11. A Beast

Melissa’s pov:

Mr Blackwood hadn’t lied. He truly was a beast. He didn’t let us off the hook until we were panting, as if our very lives depended on it.

There was barely any rest allowed, more than enough fire coursing through our veins to make him proud, but not enough air to breathe.

When, at long last, he clapped his hands, saying it was time to do some stretching, he had a knowing smirk on his face, “How was your first taste of real training, folks?”

Olivia dropped to her knees, and I went to her, even though I was wheezing myself. Extending a hand out, which she took gratefully, I helped her up.

“You were not joking, Mr B,” Billy told him in a wonder-filled tone of voice. “For a combat trainer, you’re really something else.”

“Yeah, for real,” Jeffrey Miller nodded, out of breath like the rest of us.

“I miss Mr Brown,” Peter Ford let out in a mumbling, whining tone of voice.

“You’re allowed to miss him, but you’ll have to get used to me,” Mr Blackwoord chuckled good-humoredly, mak