Into the Medranoverse Chapter 4:
Jack
I was right, the consequences to our actions are already evident.
I'm not complaining in any capacity, it's about time my cousin got what was coming to him, at least to the extent where his plans failed miserably.
But the fact that he's miserable at my best friend's joy is all I need to know the trouble that's brewing in his mind right now.
"I can't believe I almost forgot! 3 years and it just slipped my mind! Knowing Kayla, she'd have held this against me for…well…ever!" He says to himself. "And it was so dang close too…"
"Yeah…sure it was…" Damian hisses, staring daggers at my friend and then me. "So, how was your week in the locker? Jackster?"
"Just fine. How's your sour mood?" I retort.
"Fine…" He utters. "How in the hell did you get out…?"
"Glad you're happy, Zill." I say, smiling at my friend and ignoring my cousin, much to his chagrin.
"Thanks man, it was probably the best of all of them!" He gushes.
"HEY! Save yer soap opera for after my class, ya hooligans!" Our philosophy teacher orders us.
"Sorry, Ms. Cide." Me and Zill sheepishly apologize to her as we lower our volume.
"Though seriously, man. At least she can rest easy knowing your anniversary went off without a hitch, well…at least not too big of one." I say, me and Zill thinking about what Kayla's up to as of right now.
Meanwhile, I can still see the storm in Damian's eyes, his entire plan crumbled beneath him, and his whole 'victory' was all taken away at the last moment…
He's still trying to figure out why…
Kayla
"And here I was thinking he actually forgot!" I say as I clash with my fencing partner. "3 years, one day?! Yet, it was all just in my imagination…"
To say that I'm in a good mood right now is a massive understatement.
I was so worked up initially that Zillion Martinez actually forgot such an important day of the year for us, yet only to surprise me with an, admittedly unorthodox, yet not unpleasant night for us!
I don't even know how he managed to convince KAI to cook for us!
Never even figured that our new security guard had culinary expertise…
Regardless, though it DID feel a little extra, what with how fancy the food was…the fact that he managed to make it with the stuff I had in my house is what truly blew me away.
Didn't even know my household food could be made so exquisitely, and I'm already starting to salivate at the prospect of having it again.
Despite this, I still maintain my focus and continue sparring, utilizing my leap-over technique to catch him off guard.
I manage to put my sparring blade at his chest, brandishing a smile all the while.
"Woah! Kayla! Are you feeling alright today?" He asks, surprised.
"Oh, I'm feeling okay, sorry for the little move." I say as I relent.
As this was our last round, I look at the wall, and decide to see if I'm good with throwing my rapier.
I toss it like a ninja throwing knife, and it lands perfectly straight.
"Still got it." I say as I smile.
"I must say, I didn't expect to see a club such as this here." I hear a distinctly familiar voice, of which I turn around to see…
The man of the hour, still rocking that red cloak of his.
"Oh! Kai! It's good to see you!" I say, taking off my helmet and walking over to greet him.
"Pleasure's all mine. I, honestly, wasn't aware you were an adept in the art of fencing." He says, giving me a humble smile.
"It's just something I found a liking to, same thing with music, just discovered it one day and I've been doing it ever since." I say. "What're you doing here?"
"I asked Zechariah if there was any openings for my proposed club, but he said nothing was available yet, though he did recommend, for the time being, I look into the fencing club. Of which, I didn't know you were a part of." He explains.
"Well, I am!" I say, smiling again.
"That was an impressive front flip you did over him." He points out. "Vaulting over your opponent to get out of their range of view."
"It's one of my signature moves." I say proudly.
I've been doing this ever since I first came to this school, I'm a junior, so I've had at least 2 or 3 years of experience under my belt.
Despite this, I've only ever done it professionally, or as a sport.
I've never really used an actual sword before…there's never been a need to…
It's with this…
That what Kai asks next…
Is what really takes me aback.
"If you have the time, would you by chance be open to a brief spar? I'd like to see what you're capable of." He says.
The first thing that comes to mind is the size difference between us.
