Chapter 33: Becoming a Monster
Third Person POV:
Steve was pacing around the room. What else could you really do during free time? As he was walking, the kid who he had gotten into a fight with, approaches him.
"Hey, where did you learn those moves?" The kid asks.
"Shut up. You expect me to talk to you like nothing happened?" Steve asks.
"Where did you learn how to fight like that?" The kid asks, ignoring Steve's question.
"Why the hell would I tell you?" Steve asks.
"I want to learn how to fight." The kid responds.
"Oh my God. Get out of here kid." Steve says while turning his back on the kid.
"I want to get revenge on someone!" The kid shouts. This peaks Steve's interest.
"Revenge? Why?" Steve asks.
"The reason I'm here is because my best friend snitched on me. I used to sell drugs, heavy drugs. One day, he caught me during a deal and flipped out on me, threatening to call the cops. I begged him not to, and he agreed that he wouldn't as long as I got my act together. However, the next day, police show up at my front door and arrest me. All I know is that someone snitched on me, but they wouldn't tell me who. The only person who could've done that was my friend." The kid says.
"Huh, wild story." Steve says.
"My name's Aaron by the way." Aaron says.
"I'm curious, who was your best friend?" Steve asks.
"His name is Chase Carver." Aaron says. Steve's eyes widen.
"Oh, we have a lot to discuss." Steve says.
James's POV:
"Where the hell is he?" I ask.
"I don't know, I can't find him!" Emma shouts.
"Maybe he's on the other side of the water park." I suggest. We both run over and see a lifeguard helping Chase to his feet.
"Okay, easy. You're gonna be okay." The lifeguard says. Chase is shivering and is clearly distressed.
"Chase! What happened?" Emma asks. Chase doesn't respond.
"Give him some time." The lifeguard says before helping Chase into a chair. I manage to spot Chase's crutches on the ground and I give them to him.
"Cobra Kai is gonna pay." I say. I begin walking back over to my side of the water park and that's when I see them. Kyler and a few Cobra Kai members are putting inner tubes on Anthony. Kennny then kicks Anthony into the pool.
"Bye!" Kyler says mockingly.
"Hey, let's go! Yes sir!" Kenny says while high fiving a Cobra Kai member.
"My man." Kyler says high fiving Anthony. Eli and I reach Cobra Kai at the same time.
"What the hell was that?" Eli asks.
"Hey, that's none of your business." Kyler says while touching Eli.
"Yeah? Well, I'm making it my business." Eli says while swatting Kyler's hand away.
"Hey Kyler, Kyler. Maybe he needs another haircut to remember who he's talking to." Kenny says.
"And maybe you need to get your ass kicked to remember who you're messing with." I say.
"Please. If you're so tough, why are you in that cast? Oh, that's right. It's because Steve turned you into a cripple." Kenny says.
"Speak for yourself. How did that fight between you and Robby go again?" Eli asks.
"Oh, you really gonna let lip and that pussy talk to you like that?" Kyler asks.
"Hey, hey, hey! Back off." Tory says while getting between us and Cobra Kai.
"Hey, stay out of this." Eli says.
"Oh, what's the matter? Scared I'm right, champ?" Kenny says while winking.
"Okay, enough. Unless you two want to get your asses kicked, I suggest you stay on your side of the park. Away from us." Tory says.
"Hey, yo, Champ!" A kid says while trying to flex his muscles. Eli doesn't want to start a fight in front of him.
"Alright, you guys stay on your side and we don't have a problem. We have better rides on our side anyway." Eli says before walking away. However, I don't move.
"Are you deaf? You better get out of here right now." Tory says.
"And let you guys get away with what you did to Chase and Anthony? No. I told you what would happen if you messed with Chase again." I say.
"We didn't do anything to Chase." Tory says, unaware about what Cobra Kai did. That's when I notice a familiar kid on Cobra Kai's side. He was the kid who I tried to prevent from joining Cobra Kai.
"So you're just okay with all of this?" I ask the kid. He looks down.
