I walk towards the sparring room, Beau trailing behind me while Harks holds the door open in front of me.

I notice the sparring room is surprisingly empty as I step past Harks and walk up to one of the blue fighting mats. I hear Harks say something to Beau behind me, but I'm too focused on preparing myself for the battle ahead.

If I can just get this over with now, I'll be let back onto the field. I have to prove myself.

I suck in a deep breath as I toe the edge of the mat, before spinning on my heel to face both Harks and Beau, plastering a cocky smile onto my lips as I stare each of them down.

"So, tell me whose butt I am kicking today." I grin, cracking my knuckles. I'm all too eager to get this over with.

Superior Harks clasps his hands behind his back and gives me an amused stare. "You will be fighting against me, Miss Medley. And if you are able to hold your ground, you can finish by defeating Agent Allard."

I can't help the overwhelming sense of surprise that rushes over me, but I quickly shove it away and attempt to regain my past confidence. "Alright," I force myself to say, slipping off my athletic shoes and tossing them to the side.

Harks does the same, and we both step toward the front of the mat, staring each other down in anticipation of what's to come.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Beau step up to the center of the mat, positioned directly between the superior and I. I can feel his jade eyes burn into mine as he lifts his hand to signal for Harks and I to be ready. I don't allow myself to meet his warning glare, even though it seems to make my face warm with heat.

All you have to do is prove you can hold your own, I think to myself, shaking away the uncomfortable feeling. Once I do this, I can show everyone else that I am not weak... that I can lead my team.

A few seconds of silence pass by, before Beau's hand finally slashes down as he barks, "Fight!"

I quickly lash forward and drive my fist towards Harks' face, which he quickly blocks and returns with a swift kick to my stomach.

I stumble backwards, but hold my ground and ready myself as Harks launches at me with a wide swing towards my cheek. I'm able to step out of the way, but Harks is already ready, his body twisting from the moment of his punch to send another kick towards my way.

I barely slap his foot away just as he grabs my shoulder and pulls me past him, crashing to the ground.

My forearms slam against the blue mat, but just as Harks whirls around I sweep his legs out from under him with a sudden kick, and leap to my feet as his back hits the floor.

In his moment of daze, I scramble forward to grab his arm and twist it backward until he rolls onto his stomach, his forehead pressing into the floor.

I can't help but grin, knowing I've defeated him.

Harks shudders beneath me, and it takes me a second to realize its because he's laughing. "Well...done Miss Medley!" he croaks, but before I can fully celebrate, a hand crawls down to the top of my shoulder blade and grips the back of my shirt to yanks me forward.

I flip over Harks and land on my back, just as I realize my mistake of not securing his other arm, the wind completely knocked from my lungs. I hear a startled gasp from somewhere off to the side as my vision blurs slightly, but when my eyes settle again, I see Harks standing over me with a haughty smirk, his arms crossed as he somehow stares down on me with both approval and disapproval.

"Rookie mistake Medley, though I have to say that I am impressed with your improvements. We'll just have to work on your ability to incapacitate the enemy a bit more, but things are looking good for you." Harks smiles, extending his hand toward me.

I hesitantly grip it, before he quickly pulls me to my feet. I move to pull my hand from his, but Harks firmly grips my hand as his shaded blue eyes pierce into mine.

"However, there is one more thing I would like to test," he vaguely states, before finally releasing my hand. I take a step back as he turns to look at Beau, who's pale eyes stare deeply into mine.

"Mr. Allard, why don't you take my place? I'd like to see how you and Medley will match up."

Beau glances anxiously between Harks and I, which annoys me slightly. "I think Miss Medley has already proven herself Sir-" he begins, but Harks is quick to interrupt him.

"Nonsense Mr. Allard, there's no reason to conduct a second test in our little evaluation. Now quit talking back and do as you're told." Harks growls, pointing to the edge of the mat behind him.

Beau's jade eyes dart back to mine, seeming to say, are you sure you're really ready for this?

I scowl and narrow my eyes in response, which results in Beau letting out a frustrated breath.

Fine, but you asked for this.

We both step into our defensive positions as Harks steps behind the edge of the mat, raising his hand. He gives us each a nod, before slashing his hand down to signal the start of the fight.

To my surprise, Beau immediately leaps forward with a powerful swing that brushes my nose. I quickly step backward and grab his shoulder, using his momentum against him as I pull his shoulder down just as I bring my knee to his stomach.

Beau grunts at the contact and stumbles away in an attempt to recover, but I quickly exploit his moment of weakness and swipe his feet out from under him which results in him crashing to the floor.

I drop to the floor beside him, drawing in heavy breaths as I pin his wrists to the mat and drive my knee into his stomach. My head grows a little lightheaded from the strain of movements for a second, but I focus on my breathing as I continue to press on Beau's wrists.

