Trigger

The smell of the rubber mat insults me. Taunting me for being slammed into it again and again. I don't want to get back up this time. I feel the bruises along my ribs from his kick. My face is covered in blood from his elbow to my nose. A cut on the back of my head trickles along my neck making me shudder, then wince. My arms are bruised from blocking his punches. My legs tremble at the thought of standing again. My right foot is on the verge of breaking again.

"Get up," he says. Ruthless. He is ruthless. Isn't that why I chose him? To take me from the weak girl I was and make me into a fierce warrior. Oremus is a trainer. And I recently gained a reason to fight. Someone is out to get me. My family can't be trusted. So I'll fight. 

I get up. My weak muscles shake with the effort, and I sway as I stand there looking at Oremus. I put my fists up to protect my face, angling my arms to protect my body. Just like he showed me. He should be proud. My hands are shaking. Ruthless. 

He comes at me again. Same as the last time, leading with his right. I crouch as he swings and try to swipe his feet with my right foot and jab at his unprotected belly with my left fist. He jumps over my feet and my punch catches him in the leg and he grunts. I'm back up to standing, all my aches fading with the adrenaline. He smiles.

"Time. Better," He says. Never very talkative. But I pay him to teach me to fight, not talk. I nod, and turn to go to the changing room, limping on the way to the door. Behind me, Oremus starts to clean up the bloody mess he made of me on the training mats, as usual. 

I feel giddy as I let the hot water wash away the blood and soothe my many aches. I actually landed a punch on him. A first. Watch out world, Trigger Corbin is no longer weak. Almost.