Chapter 28
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
"Let me go, pauking assholes!"
A'stea thrashed, trying to break free of the Hish guards that dragged her by her wrists via chains. She was doing her business of cleaning her master's building when she was ordered to come with them. Of course, she fought them but was no match in the end. But she did put up a good fight that forced them to chain her up.
Now, she had no idea what was happening, only that she was being taken into the training building not far off. It didn't stop her from making a scene, getting looks from many Hish and few Amengi although the latter didn't bother much anyway.
"Hey! Are you deaf!? Let me go!"
The guards barely budged and didn't speak with her. But she could see the uncertainty in their eyes. They were forced to obey the masters or else risk getting killed for a simple offense. There were times she wished she could make the Amengi feel the same pain.
Going through the entrance and heading through a hall, they pushed onward until they made it to a door leading to a training room. She knew this area well, given she was used as practice for some pups beforehand. They stopped at the door and waited for a few minutes until they got a knock from the other side. A'stea was pushed roughly inside as soon as the door was opened enough. She slammed on the ground, bruising her cheek most likely. She heard some Hish chuckling nearby. With bent up rage, she hopped to her feet to give them a piece of her mind.
"What is going on?" She turned to the guards but they didn't answer, only removing the chains off her wrist and taking off out of the room as fast as they could. They shut the door behind so she had no way of escaping.
"Nice to see you again, A'stea."
The hairs on her arms stood up as she saw Master Thu'at coming out of the private room. It made her sick seeing him walk like he owned the place. You are cutting it close, buster. She growled as best as she could, not as much as a Hish but still had the same intentions.
Master Thu'at raised his hands. "Take it easy, ooman. You'll need to store your strength for what's coming."
She huffed. "I don't care what you do to me. It won't be enough to break me."
He chuckled. "Well . . . we'll see about that." He comes closer to her, too close for what she deemed fit. Without hesitation, she ran towards him, fists extended. She tried to get a swing to his lower abdomen where she knew the exoskeleton was the weakest. But she was swatted away by Master Thu'at's hand, gaining a scratch on her face as she fell to the ground. She hissed, touching her cheek and saw a trickle of her blood on her fingertips.
"Oops. Did it hurt?"
She hissed.
"You should be used to it by now."
In an instant, Master Thu'at thrust his hand on the back of her neck, pinning her to the ground while constricting her throat a little. She struggled to get a breath in while thrashing. She froze when he leaned his tusked mouth right next to her head.
"It's time for payback for what you did."
He lets go.
A'stea let out a gasp, rising to her feet to see Master Thu'at moving back closer to the private room. He smirked. "Come on out."
The door to the private room opened and someone came out. Immediately, she knew with no mistake it was Kaail. He walked into the training area with a strong posture. But his face and eyes betrayed him. She can tell enough that he was worried and that was enough to make her realize what was about to happen.
Master Thu'at chuckled and then turned to Kaail. "Beat her." He went into the private room and shut the door.
The announcement got the other males riled up. They roared and cheered, stomping their feet and scratching their claws on the ground. It wasn't long before they formed an impenetrable circle, locking her inside.
"Yeah . . . time for the ooman to pay."
"Pathetic creature."
"Show her what we can do."
The cries and roars of the other Hish wished for blood to be spilled. Kaail would have answered it without hesitation, let his taste for blood and gore run wild. But his opponent was none other than A'stea. His mind and heart were racing with panic.
C'jit! C'jit! C'jit!
He glanced at his master and watched him nod. He will expect him to execute the punishment on A'stea for what she did back when they first met. This isn't good. When his master wants something done, he will do whatever it takes to make sure it happens. If Kaail didn't do it, he would.
A'stea and Kaail circled, keeping at opposite ends. Both crouched low for a fight. The chants from the Hish grew louder. The anticipation was nerve-wracking. They couldn't stall any longer. It wasn't until a Hish pushed A'stea into the middle that everything sparked.
