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"Both, I suppose," he said, stepping closer until our bodies almost touched. "But mostly me. After all, I'm the one who will win this tournament and claim you as my prize."
"Is that so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't be so sure of yourself, Isaac Monroy de León. When I was interviewed, the Canciller didn’t seem keen on our pairing."
“Then why did the Marriage Council send you a letter?” Isaac glowered at me, but I turned my attention away from him.
We stood on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by snow-covered trees. Beyond the foreboding forest, La Doncella towered in the distance. I paused. Two weeks ago, it had been a snow-capped peak, a stark contrast against the darkening sky. Now the white was sparse. The beginning of a warning flickered in the back of my mind.
The air grew colder and heavier as a group of Guardias and Workers approached us, their camera equipment slung over their shoulders like weapons. Camera lenses glinted in the weak sunlight, reminding me that every moment of pain and struggle would be captured for the world to see. I shivered at the thought, my heart pounding harder against my chest.
"Smile, Carmen," Isaac said, his voice low and taunting. "You're going to be a star, and then we will belong to each other." He stood tall and broad-shouldered beside me, green eyes gleaming with confidence. My stomach twisted into knots.
"Keep dreaming," I spat, meeting his gaze fiercely. But beneath my bravado, fear gnawed at my resolve. What if he did win? Would I become nothing more than a possession, a symbol of his triumph?
"Remember this," he whispered, inches from my face. "When I stand victorious at the base of La Doncella, you will be mine—body, mind, and soul."
"Never," I choked out, wrenching my gaze away from his. Instead, I focused on the cameras and the Workers setting them up with mechanical precision. The cold metal seemed to mirror the chill that had settled in my bones.
"Let's make a wager then," Isaac suggested, cocking an eyebrow. "If you can beat me to the base of La Doncella, I'll admit defeat and leave you be. But if I win…" He trailed off, leaving the consequences unspoken.
"Fine," I agreed, knowing full well the danger of such a bargain. Yet if it meant even the slimmest chance of escape from the tight spot under his thumb, I would take it. "You're on."
"Excellent," he said, smirking as the Guardias and Trabajadores finished their preparations. "Now, let's give them a show they'll never forget.”
Isaac's eyes gleamed with a dangerous, predatory light as he leaned in, capturing my lips in a bruising kiss. The bleak landscape around us seemed to recede, the swirling snowflakes and biting wind no match for the fire that burned inside me, fueled by a mixture of fear, defiance, and something I couldn't quite name.
"You were going to choose me once before, and you’ll want me again."
I tore my gaze away from Isaac, focusing on the Trabajador, who held a gun straight into the air.
"Solo falta un minuto," the Trabajador called out, and a collective pang of fear ran through the group. One minute was nothing. The competitors separated, each finding their companions before chaos inevitably ensued.
A smattering of applause broke out among the candidates, their expressions a mix of excitement, fear, and grim determination. I glanced back at Isaac; his eyes locked on mine, and his lips twisted into a predatory smirk.
No sooner had the Trabajador finished speaking than a sudden, shrill blast pierced the air, signaling the start of the Blood Tournament. I felt my heart leap into my throat, adrenaline surging through every inch of my flesh. The surrounding candidates stiffened, bracing themselves for the ordeal ahead.
Isaac and I joined the mad dash of candidates hurtling themselves toward the icy forest by hitting a steep trail as planned. My long steps down the incline were sloppy, and I worried I could topple over any moment. Snow crunched beneath our boots, our breath fogged the frigid air, and determination burned in my companion’s eyes.
"Two days," I murmured to myself, steeling my resolve. "I can do this." And with one last glance at Isaac's form in front of me, I forced my legs to keep moving, propelling myself forward into the unknown.
As we raced across the snow-covered landscape, some other candidates used a launcher to fly through the trees. I had seen the devices in the training center but avoided them because I had been told that there weren’t enough sturdy trees to ensure safe travel between the branches to propel a whole human forward. Once they were down on the ground, they started running. A few kids started rappelling down the side of the cliff. Others trudged through the snow, heads down and focused, and some slid down the shallow inclines, using their momentum to fly through the snow-dusted trees.
The trembling stopped after a few minutes, and I moved fluidly and lithely between the obstacles before me. My heart hammered in my chest, but I refused to let fear slow me down. This was my chance to prove my worth—to survive and thrive in a world that had been determined to break me.
Through the flurry of movement, I focused on Isaac's unmistakable hair just ahead of me. He moved with grace and precision that spoke volumes of his confidence, but the determined expression on his face sent a shiver down my spine.
"Focus," I scolded myself, shaking off the crippling wave of emotion. "You can't afford to lose yourself now."
I continued my slippery sprint through the snow, lungs burning from the cold air and the adrenaline pumping through my veins. The forest around me felt eerily quiet as if the trees themselves were holding their breath, waiting to see what would become of us.
"Watch your step!" someone shouted behind me, followed by unmistakable movement in the snow. A competitor stumbled down the incline, his body twisting and contorting in a sickening display of helplessness. He tumbled headfirst into the snowy ground, landing right in front of me with a sickening crunch. I heard the unforgettable sound of bone cracking against a rock, and I couldn't suppress the gasp that escaped my lips.
"Keep moving," Isaac hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me along. His grip was firm and bruising through the thick layers of my unique winter clothing.
"I know," I murmured, swallowing hard as I forced my gaze away from the fallen competitor. My stomach churned at the thought of what had just happened, but I knew Isaac was right—I had to keep moving. That was the only way to survive this brutal competition.
"Did you see that?" another candidate asked, eyes wide with fear and awe. "He didn't even stand a chance being that short.”
"Shut up," Isaac snarled, his fierce gaze never leaving mine. I could see the fire in his eyes, the unyielding determination that pushed him onward. “That could’ve been you.”
