For anyone who hasn't read The Sphinx Project by Kate Hawkings, here's a little teaser for you.

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 I dropped silently to the soft grass beneath and tiptoed toward the dark shadow of the motorbike.

A sweet smell drifted from behind me. It was like the flowers Mom used to keep in a glass on our little kitchen table. Pausing near the tree, I heard a slight rustle. Something brushed against an extended branch behind me.

I spun around punching at where I judged the mystery person to be, but not fast enough. Whoever it was caught my arm, twisting it behind my back. The canister slipped from my hand. Moving with the momentum, I swung my elbow up into the person’s jaw, turning farther than he or she was anticipating.

I managed to escape momentarily, but a hand caught hold of my hair as I attempted to put distance between us. The nails were long, scratching at my scalp. An arm snaked around the back of my neck, tucking me into a headlock.

Pressed to the side of the person's body I could feel feminine curves, even though her muscles were hard.

I swung my left elbow into the woman's stomach to see if it would dislodge her. It didn’t. I pulled down on the arm with my right hand, trying to give myself a little room to breathe. I squeezed my other hand between us then reached backwards over my head.

I stretched until I reached my assailant’s face. I dug my thumb into her nasal septum, the cartilaginous wall separating the nostrils—it would have hurt, a lot. She didn’t loosen her hold. I clawed two of my fingers and gouged at her eyes instead. The woman let go with a yelp.

Her grip loosened, I punched her in the stomach again. She let go of me completely and I dropped to the ground, lunging for the canister. I reached it, clutched it tightly between my hands and depressing the button, spinning to face my attacker again.

I held my breath as the gas deployed.

Whoever she was dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Certain she was out cold, I took my finger off the button. She lay still, giving me my first chance to study her.

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                    There you go! I hoped you enjoyed it as much as I did! :)