The fight
409 Words
Chapter 8.
The moment the fight began, Lukas lunged.
He moved fast, faster than Aria expected for a man his size. She barely managed to dodge as his fist shot past her, grazing her shoulder.
The air between them crackled with tension.
Aria didn’t wait for him to attack again. She dropped low, sweeping her leg out in an attempt to knock him off balance. But Lukas anticipated the move, jumping back with a chuckle.
“Not bad,” he admitted. “But not good enough.”
He came at her again, and this time, she couldn’t dodge in time. His palm slammed into her side, sending her stumbling. Pain flared through her ribs, but she gritted her teeth and stayed on her feet.
Lukas pressed his advantage, aiming for her again.
Aria let instinct take over.
Instead of retreating, she twisted toward him at the last second, catching his incoming arm and using his own momentum against him. She pivoted, slamming her elbow into his ribs before darting away.
Lukas grunted, rubbing his side. “Alright. You’ve got some fight in you.”
Aria didn’t answer. She was already moving.
She ducked under his next strike, striking out with a sharp jab to his stomach. Lukas staggered slightly, but he was still grinning.
“Better,” he admitted. “But let’s see if you can keep that up.”
The fight stretched on, each exchange growing more intense. Aria refused to back down. She took hits—pain blossomed across her arms, her legs, her ribs—but she gave just as many.
And then, finally, she saw her opening.
Lukas swung wide, overconfident.
Aria dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him.
He hit the ground with a heavy thud, cursing. Before he could move, she planted her knee against his chest, her dagger pressed against his throat.
Silence settled over the training ground.
Lukas stared up at her, then let out a breathless laugh. “Damn.”
Aria didn’t move, waiting.
Then, slowly, Lukas raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. You win.”
She released him and stepped back, heart pounding.
Kieran watched her with something unreadable in his gaze. Then he nodded.
“She stays,” he said simply.
No one argued.
Aria exhaled, rolling her shoulders. She had won.
But this was only the beginning.
She had carved a place for herself in the Hollow.
Now, she had to survive it.
- Writer