He's at least 6 foot, and I know I was making an analogy on him being almost twice as big as us, but I'm just barely 5 foot.
He's a literal head taller than me!
He seems to notice my concern.
"You may be smaller, but that means you have more mobility. You're a kangaroo, and I've seen how easily you can move. You can use that." He says.
"I…I guess it's not every day you get a chance to duel with a human…?" I suggest, unsure.
The second thing that comes to mind is the fact that he's just as strong…
If not stronger than…Zill…
"I won't go all out on you, if that's of any concern. Again, I'd just like to see what you can do." He assures me.
Well, I have some time before the period's over, might as well!
Gotta meet up with Zill.
"Need a sword?" I ask, gesturing to the weapon rack.
He chuckles, but not insultingly as he smiles, more or less just…
"I brought my own."
SHKK!
He suddenly extends a hidden spearhead blade under his right forearm as my eyes go wide.
"Don't worry, I won't be striking you with this. You got the armor, and I can take a hit from your blade, nobody's dying as of right now." He assures me again, gesturing to his hidden weapon.
Wait, was that the blade that he used to save Cameron 3 weeks ago? When they were dangling off the landing platform?!
I feel like the whole aesthetic of it is from somewhere…I just can't put my finger on it.
Meanwhile, I'm starting to see why he's a good candidate for security…
Anyone tries anything, they're about to get shivved…worst case scenario.
"Uhm…okay…" I utter, having legitimately forgot he had that, considering it's been a while since I've seen him use it. "Sparring area's over here."
I lead him over to the same area I was previously, my previous partner having already departed to take care of other things.
Placing my helmet back on and readying my sword, I stare down our security guard as he himself does some requisite stretches before we do this.
"Apologies, been a bit since I've seen anything related to action." He says.
"It's alright. Take the time you need." I assure him.
He only needs about a minute of brief warmups before he's ready.
"Alright then." He says as he takes position, brandishing the blade in his right hand in a similar fencing position as I am with my sword.
"You've done fencing before?" I ask, having forgotten to ask this question the moment he brought up the subject.
"You could say that." He says, continuing to look at me with probably the most focused face I'd ever seen anybody have.
"How do you want to do this?" I ask. "Until we can't fight anymore or until the bell rings?"
"How about if you land a hit on me, or if I manage to get you in a 'you're dead' position?" He asks.
"Like if you catch me off guard and it would've opened me up for a…death blow?" I ask.
"Yes, but rest assured, I won't bring any harm to you. I promise." He says, I begrudgingly nod in agreeance. "This is just a practice bout."
I've never faced anyone like him before…I don't even know his fighting style!
I'll start off slow, gauge where he is and see what he can do.
"Ready?" I ask, he nods. "BEGIN!"
The tension between us instantly rises, and soon permeates into the atmosphere, I stare daggers at him, almost daring him to make a move.
He doesn't and returns the look right at me.
We're not going anywhere if we do this, so might as well move first…
I inch closer to him, his eyes narrow even more.
I thrust my blade at him, he dodges it by stepping back. I follow up again with another, to which he does the backstep again.
I then go for a slice, to which he uses his blade to parry it away as if he quickly backhanded it, I try again, and same result.
This time, he pokes towards me, I knock it away with my sword, I try to counter, but he sidesteps it.
Okay…definitely had some experience…
Let's see if he can handle the mobility he was so gushing over earlier.
I suddenly change up my tactics, going for more aggressive approach and begin a series of wild, yet targeted, swings at him to try and catch him off guard.
In the first couple seconds, he seems to get the good idea to back off slightly, but goes back into the danger zone.
With every swing I go for, he continuously deflects it, I go for a downward strike, to which he redirects downward.
Finally, he parries me again and causes me to start backing off too as he goes for mock swings so as to not actually stab me, but puts me on edge regardless.
I thrust at him again, and he knocks it away again, I follow up with a slash, but he redirects it yet again.
When he does, I pull out my signature move of launching myself in a front flip over him, trying to land the winning strike.
