"Just when you think you've hit rock bottom, you realize you're standing on another trapdoor" 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3ulBzQKam
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- Marisha Pessl376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpBp2RwAkW
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOw0ZtndGP
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMcSq0JR7B
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG8T7ya8oK
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnUMnMQWij
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPlhx65dVX
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV37WnH4Le
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9lSaRzoMH
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ5yaDyzZc
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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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22aR23A27K
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XnXoHcIOc
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6nQ7jAEmc
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmMnmCytrp
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The guards announced for the fights to start. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjiqcn7D4T
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqJzOd1vUw
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDiATvQtLa
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Now it was my time to fight her. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqkVhFG5bs
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3WLLf8x1p
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7poZXo7YN
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidx1GaEoZA
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I smirked. This girl knows what she is doing. I acknowledged her,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJCULts1or
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"It is an honor to be fighting you"376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqDVnhYrlI
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I instantly jumped away from her before she had me. Her face fell slightly, but she composed herself quickly. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuis4GZk7Iy
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy9GkKUQqD
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I knew how to have her. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4B5kJ3Vvk
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I noticed a small limp in her leg as I got closer without her noticing while we circled each other. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY2avO8tOP
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y6PCOJ9UM
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKPVzRFFu3
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7emc5EXfn
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Xrh1fujA
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"The female winner has been decided, you can go back to your positions" 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi4QxjBz4g
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As he announced that, I dropped my sword dropping next to the blonde. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMtI6uY1IG
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"Are you okay?" 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhm5JBGnJc
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She smiled at me "you're good" 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SeYPqkeUz
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I smiled back as I held a hand out and wrapped my other arm under hers to support her.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM9jc32XJN
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAJoOj11G8
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I sat her down "It was my dream to win, I trained so hard" 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9NdwbR0ua
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I frowned "I'm sorry" she looked up smiling at me. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYpxcrpKj5
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64LpGhxwir
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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. 376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt9L4jje1e
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The guard halted as if he had remembered something and then he suddenly whispered for others to not catch on,376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5ss4Aw4qk
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"The king has requested you"
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