The Martial Arts Prodigy

Chapter 9

Song up above Faint by Linkin Park

"The more you seek the uncomfortable, the more you will become comfortable."- Connor McGregor.

This chapter now focuses on the backstory of Laura and Aaron in High School.

[Laura POV]

Compton... This is more than a city, it is mostly known as a jungle, and in a jungle, you either sink or swim in the deep end. Growing up here, I found the experience in between pretty good and insanely difficult. When you get to high school, however, it's always a hard road.

I had a small group of friends while I was there, so I was with a good crowd. But as we all know, the uncomfortable stench of chaos always lurks in the halls. Every day there were fights breaking out, lesser classmen being bullied and victimized, you name it, it has happened to someone at one point.

One day, while I was in a Creative Writing class, there was this new kid joining our school. He was like me, a Senior preparing to graduate. My teacher said his name was Aaron Zhang, cool name.

[Aaron POV]

Walking into this school, I didn't know what to expect. Compton High was a different playground, almost like a dog eat dog world. I didn't have a problem with the curriculum here, but the atmosphere in this place is another story.

Every moment, either a fight was breaking out, or someone was dealing drugs on the outside. It was rather unsettling. My parents sent me here to make something of myself, but all I wanted was to become a fighter.

Martial Arts is my life. Ever since I was a child, I was trained in the art of Jeet Kune Do and Escrima. Escrima is also known as Kali for those that don't know. Throughout my childhood, I was taken to tournaments. I would win in many different categories, ranging from weapons and hand to hand.

Long story short, I arrived here just trying to get through my studies and graduate. It wasn't long before I would be the target of bullies. But these weren’t just regular bullies, they were gangbangers with itchy trigger fingers.

One day, while I was on my way back home, I was surrounded by nine thugs that go to my school. I was ready to accept a beat down until this black woman from my class kicked one of the men in the jaw. She said her name was Laura Christmas, pretty unique to have a holiday as your last name. We fought the gangbangers off, but I was mesmerized by Laura's fighting style. She was so fast and swift, I have never seen anyone move that fast.

[Laura POV]

Watching Aaron fight, I could not believe what I was seeing. The amount of speed he was emitting was unbelievable, it was almost like he was possessed by a warrior god.

After we took down the gangbangers, I felt the need to talk to him. I asked him, "Hey, you okay?" he replied yes to me. I offered to help him get his things off of the floor, extending a friendly hand. Aaron accepts without hesitation, he showed his respect and gratitude by bowing to me.

From that point on we became friends, as he told me of his love for Martial Arts. Oddly enough, I have the same love. As we both walked home, I realized that he lived on the same block as me, just across the street from my house.

Every day after school, we would spar together, constantly improving our Martial Arts skills. Aaron was good, really good to keep up with my speed. We would even help each other with numerous school projects and homework assignments.

[Aaron POV]

Throughout senior year, we would have each other's backs, like brother and sister. I never had a friend like that before. I was always a loner, but Laura made me feel like I can have friends and be an open book to people. When graduation came around, I and Laura were at the top of the class. We were on the Honor Roll, the National Honors Society and we were skilled Martial Artists.

That was the last time we saw each other, we went our separate ways.
I finally accomplished my dream of becoming an MMA fighter, making it into the UFC at just eighteen years of age.

Throughout my career, I went undefeated with 37 wins and a Light Heavyweight Title reign. When I retired, I wanted to continue my study of Martial Arts. That is when I received a letter in the mail, being selected for this school of Martial Arts.

[Laura POV]

After me and Aaron split, I traveled to Africa and I furthered my training in the Panther Style. As I was training, I reminisced about me and my father during my first two years of High School. As I said before, he would train with me every day until he died from kidney failure. I don't talk about it much, but I know he would be proud of the woman I became.

During my time in Africa, I met a sage who taught my father the eight different styles of the Panther. He was old, but he moved so swiftly like an apex predator on the hunt.
He offered to teach me everything about the Panther Style. I couldn't say no of course. For five whole years, I was taught all of the styles of the Panther, I mastered then all, quicker than my father or anyone in the land.

I worked on my speed, agility, strength and of course my senses. For those five years, I became stronger since leaving High School. But I was not prepared for what would happen next.

One night, while I was sleeping, some mercenaries were antagonizing my new master for some blood diamonds. They thought he hid them from the mercs hands, but in truth, he gave those diamonds to my father to keep safe. They killed my master by beating him to death and they dumped his body in the river.

I managed to recover his body and I give him a proper burial. Before I went home, I was going to bring these mercs down. I tirelessly tracked them to a small town that they were terrorizing.

I intervened, taking them down with ease with my enhanced speed. All of the villagers heard screams of pain and agony, as they witnessed all of the mercenaries being disabled. With the last one standing, I kneed him in his spine so hard that I broke his back.

The villagers thanked me for saving them and they offered me a blue diamond the size of a pea. They made me a bracelet with the word Dage inscribed on it, while the gem was in the middle. Dage means "take a firm stand" in Nigeria.

Arriving back here in the states, I get a letter saying that my application for a Martial Arts school was accepted. And then I would meet a woman, who was just like me and I would reunite with my High School brother.