Surprisingly, even with me midair, he blocks the attack as well as the next couple I throw at him after I land.
Someone's learned from his mistakes…
As it seems that time is running out for the period, what he does next takes me aback again.
I try to slash at him, but he sidesteps it, finessing a 360 degrees turn and lunges right at me!
I instinctively close my eyes, half expecting to feel a stabbing sensation, only to be met with nothing and the feeling of someone being close to me.
When I open my eyes, I see the 6 foot fighter brandishing his blade in front of me through my helmet, for if this were a real situation…
"You're dead." He says, lowering his weapon.
He got me in the 'deathblow' position…
He won!
"Never seen someone do that before…" I utter, releasing my breath at surprised how skilled he truly was.
He was an absolute beast in parrying!
"And all that is with what you'd consider as a parrying dagger. Imagine what you could do with that as well as your sword." He says.
SHKK!
He retracts the blade back into his sleeve as I take off my helmet.
"Dude, that was intense!" I say, bewildered.
"You're not bad yourself." He compliments. "Practice certainly has paid off."
"Thanks. But how did you get so good? The way you fought, you're bound to have had at least a few more years than I have." I point out.
"Well, you're not wrong." He says, shrugging his shoulders.
I'm heavily debating on whether or not to ask him on WHERE he got that experience.
Only thing that really comes to mind his one word summary on how he got so strong.
'Hell'
Is it a hellish training regimen that gives him these capabilities?
I'd hate to find out…
Before I can, however…
RIING!
"Might want to head to your next class, Kayla. Good bout, hope to do a follow up, should you be open to it." He offers, smiling.
"Yeah…I think I'll take you up on that." I say, holding out my hand for an agreeance handshake, to which he returns. "First you beat Zill in strength, then me in skill? Who's next?"
"These victories are, admittedly, the ones within my capabilities. I know what it's like to lose, and it's a significantly greater teacher than winning." He advises.
I nod at that, thinking about my own defeat at his hands.
"Well, consider this a lesson I learned, and you were the teacher." I say to him as he chuckles.
"It's what I'm here for." He says as I pack up my stuff, I give him a handshake.
"Thanks, see ya, Kai!" I say as I leave the fencing club room. "I look forward to next time!"
"Feeling's mutual, Kayla." He waves me goodbye.
After 3 weeks of knowing this guy…
I'm uncharacteristically enthusiastic about learning more…
Especially with what he's capable of doing…
As I go to my locker to put away my stuff for now, I hear the sound of someone I am absolutely delighted to hear right now.
"Hey, baby!" Zill calls to me, waving.
"Oh, hey sweetie!" I reply, placing my fencing equipment inside and turning to him after I close it. "Yesterday was amazing! How'd you even convince Kai to cater for us?"
"If I'm to be honest, I had the idea of us performing together, him the meal, and Jack the setup. Couldn't've done it without them." He says, humbling himself.
"And here you used to think you'd never be able to have any good friends…" I cheekily narrow my eyes at him.
"Well, I was proven wrong, even more so after I met you…" He returns the look and brings me in to a warm embrace.
"Aw…" I hold him tightly.
As we have this warm moment together, I can't help but notice someone…watching us…
When we release each other's grip on each other, I turn to see the glare of…
Damian…
Jack
"Okay, cuz, spill it. You're his best friend, how in HELL did he remember that anniversary of his?!" My red relative forces me up against the wall, baring his teeth all the while. "You know as well as I do he had virtually no idea it was happening, yet he made it anyway, unless there was some kind of divine intervention, there was NO way he was going to make it there!"
"Maybe it was about time you realize that just because you're an antichrist, you can't get everything you wanted." I retort, returning the glare.
"Kayla. Was. MINE! My plan was absolutely foolproof, and you're the only one who knew. You got out somehow, didn't you?" He interrogates me.
"How do you know I didn't just finesse my way out?" I maintain my look as I dodge the question.
