"Come on, you'd better get ready for karate," my mum urged as my siblings and I finished eating dinner the following evening.

I felt my spirits dampen as they always did whenever I heard the martial art mentioned.

"Alana's fifteen now, right? That means she doesn't need to go anymore," Alex told her.

I grinned. My youngest brother was right. My parents had promised shortly after I had started karate (once they got fed up of my complaining) that I could stop once I had turned the age I was now. That time had come. Relief and excitement filled me; I was finally going to quit the club I had hated and waited to leave for so long. Kai would be pleased when I told him.

"She's still going."

"What?" I gasped in disbelief. "No way!"

"Just one more night so they can say goodbye to you."

"No," I replied firmly.

After being forced into going to the club at the age of ten, getting treated badly there and then promised I would be allowed to leave on this very night, I was not going to go. The club did not deserve to have me there nor to be spared a thought.

"You won't have to go again," Mum went on. "It'll only be for tonight, although they like ex-pupils popping in once in a while to visit."

I considered it. There was no doubt that I would never set foot in the training hall once I left even for something like dropping in; I did not want to see any of the people there ever again and I would forget everything they had drilled into me. They had caused nothing but problems since I started there. You won't have to go again. Her words echoed in my mind.

"Alright," I relented. "I'll go."

Big mistake. It was the most horrible karate session I had gone to, bar the one I had attended when Tim had tried to seduce me.

"I'm leaving," I had announced to the secretary Christina.

"Why?" the old woman had wanted to know.

"Well, I'm studying for my GCSEs so they're going to take priority over the next two years," I had explained, though it was only half the truth. Nobody in the club deserved to know the real reasons and this answer was to please my parents since they would want to hear that I had been polite to the people there.

I was practicing some moves when Tim came over. My heart lurched. Memories of what had happened when he seduced me helpless resurfaced and I turned away, pretending I had not seen him and making it look like it was part of the routine I was doing.

"Hey there, Alana," he drawled.

I sighed inwardly. Too late to ignore him now. Better say something… "Hi," I responded with feigned casualness.

He glanced down at my attire. I could have sworn his eyes lingered on my chest. I suppressed a shiver of disgust.

"Your belt's not done up properly."

I had not bothered to tie it well since it was the last time I would be going to the club. For once, I could care less how neat my gi and belt were. I did not answer the sensei.

"Here, let me show you how to tie it." Before I could react, the man had undone my belt.

I was pinned to the floor, helpless to stop him as he unknotted my belt and his hands began untying my gi strings –

I restrained a gasp, mentally shaking the image out of my head. My heart beat faster. Concentrate! I told myself. Don't let him get to you.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, winding the belt around it twice. It was like some kind of weird one-sided embrace with the way he held me. I forced myself to stay still and not to show the fear and dread threatening to surface. He tied the belt into a tight double knot. I winced slightly.

Tim smirked. "Too tight? It should be secure enough to stay tied up and not become loose like it was earlier. If you don't like the way I've done it, you can untie it yourself." He sauntered off, chuckling nastily.

I gritted my teeth. Damn you, Tim. I'll show you! Just wait.

The free fighting part of the lesson began. I had resolved not to participate so Tim would not get the satisfaction of seeing me struggle or the chance to bully me about my techniques. I watched the others fight, keeping an eye on him because he had been made the referee and chose who would take on who. I had tried to undo my belt earlier but had not been able to untie the knot. He had done it up so tight that only he or someone else would be able to undo it again.

"Alana will fight Lionel."

His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "What? No!"

"I don't want to fight her either," objected the boy I had beaten months before.

"Fine," Tim conceded. "I'll fight her instead."

"Definitely not!" I exclaimed. "Besides, you…" You're a pedophile, a pervert and even tried to seduce me once. I won't fall for it again. "You're a sensei so you're better than me. It'd be unfair if we fought."

"I'll go easy on you." What a lie. "You're leaving and I'm sure everyone would want to see you fight one last time."

"But - "

"Yeah!" the people watching chorused.

I glanced around at their hopeful faces and saw Tim smile with self-satisfaction. There was no choice. I was outvoted. I seethed inside. How I wanted to wipe that look off his face. The only way to do that would be to beat him when our fight started. "Okay. Let's go."

I let the hatred I harboured for him, the club and the martial art itself power my kicks and punches. I attacked without restraint yet he fended off my techniques effortlessly and hurt me using similar ways Bryan had used against Ray in the first season of Beyblade, making it look like an accident.

I came in for a running jump kick but he thrust his foot in the way, making it look like he was using a leg sweep technique when really he had kicked my legs out from under me. I fell and landed on my back on the hard floor. I winced, sitting up and rubbing my throbbing head. Luckily, there was no blood and I had not got knocked out. I was about to get to my feet when he used a backfist to my chest to force me down again with a loud martial arts cry.

I lay there, winded and aching all over from where he had struck me. The tight belt restricted my breathing further. I silently cursed the sensei. He must have planned all along to fight me and that is why he's done it up so tight. This has to be his revenge for when Kai and I beat him back at the time he tried to have his way with me. He might try and do it again. I shuddered. I can't let that happen. I can't let him win.

The training hall suddenly vanished. Tim and I were surrounded by darkness. I gasped. This was just like what had happened to Kai and I at the Olympic final. I looked up at Tim as he hovered over me on his hands and knees; his face was unexpectedly close to mine and I could smell a mixture of alcohol, tobacco, faeces and rotting flesh as his breath wafted over me. A Black Hell Blader had to be possessing him.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "Why are you controlling him?"

