9 The Power of Words

Days had passed, the candidates gets closer and closer. Their decisions slowly changes welcoming new options for their stay in the facility. They were served with healthy food and given a work-out area. All of them are active except for Tyler. Having a weak heart limits his daily routine to just drink, eat, read and sleep. Ara noticed Tyler getting paler and paler since the very first day they've met. He often times have trouble breathing and complains about pain in his chest. General Johanssen is also aware of his son's current situation but he can't do anything about it.

"Tyler, are you okay? Does your chest hurt again?" Ara sits beside him worrying about his condition.

"I am alright Ara, thanks for asking. Maybe I won't be able to last any longer. This project is the only option I have to live longer. But if everyone won't come up with a single decision, the delay may worsen my situation and I may end up being kicked out by the facility. Even my father is a General, he can't do a thing about it." Tyler and Ara are at the corner of the dining hall.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. But as you can see, we don't have the same outlook as Sofie. She's so positive about it but for me, I'm still hesitating."

"Hesitating? That means you're also considering the fact of pushing through the project." Tyler's eyes brightens.

"Don't get your hopes up. Yes, I've been considering it but my opinion doesn't matter."

"Every opinion matters Ara, look at Sofie. She keeps on blabbering about how excited she is, all the opportunity by being a vampire. There maybe disadvantages but we can always sort it out. I hope everyone would consider it."

"Tyler, I don't know." Ara and Tyker kept talking and seems like they're even closer than before. They started talking about their lives and their experiences. Making Ara more curious about the project. Her curiosity leads her to decide on her fate.

Slacovich is going impatient and agitated with Sofie. Of all the candidates, he's the one Sofie kwpt on bugging. No matter how he pushes her away, she keeps following him around even at the work-out area. There's a sparring ring and Sofie thought of the greatest idea to piss Slacovich even more.

"Hey, Slaco." She grins teasingly poking Slacovich's cheek.

"You gave you the permission to call me that? Back off, I'm gonna do some work out to release my agitation. You better stop, or I won't think of you as a woman." He glared at her, he then move towards the punching bag while removing his shirt. Sofie stares at his body and then shakes off when he saw Slacovich smirking.

"Ehemm, don't think that your body's that masculine coz it isn't."

"I don't need your opinion."

"Hey old man, how about a deal." Upon hearing her call him old man, he stopped the punching bag and hurried to Sofie's side.

"What deal?"

"Look at the ring, how about a match between us."

"You gotta be kidding me." He turns away and gets back on sweating off.

"I'll shut up and won't talk to you anymore if you win, but if I win. You're gonna be mine. How does it sounds?" She teasingly winks at him.

"A sparring? I don't fight woman. You better just wear an apron and cook in the kitchen. Your small fists won't help you anyways."

"Are you afraid to lose old man?" Sofie stands beside Slacovich and then kicked the punching bag forcefully hitting him directly on the face. Slacovich then went inside the ring out of anger and takes theee deep breaths.

"Don't blame me if I cripple you."

"Now your talking." Sofie slides inside the ring and removes the jacket she's wearing.

"You'll be mine too if I win, so you have to do what I say."

"Deal."

"You can't start a fight without a referee." Diego leans on the door as he watches the two readying to fight.

"Good timing, you can be one." Sofie signals him to come over as a referee and Diego follows.

"I'll set the rules then, it's a one rule fight. Whoever gives up loses."

"Okay!" Both agreed on the rule.

"Fighters ready, Fight!" Diego then jumps out of the ring. The other candidates are intrigued and went inside the work-out area. They watch as the two observes each others gestures waiting for the someone to take the first move.

Sofie quickly do a side step ax kick while Slacovich dodges it and grabs her feet pushing her to the side. Sofie falls down in her sides but then stands up ignoring the pain.

"You're not a gentleman Slaco. But not bad."

"Stop talking just give me all you've got. Or just surrender and be mine." He stands still crossing his arms.

