Resurgent

Part 6

I wake not to the warmth of Sam’s body, but the emptiness of the bed. Sam must have woken up a while ago and got up. She isn’t in her bed so I’m assuming she doesn’t want anyone else to know what we are doing. I don’t want anyone else to know too, especially since I have no clue what this is or if it means anything.

I don’t have much time to think, I have to be in the pit by 8:00.

“We have taught you the basics and now we want you to use those skills, against another initiate,” Four explains motioning to the board with our names on it.

My name is next to Jake’s, we fight after Kenzie and Khloe. Kenzie walks onto the mat and it begins.

Kenzie kicks Khloe in the side, but Khloe retaliates and elbows her in the nose. Blood instantly gushes from her nose. That just makes Kenzie mad and she punches her right below the ribs. That knocks the wind out of her so Kenzie takes the opportunity and side sweeps her legs out from under her. Khloe hit the ground hard, banging her head, Kenzie kicks her head, knocking Khloe unconscious and winning the fight.

It’s my turn to fight, I slowly make my way to the mat trying to delay my injury for a little bit. It’s Jake that gives the first blow, his fist contacts my jaw and I feel instant pain. I kick him in the head, but not hard enough to knock him down. I knee him below the ribs and kick him to the ground, just like Kenzie did.

Jake doesn’t stay down long, he grabs my legs knocking me to the ground, and pins my shoulders to the ground.

“I really hope this doesn’t hurt our friendship,” He says laughing.

That comment really gets under my skin and I get a sudden burst of strength, enough to push Jake off of me and pin him to the ground the same way he pinned me. “Same here,” I slam his head against the ground twice before he blacks out.

I won my first fight, but I don’t feel good about it. Next up is Sam and Ryan, and Ryan is one of the best fighters. I can’t help but worrying about her.

She steps onto the mat, Ryan tries to punch her in the face but she dodges it. She kicks him in the side, then he tries to sweep kick her legs out from under her. She jumps at the last second, avoiding his leg. Sam knees him in the crotch, then kicks him in the back of the knees causing him to fall.

I can’t believe how good she is, but just as I think she might win Ryan grabs her arm and flips her onto her back, like a rag doll. Sam hits her head, hard, then Ryan kicks her until she blacks out but then doesn’t stop.

I run toward her yelling at Ryan “Stop! Ryan you win! Stop!” I yell standing between Sam and Ryan.

He begins walking away but as he passes me he whispers to me, “Sorry, Stiff, I guess your girl isn’t cut out for Dauntless.” He grins as he walks away.

Sam still hasn’t come too, and the next match is about to start. Jake, Dylan, and I take Sam to the hospital and I stay with her while Jake and Dylan go back to the pit.

I hold her hand and wait for her to open her eyes, just like when she was getting the tattoo. When they finally do open her big blue eyes focus on my face for just a second before the painkillers pull her back under.