Semi-Finals

     I woke up right on time to see Clara sitting cross-legged on her bed with coffee in between them as she read. Her eyes seemed a little dark and she didn't look up until I called her name. Clara suddenly jumped up and the coffee spilled everywhere, on her books, on the bed, and even on herself. She muttered something bitterly in what I thought was a different language.

"Sorry... Didn't mean to startle you. What did you just say?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing. Dang it! Now my stupid clothes are going to stain!" She tore off the clothes and put on some fresh ones.

"Were you up all night?"

"Maybe... Why do you care?"

"Sensitive, aren't we? I was just asking. Anyway, I think we should get to Combat."

"Oh yea. OK, but I smell like coffee." She and I walked out the door and she was right. The coffee smell seemed to be lingering all around her. Zack came out of his room and walked with us.

"Do you guys smell coffee?" He sniffed the air.

"Oh shut up." Clara growled and Zack eyed her strangely. We entered Combat and before we had the chance to sit down, the teacher called Clara and me up to the stage. Her shoulders sagged and her eyes seemed to be sunk into her head. 

"Funny how I train you and you end up fighting me." She partly smiled.

I didn't have time to reply to her because the timer rang. I couldn't see Clara. As soon as the timer rang, she was gone. I squinted for a split second before I felt someone holding onto my shoulders from behind. I let my anger grown and flames covered my body. Clara smiled strangely before disappearing. I felt a huge wind around me and the flames on my body were extinguished. She stood in front of me but she didn't try to push me back. Clara was trying to play with me. 

I glared at her and felt a rush inside of me. Wind began to pick up and force her back. She appeared behind me. My instincts told me to hit her but when I tried, she ducked under my fist and returned the blow. I stumbled back with blood oozing out of a cut on my face. My mood changed again as did my power. Liquid formed on my hands. A ball of water encased Clara but she didn't run out of it. I couldn't understand why. Her face seemed to change as she walked right out of it. Was she up to something? I brought back the wind and she didn't fight back. Clara fell off of the stage and I was declared the winner.

"Why didn't you fight back?" I asked her when I sat down next to her.

"I had nothing left unless something bad were to happen. I started to change... I wanted to kill you so, I decided that I had to stop before I did anything I would regret." She bowed her head and closed her eyes. I looked up and saw that Dylan and Zack were competing. None of them were moving but from the strained look on Zack's face, I could tell he was trying to control Dylan. But, then, I looked at Dylan and saw he was trying to do the same. 

Dylan tried other tactics to get Zack off the stage but then, Zack was able to get into Dylan's mind. It went on for almost ten minutes before the teacher declared that it was a tie. The results for the finals would be Zack, Dylan, and me in one match.

Author's Note

The beginning with Clara was important for the future!! Just a warning. Hope you liked this chapter. More coming soon!

Reviews

[Black]

well... dont go to fast though, the action is grade.. but sometimes it needs some slow pace, some quiet moments, to find out how the characters are really like, atleast a little, without them running around with heads on there had..
but furthert a real good chapter.. .
nice work!

[Daytonight]

I am glad Clara doesn't want to hurt her at least. It's also nice to see her using different aspects of her powers.

[TheElfPrincess]

I like this, Clara is getting darker and darker. I love her character. Well done, love it.

[amdc101]

Clara seems to be becoming....dark, for lack of better word. I love the relationship between her and Zak though. Great job and keep writing!