The frigid night air bit at Winter's skin as she sprinted through the darkness, her cap pulled low, her body propelled by a desperate need for freedom.

Her breaths came in sharp, ragged puffs, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Every step was a defiant act, each stride taking her further from the suffocating nightmare of the boot camp. She didn't care about her belongings, the confines of her dorm, or the fleeting connections she'd made. All that mattered was escape.

The campgrounds stretched behind her, the winding paths a blur as her eyes scanned the shadows, her senses attuned to any sign of guards. The stillness of the night was her ally, a brief moment of silence before the storm. Since her arrival, she'd mapped out the layout in her mind, waiting for this perfect moment to strike.

The wall loomed ahead, tall and imposing, but Winter's determination burned through her exhaustion. Her hands gripped the cold, rough surface as she scrambled upward, her muscles straining with each pull. Finally, she hauled herself over the top, throwing herself down onto the other side. Pain shot through her body as she rolled onto the hard dirt, but she bit back a groan, a triumphant smirk touching her lips.

She'd done it. She was free.

Ignoring the ache in her legs, Winter pushed herself up, her body surging with adrenaline as she tore down the hillside, the trees a dark blur on either side. The taste of freedom was like fuel, driving her forward despite the exhaustion threatening to pull her down.

But just as she began to believe in the impossible, her foot caught on something, and she stumbled, her body slamming against the ground, dirt scraping against her palms. She looked up, her breath catching in her throat, her heart sinking as her vision settled on the figure standing before her.

Karina, like a dark omen in the night, stood with her arms crossed, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she looked down at Winter.

"You really thought you'd get away that easily?" Karina's voice was calm, almost mocking, as she tilted her head, her gaze piercing through the darkness.

Winter's heart dropped, her breath catching in her throat. Anger surged through her, quickly pushing back the fear. She scrambled to her feet, her fists clenching, her body trembling with fury. Without thinking, she lunged at Karina, her fists swinging wildly.

Karina sidestepped effortlessly, as if Winter was a predictable opponent, and she fell forward, hitting the ground with a jarring thud. Frustration boiled over, and her vision was clouded with rage as she pushed herself back up, the only thing on her mind: take Karina down with her.

"That's all you've got?" Karina taunted, her voice laced with amusement, each word a deliberate insult.

Winter shot back up, her teeth gritted, her body shaking as she swung again, her movements fueled by a desperate anger. This time, Karina caught her wrist with ease, twisting it just enough to send a jolt of pain up Winter's arm.

"Stop embarrassing yourself," Karina said, her voice cold, a statement, not an order. She tightened her grip, forcing Winter down onto her knees, her body resisting with every fiber of its being, her muscles screaming in protest.

Winter writhed, trying to free herself, her voice shaking with anger and humiliation. "Why do you care so much if I escape? What do you want from me? You want Money? I can give you that!"

Karina's face darkened, the amusement gone. She let go of Winter's wrist with a sudden push, only to shove her back down, her boot connecting with Winter's stomach, knocking the air out of her. Winter doubled over, gasping for air, her fury twisting into frustrated tears.

"You think I care about your money?" Karina sneered, her eyes as sharp as shards of glass. "You're nothing but a spoiled brat who's never had to work for anything. Watching you suffer, knowing that you're just a coward? That's what makes this worthwhile."

Winter glared up at her, her face red with rage, her humiliation complete. She wanted to fight back, to scream, but Karina's cold, unrelenting gaze pinned her down, stealing any fight that was left.

"Get up," Karina ordered, her voice sharp and unforgiving, her words a physical blow.

When Winter didn't move, Karina kicked her lightly but forcefully, enough to make her scramble to her feet, her body bruised, her spirit broken.

"Start walking," Karina said, jerking her head toward the camp, her tone laced with finality, her control absolute.

Winter's fists clenched as she began the slow, humiliating walk back, each step a crushing weight on her body and her spirit, her pride in tatters. Every step was a defeat. Behind her, Karina's presence loomed, a constant reminder of her failure.

I'll get my revenge, she thought, the words a desperate mantra, an attempt to hold onto the last vestiges of her defiant self. She swore it, even as she felt her will crumbling.

The camp was eerily silent as Winter was shoved back into the clearing, the air heavy with anticipation. Her body ached, her pride was bruised, but the worst pain was the way everyone's eyes bored into her, judging, condemning. They were already awake, lined up, waiting, their glares making Winter's stomach churn with unease.

Karina's smirk returned as she shoved Winter into place, her voice slicing through the early morning stillness like a whip. "Listen up! There's no individuality here. No lone wolves. One person messes up, and everyone pays the price. You're all connected now, so when you fail, they suffer."

Winter's jaw tightened, her gaze fixed on the ground, as Karina's words echoed in her mind, the weight of them crushing her.

Karina turned, her eyes sweeping over the group, lingering on each face before settling on Winter, her smirk growing wider, a predator savoring its kill. "Thanks to number thirteen here, you all get to advance early."

Confused murmurs rippled through the line as recruits exchanged uneasy glances. Winter's face burned with shame, her fists clenched at her sides as she braced herself for whatever fresh hell was about to descend.

"Backpacks and rifles, now!" Karina barked, and within moments, the recruits were handed heavy packs and training guns, the weight of them a painful reminder of her failure. Winter reluctantly took hers, the cold metal a constant reminder of the control Karina had over her.

"Everyone ready?" Karina's voice was sickeningly cheerful as she paced in front of them, her gaze a taunt. "Good. Now, let's march. Up the hill."

Groans echoed around her, but no one dared to challenge it, the fear of punishment a heavy weight over them. Winter gritted her teeth, her heart sinking as the line began to move, the weight of her pack digging into her sore shoulders. The steep incline of the hill loomed ahead, a mocking reminder of her inability to escape.

She glanced sideways, catching Ningning's gaze. Unlike the others, Ningning didn't glare. Instead, she offered a small, tired smile, a silent acknowledgment of their shared suffering.

Winter didn't smile back, her emotions a tangled mess of anger and resentment. She hated this place. She hated the people. And most of all, she hated Karina, her every thought a burning need for revenge.

With each agonizing step up the hill, Karina's voice echoed behind them, barking orders and keeping the pace relentless, the sound a constant reminder of her defeat. Winter's legs burned, her breaths came in ragged gasps, her body screaming for rest, her soul aching for release.

Still, she marched. And with every step, her hatred for Karina sharpened, and a new determination took root in the ashes of her broken pride. I'll make her pay, she thought, the words a silent vow. One day, somehow.