I've already tugged on my jeans guiltily and I'm quickly fastening the buttons on my coat. I open the window and feel the cold night breeze, and slid out onto the tree. After sneaking across the grounds with a different kind of fear in me, I reach the port. I can see him standing there, tall and thoughtful next to the lighthouse, as his hair and coat sway with the waves.
I shouldn't be here. The bruise is still bright across my face, and the scratches are easily visible across my bare neck, though my shoulder and arm are covered by my coat. I turn around and start to hurry back. I have no courage. At least I admit it to myself.
"Azure!" I hear a voice ring clear through the air, and I don't need anything to know who's voice it is. I stand frozen, a few feet away from the port, and I hear the silent footsteps wash up to me. "Azure." He says again, and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.
He leads me towards the lighthouse and then turns me to face him.
"You came." He says. I nod. His eyes widen and I look at him confused. "What happened to your neck?" He asks concerned. I turn away from him and cover my neck with my hand, facing the sea. But before I know it he's peeled my coat down my shoulder and over my arm to reveal the other scratches.
"Azure, who did this to you?" He asks, though I'm pretty sure he already knows.
"It doesn't matter, it's nothing." I mumble. "Why did you want to see me?"
"It was her wasn't it. Lisa, the third year from your school." He says, ignoring my comment as usual, his facial features hardening.
"I said it doesn't matter can't you just ignore it!" I say, frustrated with his persistence… yet in a way glad he noticed. Of course he noticed.
"You can't let her do this to you. If you don't do anything it could get serious." He says seriously to me, his face darkening slightly. I look to him, not being able to hide my worried face and he embraces me slowly. He feels warm, and comfortable. Though I know this must be uncomfortable for him, I don't think I've ever seen him make any physical contact.I look at him slightly amused, knowing a small smile has creeped onto my face. "What?" He asks, though his face lightening and the same tug forming on his lips that could go into a smile.
"It's just, Alexis jokes about you being emotionless… and only now am I seeing you do have an opinion." I say honestly. He smirks and I smile.
"Not everything's shown on the outside, as you should know." He says. I do know. "Azure, you're changing the subject." My smile goes and I turn to the sea again.
"It's better like this. I don't do anything she doesn't like and she leaves me alone." I say, my brow creasing.
"Obviously there's something she dislikes, otherwise these wouldn't be scaring your skin." He says, and I feel his touch on the scratches, and he turns me to examine my bruise again. Not having the energy to fight, and stand still and let him, trying to ignore the same tingle he brings with every touch.
"Why doesn't she like you?" He asks. I shake my head, but still answer shyly.
"She first disliked me when I beat her brother Ryan, a first year like me. Then I got a place in this tournament instead of him. And then…" I trail of realising what I would've said. Him.
"You shouldn't let her do this to you." He says in his firm voice.
"It's not as though it's just her… At east academy we don't have dorms that separate our abilities… there's just a social higherachy. I'm right at the bottom… she just happens to be at the very top." I argue back, yet I can't find a reason why I'm defending her.
"Do many victors get offered places here if they're from other sections of Duel Academy?" I ask, curious. His eyebrows raise.
"I'm surprised you know of this. Not often, only when Chancellor Shepard sees great potential in him or her, and they want to. Why do you ask?" He says, his voice wavering slightly from his usual tone.
"Lisa… wants to come here." I say, hesitating.
"Would that have anything to do with her hurting you?" I shake my head in panic, and turn back to him.
"I should get back… I probably have a duel tomorrow." I mutter quickly, and turn away from him and rush across the concrete.
"Good Luck."
My eyes snap open today, weird considering I got back at around 1:30. I should stop with the late nights, they're becoming a habit. I drag myself out of bed, and go to my suitcase to choose what to wear. I end up going for a one-shoulder loose grey top, with a new pair of navy jeans and my grey lace pumps. I go to the bathroom and brush my hair but decide to leave it down today and then put on concealer, eyeliner and mascara the usual way. After shoving round my suitcase I find a nice sky blue scarf to cover my scratches and I pull my duelling coat on and go out the door.
Even though I visited Zane last night… I can't see anyone today either. I know it's getting worse, and I know the moral thing to do would be to stand up to her but… it's easier this way, and to be honest I've lived with no friends before… I'm used to it.
I wander the jungles like yesterday and find a few more new plants, and even manage to spot a camouflaged lizard on a tree. I realise it's now 8:15, and I still have to eat before getting to the duel arena for 9 to find out the next match-ups. I turn back knowingly and try to keep myself awake.
