The Mating Run by Leeka

In His Eyes: Adieu

Zeke’s POV

A wave of determination swept over me as I surveyed my companions, their faces set in grim determination.

Standing beside me, Alina’s face showed the evidence of a fierce battle, with bruises and scratches marring her features. A silent fire of determination burned in her dark eyes, reflecting her unwavering resolve. The moment our eyes met, she offered a warm smile and a subtle nod of recognition. Nearby, Ettie stood with a resolute expression, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. The dimly lit alcove revealed the haunting sight of bruises marred across her skin, some of which were self–inflicted, and a bandaged bruise on her neck provided an additional grim detail.

And then there was Victor, his face contorted with a mix of agony and fury, his nose visibly swollen and blood streaming down his face from Alina’s forceful strike. As he struggled against the ropes that bound him, his eyes burned with venomous anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

Inhaling deeply, I braced myself, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness for what awaited me.

“We need to make this look convincing,” My voice, low and intense, conveyed my message, though I directed most of my words towards Victor. I fixed my gaze on him, studying his every expression, desperately hoping he grasped the gravity of the situation. “You might think this only helps us, but it helps you, too. The sooner you help us leave, the sooner we’ll stop bothering you.”

Despite his muttered complaints, Victor’s weary expression betrayed his own longing to depart. Moreover, the scarcity of food in the forest was becoming increasingly apparent as the number of contenders diminished day by day. It was nothing short of a surprise that all four of us remained trapped and unable to get

out.

With a firm nod, Alina’s eyes sparkled with determination, her voice steady and

resolute.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to get out of here.”

Ettie stepped forward, her eyes darting back and forth between us. “I’ll make sure it looks real. But we need to be careful. If we mess this up, it could mean the

end for all of us.”

The plan was simple. We had to make it look like we were fighting amongst ourselves, like we were willing to tear each other apart to get out of this hellhole. The key to everything lies with Victor’s father. With his power, he has the ability to free us from this ongoing nightmare, and finally bring an end to the Mating Run. However, in order to do that, Victor had no choice but to plead and beg him for his intervention on our behalf.

Victor, naturally, wasn’t too enthusiastic about the idea. He thought it was a lost cause, that his father wouldn’t lift a finger to help us. However, we were left with no other option. Time was slipping away, and the urgency of the situation pressed upon us. If we didn’t take action soon, our fate would be sealed in this

place.

realistic. We put on a show for the cameras, our voices raised and faces contorted with anger, creating the illusion of a heated conflict. Swinging punches and spewing hateful words, we clashed in a wild brawl, our bodies entangled in the gritty soil. Naturally, it was a performance, but we had to ensure its authenticity to effectively

–

subject him to the humiliating plea for his father’s mercy, as the camera loomed ominously. But he had no choice. If he wanted to survive and experience

swift motion, I seized Victor by the collar and hoisted him up from the ground, feeling the fabric of his shirt tighten in my grip. His limbs hung limply, as if they were made

behind, their eyes ablaze with

around in a state of panic, the atmosphere grew heavy with unease. He could feel the weight of the impending spotlight,

over me as he suddenly bolted away. My anger surged through me, causing my blood to boll as I unleashed a torrent

“F**k!”

as she ran after him. She quickly turned

veins, Victor’s running skills left much to be desired. After running for a few seconds, I could

sound of Victor’s cry echoed through the air as his body crumpled beneath Ettie’s weight, hitting the dirt. With haste, I lunged forward, seizing Victor by the collar and hoisting him

as I locked eyes with him. “You thought you could

eyes glared back at me, seething with a mixture of anger and defiance. “You think I’m scared of you, Zeke? You think I’m

any

a bunch of pathetic

trembling with pent–up frustration. I made a conscious effort to stay collected, to prevent my emotions from overwhelming me. I couldn’t allow Victor’s words to penetrate my emotions,

my voice dripping with venom. “We’re getting out of here, whether you

Victor forward, sending him hurtling towards the camera. Alina and Ettie followed closely behind, their eyes focused and jaws clenched as they marched forward with unwavering determination. As we approached the camera, Victor’s resolve faltered, his steps slowing and uncertainty clouding his face. With a moment’s hesitation, his eyes

crowd. “Please, just let me

allow him to escape from our grasp. No matter the obstacles that lay ahead, we were unwavering in our

stood there, my heart pounding in my chest,

the air.

“Victor Craft.”

as all the cameras suddenly swiveled

caught off guard by the unforeseen camera change, a heavy sense of anticipation hung in the air, waiting to see how Victor would play this out.

have a message to my

chaos as Victor declared. I could feel my jaw clenching and my muscles tightening as I listened intently, waiting for what would come next. This was the moment we had been

our

up,” Victor started, his voice ringing out