Briar Preparatory Academy

End of the Line

Celeste POV

Jasper shrugs off his leather jacket and tosses it off to the side. I stay still, my hands flexing and doing the best I can to keep my breathing under control. I can't help but notice Colleen off to the side, a devious grin on her red lips. I realize that this is the first time I've seen her since I was kidnapped. I can't say that I'm happy about it.

Jasper is twice my size... literally. He stands at least four inches over six feet and I've never given credit to how built his arms are. They've always been concealed by elaborate black suits. I suddenly regret ever challenging him, because I know that there is absolutely no way I can do this. I've always been told that no matter how hard you try, there will always be someone better than you. I wish now more than ever I hadn't ignored that advice.

"Tempted to back down, Darling?" Jasper says and cocks his head. I force a confident look on my face, though I feel the exact opposite on the inside.

"You wish," I snort, "Sounds like you're the one scared to face a kid if you're asking me to back out."

Jasper grins. "The opponent should always be given the chance to surrender. Didn't the Academy ever teach you that?"

"The Academy also taught me to never stand down if I know I can win." I say, and then I charge forward. Jasper spins away like a bolt of lightning as I bring my foot up to connect with his face. I cry out as he grips my calf and twists it in an unnatural direction, swinging me hard down into the ground. I hit the floor on my left shoulder, taking the one second I have to roll away. My shoulder is on fire with pain, and I grit my teeth to keep from screaming.

I hear a thud as Jasper's fist hits the ground right where my head was seconds ago. I push myself up off the ground and raise my fists as Jasper attacks. I volley his fist that is headed straight for my nose, but I don't see his other hand punch straight into my gut. I gasp and stumble back, the air flying out of my throat. I double over and gasp desperately, attempting to get air back in my lungs.

Jasper is using moves that the Academy doesn't teach you. He has years of experience on me, and he certainly hasn't wasted them. I can't defend myself for forever, and I can't hope to outsmart him. Fear is not controlling him, but it is the single thing that consumes my mind.

I take a desperate gasp in and raise my hands, attempting to hone my vision on my competitor. Jasper waits patiently, an amused grin plastered on his face. He is enjoying this. I grit my teeth and attack again, this time spinning off to the side and throwing my elbow at his ribs. To my surprise, I hear a grunt as he does what he can to defend the move, but to no avail. My arm lands straight into his side. I use his moment of off-balance to spin again and bring my knee into his lower back, throwing him forward a few steps. Jasper catches himself much too early. He turns around with ire in his eyes versus the previous amusement. That can't be good.

No defense technique that I have been taught can save me from his next attack. It's almost too much for me to notice all at once; a blur of arms and hands. I throw my arms up as he fakes an attack towards my chest. Then I feel his fingers wrap around my forearm, the other hand gripping a few inches above my wrist. I feel a hard kick right on my ankle bone and I am sent down to the ground before I know what's happening. I land on my back, Jasper standing above me. He brings a foot up and forces it down on my shin. I cry out as I feel something crack and have to bite my tongue. I don't have the ability to roll away from him this time. I grit my teeth and kick my other leg up, landing in the middle of his thigh. It doesn't hurt him, but it is enough to send Jasper off my shin. He stumbles back and gives me a dirty look. I sit up and try to stand, but immediately collapse. I feel tears pooling in my eyes from the pain in my leg and ankle. There's no way I can stand on it, and Jasper knows it.