Tim smirked. "No one's controlling me, Alana. I'm just working with somebody to get what I want. Or should I say…" His brown eyes flashed crimson. "Get what we want." His voice became two speaking at once. I could hear his and another one that was all too familiar…

"Damon!" I realised.

Tim cackled, using the Black Hell Blader's voice. "That's right. It's been a while, hasn't it? Victor's been doing a good job of keeping a watch on you for me and will continue do so until we meet in battle again. That is, if you survive."

I growled as he guffawed again. "I will live – and so will Kai and the rest of the Bladebreakers. We'll destroy you and your team!"

"Big words for such small vermin. You might just eat them one day." He leaned down, his hot tongue flickering over the shell of my ear. I felt his lips move against the lobe in a sultry whisper. "For now, we're going to have some fun."

The edge in his voice and his words made my skin crawl. "We'll see about that!" I shot back defiantly, although I was quaking inside.

He thrust his tongue into my ear, giving it several licks. It was like a slug had got trapped in there and was writhing about. I bit back a yelp.

"Ooh, I'm so scared," Tim and Damon's voices mocked sarcastically.

The sensei smothered me in a suffocating kiss, undoing my belt. He reached beneath the folds of my gi to take out my Beyblade, launcher and ripcord, tossing them callously aside. They lay scattered about on the floor some distance away.

"No!" I cried as he stopping kissing me, reaching for them but Tim grabbed my wrist.

"I don't think so," he sneered, pinning my arms above my head. "You're defenceless without them, just as I was when you and that boy attacked me. It's your turn now."

He undid my gi strings and there was nothing I could do to stop him from opening the folds of my gi. I shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to see his hungry gaze roving over my exposed bosoms. He kissed the bruises he had caused there when we were fighting and I recoiled, grimacing as his lips sucked on the sore, tender skin. I grimaced even more as Damon used his powers and crimson energy hit me with full force, flaying off bits skin from my bared chest.

My mind raced. There's got to be something I can do.

His teeth sank into my clavicle.

Something.

Blood flowed in a rivulet.

Anything.

His tongue swirled, lapped at the small wound.

There must be!

His lips closed over the tiny hole, sucking hard.

He said I'm defenceless.

But I'm not. It dawned on me. I can still use the power of my spirit!

I inhaled, making myself relax. Complete calmness stole over me. I concentrated, dug deep inside myself.

Tim gasped in anger and pain as golden flames flared around me and licked at him. He drew away hastily. "You wench! What's going on?"

I sat up and got to my feet, not answering him. I found that I could breathe normally again; I was grateful I was no longer scared and giving him the satisfaction.

After retying my gi strings and doing my belt up, I crossed the floor to retrieve my Beyblading equipment and stowed them beneath the folds of my gi once more. Tim tried to stop me several times as I did so but could not get near due to the bright flames that raged in full glory around me. My spirit power. My burning soul. I smiled as I remembered the last few lines in the first verse of Fighting Spirits. Chikara no teki ni, yume no maware, burning soul…

Around us, the darkness dissipated. So did the golden fire surrounding me. The training hall appeared again. Tim lunged at me and delivered a quick kick to the place a girl was most vulnerable, taking advantage of the fact I was no longer using the power of my spirit. He made it look like he had kneed me in the stomach.

I doubled over in pain, falling to my knees and grimacing as tears filled my eyes. The people watching jeered; there were cat calls and booing. But it was not for what Tim had done. It was directed at me. I could even hear my siblings doing it.

"Get up already."

"Don't be so dramatic!"

"You're such a loser."

"Pathetic."

"What a weakling!"

"But he kicked me where he shouldn't have!" I protested loudly over their cajoling.

"No he didn't," came the response. "He got you in the stomach and it was controlled. Don't exaggerate and dramatise it – you're not hurt."

"Yes I am!" I snapped, trying to rise. "You don't know how it feels!" My attempt fell short and pain overwhelmed me.

Wincing and curling up into a ball, I appealed to Goldflame. I need your help…I have to finish this.

I know, the phoenix answered. It's nasty of them to blame it on you when Tim's the one at fault. Your siblings should be ashamed of themselves, siding with them like this – family should stick together. It gave an angry screech. Ooh…it ruffles my feathers!

I smiled a little. Mine too. Let's get Tim and show him who's boss.

Yes! my Bit Beast trilled determinedly.

I felt mystical energy course through my veins and supernatural strength fill me. I clenched my fists. It was time to win this fight.

I evaded every attack Tim threw my way and a powerful punch to the chest made him crash to the floor. He made to sit up but a backfist to the head forced him back down. The crimson gleam to his eyes vanished and I knew Damon had left him.

"Not so tough now, are you?" I mocked. "This fight is over. I won. Good riddance - to you, this hall of people and martial arts."

With that, I turned my back on him and walked away without bothering to bow. He did not deserve respect. He never had. The mystical energy ebbed from me and I knew it had returned to my Bit Beast. I ignored the pain which came back as a result after being dulled by its power.

Thank you, Goldflame. We've given that pervert what was coming to him.

You're welcome. It feels good to know.

Despite the cat calls and dirty looks thrown in my direction, I left the hall with my head high. It did not matter what the people there thought. I had defeated Tim and I was proud of it. This marked the end of half a decade of longing to leave that place far behind. I was not going to let martial arts tie me down the way I had ever again.