When I wake up, the sun is just barely reaching over the horizon. Rashidi is awake, but has remained where he was to let me finish sleeping. I stand up and brush the straw and dirt from my clothes before grabbing the bones from the other side of the pen and taking them out with me; I lock the gate behind me.
I walk to the fence and throw the bones over it before walking to the main building. As I walk through the halls on my way to the cafeteria, I'm stopped by Brett. "Are you doing weapons training today?" she asks. I squint my eyes at her, unclear as to what she's talking about. "Those people who show up to learn how to defend themselves? We keep a schedule of who's shift it is to teach the class. It's your shift today, but if you're busy, I can take it for you." I slam the palm of my hand against my forehead.
"Did it already start?" I ask, turning in the direction of the training center.
"You have two minutes." I start running to the training center, passing a few people on the way. Once I get to the training center, the first thing I do is glance at the clock on the wall. 4:59, no wonder almost nobody is awake yet. There are nearly twenty people in the room with me, none of them have noticed me yet. They're all gathering their sparring gear; I'm usually in charge of archery, but every once in a while there is an abnormality in the schedule. For example, today I'll be instructing hand to hand combat and overseeing sparring matches.
I slam the door to the training room to get everyones' attention. The action is successful; everyone turns to face me and stands at attention. All except one, who continues to prepare his sparring gear. Unacceptable. I march over to him and stand beside him until he turns to face me. It's Daniel.
"What are you doing here?" I ask sternly.
"Learning. Don't I have the right to do that?" People in the room gasp at his snarky attitude. I cannot make exceptions or show weakness. I slap him across the face.
"You will respect me." I direct my attention to the others. "Run one lap around the building. Report back here when you are finished. Two by two formation," I instruct. They do so and leave the room, jogging at a brisk pace. There is an even number, which creates two rows of nine. Daniel makes nineteen, so I'll have to be his sparring partner.
"You can quit with the power plays," Daniel says, rubbing his cheek. There's a large handprint where I slapped him. "Everyone knows you're in charge."
"Really? You can't seem to get that through your head. You have the right to be here and to learn, but any snide remarks or disrespect will earn immediate retaliation and consequences. Action, reaction." He looks down at the floor, then to the weapons rack beside him. "I know what you're thinking," I say, turning my back to him. "Go ahead. Pick one up." He does so; from the sound of it, I'm pretty sure it's a knife. I hear him charge me. I turn just in time to catch him, twist his arm around, take the knife, and slam him to the ground. I rest all of my weight on him, anchoring myself down, pinning his arms above his head, and pressing the knife to his throat.
"What was the point of that?" he asks, gasping for air.
"To show you how powerless you are against me." I throw the knife and it sticks in the wall. "Do you like feeling powerless?" I ask.
"No."
"Then don't be. Get out of this." He shifts his weight and throws me off of him. I'm up in a millisecond, dodging his every attack from punches to kicks. I kick him square in the chest, pushing him away from me. For a moment, I forget how fast normal humans can be; that moment is long enough for him to grab a fistful of my hair, yank me back, and put me in a choke hold.
YOU ARE READING
Lions And Lifelines: Collapse
General FictionA story of how a young lady's knowledge of the world is all called into question by the unlikely bonding between her and her less than natural enemy.