She tripped onto the ground, right under Kaail's feet. He stared down, unsure of what to do. She groaned as she lifted her upper body and then her head to him. Her eyes showed a bit of fear and it struck his chest like a hammer. What do I do?
A'stea swallowed but then tightened her lips. The conviction inside her grew. "Come on, Kaail."
He looked at her, puzzled.
"We have to fight." She whispered.
Kaail didn't move despite her words. How can she ask me this? He shook his head enough for only her to see. She didn't like it one bit. She'll have to force him.
She grabbed his ankle and twisted it enough for him to fall. He slammed on his side but quickly got to his feet, not liking what happened. His blood was now boiling, determined to appease his instincts that have been built through many seasons of training and battles. But another look to A'stea as she got up and it cooled down like someone poured water on him. He quivered back.
"Come on!" She screamed at him. "Are you chicken!?"
A'stea stomped her foot at him and then again. A sign of a direct challenge to him. She needed Kaail to get angry. With the masters and Hish watching them, they had to fight. Or else they will notice something's wrong. But this was proving to be more difficult than she thought. He was holding back, hesitating. What's wrong with him?
"What are you waiting for, Kaail?" He heard his master call. "Teach her a lesson."
The Hish grew louder with their chants, demanding blood. Kaail stiffened his mandibles to his inner mouth. He can't hold back much longer. He took a sharp breath before charging at A'stea with a roar.
She dodged to the right, just as he was throwing a right hook at her. Now behind him, she jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He screeched and began to thrash, trying to get her off. She has a tight grip . . . Kaail thought. He threw her around in a circle. Her legs flying everywhere as she held on.
"Keep it up, Kaail." For an instant, she whispered by his cheek. "We have to do this."
It was strange to hear her voice so calm and soft. It didn't help him at all.
"I can't . . ."
Her grip loosened. "Why?"
He knew it too well . . . but he couldn't do it. Something inside him pulled him back. He didn't want to hurt her. She didn't deserve this. Why does this have to happen?
A'stea grunted. She scanned for something. "I'm sorry."
With a swift thrust, she pressed two fingers into his jugular. It would hit a nerve so painful that he had no choice but to react and she hoped he would violently. Sure enough, he felt a sharp, needle-like pain radiate down his left side. The beast inside him reacted badly. Now he was angry. With a growl, he grabbed her forearm and pulled her off, throwing her over his head and slammed down on her back.
She was sure she felt her back break in several places . . . maybe her ribs. Whenever she took a breath, she tensed at the pain under her breasts. Man . . . I knew he would react but didn't expect he would go this far.
But she didn't have a moment to spare. Blinding by rage and driven by the growing cheers and cries around him, Kaail grabbed her throat and slammed her again. She cried sharply before he lifted her in the air by her neck, tightening her airway. She gasped and clawed at his hand for release, hissing when she felt his claws dig into her. A'stea saw his red eyes burning like the twin suns, full of rage that made her hair stand up. But for some reason, she smiled.
"Good, Kaail." He barely heard his master calling through the speakers. "Let the ooman know her mistakes will cost her. Obey or die."
He squeezed harder, staring right at his opponent under his hand and feeling them squirm. It didn't matter who and he was too enraged to see. He wanted them dead . . . wanted to end it all for the pain they gave.
But then, he could smell a faint scent of honey. That moment snapped him out of it. He blinked his eyes a couple of times to regain focus and then realized what he had done. It was A'stea that he was holding on to . . . the one that he wanted to kill. He widened his eyes in horror as she opened her eyes weakly to him. She took one look and then smiled at him.
What . . ?
He must have stood there for a few minutes because he could hear the disappointing clicks around him. Voices calling for him to finish this. But he refused to move. It wasn't until he heard Master Thu'at so close to him. He must be out of the private room. The roars and cries died quickly.
"That's good enough, Kaail." He pats his shoulder. "I want to keep her pretty or else S'wqua will be mad."
Immediately, Kaail lets go.
