Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25 Wolves on the Prowl

“Ugh, I need a break. I can’t go on anymore!”

“Totally. Training all day is killing me. I don’t care about prize money or a dorm. Let’s just quit.”

Overhearing, Kaylee snapped, “How can you be so selfish? We’re a team. Your lousy performance affects us all!”

The two shrugged carelessly. Jezebel quipped, “Who cares? If we drag you down, tough luck!”

Sonya chimed in, “Exactly. You chose to be in our group. The instructor put us together, not our call.”

In reality, the pair planned to sabotage Violeta deliberately.

Before the assessment, Zelena approached, pretending to be concerned for Violeta, saying, “My family wants my sister back. Do your best to ruin Violeta’s chances. Only then will she be willing to leave and return to the Blake family.”

Jezebel and Sonya fell for Zelena’s manipulation.

Of course, Zelena promised them a handsome incentive.

Zelena had dangled fifty thousand in front of Jezebel and Sonya to ensure their cooperation in sabotaging Violeta.

Why would they refuse to get fifty thousand without the struggle of earning a high ranking and currying favor with Zelena?

Jezebel and Sonya eagerly agreed. So, as the group entered the mountains, they began. intentionally slacking off, slowing down the team.

Violeta knew the mountain route well. Securing a top–five position was possible without slackers– maybe not a guaranteed first, but certainly respectable.. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

However, with Jezebel and Sonya in their current state, ending up in the bottom ten seemed inevitable.

Violeta suspected Zelena had poisoned their minds behind her back.

Kaylee asked them, “What more do you want to start moving again? Isn’t the fifty thousand prize tempting enough?”

Certainly not! Why go through the hard work for the money when they could slack off and still receive the same amount?

Jezebel and Sonya just rolled their eyes at Kaylee, not bothering to respond. Persuasion didn’t work for them.

Silent but determined. Violeta moved forward, ripping the badges from Jezebel and Sonya’s

shoulders

Jezebel and Sonya sprang to their feet, glaring at Violeta, demanding. “Hey! What’s you problem?

Violeta clutched their badges, her tone sharp. “These badges are tagged with GPS. If we aver get lost, the instructors can zero in on us. Without GPS, in the vastness of Mount Wilson, you might as well be ghosts, even if you kick the bucket”

“The back mountains might be clear of wild beasts, but who’s to say they won’t return, catching a scent of you and chasing you down? Sit tight and prepare for the worst if you’re hanging around.”

“Kaylee, let’s get moving Violeta pinched their badges and turned on her heel, and Kaylee followed suit.

Jezebel and Sonya stood paralyzed, surrounded by darkness. After Violeta’s ominous words, sinister thoughts crept in, sending shivers down their spines.

Who would dare stick around?

Jezebel and Sonya hustled to catch up.

“Hold on! Wait for us! The two who claimed exhaustion were now moving briskly.

Kaylee grinned and said to Violeta. “Your method works! But how did you know the GPS was in the badges?”

“Just a hunch”

After the past assessment, the instructors collected the badges one by one. Violeta quessed the GPS must be in them.

Jezebel and Sonya, unwilling to gamble with their lives, obediently followed to climb the

mountain

To save energy, Violeta rarely spoke along the way.

Meanwhile, Jezebel and Sonya attempted to stall their progress, but Violeta had control of

the badges

As long as Violeta walked, they had to follow.

The dense woods in the deep mountains shrouded everything in impenetrable darkness. Falling behind meant they’d vanish into the blackness

Violeta wasn’t about to wait around for them. So, the four trudged on without a break for an

hour.

Jezebel and Sonya were gasping for air, their calves trembling. “Are you sure about this direction? It feels like we’ve been walking forever, and nothing’s changed around us! You’re not leading us in circles, right?”

Kaylee, drained but steadfast, remained by Violeta’s side. “If you’re done, feel free to stop.

Too Shas got

of our shoulder badges hostage. He wouldn’t be here.

Bump noted wgrantly saving “rest to you think we wanted to follow te te minge

was on how wild

thes gary lesang ve on some mid catht We could be going in the

Vos friss her water, stowed the bottle, and flung their shoulder badges a

are

ke and son ganen for badges saling a wave of relief

metalye they could sack weld, Videtariesshed a bombshell of truth. But don’t We now off the onged val. If youre keen on not getting lost, sum back or sit

tall 1 pad the with the light. Or ive heard there might be wild wolves

we

that?

By dad, Wire We ve deviated from the path already? Can we even find our way

Ay cant recall the way we camer

SARA 9172d, “teen koen you were leading us astray! Look at this mess now! homa, Poltes disaded fus to know where you’re going, and you’ll lead us into trouble

Ched to secure a good tanong in the previous life’s mountain climbing She knew the closest trail.

TMS www.

However, her team groved her advice, so she didnt press the matter. They abandoned the **Oring to climb the mountain with the team. Consequently, they walked for three fours withod teaching the finish line. The team leader even led them astray, only being found by the structor when daylight broke

As a result, she missed out on the prize and the opportunity for a single–person dormitory. In this life, Violeta waseft willing to let go of the chance to take the shortcut. It wasn’t about the prize money or the chance at a single person dormitory

She was dead set on breaking the record, outdoing Hayden and his crew. That’s why she needed to venture into this uncharted shortcut

Sompa and Jezebel looked a bit spooked “Goodness gracious! You had no clue about the waf foute gang to get us all killed!”

Violeta shot them indifferently, slung on her backpack, and geared up to move forward.

“Well, I’ve handed back your shoulder badges. Whether you want to tag along or not, it’s your

Without a backward glance, Violeta kept striding ahead. Kaylee swiftly threw on her backpack and stuck close by

VINPIET 2D MOINES DIT SING PTOW!

Jezebel and Sonya reluctantly shouldered their backpacks and followed behind. This time, they didn’t dare kick up any fuss.

The dread of being left behind overshadowed concerns about their deal with Zelena. In the face of potential run–ins with wild wolves or worse, their previous agreements faded into insignificance.