Chapter 2: What once bloomed must also wither
Feng Jiao Xue's small, thin form was roughly thrown back to their "room".
As the door closed, Lou Xi ran to her, engulfing her in a warm, and yet awkward hug.
They got back drained and full body aching, she was embraced by Lou Xi, crying, and apologizing for being useless this morning, his head buried in her hair.
Tiredly, they drag their small bodies in the corner. Like two small, wounded and weary animals.
In the echoes of screams of pain and terror, they sat like that for what felt like hours, seeking comfort in each other's arms as silent tears streamed down Feng Jiao Xue's face while Lou Xi cried loudly on behalf of his friend's pain. Wishing, hoping, that the other's pain become theirs to bare alone.
For the 6th month they were always dragged to a different area where they had to exercise and train under the scorching sun and if they failed, they would be harshly punished.
Codependence. In a place where they are unfamiliar with anyone, that is what they developed. They sought solace and stability... of comfort and security, to the one they can hold onto.
Lou Xi engulfed Feng Jiao Xue's smaller form.
Although Feng Jiao Xue already had a certain maturity despite her age, her strength is still no different than the rest of the young girls since she had never practiced or exercised as rigorously as this.
Even the most mature of children, in the end, are still just that, children.
So, for her to end up battered and bruised badly by the end of the day was a common occurrence, and slowly, it took a chipped on her tender soul.