LEO AUREUM

Chapter 10

With how silent the gym was, if someone dropped a feather, they could hear it from a mile away.

The air was thick with anticipation. Most of it was for the thought of watching me have my butt handed to me on the gym floor. After our earlier conversation, I wondered if a certain sable eyed individual was part of the bunch that wanted to see my downfall, literally.

Stacey advanced, her right arm struck out with the first punch. Intrinsically, I swung my head, missing her fist by the literal hair of my eyelash.

Damn, girly was fast.

I was not so lucky the second time as her left hook caught me in my abdomen. I almost doubled over in pain. Red signals immediately started going off in my brain.

Any initial notion that I knew what I was doing flew out the window. Stacey had learnt and she had learnt well.

I sidestepped just as Stacey's foot swung out. The force of her kick could have knocked out a horse. I could feel myself losing ground. We were only a few minutes into the fight and I was already panting like a Billy goat in heat.

Even though, I would hardly call it a fight. It was more like Stacey was doing all the fighting and I was doing all that I could to get by. I had not attacked her even once.

Stacey was getting faster with her punches. My arms began to hurt from how many I was blocking.

“Is this how you always fought or did Rose also influence how you got gold, cariot?” Stacey panted.

I swung out my fist, she blocked it with her left hand swinging out her right fist. I swung my head to the left, pain spread all over my head. That cursed pole.

“What, cariot? Cat got your tongue?”

Her movements slowed down. She looked like a lion hunting its prey. My hands were still in a defensive position.

“Or did I hit a nerve? I don't know why we do not talk about her more often. Why everyone just lets you walk around as if you are not the biggest threat to the system.”

She took a step forward, I took two back. I could feel Vern's grin, I didn't even have to look. This was what she wanted, this was what they all wanted for me to be reduced to a quivering mess.

“Stop playing girls! I've seen toddlers that fight better than this.”

Colonel Amanda barked.

I didn't see Stacey's foot until it made contact with my right knee. Hot pain seared down my whole leg,I immediately lost my balance. She returned with a jab to my chest.

The air was literally knocked out of my lungs. I fell to the mat with a thud. The ceiling became blurry as tears clouded my vision. Each breath I took felt like a dagger to my chest. My muscles ached and my head was spinning. My mouth had an unmistakable coppery taste.

Stacey's figure loomed over me. She looked like she was contemplating ending my life right there and then.

“Pathetic,” She spat.

I flinched. Stacey returned to her fighting stance. She was ready to finish.

Through my peripheral vision from my amazing vantage point on the floor, I could see a certain tall toned masculine blurry figure come down from the bleachers and walk down towards the mat.

Colonel Amanda also approached the mat. Marcus intercepted her on the way.

“I hope you aren't trying to interfere, ma'am. You know Cadet Alexander has to fight until she is physically unable to or until she concedes. Those are the rules.”

Colonel Amanda paused and didn't say a word. Her head turned to my direction, almost as if she was waiting for me to say something.

River came and stood beside her. My vision must have been more messed up than I thought because I could have sworn that River looked worried. Why would he be worried?

Colonel Amanda started the count down.

“5-4-3!”

I surveyed my options. Each thought awakened a new wave of pain in my head. I could keep on fighting even though I did not know how much more bruises my body could take,it probably would not have been that many more, I could tap out and concede the match or I could just wait for her to finish the count down. I guess it was slightly less humiliating than tapping out and it seemed like the sensible thing to do.

Relying on more willpower than actual strength. I lifted my lower body and wrapped my legs around Stacey's waist. Using her evident shock and semi-relaxed state to my advantage. When was I ever known to make sensible decisions?

I interlocked my feet tightly, pulling her lower while simultaneously getting myself up. As she came closer to the floor, I latched my arms onto her neck. My body was wrapped around hers like I was about to close in on a bear hug, only with less warm feelings.

I pulled her down closer to me, kneeing her in the stomach as I flipped us over. She grimaced in pain. I straddled her and pinned her right hand down with my left hand.

What I was not ready for was the strength in her left hand as she punched me in the side of my head. Utilising my disorientation, she pushed me off.

I fell back on the mat. She crawled behind me, raised my head up and wrapped her arm around my neck. Black dots began to cloud my vision.

“Yeild, Alexander!”

That was Colonel Amanda. She sounded almost frantic. Almost. I subtly shook my head. Stacey's hold became tighter. And I was gasping for air.

“Yeild, cariot,” Stacey whispered in my air. I could hardly breathe and it felt like all my five senses had been drowned. I was not leaving this fight unscathed but I sure as hell was not going down alone.

In one last act of defiance to who or what, I don't know; I headbutted Stacey with the back of my head and heard a faint satisfying c***k.

Her grip on my neck loosened as she went to the floor. I was hurting all over but I knew what I had to do.

I pushed myself off the mat, staggering as I tried to stand up. My right knee gave out as I tried to stand up. I fell back down. I pushed myself up again, this time putting the weight on my left knee.

I winced as I stood up. Swaying in my upright position. Stacey was still on the floor.

Colonel Amanda started the count down.

“5-4-3-2-1!” “Alexander!”

Victory tasted slightly like blood. A half smile even made its way to my lips as I surveyed the faces of my rank mates. For the first time, they looked at me not with contempt but with fear. To be respected is to be loved. When love and respect where not in the picture, I took the next best thing and I guess I kind of like being feared.

A pair of eyes looked at me with fear unlike the rest of them, not of me but I daresay, for me. An overwhelming level of worry was swirling in the pair of eyes.

River mouthing “Stephanie” was the last thing I saw before my vision went black.

I should have listened to sable eyes.