"Don't bullsh*t me Jack, I know when someone lies, or even withholds the truth. You know I have that ability. Why do you think I knew that little Kai fellow wasn't telling us everything when he first arrived here? Have you ever wondered why he's so strong? Why he wasn't even afraid of ME or this whole society that sometimes makes humans go insane?!"
"What? You calling him a liar?" I accuse him with the glare.
"I don't know…there's something about that guy…the moment he…even when he saved that Cameron lady…he's…different…I don't know how…to put it into words…" He utters to himself.
"And how do you know?" I ask, not realizing the way in which I said it.
I don't get any response from him, only a grunt that just says it's mostly conjecture.
Suddenly, he looks at the locker of which he tried to imprison me in, looking at the lock of which that was picked…he seems to notice this…and his eyes go wide...as if he realized something…
"It was him…" He utters again, my being beginning to get uneasy on where his train of thought is going.
"What, do you mean…?" I ask, his form beginning to morph into his more demonic self.
"He…he let you out…" His voice begins to distort into his signature angry echoey state, his eyes getting wavy with rage.
"I think you might be-GUH!" I try to say, but my violent cousin throws me aside and sprints out the door of the same locker room he tried to imprison me in.
"HE'S SO F*CKING DEAD!" He screams as he heads off…
To try to collect his supposed deserved pound of flesh…
I scramble to my feet to try and keep up with him…but knowing Damian…and what he'll try to do…
Kai…I hope that these 'skills' of yours can help you survive my cousin's wrath.
He may be a kid…
But as an antichrist, there's a few reasons why he's so feared, even in this school with our supposed peace…
Cameron
"Sirs, I appreciate that you want to introduce yourself to her, but I'd appreciate it more if you'd be able to respect personal space, especially to people that you've never been fully acquainted with before." My friend tells the red top hat guy named Perci and the green blind guy named Malcom off.
I ran into Kai on one of his patrols, and I asked him if he could accompany me into a wing of the school I've never been before.
We're at least working on my anxieties as of right now, it's helped somewhat, making things a little more tolerable, but the fact that everyone has a tendency to pop up out of nowhere and scare me, his presence is much appreciated.
"Hey, not our fault she's so jumpy!" Malcom says.
"Also, speaking of jumpy…!" Perci adds as his eyes go manic for some reason.
He goes to ramble off some weird things about existentialism and the universe, things that I'm not exactly in the mood to talk about right now.
As he monologues, Kai pulls me to the side, slipping by the blind one as the red one is distracted.
When we enter another room…
There's a snort on my head…
As if there were something alive…in here…
SHKK!
Kai's already extended that same blade underneath his arm in response to what's in here with us, and shields me from…
"Oh…my…" I utter.
A black…unicorn-like creature…that releases a high-pitched roar at us, revealing rows of almost needle-like teeth at us.
I'm gripping Kai, literally for my life as he brandishes his weapon at the nightmarish creature…almost seeming like he's ready to fight his way out for us.
Before it seems as if man and beast can enter mortal combat…
"You might want to keep your steed under control, Carrie." I hear Kai say, confusing me.
"Kai? Cameron?" The signature grey-skinned woman pops out from behind the horse, I remain standing behind my friend for security as Carrie calms her seeming 'pet'. "Aw Brutis, ya scared er' half to death."
SHKK!
"I know something that would've been 'to death', if he wasn't under control." Kai comments as he puts away his blade. "You alright Cameron?"
How…how did he know she was here…?
"N-No…" I utter.
"Rest assured, kiddo, I ain't gonna eatcha. I'd get fired." Carrie says as she approaches us, Kai remains steadfast in front of me as the woman soon breaks out into laughter. "HAHAHAHA! I'm just kiddin! Ya' want somethin' to drink? Considering yer friend here nearly killed mine…"
"If it meant protecting her, I wouldn't've hesitated." He says.
"Ah noticed…"
"Uh, I'll have some water…to drink…" I say, Carrie hands it to me in an unorthodox container, especially in this setting…
"What? Never drank from a canteen before?" She asks me.
"No…actually I used to go camping with my mom all the time…" I reply as me and Kai follow Carrie into the other room, we all take a seat as she takes a sip of her booze. "…And then she died."
