Duck In The Battlefield

Walking Into Battle

Chapter 22

I hate old clocks. Every horror movie has an old clock. The one you can hear, that old smelly -strangely loud considering how old it is- clock in the background as something evil creeps around.

It isn't helping me that as I wait, there's an old clock behind me clicking away the seconds of my inevitable doom. My hands are sweaty as I twist my phone in my palms. I had texted Mike earlier and turned it off immediately after. Mary is supposed to help guide him here. My knee is constantly bouncing up and down and I keep looking around as if Mike will magically appear.

For a second I'm really not backing away from the idea of Mike coming to save me. But seeing as I ran away I'm not surprised he isn't.

"You ready?" Junior asks without really sounding like he's asking but that it's just tradition to ask.

"Not even close," I say, still answering as if he'll tell me not to do it.

But Junior nods his head as if I said yes. I mess with the band around my head until he looks at me disapprovingly.

"Fighters get ready for this week's match between new member of Class A Firefly Division, The Dancing Duck!" Junior said into his headphone mike.

All I could do was stare at him almost pleadingly, but he wasn't even facing my direction. He presses a few buttons of an ipad in his hand and a small room mechanically opens upward.

"Versus Class B Serpent Division member, Fury Fist Ayden!"

For god sakes I'm going against someone called the Fury Fust. I stand up my knees swaying as if I'm bambi. I take a big breath as I walk to the door leading out to the "arena". Just as I start to see the other room and am about to walk in an arm grabs me and stops me.

"Oh thank god," I say wiping the sweat of my forehead.

I was so nervous something was going to come out of me. I just couldn't be sure if it'll come out from up top or down back. I'll just have to beg Mike to forgive me.

"Don't thank me yet babe," a voice that was most definitely not Mike said.

I turn to look at Drake who was smirking down at me. Could he have seen that I don't want to do this and will switch places with me? Without realizing it, I was making my doe eyes as I looked at him in adoration.

"Put those bad boys away and save them for Ayden," Drake says looking about ready to crack up.

"If you want to win do a sneak attack first and just dodge until you get lucky, Atta' girl," Drake says turning me around and smacking my butt.

I awkwardly walked into the room, confused, slightly heartbroken, and pissed off.

The lights in this room was very dim that I could probably only see an arm's length in front of me. Suddenly the lights flickered a bit and the walls looked like they circularly went around the entire length of the room changing colors until it finally settled. And until I was without a doubt dizzy.

I could just imagine everyone looking at the poor stupid girl who got dizzy at the beginning of her match. I suppose staring at the room morph isn't a smart move.

Smart move. Once everything settled my mind started strategizing. For a few seconds my mind was thinking preheat the oven to 350, ingredients: milk, eggs, butter, and oil.

I started walking around until I noticed I was in an apartment complex. Then my mind went to something- anything really that was useful. Ayden is at the other side of the room. At least five doors in sight actually have doorknobs. Whoever gets knocked out first wins.

Mary is likely watching with Mike alongside her. She promised to bring him and make sure he didn't leave... not until I won. And most importantly Chase is on the other side of the glass watching me.

I say my motto.You are awesome. You are a ma-woman. A ma-woman of awesomeness. I try to pull myself together. Drake said do a sneak attack and sneak attack I will do. I opened the first door I saw and opened two of the windows. That should get Ayden's attention.

Just as I think this I see him creeping towards this complex. It took him a while. I slowly step up the stairway of the townhouse occasionally glancing behind to see if he opened the door. Once at the top I push all the doors inward. I hear the door on the bottom open up. Not being very discreet Ayden starts to whistle.

"Oh Duck come out come out wherever you are," Ayden sings as he moves around downstairs.

The good thing about this being my first match is that no one really knows my techniques. This technique being to hide and try to get an advantage.

I hear him start walking up the steps. His footsteps loud, strong, and slow. I was pressed against the wall at the edge of the stairs.

Now or never, I think as Ayden comes in view.

I have to force my eyes open. Unlike the movies I can't close my eyes when a part I don't like comes on.

I sweep my feet out and as Ayden falls forward slightly I shoot up. One jab in the gut, one in the throat and one in the face. That's all I got in before Ayden reached out blindly and pulled my hair.

He yanks me to him by it. A punch goes to my stomach and as he goes for my face, I duck just in time to miss it.

I push with all my force until his back hits the wall. I grab hold of Ayden's head and lift my knees until I'm hitting him twice in the stomach. He lets go of my hair and grabs my shoulder roughly turning us until my back hits hard against the wall.

"Is that all?" he says too cocky for my liking.

His hands wrap around my throat as he lifts me higher. The wall and him crushing me. I try to knee him in the crotch but he's too close. I could feel myself withdrawing as I gasp for air. But I can't lose, this can't be it.

"Not even close," I wheezed out moving my fingers to the only other painful place open, I gauge at his eyes.

"Fuckin shit," Ayden says letting me go as he covers his eyes.

I know understand why those stupid girls in horror movies stay gasping for air. If you've ever been choked moving is a big no no.

I use the wall for balance and kick Ayden. He almost falls down the stairs but grips the railing. I was actually relieved. I want to knock him out not kill him.

I dip it into one of the rooms. Ayden follows behind me just like I want him too. I hold the door and slam in against his face. I run out the other door and come from behind. I jump on his back and put him in a chokehold my legs wrapping around his arms so he can't grab me.

Ayden starts to try wiggling out of my hold but he doesn't budge. Then he runs toward the wall last second he turns and I cough out in pain as I'm slammed against it. He slams back two more times before I get weaker and lose my leg grip on him.

With his arms free he reaches behind and grabs me. With a heavy heave, he tosses me over him and on the ground. It was the most painful time of my life to see myself going for the ground but unable to do anything. I wheeze out my eyes burning with tears.

I have to win, I think.

But thinking doesn't help as Ayden moves down, using one hand he pins my hands above my head. I see his other fist and before it even makes contact, I could already feel the pain. My face aches as my head repeatedly hits the floor with the impact. I could feel the conciseness drifting away. Promising me, that it'll all be over that I won't feel.

But there's a big gap between the times that Ayden's punches come. With one last try I use that gap to my advantage.

My knees come flying sideways and with all that I've got I strike the side of Ayden's head. Down he falls, his body thumping rough against the carpet. A siren like noise vibrates off the room and the light start to change like it did before.

The room stops but instead of being dim it's all bright. Too bright that I'm afraid I'm the one who fainted first.

"Duck! Duck!" a voice calls out to me.

I recognize it but it sounds too far for me to pin point it. I feel myself being lifted up and carried. But all I stare at is the white. Until it all turns black.