"Alright, I win," I pant with a grin as I turn to look at Harks. But my body flashes cold in dread when I see him nod to something below me. The muscles beneath my fingers abruptly tense and Beau grunts beneath me, then his whole body shifts as he throws me to the side in a single quick movement, and before I can even think to retaliate Beau grapples with my wrists and slams them to the ground.

I growl as I try to kick him off of me, but he presses a firm knee down to stop them, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as heat pulses from where the skin of his palms rub against my wrists.

I try to suck in a breath to steady myself, but panic when I feel my lungs continually tighten, the heat growing more and more unbearable.

Shit... SHIT! I think in my hysteria, desperately trying to get a hold of the many emotions rushing through my head, but it's no use.

Beau must see my panic and tries to release me, but Harks quickly steps forward and grips the back of his neck, pushing Beau's head down until our noses rub together.

I stiffen at the contact, my eyes widening in fear as the room around us closes in, traps us.

"Harks stop!" Beau barks, but Harks mercilessly holds him there as his jade eyes blaze concernedly into mine.

"Prove your control Medley, all you have to do is prove your control." Harks grunts, as Beau's hands tremble on my wrists.

My chest heaves as wild thoughts grow louder and louder within my head, as I scream for control.

"It's okay Harper, just breathe," Beau whispers, uncurling his fingers from my wrists.

I flinch when I feel his warm breath brush my lips, squeezing my eyes shut as I try to ground myself... trying desperately to remember what Rene told me.

Just breathe Harper, count backwards from ten, describe the objects around you if you need to. Do whatever you can to gain control of the situation.

My eyes flash back open to search for something to describe, but my lungs strain in helplessness when all I see before me is Beau. More heat radiates from his body as my skin burns from where his nose brushes mine.

"I... can't," I gasp, my eyes watering as an image of him flashes through my mind. I try to will the wave of guilt that follows away, but my resolve weakened when Harks pushes Beau's head down further, until our foreheads touch.

The contact sends me over the edge as the wave of guilt barrels into me, my body trembling, knowing what's coming.

"Harks let go!" Beau yells, but it's too late as my vision darkens and his voice echoes through my mind.

How many times are you going to let him touch you Harper? Are you really that helpless... that weak? Have you forgotten me already? His voice demands as the sickening branch of guilt wraps around my lungs.

"No-NO!" I cry, as the pressure on my forehead releases. My hands fly up to my head as I writhe against the mat beneath me. "I-I'm sorry!" I sob, but his voice sends a blade of sorrow piercing through my heart.

IF YOU WERE SORRY YOU WOULDN'T BE LETTING ANOTHER MAN TOUCH YOU! The voice rages, as the vine around my lungs grows tighter and tighter. WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIE?

"I'm sorry," I gasp, pressing my palms deeper into my forehead, desperately trying to get the voice out my head.

"Harper-breathe... remember to breathe!" A faraway voice urges, and I try to push the feelings of guilt and sorrow away, focusing on sucking in deep breaths to fill my deflated lungs.

I breathe in and out, as I try to count backward from ten, desperately trying to ground myself. 10...9...8...7...

My lungs start to lighten slowly, as I reach the count of five, and when I finish my counting, I feel myself relax slightly on the mat.

"There you go, just keep breathing," a calm voice whispers.

My arms quiver as I wrap them around my stomach, breathing in and out, in and out.

"I knew she wasn't ready," a dark voice snaps when I finally open my eyes, to see Beau beside me, his face pale with worry.

I let out a sigh of relief when I see that he at least isn't touching me, knowing that he would rage out of control again if that were the case. My eyes flick up to Harks, who is standing above us with his arms crossed. Though to my surprise, an eerily soft glint of concern floats within his dark eyes.

Harks runs a hand through his dark hair as Beau helps me to my feet.

"Well Miss Medley, I'm afraid you still have quite a bit of work to do." Harks grumbles, turning towards the doors of the sparring room. "I really do hope you've fully improved by Sunday-" Harks glances down at his watch and shakes his head. "You'll have the rest of the day today, tomorrow and Saturday to do what you can, and then we will attempt another examination."

Harks then turns to Beau and levels him with a firm glare. "I expect improvement, Agent Allard."

Beau nods solemnly as Harks walks away from us, and exits the sparring room, leaving the two of us alone.

I turn to Beau, frowning when I feel a tear roll down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away as Beau stands awkwardly beside me, his hands fidgeting.

"I'm so sorry Harper, I shouldn't have let this-"

"No." I interrupt, cutting him off with the stiff wave of my hand, cursing myself when it quivers slightly. "Don't apologize. Now we know what we have to focus on," my hands clench as I lift my chin to stare into his jade eyes. "This was just what I needed to realize where I go wrong during our fights. It'll be easier to fix now."

Beau gives me an odd look, his pale eyes darting across my face analytically, before he shoves a hand through his thick curls with a sigh, and gives me a relenting nod.

"Alright, I suppose we might as well get started... yes?"

I step past him towards the other end of the mat and turn around, lowering myself into a defensive stance as I gesture for him to do the same. "There's no time like the present."