The next day Hilary sat with the boys in the VIP section, waiting for the match between the Blitzkrieg Boys and Justice 5 to start. The bladers were already congregated on the stadium floor, while DJ Jazzman was giving spiels about either team. The Blitzkrieg boys were the favorite to win with their relentless, "take no prisoners" attitude, while Justice 5 were still considered a newer team, with a few powerhouse team members, namely Brooklyn.
The first match was between Mystel and Spencer. Unsurprisingly, Seaborg started a merciless assault on Poseidon within seconds of entering the dish, and knocked the blade out of the dish in minutes.
Next up were Bryan and Garland.
"What do you think?" Rei questioned out loud.
"It's tough to tell. They both have similar styles," Kai answered.
"Bryan's raw power will kill Apollon," Tyson predicted.
"I dunno," Max offered. "Garland's pretty powerful himself."
"What do you think, Chief?" Hilary questioned, glancing at Kenny's computer screen as he furiously typed away.
"They're too evenly matched," Dizzy responded for him. "It's impossible to predict."
Both bladers released their blades into the dish, immediately starting to circle around the edge. Suddenly, both blades dove towards the center, sending a flurry of sparks into the air. Appollon began to slowly push back against Falborg. Falborg retaliated by banking left, sending Appollon surging towards the edge. Garland's blade swerved right, right towards Falborg. The blades crashed again and again, each time losing more and more small pieces.
"The blades are going so hard, they're coming apart," Hilary commented.
"This isn't going to last much longer," Kenny said. "Something's got to give." The boys called out the bit beasts for their final attack. The stadium was filled with a blinding light, forcing the audience to look away. When the team looked back, only one blade was left spinning.
"And Justice 5 comes back to tie the round up!" DJ Jazzman's voice rang around them.
"Damn, that was intense," Max commented.
"And surprising. I guess it's between Tala and Brooklyn…" The destroyed dish was soon replaced by a new one and the new bladers took their respective spots on either side of the dish.
DJ Jazzman did the countdown before the boys released their blades. They began to circle the dish in tandem, on complete opposite sides, following one another. The stadium was eerily quiet, no one knowing which way the battle could go. Tala and Brooklyn were two of the most powerful bladers in the world. Tala, having been trained at a young age and having his skill honed until near perfect, whereas Brooklyn had a natural talent. This battle was even harder to predict than the last.
The blades were moving so quickly in the dish, it was impossible to tell whose blade was whose. However, it was becoming apparent that one was gaining on the other.
"Novae Rogue!" Tala yelled suddenly. Apparently it had been Tala's blade advancing on Brooklyn's. Wolborg materialized and suddenly the arena dropped in temperature. Hilary could even see her breath.
"Zeus! Attack!" Brooklyn retaliated. The blades clashed, before backing off, spinning in a small circle, and attacking again. Seeing that their attack was futile, the blades doubled back, returning to circling the dish once again.
Without warning, Brooklyn's blade dove towards Tala's, taking the redhead by surprise and pushing Wolborg towards the edge of the dish. He fought back valiantly, but Zeus was clearing gaining ground. With one final blow, Wolborg was thrown back with so much force, he landed at Tala's feet.
Another round of applause rang throughout the stadium.
"That was some match," Max remarked.
"I guess it's between us and Justice 5," Tyson commented.
"This is not gonna be easy," Rei said, entering the conversation. "We're going to have to train with all we've got."
"Let's get out of here. Just watching that match made me want to blade." Hilary followed the boys down the hall and into the lobby. Abruptly, a piercing shriek met her ears.
"Oh my god! It's them!" Suddenly, her and the boys were surrounded by a huge groups of girls, all yelling or shoving a notebook and pen underneath their noses. Hilary, not having very many a fan herself, ducked and pushed her way through the mass of girls, emerging on the outside of the hoard relatively unscathed. She turned to look back at the boys who apparently weren't doing as well as her. Kai, Kenny, and Rei had disappeared completely, whereas just the tip of Max's hair was visible, and Tyson was backed up against a wall. Hilary chuckled.
"Hil." Hilary turned towards who had called her.
"Mariah," She said when she saw her former best friend. For a moment, they just stared at each other, neither saying a word. Mariah looked down at her feet, before glancing back up at the brunette.
"Could I talk to you?" Hilary debated with herself for a moment. Sure she was pissed, but she missed her best friend. And really, how long could this continue? She wasn't one to hold grudges.
"Sure."
"Do you maybe want to get something to eat?" Hilary nodded. With one final glance back at the boys, who were still submerged, she followed Mariah out the sliding doors into the bright light of the parking lot. The pinkette lead her past the walls of the BBA, then down a nearby alley that led along the side of the building.
