EQAO

Chapter 26 - Not What It Seems

It was a wide-open, grassy area. All around us, there were hedges. I looked behind me, and saw thorns and leaves where I had just come from.

"Finally," Mia said, "I've been waiting for you to arrive."

In front of her, the grass had been flattened in a straight line, like she'd been pacing. She surveyed my bleeding face, my panting breaths, and my empty hands. A small smirk crept onto her face.

"Aw, did poor Jessie get into a fight? Looks like you lost your weapon too. Pathetic."

She thinks I'm unarmed? Good, that's an advantage for me.

I had tucked away my dagger to push open the door. But Mia didn't know that.

"Come to think of it," she continued, "I've never seen your weapon. Was Jessie too high and mighty for a weapon? Didn't want to hurt anyone?"

I want to hurt you.

I clenched my fists together, but didn't speak.

"Why so silent?"

I got myself into a fighting stance.

"You want to fight?" I said, looking straight into her eyes, "Let's go."

Mia grinned, and ran towards me. I saw her mace swing at me, and I jumped to the right. It grazed my shin, and my armour deflected most of it, but my whole leg felt like it was vibrating.

Before she could strike again, I tackled her. She struggled to get me off, but I held tight. During a pause in her struggle, I raised my hand to punch her. She seized this opportunity, and threw me off. I landed hard on my left arm, and heard a cracking sound.

I rolled out of the way as a huge metal ball hit the ground right where I had been. Before Mia could raise her weapon again, I grabbed onto the mace's handle, and kicked her in the stomach with all my might. She stumbled backward, letting go of her weapon. I raised it triumphantly,

"Who's too high and mighty for a weapon now?"

The mace felt surprisingly light in my hand, so I ran over to the hedge wall, and chucked it over.

"Idiot." Mia spat, "You just lost your only weapon. I suppose you wanted it to be a fair fight?"

"No." I replied, "I wouldn't have been able to use it well, and you might've gotten it back."

Mia ran at me again. I sidestepped just in time, and she ran headlong into the thorny bush. Before I could do anything, she ran out again, and punched me in the jaw. I fell over. I was dizzy, and spots were dancing in front of my eyes. I knew that now was the time to use my dagger. I took it out, and sprang up to face Mia. But I was unsteady, and Mia could easily knock it out of my hand, and pick it up.

"A hidden dagger?" she mocked, "Well now you really are weaponless."

She jabbed both my ankles and forced me down onto my knees. My ankles were on fire, and I could feel the blood soak into the earth below. I felt light-headed, and all I wanted to do was sleep. Mia positioned the dagger right underneath my exposed neck, and said,

"Any last words?"

"Yes." I croaked, "Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you working for Ms. Gerdalli?"

She gave a harsh laugh,

"Me? No. I hate her just as much as I hate you. I work for no one except myself."

"Then why did you kill that boy, and sabotage my pack?"

"Those were just lucky conveniences for me. But I didn't do them."

My head swam. If Mia hadn't done any of those things, then who had?

"Time for me to kill you, and move on to win these stupid E.Q.A.O. Games."

I snapped back to reality. With one final burst of strength, I knocked Mia's feet from underneath her, and she fell. It happened it slow-motion. She put her hand down to stop herself from falling, the hand which she was holding the dagger with. I heard a sickening noise, as it tore through her insides. Finally, there was silence.

Mia was dead.