Book 16: The Champion

Lexa

Days pass in a blur of pain, hunger, and little sleep. From the moment the stars begin to fade in the sky to the second the moon rises over the Glade, I’m in the sparring ring. Kaleb is always there, always watching, always discerning every movement in a cutting silence that I believe made it possible for me to dissociate my feelings, worries, and outright concern over my situation and the welfare of my friends and the task at hand.

I can’t get out of this.

There is nothing I can do to change my circumstances.

“Again,” Kaleb says with no emotion, his tone dry and heavy as it bounces through the ring, off every curve of rusted metal. I throw the spear. Again and again, until my shoulder aches, and I have to switch sides. I’m right handed, but he has me practicing on the left side as well, just as often, in the event I… lose my arm.

“Again,” he bellows.

I send the spear tearing through the hot, sticky air. It pierces through th