How Can I Survive This

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

It was a month and a half later and Tory had just finished a brutal training session. She limped her way back to the house she was staying in. When she got to her room she collapsed on the bed but yelped in pain from the soreness of the ribs that were probably broken. She frowned, and sat up slowly, wincing in pain. She looked at her right hand. The same hand she had used to break the stone dummy. She tried to flex it but closed her eyes and grimaced with the pain that radiated through the hand. It had been months, but it still hadn't healed properly.

She sighed and got up. She knew she needed to ice her hand. She was about to turn into the kitchen when she heard Kreese talking to Kim.

"You really think she's our best shot at winning the female champion? I have other women here that could take on that challenge." Kim was doubtful that Tory would be able to take on the competition at the tournament because she knew how weak her mind was. Tory rolled her eyes. Kreese chose her for a reason.

"Tory was part of Cobra Kai when we got into the Sekai Taikai. Figured she should get to compete for us." Kreese explained to Kim.

"She wanted to leave Cobra Kai. How did you convince her to come back?" Kim asked, an eyebrow raised.

"I can be very persuasive," Kresse told her.

Tory sighed and walked in, not wanting to listen to them talk about her anymore.

"Ms. Nichols, can we help you with something?"

"I was just getting some water," Tory lied. She figured she would get called weak if she said she was going for ice. She noticed Kreese looking at her with an eyebrow raised.

"That all you wanted?" Kreese asked.

"Yeah, that's all," Tory said. She didn't wait for a response, just went to the fridge and got a water bottle.

"Ms. Nichols," Kim called as Tory was leaving the room. Tory groaned inwardly and turned around. "The tournament is in a couple of weeks, think you'll be ready?" Tory straightened up and looked Kim in the eye.

"I am 100% ready for the tournament," Tory told them. "Nothing is going to stop me," Tory said, still looking at Sensei Kim.

"Glad to hear that. Because we have one last lesson for you." Kim told her and Tory felt her blood turn cold. She already had to hit a wooden dummy, and then another stone dummy, which nearly broke her hand again during the first week she got there. A few weeks after her hand healed they got her breaking cement blocks. Tory constantly got snapped at for every little thing while Kwon just did whatever he wanted.

"What is it?" Tory asked, nervously.

Instead of saying anything Tory feels herself get tripped and then kicked and the air is knocked out of her. She tries to move but her body is in shock from what just happened.

"That a fight is never going to be fair," Kim told her. "Be at the Dojang in 10. We need to have a meeting."

Kim and Kreese walked out of the house, leaving Tory on the floor. Tory tried not to yell in pain when she got up. She got to the Dojang in nine minutes and saw everyone else looking at her. She saw Kwon smirking at her and looked down. She hated this. She used to love karate, but Kreese and Kim were making her hate it. The fact that she had to work with them made her sick. She was constantly thinking about how she found her mother, how no one stopped her from leaving Miyagi-Do, and how she was getting abused rather than learning.

"We called you out here to make sure you understand what you're going up against." Kim started.

Tory zoned out, not listening to what she was saying when before she knew it Kwon was standing in front of her.

"What do you want?" Tory asked, hatred dripping from her voice.

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask you to go out with me."

Tory scoffed. "Not in a million years," Tory told him and then walked away. Well, tried to. Before she could she felt Kwon grip her wrist, stopping her.

"Let go," Tory said, slapping Kwon's wrist away and was shocked when she felt a punch to her gut. She looked up, fire in her eyes and battled back.

Tory and Kwon were going hit for hit, block for block when she felt something hit the back of her head. She dropped to the floor, unable to cushion the blow and landed on her shoulder. She yelped out in pain, catching Kreese's attention. Kreese rushed over and looked at Tory, saw the damage that was done.

"Kwon, go home," Kreese told him, in a tone that made sure Kwon wouldn't second guess him.

"Tory, you as well." Kreese stretched out a hand, offering her help but Tory just looked up and got up on her own. She rushed to the house and her room. She got changed and got into bed. Tory was trying to get settled but was in pain. She tried to hold back her tears but was unable to when she thought about everyone she had left behind.

Her brother.

Her boyfriend.

Her Dojo.

Her pride.

Tory didn't know how she was supposed to keep going when she had no one there for her. Kreese just wanted to use her as a pawn to win the tournament. Tory had tears running down her cheeks when she let out a sob.

I can't keep this up.