Gold

Duel

    Ana was my height, a short five feet three inches. But where I had dark black hair, she had bright red fiery hair that was always cut to her chin. She was pretty but in a fierce way. Her cheekbones were sharp and her nose was very straight and ended abruptly. The way she walked was not seductive in the least; it was like a wolf hunting its prey. It was an intense walk that scared people off. But not me. It was beckoning me, the way she thought she was the best fighter, it made me want to fight.

    “Hey Ana,” I called out when she walked into the arena. Quite a crowd had turned out and I wasn’t surprised Ren had invited people. Ana just scowled and took her place across the mat from me. All of a sudden the cheers got louder and I looked into the crowd. The cheering only gets this loud if the four leaders were present. As I looked into the crowd, sure enough there they were: Arie, Zayn, Josef, and Alec. 

    “Kira,” Ana sneered and faced me. Her freckled face had a permanent scowl and again I questioned Ren’s choice. Ren walked in between us. He looked a little nervous because he knew I was a tough fighter. 

    “This is only a duel, no mortal injuries, and begin,” Ren began the duel and ran out of our way. The room was quiet as Ana and I started circling one another.

    Ana took the first move and charged towards me. By the way, her body was turned I could tell she was planning on slipping by my side and coming up behind me. Instead of waiting for her to reach me I sprinted and flipped over her. She was surprised and paused a second too long, which was enough time for me to kick her in the ribs very hard. There was a snap and Ana turned to me with a grimace of pain. She lunged at me and aimed her fist for my nose. I ducked and her balance was thrown off and her stomach landed on my shoulder. I then threw her onto the floor and straddled her. Then repeatedly hit her face with my fist. She finally tapped the floor and then passed out. It was barely a fight. 

    The crowd went wild, Ren ran onto the arena straight to Ana where she laid unconscious. He looked so worried and when she opened her eyes I saw that was why he liked her. Because she liked him back. She was probably nice to him. I stood up and stalked away. I was walking out of the arena when I heard someone clearing their throat behind me. I spun around; my body tensed as I realized it was Arie, one of the four Leaders of the Utopian Guard.

    “That was quite a show,” he said in an observant way. He smiled nervously.

    “Thanks, I put it on just for you,” I quipped and turned to leave. I was sweaty and desperately wanted to take a shower. He grabbed my shoulder and I froze. He dropped his hand and then walked in front of me.

    “I am a Leader, I would like some respect,” Arie said with a slight scowl. I could tell he wasn’t a mean person, which made me question his leadership. You had to be tough to be Leader but he might be the Tactical one.

    “I am sorry sir. What may I do for you?” I mocked him and gave him a slight bow. He didn’t know how to respond to my sarcasm and he just looked at me confusedly.

    “I just want to talk. Please stop that,” he sighed, “I have talked to the other Leaders and we decided we would like to bring you into the Utopian Guard early.” To get into the Utopian Guard, you had to be eighteen and pass a test. I was only seventeen. It wasn't that early but I was still honored. 

    “That’s possible?” I asked because truthfully it would be awesome. Arie nodded. 

    “You have to pass the test, though.” I smiled; I could easily pass the test. Arie had said it like the test would be a challenge, but so far in life, nothing has ever been challenging for me.

    “When and where?” Arie looked a little disconcerted at my confidence.

    “Tomorrow, at noon. Is that okay?” Arie asked and I nodded. It was better than okay, I was joining the Guard a year early. I was grinning so much my cheeks started to hurt a little. They weren’t used to smiling. 

    “Great! Bye,” I said and brushed by Arie. I started the walk to my room when all of a sudden there was something throwing me onto the floor.

    “What the hell!” I yelled as Ren held me against the floor. I didn’t fight. I just stared at him, surprised. His eyes were glinting.

    “You broke three ribs, her nose, and gave her a bad concussion! Why the hell did you hurt her so much?” Ren snarled and I was surprised at how much he cared about this girl. I knew they liked each other but the way he came at me so viciously meant that he might love her. 

