't sleep

erself that seemed to awaken with every passing hour. The pain from her earlier training session had faded into

on the porch, staring into the dark woods. Her heart thrummed steadily,

tle split th

tu

the forest, a silhouette

go," sh

dn't he

foll

la led her down was familiar in a way Abby couldn't quite explain, the trees opening up into the same clearing from the previous

focused. Even the teenagers looked different tonight - quieter,

center, her eyes

r strength, your instincts, your ability to survive when everything's on the line. You've been lea

pulse q

ntil now, but she'd been

either. It's about presence. You'll face off with each other, one at a t

one n

nger an exercise. This was a real test.

first, Abby,

e words, the wiry woman with

id, her smile predatory. "Let's

d back, givi

t much taller than Abby, but she was solid - muscles honed by ye

y had c

uld fe

ck and ferocious, aimin

ting Jessa's momentum carry her past

th challenge. She moved again, this time f

re her mind could catch up. She grabbed Jessa's arm, twi

nd Abby pushed her back - hard enoug

ring wen

eant to hurt her - at least, not that badly. But something in her had let go during that struggle, somethi

at her, blinki

tive grin spread

said, her voice gr

body still hummi

illed her. B

time, she didn't f

aze lingering on Abby with s

ckly," she said. "B

pped a beat. "Wh

ming. And this time, you'll face something

blood r

at could be more d

curled into a

'll