Sofie then tackles him but the latter grab her by the waist and locks his arms around her, with Sofie's agility she then tightens her grip on him then stomp on his foot as she bolted with force and slides a foot behind his feet bending her knee then pushes him backwards causing him to lose his balance. When Slacovich falls down on his back, she then uses her wrist to choke him as her legs locks him up. He knows Sofie isn't that strong to keep him from moving, he rolls up grabbing her right arm pinning it against her back, she tries pushing him away by kick him but he blocks it. Slacovich's grips tightens even more, everyone can see Sofie in pain but she doesn't wanna give up. He draws his face closer to hers and grins.

"Give up already or you won't be able to use this arm."

"I--- I won't give up just yet. Ahhh!!!!" Will all her might she uses her head to hit Slacovich's head. Both of them lays flat on the ring touching their foreheads.

"Dammit! You don't really know when to give up!" He's hurt but he knows she's more in pain than him. He stands up closing his fist and then kneels punching her down, well, he never intends to hit her but the ground instead. Sofie knew she loses the fight and shed tears. Everyone there was astounded by the fight but much more when Slacovich carried her in his arms asking where the infirmary is at. Li takes them there while the others helped cleaning the work-out area.

At the infirmary Li helps Sofie to change her clothes while Slacovich waits outside the door. When she's done changing Li went outside giving the two sometime to talk. Slacovich sits beside her bed staring at her.

"What is it now, you win the fight I always keep my words."

"Just shut up." He grabbed her arm but this time he's being gentle. He massages the area where he gripped her tightly back then, she complains everytime he raise it up so he just gently massages it to ease the contracting muscles. He let her lay down and put an ice pack on her swelling forehead.

"You can be gentle if you want to, why do you always keep that frowning look on your face."

"I told you to shut up." He presses the ice pack deeply on her forehead.

"Aw! I'll quiet down just be gentle." She felt extremely exhausted it wasn't long till she fell asleep. Slacovich puts a blanket on her and quietly leaves the room.

Back in his room, he smiles thinking about the fight and how that stubborn Sofie keeps following him. Just the sight of her face leaves a smile he didn't even realize himself.

"That smile suits you better than the frowning look you always have." He panicly sits down looking to the door.

"Why are you up? You need to rest." Sofie went inside his room and sits beside him.

"I'm alright, this pain will go away eventually. I'm here to clarify one thing. I didn't lose that fight it's a draw. So I'm not yours to keep and I'm still gonna piss you off everytime." She chuckles.

"Having a loud mouth around is something new. Maybe I just need to get use to your unnecessary blabbering." He tries very hard to hide his giggles but failed. Sofie was stunned to see him giggle then shrug it off and laughed.

"Did I hit your head that hard? You suddenly become gentler."

"Maybe you did." The two of them laughed and started to talk. They feel comfortable with each other and opened up.

"Why are you every eager to proceed with the project?"

"Well, I grew up in the royal family. I know you won't believe me but I am a princess. Growing up to be one should follow rules and should have proper etiquette. Do as your told to make it short. But I don't want that kind of life and I started rebelling against my parents. Putting them to shame and yet, they still find a way to deal with the troubles I'm doing. I love my parents and all but I don't like the idea sitting in a big dining hall full of expensive food. Expensive clothing lines everything expensive. When I got out the castle for the first time my eyes were opened by the truth. There are homeless people who starved to death. While we live in luxury and take a blind eye on them. I don't wanna live like that." She sighs.

"That's why you rebel against them to keep their attention to you. Why not ask them about it?"

"I did, but they just said if the government can't help them what power do we have? It seems like being in a royal family is just a show to preserve the culture of the country."

"What can this project do with your perspective?"

"Well, it's simple. I don't mind sacrificing myself for the name of justice. We will be working under the government aren't we. I know we will be given compensation more than we could imagine, I can help defend the poor in that manner. I know I'm being too ignorant of the outcome but if I can help my people in that way, I'm willing to go through anything. I am a Princess and I have a responsibility to my people." She tears up after saying everything she's been holding on by herself. Slacovich embraces her comfortingly feeling sorry for judging her so soon. She maybe loud but her heart is pure. Thinking the way she does may help him find something worthy for him, something different by just being an assassin. Maybe the life he wanted may start here. A new one and a new goal.