies for being away for so long, I've recently had a really big and important surgery and couldn't do anything for weeks but I'm better now!

Love you all! - A