The poisoned Beer
Ava's POV
“It can’t be. Not him.”
I turned slowly, my body trembling as the figure stepped into view.
The past I had tried so hard to leave behind had finally caught up to me.
I felt dizzy, and I had to hold on to Gwen so I wouldn’t lose my balance. My head was spinning, and I was seeing stars. I thought I was going to lose consciousness.
“Ava, are you okay?” Gwen asked, her voice filled with concern. I tried to look at her, but I started seeing multiple versions of her. I knew right then I was in trouble. Could it be the snack they gave us at the arena?
“Yes, Gwen. I’m alright,” I lied between my teeths, not wanting to scare her. This competition was important, and I couldn’t let myself be a burden to her.
“You don’t look well though.” She placed her hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up.”
Drakon was right. I’ve been careless and walked right into the trap set by those who wanted me to fail. Someone was afraid of me, afraid enough to drug me. They didn’t want to kill me, just to mess with my focus and throw me off.
“I don’t feel good, Ava,” Maya, my wolf, whimpered inside. If Maya was affected, then I was really in trouble.
“You don’t belong here, Ava.” The voice of Landon echoed in my head, and I could see his image, even though I knew now it was just an illusion. Fear gripped me. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t strong enough to face them.
“Ava, what’s wrong? You’re wobbly. You’re scaring me. Come, sit down,” Gwen said as she guided me to an empty bench in the second row of the arena that other trainees were sitting at.
“I think… I think there was something in the snacks or drink they gave me,” I finally admitted. Maya was howling inside me, wanting to take over. My claws were coming out little by little. I quickly hid my hands under my vest to avoid getting disqualified.
If they knew I was disoriented before I stepped into the arena, I would be disqualified. How could I have been so stupid and forgetful?
“Oh no! What do I do? Did you drink all of it? Did you eat everything?” Gwen was panicking, clearly scared shitless for me.
“And the next contestant to come up in the arena is Gwendolyn Halo and Lara Croft,” the host’s voice boomed across the arena.
Talk about bad timing. Gwen looked at me, her eyes wide with fear. We knew the competition wasn’t going to be easy, but this was pure cruelty. Lara Croft was a top witch, everyone knew that. Gwen wasn’t to be underestimated either, but I wasn’t sure she could beat Lara.
“Oh goddess, I don’t want to leave you. I don’t know what they did to you. You look so pale. I’ll just cancel my fight,” Gwen said, tears forming in her eyes.
“Cancel? Never!” I pushed her gently toward the arena. “Go on, Gwen. I’ll be fine. Even if I am not, you are not allowed to leave that arena until you beat the shit of Lara. Make me proud pumpkin.”
“You scared, pig? Afraid I’ll ruin your ugly face?” Lara taunted Gwen as she approached.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP, BITCH!” I growled, my voice dangerously low. I was on the edge of snapping. One thing I’ve learned since my training began was that none of these people, not even Jocelyn, could match my strength.
Lara backed off, startled by the intensity of my voice. “I’ll make sure to give your little friend a makeover she’ll never forget,” she sneered before walking off to the stage. The crowd cheered as she entered the arena.
“Will you really be okay?” Gwen asked one more time.
“Yes! Now go put that bitch in her place!” I told her. She nodded, offering me a small, hesitant smile before stepping onto the stage.
‘May the goddess protect you,’ I thought.
I felt someone’s gaze burning into me, unrelenting. I looked up, knowing my eyes were flickering between blue and silver as Maya and I fought for control. I couldn’t let Maya take over; if she did, there would be destruction, and I’d get disqualified.
There, sitting in the pavilion closest to the arena, was Raphael. His eyes were locked on me, intense and filled with concern. His white hair flowed elegantly over his shoulders, and his gray eyes seemed to pierce right through me.
He signaled Caleb to come closer, and they exchanged quiet words. I had no doubt they were talking about me.
“Ava, are you okay?” Raphael’s voice echoed in my head, using that mind-link thing he always did. Maya growled angrily, hating the intrusion.
“Get out of my head,” I snarled, loud enough for the trainees around me to notice. Their whispers began immediately.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know. She looks sick.”
“She must be scared. I would be, too. She’s just a little wolf against all these powerful beings.”
“Yeah, she might not survive.”
Their whispers and fake concern didn’t go unnoticed. Maya roared inside me, demanding to be let out, ready to tear them apart.
“Ava, tell me what’s wrong, or I’m coming over there,” Raphael’s voice growled in my mind, the threat clear. I couldn’t let him know. I needed to win this competition. If Raphael notices anything, I won't allow me to fight.
“Hi, Ava,” someone said from behind me. I knew that voice. I turned and met the cruel smile of Jocelyn.
“How did you like my gift?” she asked, her smile widening. Everyone around us started watching. Of course, it was her. She was the one who poisoned me.
“Look over there,” someone whispered.
“Jocelyn’s going to finish her off now.”
“I didn’t know anyone could be as stupid as you,” Jocelyn sneered. She tried to hold back her laughter but failed.
She leaned in close, her hand resting on my shoulder as she whispered, “Remember I told you that you’d regret it? You must’ve been desperate to just drink whatever was offered to you. Look around. No one else ate or drank anything but you.”
I glanced around and realized she was right. I was the only one who had consumed the food and drink they’d handed out. Even Gwen hadn’t touched hers.
“Meet you in the arena,” Jocelyn said, patting my shoulder before walking away with that same cruel smile.
“I’m coming over, Ava,” Raphael growled in my mind.
That was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.
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