Chapter 5: Chapter 2: First Flashback

 One year ago....

Jab!

Jab!

Right hook!

Left hook!

Upper cut!

Right Hook!

She repeated the motions again and again, each time cleaner with more finesse. She was getting faster! Her hips swung with the punches with a grace that seemed more like a dancer, or an aggressive dancer at least. Her feet twisted with each thrust, her fists absorbing the impact of the punching bag. She liked the feeling that came with each hit, as the vibrations traveled from her knuckles up her forearms leading up to her shoulder. She leaned into the next right hook to catch the tension sooner

"Your getting it! Now put more leg muscle into it." Her sparing partner Jonathan was grilling her about not using her legs to deliver each blow.

Keri smiled in response and took up a new stance, her short brown curly hair was sticky with sweat. her sharp brown eyes studied her opponent. She was smaller then Johnathan by several inches, and her lean figure wore her boxing tank top loosely. Her shoulders were well rounded and tight, while her biceps were swollen from years of training. Her hips were wide, which allowed her a longer sweep with her hooks, a small advantage she enjoyed. Her peach skin was tanned from the past few days of working outside. She stood in contradiction to Johnathan with his copper skin, broad chest and shoulders, and long dark hair that looked like a mane. He claimed it was his signature trademark in the ring, she thought it was ridiculous.

"You don't need legs to punch fuck wad," she jabbed again aiming slightly lower than he expected, making contact with his chest. Jabs were meant for the head, not to break but to disorient your opponents senses and keep their guard up so you could deliver the killing blow. It was boxing 101, a simple quick attack followed by the real punishment. The only problem was that with each jab the fighter was exposing themselves to counter. The right combination required speed and accuracy, both of which only waned as the fighting lasted.

The best boxing matches, Johnathan had explained to her, were short. Better to knock out one's opponent quickly and brutally in the first few rounds. If the match lasted longer than that it was only going to be punishing for both contenders. The crowds may love long drawn out fights, but a good fighter didn't go for more than four rounds. Any more than that was excruciating.

"The strength to every single shot starts at the legs, then the hips, core, shoulders, and finally those thick arms of yours." He teased her. "You keep wasting your throws, and you're going to wear yourself out."

He's the one who's going to wear himself out, she scoffed and threw another upper cut. Unlike her jab, he saw it coming and blocked quickly followed by his own hook. The blow nearly threw her off her feet, but she recovered her stance quickly.

"You see if you only used your full body motion you would have blown right through my defense." Johnathan took a step back and guarded his face for what he knew was coming next.

She rushed forward eager to catch him off guard, felt the air blow through her hair, and imagined she was rushing into the wind of combat against the Goliath, the greatest boxer to ever grace the ring.

To her surprise he didn't lunge back like he was used to, instead he dived low and skid his foot towards her. She couldn't alter her trajectory in time before she tripped and fell forward in his arms.

"Gotcha," his arms wrapped around her loosely. It felt strangely comforting. She kept her head down not letting him notice her flustered cheeks.

In response she planted her knee in his crotch and his overconfidence evaporated in an instant, "how's that for using my legs!" She pushed back and took up a fighting stance yet again. Johnathan was rolling on the floor, it was a sight she couldn't help but enjoy.

It took more than a few minutes for him to recover his shattered dignity before the pair finished their match and strolled to the locker rooms.

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Keri hated how the lockers rooms weren't separated. Officially the bathrooms were gender neutral, but she knew it was just another way to push women away from the gym. Luckily there were no other men besides John in the room, and he was polite enough to leave an entire corner to herself. She pulled the tank top over her head then unfastened her workout bra. As her naked body met the refreshing air she peeked over her shoulder just to make sure he wasn't watching.

To his credit, or lack there off, he wasn't spying on her. But then again why would he? Its not like she was particularly attractive? Not like the other girls he constantly talks about when they were hanging out. Keri was good at hiding her jealously in front of her best friend, she didn't have feelings for him but would it kill him to see her as a woman for once? Yes her breasts were small and she refused to do anything that even remotely appeared…girly, but she was still a healthy young nineteen year old all alone and single in the world. Hopefully that wouldn't be the same for too long, she could only hope.

She wrapped a towel around herself and was glad there were multiple showers available. At least she got some privacy there. John took the stall next to hers and the collective steam soon filled the room. The hot water felt good against her skin, and she found her mind wandering.

What would it be like if he joined me? The Idea seemed foreign to her, but she couldn't help but imagine his arms wrapping around her again. His breath against her neck and his arms exploring her tense skin.

Would he be gentle with me? Keri bit her lip as one hand glided down her toned stomach. The hot water covered her from head to toe, her nipples were sensitive. Her gentle lips were moist, and not because of the shower. Just as she was about to delve further she felt interrupted by a strange noise coming from the adjacent shower.

Was that singing? She realized her friend was whispering something to himself. A tune of sorts although she couldn't make out the words, it was obviously singing. She let him continue for a few seconds as she collected some of the shower water in the cup of her hands and threw it over the stall at him.

"Hey!" He seemed surprised and then fired back with another splash of water. "The ring wasn't enough for you huh."

The pair were laughing as they continue to fire salvo after salvo over the stall, it was childish but Keri didn't care. Apparently neither did Johnathan.

Growing up in the low tiers was never easy, but her father was a foreman for the principal mining companies and thus she grew up close to middle class. However they were always living on the edge of poverty. Close enough to reach out in hope of a comfortable life, but one short step away from losing everything. As soon as she was old enough she endeavored to make her way in life, if only to put less pressure on her ailing father. The mines were not for her, and neither was rushing to apply to the university and acquiring sponsorship. Sitting in a classroom all day listening to boring lectures wasn't appealing, she was a creature of action and nail biting adrenaline surges.

At six years of age she witnessed Manuela Capstone, the most famous female boxer fighting in the ring. She snuck in with the help of Johnathan after he bragged that she was going to get her ass kicked. Watching Manuela fight was the key inspiration she needed, the spark that lit the fire. She wasn't going to wallow in the dark mines, or feign interest in some sort of desk job. She wasn't going to thrash and struggle up the tall ladder of factory life or be resigned to a nunnery. She wasn't going to whore herself out and beg for scraps either, she was going to be just as beautiful and powerful as Manuela Capstone sparing in a ring watched by thousands.

When she told her dad about wanting to workout and train with the boys he wasn't angry, in fact he was relieved, "You'll need to learn to protect yourself however you can in this crazy world."

He was right, he always was.

Keri emerged from the gym, Johnathan by her side, and couldn't help but notice just how late it was. John was scratching the back of his neck as he spoke, "I heard there was another skitter attack last night, I can't believe they're still soulless in the city."

The soulless were the left overs of old night, that miserable decade that changed the whole world. The soulless were creatures of nightmare that delighted in human suffering. It was said they drank the souls of their victims but not before they tortured them.

"Where did you hear that?" Soulless attacks were incredibly rare, especially in the city walls. It would have been widespread news if there was so much as a rumor of a skitter being sighted.

"Foreman at the docks couldn't stop talking about it, said he saw a pack of shadows chasing someone out of the tavern. Swore by god and all the angels at what he saw.

Keri thought the whole thing was strange, but couldn't challenge it. If it really happened it would be all over the news by now. Everyone was afraid of the soulless, herself included.

As the pair parted and welcomed the cool night and the sunset breeze Keri put all thoughts of the soulless in the back of her mind. Nova Nash was safe from the horrors that persisted after the decade of long night, their city with its walls and sacred icons would keep the devils at bay.

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