Danger is Near

Chapter 17

I looked towards her. My freakishly scary and intimidating opponent. What surprises me, is the fact that she looks at me as if she is scared as well. She looked as if she didn't want to fight me. But how could she be scared of me. I wasn't that good a fighter. Or was I?

We both headed towards the mat at the same time. Almost in the same footsteps. As we stepped up onto the mat Eric reminded us that the fight was until someone could no longer go on. This scared me even more. I had a strong feeling it will probably be me, down on the ground, knocked out. Like poor Tris.

C'mon Lize! Don't think like that! There's no time to think negatively now. Focus. You know how she fights, you've seen her. She uses her strength, she isn't that fast. Her first blow will most likely aim for your neck, so watch out for that. Use your arm to block her and then kick or punch her in the stomach. Yeah! That's a good plan. You've got this.

I looked towards Eric and Four. I was determined to beat her now. Eric nodded his head, signalling that we could begin. As soon as he did she was already running at me, full speed, aiming for my neck. I didn't have any time to think. But I did duck down a little bit, which at first I thought was a good move until she hit me in the head. She didn't get me in the neck, but... she got me in the head. And it hurt. I became really unbalanced and almost fell off of the mat but I pulled myself together and stood up, walking away from her with my arms guarding my face. At this moment, I realised how much I really did want to beat the shit out of her. I thought she would be 'nicer' and not get straight into it.

Ok bitch. You wanna play hard? I'll give it to you hard! I said in my mind as I ran towards her.

Before I could do anything, she took another swing at me, but I ducked really low, like I was squatting and tackled her. Wrapping my arms around her waist and pinning her to the ground.

Just like Eric said. Fight hard!

I had her lower body pinned down but not her upper body, which was annoying because she began to hit and punch me in the head again, trying to get me off. But that didn't stop me. I put my head down, so she could only hit the top of it and while I did this I grabbed her arms. I was pretty proud of myself. I had her fully pinned down. I was straddling her waist, using my legs to keep her's still, and I was holding her wrists together with my hands, so she couldn't punch me anymore. She was moving around a lot though, trying to loosen my grip on her. It worked. My hands let go of her's and she used this moment to push me off of her and pin me down. She did this quite easily and got many punches in. Which were so painful, I could feel my head thumping. But while she was doing this she lost focus on keeping my legs still. I saw this as an opportunity. My legs were completely free, so I bought them up kneeing her in the bum really hard. As I did this, she twisted around trying to retain my legs again. Bad mistake. As she did this, she left my upper body completely free. With this I shoved her off of me. Kicking her at the same time, making her fall painful. I then quickly stood up, getting a major head rush. I could hardly see anything and I felt really dizzy. This is when she kicked me in the stomach. But I was all better in a few seconds. Her first kick didn't do much, it just left a painful aching feeling behind. She went to kick me again but I was prepared. I grabbed her leg and twisted it around making her lose balance and fall on her face. I then pounced on her and saw this as my chance to knock her out.

Let's go Lize. Let's get this over and done with. I thought as I punched her temple twice. An area where it is easy to knock someone out. This is what Four taught me, and I was so grateful as her body stopped struggling. I had done it! I had beat her!

I was breathing really heavily as I slowly climbed off of her slump body. A few people went over to her on the mat, helping each other to lift her up and take her to the Infirmary. Where she sent Tris.

I looked over my shoulder, where I found Eric nodding with a smile on his face. He looked quite surprised and proud in a way. Four was also smiling, he looked proud as well. But I couldn't help but wander why Eric was smiling, looking all proud. I mean, Four had a reason to be proud. He was my trainer. Eric wasn't. He was just someone who ranked me. Before I could ponder on about this subject any more I heard a small banter of 'whooo's' and cheering. My friends. I turned to face them and they were all there congratulating me. I guess everyone thought she was scary and they were all awe-inspired about how I managed to beat her. I was actually so happy. I felt like I could fight anyone, even Eric!

As Matisse and Amy pulled me in for a mini group hug Eric began to announce the next pair to fight.

It was Emma and some other girl I recognised from Amity. Julia. I wasn't really friends with her but I did know her, and so did Matisse and Amy.

As they fought I decided to go and get a drink. There were drinking taps in the Training Arena so that was good. Meant I wouldn't have to walk far, and I wouldn't miss out on anything.

As I was drinking, feeling the coolness run down my throat I felt a presence behind me. I stood straight up, slowly. Who ever it was, they didn't want a drink. Otherwise they would be drinking from one of the other ten taps to my side. As I turned my body to face them, I looked at the persons feet. I knew who it was. The black jeans tucked into scruffy combat boots. It was him.

I continued to look up his tall, lean body. I had confirmation it was him when I saw those sparkling bluey-grey eyes. The eyes that made you want to run away in fright but kiss him at the same time.

"You fought well today Eliza" he said.

"What do you want Eric?" I said, knowing there must be some sort of catch as to why he was talking to me.

He stepped back. Looking sarcastically shocked. "Wha- no, I just wanted to congratulate you" he said lightly.

I began to take another drink as he said this. I stopped and turned around to face him again, wiping the water droplets from my bottom lip. "Congratulate me on beating up some girl?" I questioned, showing him there was nothing to congratulate me about.

He just looked at me. His eyes turning stone cold, losing the sparkling blue look.

"Why are you here anyway? Don't you have to be assessing some people" I said while looking over his shoulder at Emma and Julia fighting.

"Eh, they're both pretty shit in combat" he stated, following my gaze towards the ring, not seeming too enlivened.

I laughed a little at his statement. I found it funny because of the way he said it, so carefree. I saw him look down at me, surprised and happy at the same time, because I actually laughed at what he had said, not mockingly but genuinely. Even though it probably wasn't all that nice to laugh about two girls not being good at fighting.

With that, nothing else was said and we both parted ways. He walked over to the ring. And I walked over to Al, Peter, Matisse, Amy and Edward near the punching bags.

Before he was out of my sight I turned around to look at him again. And as I turned around and laid my eyes on him, he too turned around. Not to look at the fight, not to look at someone else but to look at me.

And you know what he did?

He smiled. Honestly.