My raw red fists hit the black leather bag at a fast, punishing pace. I had lost feeling in my hands a while ago but still continued.
Left, right, kick, repeat
Four had started our fight training early, but me even earlier. He had woken me up before the other initiates and brought me to the cafeteria. He told me to eat as much as I could, the first day of training would tire me out intensely.
That it did.
After, everyone came in. I was trying to improve my left hook and high kick when my brother once again started up the torture people called running. My feet hit the concrete in an even rhythm, my breath not so even. Thankfully, my long legs gave me an advantage over the others. I knew how to pace myself. While everyone started off sprinting, I stayed in the middle of the pack and at the end, while everyone was panting like dogs. I ran in front of them, in line with my brother. However, we both were extremely focused while training, both of our faces made of stone. I guess we are similar. We then started the muscle workout. I drenched my dry mouth with some water from a black bottle, my body craving the liquid. Once I had hydrated myself, I realised everyone else had picked a pull-up bar. Tris and Christina edged towards the shorter bars. I smiled at them and they smiled back weakly, Christina's breath ragged. The last bar was thankfully a good height for me but, bad news, it was next to Peter, 'the asshole' as I liked to call him.
"Go!" Four shouted, pressing a button on a stopwatch. We had to do as many pull-ups as we could. I heaved my aching body up, making myself some momentum by lightly swinging myself. My chin touched the cold metal bar and I repeated this sequence. Again. Again. Again. I looked to my side and saw Peter's face contorted in pain.
"Oh, is the little Candor struggling to keep up?" I taunted, still lifting myself.
"Shut your little Stiff mouth," he spat. I just laughed and continued my workout. After an eternity, Four stopped us. We handed in our scores. I got 15 of the exhausting things done in a minute.
Finally, Four decided to end the torture.
"Alright, let's have a break," he announced. "Five minutes."
I could practically hear Christina roll her eyes.
We sat down on the rusting metal benches, everyone gleaming with sweat.
"How was that for everyone?" I asked Tris, Christina, Will and Al. Everyone just kept on panting but Will chuckled.
"Hell," he answered.
"Alright initiates!" Four shouted. "You will fight each other now. I expect to see you using the things we've taught you. If you don't learn, you will get hurt." He pulled down a sheet behind which lay a blackboard like the ones they used in school. Our names were written in chalk next to others. The order shocked everyone, some people's mouths agape. However, whilst scanning my eyes over the dark board, I realised a name was missing.
Tris.
I looked at my brother with a 'what?!' look and he seemed to get it as he stood up.
"Since there is an odd number of you, one of you won't be fighting today," he announced, sitting back down onto a black bench.
Al vs. Will
Christina vs. Molly
Tay vs. Peter
Drew vs. Myra
Those names weren't the only ones, the other initiates were set up against other people I hadn't bothered to notice.
I had to fight Peter.
Oh, God.
"Hey," Christina touched my shoulder, "at least you're not up against the tank." She joked, pointing to Molly. Peter's slightly more feminine-looking minion.
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I AM SO SORRY!!! I am such a bad writer! School has been hectic lately and I just couldn't find the time to write. However, that being said... WE HAVE OVER 400 READS MY LITTLE HUMBUGS! I really want to thank you guys so much for all of the comments, votes and reads. I love you all so much and this story wouldn't be the same without all of you lovely readers. <3 in endless amounts!
