Warmth enveloped me.
But it wasn't the same warmth that had tempted me to close my eyes and surrender.
This warmth was different.
It wasn't strange.
It was—
Familiar.
A kind of warmth I had felt countless times.
It felt like—
Home.
It spread slowly at first, seeping into the cold that had taken hold of my body. Then it gathered shape.
Two arms slipped over my shoulders and crossed in front of my chest.
A rhythmic beat pressed against my back, where before pain had been.
Strands of hair brushed against my neck and cheek as weight fell onto my right shoulder.
A chin.
Carefully leaning on me.
Soft skin brushed my throat.
A cheek.
Warm breath tickled my skin.
The scent came next.
Yune flowers.
Faint.
But sweet.
The embrace tightened just enough to be felt but not to hurt.
I didn't need to turn.
I didn't need to look.
Because I already knew.
I felt the same embrace.
The same warmth.
And the same heartbeat—
Countless times before.
It was the person I had been staying alive for all along.
The one I longed to see more than anything.
My dry lips parted, and I spoke her name in a soft whisper.
"Lisa..."
For a moment, there was no answer.
Only her arms tightening around me.
As if to tell me—
"I am here, my love."
Her voice washed over me like rain after drought.
The warmth inside my chest swelled, pushing back the numbness, the darkness, and the temptation to rest.
One of my deepest desires had taken shape before me.
And still—
I didn't dare to turn around.
Because if I did—
She might vanish.
Like a mirage in the desert, if you come too close.
I didn't dare to close my eyes.
Because if I did—
She might be gone if I opened them again.
So I just stared forward.
And let myself sink into the warmth of her embrace.
Her heartbeat slowed my own.
Our breaths aligned.
And my racing pulse gradually matched her rhythm, steady and calm.
For the first time in so long—
I felt whole.
As if the part of me that had been torn away had quietly returned.
The silence between us felt sacred.
Then she whispered softly,
"It's okay. I am here now."
Her hands pressed against my chest as she leaned closer, lips brushing my ear as she whispered again.
"You can let go now."
Confusion flickered through me.
I couldn't understand what she meant.
Let go?
Then—
Drip.
—as if to answer.
Drip.
My vision blurred.
Something warm slid down my cheeks and dropped to the ground.
Tears.
The ones I had tried to hold back.
The tears that wanted to break free with every strike.
I sobbed.
And I understood.
What she meant when she said, 'let go'.
To let go of all the things I tried to hide.
To let go of everything I tried to hold back.
To stop pretending as if I were okay.
Because—
"I will be strong for you now."
Her voice trembled slightly.
As if she were in pain just because I was.
And that broke me even more.
Another sob tore out of me.
Drip.
I cried into her arms, my shoulders shaking.
There were no chains here.
No pain.
No fear.
I wasn't alone.
Not right now.
When my sobs weakened, I whispered.
"Thank you."
She leaned her head gently against mine.
"I am always there for you," she said softly. "Just call my name, and I will come."
"Thank you," I repeated, my voice raw.
Her embrace tightened again.
"My love… it will only get harder from now on."
She paused.
"Are you sure you can endure it?"
I leaned into her touch.
"Didn't you say you would be there for me? If I can't bear it… I'll call for you."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she nuzzled her head against mine.
"Seeing me motivates you that much?"
A faint smile touched my lips.
"Yes."
She chuckled again—
"That's good to hear..."
Then stopped.
"But…"
My heart tightened.
"But what?"
Her embrace grew firmer as she squeezed me once more.
"Our time is over... you have to go back now."
"Go back where?" I asked, panic rising in my voice.
Slowly—
Her arms faded away, and her weight grew lighter.
As if vanishing.
"To the path where you belong."
Her warmth receded.
Slowly.
Cruelly.
The scent faded.
The heartbeat disappeared.
Only her voice remained, soft and distant.
"Stay strong until we meet again, my love."
Then—
My eyes closed, blinking.
She was gone.
The world, which had turned grey, regained its color again.
I was hanging limply in the air, chains cutting into my skin.
My head hung low, eyes facing downward.
