26. Trust

" Hurry up ! Move your skinny ass, Weybright! Three more approaches ! "

Once again, training takes place in the backyard. But this time, it was different. After yesterday's incident, Adam's attitude changed. He stopped giving them breaks and drove them like horses, to their very limit. But at the moment you are training only Sasha.

Ann overdid it too much yesterday and Adam gave her a day off. So there were only three people on the training ground. Adam, Sasha and the tension between them. This could be immediately noticed by the fact that Adam stopped calling Sasha by name.

Now he addresses her either by her last name or "hey blonde! ". This only added to Sasha's guilt.

Adam sat on her back while she did push-ups with weights on her hands. He wasn't joking when he said that he would triple their workouts, now they will have to put a lot more effort into doing push-ups at least once.

" What are we thinking, Weybright? Don't worry your head. Your task now is not to think but to act. "

Sasha just bit her lip and silently continued to do push-ups. There was nothing she could do, because she had destroyed everything herself. The only thing left for her is to silently obey him and secretly hopes that he will forgive her.

Sasha spent three whole hours training. Without breaks, without water or help. Just heavy exercises and Adam's critical voice. It was her personal hell. As soon as the training was over, she immediately fell down and closed her eyes, catching her breath.

Adam got up from her back and looked at her semi-dead state. She was barely breathing and her whole body was shaking a little.

( Maybe I overreacted ? ) – he scratched his head

(Maybe I loaded it too much. But she deserves it. It is necessary to imprint in her mind that you can not throw a team. I remember many times how on Earth she left us alone with our own problems. ) – he walked away and took a bucket of water

(She almost never interfered in our problems, but behaved like a leader. But she definitely isn't. ) – he went up to Sasha and looked at her with a cold gaze

(And apparently I'll have to teach her that. Sasha must learn to work in a team. Otherwise, in the future they will just die without me. ) – he gently touched the object in his pocket

(I won't always be around, no, I don't want to be around them at all....I need to speed up. )

[ SHHH ! ]

"Kya ! "

Adam poured a bucket of cold water on her, making her jump in surprise. She immediately got up from the ground and glared at him.

"Eat, wash and change. " – he threw the bucket out of his hands

"For today, your training is not over yet. I'll be waiting for you in the village. You have an hour. "

Then he turned away and left. Sasha remained standing there with an empty look, after which she blew up and ran to her room, overtaking Adam.

(If you can't do it yourself, I'll make you learn how to work in a team. ) – he grinned

(It's time to show you what happens if you don't listen to me. )

-----------------------------------------

Sasha came to the village and saw everyone fussing around. Every villager was running back and forth, some were shaking with excitement and expectation. She quickly walked to the center of the village, to the statue of the mayor. Adam was already waiting for her there.

He was sitting on a small bench and reading a book. Noticing her presence, he stood up and waved his hand, ordering her to follow her.

"You have seriously disappointed me. "

Sasha shuddered. It started again.

"But you failed not only me, but also your friend, which is much worse. You can't work in a team, you can't listen to others, and you'll never, ever be able to become a leader with such a disregard for business. "

With every word he said, the grave under Sasha's feet was deepening by a couple of meters. Her shoulders hunched, and her head pressed into them to hide from his words.

"Today, I'll give you an extra lesson. Specially for you. " – he stopped and she crashed into his back

She rubbed her nose and looked up. She immediately noticed a giant flyer with the mayor's face and the inscription under it…

" [ The annual Worthwood Valley Race]....where have you brought me? "

" This is an annual race in which teams participate. " – he pointed to one of the teams

It was an old couple. They were wearing the same clothes and had war paint on their faces. But most importantly, they were connected. Hand to hand, foot to foot. One half of the body was tied to the other.

"The team race will show how amphibians can get along with each other. " he turned to her

" Today, we will take part in it. In this race, you will learn what teamwork is. Listen to me carefully, Sasha Weybright. " – Sasha immediately straightened up

"I'm giving you a task, the last ones. If you do not fulfill it, you can say goodbye forever to the position of leader, respect and my trust. He pointed to the crowd

"You have to find a partner and enter the top three with him. It doesn't matter to me which place, the main thing is to get into the top three. I want to see how you get a stranger to trust you and recognize you as a leader. " - he turned away from her and waved at her

"In this race, you have to become the leader. Show me what you're capable of, Waywright. " – he turned to her and his eyes were burning gold

"Prove to me that I can trust you with the team. Don't disappoint me..."– the crowd closed him, leaving only his voice

"...this time. "

Sasha rubbed her eyes. But Adam was no longer there. She quickly recovered and entered the crowd. She knew for sure that she had to find a partner.

(I have to regain lost trust. If I can't even do that, then how can I regain HIS trust? ) – she made her way into the crowd and began searching

(Win the race, prove that I am capable of becoming a leader, gather the girls, return to Earth and find Adam. I have to do it, I just... have to. )

-----------------------------------

" Participants ! Welcome to the annual, 232, Worthwood Run! "

Toddy, the mayor's assistant, was speaking to a crowd of amphibians. She was wearing a colorful hat and holding a cane, pointing at a map.

"This year we have changed our race a little ! This year, we will evaluate your team skills! So, let's start with the fact that I will introduce our judges! he waved his hand, pointing to a small table in the distance

" Let's welcome the oldest participant of our races, Mrs. Tree Frog! "

An old frog appeared in public. She ate as she moved her legs, holding on to a cane. One of his eyes went blind. But this did not diminish her vigilance. She waved to the crowd, then sat down in her seat.

" Our second participant, amphibian scientist! He spent many years delving into the secret knowledge of books, welcome Mr. Adamantius! "

This time Adam came out. He just nodded to the crowd, then sat down and drew attention to a certain couple in the crowd.

" And finally, on the last judge! Hya ! " – Toddy made a strong jump and landed on the last chair

"And that's me. And now, let's talk about the new route. " - He snapped his finger and a giant map opened up in front of him

" This year we are evaluating teamwork, so we have complicated our route. Now your route will pass through a Dark Forest, after which you will turn into the Dead Marshes, then you will have to overcome the Gorge, well, the finish line, the Valley of the Sands. "

He clicked again and the card closed.

"Well, are you ready?!"

" YES ! " – everyone shouted, except for one girl

Sasha looked at all this and sweat streamed down her back. She could clearly feel Adam's gaze and the way he was watching her closely. She shook her head and looked at her partner.

"So, what kind of abilities do you say you have? "

"Money.. " – the huge toad crossed her arms over her chest and raised her chin

"..as well as unlimited power. "

Sasha stared blankly at him, after which a thought flashed through her head.

(I'm screwed.)

" ATTENTION ! THE BEGINNING IS IN FIVE! ... "

All teams are ready.

" FOUR ! "

Sasha looked at Adam, then shook her naked and stood on the starting one.

" THREE ! TWO! ONE! LET 'S GET STARTED ! "

[ BANG ! BANG ! BANG ! ]

All the amphibians immediately jumped up and ran. Most of those who walked in front were trampled by those. Who was behind. Some simply jumped over their opponents, while others beat them with their tongues.

Sasha looked at all this confusion, then turned her gaze to Adam. She didn't know from where, but she could definitely feel this sadistic bastard smiling at her.

" Come on ! We need to get ahead ! "

From that moment, THE RACE HAS BEGUN!