Dodges knife swings

‘Cut me!’ I shouted, slapping her face and stepping back out of range.

Thorne whirled towards me, wielding two blades, slashing at me, her face full of fury. I stepped inside her guard and slapped her even harder; twice this time, stinging both cheeks and bringing tears to her eyes.

‘Keep calm, girl! It’s only pain!’ I mocked. ‘Think! Concentrate! Cut me!’

She missed again, and I gave her another hard slap. We were close to the water’s edge and by now it was twilight; tendrils of mist snaked towards us over the lake’s surface.

B9 C4