"What were you thinking?" Hilary questioned, trying to make conversation. "Italian?" Mariah didn't answer, instead choosing to lead her farther down the alley. "'Riah? Is this a shortcut?" Suddenly Mariah came to a halt in front of her, startling Hilary.
"Can I ask you something?" She questioned, and to Hilary's surprise, she saw tears in her friend's eyes.
"Of course…" Hilary said warily.
"You had Kai…Why did you have to go after Rei too?"
"Mariah…" Hilary said, coming to a stop. "I didn't go after Rei."
"I know what happened, Hil. You don't have to lie anymore…I just want to hear it from you." Hilary was momentarily distracted as a group of five girls came out of one of the side doors of the BBA building. They filed into the alley, talking and laughing loudly. Hilary turned back to Mariah.
"Mariah…I don't understand."
"Stop playing dumb! I know the truth!"
"What 'truth'?"
"People saw you during our match with Barthez Battalion!"
"Saw what?!"
"You and Rei kissing outside the locker room!"
"What? Who told you that?"
"Hey!" A voice suddenly yelled, interrupting hers and Mariah's conversation. The pair looked back to see one of the girls who had emerged from the BBA building had spoken to them. The girl who had spoken, a teenager with long blonde hair, looked from Mariah to Hilary.
"It's her," She said to the girls behind her. "The one who's been playing with our boys' hearts." The girls murmured in response.
"Slut!" One of the teens yelled.
"Who does she think she is?" The girls began to move towards the duo. Hilary backed up into Mariah.
"Mariah, you need to get out of here. Now." Hilary whispered.
"What?"
"This doesn't involve you. Go."
"I'm not-"
"We should teach her a lesson," Another one shouted.
"Show her what happens when she plays with people's hearts…" Hilary shoved Mariah to the side as the girls converged on her. Someone grabbed her jacket, ripping it off her body, while another pushed her so hard against the brick wall, she saw stars. The blonde girl from before came to the front of the group. Without warning, she slapped Hilary so hard, she collapsed onto the pavement. Someone picked her up, holding her upright.
"After we're done with you, you'll never want to hurt one of our boys again," The blonde said with a cruel smile. Hilary said, nothing, still distracted by the incredible pain in her cheek and from where her head hit the wall. Out of nowhere, an incredible blow to her stomach made the brunette double over in pain. She hit the ground.
"Fucking whore!"
"Kai's mine!"
"Leave poor Max alone!" Hilary couldn't even bring herself to scream. Everytime she tried, a new impact met her body. She curled into a ball, trying to make herself as small as possible. A foot came into her line of sight for a brief moment, before making contact with her mouth. Hilary tasted the distinct coppery tang of iron, and knew she had bitten her cheek. Everywhere, girls were pulling at her hair, kicking or punching her. The pain was like nothing she had felt in her entire life. On her face, which she was now covering with her hands, her back, her legs, her chest…
She lay on the ground, immobile. She wasn't sure if it was because she thought if she played dead, the crazed fan girls would leave her alone or because she actually couldn't bring herself to move.
Then there were more voices, these ones male. There was a loud commotion, but Hilary couldn't bring herself to listen to what was happening. She idly wondered if something had happened to her ear. Then, the kicking was over, and she was finally left alone.
But not for long.
"Oh my god. Hil!"
"Is she okay?"
"Does she look okay?!"
"Someone call an ambulance!" The voices sounded somewhat familiar to her, but she couldn't place them. She peeked up from under her arm, to see a figure crouched in front of her. His hand was outstretched towards her. She flinched and scooted away from the figure, uncurling from her fetal position and backing up until she hit the brick wall. Her forehead felt sticky and something wet was obscuring her vision. She wiped it away and when she looked at her hand, it was covered in red liquid. Blood. She glanced up at the figure crouched before her.
Blue hair, brown eyes…Hiro.
"Hilary…Are you alright?" She didn't say anything, instead choosing to look up at the other people who had congregated in the alley. The girls were gone. She recognized a few bladers. Lee and Kevin from the White Tigers. Miguel from Barthez Battalion. Emily from the Allstars. Mariah must have gone for help and told anyone she could find.
Speak of the devil.
Mariah suddenly appeared, panting heavily, the boys behind her. They came to a halt, too stunned to speak. Kai rushed to her side, kneeling before her before reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder.
Hilary screamed loudly, surprising everyone in the alley. She scrambled back from a stunned Kai, a terrified look on her face.
"Stay away from me!" Kai didn't say anything, too surprised to speak. Another one of the guys, Rei, came forward. He stooped before her. "Don't touch me!" She cried. She returned to the fetal position, curling up as tight as she could. Pain exploded in her body, but she didn't care.
What happened next was all a blur. Sirens…A white room…Talking…A pinch in her arm, then sweet relief.
