|Instinct|
[Marissa]
"River, how many people actually live in Ive's?"
He seemed so nonchalant about everything, "400"
My eyes bulge out of my socket as I realise the amount people that lived in this forestry. I mean River's house seem so deserted, I would never thought that people would be scattered around here.
We left the house from the back entering even what seems to be deeper into the forest.
"We are going somewhere with no distractions", he spoke to me. To be honest, I barely listened to half the things he was saying. My cheeks were rosy as I stared at his half naked body in a pair of boy shorts.
He continued walking farther into the forest and I followed. I wore normal gym clothes that Sarah borrowed me. Apparently she had some gym clothes she bought a few sizes too small and never had the time to bring it back.
The forest was mystical, it was filled with sounds of the creatures and the wind rustling into the leaves of the humongous trees that towered over us.
As we went deeper into the forest, I could here running water getting louder and louder. There was a large rock near a waterfall which cascaded down and plunging into a pool of water.
The space on land was large enough for sparring or any physical activity needed. Suddenly someone's head punched out of the water and shakes their brown hair.
He was gorgeous.
He swam towards us and reached out for some rocks to get out of the water. His hazel eyes pierced through my body in full examination mode and he didn't seem all to pleased.
That's what I thought until he let out a small smile, "Hey, I'm Cortez"
I just stared at him like he had some foreign creature stuck on his face. I mean does Ive's breed gorgeous men? I don't know what sorcery they are apart of but I'm so in.
"I'm Marissa, call me Ari" , I gave a soft smile which may come off as a tad flirtatious but can you really blame me?
Someone behind me coughed quite vicariously to make his presence known. "Lets go through the basics of this procedure". He seemed slightly distant with his hooded eyes and posture.
"So I will be helping you with your strength and strategy and River will be helping you with your speed"
River nodded slightly, "Today you will be with my bud Cortez". He didn't look at me or smile. He turnt around and just left. I watched silently as he disappeared into the forest.
Cortez looked at me with a small smile, "Don't worry about him, he just busy". I nodded and came closer to him like about a few feet.
"Okay, you need some combat skill", he pulled me to the middle of the pasture.
"Dodge or", he swung his right foot so fast that I didn't even have time to react. His foot made a 180° turn and landed right into my stomach. My body made a large thud on the ground as the dust lifted into the air and the grass flattened under me.
"Taste dirt", he smirked as he watched me groan and tumble around in a ball in pain. He went serious and came up towards me," Get up, we have work to do"
So I didn't everything he said just not as well as I should. He kept shouting for me to try harder and I pushed myself as hard as I could.
Forearm block
Roundhouse kick
Front elbow strike
"That's all you got!?"
It's been hours now. I was sore and fed up with Cortez' extremely difficult combat moves and snarky comments. I knew I had to become stronger for myself and for my parents because I need to be the best me that I can be.
"Stop", that's all it took for me to fall flat on the ground. He sat on one of the rocks and blankly stared at me.
"I can't do this", I breathed out and laid in the grass but he gestured for me to sit near him. While sighing I got up and walked towards him.
Sitting next to him, he mentions,"You did better than I thought". His facial expression didn't change but mine surely did cause I was surprised as hell. The waters kept crashing into the pool giving off a calming effect.
"Look Ari nothing is easy especially around here", he looked at me with admiration, "Don't give up just yet"
He stood up. He had no shirt on and wore black khakis. He said softly, "Close your eyes"
I furrowed my eyebrows in curiosity but did as he said.
"Listen".
I took in a deep breathe and focused on my surroundings. I could hear the water splashing and roaring to life as it plunges into the pool of water. The birds singing their song and the woodpecker busily knocking at the bark of trees. I could hear leaves rustling like tornados and animal noises far off.
"Follow my voice", Cortez' voice interrupted my listening experience. I did as he said and felt his presence stand in front of me.
'Listen and use your instincts' my conscience told me.
I kept focusing and heard footsteps slowly approaching me. I heard the wind of movement from a moving object and instinctively did a forearm block to what seems to be a right hook from Cortez.
I opened my eyes and looked at him as he stood directly in front of me. He closed in the space between us and smirked. I couldn't move as I looked at his hazel eyes almost as if I was cast under a spell. Our nose touched and he leaned in and said,
"That's how you fight"
[Chapter 8]
SHOUT OUT
YOU ARE READING
Surprised (PAUSED)
General Fiction"Move Out now!" He yelled at me to duck for safety, to not rescue him but I couldn't allow that. He kept yelling it's a trap, to not come any closer, that the people I trust are liars but I closed him off. I ran to save him and no one is going to...
