Alice's body was gradually losing all sensation. She was completely numb, and at any moment, she might collapse. What was keeping her going was purely her determination and the inertia of her body. At this point, if someone were to give her a slight push or bump into her, she would likely fall down, maybe even pass out immediately. She was utterly exhausted and had no idea how many laps she had run. All she knew was that she had to keep running, or else she would die. That demon, Jack, would definitely kill her, just like he killed that man.
For a girl Alice's age, death had never been a consideration. At her age, she should be enjoying life, caring about things that interested her, beautiful clothes, delicious food, and handsome celebrities. She should be comfortably sitting in a classroom, listening to the teacher, chatting with friends, and experiencing her first love.
For someone her age, the kind of torment and suffering she was enduring was too extreme. It was like a delicate flower suddenly exposed to a violent storm, on the verge of withering at any moment.
Death had seemed so distant to Alice before, something she had never had time to contemplate. But now, she suddenly found death so close. In her daze, Alice seemed to see the grim smile of the Reaper. She couldn't give up; she had to keep going, at least to surpass the person in front of her, she thought hazily.
Her numb legs moved mechanically, seemingly a bit faster, Alice thought vaguely. But the five-meter distance ahead seemed like an unbridgeable chasm.
Smack! A whip lashed across Alice's back! She stumbled, her body swaying, but she didn't fall. The intense pain in her back brought her slightly back to her senses. But once she stopped, her speed decreased even more, widening the distance between her and the plump woman ahead.
The obese middle-aged woman was panting heavily, sweat streaming down her body like rivulets of fat. Her entire body seemed as if it had just been pulled out of water, gasping for air like an old bellows. Her face was pale, and her large chest heaved dramatically, swaying with every step as if it might fall off at any moment. She gritted her teeth, running with all her might, driven by fear. She was pushing her physical limits; she couldn't fall behind, and she absolutely wouldn't allow herself to fall behind.
Alice moved her numb legs, trying to make them move faster, but her long legs felt like they didn't belong to her. No matter how hard she tried, her speed didn't change much.
Sweat poured from her body, drenching her clothes and clinging to her skin. The thin summer clothes outlined her young body, and the wet clothes felt even heavier. Alice was struggling more and more.
She was beginning to despair. She fantasized about a dragon, a magnificent dragon she had thought was an illusion. It reappeared in her mind. She silently prayed, hoping the dragon would give her strength, hoping she could run this distance. Alice was still young; she didn't want to die. Alice silently screamed in her heart.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
In this critical moment, Alice suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of devotion. Her exceptionally pure soul burst forth with an unparalleled radiance. The dragon in her heart became clearer and more majestic. At this moment, Alice's devout faith transformed into fervent zeal.
At the same time, the dragon, dozing in its lair, suddenly opened its enormous eyes, which were like searchlights, illuminating the entire cave. Its eyes were filled with deep confusion. It seemed as if there had been a call, but it vanished quickly. Brandon looked around in puzzlement before closing his eyes again, convinced it was just an illusion.
The dragon in Alice's heart erupted with golden light. Bathed in this glow, she suddenly felt rejuvenated, as if her whole body was filled with strength.
The plump woman ahead was now more than 20 meters away. Alice moved her long, slender legs forward. Her legs were still incredibly numb, but her spirit had significantly improved. She was no longer in a daze, and the dragon in her heart had not disappeared. It seemed to provide her with endless strength.
The distance between them continued to close. Alice clenched her teeth, her eyes fixed on the figure ahead. She had to surpass her.
At that moment, the instructor's hoarse voice rang out from behind.
"One more lap!"
The shout seemed to have an endless magical power. The entire team's speed suddenly increased again. This wasn't a playground but a deep underground basement. The air was incredibly stifling, making it hard to breathe even without intense running. The entire space was eerily quiet, save for the sound of running and heavy breathing.
Alice ran desperately, her speed increasing. It was the final lap. If she didn't surpass the person in front of her, she would die. The cold-blooded, brutal instructor ran steadily behind her, like a Grim Reaper whose footsteps drew ever closer. The intense fear drove her to gradually accelerate.
Alice saw the finish line ahead, only 100 meters away. But the person in front was still five meters ahead. Five meters seemed like an insurmountable distance. On a normal day, Alice could cover it in a few seconds. But now, she had never felt five meters to be so far away.
She kept running, getting closer to the finish line—40 meters, 20 meters, 10 meters. Despairing, Alice closed her eyes. Instead of closing the gap, it seemed to widen.
Suddenly, a scream echoed from ahead. The plump woman fell to the ground. She struggled violently to get up, her eyes filled with terror and a hint of despair. She was only three meters from the finish line. As she stood up, Alice ran past her.
Finally, Alice reached the finish line and collapsed, unconscious as her tension released.
When she woke up, she was in bed, roused by hunger. The intense hunger caused spasms in her stomach. It was a small dormitory with four occupants, all of whom lay on their beds, groaning.
Alice felt ravenous, more so than ever before. Her body ached, her muscles felt weak, and her back burned with pain. She struggled to get out of bed, her hands trembling slightly, her eyes turning red but shedding no tears. Alice told herself she had to stay strong.
The dormitory had bunk beds, and Alice was on the lower bunk. She stood up shakily and began searching for food. She quickly found some burgers next to her bed. She picked one up and started eating. Normally a picky eater with a poor appetite, Alice would usually be full after one burger, but today, she ate three in one go.