17: Renewed

For the next four weeks, Zheira exceeded her physical limit. Every morning, Vladimir would wake her up, and whenever she denies his calls, he would then splash her with cold water. Having no choice, she would follow him toward the field where she was supposed to train. Shivering slightly with the early morning’s wind, she did what was told, which sometimes include jogging, curl-ups, jumping jacks, and rolling around the mud. 

By the start of October, her body had turned dramatically into a punching bag. Purplish bruises rest around her tanned hips and shoulder—the intense sunlight did nothing whatsoever to tarnish Vladimir’s desire in making Zheira’s life a living hell, at least that’s how she saw it. 

The scorching sun peered below the field, illuminating the dazzling golden leaves on the trees lining up in the corner. As a tall figure sprinted through it, the leaves would start to fall. Like some kind of rain that danced on the rooftop, it bounced on the gr