Chapter 8

Three days later

Author's note

Italics represents characters talking in another language.

Ellie's POV

These past few days so far have been uneventful, nothing has happened, school is still pretty boring because a lot of the stuff they teach here I know from doing it first hands. I'm thinking that Jake was right about school, though his idea of entertainment is disturbing to say the least, actually no sick, the fact that he enjoys torturing people is wrong on so many levels. Jake moved into the top of the class at anything practical, but was lacking in the teamwork department. I was doing fine, nothing's to hard here and like I said before, I've already done most of the stuff.

"Oh before I forget class, there's a hand-to-hand combat tournament happening after school today so if any of you are interested stay behind," Esther announced "You're also welcome to watch if you wish. You're all free to go now," Esther said and I turned to look and Jake and I saw that same demented smile as when he was torturing that guy. After seeing him in that fight the other day, yes I was watching, I think it's safe to say that no one here has a chance. Everyone that got out of their seats and those who wanted to compete stayed I walked out of the building to see what would be the playground, which was actually just a grass field, with what I could tell was space for them to fight and chairs for people to watch. It's kinda weird nowadays people mostly only fight when they have to, in a matter of life and death, but it's almost a sport here and I guess it was back in the day. The competitors, I guess you could call them, came outside with Esther and few other people who I assumed to be teachers. One of them had a sheet of paper and a pencil and was telling people to go over to a certain section of the playground. I then walked over to Esther who was by one of the sections where they would fight.

"Hey Esther," I greeted.

"Oh hey there Ellie," she replied "Are you here to watch?"

"Yeah I guess so, what exactly is the point in this?"

"Competition wants to make them get better it gives them drive to improve, and when they end in a situation where they might need it they're prepared," she explained.

"So what are the rules?"

"No weapons, no outside help, if you're down for ten seconds you lose, if you taken to much damage, which is up to the ref's distrection, you lose and if all of your body is forced outside the area where you fight you lose. Pretty simple," Esther explained.

"So who do you think is gonna win the whole thing?"

"My money's on Lucas, if I was betting, he wins every time and he's at the top of the class."

"I don't know."

"You're talking about Jake?" Esther questioned and I nodded in response "The kid got lucky, if they fight I'm sure Lucas will win. The kid's got balls I'll give him that though," Esther remarked which got a bit of a laugh out of me "The matches are about to start, go take a seat and watch if you want."

"Alright see ya later then," I said then walked over to the seats and sat down. I quickly noticed that there was more people spectating than competing, about thirty people were sitting here spectating. Jake was one the far end of playground standing in front of someone else and they looked like they were about to fight. Their match finally began and it started with Jake's opponent throwing a series of punches at him, which Jake dodged with what seemed like great ease. The boy then went for a roundhouse kick which Jake dodge and then pushed him to the ground with his shoulder, finally making his counter-attack, the boy then landed on his back and Jake put a foot on his back. "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10," I counted in my head the boy had lost incredibly fast in fact all the other matches were still going on. Jake then went and picked up his book and went over to the teacher with the sheet of paper, then walked over near where everyone was watching and leaned on the wall and started reading.

After about two hours there were only to be people left in the tournament, Jake and Lucas, the finals were going to begin in a few minutes. Lucas and some of the other competitors were standing around near the spectators and talking amongst themselves.

"I'm surprised you didn't make it into the finals like you always do Ben," Lucas said.

"I lost to the guy you fight next. He's really tough he beat me without lifting a finger, let alone his arms," Ben replied.

"He hasn't lifted a finger all tournament," another boy added which surprised me, I knew Jake was good but jeez.

"His whole game plan is to make you wear yourself out, then when he sees an opening he get you on the ground and stops you from getting up," Ben said "By the time I figured it out it was to late."

"Are you serious?" Lucas questioned in shock "Guess I better take him seriously."

"The finals between Jake and Lucas is about to begin, can both of you two come to me," one of the teachers announced.

"Wish me luck guys," Lucas said and walked over to the teacher that called him. Jake was already there waiting and once Lucas got there the ref said a few words and then backed off.

"Begin," the ref shouted telling them to start, I then saw Lucas say a few words to Jake but I couldn't hear them, Jake then gave a face that looked angry and charged Lucas and did a high reverse roundhouse kick.

"You don't have time to converse in a fight," Jake shouted in an angry voice as he was about to kick Lucas but luckily he blocked it with two arms. "That was the first time all day where Jake has approached his opponent, I guess Lucas has got him mad," I thought. Jake then landed on the ground and Lucas threw a punch meant for Jake's head but it was barely dodged. Lucas then continues to throw punches at Jake which he dodged over and over.

Jake's POV

"This fucker seems like he'll be a little more problematic than the others. Especially if I want to beat everyone without lifting a finger but doesn't seem impossible," I thought as I continued to dodge his punches "He's going to tire himself out after throwing this many punches at me this quickly, that's my opening," sweat was already starting to appear on his face and his breathes were more audible. He then let up his punches which was my opening so started doing various kicks on his upper body, however he blocked them pretty well. I noticed that his lower half was exposed and after this many kicks at his upper half he won't expect one at his lower half, so I did a low reverse roundhouse kick to trip him up. He landed on his back and I was about to put my foot on him to stop him from getting up but he rolled out of the way in time. "Son of a bitch," i said frustrated that the fight had gone on for this long.

