Adurna

The Gate

Chapter Twenty Eight

I didn't give the man enough time to recover before I launched myself at him. I crouched over him, my knee pressed to his chest and threw my fist at his unguarded face. The sound of skin hitting skin echoed on top of the gate. My knuckles throbbed from the force of striking the man repeatedly. Blood soon dripped from my clenched fist, most of it being the man's below me.

My arm was drawn back for another blow when the man suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. I struggled in his grasp, but he was stronger. His other arm shot out and his thick fingers wrapped around my throat. I inhaled in surprise, letting out a choking gasp as the pressure increased. My fingers scratched against his hand and drew blood from my nails, yet he paid no mind. He stood to his full height and dragged me with him. He let out a grunt as I kicked him in the shin before lifting me from the ground with ease. Both my hands were clawing to be free at this point. My lungs demanded more air and black dots swam at the edges of my vision.

He made his way to the edge of the gate, carrying me aloft in just one hand. He stopped at the very edge and dangled me like a doll over it. I casted my eyes downwards, the height surprising me. I hadn't been aware of how far I had climbed in my mad dash to reach the top.

"Stupid girl." The man sneered. I felt his fingers loosen as he prepared to drop me.

I let out a grunt of annoyance before bringing my legs up to wrap around the man's own neck. My thighs squeezed harshly against his throat. His bald head soon turned red as I cut off his air supply as he was with me. His hand around my throat loosened enough for me to yank my throat from his grasp. I inhaled sharply, my chest heaving to get the needed oxygen back into my body.

My hold on the man did not let up as we struggled on the brink of the gate. I had hoped to throw him over and be done with it, but figuring a way for me not to topple after him was proving difficult.

Luckily, I didn't have to figure it out. The man had grown desperate for air and dug his fingers into my thighs. I let out a cry of pain and widened my eyes as the man threw himself backwards on to the gate's floor. The fall dislodged me from his neck and I scrambled back to my feet and further from him.

He lay gasping on the floor as I struggled to orient myself. I was in the middle of another heaving breath when I heard the distinct sound of metal scraping against stone.

My gaze shot to where the man had fallen, but he wasn't there. Instead, he was rushing towards me, sword drawn, with a rather enraged expression on his face. I held back a squeak of surprise as he took a wide swing at me, the sword whistling past my head.

I leapt up from my crouch and threw my leg out to kick him in the chest as he drew back his arm for another swing. He stumbled back a few steps, but I was unable to knock him over again. I blinked quickly and made to grab for the knife sticking from my belt.

The knife was barely in my palm before the man cut his sword through the air once more. I leaned backwards to avoid the blade. The man was again displeased and let out a series of angry swipes with the heavy weapon. Each time, I ducked, leaned, shifted, and rolled to avoid his advances.

I panted, having just darted under the blade and to the other side of the man. My own knife lay idle in my hand as I struggled to find an opening. After a moment, the man whirled around to face me again. He let out a cry and charged at me. I bared me teeth and stayed where I was, my heart bounding as he drew closer and closer to me.

Finally, my arm darted up and met the man's bicep. He struggled to push the blade towards me as I held him at bay. I cried out in exertion before my knife sliced across his arm. He let out a howl of pain, dropping the sword to hold the gash on his arm together. I didn't stop there. I bent down and raked my blade across his thigh and then again against his ankle.