But, None Of That Matters.

Chapter 17- About Time

I know I can win. But, can't I at least fight with my hands. Particularly, as he hasn't put away the knife; is he considering using it in the fight?!

I feel Luke's sorry eyes watching me as some kind of moral support.

Victor's been in loads of fights. And I know that. He always looked like a pretty good fighter in my opinion, but I only ever saw him fight guys of school age and with little experience.

I try to copy his stance, but it doesn't work.

He lunges forward, cutting through the material of my shirt and vest.

I notice Bobby eyeing up my shirt. Maybe he thinks I'm injured? I start tugging it down, hoping he didn't see the tattoos. That would mean game over.

"I wasn't ready!" I yelled in bewilderment.

"You'll never be ready." He lunges again. This time aiming for my knee, but I jump back and dodge it.

"Fluke." Victor spat as he leant forward again, this time using his whole body weight behind the jab. But, I was able to jam the knife in between the rope hoops [that lock my hands together]; meanwhile I turn him, so that he's facing away from me and thrust my arms upwards, causing the dagger to slice through the threads of the rope.

The knife flies heaven-bound, into the air, until I catch it with my right hand.

With one kick, I push Victor away from me, so that his back lies flat against the floor.

"Free Luke now." I glare at the minions, while flashing the others daring glances, in case they were planning to make a surprise attack.

The minions were compliant and duly released him from the chair, after removing the flannel gag from his mouth.

"If anyone follows us, they will die. You hear me?!" We stumbled backward into the door and closed it as we left.

Our feet carried us few yards, before we were stopped again.

"Put your hands in the air, and weapons on the ground!"

The police...

•••

Everyone was taken into custody; Luke and I included.

We were all questioned, as funnily enough, I (along with Luke) was the one claiming to be kidnapped, but was also the only person with a knife at the scene.

Apparently, almost every person had a different story for the event, so they pulled out the CCTV which showed 'them' hurling myself, and Luke, onto the trolleys and then pushing us inside the dull, office building.

It wasn't even a warehouse, but an office building? What a let down.

Once the police had the most accurate story they could get, we were dismissed.

Gunner came to pick us up from the station. Strangely, he didn't look at all surprised about the whole situation.

This meeting was about Victor's pride. And nothing else.

I'm glad that I didn't get to see the brute's mum, before I left.

I couldn't help feeling a bit guilty. Maybe because I knew I had an advantage over them. For even if they had cut off my hands before the fight- I still could have beaten him.

Luke was remarkably silent for the journey home, as if he had screamed his throat sore and empty of air.

"Do you two want me to bring you guys hot chocolates, when you confront Caspian? It might help you warm up to each other." Is this Gunner's first attempt at humour?!