|Ch.42

"Alright kiddos,for today's activity,we prepared an obstacle race through the hunting forest",Logan announced as he clapped his hands to gather the juniors.

It's been few days since Hazel snapped became of Yoongi and she has been getting control of her own emotions with the help of Hoseok and Yoongi. And fortunately she did not cross her paths with Eva until now.

"Let me explain what's going to happen",Noah came forward knowing very well Logan sucks at explaining. "We are going to group you as duos and will hand cuff you guys to your partner. There's a flag hidden inside the forest and you have to find it before other teams and bring it back. It doesn't matter if you found it first but you need to keep it safe with you too. The one who brings it to us first will be the winner. You guys aren't allow to use swords but you are allowed to fight. This will test your fighting skills too and at the same time the ability to work with someone"

"You guys don't need to trouble yourself with finding a partner, we already paired you guys",Julia jumped in cheerfully. As usual she was sticking with Ethan.

Lucy awkwardly came forward with a scroll in her hands. It seems like she hated the idea of standing infront of so many people. Jake and Aiden,two senior knights from back cheered her up shouting some encouraging words.

Aiden,"Think of them as animals Lucy!"

Jake,"You can do it!"

Lucy wanted to dig a grave and hid from embarrassment. Those annoying punks were trying so hard to help her with her social anxiety but it wasn't helping her at all.

"I'll announce the pairs of trainees",she said timidly. "First,Nakamura and Jaykar"

Nakamura looked at Jaykar who was far behind everyone. Jaykar was dumbfounded and pale hearing that he was paired up with one of the top dogs in the training camp. When he met Nakamura's eyes,he felt scared but the said male only gave a respectful bow to him. And it made him slightly sigh in relief but it doesn't change the fact that he is going to burden Nakamura on this game.

"Luca and his highness Leo",Lucy continued.

Luca and Leo were startled with the unexpected pairing and looked at each other in disgust. Luca couldn't take it,he absolutely hated pairing with Leo,"No fucking way! I'd rather play alone!"

Ethan,"No can do. This is a game for paired knights"

"Then give me someone else!",Luca stomped on the ground feeling extremely annoyed.

Leo,"I'd like to request another person too"

Logan,"How adorable but no. You need to learn suck it up and work together. We already know you two aren't in good terms and that's why paired you two. Learn to work with people you don't like"

Hazel who was next to Luca,had a bad feeling. Her gut feeling was telling her that her partner is already looking at her as if she already got the message.

Lucy,"Next pair is Eva and ....Hazel"

Hazel knew it. She wasn't surprised seeing how Luca got paired up with the Prince. And now these fascinating pairs got the attention of everyone. Jaykar and Nakamura the strongest and weakest,Luca and Leo the mortal enemies,Eva and Hazel the never get along rivals. It was hard to predict who will win this game today since all the topdogs are in a hard situation with their paired partners.

Lucy continued to announce the rest and stopped after announcing every pair.

Hazel looked at Ruby who was getting ready to bet on who is going to win. Normally,she never loses with her betting so Hazel decided to ask her,"Who do you think going to win today?"

Ruby bit her bottom lip as if she was pondering about the outcomes,"Mmmm,I'll tell you after the game. But for now,let me tell you,I ain't betting on you today"

Hazel,"Figured,but I'm going to do my best. You might lose Ruby",She smirked challenging Ruby.

Luca was blank but he also had a saying,"Don't bet on me"

Ruby,"Of course no. If I'm going to bet on who is going to come at last,it will be you and his highness"

Luca had a vein popping out on his forehead but had no sassy reply to rebutt. He also doubted that he will be able to win today. How in the world is he going to work with that arrogant prince.

"Everyone! Go to your paired partner and get yourself hand cuffed!",Logan yelled out loud excitedly.

Hazel already felt Eva's presence next to hers. She slowly turned to her and stared at her with a blank face. Noah came to them with a pair of handcuffs and cuffed their hands together.

Noah,"Work together to win. It's the only way"

EVA'S POV|

I'm nervous. Her eyes had no emotion at all. Those crimson orbs were just staring at me as if she was suppressing all the emotions. It's terrifying and scary. I was always jealous when she had bright emotions when it comes to others but when I'm infront of her,she erase every last bit of emotions in those crimson eyes.

I do understand her. She knows that I'm wishing her family's destruction and it acts as a barrier infront of us. Few days ago,I slapped her brother Yoongi the murderer of my parents. I had been suppressing all my hatred since he came to this camp but when he said about how he is going to let his beasts feast on me,I lost it. His beasts ate my parents. He was the one behind my parents deaths. How could I listen to his cruel words and stay still. I lost all my composure and slapped him. Actually,I wanted to kill him but I'm not fit to fight with him yet. But I swear to god that he is going to die by my hands.

