The icy wind whipped at Winter's face as she stumbled out of Karina's office, the chill mirroring the icy dread that had settled in her chest.

Each step felt heavy, dragging her through the frigid night like a prisoner shackled to an invisible weight. The tension that had coiled in her gut during the meeting now tightened, constricting her breath.

She felt hollow, a ghost drifting through the world, her body moving through the motions of existence while her spirit remained trapped in a desolate wasteland.

The vibrant colors of the barracks seemed muted, the laughter of her fellow recruits distant and unreal. It was as if she were watching her own life unfold from a detached perspective, a silent observer in a play she no longer understood.

Back in the dorm, she sank onto the edge of her bunk, her gaze drawn to her hands, gnarled fists that once throbbed with defiance. Now, they felt limp, useless appendages hanging from lifeless limbs. The image of Karina's face, etched with a mixture of disappointment and disgust, replayed in her mind, a constant, agonizing reminder of her failure.

"I am nothing," she whispered, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. All her efforts, all her struggles, seemed to amount to nothing. She had failed Karina, failed her team, and most importantly, she had failed herself.

The chatter of her fellow recruits washed over her, muffled sounds like distant echoes. She remained rooted to the spot, her mind a swirling vortex of despair.

Finally, she rose, her movements stiff and mechanical, and approached Ningning, who was deep in conversation with Number 5.

"I'm sorry," Winter mumbled, her voice a mere whisper, barely audible above the din.

Ningning looked up, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Sorry? What for?"

"For ruining everything. You were right," Winter confessed, her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to meet Ningning's eyes.

Ningning's expression hardened. "You don't even know why you're apologizing," she said, her voice sharp, yet laced with a hint of concern. "You never listen. You act on impulse, and then this happens."

Winter simply nodded, unable to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling within her.

Ningning sighed, the frustration evident in her voice. "Just… figure it out before it's too late," she said, her tone softening slightly.

With a heavy heart, Winter turned her attention to Number 17, who sat brooding by the window, nursing a collection of bruises from their earlier altercation. Her sharp eyes narrowed as Winter approached.

"I'm sorry," Winter offered again, her voice trembling slightly.

Number 17 snorted, her lips curling into a sneer. "Sorry? You think that fixes anything? Because of you, we all got extra drills."

"I'm sorry," Winter repeated, her voice catching in her throat.

Annoyance flickered in Number 17's eyes. "What's your deal? Apologies don't mean crap if you keep screwing up!"

Winter remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to bear the weight of Number 17's scorn.

Frustration boiled over in Number 17. She surged to her feet and shoved Winter with surprising force, sending her stumbling backward. "Say something!" she demanded, her voice rising.

Winter remained motionless, her silence infuriating Number 17 further. She lashed out again, her fist connecting with Winter's face, sending her reeling. "Say something!" she repeated, her voice a venomous hiss.

Winter finally crumpled to her knees, her lip bleeding, her vision blurring. Number 9 and Ningning rushed forward, pulling Number 17 away.

"Stop it!" Ningning yelled, her voice sharp with anger. "Are you insane? She apologized—just let it go!"

Number 17 backed away, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Whatever," she spat, kicking Winter viciously in the ribs before storming out of the room. "She's pathetic."

Then, like a thunderclap, Karina's voice cut through the tense silence. "What the hell is going on here?"

All eyes snapped towards the doorway, where Karina stood, her face a mask of thunder.

The recruits scrambled to their feet, fear and apprehension gripping them as Karina strode into the room, her gaze sweeping over the scene—Winter on her knees, blood trickling from her lip, the bruises blossoming on her face, the guilty glances exchanged by the other recruits.

"All of you," she barked, her voice like ice. "Outside. Now."

The recruits fell into line, their movements stiff and hesitant as they filed out of the dorm, shivering in the frigid night air. Karina paced in front of them, her eyes narrowed, her aura radiating an icy fury.

"You think this is a damn playground?" she roared, her voice echoing through the night. "You think watching someone get beaten to a pulp is acceptable? Every single one of you stood by and let this happen. What kind of soldiers does that make you?"

Her words were like a barrage of blows, each one striking home with agonizing force. Winter stood frozen in the line, her face a mask of pain, her mind numb.

Karina stopped in front of her, her voice dripping with contempt. "And you," she hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "You think playing dead is the answer? That's even worse than failing." Her voice was laced with disgust.

Winter remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the ground, her spirit crushed.

Karina turned her attention to Number 17, her voice rising to a crescendo. "And you. Is this what teamwork looks like to you? Beating the crap out of someone because you're angry? Pathetic."

She stepped back, her hands clasped behind her, her gaze sweeping over the line of recruits. "You're all going to stand here. All night, if I feel like it. Until you understand what it means to be a team."

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances, their fear palpable. No one dared to speak, the silence broken only by the howling wind and the rhythmic thud of Karina's footsteps as she paced back and forth, her words echoing in the frigid night, a stark reminder of their failures.