7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 11: I need to Know what I Know

      The crowd around the ring was deadly silent, as all eyes were on Scott and me standing opposite of each other in the middle. There were several of the employees that had gathered, all the girls that had started the tests with us were there, as well as Arthur and Mildred. Mildred’s smile had been replaced minutes before with a sinister scowl as she figured out, I was facing Scott. I don’t think she thought I would ever make it that far, Arthur on the other hand stood tall and proud with a huge proud poppa grin on his face.

    “You ready Lee?” Theo asked as he stepped out of the ring.

    “Yep.” I chirped, but those words still rung through my head from that unknown voice; you are going to have to fight. That was all I could hear.

    Theo blew the whistle and I crouched down, I watched as Scott slowly circled me, in that moment I felt like a deer being circled by a pack of wolves. I took a deep breath silencing all the thoughts in my head, I placed my hand out in front of me and motioned my fingers telling him to come on. He didn’t waste any time as he dug his feet into the mat and lunged at me with his shoulder held low. Just before he made contact, I hit the ground and threw my feet up throwing him over me and watched as he hit the ground with a thud. I rocked back on my shoulders and jumped to my feet, turning quickly to face him. We approached each other slowly, with our hands held high to block our faces. He threw a punch at my face, and I pushed my arm up blocking him and taking my other hand landing a blow to his rib cage, making him instantly exhale the breath he was holding. We continued on the same path as we took turns with punches, blocks, kicks, tumbling; he managed to get a few punches on me, but I didn’t even seem to notice any pain from them. After what felt like hours but could have really only been about thirty minutes, I was getting bored with it, and decided to end this round. Scott approached quickly and threw his punch, I grabbed his arm and twisted him quickly pulling his arm tight and high into the middle of his back as I dug my fingers into a pressure point in the wrist. He tried to break free, and I only tightened my hold as I took my foot and knocked his legs out from underneath him causing him to go to his knees. I could feel him tensing from the pain of the position he was in until he finally gave up and tapped my legs with his free hand shouting out. I immediately turned loose and stepped around him offering him a hand.

       “Holy crap Lee!” Theo shouted as he ran over to us while I pulled Scott to his feet.

      “No kidding, where in the hell did you learn to do all that?” Scott whispered as he rubbed his wrist.

     I probably looked like a dear caught in the headlights, I really didn’t know, but I did know that somewhere along the way I had done that before, my body moved in with pure instinct. I finally shrugged and smiled, “You tell me, and we will all know.”

     “Was it you in the pavilion?” Theo whispered.

    I felt an arm around my shoulder, and I looked over to see Eva standing there cheesing. I was actually glad, it seemed to take the question right out of the air, “She’s good!” She giggled.

    “Yea, I will give her that, I am man enough to admit I just got my butt handed to me.” Scott laughed as he pulled me into a hug.

     I exhaled a little relief, at least he wasn’t mad at me. “Thanks bub.”

    “You know you can’t do secretary work anymore?” Theo joked from the side.

    I pushed away from Scott and slapped Theo’s shoulder, “Sure I can. Who said I can’t do more than one thing?” I pulled Eva into a side hug, “Plus I got this one here that can help me.”

    Scott and Theo looked between the two of us with a questioning look before Theo finally decided to speak. “Do you know each other, because our Lee doesn’t get close to people very easy at all.”

    “Nope, just met her Friday, but I like her, and something in me tells me we can trust her with anything.” I squeezed her a little tighter. “By the way Eva where are you staying?”

     “Hotel right now.” She shrugged without even letting the smile leave her face.

     I looked at Scott and Theo, I knew they knew what I was thinking, and they gave me a smile with that we don’t care shrug. “Not anymore. I have an extra bed in my room, you can stay with us until you get a place, or whatever. And I am not taking no for an answer.” I gave her a wink and it was her turn to look like a deer in the headlights.

      “Seriously?” She whispered and it caused the boys to laugh.

     “When Lee sets her mind to something, it’s best you don’t tell her no.” Theo nudged her shoulder.

   “Well, alright then.” She nodded as she leaned her head over on my shoulder. “This is going to be awesome.”

    “I think we need her employed at the mansion,” the screechy voice of none other than Mildred rang out from behind me.

      I took a deep breath and turned around slowly with my fake smile, I was ready to tell her that would be a big fat no, but Arthur quickly was at her side as he smiled over at her. “Absolutely not dear. This one has a bright future, and she needs to stay close to Scott.” He placed his arm around her shoulder and turned her before she had time to speak again, but not before he gave me a wink. “Pretty awesome kid.”

         I watched as they walked away and I didn’t miss the glances Mildred kept giving back to me, something was off about the whole situation, about her. If I didn’t know better, she had a grudge against me and was calculating how to take her revenge. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way but standing there amongst everyone and watching her I knew it deep it my bones, she was dangerous, and I was her target.

        “We all done for the afternoon?” Scott whispered causing me to jump ten feet in the air and laugh at the same time.

       “Thought you wanted to challenge me?” I finally managed to stutter out.

       “I think my brother is worn out, how about me and you?” Theo offered and I laughed out loud when I noticed Scott take a breath, like he was relieved.

      “Fair enough.” I shrugged as I walked over and took the blindfold out of his pocket.

      “You sure about this?” Scott asked.

     “As sure as I think I have ever been.” I handed the fold to Eva as she tied it around my eyes. “Look guys, this is more for me than you. I need to push myself; I need to know what I know.” They laughed but didn’t say anything further.

      I heard them walk away and felt Eva drop her hands to my shoulders, I sensed her head move to my shoulder near my ear and I could feel her breath, “I had a dream you know. And I know you can do this; I have seen you do it. Just believe, remember all your training, training you didn’t know you ever had.” I opened my mouth to speak and just as I did, her presence was gone, I knew she wasn’t there anymore even though I couldn’t see her.