Kai turns to me from his chair.
"Is that, by chance, what's affecting you?" He asks me.
"Y-Yeah…" I admit, having opened up like this for the first time in a while.
"Then that's the source. We can work it out from there." He says, assuring me.
"Wow! Way to be a downer Cam!" Carrie sarcastically says, but suddenly laughs again. "I'm kiddin' ya! Mah maw's dead too."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." I say.
"Deepest condolences." Kai adds, bowing his head.
"Naw! Don't apologize, it's life." Carrie assures us.
"Yeah…I guess so…"
"So what brings you to my classroom anyway?" Carrie asks.
"Perci and Malcom were acting like jack-in-the-boxes just popping up out of nowhere." Kai summarizes.
"Yeah…just…what subject do you teach…exactly?" I ask Carrie.
"Creature studies. Hehehe…" She replies ominously. "Yeah those two never know when to shut up, do they?"
Suddenly, she lunges at me, trying to come face-to-face to me to emphasize what she's saying, but Kai leaps up and pushes her away to give me personal space.
Damn…thank heavens for a saint such as him…!
After Carrie recovers, she goes on to give her intended message.
"It's Fabian ya'll wanna watch out for! He's a no good flea bitten tramp! And I wouldn't put it past 'im to pounce on a newcomer like you!" She advises me. "Just a word to the wise."
"Uh…yeah…good to know." I reply sheepishly.
"Also, ya didn't need to push meh." She turns to my friend.
"And that wasn't necessary of you." Kai bluntly says. "Maybe people wouldn't be so afraid of you all if you would stop getting up in their faces. One of these days someone's gonna have an itchy trigger finger.
Carrie only narrows her eyes at him in response.
Before they can get into an intense argument, I interject, pointing at the skull above the fireplace.
"What is that?!"
Carrie looks upwards, as does Kai.
"That?" She asks.
"YES!" I reply.
"That's an old burlock skull! They're a subspecies of ogre. Very ox-like…hmm…I'm guessin' ya have hever seen or heard of them before?" She asks, leaning back in her chair.
"Yeah…and I don't have desire to…" I say, getting unnerved again.
"What were they capable of?" Kai asks, staring at the skull.
"Among the most aggressive, territorial, horn strength on par with that of some metals, some've even compared their toughness to that of human world boars. Could take a beating, laceration, shaht up to high heaven, anything ya can think of until they could go down, and even then that's when they're at their most dangerous." She summarizes.
I lean in to my friend.
"Did you really have to ask her about that?"
"I need to know these things." He says.
Uh…I could ask…WHY…does he need to know…?
"Heard ya liked the "Fish of Peace." Carrie says.
"Oh yeah, Zechariah showed us the first day we came here!" I say, remembering that fond memory.
"Nature spirits, right?" Kai asks.
"Yup."
"S-Spirits?" I ask, having forgotten that little detail about them.
"Yup."
"Ooh, boy…" I utter, sinking into my chair at that fact.
"Ey! Nature spirits prolly existed where you came from too! Just didn't show themselves…" Carrie says. "And the fish of peace are exactly what you'd think, they are the essence of "Peace", and appear at night to signify that things are awright right now…"
"So then it is peaceful here…?" I ask, hopeful.
"Yeah! Well, at least here in the city…wish I could say the same fer the districts…" She utters, looking off to the side.
"What does THAT mean?" I ask.
"Jack mentioned that a few weeks ago…he said it wasn't really a topic we're supposed to discuss." Kai says.
"Ya'll will prolly learn soon enough…" Carrie replies, but soon turns to my friend. "But speaking of…there's something I wanted to mention."
Kai blinks in response.
"Things 've been weird ever since y'all came around. With you two being ever so contrasting. Ya burst into laughter after we thought you were her, and her nearly dyin' after running away just from seein' us!" She comments. "I've also been watching ya', Kai. Every weekend, and even on yer breaks ya've been venturin' off into the city on that bike of yers, and even going so far as daring to go near the border…"
"And?" Kai asks.
