Chapter 3 : Siblings
Monique
After an extremely embarrassing half an hour, I was dressed and preparing myself to wind stride to Bamboo Village. I couldn't get the memory of seeing that blade master at my door out of my mind as I began to channel my energy to quickly travel to the village on the south west of the Viridian Coast. After a few seconds, I bent down and sprang into a high jump, the feeling of wind rushing past me overwhelmed my other senses as I felt myself travel a great distance.
Suddenly, the feeling of weightlessness left me and I fell down to the earth with a thud.
"Ow..." I groaned in pain as I rolled onto my back and stared at the blue skies, "I was totally gonna stick a ten point landing, what the hell?!"
"Are you okay?" A deep voice asked with concern. Looking up, I saw a middle aged man with graying hair and a goatee was standing next to me. He was wearing a deep gray martial arts uniform. He offered a large hand which I gladly took and it and was pulled up.
I winced as I stood up straight and thanked him, "I guess I am... Just fell from the sky from who knows how high up..."
"I don't wish to know what you mean by that," He crossed his muscular arms, "What were you doing that high in the sky anyways?"
"Well I was traveling to Bamboo Village..." I explained, "I'm looking for Captain Dochun? You wouldn't happen to know him?"
He laughed an uproarious laugh which brought heat to my cheeks, "Well young lady! You're speaking to him! Now what do you need?"
Remembering Master Hong's words, I extracted my razor and held it up to him. Taking it, he examined the weapon and he nodded in understanding.
"I'm sorry to have to keep a student of Hongmoon waiting, but I have to go have a conversation with the guard. You're in the bamboo forest beside Bamboo Village. I have to ask you to preoccupy yourself with something for about thirty minutes."
Sighing, I brushed my legs off, "As you wish."
Nodding, he began to make his way to a large circle gate into which I assumed to be Bamboo Village. Following his lead, I stepped through the gates and looked around to take in the sights. It was a humble village with cobblestone walkways, nice houses and a pavilion with shops. Just like the Mirage.
Just a little less sand.
I chuckled and looked around to see that Dochun was completely gone.
"Well then." Looking around, I walked towards a stone bridge, arching over a small stream leading down to a small group of buildings. Shrugging, I began to walk down the stone road, the sound of my heels clicking against the rock. A pleasant breeze brought the scent of flowers and something that smelled really good.
Gurghhh!
Inhaling sharply, I felt my face heat up as my eyes darted around, looking to see if anyone had heard my stomach. Thankfully, there didn't appear to be anyone who was around to hear or see me. Continuing to the pavilion, I let my eyes wander at the beautiful sights as I walked past varying stalls of food and other things to buy. The occasional child running past my legs brought a feeling of warmth to my heart as I remembered back to my childhood in the Mirage. I mindlessly wandered around, losing track of where I was going and the time as I began to become more bold with my decisions of where to go. I hadn't even noticed when the sun had begun to go down, leaving me wandering slightly dimmed streets.
A sharp sound snapped me out of thought: A whistle.
Turning to it's source, I was looking down a shaded alley way and at a person who was leaning against the building with their arms crossed. Squinting my eyes, I slowly made out their facial features: They had fairly dark skin and raven black hair was very large. The man's facial structure was defined, but soft enough which told me he wasn't that much older than me. Yet the most notable feature was his dark red eyes, but there was no whites to be seen. Something about those eyes made my skin crawl.
Stepping a bit closer, I peered further into the alley to get a better look, but stopped when the man stepped away from the wall.
"Now what's a little flower like you wandering around the streets?" He asked, his voice was still young, "It'd be a shame if something were to happen to you."
"I'm fine on my own thank you very much." I said quickly.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he emerged more into the light. His clothes weren't all that special, a plain shirt, which would have been white had it not been for the grime covering it and black trousers which were very worn. Judging from his attire, I could assume that he wasn't the wealthiest of people.
"Well if you're fine," He shrugged, "Then why are you wandering around here? It's quite dangerous in these parts of the village."
"I'll be fine."
Shaking his head and with lightning speed, he closed the distance between the two of us and grabbing my shoulders, he roughly pinned me against the stone wall. I cried out in pain as the back of my head collided with the stone.
"Still think you're fine?" He said lowly. Using his forearm, he pressed it against my neck tightly, slowly cutting off my breathing.
"W-what are you doing?" I rasped.
"Just give me your money and I'll let you go." My attacker threatened, "You wouldn't want to get hurt."
I gasped for air as he pressed even harder down onto my neck. At the corners of my vision, black and white spots began to appear and everything around me began to flicker.
With all of my strength, I slowly reached down to the razor at my hip. If I had that, I could fight back and run away from him. Before I could even wrap my fingers around the weapon, a sharp pain shot through my wrist as the cold sting of what could only be a blade pierced through my skin. A flash of white hot pain shot through my brain and I screamed.
"Let me... go!" I pleaded.
This isn't happening! I desperately thought as I began to feel myself losing consciousness. The world around me began to spin and flicker and the force bearing down on my neck made it impossible to breathe.
"SORYE!" An enraged voice yelled and snapping my eyes to whoever yelled, I saw another person standing down the alley. I couldn't make out the details, I could only see that they were approaching quickly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" They demanded.
"I just need her gold and silver then I'll let her go." My attacker, whose name was apparently Sorye, growled as he pressed further down on my neck making me whimper in pain. Tears began to form in my eyes.
