(a/n): Well here is another chapter. I'll let this chapter speak for itself. This chapter is really shattering as it's name. Sorry for being a day late. While I was going through editing, I realized I had a major mistake in the chapter and so I had to fix it. But before all of that, I want to thank my reviewer.
Poddy: Hello there! I'm glad that I have inspired you to continue your story again because you haven't updated it in so long. I'm happy to hear that you liked the two last chapters because it took quite sometime to type them. Well here you go, another chapter.
Enjoy!
Chapter 12-Shattered-A day passed, I think. And when I woke up, it wasn't long when I heard my name.
"Trinity." A cold voice rang through my ears. I slowly looked up at the owner of the voice and saw Wraith standing in front of me. He still wore the dressings around his chest. Dr. Ross visited him a couple of hours ago to clean his wounds. That was about the time when I fell into a depressed dream. But then I had to wonder, how long has the know-it-all been waiting for me to wake up?
"What is it?" I asked not bothering sounding nice. I was still a little shaken about what Boris told me, but I didn't feel as bad. Doesn't that tell you anything?
"You sound irritated." Was that surprise in his voice?
"You noticed, huh?" I will soon be more than irritated. I stood up and looked into his eyes. "Well, it just happened that you caught me on a bad day." I restrained myself from burying his skull into the wall. Note to self: ask Lostis how to do that jumping kick he had done with Gorge. Beautiful performance, I must admit. I give him a ten out of ten.
"It's about Oceanic, isn't it?" Unlike mine, his voice was very calm. It took me a moment to realize that he was talking about that match. Smart boy. How did he guess?
"Maybe you really are a mind reader." I moved away and sat down somewhere else, trying hard not to hit him in his treated wound.
The magnet hovered close to me and stood in front of me. "I suppose it is my fault that you are disappointed." He said quietly with his perfect pronunciation.
"Disappointed?" Maybe he is not such a smart boy after all. "Disappointed!?" I screamed the word out this time and stood up to match his eyes with mine. "You just toy around with me like I'm some sort of a toy! You know, I'm starting to regret I listened to Zenith! I should've shot you like a goddamned dog!"
Wraith didn't even twitch an eyelash, but I was successful in making eyes turn our way. I noticed Romulus stopped talking with Boris just to look at me, carefully. Ignoring them was the best option.
"Disappointed, you say? I am enraged. Next time, Boris will not be able to save your ass!" I raised my voice and saw his confused expression. "Who is Boris?" He asked me and I clasped my hand over my eyes in defeat. "I mean Zenith."
Wraith stood there. Probably cooking up a different approach to talk to me. "Listen, I didn't come here to argue with you." He said to me, which caused me to look at him through the fingers over my eyes. "I came here to speak with you."
My hand dropped from my face. "Sorry. I don't feel like talking." I folded my arms and slid down the wall I was up against.
"You never feel like talking." Oh, so now he sounds like he knows me all these years.
"No, no, Wraith." I shook my head and smiled unpleasantly. "It is you who I never feel like talking with." When will he leave me alone? "Talking and talking with you are two very, very different things." Now I sounded annoyed.
"I wonder." He said something which I did not expect from him, "Do you actually enjoy insulting people?" I had no answer for that, but I did know that he just started the fire and I was the kettle sitting above it.
"In fact." I put on a happy face. "I do. Especially if the person I'm insulting is going to be the one at the end of my Flak Cannon next time." I started to speak through my teeth, "Because that particular person happened to budge his nose where it doesn't belong." The water was boiling.
"And why am I the one who suppose to be at the end of your Flak Cannon?" He asked me. I did mention the water was boiling, right? Maybe it's really his voice that is irritating me.
"Because you don't mind your own business. I hate people that don't mind their own business." Where was that Flak Cannon? A smile was forming on his face and it nearly killed me. "What are you smiling about?" I snapped getting even angrier. The kettle is about to whistle. Loudly.
"At you. I pictured you as a whole different person. Being the champion. But you know, no matter how much I didn't expect it, somehow I'm not surprised." He chuckled. "It is quite easy to see what kind of person you are just by looking at your face." He even laughed nicely, but I was more interested how nice his brain would like.
