The Unbroken Survivor

The loud, shrill sound of the starting bell fades into the cavernous ceiling of the arena. Lexa does not wait a single second. She lunges across the mat, stepping inside Della's guard and throwing her weight behind a heavy right hook. The fist collides flush against Della's cheekbone. The impact snaps Della's head to the side with a sharp, echoing smack of knuckle against flesh. Della stumbles but