Cynthia Dion: As he waited for me to continue running, I reached my limit. I couldn't go on any longer. "I ca-----n’t," I muttered, kneeling down and placing my hands on my knees. The exhaustion was overwhelming, and I felt like I might faint at any moment. "Do---," he started to say, but I noticed the principal’s assistant approaching Atticus. They engaged in a brief conversation before Atticus stood up suddenly. He gestured for me to follow him. Despite the fatigue, I managed to force myself to walk over to him. "The principal has forgiven you, but you are not allowed inside until school is over," he stated, not bothering to look at my face. So I stayed outside, sitting under the tree, waiting until I heard the bell signaling the end of the school day. In the last few hours, the weather had deteriorated. The day had turned into night due to the thick clouds that had covered the sky. If I didn’t hurry, the rain would only add to my ordeal, as the storm was on the verge of starting at any moment. My gaze fell on the announcement board and some brochures left on the table for anyone to peruse. I rushed inside, crossing the corridor to quickly stash my belongings in my locker. "The Full Moon Contest!" I whispered, grabbing hold of the advertisement. The contest was scheduled for this upcoming full moon, targeting those who had recently turned 18 or were even older. It was set to take place in a few weeks, during which the school would be focusing entirely on our werewolf activities. Three rounds were conducted, with the culminating round featuring the two wolves selected from the male and female participants. The wolf who succeeded in capturing the moon flag would earn the opportunity to partake in the final round, which focused on showcasing the beauty of a fully transformed werewolf form between the last two chosen contestants. The initial round revolved around knowledge of the main packs and relevant aspects of werewolves. The second round tested speed and agility. I kept my gaze fixed on the paper, my heart ignited by numerous desires. Just imagine if I could participate in and triumph in this competition. It could potentially secure a respected position for the rogues who suffered from daily bullying. It had the potential to forever alter our lives. Regrettably, it seemed like participating in the contest wasn't in the cards for me. I clutched the contest poster tightly and ventured out into the midst of the storm. The wind was so gusty that visibility was limited. My primary concern was my uniform; I didn't have a spare and would need to wash this one at home. I hadn't dwelled much on the fright I had experienced in the O-block, as practically everyone there had encountered something similar. However, what bothered me was that my wolf had been the only one frightened, retreating into hiding. I hoped she would find her voice soon, but the prospects seemed slim. Was I worried? Not excessively. After all, she couldn't transform. Her inability to transition while being inside me had caused her distress numerous times. So, I contemplated that maybe it was better for her to remain asleep until she could awaken completely."Are you considering it?" Flora's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She held the paper and waved it in front of me. Father had fallen asleep with his intoxicated friends still present in our house, forcing us to skip dinner and lock ourselves in our room until morning came. I didn't want his inebriated friends anywhere near us. "This?" I gestured to the pen in my hand. "No!" I shook my head. "But why not? Mom would be so proud of you if you participated in this contest. You know Mrs. Julia was telling me about Mom being a strong supporter of rogues taking part in these contests," Flora's tone was bright as she spoke about our mother. "And the prize money is good, too. My teacher said she can wait for my fees, so maybe---," her voice faltered, and she couldn't finish her sentence. I sighed, feeling powerless that I couldn't do more to assist my sister. "Flora, it’s too late for all this conversation. Go to sleep. You have school in the morning. Get a good night's rest because Dad will wake us up to prepare breakfast for his friends before school." The prospect of a decent night’s sleep was almost impossible, as Dad would wake us early to cook breakfast for his buddies. Our food supplies were scarce, and my father had strictly forbidden me from eating before his friends, so mornings were just as unpleasant as the previous evenings. As usual, we woke up early to cook for our father and his unsavory friends, who treated our house as if it were a motel. “Faster with those hands," I urged Flora, who was assisting me in the kitchen. We were running late, and my father’s companions had demanded a hearty breakfast. "Where did all these groceries come from? Dad never gave us a single penny for any of this," Flora's awareness was precise. She knew exactly where these supplies had originated from. One of his friends had provided the money for everything. At times, I found it unsettling that his friends were investing so much money in us. I prayed they weren't anticipating my father handing me over to them for a night. Thankfully, everything was managed without any issues, and I could finally head to school. I used to take the bus, but now, every time I even contemplated it, my wallet would protest loudly. With the contest just two weeks away, regular classes had been suspended, and physical training had taken the forefront. It was bound to be an intense period for me. Navigating through the crowded hallways had become quite a headache. Everyone was busy completing forms and selecting trainers, while I felt utterly directionless. "Cynthia!" Amidst the chatter, I could distinguish Mara's voice from a distance. We hadn’t spoken since that night when she had asked me to meet her and then left me hanging. Clearly, she had a lot of explaining to do.