The kettle began to whistle, and so have I. "What do you know?" I said. My strings snapping. "I'm so sick of your bullshit. Every time I talk to you, you sound like you know everything about me. How do you do it, huh? Are you a spy or a—a—a—" I didn't finish that sentence as he put a finger to my lips.
"I'm not a spy." He said calmly. "It's just that when I look at you I get the feeling I know so much about you." I had something to say to him, but he hushed me before I did. "I can't explain it." He told me and smiled. "I felt like I have met you somewhere before."
I breathed a long breath out and looked at him. "Yeah. In a cell. That's where you met me. In a cell." I walked towards Boris, hoping he would shoo away the know-it-all if he dares to come up to me again.
Being a persistent bastard will get him quite a reputation here, I thought as I saw Wraith come towards me. Apparently he wasn't finished. But I was and I hoped Boris would stop him, as he stood right in front of me. But hey, how many times do I have to prove myself right about there being no hope?
"I'm not trying to become your enemy, Trinity." He said it softly and clearly. Lately, I have gotten sick of his voice.
"I don't care, Wraith!" I spoke loudly, letting my annoyance show in my voice. "We don't pick our enemies, Wraith. You better do good to remember that." I came up to him and this time I spoke calmly. "But we all choose our friends. I do not want to be your friend, Wraith. Nor do I wish to be your enemy. I'm sure we are on the same terms so if you don't want trouble I suggest you drop the subject and leave me alone." I took a step back to get some space.
Still he looked neutral. I started to wonder; do any of my words have any effect on him at all? I dropped my voice to a whisper. "I understand that you well know that I am the former champion of this tournament." I let experience speak for me. "And I have many enemies, Wraith. Friends I have are people who I can trust with my life. Unfortunately I don't make friends easily, I'll admit that much." Then I smiled and stopped whispering. "And plus, my friends tell me that I'm pretty hard to deal with."
Still no reaction. Damn it. Was it really useless? I decided to get serious again. "All I'm trying to tell you that, as a contestant of Unreal Tournament you should understand why I am so cautious. I don't believe that you will be so friendly with someone you don't fully trust." Jackpot.
Wraith's eyes widened and than his gaze fell to the floor. "I never thought that I made you uncomfortable." He told me. "I apologize for upsetting you, Trinity. I will see to it that I won't do it again." At that note he walked away.
"Now that's the real Trinity, I know." Boris said to me as he walked up. I looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
He chuckled and sat next to me. "You finally said something to a stranger without using curses, and yet you still mange to offend him. Just like in the old times." I frowned at him but he ignored my reaction. "You gotten your message across without cursing at the guy and with pride, dignity, respect, and most importantly experience. I'm so proud of you." That last part sounded really fake and sarcastic.
"Boris!!!" I yelled at him as he chuckled and stood up. "If you don't mean something then just don't say it! Or I'll consider a beautiful redeemer in your face." That made him laugh harder. "There you go again with your charming personality. You're like a little kid with a dirty mouth."
It was my turn to stand up. "What did you say?"
He wasn't afraid to admit the same thing again though, "You know what I said. It's like you're a kid who just learned a bad word. To tell you the truth I'm not so proud of that side of yours."
"Well I'm not asking you to. It won't do me any good if you're proud of me or not!" I sounded furious, but I was laughing hard inside.
"Your such a baby." He said and chuckled as my eyes widened.
"I'm a baby? Hm." I folded my hands and smiled wickedly. "Look whose acting like one. And I'm already overlooking the fact that you are older. That makes you a big baby."
He waved a finger at me in a do-not-say-such-things manner. "Don't go there, you're not so far off from my age yourself." We laughed hard, and I had to admit. I could be childish…but so could he.
Days passed. I didn't know how many but it really didn't matter. Wraith didn't come up to me again. This would prove the theory, 'if you want something done, do it yourself.'
There was no such thing as morning or night in the tournament. Why would you care? Since the only thing you see are these walls and lights in the ceiling.