"Not sure, just noticed those things. Could just be an unorthodox way ya spend yer time. But what really set my suspicions into play was not only the fact you weren't scared of Damian, as well as that you could match Martinez in strength…but it was that the Fish of Peace were LOOKING at ya." She reveals, staring at my friend. "I watch them every night, and I saw y'all on the observation deck, when Zech and Cam were talking, I saw all their attention directed towards ya, starin' at ya. Long story short? THEY. DON'T. DO. THAT."
"What…w-why?" I ask, looking to and from Carrie and Kai, confused as to why such peaceful entities would have their attention directed at my friend.
"Becuz clearly…they SAW something either within him, or about him. I don't know what goes through their minds or what they see, but clearly, they sensed somethin'." She says to me, referring to Kai. "Almost as if…he weren't supposed to be here."
"Maybe I'm the factor this place didn't count on." Kai says.
"Maybe…" Carrie says, eyes narrowed at him. "Anyways, it could just be conjecture, or…the situation in the districts is worse than I thought…"
Before I can comment, Carrie switches the subject again.
"So, Cam, how were the talent show tryouts the other day?" She asks me.
"Oh, um…" I start to think, but all I can think about were all the animals around me, and how Jackie revealed herself to be a bird…all of which instantly bringing back those unpleasant memories. I only put on a comically sheepish face. "Uh…good…"
Suddenly, Kai stands up from his seat, as if he noticed something.
"Pardon me. Thank you, Carrie, for your hospitality." Kai gives a brief bow to her.
"Welcome…" She says.
"Where're you going?" I ask.
"Tying up a loose end…" He ominously replies as he speed walks out the door.
I only turn back to Carrie in confusion, who only gives a shoulder shrug in return.
Kai
To call him furious right now, is an understatement.
I know for a fact Jack didn't tell him, but he might've figured it out on his own.
I emerge from the door and make haste to the source of the hatred.
I feel my form again, making sure I have everything, should I need it in the worst case scenario.
Accounted for.
I grip my fists in preparation.
Eventually, I come across Zill and Kayla hanging out together near the lockers, only to be pestered by a little bird-like creature carrying a miniature staff.
"Fight me!" The little guy demands.
"Yeah, I don't really have time for this." Zill dismissively says to him. "Kind of in the middle of something here, dude."
"I will not be ignored!" The miniature one emphasizes.
"Zill!" I call out, catching his attention and causing the bird to be ignored comically.
"Oh, hey Kai, what's up?" He asks, seemingly relieved to see me.
"Have you seen Damian today?" I ask, knowing where he is, but making sure if he does.
"No, not really. Why-"
"THERE YOU ARE YOU BASTARD!" The sound of, for lack of better words, a demon, calls out from down the hall.
All 4 of us, including the little blue bird, turn to the source of the enrage voice.
A horrifically mutated form of Damian speeding down to us, soon morphing back into his original jackal form to float face-to-face with me.
"HOW F*CKING DARE YOU?! I HAD A CHANCE WITH HER AND YOU TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME!" He points at me, staring swords, as compared to daggers at me.
"There's a word called 'no'. You ever heard of it? Oh, that's right, nobody's told it to you since Kayla did for the first time." I say with a straight face.
"Yeah! You're not even my type, Damian!" Kayla calls out behind Zill.
"O-ho-ho no, Kayla, you'll give into temptation soon. If not for this guy right here…" He growls, pointing to me.
"And what's that matter? Are we going to have a problem here?" I retort.
"Oh you want a problem?! Zill forgot!" Damian accuses, confusing Kayla.
"Huh?" She asks.
"DON'T YOU-" Zill tries to interrupt, but he's beaten to it.
"YOUR ANNIVERSARY!" Damian finishes.
"What're you talking about? We celebrated it!" She corrects him.
"Unfortunately it would've been the case, Kayla." I confess, she turns to me as Zill's eyes go wide open, I calm him with a reassuring look. "Long story short, there was a lot going on that day, and he didn't know that you were referring to the anniversary."