Once I get to the arena I look around and find it close to full. I find a pair of teal eyes watching me, but brush them away and stand at the top of the railing in the corner.
"Well, here we are! So far we have 8 contestants left consisting of, Jaden Yuki, Bastian Misawa, Thomas Vinter, Tracy Irvin, Azure Roarke, Lisa Purcell, Landon Prescott, Owen Hume, Aaliyah Llanwelyn, Christine Haas and Fred Ankler! It's time for the Quarter finals as the match-ups go up on the board…!" The commentator says with the complete attention of the crowd. I scan the board. No. No. Please no. I feel the colour in my face leave, and I grab the railing for support. My head starts pounding uncontrollably, as I search the crowd. And I see it. Her scowling smirk somewhere remote in the crowd. This can't be happening. I feel two arms hold me up and take an unknowing me outside into the corridor.
"Azure, what's the matter-" I hear a female voice start.
"Azure, you can't let her beat you." I hear a stronger, yet more subdued voice come in unexpectedly.
"Why her…?" I groan through my headache. My vision clears as I feel a cold hand on my forehead and I see Alexis and Zane in front of me.
"No… I can't" As Lisa dominates my thoughts I push away from them and run away from them. I'm such a coward. But I don't care.
This has all gone wrong. I can't duel her… she'd… do something bad. She'll probably kill me for even doing one move against her. Not that I can beat her anyway… I feel like I can't breathe and I struggle towards the bathroom. I need a shower. Water against my skin always has this odd, calming effect on me. But honestly, right now I don't think anything can calm me down completely.
The first duel's in an hour, at 10:30. Jaden vs Bastian. I should go and watch if I can. After drying my hair I change into a completely new outfit; a monochrome black tight crop top with grey/white roses, and a pair of white and sky blue high-waisted shorts with a zig-zag pattern. The top covers enough so only a centimetre of my stomach is showing, and I wrap my long-tailed navy jacket around me and slip on my tall black boots. It's quite bold compared to what I wear normally, but I needed something fresh. Putting on a clean set of clothes makes me feel cleaner.
"Well Jaden, I must say I haven't been expecting this duel for some time… I've been quite unprepared for it." Bastian states in his intellectual manner.
"Yeah? Well I've been waiting for this duel ever since the entrance exams! You were amazing in that!" Jaden plays back.
"Why thank you, why don't we get started?" Bastian replies activating his duel disk.
"Get ready to get your game on Bastian!"
"Let's duel!"
I watch as Bastian plays out his perfect combo, into his perfectly set stage. Whatever he said about not being prepared… screw him this is definitely prepared. More prepared than I usually am. And now Jaden goes with the flow of his cards and uses winged kuriboh to shield him from an attack. His carefree yet skilled duelling strategy really gets Bastian worked up. I smile silently as I continue to watch their fiery duel. Well, what duel with Jaden in it can't be fiery?
I feel a hand on my shoulder and I know who it is. I turn and leave the arena and head out to the corridor.
"Look prissy, you and I both know this is a joke. The newbie could never beat the queen. So you can try your hardest but it won't get you anywhere right?!" I hear the threatening tone of her voice directly in my left ear. I nod slowly.
"Good, you have no idea what a hassle it is to make you understand what I say. And let's be clear I will win. I'm glad we have this little understanding." She says, taking my wrist and digging her nails into my skin. I easily leave my face clean of emotion.
"See you on the ice invisible girl." She starts to lazily fling her hand back, but pauses and doesn't bother. As soon as she's gone I rub my wrists where she's left a red mark and I hear the crowd erupt shouting Jaden's name. I'm not surprised Jaden won, but then nothing's been surprising me much lately.
I walk slowly thinking over her words in my head, and I realise stupidly what they mean. She wants me to look like I try… but even if I do win… or could… she'd kill me for it. Or at least leave a mark, most likely more noticeable and severe than the last three. Just as I reach the stage entrance I take a deep breath and fumble around in my pocket for my duel disk. I attach it to my arm, and shakily reach for my cards.
I flick through my extra deck and find him. They told me I shouldn't summon my duel spirits, but I need his help.
"Adynn." I whisper. His tall dark figure appears in front of me. "What should I do?" I ask shakily.
"I cannot be of much help on this…just do as you always do, it always turns out right. I will always be here." He disappears and I feel empty as I hear my name being called out. And just like that, I take a step into the light.
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