The training room hummed with an electric intensity, every corner meticulously arranged with tools of discipline and endurance. A row of padded dummies lined one wall; racks of unfamiliar weapons gleamed under stark fluorescent lighting. The air smelled of sweat and rubber, grounding Sophie in the reality of what she was about to undertake.
Leo walked in first, his calm presence masking a quiet intensity. Behind him was a tall, sharp-featured woman who moved with a predator's grace. Her piercing eyes scanned Sophie with a clinical detachment.
"Sophie," Leo began, his voice steady but encouraging, "this is Elena. She's the best we have—former operative, skilled in multiple combat forms, and an expert strategist. She's agreed to take you on."
Elena stepped forward, her voice as sharp as her gaze. "Agreed reluctantly," she corrected, crossing her arms. "I'm not here to babysit. If you're serious about this, you'll need to prove it."
Sophie met her gaze, unflinching. "I'm not here to waste anyone's time. Just tell me what I need to do."
A flicker of amusement passed over Elena's face, gone as quickly as it appeared. "We'll see," she said flatly. "Let's start with the basics."
Elena led Sophie to a training mat in the center of the room. "Hand-to-hand combat," she announced. "If you can't defend yourself, nothing else matters. Here—take this." She tossed Sophie a padded stick, and Sophie barely caught it in time.
"Your goal is to disarm me," Elena said, grabbing a stick of her own and stepping into a ready stance. "No rules. No mercy. Attack."
Sophie hesitated, glancing between the stick in her hand and Elena's poised figure. "What if I—"
"Don't overthink it," Elena interrupted. "Just act."
With a sharp breath, Sophie lunged forward, swinging clumsily toward Elena's side. It was a rookie's move, telegraphed and unbalanced. Elena dodged easily, her own stick snapping out to strike Sophie's wrist. The padded blow stung more than Sophie had expected, and the stick clattered to the ground.
"Pathetic," Elena said, her tone devoid of sympathy. "You're too predictable. Again."
Sophie retrieved the stick, her jaw tightening. This time, she aimed for Elena's shoulder, but Elena sidestepped with ease, sweeping Sophie's legs out from under her. Sophie hit the mat with a grunt, humiliation burning in her chest.
"Sloppy footwork," Elena said, standing over her. "You can't just rely on brute force. You have to think—anticipate."
Sophie scrambled to her feet, her frustration mounting. She lunged again, feinting left before striking right. Elena blocked her, but there was a momentary flicker of surprise in her eyes. Sophie gritted her teeth, pressing the advantage, but Elena countered with a fluid motion that sent the stick flying from Sophie's grip.
"Better," Elena admitted, stepping back. "You're starting to think. But you'll need to do a lot more than that if you want to survive."
The next challenge was the obstacle course. Elena led Sophie to a series of stations: walls to climb, tunnels to crawl through, balance beams to traverse, and targets to strike at the end.
"Speed, focus, and adaptability," Elena said. "Out there, you'll face the unexpected. Hesitate, and you're dead. This course is designed to push you to your limits."
Sophie surveyed the course, her stomach tightening. It looked like something out of a military training video—daunting and unrelenting. But she couldn't back down now.
"Go," Elena barked.
Sophie sprinted toward the first obstacle, a towering wall with a rope dangling in front. Her hands gripped the coarse rope, her arms straining as she pulled herself up. She slipped once, her foot scraping against the wall, but she forced herself to keep climbing, adrenaline driving her forward.
By the time she reached the top, her muscles were screaming, but there was no time to rest. She slid down the other side and dove into the next challenge—a narrow tunnel that required her to crawl on her hands and knees. The confined space sent a spike of panic through her chest, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.
When she finally emerged, gasping for air, she saw the final challenge: a silhouette target at the end of the room. A training pistol waited on a nearby stand. Her legs felt like lead as she stumbled toward it, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She picked up the gun, her hands shaking, and took aim.
The first shot went wide, hitting the edge of the target. Sophie cursed under her breath, steadying her grip. She took another breath, aiming carefully. This time, the shot hit closer to the center.
"Not bad," Elena said, appearing beside her. "But you're letting your emotions control you. Fear, frustration—they're clouding your focus."
"How do I stop that?" Sophie asked, her voice raw with exhaustion.
Elena's expression softened slightly. "You don't stop them. You channel them. Use every ounce of anger, every shred of grief, and turn it into fuel. Let it sharpen you, not weaken you."
Sophie stared at the target, Elena's words sinking in. She raised the gun again, her hands steadier this time. The next shot hit dead center.
Hours later, Sophie collapsed onto a bench, her body aching in ways she hadn't thought possible. Her hands were raw, her legs trembling. Leo approached, holding a bottle of water.
"Good work today," he said, his tone warm. "Elena doesn't give compliments, but if she didn't think you were capable, she'd have sent you packing."
"She didn't compliment me," Sophie muttered, taking the water and gulping it down.
"Trust me," Leo said with a faint smile. "She doesn't waste her time on people who can't keep up. The fact that you're still standing means something."
Sophie looked at him, her exhaustion giving way to a glimmer of determination. "This is harder than I thought it would be."
"Anything worth doing is," Leo replied. "But you're not alone in this. You have a team now. Trust us."
Sophie nodded slowly, the weight of his words settling in. Trusting others didn't come easily, but for Alex Jr.—and for herself—she would learn.