There he stood, three inches taller than me with the reach to prove it. All I could do was squeeze my fists tighter as he rolled his neck back and forth. Heath crouched into a rough fighting stance and I raised my hands to protect myself, we both had knives I knew, but neither of us we're going to be the first to pull ours. Slowly Heath inched towards me and a backed away slightly, causing us to circle each other. The tension had built to the point that it was almost tangible, he had chased me to this point, and I would run no more. My throat tightened as I paused, knowing what would come.
Heath stepped forward and snapped out several jabs in rapid succession, I smacked most of them away and allowed a couple of them to hit my biceps. I stepped back again and before he could close the distance I raised my leg up for a shoving kick. He attempted to catch my heel so I snapped my foot down, consequently crushing the toes of his right foot. Using his reach, Heath punched my chest and pushed. I feel onto my back but rolled over my shoulder and was back up. Heath was stepping in so I threw a quick haymaker with my right hand. Side stepping it, the taller man stepped in and locked up my arm and head. Heath stepped back and slung me around, tossing me to the ground where I rolled and popped back up.
He stepped in again, relentlessly closing the space between us. I normally like fighting tight against those with reach advantage on me, this fight however was seeming impossible with each second that it continued. He's swinging, left, right, left, upper cut. I dodge and parry what I can, the adrenaline prevented me from feeling those that came through. He threw a right, I snatched his wrist from the air and stepped in between Heath's legs then YANKED. He stumbled but I knew he wouldn't fall so I punched his oblique four times rapidly before he regained his balance. Releasing his wrist and I backpedaled several feet and watched him straighten up. Again without fail the space between us was closing, but I was prepared. I duck under his left swing and step my right foot back to allow his speedy uppercut to pass harmlessly by my face. Squatting down I grab his elbow and pull it across my body, causing him to stumble over my left foot. Using my wide base I shove him mightily and he falls to the ground before sliding shortly then rolling away to return quickly to his feet. As he stood, I could see in Heath's eyes that my redirective techniques would be less effective for the time being, I'd have to adjust. Hands up, I step forward and he steps back, as I stepped left he circled to keep us in the same position. I saw that his leg was about to bump the table behind him so I struck then, taking a long lunging step 15° to his left, I drove my hand into his abdomen... Or so I thought. Faster than I could see, Heath had cartwheeled, his right hand planting my right wrist and his left my elbow. As his feet came down, he swung his toes deep into my chest. Finally I felt a strike through the adrenaline, god why did it have to be this one? Upon standing, Heath attempted to pull my arm back, I tugged it back to my side and rolled away from him. I heard as his feet stomped slowly behind me, he was giving me no time to regain my feet. I pushed hard off the ground and swung my leg into his planted ankle mid-stomp. By the time I was on my feet he was on his feet across the room, I cried out as pushing up had caused pain to blossom along the inside of my right elbow.
We could both tell, this wouldn't go on much longer... I couldn't pull my knife, though. Heath closed in and so did I, stepping inside I directed a driving punch into his solar plexus. He grabbed my shoulder and leapt his knee into my nose. I snapped my head back quickly enough to prevent it from being broken, but it still gushed blood, splashing it across my shirt and his knee. Blinded with pain, I staggered backwards my hands scrambling for purchase lest my feet could no longer hold me. I felt myself fall against the cement wall behind me and felt my sight slap into sharp focus and instinctively my left hand snagged the wrist out of the air in front of me. I crashed my right fist into the underside of his bicep. I stepped aside and pulled his fist against the wall, at the same time I planted my forearm into his shoulder, using the created leverage I slammed him against the wall and his head thudded almost sickeningly against it. I threw Heath to the ground behind me and turned to rest against the wall momentarily. He staggered to his feet, rage truly flaring in his eyes, and his right arm hung loosely in front of him. Taking one huge breath I shifted my weight off the wall and brought my hands up to protect myself once more.
