Fight

The way the wind howled that night filled her with apprehension. What was happening?

Their destination was a huge cage. Sleek, silver metal rods surrounding a huge, black, glossy-looking arena of sorts. The wind stung her eyes and whipped her dark hair around her face in a frenzy as she gripped the arm of the tall boy beside her.

His lips were firmly pressed against each other and bloodless against the pallor of his skin. His dark hair too was in a mess after being subjected to the wrath of the wind. Red and blue mismatched eyes met her own as Jace swung her around to face him.

"Do you know what to do?"

His voice was velvety and caused an involuntary shiver to run through her.

Once glance and he could see the determination though diluted with a slight tinge of fear in her pale blue eyes. For some reason he found himself feeling almost unwilling to let her go.

But this was how things worked in here.

Kill or be killed.

She released his arm and padded over to the cage, her bare feet making soft, muted sounds on the cool ground.

Soft and patient, his voice rang in her head as she recalled his words of advice from before.

'Don't be a hero. You have to survive. First, climb. Wait it out. There's no way you will survive if you charge into the start of the fight. Let them finish each other before you attack. The last ones, they're the hardest to beat. Hide until there's only one left. Then kill it. You can do it. I've seen it in you. Don't fail or else you'll lose more than just your dignity.'

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and let the noise of the wind drown out her thoughts. With utmost concentration, she visualized with all her might the sword that she had bonded with the night before.

Short puffs of air escaped her pale lips and she focused her concentration on the sleek pale silver of her blade. Before she knew it, the weight of the sword so familiar began to dip her hands down. Clutching it as if it were her lifeline, which it was, she lifted it up and opened her eyes, satisfied that she had managed to successfully summon her weapon. Sparing a glance behind, she sought out the familiar figure of her partner.

Jace stood watching her from the front of the crowd that had gathered to watch the Fight, her expression unreadable and from this distance his mismatched eyes glittered with unfathomable emotions. She thought she had glimpsed a small, satisfied smirk twist the corners of his mouth up.

But then again maybe she didn't.

His face as emotionally detached as always, stood out from the rest of the raucous crowd.

Turning around again to face the arena before her, she calmed her heart down and cleared her mind.

Focus was crucial.

One slip up and it would cost her her life.

This was no game.

The gong sounded then, jolting her body and shaking her soul.

It had begun.

Katarina smiled viciously.

Bring it on.