"You .. thought … it would be … that easy," Lucas panted.

"Don't play the tough guy, it doesn't suit you. You haven't got a scratch on me yet," I taunted with a smirk.

"I'm not gonna lose to someone like you," he said as he ran towards me.

"Give it your best shot brat," I replied and dodged the punches me began to throw at me. I was beginning to sweat as well and a lot of his punches came close to hitting me. "I should end this soon," I thought and he then went for a roundhouse kick and there wasn't enough time for me to dodge it so I had to block it with my arms. When it connected the brat had cocky grin grew on his face that really pissed me off. "That bastard actually got me use my arms," I thought "Well since he has I might as well use them," I then pulled his leg so that he would lose balance but he got it out of my grip but he was still off balance so I punched him twice in the gut so I feel to the ground. "It's over," I said.

"The winner is Jake," the ref said.

"As if there was any question," I said as I turned around picked up my bag and began walking home. On my way I pulled out a cigarette and lighted it and started smoking it. Eventually Ellie caught up to me and started walking next to me.

"Seriously I don't get, why the hell do you smoke that? You do know it's bad for you," she questioned.

"Living in this world is bad for you," I replied "What difference does it make to delay your death or of what cause your death? "

"Then why are you still here?"

"This girl is so troublesome, why can't she just take a hint and fuck off," I thought "It's because I… promised someone and I would live and not let their death be in vain."

"That still doesn't explain why you smoke that?"

"Don't deny someone living in this world what little pleasures they have."

"So if someone was about to get raped in front of you'd just let it happen?"

"Unless I knew whoever it was getting raped then yes I would. In the end none of us in this world are innocent, some just less twisted than the others. We're all responsible for murder here so none of us can judge each other as if one is right and the other wrong. You don't know what kind of person you truly are until death is about to embrace you, nor does anyone else. So living with friends, family and loved ones is all just a futile attempt to prove your own innocence and place in this hell of a world. How can you possibly think of knowing others if you don't know your self."

"Is that really how you think," the girl questioned.

"Of course."

"That's so wrong."

"In what way. We're all murders or destined to become murders. Innocence is a concept that does not exist in this world."

"So maybe none of us are innocent. But having friends is what can help you get through the dark parts of this world."

"I told you before Jude's Law number eight there is no such thing as friends in this world only acquaintances who haven't let you down yet."

"How can you think like that?"

"Because that's how this world works. Friends as you say are just tools to get you to the next day."

"And what's the point in getting to the next day if you're going to live like this?"

"Because I promised someone I would."

"Whoever you promised that to, I don't think they would want you to live like this."

"This is the most effective way. Jude's Law number nine the only person you can rely on is yourself."

"That's such bullshit you can rely on people and you do. You trust Joel don't you."

" A loose concept of trust. I trust in his experience on life and death situations to keep me alive and also because it's in my best interest. Jude's Law number five never get so close to anyone or anything that you can't walk away at a moments notice if you have to. When you have to."

"What is all of this Jude's law crap? Where the fuck do you find this shit?"

"It's in a book."

"Well the guy is fucking moron who doesn't know shit.

"You talk too much. You're… annoying," I said then pulled out a knife and held against her neck "Nothing I say to you is going to reach through your thick skull. I could tell before I even talked to you, just by looking at you that you were a weak person like any other who followed misconceptions about this world. Whatever pain you've suffered from losing someone that someone was lost because they had feelings. Emotion is the real killer in this world. And now you're headed down the same path as they are… all because you can't let go of your emotions letting their death be in vain. You're weak for holding onto your emotions," I said and then removed the knife from her neck "I have nothing more to say to you." I said and continued walking home. I saw Joel and Tommy on the porch discussing.

"Hey Jake," Joel said when I approached "How come you're so late? And where's Ellie?

"His emotions are back. It must be her influence," I thought.

"Hey," I responded dryly "Hand to hand combat tournament at school. Ellie's coming.

"You won?"

"Was that a question or a statment?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Jake, just who I wanted to see," Tommy said in an annoying upbeat voice "Do you remember those two hostages we brought back?" he asked and I nodded "We sent one of them back to their town to see if we can negotiate a peaceful relationship with that town of theres. They accepted and we're meeting outside of town to negotiate with them. But in case things don't go according to plan I'm gathering people as part of squad fight off any ambush they might have or if they decide to attack. And well you seemed skilled-."

"And you were wondering if I would come?"

"Yeah."

"Sure why not," I replied.

"You're not scared?"

"It's stupid to fear what we don't know."

"You could die out there."

"Death doesn't scare me. I'm in. Who else is coming?"

"Joel and twelve others."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Cool see ya tomorrow then," I said as I walked inside.