"Just when you think you've hit rock bottom, you realize you're standing on another trapdoor" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx6gB5CDIE
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- Marisha Pessl399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2FoibSHqK
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Before my alarm started blaring, I opened my eyes 10 minutes ahead of it. I immediately jumped out of bed before the bed started realizing I'm awake and glues me to herself. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsVcAIVNFi
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I involuntarily started stretch-yawning then went to the bathroom to take a shower. A shower in the mornings was one of the best ways to wake up, however, a shower at night was one of the best ways to have a good sleep as well. If it was up to me I'd shower everyday. But I did that for a while, and I ended up with dry skin and messed up hair. And to top it off, my hair was on the wavy and curlier side. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmSeXwJh8e
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I got out of the bathroom fully changed into my dress. After the new rulers took over which was a few years back, alot changed. One of them was that people started wearing Victorian style dresses, both men and women. It was more of a rule that everyone agreed upon. However, at home and in your own room it was fine to wear whatever you wanted even if it was a casual jeans and a top. As long as you weren't outside. This was mostly because of the fashion industry. Everyone knew that the previous king and queen loved their Victorian era fashion which was sort of odd coming from a "heartless" according to outsiders, king. But the citizens loved them so much that ended up making it a rule to wear these. There were rarely anyone that didn't like our rulers. It was hard to find. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafvTleTA6U
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I wore a long brown dress and put my long curls into a ponytail. I passed by the kitchen quietly to not wake anyone up and grabbed a few fruits to eat. After I was done, I checked myself once more in the mirror and counting the things I needed to take for identification. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2w28R7EHU
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I finally stepped out of the house. The royal castle wasnt too far away, it was in the center of the city. It made it more convinient for everyone to easily reach it during disasters or anything of sorts. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxYAGxHdnH
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Once I made my way to the castle,the royal guards took me to a waiting ground for the current king to appear. I discretely looked around to find myself with the top students of the academy. Only the top students could compete to rule over the warriors. A male and a female were always selected. Romance was forbidden as the Generals unless they turned out to be mates. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BWRme9iCo
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I found out that ten people were competing, there were six males and four females. I didn't have much competition then. Everyone was assigned to fight the opposite gender first. If you could not fight at all, then you were out. But if you could put up a good fight and show willingness, the king will judge you to stay till the real fight between each gender begins. The best of the females and the best of the males will become the leaders of the warriors. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv84ITE4Cbl
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There were still people that were nasty, saying women don't have anything to do with warriors. That they are too weak minded. There were even nasty comments about men too. That if they became leaders of the warriors, their life will be gone and they will never find a mate to settle with. But anyone who was here knew all of this and still decided to fight for it. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rgCpNo6xi
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King Cian made his way to his rightful throne, he stopped for a second as he turned around and looked at me. I instantly bowed my head to show my respect, and so did everyone else. Once he sat down, the guard announced to pay attention to our king. I instantly looked up and stood up properly.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAaMN5AKC9
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Previously, they took us to change our clothes into fighting gears. We weren't provided with a real sword of course, it was wooden so there would be no chance of intentionally killing someone. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXWfbeZT0g
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As I looked up, I saw his majesty staring right at me. He had his hands on the arm rests of the throne and motioned to one of the guards to come closer without breaking eye contact. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7T2mgTJx
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He nodded his head as the guards spoke to him then he dismissed the guard. I looked down as a sign of respect before staring at him for too long. He was the king I couldn't stare for too long before feeling intimidated even though I've never been intimidated by others before. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgXSkAiuqK
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The guards announced for the fights to start. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdxlflmTwa
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My rival was one of the males. We started fighting. He took a few jabs at me, but that's what I intended for him to do. I wanted him to think he had me and that I had let my guard down, then I would strike when he least expected it. He smiled with victory as he was about to put the wooden sword through my stomach. But I looked at him and smiled in return as I unexpectedly dodged it swiftly and put him in a headlock with my sword. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDMBc5XGjH
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The guards announced the victorious. Now, there were seven of us left. Four men and three women. The first two girls fought like their lives depended on it. The blonde haired girl won as the black haired girl was fallen beneath her heavily breathing. The guard announced the winner. The winner held a hand out to the woman beneath her, and she helped her up with a smile. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRQZQDQad3
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Now it was my time to fight her. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k2Hi9AR7l
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I stood in front of her readying my sword in what she may have thought it was poorly handled. But I meant to trick her. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTgWKx2ktx
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She circled me as I stood there watching her. She knew what she was doing. she was good. This is going to be an interesting fight. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTkQN32jmW
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She lunged at me as I thought she was going to jab at my head, but once she was closer she went for my stomach. I heard a few gasps as the audience thought that she had me from the beginning. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCGi9krLNK
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I smirked. This girl knows what she is doing. I acknowledged her,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk6usSVTBa
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"It is an honor to be fighting you"399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YIqpILGzF
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I instantly jumped away from her before she had me. Her face fell slightly, but she composed herself quickly. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uRtpffhzb
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She started circling me again as I did the same with her while dragging the tip of my sword against the floor.
She seemed to realize she had judged me wrongly as sweats started forming on our foreheads. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPKxkOU41A
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I knew how to have her. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4ukpcvmAD
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I noticed a small limp in her leg as I got closer without her noticing while we circled each other. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBcbQoNqfZ
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Once she noticed I was too close, she tried to jump away. But as I had the upper hand, I dropped into position and hit her foot with my own with a kick. She stumbled about to fall but she tried catching herself. But it was too late, I had her where I wanted her. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJaoQjT4qU
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I once went for her other foot that she was balancing herself on, and I kicked it. She buckled as I pushed her down on the cement floor completely. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlojssW5wf
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I looked down at her as we both were trying to catch our breath. I had the tip of my sword directly on her throat. She tried to catch up and jab her sword at me, but I stepped on her hands as she dropped her swords with a pained expression not letting any voice of pain out. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM5rSXZ9wx
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The guard was speaking to the king as I didn't move and inch. My head started ringing from the excitement of the fight. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqTMApdGz0
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"The female winner has been decided, you can go back to your positions" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lYZDM60Zw
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As he announced that, I dropped my sword dropping next to the blonde. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj62gX8n1Jl
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"Are you okay?" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3z149xVh2
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She smiled at me "you're good" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigzb8BZjQV
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I smiled back as I held a hand out and wrapped my other arm under hers to support her.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xSfWFRsMP
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"Thank you" she started tearing up as her face changed a bit. I looked around to see a few chairs. I tried to hide her face as one of the guards was approaching us. I glared at his direction, but he didn't seem to get the message. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcgNNAIPiW
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I sat her down "It was my dream to win, I trained so hard" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIKVZczLqG
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I frowned "I'm sorry" she looked up smiling at me. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjaMXUrsbk
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"You don't need to apologize for doing what you wanted to do" she held my hands "I wish you best of luck" my face broke into a smile mirroring hers. But the moment was inturrupted by the guard. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRODLHD0KNl
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"ma'am, we are pleased to announce that you have been selected as one of the leaders, please follow me if you accept your position" he bowed respectfully as I turned around to see someone else helping the blonde girl for medical treatment. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Z5sDWo6m
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The guard halted as if he had remembered something and then he suddenly whispered for others to not catch on,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlgtHdxino
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"The king has requested you"
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