Heathen Series - Changed

Chapter 18

Stephanie's Pov...

Pain. That's all I felt. Pain.
I was badly bruised and utterly exhausted from being punched, kicked, and thrown around like a bunch of bean-bags. The fight wasn't going as well as I had planned - actually it's more like hoped - and I started regretting going through with this as it neared the end. I had lasted the whole of the first round even though Kyle had won it easily; at least I did get a few punches and kicks in - I also managed to defend myself better than I thought.

I was out of breath, bleeding from my lip and had bruises I didn't know I could get again. I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and could feel the cut on my lip begin to swell.

We had an intermission in which I sat heaving and trying to control the pain that started to turn parts of my body numb. That's all I needed. My body turning against me. I pushed all the pain to the back of my mind, not that it worked well at all. Sweat coated my skin and I ached in places I didn't know sweat. I looked up and saw how the Right-Hand was complimenting Kyle on the match so far while the General and the Captain were deep in conversation. 

Kyle turned to look at me and gave me a smirk before he licked his lips and ran his hands through his hair.

***

Round two was much worse and seemed to last longer than round one.

Kyle fought as if it was second nature to him; I wasn't surprised considering the rumours that circulated in school. His movements were smooth, and he was barely out of breath. He kept his eyes on me and struck me at the best opportunity he had - which was almost every time. I blocked as best as I could, but it was useless and created unnecessary pain. He had also started taunting me little by little.

I expected that he would; seeing how he was at school I knew it would come sooner or later and I was glad it was sooner. His taunts caused me to lose focus though, and throw me off balance even though I tried not to let it get to me.

He knocked me hard on my ass and I lost the round as I had expected.

***

I gulped down as much water as I could during our intermission and looked around at all those who showed up to watch them. As I studied them all I noticed a group that sat apart from the rest of the soldiers on the stands under a tree. It was the same group that I saw the captain train with the other day. I could have sworn that I saw one of them had a tail. I brushed it off though, thinking it was because of the punches I got on the head.

People were surrounding Kyle congratulating him and cheering him on. The Right-Hand was laughing with them while she glared at me over Kyle's shoulder.

The Captain and General stayed in their seat discussing something important then turned to stare at me; I felt very uncomfortable and it wasn't because of my aches and bruises.

The Captain smiled, and the General studied me intently – he looked very intrigued with me and how far I had come.

I looked down and took a breath.

Intermission was over faster than I would have thought, and it was time for the final round.

The final round would determine who wins and who loses despite the first two rounds. I was losing, and I knew I wouldn't be able to beat him in my current state.

***

Kyle didn't stop for anything at this point in the match. He punched, kicked and threw me without any remorse. I hit the ground hard and broke a few ribs, or so I thought.

The pain caused me to move less fluidly and I struggled to get up each time I was thrown to the ground, but still I forced myself up.

Kyle kept taunting and mocking me; all of it low blows.