The purpose of humanity reduced to absolutely nothing. What a shame. In fact, it is almost pitiful. But I really didn't care about what will happen. It's not my problem. And I won't stick my nose somewhere it does not belong. As soon as I find Dessloch we are out of here and I don't care what it will take.
Then again, I think a lot about what have happened here. More humans are getting killed and enslaved. The resistance group is getting crushed, and little by little the Emperor gets more control over this dying rock. I know that we are not the first species that they will eventually destroy and it tells me a lot. It tells me that if we won't do something about it, no one will.
What's even more important is that if my father was still alive, he would do his best to help. Maybe Dessloch would join the resistance if it wasn't for me. After all he was part of the League when he was young.
Zack, too, but he never talks about this topic, ever. Somehow Zack makes sure that none of the topics would lead to his past. I know some past events he experienced. But Zack is really just a huge mystery that shouldn't be unwrapped. Somehow I feel there is so much more to him.
I'm sure there are things about him I will never know, probably because Zack wouldn't want me to know. Seeing him being happy is enough. I don't want to know his past because there have been days when I have felt a very dark sensation around him. And there have been days when I have felt absolutely nothing. It used to scare me, but I have gotten used to it. Those are the days when it is just best to leave Zack Vicklair alone.
Me, on the other hand, live on my past. Everything I am today is because of my past, and I'm not ready to let go of that yet. Perhaps I have gotten over my father's death, but Dessloch's disappearance has replaced that. It is because of him I am here, and I will never regret coming here. I know I will find you, Dess. I will still look for you. Forever if needed. I am never letting go, ever.
When the doors shrieked open a couple of Liandri troops walked in and one announced everyone. "Welcome everyone to Unreal Tournament." The guard said in a female voice. "We will announce the teams that have been formed." She took out a plasmatic memo and tapped the screen with a holographic pen. "Wraith, Prism, Asp, Romulus, and Zenith, you are all part of the newly formed Blood Reavers." My eyes widened and time stopped. Blood Reavers. Have I heard her correctly? No, it can't be.
Then it hit me; she called Boris' and Romulus' name but not mine. I was going to be on a separate team than them. This is exactly why I prefer to be the leader. Can this possibly get any worse?
I learned that it could get much worse when the guard spoke up, "Memphis, Hyena, Gorge, Reinha, and Trinity, you will all be put with general population. From there more experienced teams will have the opportunity to hire you."
I was left team-less. It didn't help to know that many contestants that did not have teams were shipped out to other parts of the galaxies. It was nerve wracking. Not that I only felt like trash, but I also felt like I was going to kiss Earth goodbye.
I was let out of the damned cavern and led to a very familiar place. Ever since the Skaarj Empire took control of Liandri much has changed here in this building except for the sub-levels. That's were all the prisoners were held. Cells with energy bars with enough amps to fry you that you could very well serve as a turkey for Thanksgiving. This is where I first met Wraith. How unpleasant to know that this is where I met my team. The name was Blood Reavers, the name that Wraith decided for his team.
I was forced into a cell. Unlike the cell for the team that I once walked in, this cell was small in area and had two bunkbeds standing vertically to my left. The top bed was occupied.
As the bars flickered on, a man with blonde hair raised his head from the pillow above. "Who are you?" He didn't mind sounding hostile as he asked me and sat up. I noticed he had no armor on him. All he was wearing was an undershirt, pants, and socks. "I'm your new roommate." I said and sat against the wall. "Be a good boy and you might live through this." I added as I saw his not-so-happy expression. He didn't like me being here, I could tell. Well that's fine with me. I didn't want to be here either.
"You are new?" He asked me and jumped off the bed and leaned against the wall. "Does it matter?" I asked and sat against the adjacent wall.
"Not really. Just wondering." Suddenly he sounded sweet and smiled at me. "The name's Remus." He extended his hand for me to shake. I shook it and quickly added, "Remus?" He nodded and folded his arms again.
