As the weeks grew on, training became more intense. Each week we learned two to three more fighting techniques, perfecting them, before moving on. In preparation for rankings we're having a fighting tournament, eliminating low ranking initiates, before moving onto the next phase.
"Christina and Tammie," Four calls out, "You two are up next."
Chris and Tammie stand opposite of each other on the big mat used for fight matches. Chris spreads her feet and bends her knees, lifting her hands a little bit lower than her chin. Tammie copies Chris's stance. I don't really know many other initiates here, most of my attention has been on either Chris or Tobias. Tammie seems like a nice girl, she has always been in the lower class though. Tammie throws the first punch. Chris swings her body to the left narrowly missing the punch, but following with a swift kick to the stomach. Tammie hunches over from the impact. She tries to retaliate, but Chris is too fast and knocks her feet out from under her. Chris grabs Tammie's right arm, putting her into a tight arm lock on the ground, leaving Tammie to scream let me go. Four gives Chris a nod, and without hesitating let's go of her limp arm. Chris helps Tammie up and off the mat.
"Gaynell and Annabel, your turn," Four yells. The crowd of initiates slowly starts to turn into winner and loser circles, until there was only one more left.
"Beatrice and Dylan" I hear.
I look over at Dylan, inspecting my new opponent. My eyes widen at the sight of his muscular arms. Standing at over six feet, with bear-like paws, is my new rival. I gulp a little loudly. Tobias knows my skills, but sometimes it seems like he overestimates my abilities.
"Is little Beatrice scared," Dylan mocks. "Maybe if you beg, I won't hurt you as badly." Dylan might not know me well, but insulting me before a fight was probably not the best move.
"You're on," I spit. Gaining new confidence, I walk over to the mat, my head up high. I crouch into my fighting stance, raising my arms to protect both my face and my core. Dylan does the same. A whistle goes off, but I barely notice. My attention is solely on Dylan, watching for weakness. He apparently realizes that I'm not going to move yet, so he shoots the first punch. I lean back, slipping past his fist. He retaliates with three more punches aimed at my face. I avert all of them. During the swing of his forth punch, he lifts is leg and kicks me. I groan at the strike to my side. I recover fast, and get back into position, missing another kick by inches. As he swings, I slip out of the way. I shoot my right foot forward and hook the heel of his left foot, sweeping it forward and throwing him off balance. His back is exposed I throw a quick punch into his kidney. He is going to pee blood for a week.
As he stumbles from the impact he yells, "You little…," But I interrupt with swift kick to the chest. Dylan falls back onto the floor. I swoop in to punch him in the face, but he kicks me back before my fist arrives. Pain shoots through my chest, as I limply fall back. Before I hit the ground Dylan grabs me with one arm, while repeatedly pounding me in the abdomen with the other. I've been punched in the gut many times before, but this feel more brutal, more painful. I cry out in agony at every impact. After a few more hits, he throws me over his shoulder onto the mat. My back hits ground, the noise echoing around the room, as I struggle to find air. Some instinct from deep within me screams to do whatever I can to protect myself. I listen to my body, and he approaches for the final blow, I kick him hard in the knee. I smile when I hear a loud snap. As Dylan drops to the floor, I slowly stand up, my left hand clutching my stomach. I gradually make my way over to him, jamming my right elbow in his face. Dark blood splatters across the mat. I turn around in time to watch is eyes roll back into his head, as his large body slumps over.
Hushed voices breakout from the crowd. A few people stair at me, looks of disgust stained across their faces. I look at Tobias. I notice his hands balls into fists at his side, his knuckles colored white. Watching me almost lose must have been really hard on him. I try walking over to Tobias, but my legs fail at holding up my feeble body. My adrenaline rush leaves me, and my mind takes notice of the suffering my body is in. I tightly wrap my arms around my stomach, crawling into as small of a ball as I can. I haven't been in this much pain since I've was shot. Tobias's eyes dart from me to Dylan, then back to me again. Trying to figure out who to help first, the unconscious guy bleeding from his nose, or the girl curled up in a ball screaming. I send Tobias a pleading look. He rushes to my side in a heartbeat.
"Hospital now!" I demand. He picks me up in his arms, walking me out of the room. The crowd of initiates give us confusing looks, but I'm in too much pain to care. I drape my arms around his neck, as I cry into his shirt. I hate people seeing me cry. It takes all my effort to stop, but failure deems it an impossible task at the moment. We arrive at the infirmary. The nurse at the front desks looks up at us. Shock spreads across her face. I'm not sure wither it's because Four is in the room, or the crying girl he holds in his arms.
"She needs a doctor," Four orders. The nurse just nods her head and walks out of the room. After a minute she returns with a hospital bed.
"Put her down on this," she requests. Tobias seems reluctant to put me down, but complies with the nurse's instructions, gently laying me down on the hospital bed. I resume my ball position as soon Tobias lets go. The nurse grabs the head of the bed, quickly rolling me into a hospital room.
"There is another initiate out cold and bleeding in the training room," Tobias informs the nurse.
"I will let someone know, and the doctor will be with you soon," the nurse replies before leaving. Right as the nurse walks out the doctor enters. Four must be a priority here.
"Hello, Beatrice is it?" the doctor asks. I give a sharp nod. "What seems to be the problem today?"
"My stomach," I groan.
"Let's take a look at it then. Can you lay on your back please." The doctor requests. I try to expose as much of my stomach as I can. "I'm going to push down a little, tell me if it hurts." He pushes a little on the center of my core. I scream at the sensation. "Okay, I think we need to get you x-rayed," He informs me. "Four, please wait here while I accompany this lady to the x-ray room."
Four stays behind and the doctor wheels me away. I concentrate on the sound of the wheels rolling down the hallway. We stop in front of large metal doors. The doors slide open, and we enter a spacious dark room. A new nurse comes to my aid, helping me onto a large medal bed. She puts a pillow under my head, and instinctively I turn my face towards it. The sterol smell burns my nose, but I don't care. The nurse places a lead garment over my shoulder and chest, positioning the camera over my stomach. After the x-ray is taken the nurse pushes me back into my hospital room. I watch Tobias. He looks stressed, his head buried in his hands. When he notices me his face lights up.
"Still in pain?" he questions.
I lie to make him feel better, "I feel a little bitter, still in a lot of pain." Tobias reaches for my hand, tenderly stroking it with his thumb.
"Please feel better soon," he pleas. I nod my head. The doctor enters the room.
"Well Beatrice, I have good news. The reason why the fight had more of a painful impact on you is because, you're pregnant!"
I have Half of chapter 10 written! I'm going camping this weekend, and I will finish and publish the next chapter Monday!
I know I rushing through this story a bit. Here is the new fight scene! I have little experience with writing people fighting. My dad helped me come up with some of the moves, special thanks to him! I left a cliff hanger at the end. Let me know your opinions in the reviews. Thanks for reading!