River and the team loved, and pulled out the orange juice. As I was pouring the juice into my glass, I heard a scuffle. I froze. A number of things coursed through me in that one moment. One: Someone was breaking into the house. Two: Carmen had found me. Three: I needed to run and hide. And four: Contrary to everything I’d just thought, I’d best go and check it out. I deliberated for a second on my options, before hearing another noise, which jolted me into action.
I picked up a large sandstone sculpture from the shelf near the door and tiptoed out of the kitchen, and down the dark hallway. I never realised just how squeaky some of River’s floor boards were until I was trying to be quiet. I winced every time I stood on one, thinking someone would hear me. Then I started worrying that someone would hear my breath as I crept through the dark, so I held it as best I could.
I heard a grunt and a groan, and my head turned sharply towards the noise. It was coming from behind one of the many doorways that led off the passage. I crossed the hall, and leaned my ear to the door. There was another jarring thump, and I sprang back, readying my soapstone sculpture.
Something came over me, and I knew that I had to step through that door as opposed to hiding. Every hair on my body was standing on end as I reached for the door-handle. I leapt through the doorway, and froze. The room was flooded with light, and River had Gabe firmly on his back on a gymnasium floor. River's eyes cut to mine, and then to the sculpture in my hand. He started laughing.
I could see my reflection in the mirrors lining the room, and suddenly I saw what River saw. I looked like a right fool standing there, hair dishevelled, panting from holding my breath, with a wild look in my eye, and to top it all off - in my pyjamas - readying myself for a fight with only a sculpture as my weapon. A giggle escaped me, and before I knew it, Gabe began laughing too.
"You all right there, Mack?" Gabe coughed. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I shrugged as River said, "Ghost hunting, more like it." I shrugged again, and put the sculpture down on the floor beside the door. "Actually, Mack," he added, "you did pick a good weapon. That thing would totally knock someone out if you got your aim right."
Gabe nodded. "Yep. Head crushing even." Then he burst out laughing again, but I ignored him.
"What the hell are you two up to anyway? Isn’t it too early for this sort of thing?"
River shook his head. “It’s dawn.” He released Gabriel from his hold on the floor, and pointed up at the high windows. He was right. The sky was pink from the approaching dawn. “We train most mornings starting at six. You’re more than welcome to join us if you want to. God knows you need it.”
I couldn't argue there, but gave him a pointed glare anyway.
"Think of it this way, Mack," Gabe started as he got up and stretched. "If you're prepared for a bitch fight now, then you won't hesitate as much when it comes to engaging with Carmen."
Carmen. It all came back to her, didn't it? I sighed. They had a point. As always.
I crossed the room towards them, and put my hands on my hips. "Okay. You've convinced me. When do we start then?"
River smiled coyly at me. "Right now." And with that, he dropped into a crouch, and swept my legs out from under me with one quick sweep of his foot.
I landed hard on the mat, and felt all of my breath escape me. I was sharply reminded that I had a bit of a hangover, and this was definitely not one of my brightest decisions.
"Lesson number one: Keep moving. If you stand still you're going to get taken out."
"Noted. Keep moving."
River helped me up, and brushed some imaginary dust off my shoulder. "Lesson number two: Hand to hand fighting is dirty. Some people thrive on it, others use weapons. But always keep moving, and learn to get down and dirty too."
“Well, if you two are going to be training this morning, I’m going to shower, and check what
I picked up a large sandstone sculpture from the shelf near the door and tiptoed out of the kitchen, and down the dark hallway. I never realised just how squeaky some of River’s floor boards were until I was trying to be quiet. I winced every time I stood on one, thinking someone would hear me. Then I started worrying that someone would hear my breath as I crept through the dark, so I held it as best I could.
I heard a grunt and a groan, and my head turned sharply towards the noise. It was coming from behind one of the many doorways that led off the passage. I crossed the hall, and leaned my ear to the door. There was another jarring thump, and I sprang back, readying my soapstone sculpture.
Something came over me, and I knew that I had to step through that door as opposed to hiding. Every hair on my body was standing on end as I reached for the door-handle. I leapt through the doorway, and froze. The room was flooded with light, and River had Gabe firmly on his back on a gymnasium floor. River's eyes cut to mine, and then to the sculpture in my hand. He started laughing.
I could see my reflection in the mirrors lining the room, and suddenly I saw what River saw. I looked like a right fool standing there, hair dishevelled, panting from holding my breath, with a wild look in my eye, and to top it all off - in my pyjamas - readying myself for a fight with only a sculpture as my weapon. A giggle escaped me, and before I knew it, Gabe began laughing too.
"You all right there, Mack?" Gabe coughed. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I shrugged as River said, "Ghost hunting, more like it." I shrugged again, and put the sculpture down on the floor beside the door. "Actually, Mack," he added, "you did pick a good weapon. That thing would totally knock someone out if you got your aim right."
Gabe nodded. "Yep. Head crushing even." Then he burst out laughing again, but I ignored him.
"What the hell are you two up to anyway? Isn’t it too early for this sort of thing?"
River shook his head. “It’s dawn.” He released Gabriel from his hold on the floor, and pointed up at the high windows. He was right. The sky was pink from the approaching dawn. “We train most mornings starting at six. You’re more than welcome to join us if you want to. God knows you need it.”
I couldn't argue there, but gave him a pointed glare anyway.
"Think of it this way, Mack," Gabe started as he got up and stretched. "If you're prepared for a bitch fight now, then you won't hesitate as much when it comes to engaging with Carmen."
Carmen. It all came back to her, didn't it? I sighed. They had a point. As always.
I crossed the room towards them, and put my hands on my hips. "Okay. You've convinced me. When do we start then?"
River smiled coyly at me. "Right now." And with that, he dropped into a crouch, and swept my legs out from under me with one quick sweep of his foot.
I landed hard on the mat, and felt all of my breath escape me. I was sharply reminded that I had a bit of a hangover, and this was definitely not one of my brightest decisions.
"Lesson number one: Keep moving. If you stand still you're going to get taken out."
"Noted. Keep moving."
River helped me up, and brushed some imaginary dust off my shoulder. "Lesson number two: Hand to hand fighting is dirty. Some people thrive on it, others use weapons. But always keep moving, and learn to get down and dirty too."
“Well, if you two are going to be training this morning, I’m going to shower, and check what
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