But I didn't expect Hazel to see me slapping him. I was terrified seeing how her eyes glowed like a hungry carnivorous animal who only lusts for blood. And I acknowledged her hatred for me at that moment. She wanted me dead and I felt it on my bones. Hazel wanted me dead on the spot.

I genuinely like her. She is someone I want by my side. And I know deep down she has a kind heart. But the fact that I'm a threat to her family is keeping us away from being friends. There is a thin line between us and we dare not to cross that line. We need to stay as enemies.

Hazel,I strongly wish that you will not get involved into my revenge because I don't want to hate you. But I have a feeling that it will not happen,one day I will come to hate you. And it will make it easy for me to destroy your family without a guilt.

I gasped into reality when Hazel jerked up her wrist pulling me to her,"We are going to be late,stop daydreaming"

I cleared my throat and nodded,"Sorry. Let's go"

I could hear Leo and Luca bickering already. Others had already started running towards the forests to find the flag. Where could it be? Does Hazel have any hunch?

"Do you have any idea where it is?",I asked softly not wanting to annoy her.

"No",she answered without looking at me. We are going too slow while others are running. It looks like she doesn't have any motivation to win this with me.

I stayed quiet for a while and let Hazel do the leading and watched how it is going but she isn't saying anything. We need communication to win this! It's not time to involve our personal feelings. I sighed heavily.

"Hey,we should communicate you know? How am I supposed to know what is your strategy to win this game. Please speak and tell me. How are we going to win? Do you even know where we are going?"

Hazel didn't stop and continued to walk without looking back at me. Is she ignoring me?

"Don't be childish Hazel. If this is about your brother,let's have a talk. We can't go on like this"

No response. I had enough and pulled her by our hand cuffs towards me and looked at her blank eyes.

"The fuck you think you're doing?!",Hazel exclaimed in annoyance.

"I should be the one to ask you that. We need to win this! Stop thinking about unnecessary things"

I could feel a chill going down my back when Hazel's eyes started showing an emotion. The absolute hatred. She gritted her teeth as she held me by my neck pressing me to the nearest tree.

"Unnecessary things? Let's hear it then. Go on,tell me what's the unnecessary thing you were talking?"

I couldn't speak at all. She was choking me so aggressively and I'm scared that she might actually kill me. Her menacing eyes glared at me as if she was suppressing the urge to kill me.

"H –Hazel stop t–this!",I managed to speak few words but had cough loud.

She sneered,"Stop? Oh yes I stopped screwing around Eva. I stopped screwing around the moment I knew how wrong of me to underestimate you"

What does she mean? I don't understand what is she speaking right now. Her words are hiding something I can't understand. Is it about the slap? Or something else?

Her eyes were going wild and insane. But I couldn't think anymore when the pressure on my neck increased. Is she serious?! At this rate,she will kill me!

"You remember that I told you I don't hate you?"

Yes,I remember. She said she doesn't hate me or Leo.

Hazel smiled menacingly,"I take back it. Let me rephrase it now Eva. I hate you. I hate you from the bottom of my heart. And I despise the feeling of staying close to you. It's suffocating"

It hurts. Her words hurt me.

"My brother doesn't deserve what you did. My family doesn't deserve the hatred you all are cultivating. You hear that?"

No! He deserved that! With all my might,I pushed her away and gasped loud for air. I glared at her with a raging feeling inside me. All forgotten how her words hurt me. I could only think about the unjustice that man did.

"Y –You know very well Hazel! My parents died because of him!",I yelled holding my neck.

Hazel never really spoke about it but I know that she knows how my parents died. When we were young,she was the one who helped me to escape from the royal guards and Yoongi Pendragon. So,she must know about it.

"Did you see my brother killing your parents? No right? And I didn't see it either"

"Of course he didn't. But his bloody beasts did it. They were under his command!"

"Listen Eva. My last chance for you. Listen well and very well. My brother.did.not.do it. "

"I don't believe it",I said without a hesitation.

Her face had a change of expression,as if she had come to her last decision. Suddenly,the dark clouds around her face had gone and she was back to normal. And she smiled,"Alright. Remember this moment. You will regret this very moment"

What does she mean? Regret? For what?

I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen. Hazel,I can't read you at all. Guess, we will forever be enemies.

Hazel had a look of relief as she breathed in. A serene smile but to me it almost looked like a smile of devil. She looked at me with that smile.

"Then should we continue?"

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Hey guys

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