Half Lost by Sally Green Page B

potion. I’ve sent word back to Camp One that we need some, but until then she’s a prisoner.”
    â€œBut what does your gut instinct tell you? Is she genuine or a spy?”
    â€œI like her. She’s got a positive attitude. She’s intelligent, quick, and not at all cocky. She likes you, though, which does make me wonder about her judgment.”
    â€œVery funny.”
    â€œActually, I think she has good judgment. She sticks up for you.”
    I wonder to whom she sticks up for me.
    Greatorex nods toward the trainees, saying, “They’re looking better, don’t you think?”
    â€œYeah, better. But they’re still slow and soft.”
    â€œI think they could take you now in a straight fight.”
    I shake my head.
    â€œTry them? It’ll be good for them. Four of my best against you. Just don’t kill anyone.”
    â€œIf those four win against me I’ll kill myself.”
    Greatorex smiles. “OK then. Those four and me against you.”
    Greatorex is a good fighter, almost as good as Celia. Ishake my head and say, “I don’t want to hurt you, Greatorex.”
    â€œI’ll heal. So will you. Not scared of a few trainees and an ex-Hunter, are you?” Greatorex is thin and delicate- looking, but also fast, tough, and lethal, and very smart.
    I look to Gabriel, saying, “What do you think?”
    â€œI hope they kick your butt.”
    â€œPick your team then,” I say to Greatorex.
    She rubs her hands and calls out, “Sophie, Scott, Adele, Kirsty.”
    They walk over to her. I recognize Kirsty as she’s huge, slow, and strong. Scott is toned and fast, as is Sophie. Adele must have come from one of the other Alliance camps as I’ve not seen her before. Greatorex gives them a pep talk, basically saying that she’ll attack me first and they have to back her up with everything they’ve got while I’m busy with her. When she’s finished her little speech I say to her so that they can all hear, “You haven’t told them what to do once I kill you.”
    Greatorex smiles and says, “When you’re begging for mercy I’ll remind you of that.” The trainees nod and try to look tough.
    I move to the middle, encouraging them to come behind me, which they think will help them. They’ll think getting behind me is the way to beat me, but I’ll be moving too fast. My main problem is going to be not hurting anyone too badly.
    â€œNo Gifts,” Greatorex says to me. “No going invisible.”We’ve trained together like that and it is just too easy for me.
    â€œNo guns, no knives,” I reply. “And no truncheons.” I know her tricks.
    â€œCourse not—what do you think we are?” she says, holding her arms out as if to show she’s unarmed.
    I beckon her forward and the others move round.
    Celia has taught me great technique, and she’s taught it to Greatorex too, but I’m stronger, bigger, and faster than she is. If I can knock her out quickly the other trainees will drop like flies. I hope none of them run. I’m tougher on the ones that run.
    Greatorex moves back and I move forward and then suddenly the trainees rush at me all together. Greatorex’s pep talk must all have been a ruse; they have planned this. I knock Scott out with a blow to the face and Adele with my elbow to her face a split second later, but then my kidneys explode with pain and I drop and heal at the same time. I try to roll away but I’m stopped by someone landing on my legs and Greatorex kicks my face.
    I taste blood, a bit of tooth loose in my mouth, and then I’m healed and grabbing at Greatorex but she’s moved out of the way, so I twist to hammer-blow the girl grappling with my legs. There’s more kicking to my back and I twist to grab that leg and snap it to the side. I know I’ve broken it from the sound and the scream. Then I’m on my feet and