"Again!" Alto roars at us.
Punch, side step, jump, lunge. Punch, side step, jump, lunge.
"Come on, but your back into it. Make each other bleed, then I know you're trying!"
Toby and I reintensify our efforts of beating each other bloody, both of us more determined, blood running high and fast.
Punch, side step, jump, lunge, punch, side step, jump, lunge, pun-
I hear the barn door creak open and I'm taken off guard. Toby lands a solid hit to my gut.
"Urgh," I groan "Not cool dude."
He gives me his hand and pulls me up, ready to face the brutal monotony. His eyes flicker past my shoulder and his grin drops slightly. His eyes widen in panic and I turn around to see Anna in all her angry glory.
"Shit," Toby whispers.
She comes storming into the training arena, my pulse quickening with anxiety.
"What the actual fuck Arran?" She screams.
"What?" I ask bewildered.
"Don't pretend like you don't know. Don't pretend anymore!" She takes a deep breath. "Explain yourself mate, or we are done. I will walk out of here and never come back."
"Anna, I don't know what to say," All the while I'm thinking deny deny deny.
"Don't give me that bull Arran! You brought me here! You kidnapped me? For your bloody Uncle!" She screams outraged. "Not to make matters worse but your Uncle runs this whole joint! When were you going to say anything? Or did you just think you could lie about everything? Everything!" She walks towards me, pointing her finger towards my chest.
"What the fuck." She jabs me on each word. "Explain yourself."
"Yes fine! I did bring you here, but you know why? Because I was blackmailed Anna. By my own family, I was blackmailed. Jim threatened me An, he threatened to tell Dad I was dealing and I didn't have any other option. I had to."
"You did what? YOU DID WHAT? You son of a gun, you actually used me like some... some bargaining chip to save your own skin? What else were you doing eh? Watching me? Stalking me too? That will be the fucking cherry on this messed up cake."
I blush, not being able to hide my guilt from her. She stops laughing and her whole face drops. Her voice sounds strangled as she says "Oh my God, he did, didn't he? Why would he ask you to do that? Why?"
"I don't know, An," I say guiltily. "I just did what I was told."
She inhales sharply and slaps me hard across the cheek. I stumble back, slightly dazed with tears smarting in my eyes.
I'm losing her
"I don't know why I'm still talking to you. You've done nothing but lie to me, for God knows how long!" She pauses, thinking, "Is this what you wanted to tell me? When we - you know? She whispers the last bit, looking over my shoulder at Alto, blushing.
"Yeah," I whisper back.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I knew I couldn't tell you before you came here. Jim wanted you specifically, so I did what I was told. When I asked you to come over, it was so I could knock you out and bring you here."
She inhales sharply, I carry on.
"I'm so sorry but I had no choice..."
She cuts me off with another slap to the face. I cringe away from her and just stare, frightened.
"After all we've been through," She hisses "After everything! You drag me into this - this mess." She gestures around us. "I'm not disappointed Arran, just sad that I ever trusted you."
She walks away from me, a sad look on her face, and calls over her shoulder "Don't hold your breath, cos I won't."
God only knows how she'll react when Tom tells her about James.
Toby glances over at me and chuckles softly.
"Trouble in paradise?" He whispers.
"Shut up," I growl. He raises his eyebrows and says nothing, smirking slightly. I roll my eyes and walk over to the edge of the mats. I pick up my boots and sit down to lace them back on my feet. I look at my fingers, once slender and delicate, used for the piano, now all I can see is the violence and heartache caused by my them. The soft pads on the fingertips turned calloused from guns and fighting. From climbing ropes and drawing bowstrings.
Think Anna's special learning how to shoot an arrow? No. She's just another pawn in Jim's plan. Like me, like us all. One day I'll tell you. One day I'll tell you the truth. But for now, there is only one truth and one lie.
The Circle is good.
The Circle is bad.
YOU ARE READING
The Burning Girl
Action"Where the bloody hell has she gone." I hear someone scream. "Tom!" That must be Jim, I thought. Getting closer to the edge, I can hear a scuffle, someone thrown to the floor and another pinned against the hood of the car. The tension in the air co...
