Theirs To Possess And Ruin
Some looks were curious.
Some were cold.
A few were straight-up hateful.
I kept my chin up and my steps steady. Let them stare. Let them whisper. I’d heard worse. Survived worse.
The training mats came into view, a large open area covered in thick rubber padding, surrounded by low wooden fences.
About fifteen new recruits were already there, lined up in rows, looking nervous and excited. They were young, most barely out of their teens, faces still soft, eyes bright with that mix of fear and hunger every fighter has at the start.