Blake

My body harshly hit the ground. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I turned on my back, laying my hand on my forehead.

Anna has been training me for the past few days now. She wakes me every day just before the sun breaks the horizon, making me run a mile. With tiring exercises that follow.

"Up," She commanded. I stood up, feeling the soreness circulate through my body.

"Remind me...," I panted, trying to catch my breath. "Remind me why we're doing this again."

"If you're traveling through these woods with me, we do it my way. You have to be on your a-game. I don't wanna hear you complaining about bugs. I don't wanna hear that you're tired," She spoke with a firm authoritative voice. "Plus it never hurts to learn how to defend yourself."

"Now," She formed a fighting stance with her hands balled into fists. "Lets go again."

I took off my sweater, balling it up and pegging in to the ground. The chill crisp air felt quite refreshing.

I mimicked her position and we circle each other for a few moments. Until she thrusts her fist at me. My body quickly jerked to the side, dodging her punch.

She threw a few more punches and I dodged each and every one of them, still remaining unscathed. Anna narrowed her eyes at me and we circled each other for a few moments more. My heart hammered against my chest and adrenaline raced.

Anna then quickly took hold of my neck. But I reacted rather promptly, raising my elbow and smashing it into her tendon. Swinging a right hook to her face. I took the small time frame I had to leap on her back, wrapping my arm around her throat.

She automatically tipped her back frontward with force. Making me flip frontwards, my back hitting the ground with a loud thump.

Again.

"Can't you let me win just once," I grimaced, feeling the soreness increase as I stood back up.

"Nope," Anna replied, popping the p. She took out her gun that was once tucked away in the back of her pants.

"Here hold the gun," She ordered, holding it out to me. I held it delicately in my shaky hands.

"It's not loaded you idiot," Anna sighed. "Now point it to me."

I did as she ordered me. Straightaway, Anna kicked the gun out of my hands, caught it in her own and slapped the slide of the gun across my face. All in one swift motion. I groaned, holding my now stinging cheek.

"God," I muttered.

"Now hand me the gun and you try."

I handed her the gun and with her legs apart from each other, she pointed the gun to my face. I managed to kick the gun from her hands. However when I go to catch it, the gun ungracefully slipped from my hands and fell to the ground with a clank.

"Still need work," Anna shook her head, picking up the gun.

"Well if you didn't flip me off your back, I could've snapped your neck," I defended.

"You're right you could've. . .But you didn't," She provoked.

I felt anger start to ignite in me and let it take over my actions when I punched her in the jaw.

She groaned and hunched over, massaging her jaw. I yanked on her ponytail, making her whole body arch backward.

"Don't tempt me. Tell me when we're leaving. Now," I demanded, letting the fistful of her dark brown ponytail go.

She straightened her back and gave me an impressed look. Clapping her hands together in a slow applause.

"You passed my test."

"What are y-"

"I wanted to see how far I could push you until you started taking actions of your own," She explained. "And seeing what you've just did, you finally hit your breaking point. This is was what I was anticipating all along."

"So does that mean we're going to actually be on our way?" I inquired, following behind her as she reentered the cave.

"Correct."

I nodded in satisfaction, walking back to my duffle bag. I jammed Jace's pocket knife into my back pocket and took out Anna's journal.

"Here," I held it up to her. She hesitated to take it at first sight. But ended up putting it into her tan messenger bag.

"I noticed you talk about your brother a lot in there. What's his name?" I asked curiously.

"Andrew," She locked and loaded her gun fiercely.

"Thats a nice name," I complimented. "So then it's Anna and Andrew. . ."

"Parks," She finished, tucking her gun in the back of her pants.

My eyes widened and my stomach somersaulted. Everything started to click in my mind like a puzzle.

Andrew Parks.

Drew Parks.

Annalise and Drew Parks.

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A/N > ohh another plot twist! ...well kinda. I know a couple of you saw the connection. smarties lol.

and for those of you who didn't see the connection...surprise! ahaaaa

Hoped you enjoyed the chapter :)

Votes/Comments, much appreciated xx

-kya h. ∞