Chapter 2: Whispers of Friendship
Enzeru rose from her seat and walked out of her room. As she made her way down the hall passers by whispered and pointed. She was used to this by now; after all it had been going on all her life.
It was not always pleasant, the things people said. Often they would call her names like monster and ugly. Her friends, what few she had, knew she was neither. Enzeru cried herself to sleep as a child every night. This kind of suffering leaves a permanent mark on a small child.
Her gift was what the suffering of her past had brought her. This was her mark. She could feel what others were feeling while she was in the same room with them, on the phone with them, or holding something that belonged to them, but that was not all. She sometimes saw things from the past, present, or future that would give her the insight she needed at just the right time.
Enzeru could not control this gift no matter how hard she tried. It did not control her, either. She chose to act on her visions as a bird would to choose to fly. Now here she was, surrounded by childhood heroes and, slowly, was becoming one of them.
As Enzeru approached the stage entrance a large dark skinned man approached her. He had white hair and white eyes. She knew who he was and was wise to his gift. This man was a charmer. He could charm woman into doing whatever he wanted them to do, well, almost.
"So you're the lovely new girl the boss has snooping around. You must be under a lot of stress. If you ever want to relieve some of that stress just call the love doctor," He said with a wink.
Enzeru shuddered in disgust. "Your tricks may work on ordinary women, but not on me. Save it for the weak minded." The man looked shocked as his entrance music began to play.
Kane walked over to Enzeru quickly, "What was that about?" He glared at the man with clinched fists. "It was nothing. He thought he could trick me like he does every woman he meets," Enzeru turned to Kane and spoke in a happier tone, "Don't worry, I wouldn't help him for anything."
"If you were to help him I would have to hurt you, badly," Kane replied. "I know, but I am more loyal to you than to him. After all, he was not my hero, you were. In times of need I would ask myself what you would do," Enzeru stepped toward the entrance.
"I hope you didn't follow my example," Kane replied. "Not usually. But thinking on it would give me the courage to act in my own way," Enzeru straightened her posture and prepared to go out onto the stage.
Kane signaled the sound and effects team to play his entrance music. Viscera was not done talking when they began. He was, as expected, going on about how he could charm any woman, although Enzeru had proven him wrong and prepared to do so again.
Enzeru followed Kane to the ring. He entered first and waited for her to follow. She did so and went down on one knee in the center of the ring facing the audience and in front of Kane. She put her hands flat on the pat on either side of her and looked down.
Kane raised his arms to signal the fire and as he brought his hands down Enzeru brought her hands up. This seemed to please the crowd and she nodded to Kane as a signal they should do this again.
"Good luck, I have faith in your victory," Enzeru told Kane before getting out of the ring.
Enzeru watched the match like a hawk circling its prey. It was so far going well, Viscera was tiring and Kane was just getting started. Enzeru kept an eye on the stage, hoping the party wouldn't get crashed, as matches often do.
Enzeru turned to check the stage, thinking she saw something, but she was wrong. She turned back to look at the ring and her new friend's opponent was staring her right in the face. "How about a kiss?" He asked as he made a kissy face. Enzeru backed away, disgusted.
"What's she gonna do?" One of the commentators asked. "She isn't going to kiss him, is she?" the other asked. Enzeru looked around the audience, most of them looked disgusted, and so she did the one thing she knew would help Kane the most.
Enzeru slipped on her white gloves and stretched her hands out. "Kiss? Kiss this." She punched him in the jaw as hard as she could. It stung her knuckles. Enzeru was not used to this fighting stuff, but the crowd loved it. Kane sat up and took the pin. One. Two. Three.
Enzeru nodded to Kane and then climbed into the ring to help celebrate the victory.
As the two walked back stage Enzeru got the feeling Kane thought she was going to turn on him during the match. "Told you I could be trusted," She said as they made their way back to room 13. "Yes, but I'm still not sure if I can, for all I know you could be planning something."
Enzeru shook her head, "It should be obvious that I'm not. I had the perfect chance, but I am on your side. Keep in mind, although you have been betrayed before not everyone is your enemy." She walked ahead at a little faster pace.
"I have more enemies than friends so it's natural," Kane replied, speeding up to be even with her. Enzeru stopped in her tracks, "It's not normal. You should expect the worst, true, but hope for the best and give some people a chance. Not everyone is going to be the bad guy. There will always be a good guy in the mix; you just have to find out who they are." Kane stopped beside her, "Then prove to me that I can trust you. Take off your hood."
Enzeru started walking again, "I'm not sure if I should. At least, not here. It's too risky." Her voice sounded nervous. "It's the only way you can prove I can trust you. I did the same when I had a mask," Kane replied.
"Alright, alright, I give. You want to see my face so bad then follow me but I'm warning you, it's not pretty," Enzeru replied, leading him into room 13.
Enzeru took a deep breath and lowered her hood. Her straightened red hair fell around her shoulders and her bright blue eyes glowed as if they were enchanted by some spell. Enzeru's skin was pale, almost white.
"You're not ugly," was the only reply she got. "That's just an opinion. I've heard more times than not that I am so the world can not see my face. I will not let them," Enzeru said as she raised her hood, "I trust you will not tell anyone what I look like." "You have my word."