Letizia was standing in line in military stance listening waiting for Vincenzo's instructions. He was overseeing the advanced group at the other side of the camp. He was walking alongside the long line of his group as his corporals, Viggo, Stefano, Sebastiano and Alexander were watching on. At first she was wondering why so many of them had to overseeing their training but after going through the advanced training route she understood. It was tough training. It was hard to climb the fences and jump across the marsh lands. The heat also meant there was danger of fainting. The corporals made sure everyone stayed hydrated and handed them water bottles. It was summer time after all and near the end of the last term.

Vincenzo silently walked from one end of the line to the other inspecting each member of his line. His cold expression did not change except when he reached the only two girls in the group, Angelia and Letizia. He gave a look of disgust to Angelia and then as he stopped at Letizia he winked at her. He then started walking back to the other end of the line.

Letizia wasn't used to Vincenzo's business tone at all so when he addressed the line, it made her jump in shock as his voice boomed " Warm up is over. Now it's time for putting your problem solving skills into test before we return to the intermediate and basic level side of this camp to complete a different task. Split yourselves in groups of three. You will be spread out into the woods finding certain unusual objects camouflaged around this place. You have 30 minutes to look for ten items and return here promptly. Make sure in your group you have some one good in geography. You need the bearings so you can find your way back through the maze of the trees. If anyone gets lost and fails to return in time they will get a strike since search parties would be wasted on them. You have ten seconds to form your groups. I will be here waiting of course. If you buzz the emergency I will be coming to find you alongside The lecturer." Ten seconds to form your groups.

Letizia found Viggo immediately standing in front of her and Angelia " Ladies. I will be working with you. My geography is perfect."

Letizia didn't think much of it but it was strange the way Viggo had picked them to help out. He couldn't be there for watching her. He was giving Angelia a soft look she never saw him give anyone else but of course he only showed it to her and she noticed because she was right next to her. Was this Rosario having feelings for his enemy? This was a messed up situation. Maybe she was wrong.

After ten seconds was up, the groups were instructed to spread into the woods. Letizia found a match box " First one." And put it in her pocket. Then she saw Angelia picking up an umbrella from the tree branches. It was abit too high for her to reach. She walked to her to help. Then she froze as she saw Viggo picking up the umbrella for her. Viggo handed the umbrella to her as She turned to him and said " Thank you corporal."

Viggo stated " You are welcome Private Andovini. I hope you get promoted by the end of the year and it would be corporal Andovini soon."

Angelia looked away " I don't think I can get promoted Corporal. Thank you for your vote of confidence. It's not based on just ability. I need experience too. I was absent and didn't attend training with the seniors. It doesn't matter I had a good excuse."

Letizia looked between Angelia and Viggo as it was sinking in what was going on. They were looking at each other with unreadable expressions but she could tell they were closer than they were meant to be. She put her hands on her hips and looked at Viggo " Is this what I think this is? Hold it Viggo? Aren't you meant to hate her? Isn't she your enemy?... If Vincenzo hears about this, you will be in big trouble."

Viggo turned to Angelia " Sergeant Rosario won't know I am being civil to Private Andovini unless you tell him private Marciano."

Letizia looked at Angelia " How long has this been going on Private Andovini?"

Angelia sighed " Since you beat me in kick boxing and became new captain. Corporal stayed behind and ... asked me out. I didn't say yes....."

Letizia raised an eyebrow " But you didn't say no either. Did you."

Viggo was looking at his watch now " Let's move it." He then walked away.

Letizia followed him " How can you be so relaxed about this Viggo? Aren't you worried I would tell on you. How can you act normal? I even know your nemesis is serious."

Viggo stopped walking and turned with a raised an eyebrow " Its corporal V Rosario to you Private Marciano. You have a warning for not addressing me properly. If you repeat this mistake again, you will have to drop and give press ups. From the minute you step foot in this survival camp premises you are to address all authoritative figures appropriately. Am I making myself clear?"

Letizia spoke reluctantly " Yes... Sorry corporal."

Viggo nodded to Letizia " Good... Now... To answer your question, I trust you now. You are a Rosario to me. Also you are a kick boxer. That's a sorority like society in our school the one that you have joined. I know you are not allowed to reveal your kickboxing sisters' secrets to outsiders... so I trust you. Afterall you are captain of the kick boxers."

Angelia laughed " She hasn't read the rule book I bet Corporal V Rosario. She doesn't like rules."

Letizia narrowed her eyes " Who says I don't like rules Private Andovini . I have read the rule books actually..."

Angelia stated " Really? If you say so. Obviously you haven't read the rule book for this course that was given to you with your timetable alongside the rest of rule books for the courses here.... Other wise you would not have insulted Sergeant O'Neil. He runs the school alongside your boyfriend. You know I feel sorry for all the kids in the intermediate and basic group. You put Sergeant O'Neil in a sour mood, he asked for extra laps in warm up. Only Private Rosario being there saved them all from more torment. Your actions have consequences for everyone. If you upset the sergeants they would take it out on others since you are protected. They are vengeful people...."

