A/N: Hello, fanfics! I am back once again from dealing with the concept called life and bringing forth a new chapter. Also, to those who had been following/favoring my story, I want to thank you for being patient. Writing a story can be, at times, difficult, especially when life throws lemons, but patience is all the more reason to make things sweeter. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, so sit back and enjoy.
Disclaimer: If you check out previous chapters, I had put up a sign saying, "I do not own Killer Instinct nor Carrie."
The windy city of Chicago lit the darkness, drowning the sky of its stars; even the inner city was no better. Hidden within a massive sea of buildings was a place that was once a boxing gym. Debris littered the ground, along with various workout equipment. Several panels with the words "TJ COMBO" and billboards of Ultratech gleamed. Cranes remained still with wrecking balls creaking. A train passed by, wheels rattling the tracks on the building.
TJ sat at the edge of the ruined gym. Short black hair mixed with light gray stubble on his head, and his goatee surrounded his firm lips. His blue workout shirt draped over his muscled build, matching his star-spangled shorts. His boxing shoes crawled to his ankles, and MMA-style gloves covered his hands.
TJ bobbed back and forth in a boxer's dance to the music playing from a portable radio. He loved coming to this place, reminding him of his glory days. TJ gazed at the welted scars on his arms, permanent reminders of his worst mistake. He resorted to cybernetic grafts to defend his title until Ultratech exposed him.
TJ tossed aside the old memories as he viewed the city he called home. He switched the station to listen to the current news. The reporters stated that the fugitive, John Hargensen, was still at large. TJ remembered it too well.
After another day of training, TJ visited Toons Bar & Grill. He sported himself a golden jumpsuit together with sunglasses. He styled his hair with two small braids and the top part untouched, leaving the rest shaved. People crowded the bar, but TJ found an empty seat near the booth.
A bartender approached the table while cleaning a cup with a dry cloth. "Hello, TJ, the usual as always?"
"You know it." The former boxer removed his sunglasses. While he waited, he glimpsed at the news. "Can you turn that up, please?"
The bartender increased the volume on the TV.
"We have an update on the King's Memorial Park event in Chamberlain, Maine. Police are searching for John Hargensen," a journalist reported. "Sam Collins had confessed that John hired him and his friends to destroy Carrie White's grave for money."
"Are you serious?" a woman said, frowning. "Let the girl rest in peace!"
"Did I miss something?" TJ said.
"Didn't you hear what happened in Maine four weeks ago?" the woman queried, and TJ shook his head. "Picture this: you're at Prom, one of the best nights for any teenager. Two people win the right to be King and Queen until one dumbass dump blood on the Prom Queen as a prank. Then, shit hits the fan when the said Prom Queen snaps, and the town is on fire."
"Are you referring to that girl with telekinesis?" a man two tables down with a Scottish accent inquired.
"Oh, come on, telekinesis isn't real. The news said a gas tank exploded inside the gym," another man replied. "That blast killed…four hundred forty people; most of them was a senior class and half the teachers."
TJ and the woman ignored the men's heated discussion.
"The point is this: the girl mentioned in the Memorial Park event, she conducted the town's destruction," the woman whispered.
"So, is telekinesis real?" TJ asked.
"Hard to say, but it has been the trending topic. The judges in a hearing ruled Carrie as a victim. Several people were not happy with the ruling, so they expressed their hatred for that girl. Now, they're saying a spirit is haunting her grave, killing anyone who thinks of besmirching it."
TJ sipped his beer. "I commend that spirit for handling those dissing the dead. At least the poor girl can rest easy."
"I don't know. Rumors had spread of the girl's existence. However, there are two sides to a story, and her story hasn't been told."
Since his visit to the bar, TJ browsed the Internet about Black Prom, but he stopped watching the videos. He stretched his arms and yawned. He rose to his feet, but as he was leaving, a slight chill raced through his body.
"Hello?" TJ detached his earphones and switched off the radio. A crash echoed around the dark region of the demolished gym. He stiffened and got in a fighting stance until a pigeon emerged and perched on the nearby stone wall. Hearing the pigeon coo, TJ slumped and shifted away. Suddenly, a segmented tail wrapped the bird and yanked it. The pigeon squeaked until its attacker ended its life. TJ jumped back into a defensive stance, elbows bent, fists raised and ready as two red eyes gleamed in the dim lighting. "Whoever you are, show yourself!"
A Stalker unit emerged, bearing its teeth and growling. Its hide was painted red with black markings, with bionics racing its spine. TJ faced these creatures when seeking revenge against Ultratech.
"You have a problem with me?" TJ asked.
"You friend of Orchid. Sister's blood on your hands. You die." The Stalker unit lunged, but TJ grabbed the raptor and slammed it on the ground. He followed with straight jabs and hooks until the Stalker tripped him with its tail. The Stalker pounced on the old boxer, but TJ held back its snapping jaws. He heaved the raptor off him and landed a punch against the creature.
The Stalker shook its head and shrieked. Two more Stalker units—a blueberry and dark chocolate—emerged from the darkness.
"You got to be kidding me…" TJ said.
The red Stalker unit rushed towards its prey; the other two followed.
TJ struck the red Stalker and backhanded its blueberry sister. The dark chocolate Stalker tackled him, but he head-butted the raptor and threw a swift jab. TJ clutched the dark chocolate's tail and whacked the approaching blueberry Stalker. The red Stalker slashed into his flesh with its glowing blue claws. He reeled back before he struck his attacker.
The dark-chocolate Stalker rammed him and was going for the throat until the boxer blocked with his arm.
TJ cried, but the adrenaline numbed his pain as he opened the Stalker's mouth to free his bitten limb. He landed another fierce hook on the dark chocolate Stalker and backhanded the approaching red Stalker.
The blueberry Stalker pounced and bit his shoulder. He cried again but slammed against the wall, forcing the screeching raptor to loosen its grip.
TJ grabbed its tail and swung at its charging sister. He dodged an incoming attack from the dark chocolate Stalker and wrapped his arms around the raptor's neck. He tightened his grip on the struggling raptor until he snapped its neck.
The red and blueberry Stalkers bolted towards him, enraged by their sister's death.
TJ grabbed the dead Stalker's tail and slammed both. After he chucked it into an alley, he returned to his stance as a faint blue light filled his scars. He assaulted the red Stalker. The blueberry raptor hurried to save its sister, but he whacked it away. The red Stalker recovered and pinned him to the ground. While TJ held the red Stalker back, the blueberry Stalker clamped its jaws on the boxer's right leg. He cried but didn't waver.
"You become a dead thing soon," the red Stalker said.
"Like hell, I am!" TJ said as his scarred arms gleamed a deep blue. He swung a left hook at the red Stalker and kicked it away with his free leg.
TJ lifted the blueberry Stalker by its tail, though latched on his right leg. He struck the Stalker's groin, forcing the raptor to release its grip. He stomped its face until it stopped moving.
The red Stalker recovered and shot streams of fire towards its prey.
TJ knocked the red Stalker back. Patting off the flames to his clothing, he charged towards the creature, landing punches until an opening presented itself. With precision strength, he tore the red Stalker's head from its body. He backed away as the Stalker crumpled, and its head plopped to the ground. He kneeled as blood dripped from his wounds, and pain replacing the adrenaline.
"So, that's how it'll be, isn't it, ARIA? Once I have my wounds treated, I should inform a friend." He lumbered towards the nearest hospital. "Damn. That thing fought as though it has a 20-year-old grudge against me."
A/N: Well, it looks like TJ got away with his life, but who will be the next victims on the Stalker units' list? Well, time to let my brain rest, so I'll see you later.