One punch after another landed against the heavy bag. The leather thudded beneath my gloves, each hit sending a dull vibration up my arms. Sweat slicked down my forehead and stung my eyes, but I kept going. I could almost see their faces in the movement of the bag. Adrian. Lena. The Vales. Every one of them staring back at me as I hit harder.
Adrian, how have you lived with yourself after killing me.
I felt the exhaustion crawling through my muscles, but I ignored it. I was stronger now. Stronger than the girl who once begged for answers. Stronger than the woman they tossed into a river. I was smarter. And I had something they never had.
Hot, pulsing fury.
"Just like that, Nova," my trainer said from behind me. Her voice was calm but alert. "Those are some solid punches."
"You are really motivated today," she added as I drove my fist into the bag again.
"Today is important," I said quietly. "I have waited a long time for it."
