mutated

chapter twenty one: run, devil run run, devil run run

"Haha, very funny." I grumbled, Mercy waving a cloud of yellow energy to me as my wounds healed. I limped towards the changing room, grabbing an identical pair of pants, and moved into change out of my ripped pants.

After I changed and received my pass, we all crowded around the huge projected screen on the wall. The screen flickered a couple of times, before revealing a table of fights.

CHARLOTTE V ALYSSA

JADE V LIA

ABBY V SOPHIA

MEREDITH V KARYN

ALPHA V JASON

ELLIOT V MARTIN

ANSON V ADRIAN

RYAN V JAY

So Lottie and Lyss were battling it out first. Wonderful. That was going to be amazing. I was the second match, against Lia, which gave me some doubts. 'Mockingbird' had been a member before all of us, and I had never seen her fight or train. And she wasn't like the guys I usually trained with, who relied slightly more on their strength, even if Alpha was fast. Lia was like water: versatile, flexible, fast.

Just hope that I'm faster.

We crowded around the fighting rink, eager to see the first fight of the Quartz tournament.The fight to start all fights.

This was going to be hilarious. I muttered to Camellia, leaning back in my seat, watching as Lottie and Lyss circled each other. Bets? Anyone? I asked the entire class.

"In these fights, abilities are not allowed. No powers, no hidden weapons, just with your own body." Chase said, now sitting in a little emperor's throne. "Fighters ready? Alyssa Wong and Charlotte Choi, take your places."

"And let the tournament begin."

Alyssa threw the first punch, her wiry thin arms slamming under Charlotte's chin, and as Charlotte was distracted, Alyssa curled her arms around her neck and pulled back. Charlotte rolled forwards, and Alyssa tumbled forward, landing in a heap together.

I'm betting for Alyssa. Camellia said. I'm betting 2 vanilla puffs. Since we only had 5 vanilla puffs a day for each person, and most people loved ice cream puffs, they were like valuable currency.

I'm betting 3 for Alyssa. I added. Any other bets?

The boys chimed in, Jay obviously rooting for Charlotte, and so did Sophia, but most people (sorry Charlotte) betted for Alyssa. The girls, however, stayed silent, and I tallied up the bets. If Charlotte lost, Jay and Sophia had to give approximately 20 vanilla puffs to each person. If Alyssa lost, Jay and Sophia would get 20 vanilla puffs each.

They rolled across the ring, both tearing at each other's hair or punching at their faces, until Alyssa was on top of Charlotte, punching her until Charlotte's nose was a mess of blood. As they tumbled back to their feet, Alyssa used her bony elbows to jab Charlotte in the gut, before grabbing Charlotte from the back of the head and crushing Charlotte's head onto her knee.

Charlotte stumbled backward before collapsing in a heap on the floor, and Alyssa used her bleeding hand to brush away her sweaty hair. Teeth marks were visible on Lyss's hand, so I was pretty sure Lottie had bitten her.