13.

Sett walked cautiously behind The Stone, his heart pounding with nervousness. He had decided to agree to The Stone's offer but was curious if he was ready for what was to come. As they approached the cafeteria, Sett felt his anxiety increase. The aura emanating from every person inside was dangerous, intimidating even the strongest-willed individuals.

Stone looked back at Sett and nodded at him. "Come kid, today your training is starting."

Sett hesitated momentarily, but he knew he couldn't back down now. He followed The Stone into the dimly lit room; the only light sources came from the flickering candles on each table. The other members in the room silently ate their meals, all wearing dark clothing with weapons strapped to their belts.

The Stone led Sett to a table in the center, where two people were seated. Sett couldn't help but stare at the woman sitting before him. She was tall and lean, with long brown hair that cascaded down her back in loose waves. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through him, and Sett felt a shiver run down his spine. He noticed the intricate tattoos that covered her arms and neck and wondered what they meant. She was dressed in a tight black jumpsuit accentuating her curves, and Sett found it hard to look away. Despite her beauty, an air of danger about her made Sett feel uneasy. He knew that this woman was not to be trifled with.

Next to her sat a man calmly eating his meal. Sett's gaze shifted to him, and he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the two. The man has golden hair and blue eyes contrasting sharply with women's darker features. He seemed calm and collected, yet Sett could sense a certain level of danger emanating from him as well. His red shirt with rolled-up sleeves exposed his muscular arms, and Sett's eyes were drawn to the bandage wrapped around his right hand. He wondered what kind of injuries this man had sustained and how he had acquired them. Overall, Sett couldn't shake the feeling that he was surrounded by individuals far more dangerous than anyone he had ever encountered.

As The Stone left, she turned to Sett and said, "Hi, you can call me Fox. I'll be responsible for your training."

"Sett," he replied, shaking her hand.

Fox's grip was surprisingly firm, and Sett couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain as she shook his hand. She seemed to be assessing him as she looked him up and down, taking in every detail. Sett could see that she was sizing him up, trying to determine his strengths and weaknesses.

"So, Sett, you're new here," Fox said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "I'm in charge of your training, and I have to say, I'm looking forward to it." Sett could feel a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

He thought training with Fox would be much more demanding than anticipated. "What kind of training can I expect?" Sett asked, trying to sound confident.

Fox grinned, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Well, let's say we don't hold back here. We train hard, and we train to win. You'll be pushed to your limits, both physically and mentally. But if you stick with it, you'll become stronger than ever."

Sett gulped. He had a feeling that he was in for a rough ride. But he was determined to prove himself and earn the respect of the members of The Stone.

As the meal ended, Fox, and the unknown man, stood up. "We're up," Fox said to her partner before turning to Sett. "Come on, let's get started."

Sett followed Fox and Repairman out of the room, his heart racing with anticipation and fear. He knew he had decided to join The Stone, and now he had to face the consequences.

Sett followed Fox and the blond man out of the cafeteria and into a nearly empty room with just a chair in the center. Fox leaned against the wall as he sat down and unwrapped her sandwich while The Repairman stood before him, slowly taking off his bandage.

"Hi, how are you? They call me The Repairman," the blond man said as he looked into Sett's eyes.

"What are you repairing?" Sett asked, intrigued.

"A lifetime of bad habits," The Repairman replied.

Sett raised his eyebrows with wonderment looking over towards calmly eating Fox.

"Okay," he said.

"Do me a favor?" said the blond man "cross your hand and behind your back." He walked around him and stood behind him.

Sett looked again at Fox and started moving nervously on the chair.

"It's okay," he said, tying Sett's hands with his bondage.

"Is it okay?" asked Sett.

Fox almost imperceptibly nods her head.

"Is that part of the greeting?" continued Sett. "Will you put a bag on my head?"

"No, there is no need for a bag," said a blond man finishing tying Sett's hands with a chair, "Not too tight?".

"No, it is nice."

The Repairman, still standing behind him, put both hands on Sett's shoulders and slowly gave him a massage. After a few seconds, he stopped, clapped his shoulder, and moved again in front of him.

Sett couldn't help but notice the gaze Fox was giving him. It was almost as if she was studying him. He shifted in his chair uncomfortably, feeling like a piece of meat on a plate.

"You seem nervous," she said, tilting her head to the side. "Don't be. We're just trying to help you."

Sett nodded, but the feeling of unease still lingered. He couldn't shake off the sense that he was in some trap.

"You're in good hands with us," The Repairman said, his voice soothing.

Sett took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He had to trust them, after all. The Stone wouldn't have sent him here if he didn't believe they could help him.

"So, what happens now?" Sett asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"We train," Fox said, a small smile forming.

Sett looked at her, trying to read her expression. He couldn't quite tell if she was mocking him or not. "Training for what?"

"Survival," The Repairman said. "We'll teach you how to fight, how to kill. You'll learn," his voice firm. "We'll make sure of it."

"Why are you here?" Fox asked Sett.

"Well, The Stone brought me here and introduced us to each other, remember?" Sett replied, but before he could say anything more, The Repairman landed a powerful punch on his face, causing him to cry in pain.

"Aghhh!!" Sett yelled as he slumped in his chair, blood streaming from his nose. Sett felt like he were in a dream. It was like watching himself from outside of his own body. He could see the punches raining down on him but couldn't feel the pain. It was as if he had transcended his body and was just an observer of the violence.

The Repairman continued their assault on Sett's battered body. Each blow was delivered with precision and power, leaving Sett gasping for air and struggling to stay conscious. Despite the brutality of the beating, he could sense that there was some method to their madness. They weren't just hitting him for the sake of hitting him. There was some deeper purpose behind the violence.

The punches kept coming relentlessly, raining down on Sett until he finally lost consciousness, his clothes and face bloodied and unrecognizable. Finally, Sett's body gave out, and he slumped forward in the chair. His head hung limply, and blood dripped down his face and onto his shirt.