The sand beneath me had turned red.
Drip.
Blood.
Drip.
It slid down my back and fell to the ground.
A breeze brushed against my back, sending sharp pulses of pain through me.
My back felt cold and hot at the same time.
As if I were freezing and burning at once.
My wrists had grown numb.
My legs had no strength left.
Then—
Sound returned all at once.
The roar of the crowd crashed into me.
"TEN!"
The count continued.
For a moment, I panicked—
I flinched, thinking another strike would come.
But as the number hit, relief followed.
Ten.
It was over.
John's voice echoed next.
"And that's it, my guests! Ten strikes—and he endured them all! A round of applause for this magnificent performance!"
Clap.
One clap echoed.
And the others followed.
CLAP.
CLAP.
A thundering applause rang through the arena as hundreds of people began to clap.
John continued.
"Oh! And do not forget our five distinguished participants! Their technique was truly admirable! Some of you may have the talent for a professional career!"
Laughter erupted.
CLAP.
CLAP.
Followed by even more applause.
Clap.
The applause slowly died down, and footsteps drew closer.
Step.
Guards approached me, two clasped my arms tightly while another went around the stone and freed me from the chains.
Thud.
My legs gave in at once, knees crashing to the ground as the metal spike was pulled out.
My arms followed soon after, falling lifelessly to my side as the chain was unlocked.
The guards moved at once, walking toward the gate and dragging me along.
Everything happened in a blur.
My feet slid through the sand.
Then stone.
Until we reached the cell.
By now, I had regained enough feeling in my legs to stand by myself, but the guards didn't care.
They dragged me into the cell before dropping me to the ground.
Thud.
My knees slammed against stone before the rest of my body followed.
Click.
The door closed behind me.
It took me a moment to regain my senses, and I slowly pushed myself up.
My wrists almost bent as I placed my weight on them.
Pain flared up all over my body, spreading from my back, but I clenched my jaw and forced myself up.
My legs trembled, but I stood.
Then—
I felt it.
Their gazes.
The other teens were all looking at me curiously.
I didn't need anyone to tell me what they were curious about.
But I wouldn't answer them.
As my gaze shifted away from them—
I noticed that there were only four.
Four teens.
One was missing.
My eyes shifted toward an upper bunk on the right.
His bed was empty.
He wasn't here anymore.
They must have sent him to another cell.
I wasn't happy that he was gone.
I wasn't angry.
I was just tired.
I staggered toward the bed but stopped as I reached it.
My chin lifted, glancing at the upper bed.
The conclusion came at once—
It would be impossible.
With that thought, I let myself fall face-first into the bed beneath it.
Thud.
I didn't dare to lie on my back.
My eyes closed, and sleep claimed me soon after.
***
"29!"
My eyes snapped open.
I didn't move and just twisted my neck as I lay on my stomach, looking toward the door.
The thought that I wouldn't need to fight today had already settled.
A hopeful wish.
It was shattered the moment I gazed upon the guard standing in the doorway.
There would be no rest for me.
I shifted my arms and carefully pushed myself up, watching out not to move my back, but pain came nevertheless.
Every movement seemed to tear the wounds wider apart, but I couldn't stay down.
They wouldn't allow disobedience.
I knew what would happen if I did.
I experienced it.
Step.
I flung my legs out of the bed and stood up.
Pain flared up again, but I clenched my jaw and forced it down.
Step.
At least while walking, the pain was bearable.
It still stung with every step.
Every breath.
But it was nothing compared to the pain I felt during the punishment.
Step.
Slowly, I walked toward the guard and out of the cell.
Surprisingly, he waited patiently for me before leading me down the corridor.
My steps were slow, but the guard hadn't voiced a single complaint and kept leading the way in silence.
After minutes of walking—
We finally reached the hall.
Another surprise came as I saw the teen standing in front of the gate.
Step.
I halted, and a mixture of emotions rose as I stared at him.
Anger.
Hate.
Joy.
And even pity.
He was shouting at the guard beside him.
"But he told me I could rest today!"
My opponent—
It was number 31.