A'stea falls to the ground hard, whining when she landed right on her chest. If she had any doubt her ribs were broken, this was a confirmation. She coughed up a storm as Kaail stepped back, shaking. He felt something warm between his fingers and brought it up to see there was red blood. He turned quickly to A'stea and realized he punctured her neck, seeing red lines running down.
What have I done?
"You did well, Kaail." Master Thu'at spoke. He pulled away from Kaail and went to A'stea on the ground. She got to her hands and knees before Master Thu'at stomped a foot on her back, pressing her back on the ground. She gasped and it sent a jolt of pain through Kaail when he heard her cries.
"Know your place, ooman."
Master Thu'at raised his foot again and brought it down once more. A'stea barely registered the foot coming to her head before her vision went blank.
Kaail couldn't do anything as his master knocked her out. She didn't move or flinch afterward. But he couldn't look away, seeing her body beaten like a tortured animal. Is this right? He shook his head. No . . . He glanced at how his master was smiling, enjoying looking down at the ooman. He dug his claws into his palms. An unknown rage he felt before sunk in.
"Pathetic. But entertaining."
Master Thu'at raised his foot again, ready to give another blow. Kaail was about to stop it regardless of what would come. However, Bu'at was the one to come first.
"Master Thu'at. That is enough." He moved his body to block him. "There's no point in this."
Without warning, Master Thu'at whacked Bu'at on the face. He barked orders to the bystanding Hish to hold him. Not wanting reprimandation, two males grabbed Bu'at by his arms and pulled him back. To everyone's surprise, Bu'at growled at Kaail's master.
"You bastard."
Master Thu'at hissed. "You're lucky that the tournament is coming or else I would have your tongue cut out." He nodded to the males and they let Bu'at go.
"Watch what you do." Master Thu'at spoke before turning around but stopping right by Kaail's side. "Have a good rest of the day. Train hard and make me proud." He gave a sickening smile before he left his side.
"Take the ooman to the bottom levels."
Guards came from the door and dragged A'stea's body out of the room. Everyone else decided to leave for the day. The excitement drained much of the warriors and thought it best to leave for the day. But Kaail didn't move. He could only watch as A'stea disappeared but moved to see a streak of red left behind. He raised his hand with the same blood, trembling.
What have I done?
"Kaail," Bu'at called.
He didn't answer.
"Are you alright?"
He shook his head. "I . . . don't know."
Bu'at grunted. "You hesitated. That's not like you."
"I shouldn't have hurt her. This is wrong."
Kaail shook his head and gripped his wrist, enough to draw his blood. It stung but he barely felt it. When he lifted his hand, the green and red colors mixed. His thoughts were in disarray. His heart quivering, unlike anything he felt before.
"Is this what we're doomed to become? Monsters?"
He heard Bu'at click his mandibles. "I can't say . . . but I agree that this is wrong. Something has to change."
Something . . . has to change.
Something snapped in Kaail. He tightened his blood soaking hand and took a deep breath. He walked towards the door, heading out.
"Where are you going?" Bu'at asked.
"I'm going to find her."
"What is the ooman to you?"
Kaail paused in front of the door. He didn't turn to see him but he spoke. " Her name is A'stea . . ." He sighed. "And she deserves more than this."
He slammed the door and stormed out of the room.
Bu'at was left alone to wonder what Kaail meant. But it didn't take long before he smiled. "So it's her . . ."
He chuckled in amusement as he left the room.
Hi everyone!
I feel so bad for Kaail that he had to do this. You can tell the conflict he had when he went on beast mode and hurt A'stea. But she also knew that this might happen. It shows her conviction to protect him and others, sacrificing her health and maybe her life to keep going.
What will happen next?
Find out when Chapter 29 comes tomorrow! ;)
Thank you for the reviews (Anonymous-E, Mariah, HuntressQueen22, and IanAlphaAxel)! They are very important for me and I hope I see more readers posting as well. All opinions are welcomed. I hope you keep on reading! ;)
Happy Hunting to all! :)))))