"That cripple deserved it anyway." Kenny says.
"That's it." I say while getting in a fighting stance.
"Guess he needs his other arm and a few more ribs broken to learn his lesson." Kenny says while also getting in a fighting stance. However, before any of us could throw a punch, Robby steps in front of me.
"You need to back off." Robby says. I stand there for a few seconds before stepping back.
"This isn't over." I say.
Third Person POV:
"You're joking right?" Aaron asks.
"Nope." Steve says.
"The whole reason you're in Juvie is for assaulting Chase and his friend?" Aaron asks.
"Yep. But I did more than just assault him, I broke his kneecap. I also broke his friend's arm." Steve says.
"Wow. So how were you able to beat him? I mean, Chase is a tall, athletic basketball player. How did you beat him in a fight?" Aaron asks.
"I'm in a karate dojo called Cobra Kai." Steve says.
"Huh. So that's where you learned all those fancy moves." Aaron says.
"Yeah, I've learned so much there." Steve says.
"Well, I'm actually getting out of here soon. Maybe I'll check the place out." Aaron says.
"You won't regret it. And if you ever see Chase or his friend James, show them no mercy." Steve says.
James's POV:
I was in the bathroom, washing my hands in the sink when I heard someone else enter.
"Hey, can we talk?" The kid asks. I turn towards him.
"What's there to talk about? You joined Cobra Kai despite my warnings." I say.
"Look, I'm sorry for what we did to Chase and Anthony." The kid says.
"So you're sorry huh?" I ask.
"Yeah." The kid says.
"Then quit Cobra Kai." I say.
"What?" The kid asks.
"You heard me. If you're truly sorry, then you'll quit Cobra Kai." I say.
"I can't just quit. I still want to learn karate." The kid says.
"What's your name?" I ask.
"Uh, Brian." Brian says.
"Brian, if you don't quit Cobra Kai, then you're still part of the problem, do you understand?" I ask.
"I'm not quitting." Brian says.
"Then, I guess I have to teach you a lesson." I say before punching Brian in the face.
"What the hell, man!" Brian shouts.
"Oh, did you feel pain?" I ask.
"We didn't assault anyone like this!" Brian shouts.
"Tell that to Chase after what happened at the food court." I say before kicking Brian in the chest. He collapses to the ground.
"Please stop!" Brian shouts.
"All you have to do is quit Cobra Kai and this will all be over." I say.
"I…I won't." Brian says.
"Okay." I say before punching Brian in the face. However, I don't feel satisfied. I punch him again and again. At first, I only think about what Cobra Kai did to Chase. Then, I begin to think about Steve. I stop punching Brian and start kicking him. "You guys like to bully people huh? Make people feel worthless and like they shouldn't exist? Assault people until they can barely move? How does it feel now?! How does it feel!?" I scream. I don't even realize I'm attacking Brian at this point. All I can picture is Steve. However, I soon feel a pair of hands wrap around me and begin pulling me away from Brian.
"James! What are you doing?!" Miguel shouts.
"I'm teaching Cobra Kai a lesson." I say while smiling.
"Look at what you did to him!" Miguel shouts. I look and see Brian on the ground, all bloody and bruised.
"He'll live." I say.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Miguel asks.
"Nothing. I finally realized something. You have to strike first, otherwise Cobra Kai will keep coming after you. I did this for Chase." I say.
"Beating someone half to death isn't the right thing to do." Miguel says.
"Yeah? Well it gets the job done." I say before leaving the bathroom.
Third Person POV:
"Kid, are you okay?" Miguel asks.
"He's insane. That guy's insane. He claims Cobra Kai is full of bullies when he's the bully himself." Brian says.
"James isn't a bully, he's just going through some stuff right now." Miguel says while trying to help Brian up.
"Don't touch me!" Brian shouts while pushing Miguel's hands away. Brian then runs out of the bathroom.
Author's Note: Things have gotten even more intense. Assaulting Brian seems to have given James a new feeling of power. How will the other Cobras react to what James did?