Letizia laughed bitterly " Oh really. How about your actions and it's consequences? You are hanging out with your enemy...."

Angelia shrugged " I don't deny that... but you deny your wrong doings. Corporal Rosario has been helping me with the work I have missed ever since that kickboxing match. We are not hanging out for fun. Sergeant Rosario has scared people off from getting too close to me so people are afraid to talk to me so Sergeant Rosario doesn't think anything romantic is going on..."

Viggo cleared his throat " Private Marciano and Private Andovini let's hurry. We have work to do."

The girls have each other hard looks and followed Viggo. They managed to collect ten items and returned to the clearing to Vincenzo. After Vincenzo checked their items, he instructed the group to make their way to the other camp to join the basic and intermediate ability groups.

As they were walking towards the other side, Letizia found him walking alongside her. He whispered " Did Private Andovini  give you any trouble? You must tell me if she did. That's an order Private Marciano."

Letizia turned to him " No sergeant." She had resigned to this fate. Three hours wasn't too much to ask. If Angelia managed it so could she. After watching how Vincenzo punished the smallest mistakes, she had decided to watch it and she didn't want any humiliating public punishment at all. It wasn't so bad being ruled by Vincenzo. He was following everything by the rule book indeed. Even he didn't pick on people like Angelia even though he could use his position to do so. He treated all by the book. So she was certain he was not going to go easy on her if she made any mistakes. She cringed at the thought of his punishments... The harshest one was when he made this poor boy crawling in a half a meter tunnel that was slippery and muddy on the inside. He made him do it in the dark too as he had blind folded him. He had been given a time limit to crawl through the tunnel on the muddy base from one end to another a few times and if he didn't do it, Vincenzo was going to leave the boy tied up in that tunnel until the end of lesson in the dark. The boy had a lucky escape and made it out within seconds. It was heart wrenching to watch. No wonder no one dared break any rules unless it was accidental. Vincenzo made an example of anyone who did anything wrong.

As they reached the base, they all joined a circular line that was already formed. In the middle of the circle, there was a wooden board where Tristan was standing. Vincenzo joined him too.

Letizia looked around and saw the basic trainers. She didn't think Vienna was meant to be there. She was fit enough for advanced in her view but since she was in the year below and abit shorter than the year group above, she was put in basic training for most the units and intermediate for a few. Their principles was to not push girls too hard. After all this school had a small percentage of girls. They didn't want to scare off girls from coming here.

Letizia found it hard to believe how this school operated. These kids were really going to be causing havoc in the society. Training individually was acceptable in her view. Thats what she did... Private tuition was fine... But all these extra lessons and how the alpha males governed the school forming a hierarchy really created a complex system... There was a pack culture here. The mission statement of the survival lesson Vincenzo had presented indicated "Look at this whole world as if you are facing a pack of wolves. You either eat them or they eat you... In order to do that, you have to be part of a pack..." That was what was promoted.. To know your friends and know your enemies as well as preparing to survive.

There were instructions given and tasks changed. The Sergeants swapped. So now she had shooting lessons with Tristan while the basic and intermediate groups went hiking with Vincenzo. She was annoyed. A lesson with Tristan as the overseer... Just great.

She took her position and collected equipment as she started shooting targets as Tristan was watching. She tried to ignore his presence. Vincenzo had advised him if she kept out of his way and didn't challenge him, she wasn't going to have problems. The targets kept getting harder to hit as she advanced to the next level... As she reached the last level alongside some others in her group, Tristan instructed the group to go hunting the grounds and hit certain targets on top of trees. Apparently each player had their own tree and had to track it down using maps, hit the target and walk back.

Letizia wasn't happy with the task being a group one. They were advised to stay close and then spread out to come back together on time. But she didn't like working with the group. She went on her way... She didn't think she was going to get lost in the woods. She underestimated how massive the property was. All she could see were trees and even her map wasn't helping her. She wasn't that great with finding directions even though she got As in geography. Obviously this school prided themselves in applying theory to practice.

Letizia at some point collapsed on the floor kneeling down covering her face as she dropped her gun. She was lost and she felt sick. She felt dizzy. She wasn't even sure what time it was and how long she was out. Having a watch was part of the rules but she had taken it off when she had gone to the rest room and washed her hands.

She was taking deep breaths telling herself not to give up. She laid down on the floor feeling lost. Then she saw him approaching with a water bottle in his hand. It was Tristan O'Neil. She closed her eyes. Why did he have to find her and not Vincenzo?

She opened her eyes and saw him standing towering over her "Are you able to get up Private Marciano?"

Letizia sighed and stood up slowly facing him with defiant eyes "I can sergeant."

Tristan offered her a water bottle "Have some water. We don't want you to faint in the heat."

Letizia stated " I am from Italy. I am used to the heat. I don't want to owe you anything. I don't want your water."

Tristan took a threatening step towards her making her retreat and gulp as she noticed the hard look in  his eyes. She felt the danger immediately. He was not Vincenzo. He was not going to hold back if she insulted him. Tristan demanded coldy "I was not asking Private Marciano. It was an order. Temperature is high enough to require hydration every 30 minutes. You get a strike now for questioning me. Drink up and give me 15 press ups for disobeying orders on the ground. Count them out loud too. Questioning your superior is like mocking your superior. A very heavy crime."

