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"Bitch!" He snarled and pulled his ar the knife
As the blade swept toward ht shoulder brushed his chest Using the edges of my opened hands, I struck his upper and lower ar o li his arm, I twisted it until the heel of his hand pointed toward the ceiling Then I pivoted, placing ht, I yanked his hand down I heard a loud crack followed by a screa around to face hiushed out While he was off balance, I kicked his kneecap, breaking it Nix cru him in the ribs My blood hummed and sizzled His weak attempts to block ht have killed hied "Kill another man, and it’s the noose for sure"
Somehow, his words reached the rational part ofhard Nix was still I knelt beside hiertips The relief that coursed through me vanished when Nix clutched rip relaxed, and I pulledthe knife from the floor, I took Janco’s often-repeated advice for self-defense: "Hit and git" I ran But this tis flowing behindfast to ward off the shakes that threatened to overpower me, I reached the baths They were empty at this time of day, so I hid Nix’s knife under one of the towel tables I checked the extent of my wounds in theBut two deep gashes on h to require the nizable shine to ht, Noho’s the rat? Pondering my next move, I wavered The Commander expected me to taste his dinner, but I couldn’t bleed all over his food My initial surge of energy fro A wave of dizziness swelled I headed toward the infiravetable I perched on the edge and held my hands out for inspection
"How…" she started
"Broken glass," I said
She nodded, lips pressed tight in thought "I’ll get my medkit"
I stretched out on the bed when she returned with her lue see the medical supplies, like a child’s toy surrounded by adult paraphernalia My hands had started to throb, and I dreaded the medic’s ministrations I turned my head in time to see Valek burst into the infir This had turned out to be one hell of a bad day
"What happened?" Valek deht hand and began to clean ed lacerations These clean slices are obviously from a knife I’m required to report it"
Theto leave without an answer With resignation I focused on hi to distract myself from the pain in my hands "I was attacked"
"By who?" His tone sharp
I cut my eyes at the medic, and Valek understood
"Could you excuse us for ahis request Her authority overruled Valek’s for all medical situations