FOURTEEN

[ELLIE]

We were in the training room bright and early today for the fights. There was a slightly matted ring in the centre and a blackboard with our names in pairs.

Trudi Alice

William Dean

Ellie Blithe

Cohan Eli

Kori Robin

Zeke -

I quickly looked for my names, Blithe. Who's Blithe? Oh, right, the only person we had yet to meet. But I leaned in to the girls anyway.

"Who's Blithe?" I asked in a hushed voice.

Trudi and Kori shook their heads, but Alice answered. "He came with me from Amity. He's a bully. Really mean and violent. Everyone knew he'd go to Dauntless."

Oh, great. My first fight is against someone who's accustomed to violence.

I saw Trudi and Alice were together and was glad. Although they are friends, at least they won't be against a guy on their first fight.

Kori had Robin, and I remember her showing us him. He stood next to Dean, both looked physically capable and much bigger. I swallowed a lump in my throat. Neither of us had it easy today.

Ajax called for silence.

"Okay, guys. We'll be doing this for another eleven days, so everyone has an even number of fights and everyone has a bye, since there's eleven of you. You're scored and ranked with these, so fight hard and don't leave anything behind, give it all you've got."

Ajax paused, making sure we were all listening.

"Every day, there will be a list of names, these are your pairings for the fights for each day. You won't fight the same person twice and each of you, as I said, will get a bye. You'll use the techniques and moves I've taught you these past two days. The fight continues until one cannot continue, whether that be by conceiting or one goes unconscious. Good luck, first fight, Trudi and Alice."

He stepped away from the ring and waited impatiently for the girls to step up.

"Well? We don't have all day," Ajax snapped.

They stepped up to the mat hesitantly and took their positions.

Trudi and Alice stood staring at each other, hands up to protect their face and ribs, for about five seconds before Ajax snapped at them again.

It was very awkward to watch. One would throw a very awkward punch and the other would side-step to avoid it.

"Stop playing," Ajax wasn't impressed, it would seem.

Trudi finally got a hit in, landing on Alice's stomach, she leant forward, winded. Gosh, there could've been that much force in Trudi's hit, surely.

I saw Trudi's lips moving but I couldn't hear anything as she hit Alice again, she fell down onto her side.

After a few seconds and Alice didn't move, Trudi asked. "Is that enough?" in a such a shaky voice. I could tell she hated it.

Ajax pursed his lips and nodded once. Trudi instantly leaned down and helped Alice up, letting her lean on her as they left the ring.

Ajax called the next fight; William and Dean.

Their fight was much more… punch, punch, hit, dodge. They weren't afraid to land a punch, or take one. Their fight went on for a little bit longer before Dean swiped William's feet under him, landing a solid punch, rendering… unconscious? Or just so winded he couldn't move, but the fight was over.

"Ellie and Blithe," Oh, dear, here goes absolutely nothing and everything. Sugar. I don't think I can do this… No. You're okay, you've been practicing, remember what Ajax said. Move quick, strategise, learn your opponent, get the first hit in.

I steeled my shoulders and raised my chin. I can do this. It's just a bit harder… that's all.

In front of me stood a tall, slightly muscly guy with stringy blonde mop on top, with a large smirk on his face. Okay, here's your plan. Look scared. I put on my best poker face, telling him I was intimidated by him, I started breathing heavier, to try and prove it, and his smirk widened.

Okay, part two. Let him be cocky and confident. When I raised my hands, to protect my face and ribs, I made sure it looked like they were shaking slightly. He didn't even bother protecting himself properly. I'll teach him.

Part three; whip his ass and sent him flying to next Tuesday. I took a hesitant step back, and as I hoped, he took a big step forward. I hunched my shoulders.

Every time he stepped forward I noticed his arms drop for a moment. That's my entry. Go for the neck, stomach, head and feet.

