Chapter 11 - Struggle

"Alright rookies, pair up and space out." Rodney exclaimed.

"Yo Ejay, I know we don't talk much but you cool right?" Asked Liam.

"Yeah bro, never better." I replied.

"Okay this is what I want you guys to do. Take a stick and draw a circle in the dirt that both you and your partner could fit in."

Everybody spaces out even more after realizing we may need more space. I draw the circle for me and Liam that's just about three feet across.

"Next both of you are going to stand in this circle and fight."

"Wait what?" A random girl asked.

"How are we suppose to fight each other in this limited space?" Lici asked.

"That's the point." Rodney replied. "In these fights there will be no punching, kicking or anything of that sort. You have to force your partner to the ground, and if you can accomplish that you will get a point. The first person within each pair to get five points will be exempted from today's punishment. Now everyone, step into your circle."

Me and Liam step in and square off with each other. He's about five inches under me and isn't as strong or fast as I am. I don't want to say that this'll be easy, but...

"On my mark you can begin and remember first to five points. Ready... GO!"

Not a second passed between him saying go and everyone beginning their struggle. I try to put him in a choke hold under my arm and while doing so he slides his leg behind me and was able to trip me onto my back.

"Don't think this is an automatic win for you." Liam says standing over me. "You gotta work for this."

"I would've been disappointed if I didn't had to." I reply with a smirk.

Taking a quick glance around I spotted Dameer rising up from the dirt. It's only one point. I jumped up to my feet and we repeated the same transaction, but this time when he slid his foot behind me I took a step back. He left his back foot unguarded so I released the hold and pushed him while tripping his back leg, dropping him to the dirt.

"Ok bush boy let's get it." Liam says while smiling.

We begin to read each others movements very clearly. Every step we make, and every grab attempt. I take the next two points after about five minutes of nonstop struggle. Eventually my upper hand on strength was being shown. However that didn't meant Liam was finished fighting. I tried to grab him and he quickly slipped under my arms and stepped behind me, wrapping both of his arms around my torso. Before I could've pried his hands off he was able to trip me forwards.

"Like I said you gotta work for this bush boy, ain't nothing easy out here."

I spun over onto my back and wrapped my legs around his ankles and proceeded to drop him.

"It ain't easy for you either so don't drop your guard." I responded while rising to my feet.

I only need one more point for the win and I also have a sizable lead. This last point may be difficult however. We struggle back and forth with both of us taking the advantage for short periods but not long enough to drop each other. Our sweat carves lines through the dust on our faces, and our breathing is showing signs that both of us are fatigued. I can't let this drag on for any longer, it's already been close to fifteen minutes.

A few people who were already finish were watching us at this point.

Before I could finish planning my moves he rushed to make the first one by attempting to grab my arm and pulling it behind my back. I was able to slip out and spun to face him again, he then tried to tackle me but I managed to keep my balance. Finally an opening. He still had his arms around my lower torso and before he could regroup, I wrapped my arms under his stomach and used all my remaining energy to lift him off of the ground. I flipped him enough to ensure he wouldn't land back onto his feet and dropped him while simultaneously dropping to my knees. He crashed to the ground shoulder first and rested there while I kneeled over him. The small crowd of about six people including Rodney clapped and cheered me on as the two of us laid there breathing heavily.

"Damn bro, I know you was gonna get me eventually but you didn't had to do me like that." Liam said staring up to the sky still breathing heavy.

I grinned a bit then got up to my feet slowly. I stretched my hand out to help him up and he looked at me for a second and grabbed my hand.

"Your a dog bro I had no other options." I smiled and said while pulling him up.

"I just want you keep that same energy when we get out there." He replied.

"That was a lot more entertaining than my fight was." Said Dameer walking over to us. "I was one of the first people out."

"Cory won 5 to 0 on you?" Liam asked.

"Nah I got one point off of him, but I think he did slip." Dameer responded.

"Bunch of dusty kids." Says Lici as her and Alyssa walks over to us.

"I don't even think I should ask who won between you guys seeing that Lici is as clean as when we started." I stated with a grin.

"She cheat!" Lyssa exclaimed. "Her fat back kept grabbing my hair 'cause she mad she ain't got any."

"Haaa, just a sore loser." Lici replied. "You couldn't bring me down one inch, just admit your weaker than me."

"I ain't arguing you got man strength, you could probably drop Dameer on his head too."

"How I is always end up in yall conversations." Dameer replied.

"Hold on, where the other bush boy?" Lici asked looking around.

I had just realized that Lj wasn't with us. I turned at scanned the yard to find that everyone was finished and was gathered in a group looking at something. We ran over to the crowd to find that Lj and Desmond were still going at it and were the center of all the attention.

"Hey what's the score?" Dameer asked to a random kid.

"It's tied 4 to 4 but we think Lj has the advantage." The kid responded. "Desmond might've sprained his ankle about three points ago and ever since, Lem has seized the opportunity."

Everyone in the small crowd is in a frenzy, cheering for who they want to win as the two of them put on a show. Evading, dodging, countering every tactic that the other attempts. Lj slips behind him and tries to pull his arm behind his back into a submission. Desmond then breaks free and grabs Lj while he is still behind him and pulls him over his back. Lj lands cleanly on his feet, grabs Desmond's arm and quickly pulls him closer while placing a leg behind him. Lj tries to push him back and trip him over but Desmond jumps to avoid Lj's leg but lands awkwardly on one leg. The same leg people are saying has the injured ankle. He recovers his balance but is hesitant to put pressure on that ankle. It's looking like Lj is going to take this one. They both pause for a few seconds giving enough time for everyone else to clearly evaluate Desmond's state and realize this one is probably over on the next move.

Lj steps into Desmond and attempts to slip under his arm, grab him and trip his good leg. Before he goes for the trip though Desmond grabs Lj and then puts enough weight on his bad ankle to use his good leg to trip Lj and drop him to the dirt.

"Game set and match. Good job Desmond." Rodney exclaims as the crowd applauds Desmond's win.

"Damn I really thought Lj had him." Says Liam as he also applauds.

"Both of 'em did great but Lj choked in the clutch." Lyssa exclaims.

Without any words being said Desmond helps Lj up and they shake hands, showing respect for each other.

"Lj let him win." I say as I watched on.

"What?" Asked Dameer.

"How do you know?" Asked Lici.

"I just know." I replied with a smile.

Lj walks over to us and as he got closer I raised my hand for a high five. He gives me a high five and as he goes to walk pass me I say...

"You let him win, didn't you. All of us knew you could've beaten him especially with him in that state, and because he was in that state you threw the match so he wouldn't have to face the punishment on top of his injury."

"Hmm maybe you know me a little too well." He responded as he finished walked pass with a grin.

"The first half of searcher training dealt mainly with speed, endurance, agility and quick thinking." Said Rodney to everyone. "This second half however will focus more on strength, resilience, toughness and critical thinking. All losers, your punishment for today is to take one of those tires over there, hold them over your head and jog around the school. Ten laps."

"Good luck bro." I say to Lj as he walks off.

"Ah my, Lyssa and Meer gonna pee their bed tonight carrying them tires."

Says Lici as we watched them.

"They're gonna be liabilities in the morning if we're really going outside the walls." Said Cory as he walks pass us. "I hope their good at handling soreness."

In the words of Liam, I hope you keep that same energy when we're out there.