Hey everyone, Randall here. There's been a small void going around Strife's personality. So I'll fill you in. This chapter brings out a few questions, but also gives more into Strife. To me, this is an important chapter. This chapter gives, also, a very hard visual on reptilian prejudice. Review.
Chapter 14 A Lesson Hard to See
As everyone started out, I was still sitting. Soon enough, the whole room became empty, well....at least I thought. A hand touched my shoulder, nearly causing a shock in me until I heard Strife's voice.
"What are you waiting for Randall?" he asked, not roughly mind you. I couldn't answer with the growing lump in my throat. I quickly gulped it down to answer. "Just....waiting till everyone leaves...." I said. He seemed to smile. "Hmm.....well...." he started, moving toward the closed door and clearing his throat. "I wanted to ask....well....remember what we were talking about?" he asked, turning back to me. "Well, yeah" I replied.
"...Well...there was something I wanted to show you.... something that might well...." he started. I thought at that idea. Maybe if I followed Strife, it would give me the chance to avoid Percy. And I'm sure whatever he wanted to show me couldn't be that bad....
I quickly gathered my books and hopped up.
"Ok! But you lead...." I said.
I followed Strife's path out, following closely by him. Of course thanks to that, I got hit by his tail a few times.....but I didn't care, he didn't mean it, and it wouldn't compare to Percy's assault.
We got outside. However....I noticed something different.......we were on the other side of the school. I quickly took note of the scenery and where we were.
Sandstone steps below out feet, steal rails near the middle sections, led down the elevated area to the ground floor. I remembered Strife hadn't taken any stairwells, seeing as we got our so fast. He was heading down the steps already, so I followed. There was hardly anyone at the back, thanks to me waiting I suppose. There was one student looking through a book on one of the steps, a couple by a tree in the middle section.
There was a road that led around the area in front of the steps, or should I say what I was looking at right now. A circle-like road actually, it started at one point, split apart into two different roads and then onto a single road. In the middle, between the two roads, was a patch of green grass with the tree I mentioned earlier.
We started down the steps and across the concrete of the second road. As we came over the small step separating the road from the natural elements, I caught the sight of a large grass field. I guess it was used for sporting events or something. There was also a river bank to my left that led into a tunnel under the road. Then again.....maybe it was just the sewer. Father ahead of the grass field was a large row of trees. Strife stopped a little bit into the field and turned back to me. I was, as said, observing.
"There's a park behind those trees....public park..." he said, looking at his right arm. "On schedule" he said. "Come on" he added calmly. I followed him through the thickle of trees and soon we emerged into the park, or near it.
There was allot here, but I'll just mention a little. There was a playground for small kids, a large open field for football players and soccer players, a lake to the far far left, a tower centering beyond it, I guess it was a monument or something. As said, I would keep it simple for now.
Only two things happen here if I remember. Both in the same day actually......and here was one of them.
As we continued, I felt something grasp my left arm. I turned back to see what I wished I hadn't. "I'd knew you would try to sneak away slinker!" she said. It.....was Percy. I was too hesitated to reply, or even move for that matter.
"Nobody gets away from me!" she said, waving her fist. Gulping, I finally spat out. "Percy I....it wasn't....well it kinda is but...." I tried to gitter out, but she just pulled me right into her. "Well guess you'll be a lesson for what happens to monsters who cross a Flint!" she said, shoving me backward. I could have ran, sure, but I wouldn't get far. She could have leapt on me and started taking me down without any line of defense on my part. Plus....I had to take it sooner or later. I just squinted me eyes. I could hear her grunt, pulling back her fist I suppose.
For some reason.......I wasn't in pain and agony, which was a rarity in these cases. I opened my eyes to get a shocking picture seen in front of my eyes. Percy's incoming fist.......was impeded by Strife's left hand. I was....literally amazed. Hardly anyone had ever helped me in such situations, and when I mean hardly, I mean never.
Strife threw her fist back and stepped in front of me. "Leave him alone Flint" he said, a demanding tone in him that I had never heard before. This was another shock to me. Someone actually standing up for me......
