I'm trying to cut to the chase in this chapter. Get to some juicy stuff. The others have been a bit boring but important. Stuff is going down now! What will happen? Dun-duh-dunnnn. (Wow, that was lame. XD) Oh and all the unknown countries and poisons were made up. Thank you for all of your reviews and positive feedback! It is making me so happy! Please enjoy! :)

This is a moment that has been awaited for a while. It's tournament time. Because of the cancellation of Spy Camp this year, the school has created a hand-to-hand combat all school tournament. But everyone knew the real reason the school put this on: everyone wanted to see Audrey and Erica have a real combat fight.

Every grade was split in half. They were put into two teams: Team Red and Team Blue (or more informally: Team Audrey and Team Erica.)

There was a gigantic bracket in the entry foyer of the Nathan Hale Building. Everyone crowded around to try to find their name. I noticed, in the first round, I was going against a first year. The teacher who assigned this must have taken mercy on me. There was a chance I could beat this kid. This round was mostly to weed out the weak and the 1st years.

I noticed that whoever won the Audrey vs 1st year competition was going against whoever won my game. This was an interesting part on the professors. It seemed they wanted to make it as easy as possible to get Audrey and Erica to the finals. Most people were paired against someone their skill level, but Audrey and Erica were against really easy people they could crush.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement and the training rooms were filled day and night. Most people knew they didn't have a chance at winning, but they wanted to be 'that kid' who beat or almost beat Erica Hale or Audrey (actually, I don't know her last name.)

I've spend little time with Audrey recently. Most of my time was working on that dumb essay or hanging out with Zoe, Mike, Jawa and Chip.

XXX

Even my friends were into the training phase. Zoe, Mike, Chip and Jawa spent many hours together polishing their skills. I joined them on some occasions, but mostly stayed to myself. I knew I had no chance at even making it to the third round it I was against Audrey the second round. (If I even win the first round). Also, that stupid essay was due in five days and I was only halfway done. I logged many hours in the Media Center.

XXX

After a few short days, the first and second rounds were today. Everyone studied hard (more than their actual classes probably) and were ready. I wasn't until 2:30, so I watched other people.

Mike did a nice job against a second year (a year above him). He managed to punch the guy's adams apple, making him stumble, and Mike kicked him in the stomach. The guy folded and Mike pinned him down for the win.

Zoe also did well. She was against a fellow second year and managed to get the girl in a headlock. She quickly threw the girl on the ground and pushed her fist into her neck. The girl surrendered and Zoe moved on to round two.

Chip didn't do so well. He was a fourth year and was paired against a fifth year. Chip plays dirty (not traditional style and extremely painful) but the other guy was a seasoned traditionalist and proved that training hard was better than low moves. Chip was cranky the rest of the day.

Jawa was good and beat his guy with a roundhouse kick, making him fall and surrender. Easy.

But the most watched was Audrey and Erica's. Practically the whole school crowded in the training center to watch.

Audrey's wasn't exciting. She was against a poor first year who was terrified. Before the match, Audrey offered some consolation to the scared kid that she wasn't going to hurt him and for him to try his hardest. He nodded and it started.

The first year, Jason, started by completely rushing at her. She simply step-sided him and used his momentum to shove him down (not hard though) and Jason crashed to the ground. She dropped on top of him and lightly shoved his chest down. He surrendered and the fight was over quickly, not much action and no one was hurt. She helped him up and he stumbled off.

"I feel bad. That poor kid." Audrey said aloud, to no one in particular. People mumbled in agreement and above all the voices, everyone heard Erica.

"You shouldn't," Erica states, stony, "He had the option to join Spy School and he agreed. That's part of the deal. There should be no remorse for the enemies." Everyone looked at her in a bit of surprise. I guess we shouldn't expect any less from the Ice Queen.

"Well, Jason's not my enemy. He's a classmate and we're on the same side. Don't worry, Hale, I'll go hard when there's a real enemy." Audrey's eyes took a darker look to them. The crowd shifted uneasily. Erica just walked away.

It was my turn. A good amount of people came to watch the famous Smokescreen, including both Erica and Audrey. I was against this first year, who smiled cockily.

"Ha! There was only one second year I knew I could beat and it was you." The annoying boy, Dylan, said. The crowd ooh-ed. Audrey frowned.

"We'll see, newbie." I admit I got cocky as well.

We started and he came at me. Dylan knocked into me and I stumbled, but didn't fall. I whirled around and stepped on the back of his shoe (most people opted to not wear shoes, but he did). I flat tired him and he fell at the surprising fighting style of Ben Ripley. As he fell, I also shoved him and pinned him. Yes! I won!

The crowd booed at my sad fight and Erica sighed at me. Audrey and my other friends were laughing their heads off. Oh well. A win is a win. Now I'll lose because I'm going against Audrey.

Erica's fight was the last of the first round. She was against this third year named Jackson. He was a good fighter and could have gone far if he wasn't against Erica. They started and Erica, out of the gate, went for a face punch. Jackson predicted this and ducked. Only when he ducked, she brought up a knee and slammed it right into his gut. It was obvious that beginning blow was a fake. Jackson stumbled and Erica advanced, kicking him right in the jaw. He fell to the ground and Erica was on top of him. She repeatedly punched him in the face until he was bruised and surrendered.

