The alarm blared loudly next to Awa's bed, jolting her awake from a restless sleep. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as the weight of the last week pressed down on her again. The constant knot of anxiety in her stomach reminded her of everything she was trying to forget, yet couldn't shake. Kelsey's face haunted her, even in her dreams.
Awa glanced at the clock. It was early, but she had no time to linger in bed. Beatrice needed to get ready for school, and work was waiting. This routine—getting Beatrice ready, going to the radio station—was the only thing grounding her in the chaos that had been her life since that night. But today was different. Today, she would take another step to ensure she was never caught off guard again.
She forced herself out of bed, tiptoeing toward Beatrice's room. Her daughter was still fast asleep, her small form bundled under a blanket. Awa smiled softly, feeling a wave of protectiveness. This was who she was fighting for. Beatrice had no idea of the danger her mother was in or what Awa had been through. She would never know. Awa would make sure of that.
"Come on, sweetie," Awa whispered, gently shaking Beatrice awake. "Time for school."
Beatrice grumbled, rubbing her sleepy eyes, but eventually got up. After breakfast and a bit of coaxing to hurry, Awa dropped her daughter off at school. As she watched her disappear into the building, Awa couldn't help but feel that constant thread of anxiety tighten around her chest. Every day, she worried—would this be the day something went wrong? Would someone come for her? For Beatrice?
Shaking the thoughts away, Awa drove to the radio station. The morning show with Keira went smoothly, though Awa found herself distracted. The conversation felt hollow, like she was going through the motions. But even here, in the comfort of her familiar job, her senses were heightened. Every sound, every movement felt sharper, clearer. A part of her was always alert, waiting for something to happen.
As the day wore on, Awa's mind kept drifting back to her decision. She couldn't be passive any longer. She had to learn how to fight—not just with raw strength, but with skill. Her encounter with Kelsey had made that brutally clear. He was strong, and so was she, but she had barely survived the fight. It had been luck and instinct more than anything else.
After work, she had already planned her next step—Krav Maga.
She wasn't going alone, though. She had managed to convince Keira to come along, not because she expected her friend to be seriously interested, but because Awa needed an excuse. If anyone looked into why she was taking these classes, it would seem like a fun, harmless activity she and her friend had signed up for together. But in her heart, Awa knew this was more than that. This was about survival.
The Krav Maga school wasn't far from the station, and as they stood outside its brick walls, Awa couldn't help but feel a surge of nervous excitement. The sign above the door was faded, the letters barely visible, but the sounds coming from inside were unmistakable—the sharp thuds of fists hitting pads, the shuffle of feet on the mats.
Keira, standing next to her, looked skeptical. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, arms crossed as she peered inside the gym. "This place looks... intense. I mean, don't get me wrong, I could probably take down a few bad guys if I needed to." She flashed a playful grin, but there was a hint of real nervousness in her voice.
Awa smirked. "It'll be fine. Plus, it'll be fun to learn how to throw a real punch." She glanced at Keira, grateful for her friend's presence, even if Keira didn't fully understand why Awa was doing this. "Besides, you never know when you might need it."
Keira sighed dramatically but smiled. "Okay, okay. But if I end up with bruises, you're buying the drinks afterward."
"Deal," Awa said with a chuckle, pushing open the door.
Inside, the Krav Maga school was a far cry from the sleek, modern gyms Awa had seen before. It was simple, no-frills. Mats lined the floors, and punching bags hung from the ceiling. A group of students was already in the middle of a training session, following the lead of an instructor who immediately caught Awa's attention.
The instructor was an ex-military man, his movements fast and efficient, almost too fast to follow. His strikes were sharp, precise, and powerful—everything Awa knew she needed to be if she was going to survive in this new world she found herself in. But even more impressive than his speed was how calm he seemed, how in control of every move.
He's good, she thought, watching him closely. Awa had been stronger than Kelsey, but this instructor moved in ways that made even her heightened senses work harder to keep up. That, in itself, told her just how dangerous he would be in a real fight. This is exactly what I need.
As the instructor brought the current session to a halt, he noticed them standing by the entrance. He approached, his sharp eyes flicking between Awa and Keira. "New students?" he asked, his voice low and rough, yet not unfriendly. His posture was relaxed, but there was a tension beneath the surface, like a coiled spring ready to snap into action.
"That's right," Awa said, stepping forward. "We'd like to sign up."
He looked them over, clearly sizing them up. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright. We'll start you with the basics today. But understand this—Krav Maga isn't about looking cool or fancy techniques. It's about survival. Everything we do here is designed to end a fight quickly and decisively. No wasted movements, no mercy. You fight to stay alive."
Awa felt a chill run down her spine at his words. The truth of it hit her hard—staying alive. That was exactly what this was about for her.
Keira gave Awa a sideways glance. "What have you gotten me into?" she whispered, though there was a faint smile on her face. Despite her hesitation, Keira seemed to be warming up to the idea.
They joined the group on the mats, and the instructor wasted no time getting them started. For the next hour, Awa and Keira followed his lead, learning basic strikes, kicks, and defensive movements. Awa moved cautiously at first, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She copied the instructor's form as closely as possible, keeping her power in check. She didn't want anyone—least of all Keira—to notice just how strong she really was.
But even holding back, Awa could feel the difference between herself and the other students. While they struggled with the weight of their strikes or the speed of their reactions, Awa felt as if she could have gone much faster, much harder. Every movement felt easy, her body responding with a strength and agility that she hadn't fully realized she had.
At one point, the instructor paused in front of her, watching her movements with a critical eye. He crossed his arms, nodding slightly as she performed a defensive block. "Not bad," he said, his voice low. "But you're holding back."
Awa's heart skipped a beat. Did he know? She tried to keep her expression neutral. "I'm just getting the hang of it," she said, trying to sound casual.
The instructor raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Don't hold back in here. Out there, you won't get a second chance. Understand?"
Awa nodded, but inside, she was reeling. He had seen it—her potential, her power—but thankfully, he hadn't pressed the issue. Still, his words lingered in her mind. She had been holding back, and he was right—out there, in the real world, she couldn't afford to do that. She would have to train hard and learn to use every ounce of her strength if she wanted to survive.
As the class went on, Awa and Keira sparred together, practicing basic strikes and defenses. Keira was surprisingly nimble, dodging Awa's light jabs with a grin. "See? I told you I could hold my own," she teased, landing a soft punch on Awa's arm.
Awa laughed, though her mind was elsewhere. She was already thinking about the next step—how this training would prepare her for whatever came next. Because it wasn't just Kelsey. It wasn't just the werewolves. Awa knew that there was more to this world, and she was only beginning to scratch the surface.
By the time the class ended, Awa felt a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction. Her muscles ached, but it was a good ache—proof that she was growing stronger, more capable. Keira, on the other hand, was sprawled on the mat, panting.
"Okay, that was brutal," Keira said between breaths. "But I guess I survived."
Awa smiled, offering her a hand. "You did great. But I think I'll be the one buying drinks after this."
Keira grinned, pulling herself to her feet. "Deal. But next time, I expect a spa day after this madness."
As they walked out of the gym, the evening air cool against their skin, Awa felt a sense of calm settle over her. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was taking control, like she was no longer just reacting to what was happening around her. She was preparing, she was fighting back, and she was ready for whatever came next.