Percy rubbed her hand and gave him a firm stare. I just watched in amazement at Strife the whole time. "Hmph....what do you think your gonna do croc breath?!" she said. Strife chuckled at the comment. I thought he would have beat her or something.....but then again, I was still shocked.
"Your mother would be disappointed to know your grades are plummeting....it would be a shame if she found out....." he said slyly. Percy's tone changed quickly. I didn't know her mother was concerned about her grades.
"....Er.....beat ya latter scale sack!" she said, directing me. She turned and headed off, kinda at a jog really.
"Flint won't bother you for a while...." Strife said, turning to me. I looked straight at him. "What?.....You act like no one's helped you" he said. I finally got my arms working. I rubbed my neck, feeling a bit awkward in this situation. "Well...ehh......t....thanks Strife......" I said, my tail wagging at a pleasurable rhythm. "Heh heh....your not that happy are ya?" he said, placing a hand on my shoulder, padding it once or twice. "You were a little brave actually....you didn't run...." he said. "Oh....yeah....". Well....I was paralyzed.....but hey! Brave sounds better don't it?
"Well...now that that escapade is over...." he said, continuing on with me following closely, my tail still wagging with glee. Strife was turning out to be a nice guy. But it still was a little strange that a quiet guy like that went up against Percy. Maybe he's stronger than he looks.....
Strife stopped near a tree near one of those basketball courts surround by a high fence. I halted behind him as he gestured the scene. A few monsters were playing basketball, but he mentioned the wooden bench on the side lines.
"Prepare for a lesson in life Randall...." Strife told me, perching his back against a tree and crossing his arms. I just stood and looked, a hand on my book bag strap. The one he gestured was sitting on the wooden bench. A reptilian monster. He looked sorta like a human iguana. However, I'll tell you early....no he can't blend.
He was about my age, maybe a little older. His scale tone was green, slightly darker from green's true color. He had thin, frond-like spikes that went down his back, kinda like Strife's head fronds but shorter. His eyes were similar to mine, but a little smaller. He had two arms and legs, his hands five fingered, and his feet were three-toed. His other features included his tail. It was longer than mine, that's for sure. It was like the rest of his body. He was sitting down on the bench, his tail between his legs, resting its base on the concrete.
Aside from himself, he had glasses on, black colored. Guess he didn't like the sun either. Before I could finish observing, I had to ask.
"Who's he?". I placed on a confused face. Strife straightened himself. "His name's Lan....I met him three years ago....." Strife said. He really did seem to know him, judging from the serious tone in his voice.
"....Umm...." I started, wanting to know more. Strife straightened again. ".....Look what's laying beside him...." he said. I looked back. Skipping the things I've already seen, I saw a cane resting against the bench beside Lan.
"He sprain his leg or something?" I asked. Strife smiled. "I wish...." he said. My head rolled again. This time, I came up with the conclusion. And it wasn't pretty.
"You mean....he's.....he's...." I started, not wanting to say it. Strife nodded. "....Blind...." he said. I was taken back by this. I didn't want to meddle in affairs....but....I did want to know. "Can I ask what happen to him?". Strife nodded, I guess that meant yes then.
".....Not so long ago....a year perhaps.....Lan could see just fine.....he was an average student with a mom and dad that cared for him...." he started. ".....But.....he wasn't liked as much by anyone because of what he was.....kinda like you....".
This caught my attention.
"Anyway......soon enough he started hanging around with a bad crowd.....he wasn't into the idea...but he went along with them...." he kept going, my eyes switching between him and Lan.
"....Soon enough.....he and his so-called friends sneak out at night to steal a few gems from a jewelry store in the city.....something to cash in for money.....but Lan.....he.....he didn't want to do it.....his parents wouldn't accept him giving in to the temptation....but this was his first time....".
"So....when they got there...he had the thought of running out....they wouldn't let'em.....they didn't want him squealing about their heist.....but....there was something Lan didn't know......they were reptilian haters.....his friends.....they were going to use him for every heist....he would take the fall while they went away free.....but....Lan learned it all too late....".
"....They held him down and started beating him......nearly broke his arms.....maybe even have snapped his tail off if they wanted too........but....well....I think you can guess the outcome" he said.
