The Gauntlet Assassin by LJ Sellers Page B

then felt foolish and signed off.
    At six-thirty, she considered going out to dinner with the group who’d invited her, then decided against it. Her inability to eat solid food meant that most social gatherings were awkward for her. People always pushed her to eat and she never did. She also didn’t bother to explain why. Jackson was the only person who knew for sure about her condition and he understood without being told. Guilt was something he lived with too, even though he had no reason for it. Lara’s guilt was well-earned.
    She made another small shake with a banana, milk, and protein powder and drank it while surfing the net for news. She felt like a junkie in need of a fix. She normally tuned in to the news intermittently throughout the day, but now she was going on twenty-four hours without any. The headline was a deadly flash flood in Illinois. She thought about Jason Copeland and wondered if he knew. If he did, would it affect his performance? The civil war in Syria was still going on, a tornado had hit the southern states, and summer temperatures were predicted to be in the 115-120-degree range for most mid-Earth locations. On the bright side, a Chinese doctor had implanted an autologous-liver into a patient.
    As Lara read the details, the door burst open and Kirsten stormed in. Her roommate stopped between the desk and the couch and blocked the path to Lara’s bedroom.
    “You little old bitch.” Kirsten’s face twisted with bitterness and her breath reeked of alcohol. “First, you get lucky in the tunnels, then you earn the sympathy vote. It’s pathetic. I should have won the Challenge.”
    Lara started to laugh, then remembered the cameras. Had Kirsten forgotten about them or did she no longer care? “It was a fair competition. I’m sorry you’re going home.” It was the best Lara could do. Without the cameras, she would have told her to fuck off.
    “Fair? They handicapped me at every phase because I’m younger and better looking.”
    “Get real. I’m sure every male viewer in the audience gave you a constant thumbs-up.” Lara didn’t want this fight, but it wasn’t in her nature to roll over either. She knew it was best to isolate herself now. She started to go around her roommate, but Kirsten stepped in her way.
    “I could’ve taken you in the Battle for sure.”
    Lara bit the inside of her cheek. “I have twenty years of martial arts training. I don’t think so.”
    “Let’s find out,” Kirsten taunted. “Let’s do battle.”
    “No thanks. I’m saving it for the contest.”
    Lara started past her again, and Kirsten leaned over, causing Lara to brush against her shoulder. Kirsten spun around, grabbed the back of Lara’s hair, and yanked. The pain and aggression sent a white-hot ball of fury into Lara’s brain. Her reaction was primal, beyond her control. She had sensed the move as Kirsten made it, so she threw herself in the direction of the pull, body slamming Kirsten and forcing her off balance. Lara released a quick jab from her waist and connected with her roommate’s soft spot in the hollow of her ribs. Kirsten made a strange grunting sound and went down to her knees. Lara forced herself to step back, rather than deliver a second blow.
    “Don’t touch me again.” She spun and headed into her bedroom, where she locked the door. Lara checked her iCom: 7:59 p.m. Crap! The cameras had caught the physical exchange and would now shut off. She sat on the bed and took long slow breaths. Would Minda boot her out for striking Kirsten? It had been self-defense as far as she was concerned, but the director might not see it that way. Her fate depended on how the viewers reacted, Lara realized. This might be one of the circumstances in which Minda polled voters before making a decision.
    Lara waited until Kirsten went into her own room, then she pulled on running shoes. She had to get out and work off some steam or she would never get to sleep, even with her meds. Lara strapped on