Dark as the Night

51

Odessa closed her eyes and slowly inhaled through her nose, drawing air deep into her belly and bringing her attention inward. She was standing still, her arms at her sides, her legs slightly apart. She wore a soft, breathable cotton tank top and leggings, allowing her body to move freely and her long, wavy hair was pulled into a thick bun at the back of her head.

She exhaled through her mouth, emptying her lungs fully and feeling her stomach cave inward. Rather than throbbing with the migraines of a few weeks ago, her head was clear. The bandage on her neck had been removed after a week, and the wound had healed quickly, leaving only scar that was already turning white. One month after her – what, accident? Attack? Both? – and her scars were already fading as though they were months old, the bruises and swelling and cuts long since healed.

Odessa inhaled again through her nose and moved her attention to her surroundings. The hard floor beneath her feet was slightly springy, allowing for shock absorption. The painted cement walls gave off the slight odor of latex and bounced even the slightest sound around her.

She was alone, and the room was quiet but for the soft susurration of her breaths and the gentle thump of her pulse in her ears. The air was pleasantly but not distractingly warm. She felt and remembered, rather than saw, that the room was large enough for her to walk from one side to the next in eight large steps. She exhaled through her mouth.

Eyes still closed, Odessa inhaled deeply once more then surely and purposefully stepped forward on her left foot. Her right foot quickly passed it, then her left, and then her feet left the ground as her arms reached forward and down.

Her hands slapped the floor in a front hand spring, and she used the momentum to push herself up toward the wall in front of her. Her feet hit the wall and with a firm push, she flipped backward, feeling the air brush over her face as she briefly defied gravity before landing on her feet, facing the wall she'd just hit.

Before gravity could reclaim her, she moved into two back handsprings toward the opposite wall, the sound of each connection of her hands or feet to the floor counting the steps she could have taken. The smell of paint rushed at her just before her feet landed against the wall, which she used as a springboard to copy her earlier flip. This time, she pushed herself higher and farther, landing in the center of the room with a loud thud. The floor's resiliency took the force of her landing with a slight bounce.

She exhaled slowly through her mouth, settled her heart and centered her thoughts, then opened her eyes.

The stillness that settled around her was broken by the harsh sound of someone clapping, and Odessa flinched and spun around, startled. In the doorway stood Adam Adohi, nodding appreciatively. Warmth and admiration shone from his eyes as he applauded her. "Nicely done," he said, his voice booming into the small room.

"Being aware of your surroundings enough to do that with your eyes closed is impressive."

Odessa smiled shyly and bowed. "Thank you, but it's nothing more than memorizing how many steps it takes to cross the room." She closed her eyes and took another deep inhalation. "And knowing by the smell of the walls that they're close enough to touch."

Adam cocked his head questioningly but before he could say anything, Tai slipped into the room around him, holding an industrial compound bow. "Dess, you ready?" he asked. Adam arched an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Dess?

She nodded at him and walked over, wiping her forehead with her sleeve. "Yeah, I was just warming up." She took the bow from him and he grinned down at her.