G.U.A.R.D. Book #2: Aberrations

-21-

    That night, we once again stopped outside a city and settled under the overhanging branches of a forest. Jade folded her suit like she had the night before, and I tried finding a more comfortable spot, where I wouldn't get as sore. Finally, though, I gave up and settled for a spot near hers. I sat on the ground, eating another bag of chips. We got it from a vending machine at a different gas station earlier that day. She did the same.

"Jade..." I said at one point. "Slade said your name was Blair. Why do you go by Jade?"

"Blair Connell's the name that G.U.A.R.D. gave to me. I just went by Wing when I was with the League. I switched my name to Jade Gold when I quit the League."

"But why Jade Gold?"

She crumpled up the bag in her hand before throwing it to the side and standing.

"Come on," she said, motioning for me to join her.

"What are we doing?" I asked, licking off the last remnants of taste from my fingers.

Jade grabbed my chip bag and threw it with hers. "Just get up."

Still suspicious, I stood. I barely had any time to look back at her before her right fist went flying for my face. Instinctively, I blocked with my forearm. Surprise filled me. An instant later, Jade kicked up her left leg and nailed my across the cheek. I stumbled a few steps to the side, grabbing my new bruise.

"What was that for?" I accused, working my jaw.

"You said you wanted to learn how to fight."

I stared at her for a moment, then straightened. "That wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

"It's how I was taught."

For half a second, I felt pity for her, but the moment was gone when she attacked again. This time, she ducked and swept her leg around in a circle, aiming for my own legs. I jumped, feeling a twinge of triumph. However, it disappeared when she speedily completely the turn, stood, and brought her right first into contact with my cheek. The movements were so fluid, like she planned to punch me from the start.

Again, I stumbled, leaning against a tree for support. The black dots slowly disappeared. My cheek throbbed.

"You're not going to give me any advice?" I asked.

She crossed her arms and angled an eyebrow at me. With a sigh, I repositioned myself in front of her again. I only had a split second to breathe in and out before I found myself on my back, groaning and completely confused as to how I got there.

"You're not quick enough. You need to be light on your feet," she said, waiting for me to stand again.

With a breath, I narrowed my eyes and got back up. Turning back to her, I was met with a fist aimed straight my jaw.

"Ah!" I yelled in pain, falling back on a few tree branches. I looked angrily at her. "Can't you at least give me time to recover?"

"I gave you time to get up on your feet. The enemy wouldn't have."

Pushing myself off the branches, I growled under my breath and got into a fighting stance. She grabbed one of the sleeves of her leather jacket and began slipping her arms out of it. Seeing my chance with hopeful eyes, I took a step forward, shooting my fist forward at her stomach. However, she leaned back so far it reached right over. With her arms out of her jacket now, she wrapped the leather tightly around my arm, then let her weight drag me down. Caught off-balance, I ran forward a few steps. She sidestepped to the left, taking her jacket with her. I, however, face-planted into the ground.