There was ten minute break before the next match, and Laurel used this time to get praises.
"Awesome!" Amby congratulated, giving Laurel a high-five.
"Hilarious too! You sure did get him back that time!"
"Wow… Laurel, amazing…" Andalusia said in awe, staring blankly at her, mouth hanging open.
"Oh, thanks," Laurel said cheerfully, brushing hair out of her eyes.
"There will be a ten-minute break for the next contestants to prepare themselves…" Roger announced to the crowd.
There was a loud wave of murmurs and groans as they read the board:
Amby.E VS Callice.G
Andalusia swallowed a yelp when she saw the roster, only to be met by Drew's gaze. She composed herself, covering her face to hide the blushing. He smiled cheerfully, waving. She wished she could just gaze into his green eyes forever. It had been a long time since she had interacted with any boys, or girls, and she felt slightly uncomfortable around them. She smiled herself until she was distracted by Laurel.
"Yes! Your fighting the anger-management freak!" Laurel cried happily, rubbing her hands together, hopping up and down and pointing.
"Oy, shh!" Amby replied, clamping her hand over Laurel's mouth.
"That was not-"
"Tactful," Callice butted in, pushing Amby aside and coming face to face with Laurel, their noses were just an inch a part. They stared for a long time, teeth bared, eyes blazing, neither of them breaking off.
"You are lucky I'm not bringing knives into this, I could slice any of you with a clean swipe,"
"Oh yeah? Well, I can make him swipe you," Laurel stated proudly, pointing at Felix, who looked rather eager to swipe Callice.
It wasn't long until the crowd noticed what was happening, and one by one people tapped each other on the shoulder and whispered urgently and pointed. Neither of them had noticed everyone was looking at them now, even Jade, Drew, Felix and Caprice. Drew watched anxiously, not at Laurel or Callice, but at Andalusia. Was he worried she would get hurt?
"You're gonna get flattened, freak," Laurel said, as the wind picked up and blew her hair back.
Callice shook her head in amusement and walked away, just as Roger called her name.
"Welcome… CALLICE GREY!" Roger announced, hoping the announcement would break off the oncoming catastrophe.
She walked onto the carpet, no hands in the air like Laurel, just casually. She stood in the centre, stirring the wind.
"And the opponent- AMBY EVE!"
Amby closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and jogged to the carpet. The whole crowd threw their fists into the air, yelling her name and chanting, with Laurel and Andalusia shouting loudest.
"Shake hands…"
Amby and Callice faced eachother, it was impossible to tell which face held more hatred. Drew and the others ran over, and stood next to the rest eagerly.
"Shake hands," Roger said uncertainly. The girls ignored him.
"Hey," Drew whispered into Andalusia's ear.
"Hey," Andalusia replied, looking at the ground.
"Worried about your friend?" He asked.
"Nah, Amby's got this," Felix added, staring at Callice with hatred.
"Commence!"
Andalusia cast her eyes back to the carpet, dreading what could come. Callice and Amby had started circling each other, both assessing the others movements.
"How can you be sure?" Andalusia asked worriedly. She knew Amby could fight well with her fists, but so could Callice, but Callice could throw things and harm her. But then, Amby could see what was going to be thrown, and she could somehow avoid it.
Minutes passed, and nothing had happened on the carpet. The crowd was getting restless, Felix cursed, "come on goddamn it! Punch her already," he muttered.
But still, they circled each other, neither of them showing any signs of moving…
Just when Andalusia thought nothing would happen at all, Amby sprang forward into the air, spinning, she brought her leg up, kicking Callice hard on the ribs. Callice, unbalanced, was winded, but slowly stood back straight. As if the light to the fuse of a bomb had run out, the battle exploded.
It all happened so quickly. Callice, not using magic, ducked another kick from Amby then punched her in the stomach, after bringing her knee up to her shoulder. Amby, picked herself up from the ground, puffing.
The crowd had immediately been attentive, they sat up in their chairs, some stood, to glance at the match. Those who couldn't see shouted for explanations.
Suddenly, the small rocks and beads and sharp objects attached to Callice's wristbands, and rubble collected in piles outside the headquarters lifted from the air and sped towards Callice. It was merely like calling a dog, as more and more metal and rocks grew as a swirling, beautiful, glinting cloud behind her. He hands were spread out, as if holding the wave back from charging to its enemy.
The crowd booed, shaking their fists, but Felix and Laurel were the ones who were the most angry. They cursed and shouted many, many rude words at Callice, which thankfully she couldn't hear over the noise.
And then, the massive wave, rose into the air, curving like a snake, then into a swirling mass above Amby.
The crowd muttered in fright,
"She'll kill her…"
"No…"
Amby, knowing she would definitely lose if she let the wave crashed upon her ran with all her might to Callice, knocking her over.
"Get off!" Callice shouted, wriggling underneath Amby. She clicked her fingers, and the wave zoomed down, surrounding Amby like bees. Amby let go, and was forced back by the glinting glass pieces that edged her back.
"This is cheating!" Amby shouted at Callice, who was wlaking towards her, despite the crowd booing and hissing angrily.
"No,no… killing you would be cheating. They didn't specify the rules…" Callice stated.
"You bi-" Felix shouted. Callice turned on him, sending a rock into his leg, sending him sprawling on the ground, crying in agony. Clutching his wound, he struggled to stand, shaking slightly. He was immediately surrounded by young women who nursed his wounds.
Distracted by Felix, the levitating pieces faltered, the glass pulling away slightly, far a part so Amby could lay a blow…
Ducking nimbly, Amby dodged the menacing shards and kicked Callice's leg. Jumping out of the way of Callice's fist before it even happened, it was clear Amby was using her gift to see what Callice would do.
Callice, knowing this, narrowed her eyes. She jabbed at her from different angles quickly, bending her knee, punching her ribs, only receiving knuckles to the jaw.
Shouting in agony, she held her face in pain. Amby regaining strength was just about to land one more punch. Finally she could serve Callice right for all she had done… the bottle of anger within her bursting. Wanting to cherish this moment, she foresaw the numerous kicks and blows Callice laid, each one missing Amby as she jumped out of the way.
Not having the chance to use her power, Callice only had her limbs to fight with, however the now collapsed heap of rocks and metal started to quiver. One by one hitting Amby, some small rocks doing nothing, but larger pieces of metal shedding cloth.
Crawling up from the ground, Callice raised a hand, eyeing a perfectly large enough rock to knock her aside…
"I can't take this!" laurel shouted. She jumped up from nursing Felix, and a huge eagle swooped from the air. Gliding magnificently, circling the crowd, then dived straight for Callice, clawing her face.
Screeches from the eagle and shouts and cries from Callice, with puffs of feathers and glimpses of blood and kicking… the massive bird flew away, leaving Callice sprawled on the floor, covering her face.
Amby spun around as the crowd cheered once again- she had won the match.