𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐦

   I've seen many fights in Amity. Not the ones that would be of any use here, but the ones against the strong wind and the fields. The ones against the rain and the big tents outside our windows. We spent these days fighting each other. Everyone trying to find what they are good at and what they are not, with the intention of improving themselves, but also to bring others down.

Four seemed to be more helpful than Eric. Eric would walk past me and give me a disappointed look. But it wasn't my fault that when he calls me to the ring, i see my opponent as a threatening element of nature. Besides, it was the only metaphor i could do with my old faction. So when i had to face Clara, who was fast with her movements like the wind or David whose strength would double hurt like fire, of course i would hit immediately the ground, like the earth. The only thing i use to do these days in the training room. Falling and failing.

"First jumper..", my mind made one thought after the other, like a rushing river of water, "..Zoe", i heard my name and raised my head, feeling uncomfortable that all the attention was on me, but this feelings quickly left my body when i realised my name left Eric's lips for the first time. Maybe he saw how distracted i was. Maybe he did actually remember it. "..and Christina. Go and fight", i raised my eyebrows as if he asked me something strange. I knew sooner or later he would make me fight my friend. I don't think he even knew the definition of that word. He was not even friends with Four. There is always this competition between them, throwing words like one is better than the other.

Me and Christina walked towards the ring. We took a deep breath and slowly started moving in a circle. We both wanted the other to attack first, just to get out of the difficult situation. Although the difficult situation would end up being the one who would hit the ground first.

I made a slight movement with my hand that didn't even touch her. She hits my shoulder, causing me to just take a few steps back. "Stop fighting like little kids", Eric said loudly. I gave Christina an encouraging look that it was okay for her to hit me. We had to give something into this fight anyway. She punched me in the right side of my face and i let out a voice of pain. All these days, i've been hit several times in the same spots, so much that the pain would be extra unbearable. She grabbed my shoulders and threw me to the ground, she hit my stomach and with my knee i pushed her to my right. I got up and within seconds she did the same. She whispered, "I'm sorry" and hit me again on the head. I turned my back on her and with her leg she pushed me again. It was like i felt my bones trembling. I was back on the floor. She turned my body towards hers and for a moment hesitated to deliver the final punch. I didn't want her to be lectured afterwards, so i wanted to get her out of the dilemma to hit me or not.

"Stop. I can't", i said trying to catch my breath. "That's it?", Eric's disappointed voice came after mine. I looked at him and his lips were pressed together, as if he wanted to say something but didn't. With slow steps, he climbed onto the ring and his eyes examined me or perhaps he was thinking about what to do next. He seemed he was sure of what to do. He offered me his hand and i looked at it with disbelief. Clara and all the others raised their eyebrows and started whispering. I took his hand. I thought he was going to squeeze it, but instead his touch was inexplicably gentle.

Not that it meant anything. As soon as i got up, he grabbed my arm and dragged me to the exit. I felt pain again. "Follow me", he shouted to the others.

"Let go of me", i said when we stopped in the pit near the railing. He shoved me against it. The others were watching quite shocked and with wonder for what was going to happen next. My mouth dropped at what he did. His blue eyes met mine. "Climb over it", his gaze cold. "What?. I'm going to fall".