Phillip fell to the ground, gasping for breath. It had been a week since he had been kidnapped and forced to start training to fight in an arena. After his first day of training, he had been introduced to the first group. Most of them were young teenagers, with a few older ones. All of them didn't look strong, and from what he saw, weren't too great with a sword. Of course, neither was he.8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf5teRML9N 維尼
Maruice stood over him. "Already exhausted after only two hours?"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡSseGYJ5jLB 維尼
"I'm…still…not used…to this."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iA9oq03eI 維尼
"You only have a week until your first fight, and you're not guaranteed another one. There are more accidental deaths in group one than the other two groups combined. Of course, there are more intentional deaths in those groups than in group one."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVkDsvPQOt 維尼
"Why…tell me…that?"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYadjexBNL 維尼
"To get your butt in gear. If you can't block a basic attack, you're dead. The people in group one aren't skilled enough to give you a non-lethal wound. Your body is already more toned than most of the others in the group. That gives you the advantage. Don't waste it by becoming lazy and unmotivated."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hNixwmXTc 維尼
Phillip gritted his teeth and stood up. "I can do more…I have to do more." Phillip started to swing the swords again. "Your form has indeed gotten better. It looks like it's starting to become muscle memore for you."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQyU0ickYW 維尼
Continuing to swing, Phillip replied. "It does feel…more natural…than before."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aQGyqseIl 維尼
"Do fifty more sets."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vHeaUbeN 維尼
Phillip nodded and did the required amount. Soon, he was sitting down, drinking from a bottle of water. Maurice walked over. "Alright, time for you to continue your defensive training. We'll do what we've done before, I swing, your parry."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡuANYCK8pmd 維尼
Phillip nodded and slowly stood up. "I'm ready."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡhelLHjNUkz 維尼
Maurice took one sword, unsheathed it, and walked to Phillip. "Alright, let's go."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwodhRapVC 維尼
Phillip noticed Maurice raise his arms and swing the sword. Lifting his right arm, Phillip blocked the incoming blow. "Good. You aren't taking a few steps back after every blow anymore." Maurice continued to swing the swords with Phillip blocking. After ten minutes, Maurice lowered the sword. "Good job. You're learning well. It looks like you'll be able to block most attacks from group one. However, don't get cocky. Groups two and three would kill you within five seconds."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6HwJKiQaW 維尼
Phillip took a deep breath and exhaled. "That's group two and three. I'll worry about them when I get there. I need to get through group one first."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGPm09c7ww 維尼
Maurice nodded. "Okay. Anyways, that's enough mandatory training for today. You can continue to train on your own if you want. Also, the schedule for next week's group one fights comes out tomorrow. I'll let you know who you're fighting."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ0CupSmYv 維尼
"Thank you. See you tomorrow then."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEroCB0RLB 維尼
Maurice nodded and walked out of the room. Phillip looked at the swords he was holding. "Only a week ago, there were no scratches on you guys…you'd think you were in a war looking at you now."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgKTiCnxKJ 維尼
Phillip swung the swords once before sheathing them. Taking a quick drink of water, he walked out the door and bumped into Barry Furn. "Sorry Barry. Didn't see you there."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeBVUH0gUB 維尼
"Ah, it's alright. I wasn't paying attention to anything at the moment. I'm just nervous about tonight's fight…"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJZViDC4lD 維尼
Phillip took a deep breath. "That's right. Your first fight is tonight.."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIg6Ax6Z9m 維尼
"Against the second best person in group one too. I don't know if I'm going to get out of it alive."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡa46pfegLvD 維尼
"I'm sure you will. Verra is a good teacher from what I've heard. I'm sure she got you in fighting shape."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1sdCqcIwx 維尼
"She has done her best, I can tell you that. I'm just not the best learner, or fighter. Look at me. Two weeks ago, I was only able to bench press thirty pounds. In two weeks, it's only gone up two pounds. You were able to up your pounds already by ten, and you were able to lift a lot more than me. It's not looking good at all."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwh6iTQzIn 維尼
Phillip sighed. "So you're admitting defeat before the fight has even begun?"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWE4uYJpdV 維尼
"…yes I am."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYzR52APiG 維尼
"Well, good luck with that then. I'll be cheering for you though." Phillip walked past Barry and down the hall, until he reached his room. Closing the door, he laid down on the lumpy mattress he was provided and stared at the ceiling, thinking of his mother. "I wonder when she noticed I was missing…probably after five minutes of me not coming back inside with the mail." Phillip felt a pang in his chest. "I want to go home…I hate it here. I hate having to train every day. I hate that I will have to fight other people. I just wanted to be a normal person playing video games every night, not fight for survival. I was so close to beating that game too."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhzYhMWeOT 維尼
Phillip sighed and rolled over on the bed, enjoying the few minutes of relaxation he could spare. Although training was important, Maurice had told him, "If you push your body too hard, it will crack. A cracked glass can still be used to hold water, but it will leak until there is no water left. Same with a cracked body. It will drain all the energy you have and leave you defenseless. Maintain your body as well as train hard. Find that balance."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3GIzR5jVq 維尼
Phillip snorted and stared at the wall. Though…I can see where Barry is coming from though. I'm scared myself about what's going to happen in my first fight.8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp0SDV5pid 維尼
After several minutes, Phillip got up from the mattress and back to his training room.8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfU3JraFkI 維尼
Meanwhile, in a police station, Officer Kurt Murphy looked at a picture of Phillip. "It's been a week since you disappeared. What happened to you?" Sighing, he walked over and picked up another folder. "That's the fifth time the past two weeks someone from his age range has been kidnapped. They could possibly be related…"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡErxY17BCaS 維尼
"What are you looking at so seriously Kurt?"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDJz13a3U0 維尼
Kurt was startled and turned around. "Ah, Chief. I didn't see you there."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zaRrvtXEx 維尼
"You still haven't answered my question."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhQimuuDfh 維尼
"Ah, it's just the disappearance of five teenagers. It's just got me thinking there's a possibility that they might be connected."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8YwRARbu4 維尼
"How so?"8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvxAxGUAU4 維尼
"The age range and the time they were kidnapped. They're all similar. I just can't help but think they're connected."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGy1ctwKTU 維尼
The chief nodded his head. "That may indeed be the case. Keep an open mind when you're investigating, and the evidence may tell you more than what you think is possible."8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuTQwC2weu 維尼
Kurt nodded and looked back at the five pictures. I'll find you guys…if you're still alive.8964 copyright protection333ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P4Sq2caqD 維尼