All of this was legal in the competition and it was clear Erica was for the win and was not going to give anything less than a hundred and ten percent.

XXX

Later that day, I was against Audrey. Before the match started, she warned me she was going to win but didn't want to hurt me too bad. Good. I didn't have time to ice my wounds. There was a giant crowd at this one. Anything with Erica or Audrey was going to draw an audience. The referee told us to start and we did. I tried to swing at her head, but she arched out of the way and swung her foot up at my face. I avoided her foot to my face, but then realized her foot was aimed at my neck and that impact made me collapse. I was on the ground and Audrey came on top of me and push a forearm to my throat. Her knees pinned my arms and I gave up.

After the referee blew the whistle, she got up.

Laughing she said, "Man, Ben, I was hoping you'd trip me or something." I laughed as well.

"Hahaha you wish. I let you win." I say sarcastically.

The rest of the day was more competitions. Mike lost in the second round and so did Zoe. Mike, Zoe and I were out. Jawa made it to the third round and not surprisingly, so did Erica.

XXX

The next few day's classes were canceled, so I had more time to work on my essay. Everyone, including the professors, wanted to watch the fights.

Jawa got out in the fourth round and there were only the semi-finals and finals left for tomorrow.

During the fourth round, I opted not to watch the fights to work on my essay.

The most dangerous poison is found in Russia, blah, blah blah. It was made by the KGB in 1892 blah, blah, blah.

I struggled to stay awake at the computer in the Media Center. Wanting an excuse to get out of my work, I focused my attention at the TV. It was the news:

We have a breaking update on the story about the United Nation's decision to accept other countries into its organization. Hi, I'm Sydney Porter and he's Clint Wilson. After much controversy and debate, the UN lets the country of Zoombiaz into it's alliance because of its location, booming economy and trade centers. The UN, which consists of many countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China and France, made the choice on Wednesday. But this decision raised questions for the other sixteen countries hoping to join. They are all thinking: why not us? The standout was the country of Sankibali. Sankibali has been asking the UN to join for over ten years now and is infuriated by their choice. Their ruler, King Tablin, is know to be a tyrant ruler, which didn't help them join this prestigious organization. The UN said in a statement they were 'afraid of what could become of the organization with a ruler like King Tablin in our workings.' The choices have sparked protests all over and the sixteen countries won't be happy. The matter is closed. Back to you guys.

I did hear a little about this UN story a while back. Apparently Sankibali was pissed they didn't get picked. I guess they didn't have enough to offer, unlike Zoombiaz. Whatever. I need to focus on my homework. Sighing, I raise my fingers to the keyboard.

XXX

I groan after my third hour in that dumb Media Center. I had paid zero attention in class and I was at a total loss for the origins of this Russian poison. I couldn't google it because Russia doesn't have that much freedom of speech or press, so there was not much information on the lethal weapon. I would have had to done my notes in class or actually paid attention.

I resorted to going to the only person I knew in the class. Erica. Even though she was talking to me the whole period, I knew she was paying attention to the lesson and may have already known everything Cerney was saying. Since I had class again tomorrow, I had to get this done.

It was past dinner. Most kids were hanging out or playing a game in the lighted field. The fights were over for the day, so I knew she was available, if she wasn't training.

I trudge over to her room. When I got to her door, I noticed it was propped open. This was strange. Erica enforced secret traps and warnings all over her door, but they were useless if the door was already open.

Frowning, I crept toward the room. I shoved the door the rest of the way open with my foot. Huh. So far no explosions or tasers coming to annihilate me. I came into the room, figuring Erica was in there if the door was open. Once I stepped into the room, I realized that was not the case.

There was no one in the room. I probably shouldn't be in here, but this was the one chance I have at seeing the Ice Queen's room and I can't screw it up.

Her room was surprisingly... normal. It was the same size of mine (TINY) and had the same twin bed, dresser and wooden desk. But, opposite of mine, her room was clean. Any military general would be proud of her. Her covers were tucked with crisp corners, fluffed pillows, organized desk and clean floors.

I approached her busy desk. She had more textbooks than I could count on that thing! There were textbooks from hand-to-hand combat to terrorist populated countries. Each textbook had a bunch of papers stuck into them.

I scanned (without touching) any book that could help me on my essay. In the middle of the stack, I saw a book titled Poisons and How to Avoid Them which sounded like what I needed right then. I looked at the textbook and noticed some papers and a yellow/gold-ish manila folder sticking out of it. I was about to grab it, but something else on the desk caught my attention.

It was a note that seemed freshly printed on the far left side of the desk, almost hidden by the books and work. What it said made me almost faint:

Nice work Hale. You've done the assignment we asked of you. So far, we won't have to take extreme measures. But await further instructions. It's not over yet. In fact, it's only the beginning. Best regards, SPYDER

XXX

Now we're talking! Let's get to the juicy stuff and have something exciting happen. What will Erica do and what will Ben think? Update coming soon!