Strength by Angela B. Macala-Guajardo Read Free Book Online Page A

concentration. The wetness bore the same stench as Daio’s breath and she realized it was his saliva. “Ugh!” Gross! At the same time the spit gave her an idea.
    Roxie’s knees were drawing closer to her chest and at the same time her shoulders hunching toward them. She envisioned herself being folding in half like a taco and every muscle in her legs and back tearing from lack of flexibility. Roxie pushed harder with one leg and curled in the opposite shoulder, causing her to slide onto the film of saliva. Roxie pushed with the last of her might and slipped up and out of Daio’s grip. He tried to catch her again but misjudged and sent her flying through the air. Roxie landed in the limestone pit she’d fallen into earlier, right next to the hole. She rolled upright and scooted away from the hole, not wanting to count on Daio to save her again, even if he would.
    A shadow passed over her and down rushed one giant hand. Roxie rolled out of its way, surged to her feet and decided now was a good time to find out if she could leap large pits in a single bound, or at least climb out. Pretending she was jumping for the rim of a basketball hoop, she crouched low. Her limbs and joints burnt and ached in protest as she took in a deep breath. She shot her arms upward and sprung into the air.
    Roxie made it a little over halfway up, about ten feet, then held onto the granite wall with her hands and toes. There was an earthy crash right below her that caused the wall to vibrate. Roxie scrambled up the wall as fast as she could find purchase, but half the time chunks of rock broke in her grip. She heaved herself over the rim and log rolled away. Roxie sprung to her feet and started running, then almost fell as the ground vibrated again. Five semicircular gashes, each as wide as her torso, were carved into the rim of the pit. She found her balance and ran for the chain link fence a hundred yards ahead.
    Daio backhanded Roxie and she sailed front-side first into the fence, then fell to the ground. She hurried to her feet, grabbed the fence in both hands and started tearing a portion off. Since there was no way she could outrun the span of a giant’s arm, she needed something to defend herself with. Daio plucked the segment of fencing out of her grip and chucked it aside, which was what she hoped he’d do. She ran to one of the bare iron poles and tore it out of the ground. A cylindrical block of cement came up with it, sending a cloud of dirt through the air. Roxie gripped the bare end and swung the cement end at Daio’s incoming hand. As she bashed the second knuckle joint, a finger jabbed her in the gut, which sent her sprawling onto her back. Daio let out a yelp and reached out to grab her. Roxie pulled the cement end to her, pointed the other end skyward, and held on tight. The raised end stabbed the giant hand, sending it recoiling.
    “Okay, time to take away your new toy, kid.”
    Daio made a horizontal swipe and Roxie held on, not wanting to give up her protection. The giant lifted both her and the pole in the air and started jiggling it. The jiggling felt more like going through tumble dry in a clothes dryer. She lost her grip and fell on her back with a wet thud in a bed of mud and weeds. A second later everything went dark and Roxie’s entire body went afire with pain. The light returned, Daio’s hand hovering over her, dripping muddy water.
    Each breath hurt. Tears filled Roxie’s eyes. She gasped for breath as her brain absorbed the initial wave of pain. She wanted to just lie there and give into the agony and cry, however she didn’t want to die. She peeled one arm, then the other out of the mud, every movement just as painful as her breathing. Her legs stayed stuck so she pushed herself into a sitting position, the effort almost getting her arms re-stuck after she freed her head.
    “Kid, I’m amazed at how much of a beating you can take and still get up,” Daio said. “You really are something. But still not