I took another step back, and I thought I heard Ajax say something, and as he did, Blithe took another step forward, I ran at him with all the speed I had in me. I took the entry I noticed before, I grabbed his hand, pulling it away from him, using his movement to my advantage since he was bigger, heavier and stronger. I used his loss of balance, took my hand towards his neck and jabbed hard, using the way he was falling so he'd practically land on my hand that was flying into him with all my strength.

He made a gurgling sound, and I collided my fist into his stomach, which was probably in line with my chest. He curled his hands around his stomach, dropping his head to my height. I used the continuous movement, using a right hook straight into his cheek. And I kicked his stomach again, thank goodness he fell to the ground then. I wasn't sure how much more pressure my hands could take.

I didn't dare look away from him or step near him, worried he'd try to swipe me, or jump at my unprotected back.

"Alright," Ajax called, a hint of awe in his voice. "Well done, Ellie."

I turned and walked away, knowing if he'd try to attack me now, after Ajax had declared the fight's victor, he'd be in trouble. I smiled, proud of myself. I'm glad I could win this one at least.

I went over to the girls and they were all smiling and congratulating me.

"Thanks," I laughed.

I looked back at the ring, where the next pair, Eli and Cohan, were readying themselves, but I also saw Blithe, and he looked pissed. Oh, dear, I shook my head, trying to rid myself of these thoughts. No, you've already beat him. You won't have to fight him again.

I looked down at my hands that had started throbbing. They were starting to swell and I thought I could see a bruise already forming. Well… no one told me that would happen…

I thought punching a punching bag was just an exception, apparently not.

By the time I looked up again, the fight had finished and Cohan was victor.

"Kori and Robin," Ajax called. I worried for her. I had tried very hard and used everything I had to my advantage. I doubt she could use the same approach I did. But then again, I only used that method because I saw that Blithe was overconfident and cocky at fact that he was fighting a girl.

To her credit, she didn't look at all afraid at fighting the very muscular boy in front of her. I wondered how she thought she could approach this.

Robin didn't have a smile or a smirk to show his confidence. I think they've learnt not to underestimate us. Or maybe Robin just isn't one to get cocky, either way, doesn't really matter.

Kori threw a dummy punch to his right side, which he blocked, but she sent her other fist to his left side, which had moved to block his right side. She got his ribs but because she did such a risky move, leaving herself unprotected, he got a hit into her side, I heard the wind rush out of her. But she stayed rooted to the spot, she knew her hands up to protect herself again. She blocked an oncoming blow, and another, before she threw one herself, which he blocked.

It kept going like that for a few more before Robin suddenly ducked, throwing a foot out to swipe hers, she reacted quickly, but not quick enough, she managed to get one foot up in time, but not the other, she lost balance, and it looked like she might save herself.

Before he gave the final blow to her head. She hit the ground, not moving. My heart jumped into my throat. Is she okay?

By the look on Robin's face, he wasn't exactly happy about doing what he did, but he didn't show remorse.

He waited a moment next to Kori, then checked her pulse. And waited again. Robin took his arms under hers and helped her to her feet.

She leaned gratefully against him as he half-dragged, half-carried her off the ring. I ran to help her, taking her off Robin. I nodded at him. I wasn't going to thank him, he just knocked my friend unconscious, but I was glad he only did because he had to.

Kori was much heavier than I thought she would be. She's tall, but petite, so I guess I assumed she wasn't heavy at all. Wrong. I stumbled with my footing a bit before Robin returned to her other side, taking her weight off me. I sighed in relief.

He helped her over to the other girls, sitting her down on the ground next to us.

I mumbled a thanks and he only nodded in return, his eyes on Kori.

Kori had managed to comprehend her surroundings again, she looked up at Robin, squinting her eyes. She held her hand out.

"Good match," she stuttered. He took her hand and shook.

"Good match," he replied almost silently before disappearing to wherever. Kind of odd, if you ask me.

"He's hot," Kori noted, after he had gone. The three of us let out a nervous chuckle. Yeah, he kind of was. But she can have him, I have my sights on a certain tattoo boy, whose name I didn't know.