Letizia didn't like his tone. She couldnt control her temper around him. Something snapped in her that she couldnt explain. She raised her hand and tried to slap him but he caught her hand in his wrist effortlessly. "Not this time Private Marciano. Last time you managed to slap me just because I was listening to my sister trying to convince me to let you off the hook for wiping off Edward Blake's name from the black board in the cafeteria that one time. Now, do you really think you can just try to hit me and get away with it? Last time I let you go because Vincenzo declared you are his girl and he would teach you a lesson himself personally. Obviously his lessons are not effective."

Tristan twisted her arm making her groan in pain. Letizia then found herself thrown to the ground on her back her breath was knocked out of her.

Tristan was standing above her lying form. "Get up Private Marciano. I have not even started with you. If you hit me, I hit back. I don't hold back as much as Vincenzo does when you fight him. He has told me you hit him and he went easy on you because you are his girl. I am not Vincenzo. You are nothing to me. So get up and get a taste of what you are seeking so badly. If you want a fight, you have got it. I don't care if you are a girl. I will put you in your place and will teach you a lesson you will never forget. I told Vincenzo if he doesnt teach you a lesson, then I will. So get up now or stay down and apologise."

Letizia was too shocked to speak. She was in trouble. Deep trouble. She didn't know what possessed her to attack him. There was something about the ego of males in this school and their culture that made her act aggressively on instinct. She was proud and confident. But she found the deadly look in Tristan's eyes serious. What was she going to do without Vincenzo. He didn't fight like other boys. He was way too fast for her. But against her better judgment she got up. She stood up facing Tristan who gave her a menacing look. He didn't try to attack her. He waited for her. She tried to kick him and he effortlessly blocked her and threw her to the ground. He stood towering over her.

Tristan spoke in a bored tone "Private Marciano... if you have read the rule book correctly, if a colleague challenges a colleague to a duel by hitting them, there should be three chances given for retreating from the stronger side to the weaker side before the stronger side uses full force. I gave you one chance. This is your second one. Back down and apologise... Then I would forget that you tried to challenge me."

Letizia was too proud. She stood up facing him and tried to punch him in the stomach but he blocked her easily and grabbed her arm twisting in making her scream in pain. He threw her to the floor as he spoke in an impatient and harsh tone "Last chance. Back off or I would gladly slaughter you. I suggest you surrender. We are even now. You slapped me. You insulted me enough time. I made you feel enough pain. I am satisfied. Now, apologise."

Letizia was laying on the floor holding her painful arm. it was not broken but he had made sure he hurt her enough to compensate for that slap she had blown to his face with no consequence. Now she understood what Vincenzo meant when he said Tristan never forgave and forgot. She closed her eyes and decided to give in. It was sinking in how she shouldn't have taken on Tristan in the first place. He was out of her league... Besides Tristan was not her enemy. But he could be if she kept offending him... But she couldnt help it. She didn't know why but she couldnt control her temper when boys posed authority on her. Her nature didn't accept it but maybe she could allow two boys to be above her in the hierarchy... She wasn't going to give into any other boys. She vowed to herself.

Letizia got up as she groaned from pain and stood in front of Tristan "Fine. I surrender. I am sorry."

Tristan stared into her eyes with no emotion. Only his ice cold gaze was on her "I accept your apology... Now remember the punishment I gave you. I want it carried out now."

Letizia reluctantly complied. She dropped and started doing 15 press ups. What did it matter? She had to pick her fights. She vowed to herself never to let any other man except Vincenzo and Tristan to top her. They were untouchable and others shouldn't have been. She was not planning to make a big deal about this with Vincenzo. She felt like she deserved what she got. This was an overdue encounter with Tristan. The air was clear now. She had played with fire and luckily the fire hadn't burnt her. She just had seen some sparks from that fire. She now recalled what she saw Tristan do to some wrong doers earlier at the camp. Press ups was nothing compared to how they were made to be reduced to tears as Tristan pushed them to their limits as they were made to crawl in the narrow slippery canals around the grounds for almost half an hour that made the Vincenzo's much wider tunnels look less horrific.

Tristan put his hands behind his back as he watched her doing her press ups "If you hadn't separated from your group, they could have helped you with directions... You could keep closer to their path... Then maybe your boyfriend could find you instead of me. I know this place like the back of my hand. This is my family's property. You had Vanessa on your team and she is good with geography. Next time work with your team. make the most of whatever facility is handed to you. This is a survival of the fittest zone. You were defeated today. But your defeat can turn into triumph one day if you learn your lessons."

She finished her press ups and got up standing facing Tristan.

Tristan stated coldly " You didn't count your press ups out loud. Its as though you haven't done any press ups. Do 15 press ups again and don't forget to count them out loud this time. This will teach you to pay attention to instructions... You will find that people don't repeat their orders. Get it right the first time."