Remus. Romulus. Like Remus and Romulus. From the legend? The two twins that were abandoned when still infants. Romulus found Rome. The other was jealous of it. Remus…and Romulus…brothers?
"So what brings you here?" He asked me, sweetly. "You don't look like the type that likes to bully people."
I looked at him, surprised. "Really?" I was quite astonished. I thought I looked like someone who is going to insert a bullet through someone's head.
He chuckled at my answer. "I like you. What's your name?"
"Tanya." I decided to tell him that instead of my infamous-coward-running-from-the-tournament name. I thought it would be more appropriate.
"Nice name. It suits you. So what is such a lady as you doing here? I mean except for sounding like you are going to kill someone with that language of yours."
You know what? I'm starting to like this guy, too. He catches on quickly. "Hehe. Sorry. I thought you were one of those tough guys." I made sure my voice sounded just as sweet as his.
"Ha ha. Just wait and see. I'm much better than you think" He sat down beside me. "But I don't suggest you go talking like that to someone else."
"Why? You worried someone is going to give me a good kick?"
"Nah. It doesn't suit you."
Another thing stung me. It doesn't suit me. Something Zack kept saying to me for quite some time after Dessloch's disappearance.
"You look like one those sweet ladies. The one everyone ought to respect not by how strong they are, but how feminine and beautiful they are." Was he flirting with me?
"Really?" I asked. "Well, don't complain if I disappoint you." I smiled at him. "I could be really rough in the arena."
He chuckled at my words and said. "That I've go to see. 'Cause I just can't imagine someone like you fighting in the tournament."
I smiled and lowered my head. Feminine and beautiful he said. Hm. I haven't carried those two characteristics for a long time. I never even considered myself as such. I thought that I wasn't a woman at all when I entered the tournament. Dessloch changed all that. In fact he has changed everything. Absolutely everything.
"You okay?" He asked and brought me back to the present.
I only smiled. "Yeah. Hey, listen." I turned to him. "Do you happen to know who is Romulus?" I didn't know if I threatened him by asking that question, but his face went pale.
"Romulus?" He asked me in disbelief with his eyebrows knotted together. "Nope. Sorry. Never heard of him." He climbed on his bed and lay down on his back.
Was it wrong for me to ask him? I knew he knew who Romulus was by his expression. He was hiding something and whatever it was it wasn't pleasant. Bad memories, perhaps; only something that bothered a person too much would cause something like this. Either something happened between them two or something happened to the both of them. Romulus did mention that he went through many tests here. And tests to me meant torture that I went through in that cold place that Lostis took me from.
"Tell me." After a long silence Remus spoke up again. "Did you come here forcedly or willingly?"
I looked up into his face and suddenly didn't feel like talking anymore. "Willingly." I said bitterly and he sat up to look at me again.
"You don't sound too happy about it."
"I'm just not happy with my progress so far." I hugged my knees to my chest. I don't know why, but suddenly I felt like I wanted to let something out or else I thought I'm going to burst inside from so much of despair. Memories. I hate them.
"I came here to find someone. I heard he was supposed to be here. So far, no one didn't even hear of his name. I'm beginning to believe that he isn't here." I buried my face into my knees. "Tell me." I looked up to him. "Did you hear of the name Dessloch?" His blank face made my eyes close from pain. Of course he hasn't. Just like everyone else.
"Yes, I have." His voice thundered through my ears that made me freeze. Did I hear him right?? "Dessloch, right? Yes, I have heard of him. I met him not too long ago."
I jumped to my feet. "Where? Where is he? Is he alright? Is he hurt? Tell me!" Oh my! He's here? He's really here?
I was about to burst into tears of joy. But then perhaps I wasn't going to tear from joy at all when I looked at his face. Remus' eyes were glued to the floor. When people have something good to say they don't look to the floor.
"Tanya." Remus jumped off the bed and placed his hands on my shoulders. His hands squeezed my shoulders, hard, as he looked sympathetic. He swallowed hard and looked straight into my eyes. "I believe Dessloch died a couple of weeks ago."
(a/n): So how's this for a surprise? He he he. I'm evil, yes, I know.