Just breathe. It is only necessary for you to stay alive.

The boss always called me stubborn and spoiled. I didn't agree with the world calling me a spoiled girl but if they were repeatedly insisting on me being stubborn, I could play that well for sure.

Three rounds had been completed.

"Ahhh...huh...okay...keep running and then I can go inside," I told myself to keep running as I only have a few rounds left.

The ten rounds of this ground were not a problem because I got used to it. The problem was the thunder and its dangerous sound. Only the sound could make anyone flinch by warning them as a dead signal.

Five rounds had been completed.

My heart was beating so fast that I got afraid it would stop at any time. It was only for two reasons. One was because of the lack of air in my lungs and the other was because of the phobia I was carrying with me.

I was scared. Too scared.

The rain didn't stop at all nor did it become less. Earlier, I was coming down to the ground with the same clothes I was wearing. But then Carlo requested to wear the training outfit, so I changed into it. He also insisted on being with me, but Enzo locked all of them up in a meeting.

The night sky was covered with black clouds and lightning, hiding all the beautiful shining stars I love to watch.

Because of the heavy rain, my entire clothes got soaked along with my hair.

Eight rounds had been completed.

I panted again and again, taking the cold breath inside my lungs, and huffing as I was trying to look carefully ahead on my way. The rainwater was blurring my vision of my way. I wiped the raindrops from my eyelashes several times with my palms.

The monster did what he wanted from the beginning. He also got the proper thing to punish me with. I will show him that I am not weak.

Scared of thunder. It's the only fear I have. Actually no, this was not the only fear. I have had too many of them. Now I was all ready to beat them.

A little more to go. The monster said not to stop on my way, but now my legs were shaking from pain and fear. I didn't realize that I was trembling.

I somehow completed many more rounds and grabbed my stomach as it was hurting so bad. I cried out as it was getting worse to handle.

Don't stop. Show him that you are not weak.

With a motive to prove that monster wrong, I started running again by grabbing my stomach with one hand.

Yeah, just a little more.

As I came to my end and completed my punishment, my body immediately fell on the tiny grasses, without waiting for my brain to give permission.

I lay there for a while with my eyes closed, breathing heavily, smiling at my victory. There was no energy left in my legs to get up and walk inside the house. I thought of relaxing myself a little bit before walking inside.

But then the sudden thundering sound came again, scared me to my death and I got up quickly to go inside with my shaky legs.

After a long task, as I made it to the entrance, I tried to convince my shaky legs to go upstairs to my room. Suddenly, the left side of the room door opened with a thud and all the men came outside chattering with each other.

Some of them noticed me first and made a shocked face, while the others followed their gazes in my direction. They all stood still in their places, staring at me, maybe they were afraid to get me as I just got a punishment only because of that reason.

Enzo must have used me as an example of what would happen when you don't obey your boss. What can I do?

It wasn't any of their fault. They were feeling sorry for me though, I could sense it only by their look. I smiled at them, my face still soaked by the rain. Water dripped from my wet clothes, soaking the floor I was standing on. All of them returned me a smile but a sad one.

"Alora!" I heard a voice from the group.

All men were divided into two parts making a way as the five of them came out of the room. My eyes fell on that monster first. His face remained blank.

Carlo didn't waste any time as he came running towards me, holding my arm to help me with my balance as I was trembling from the cold. And shaking too. I noticed that his face was filled with worries and boredom. The way his eyes were full of concern for me, it felt like I was his little sister.

A genuine smile formed on my face at the thought of having an older brother whom I could rely on at any time.

"No way, you are still smiling." Carlo gave me an upset look. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" He asked me by checking through my hands, arms, head and face.

"I am coming from the ground, not from a war. Don't worry, Carlo." I chuckled by making a joke to show him that I was all right. He sighed in relief.

My smile got bigger by seeing his affection towards me and suddenly a drop of tear took an exit from my blurry eyes and fell on my cheeks. Tears made an entry but joyfully.

After Mom and Dad, Tim was the only one who loved me unconditionally, after them no one showed me this care and love the way Carlo always did since the moment I entered here. It felt like I just found a new feeling of how it is to be a little sister to someone.

The emotional thoughts broke as I saw that monster's eyebrows narrowed on me, whether in confusion or...no, he could not be worried. But then, I shifted my gaze from him to the worried one.

"Alora... please tell me honestly. Are you having pain in your legs?" Carlo asked.

As I was just going to reply, I noticed Rome, Galen and that monster came to me while Galen and Rome came near to approach me, Max and Enzo stopped at a distance.

"Alora...are you okay? Should I call the doctor?" Galen asked with concern in his eyes.

"Yeah, Galen... call the doctor immediately. I don't think she is okay." Rome said to him.

I rapidly shook my head as I tried to tell them I was okay, but they kept insisting for me to see a doctor.

"Guys, guys! First, let her sit or take her to her room, her legs must be in pain." Max shouted from his place.

Then suddenly my eyes fell on Max. He was still standing far away from us and I noticed that he was also upset. He couldn't look into my eyes, but why?

"Why is Max so quiet and upset?" I glanced at all three of them at once for a reply except that monster.

Rome breathed out and replied, "Enzo told us everything about the rules. So...that's why Max is-"

"Please, just get her inside first. It's very cold here, and she is all drenched. If she stays any longer in these wet clothes, she will get sick." Carlo said cutting off Rome. But Rome nodded as an understanding.

"Carlo is right." Galen also nodded as he agreed with him.

"Let me help you to go upstairs." Carlo insisted.

I didn't refuse him because right now I needed a lot of support to balance myself. But I will talk to Max later. Maybe he was blaming himself for my punishment.

Before walking away, I stopped right in front of Enzo. His face was not like the usual one but with a different kind of emotion.

Emotions? Does he have emotions?

Hard to believe. My eyes must have been blurry from the water.

"Henceforth, I will take care that your men do not face any problem because of me. I will also keep in mind that no rules should be broken by me in future." I said coldly, looking into his eyes and searching for a bit of change.

There was nothing except disgust.

Of course, he will be disgusted by me. Although, we could not stand each other anyway.

A loud silence filled around us and Carlo held my arm to take me away from him. Enzo didn't speak nor did he try to stop us, as we were going to walk away. I took a glance at him and saw him with a confused face but it was more like a suspicious one.

Let them know you.

*****