Starling Cambridge and the Mind-Users

Chapter Two

        Before I even had time to react, Nightingale Armstrong was on top of me , swinging at my face. She got two or three hits in at my face before a raised my fists to block her punches. My heart was racing at 100 miles a minute and my face felt like it was gonna fall right off my head. I managed to slide out from under her and stand up. She bolted up too, quick as lightning, her midnight black hair slapping against her cheeks. I prepared to block and punch, but she didn't come after me. As I was contemplating whether to attack her or not, she finally spoke. 

     "This is for Alyssa," she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. Alyssa.....Alyssa....Alyssa Washington! I remembered suddenly that I had I had kicked her in the face and knocked out her two front teeth after she had come at me, swinging her arms and screaming about some nonsense about how I had flirted and kissed her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was just my friend, I couldn't even imagine kissing him. I shuddered, the thought was disgusting. 

        Before I could think any more about Alyssa Washington and her boyfriend, Nightingale was coming at me, swinging her fists in the air. I blocked all of the surprisingly rock hard punches. I was waiting until the perfect moment to strike back. I realized after a few minutes that she had cornered me. She continued to punch me and I continued to block. My arms start to shake, they need a break, and I don't think I can block for much longer when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. Help? No, it's her friends. I suddenly panic as a recognize the two boys who walk through the door, Nightingale's brother and her boyfriend. Now I'm completely outnumbered. I mean, all this for a fight that had nothing to do with Nightingale? Today was not my day. 

     Both of the guys came near enough to start punching too. With both boys hitting my legs and Nightingale hitting my arms and occasionally my face, my block broke. I knew I was done for, but I would not be defeated without a fight. I started swinging punches at Nightingale, who had gotten a few swipes at my head.

      I got one great punch at her head that knocked her back for a few seconds. I saw my way out of the fight in those few seconds, but I was to slow and to weak to react. In a flash, Nightingale was back, jabbing and kicking at me, but missing. I kept punching and kicking, sure that I looked like a tornado of arms and legs. I knew that I got a few punches in, but it wasn't enough. I was starting to tire and I couldn't keep fighting for very much longer. A sharp pain shoots through my head and a collapse to the ground. Everything is blurry. Nightingale is standing above me with the boys by her side, laughing. I can feel blood dripping down the side of my face. I blink, trying to clear my head, and when I open my eyes again, she's up in my face. 

        "Goodnight, Starling Cambridge," she spits in my face. Then she kicks me as hard as she possibly can in the stomach. I couldn't breathe. My airways were closing up. I couldn't breathe. I was going to suffocate and die, trapped in a room with my worst enemy and her boy band. I tired to breathe, but no air would go through. White lights appeared in the corner of my vision. I was passing out. If I passed out now, I might never wake up again. Just before the darkness took over I felt a little click in my head and then I heard a loud bang. Screams and shouts and pounding feet followed the crash. I gave in to the darkness then, too weak to try and stay awake.