Remade

Chapter 14

"I'll see you later," I tell Adanna, who still seems to be having trouble putting words together.

It seems that she wants to say something, anything, but nerves get the best of her. She just gives me a grim smile. I nod at her and make my way toward the left tunnel. I start to jump up and down to get my adrenaline going and I look to my right to my opponent. June is just couple of inches shorter than I am but a bit more built, stockier, with eyes so electric blue you'd think they are marbles. From what I've seen at practice, this girl can move. Her intensity, her confidence, unshakeable. This isn't going to be an easy fight, I'll have to think smart on this one. Do the unexpected, think the unreasonable, and hope for the best. She slowly turns her head and looks at me and with her mouth in a stern line, she nods at me. I nod back and look forward again, rolling my neck, getting the kinks out and hopping on the platforms of my feet.

We hear two sharp whistles and we disappear into the dark tunnels. The walk is about two to three minutes until we get to the intersection where Sarge is waiting for us.

"Ah my stars... This will be fun yeah? I want a good, clean fight from the both of you, I will be watching closely for potential, you two." He winks at us and we stay silent. He leads the way to the center tunnel and we walk into the Sparring Strip.

The crowd goes up in a roar as we enter, just white noise, excitement of watching a new duel. I decide not to scan the crowd. Finding my friends would just make feel even more self-conscious during the fight but I can't help but smile a little when I hear the unmistakable yell of "BRIIIIIIIIIIIIDGEEEEETTTTTTT" coming from the top right corner of the stands. We make our way to the center and Sergeant Williams gives the customary, rapid fire, 5 second rule profession.

"Alright ladies I expect a nice clean fight from you two and you know the rules hands off at the sound of the end of a round or knock out and additional use of any weapon besides those provided for you is prohibited no biting no choking and lack of sportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated direct refusal to follow any of the rules can result in suspension and/or expulsion do you have any questions?"

We shake our heads and shake, or rather grip, hands, and walk to our points of the strip and stare at each other as if we were two cowgirls in an Old West movie. My mind is buzzing. What will she do first? What should I do first? Will I win? Will I lose?

The curt sound of the bell cuts all my thoughts off and I snap into instinct mode. We gingerly make our way to meet at the center and bounce around like boxers, analyzing the other. June looks so intense, her eyes zing at me, it's like she's looking right through me. She swings her leg up to a kick to my abdomen but I grab it and fling it back her, using the momentum of her power against her and she stumbles to the floor. She chuckles. She actually chuckles, shaking her head. I'm too surprised to react in time to her punching my jaw and following up to the other side of my face. I manage to dodge the next one but she moves too fast for me to retaliate. Whenever I try to get a punch in, she hops away, like a spring. She's playing with me, like a cat with a dead mouse. I try again for another punch but she manages to jump away again, and she spins around and brings up her leg to kick me in the stomach. I wheeze as the air is taken out of me and the crowd groans as I go down to my knees, and they begin to chant June's name. The bell goes off, symbolizing the end of the round and we make our way to our ends again for a quick drink and recollection. Medics swarm my face to dab off the blood at the corners of my mouth as I guzzle down the water they have for me and look down to the arena.

Think.

Come on think. What did you tell Adanna? What's the key to any fight? Think you idiot.

Ouch. Harsh.

Tough love or none at all. Come on THINK.

I've got it. Tells. Her eyes flit toward the direction of her attack. When she punched me to the right of my jaw, for a fleeting second, just a moment, she looked over. The follow up, well you can tell that by her strength and momentum. Watch her eyes.

Sergeant Williams gives two sharp blows to his whistle and I shake off the medics, wipe the water off the corner of my mouth, and make my way to the center. Sarge stands between us and lowers his arm between us in a chop as the bell goes off to begin the round. This time, I decided, I'll let her make the first move. I bounce around, as fast as her. She literally knocked some sense into me. I have to move fast.

That's when I see it. Her eyes from down up to my left and I know what to expect. As she kicks up her dominant leg to my abdomen, I grab it and knock her to the ground. She lands on her back and I join her on the floor to pin her down. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I let go and she pants, getting back up. She narrows her eyes.

Crap I pissed her off.

Oh well.

I don't give her more than five seconds before I jab at her three times to her body and one to her right temple. She takes all of these on, almost unfazed. She's so strong. How does she do this? Is she on auto pilot too? She swings at me to the right side of my face and I block and then to my left and I block and she makes a frustrated sound. It's my turn to chuckle and she turns red and I'm saved by the bell from an annoyed boxer.

Back on my side, I take in more water and the medics leave me alone, giving me the chance to take a glance at June. She's getting the blood and sweat wiped off her face, and is glaring at me. I stop looking at her and take a glance at the board. We are perfectly tied, one dominant round for each. The next round is the complete decider. I see I've got only about a minute and a half left so I close my eyes and think.

You found her tell. Good. Now, the unexpected. The thing that will get you the win. What is it?

A couple of seconds pass and then, I smile.

I've got it.

I toss my bottle to the floor and make my way to the center a third time. As soon as Sarge's hand drops, June swings. And connects with my stomach. I jolt back, down the strip. I grunt in pain. This is okay, I tell myself, all part of the plan. She swings again but I scoot back before she hits me and another time for good measure. We're about half way down my end of the strip now. She's getting confident, I'm backing up, doing my best to get away from her. Pretty soon, she'll have me cornered and with two choices; step off the strip and forfeit or take on pain. She keeps swinging strongly and I keep dodging and gradually moving back until we reach the end. She smiles as she contemplates her move and her eyes flit down. Completely down.

I see her leg move in a leg sweep in slow motion and I jump as hard as I possibly can. I soar over her, like a long jumper, and land crouched, with my hand on the floor. As she turns around, it's too late because I have my unexpected move in my hand, already in motion.

I spin the set of bolas as hard as I can and throw them at her legs. She shrieks and tries to move but it's too late. The rope flies perfectly, and wraps and wraps and wraps for what seems like ages around her and she topples down to the floor, in frustration, wiggling like a little cocoon. For good measure, I kneel next to her and pin her shoulders.

DING DING!

I look up and stand, almost as straight as Adanna. The crowd. Goes. Nuts. I look up at the board and see my picture on the screen, being engulfed in goofy looking confetti. Meanwhile, the medics are cutting the bolas off June and Sergeant Williams practically runs over to us. He excitedly grabs my hand and puts it up into the air.

"WINNER: BRIDGET WALLS!"

There is so much cheering and noise in the little arena, so much emotion and excitement and it's just full. I take the moment and I resign to grinning widely at the crowd, proud of doing the unexpected and showing a little portion of the world what a street girl can do.