I think I then knew why he wanted to show me Lan. I didn't know then, but Strife had taught me a small lesson as he spoke to me, and he was about to say it.
"....You can't be alone all the time Randall......sometimes....you want to be with someone....anyone.....Lan did....and he went with the wrong someone...." he said.
It was a little hard to grasp.....but as Strife said....I was....admittedly....a little scared. "....Lan is just one of the examples of what monsters like us go through.......makes you think don't it?" he asked, finally looking at me.
"....Y...yeah..." I replied. I was afraid of something like that happening to me. Thankfully, it didn't. But I almost went blind once.....but that was in the incident.
"...Sorry to frighten you Randall....but....I need to show you...." he said. "....I was Lan's friend......I don't want what happened to him happen to anyone else......that includes you" he said. "(....Hope that doesn't happen to me....)" I thought, looking over to Lan.
"....Hmm....You know....perhaps we could be friends....if you want" he said. I was a little surprised, again, but I gladly accepted. I answered quickly. "....Well...sure I guess...." I said, looking at him. He smiled. "Good....now you don't need to worry about getting with the wrong crowd...." he said.
Well....he did warn me and taught me something.....and helped me.....guess that's friend material. However, the continuing thought of reptilian prejudice was fresh in my mind, along with his advice.
I looked back at Lan. "....Uh...David...." I said, feeling I can use his first name. He acknowledged my sight and looked back, his fronds draping over one of his eyes.
The few playing, which I mentioned earlier, were currently setting their sights on Lan. "What'cha doing here slime bag!?" one of them called. I couldn't see them well, but I could tell Strife had narrowed his eyes at the comment. Lan was looking up at the direction of the speaker. A few more came over.....about ten!
"Get outta here lizard...this place ain't your scene...." another said. He seemed to snort, and then spat onto Lan's tail. Lan looked down, moving his tail a bit before looking back up. ".....Its a public park...." he said. His voice didn't seem scared at all. It seemed a little scratchy. "Ain't for you!" one said, cracking his knuckles.
Strife got his back off the tree and turned his tail to me. "Its best you head home now Randall...." he said. "But...." I started to protest. Strife cocked his head to the side.
"Just go....I don't want you getting hurt......I'll see you tomorrow...." he said. He started his walk over to the scene, which was about to get ugly soon. I kept my eye on him. From knowing what happened to Lan, I couldn't help but think of Strife's safety.
Taking in his calm nature, and his stand up of Percy, I started back in the direction of the orphanage. But I kept looking back to see as much of the scene as I could. I was out of listening range, but I could tell the figures.
The main player, who had spat on Lan's tail, had a grip on Lan's chest scales, but had his face turned to Strife, who had came into the court. Strife said something I couldn't hear. Then, this I could hear, they started laughing. The one holding Lan let go and turned his attention to Strife. The last thing I saw was Strife taking his backpack off and laying it beside the bench and Lan getting up, gripping his cane. A branch of the tree got in way of my vision, so I decided to stop looking.
I didn't know what he was doing.....and frankly...I didn't want to know. You may say I wasn't a good friend to leave him alone. Then again, I never really had a friend who did something for me. Fungus? Heh....he didn't help me.
I started off home, a small bit of guilt for leaving him in my mind. I was worried about both of them.....still....Strife seemed a bit different around me.
I honestly thought that he was gonna trick me or something...but I guess I was wrong....heh....and that was a good thing. It felt good in a way. I had to thank him again tomorrow....he could probably use it. "(Heh....your starting to act like Fungus.....)" I thought, chuckling to myself.
I felt good today. I wasn't beaten, made a friend, and learned a lesson that would help me in life. Today was a good day......and I haven't had allot of those....
Yeah. I guess I was sorta guilty walking off like that, but lets face it....what would I have done? Anyway, sadly I wont find out what happened to them, that is until after the next day, which is when I get my check-up. Next chapter will be at the Orphanage again, but a little different this time. Wonder what you all think of this chapter.....
I would also like to take this time to say that I am planning to further my "life stories". This will include Academy Days and Training Days. So look out for those coming up.
