She didn’t get far. Asher’s long strides closed the gap in seconds, and before she could react, his arm looped around her waist and he lifted her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. Violet kicked and flailed wildly, shouting at the top of her lungs.
"You bastard!" she screamed, thrashing in his grip. "The commander said willing partner! I’m not willing!"
But Asher was unfazed by her protests, and carried her back toward the center of the hall. Students watched with varying degrees of shock, disbelief, jealousy, and awe. Some laughed outright, while others whispered behind their hands.
As they passed Elsie, Violet reached out in desperation, her hand brushing the other girl’s arm as she pleaded. "Do something!"
But Elsie didn’t budge. She stood rooted to the spot, her icy glare fixed on Violet as if she stole her moment. The intensity of her stare was so sharp it felt like she would bore a hole through her head.
Great. Just great. Violet resigned herself to her fate, her limbs still tense but no longer struggling as Asher deposited her unceremoniously in the middle of the training area.
The moment Violet’s feet touched the ground, she ran, determined to escape. But it was quite unfortunate that Asher had anticipated her move. He grabbed the back of her sportswear with infuriating ease, yanking her backward.
His smug grin only deepened as he said, "Nice try, little purple."
He grabbed Violet by the shoulder and turned her towards the commander, saying, "Commander, I’ve found my partner." he said with mock formality.
Violet glared daggers at Asher, her jaw tightening as she prepared to protest. The commander faced them, his steely gaze assessing the situation. Violet met his eyes without flinching. If she was going down, she wasn’t going down quietly.
"You said it had to be a willing partner," Violet challenged him, notwithstanding his intimidating aura.
The commander’s expression didn’t change as he said. "An unwilling partner is the perfect subject for this scenario. Most victims don’t willingly enter such situations, and your ferocity," he added, motioning to her, "makes this demonstration all the more realistic. Quick thinking, Asher. Excellent choice."
Violet’s jaw dropped. Was this guy serious? She was the one being dragged into this against her will, and yet Asher was the one getting praised? She stared at the commander, aggrieved and utterly baffled.
"This is outrageous, Commander." Violet muttered under her breath, clenching her fists.
The commander ignored her, turning to address the class instead. "Before I teach you how to handle yourself in a situation like this," he began, his voice carrying easily across the room, "Asher will demonstrate just how helpless you can be when overpowered. At the same time, we’ll observe how our ’victim,’ Violet, attempts to escape. Watch closely. Begin."
With that, the commander stepped aside, leaving Violet standing in the center of the arena with Asher. Her heart raced, adrenaline and indignation surging through her veins.
Asher’s smirk returned, predatory and full of confidence. "Ready, Violet?" he drawled, his voice low and taunting.
"I’ll punch that smile off your face." She spat.
"You can try. "
The crowd watched in tense anticipation, the room buzzing with whispered bets and speculation as the "fun" was about to begin.
Asher’s arms wrapped around Violet in an iron grip before she could blink, his strength overwhelming as he immobilized her.
The room was silent as the students watched her every move like vultures circling prey. The humiliation of being manhandled in front of them, burned in her chest. For the first time in her life, Violet felt utterly powerless, and she hated it.
Her blood boiled as Asher leaned down, his lips close to her ear, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is that all you’ve got, little purple? I thought you were stronger than this." His chuckle was maddening, feeding the fire in her veins as she thrashed against him.
But what truly made her snap was his next move. Asher tilted her head toward his, holding her still as he whispered, "This is why you need me, my little purple queen. I could fight for you, wipe out every enemy in your path, protect you from everything. You’d never have to lift a finger." His lips brushed against her cheek in a mocking kiss, sealing her fury.
The room erupted with muffled laughter and whispers, the other students clearly amused by her helpless state. Violet saw red. No. Not today. She refused to be humiliated by him any longer.
With a surge of adrenaline, Violet summoned every ounce of strength and fury she possessed. She slammed her head backward with all her might, connecting with Asher’s nose in a resounding crack. Asher staggered back, blood streaming from his nostrils, his smirk wiped clean.
Pain exploded in Violet’s own skull, a splitting headache that made her vision blur. But she wasn’t done. Gritting her teeth, she spun around just as Asher reached for her again. This time, she drove her knee into his groin with precision. Asher let out a guttural groan, doubling over as his legs buckled beneath him.
"And that’s not all," Violet hissed through clenched teeth, her anger blinding her to the pain in her own body. With a roar, she headbutted him once more, this time from the front, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The entire room fell into stunned silence. Violet’s chest heaved as she stood over Asher, who was clutching his member and groaning in pain.
Her vision swam, and the throbbing in her skull intensified, but she forced herself to stand tall. She turned to face the equally dumbfounded commander and said, "And that is how I’d get myself out of the situation."
The words barely left her lips before her body gave out. The pain and exhaustion finally overwhelmed Violet, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
The last thing she heard was the sharp intake of breath from the crowd, followed by the commander’s booming voice. "Class dismissed. Get her to the infirmary. Now!"