Page 47 of Resurgent

“That’s it! You’re doing great! Keep that stride. Your muscles remember exactly how to carry you—you just have to trust them, even if you aren’t fully ready to trust yourself,” Korr’s presence is somehow supportive but not intrusive to the war raging inside that I’m determined not to concede to.

Every unhealed step is ugly, uneven, and slow enough to make my teeth grind, but I push anyway because if my body wants a fight, it'll learn the same damn lesson they did…

It picked the wrong fucking woman.

I’m not weak.

I’m not worthless.

And I’m not defeated.

I was captured by devils, and even before I knew they took the most precious part of me that I’ll never get to know, I became the creature of their nightmares.

I harnessed the piece of my first monster that’ll never leave me.

Not damage, but proof they didn’t win.

Proof that if he couldn’t keep me down after so many years of physically breaking me, no one can.

“Only a quarter of a mile more,” Hunter calls from mere steps behind me. “Leave it all out here.”

Each squelching step through the mud feels like dragging chains wrapped around my ankles, each one heavier than the last, but I ignore the shake radiating up my leg, and suffocate the urge to give up.

I will not be that girl.

I refuse to allow a few hours bound at the hands of minuscule men to define me.

As I break through the woods and into the clearing surrounding Korr’s house, I can’t help but push a little harder, the deep sense of satisfaction lending me a stability I haven’t felt in far too long.

Three miles.

Only half of what I’m used to running? Sure, but twice what I thought I could accomplish when I crawled out of bed this morning. Three times what I thought I’d be able to achieve when I woke up two weeks ago.

My legs threaten to give out from beneath me, but whether it’s determination or pure stubbornness, I force myself to stand upright. Planting my hands on my head to open my airways, I focus—one breath at a time—one foot in front of the other.

In the silence behind the pain, I recite the only prayer my mother ever taught me.

“I do not bend. I do not break. The Gods be with me whilst my confidence does shake. For greater things have tested me, and lesser foes have failed. With my faith abounding, the source shall be unveiled.”

“What’s on your schedule today?”

“Oh, you know, I was thinking about going into town to do some shopping, maybe find a bar—”

A breakfast potato hits me in the forehead, and I can’t hide my shock. “Did you just throw food at me, Hunter?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, a crooked grin tugging at his lips as I wipe the potato remnants off my forehead, and he takes another bite of his food. “Now, if you're done being sarcastic…”

I make a show of rolling my eyes before answering, “Not much. I’m going to try to get all my studying done this morning, so I have all afternoon to shoot. Matt’s going to come out and put some new targets out for me at lunchtime.”

“I could have done that for you; you didn’t have to call him,” he says in between bites.

“Pretty sure letting a recruit live with you is enough charity.” He tries to cut in, but I don’t let him. “Plus…since we don't get to spend time together during any of our classes today, it'll give us some time to hang out. He's been talking to a new girl for like a week, so I'm hoping there will be some good, juicy details."

“Thanks for the heads up, I’ll be sure not to come back during lunch.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll fill you in over dinner."

"Please don't."