    “Ren, get off me so we can talk like adults,” I ordered. Ren just gripped my shoulders harder. “Okay, I guess boys do mature slowly,” Ren all of a sudden punched me in the stomach. It didn’t hurt but the betrayal stung. We had been friends since we were born; our parents had been friends since high school. And now a random girl had gotten between us. We had been attached at the hip our whole lives but now that friendship was over and I hurt. I was tough but he was the one person I had ever told the truth to about anything.

    “Come on, Kira, that couldn’t have hurt. Come on, talk,” He hissed in my ear. I lost it. I bucked from underneath him and managed to slip out. He jumped up so he could face me.

    “Fights are meant to be fought, not taken lightly. I thought you would know that,” I said not being able to fully harness my usual sarcasm and bravado. Ren continued to glare at me.

    “Ren, calm down,” Ana spoke quietly but with conviction. Her eyes were bright and I could see she was smart and understood what was going on.

    “I can’t. She didn’t have to go full out!” He yelled. I sighed. I didn’t go full out, if I had, Ana would be dead.

    “Come on Ren let’s go, I need someone to walk me to Nurse Jacquie,” Ana said and Ren stalked towards her. He threw a glare back at me but then turned the corner to the Infirmary.

    My stomach was flipping and my chest ached. Ren was my only real friend in the Compound. Without him, I was all by myself. Sure, I was independent and I always made it seem like I needed no one but I did. I didn’t want to lose my one friend over a stupid girl.

    I came to my door and realized I hadn’t even known I was walking. I slipped inside my room and collapsed onto my couch. I hadn’t cried since I was five when my parents were killed in the Uprising, but I felt my eyes burning. I buried my head into the old red velvet couch and prayed that the tears would leave. I didn’t like this feeling. It felt like a weakness and I have worked my whole life to ignore my weaknesses.

    I finally got up and hopped into the shower. My stomach felt better and my chest didn’t ache as much and I thanked the world that showers were so good at calming me down. I washed away my sweat and cleaned my long black hair. I kept it long because when I was a child, my mom had always told me I looked so pretty with it long. I didn’t care about looking pretty; I just cared about keeping the memory of my mother alive.

    I finally finished the revitalizing shower and headed to my bedroom to get dressed. I grabbed black sweatpants and a tank top then changed into them quickly and swept my hair into a ponytail. I stared at myself in the mirror and glared at my face. I had a round face, which people describe as pretty, and big round golden eyes. Yes, pirate gold eyes, not light brown but bright gold. My eyes were what made me strong, fast, smart, brave, and unable to feel physical pain. They were my secret, which I shared only with my parents and soon to be Ren.

    There was a knock on my door and I jumped at it. I walked slowly to the door, not having any clue as to who it might be. I swung it open and was surprised to find Ren standing there.

    “Hey,” I said awkwardly. Ren stared at me and then pushed me into my room.

    “I’m sorry,” he muttered as he perched on the couch arm. He looked like he was forced to be here.

    “Don’t apologize,” I said and he looked relieved, “we all know you don’t mean it.” His eyes flashed when I said that.

    “I am sorry, I just… I really like her and … I should have known you wouldn’t be able to control yourself.” I scoffed at his passive-aggressive jibe. 

    “I did control myself! I could have kicked her so hard the first time I could have crushed all her organs and killed her then and there! Didn’t you ever wonder why or how I got bright gold eyes?” I yelled. His eyes finally had the look of dawning realization but also confusion.

    “Ya, I just assumed they were natural,” Ren mumbled. I walked to him and looked him in the eyes.

    “No, my grandparents were scientists and came up with an experiment which could hypothetically make perfect warriors. I was injected with it.” My confession rushed out of me like a rapid river.

    “What?” Ren was so surprised but I knew that it must make sense to him.

    “Ya, Ren, it was a duel. I fought as I would with anyone, and she fought as she would with anyone,” I ignored his question. Ren understood I didn’t want to talk about it so he nodded and hugged me. I pulled away though. I was still upset with him. We had been friends for so long and he freaked out.

    “I really am sorry, Kira,” Ren exclaimed, not meeting my eyes. “Well, see you tomorrow.” Ren left my room and I fell onto my couch.

    “Drama,” I muttered and then decided it was time for me to go to sleep.