"Let her go bro," The force on my neck was suddenly lifted and I gasped desperately for breath. A sudden coughing fit broke out as the feeling of his forearm against my throat disappeared, but immediately a strong hand was wrapped around it and I was forced against the wall again. More pain.
"What. Did. I. Say?" The other man asked through gritted teeth, "Let go of her!
"Just help me with her gold and I'll let her go, Simye." Sorye said.
"No! This isn't how-"
Before Simye could finish his sentence, a sudden flash of black erupted around us! A dark smoke enveloped Simye, wrapping around him tightly and slammed him onto the ground where he was seemingly bound in the smoke.
He writhed around, "What the hell is this?!"
Loosening his grip on me slightly, Sorye looked around quickly. His face was contorted with anger as he quickly looked around for his brothers attacker.
Clink.
The sound surprised both of us and looking down at the ground, a small shiny orb rolled onto the ground beneath our feet. Without any time to respond, the ball erupted, sending out the dark smoke in a massive cloud. Sorye's grip around my neck was gone immediately and I collapsed to the ground, slamming into the bricks and began coughing as hard as I could at the sudden intake of the black substance. As soon as it came, the smoke was gone, leaving the three of us alone in the alley-way. Sorye was in a defensive stance as he looked around, his dagger still held tightly in his hand. His brother finally broke free of the shadowy chains holding him down and shot to his feet. Pulling out a short sword, he held it in both hands at the ready and stood back to back with his brother. They stood there for what felt like eternity.
Suddenly, a figure shot up from inbetween them, they were enveloped in black and silver as they extracted a short black blade from behind them. Rocketing back towards the brothers, they hardly had anytime to react as the figure kicked Simye as hard as they could in the back of the head, sending him sprawling on the ground. Whipping around, Sorye slashed as hard as he could at the attacker with his dagger. At the moment of contact, the figure vanished, Sorye's dagger only cutting through nothing but air, leaving him alone in the middle of the darkened alley. Squinting my eyes from my position on the ground, I watched breathlessly as a small trace of movement behind Sorye appeared.
As fast as lightning, the person in black, appeared from out of nowhere and slashed at Sorye's back, making his body instantly lock up as a pain filled groan escaped his lips. In the time of him being stunned, his attacker looped around Sorye's body, seemingly transparent before appearing in front of him. With a very high kick, they kicked his arm with a sickening crack, sending the dagger clattering onto the ground. With their own weapon, they systematically slashed at Sorye's stunned body with relentless speed and precision. First at his arms, where the masked person sliced twice on each of Sorye's biceps. Twisting on their heel, the spun down and slashed at his legs, effectively dropping him to his knees. Finally, standing upright, the figure in black reeled back and with lightning speed, punched Sorye in the face and sending his head in the other direction with a sickening crack.
The sudden appearance of blood made my stomach turn and I felt my heart stop slightly when the figure in black stepped back, letting Sorye's body crumple to the ground, face-first. Kneeling down, they rolled him onto his back and taking their dagger, pointed it straight down and slammed it into his outstretched palm, pinning his hand to the ground with a sickening CRUNCH. His screams shattered the crisp air.
"W-what are you?!" He demanded, his once aggressive voice now filled with pain, "I-i'm sorry!"
Leaning down even closer, the figure removed their silver mask and I gasped out loud when the woman's slightly tanned face was revealed, a fierce snarl on her lips and red eyes practically burning with fury and rage.
"Don't fucking touch my sister you son of a bitch!"
"AND YOU DON'T TOUCH MY BROTHER!"
Looking up in horror, I watched as Simye ran at Monica with his sword held high above his head. With a large arcing motion, he brought it down aiming at Monica. I wanted to scream for her to get out of the way, but my voice refused to work. I could only watch as the blade descended onto my sister's head.
At the last second, my sister was on her feet and forcefully holding back Simye's wrist from bringing the short sword down any further. Curling her hand around, she masterfully disarmed him and kicked him hard in the chest. Simye stumbled back a few feet and glared at Monica, his eyes similar to his brother's, began to glow a fierce red and with a rage filled yell, he ran straight at Monica at inhuman speeds. To my surprise, he actually caught her and the two were sent toppling to the ground.
They rolled atop the cobblestones, exchanging punches and yells. Finally, Simye ended up on top and brought his arm back, a fierce some look on his face as he threw a punch with all of his might. It connected with Monica's face with a gut wrenching crack.
"You think you're so tough?!"
Another punch.
"Hiding in the shadows?! Waiting for an ambush?!"
And another.
"WELL YOU'RE NOT SO TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE OPEN, ARE YOU BITCH!"
I closed my eyes, unable to watch my sister get beaten anymore than she already had.
With a sickening crunch, I forced my eyes open in fear to see Simye alone in the alley.
His hand collided with the ground where my sister used to be and she had disappeared. Not a second later, she reappeared behind him and slashed him in the back, paralyzing him just like she had done to his brother.
"And you think you're so tough? Preying on my sister?"
She slashed down onto his shoulder blade.
"Two on one isn't very fair. IS IT?"
I could visibly see the skin being sliced open and I felt bile rise to the back of my mouth.
"Well, you've got one thing coming, tough guy."
Simye's groaned loudly as the dagger cut deeper.
"This bitch is going to make you wish you were never born."
Dropping the dagger, Monica held her hand up and I watched as electricity began to jump and flicker from her fingertips. It continued to build up, the lightning in her hand intensifying and the smell of ozone filled the air as sparks flew every which way.
"JUST STOP!"