Invalid

Four

Though bombs are what started all of this, they became a kind of security while in battle...

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Hitting the girl in front me -more like towering over me- was not going to be the hard part of this task.

The hard part was going to be letting her hit me multiple times before I actually started fighting just so I could trick her. And when that first punch smashed into my ribs, searing pain burning through my chest at the action, it was all I could do to not shove my bony elbow into her neck and call it a night. 

But I, unlike her, didn't want to badly hurt my opponent. Give it a few minutes though, i'm sure my morals will go away depending on how many more times she hits me like that.

I was watching her, especially while she came at me again, analyzing each move and knowing exactly what she was going to do before she did. 

That had been my skill during war. While other people easily gained muscle and the ability to knock someone out if need be, I learned patience, waiting for the right opportunity, always when the person least expected. And they never did.

I felt her nails practically rip into my arm and then instantly she was on me, the impact of her force colliding with my jaw. Tasting blood, I knew it was time to end this, before I became the one needing a hospital visit instead of Jane.

Her neck was exposed so I went for it. My arm shoved there, her immediately starting to choke and gasp for air. She would be fine, I knew. Had I broken her neck, she wouldn't be.

She still got up faster than me, ready to continue fighting, and for a moment I contemplated why exactly she was here. The blue dipped hair wasn't exactly a luxury one who is an Invalid could afford, plus she looked well nourished, another sign she might not be like us. That, and the clean teeth she kept showing me during her angry rage was unnatural for someone who would have to go to the ends of the earth for a decent toothbrush.

Her hand swung at me but I dodged it, using my size a second later and falling to the ground to trip her and then easily getting back up to hold her down. I had enough muscle to hold her for a moment where she was, but even I knew that a backup plan was needed. 

And the constant shouting wasn't helping with the thinking process of figuring out how that next plan would go down.

Beads of sweat covered my forehead, I noticed, as she flipped me onto my back and came in again to make my jaw crack and cause blood to leave my mouth, it dripping down my chin. My tank-top was soaked and sticking to my skin, my hair doing the same. I'm sure I had a black eye gifted to me from her by now and as I dug my nails into the flesh of her own arm, I made a promise of returning the favor. 

Mustering up some power, I was able to push her off of me. And she, considering how she had underestimated my size and strength, toppled off the stage and smacked the floor.

The roaring of those around us startled me a bit as the world came back into focus. It was loud, so much so that I covered my ears for a moment to help. 

"Well, I sure as heck didn't see that coming." The announcer said, suddenly next to me. "Did you guys?" He yelled, and in response a loud 'no' from the audience echoed through the building. 

I twisted my neck a bit to pop it at that moment, and wiped the blood off my mouth, pushing the loose strands of hair from my braid back and away from my eyes as well. Still tasting blood, I smiled, straightened myself and, loud enough for everyone to hear it, said, "Told ya'll it would be fun." Which, of course, only raised the level of volume again.

Hurriedly, I nodded to the people and walked down the steps, grabbing my jacket and pack that I took off and rested on the floor beforehand. I didn't put the jacket on yet, considering the amount of sweat drops on my arms, instead tossing it over my shoulder and letting it hang there, doing the same with my bag.

The beginning of a headache shot throbbing pain through my skull and made me pinch between my eyebrows and scrunch my forehead. I've had headaches since I was a kid though, since before the Officials took me from my parents even. This was not a new thing for me, I knew I could handle it.

Lifting my head, I looked to the girl I just fought, looking mad and embarrassed on the ground. So I went to her, hoping I hadn't actually hurt her that bad, a kindness she probably wouldn't have shown to me.

But like most things in life, events happen like a surprise, like when I extended my hand to her to help her up, she seemed shocked.

Another example is trying to help a girl who's butt you just kicked up from the floor and ending up with a knife heading at your chest.

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