"But, why'd he say that he had something special planned?" She asks.
"He was talking about the talent show tryouts. Frankly, it was on his mind at the time, and I'd assume it was what he was planning for, but it was, indeed, what he was talking about." I say, she begins to look to him, frustration beginning to rise as well as Damian's devilish look.
"Is…that true…?" Kayla asks.
Zill looks to me, and angrily at Damian, and angrily at me, but then relents after I give him a look that says 'it will be okay'.
"…yes…" He confesses.
Kayla's expressing falters, and Damian suddenly dons a look of victory, as if now is his chance to shoot his shot to her.
Again, like I said, I wanted to make him cry.
"However," I say before she can have a flurry of anger or other emotions, she looks to me. "He WOULD'VE been reminded by Jack…"
"DON'T YOU-" Damian tries to interrupt, but I give him a taste of his own medicine.
"IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM." I raise my voice above him and point at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kayla asks, confused again.
"I think I can vouch for that." The sound of someone behind us calls out.
We turn…to see Jack. With a smile that says to Damian 'you just got caught', whose jaw is agape.
"Jack, what's he talking about?" Kayla asks the brown jackal.
"I'm saying that I would've reminded Zill if this guy here didn't try to imprison me for a week, so I couldn't remind Zill of your anniversary. Fortunately, yes, Damian, Kai let me out, and we coordinated the anniversary together. We put everything together, and made it the best night for them." Jack says, he looks to Kayla. "Yes, he would've forgotten, but Kai figured it out and helped me remind him. We know how broken you would've been over it, and we saw to it that wouldn't happen."
As he finishes explaining everything, Kayla looks to and from both us and her boyfriend, torn over how to feel about it.
Inevitably, she settles on the fact that she can't be mad at him, especially since she did have their anniversary night, and the fact that he does have his friends to remind him about these things.
If she forgot, he would've felt the same.
"So…Damian…you tried to get Zill to forget about me…?" She asks as she turns to the devilish one.
"You deserve me, and that's that." He tries to claim but is shrugged off.
"You'd have to drag me to hell with you to get me to be with you, and even then, I'D STILL NEVER LOVE YOU!" She makes her stand against him as his little red light begins to intensify with rage.
He growls, but Zill's green light begins to make itself known.
"She's made her point, Damian. It's over." He grips his fist.
"For now…" He utters but turns to me. "But for you, we're settling this, here and today…"
Jack's eyes widen, seemingly knowing what he's going to do.
"Like men…?" I ask, and I lean into him. "Or infantile children?"
The antichrist's eyes are twitching again, his fists are balled up, ready to fly as of right now, and seemingly almost bloodthirsty as well.
"You. Me. Outside. In the parking lot. 3 o'clock, after school." His voice distorts with rage again.
"Weapons or no weapons?" I ask.
"Depends on what you bring to the table." He retorts, glaring.
I hold out my hand…
In accepting of the challenge.
"Let the best man win." I say.
He grips it, and I mean grips it, but fortunately I return it as well as I shake it.
"When I'm done with you…I'll send you to hell myself…" He claims.
"Don't tempt me with a good time." I say. "But if it's me with you…you will bow down and call me 'Master'."
"Deal"
That word is the last thing I hear from him as he storms off, seemingly to prepare himself…
For our Duel.
My 3 high school friends all swarm me in concern.
"DUDE! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Jack asks, bewildered.
"Do you even know what he's capable of?" Kayla stares at me.
"I know you're security…if you lose…" Zill starts, but I hold my hand up to him.
"This was inevitable. You should've expected something like this from him." I tell them.
"Yeah but…"
"If you believe you can do it, we'll support you." Kayla relents.
"I'll at least see, if you do lose, to have my uncle be lenient with you…" Jack says somberly.
"I'm not going to lose." I say. "I know my strengths."
"But still man…after what you've done for us…I'm not keen on us losing you." Zill says.
"You won't." I assure them.
As I finish saying that, I just about notice Cameron and Carrie nearing us, conversing as well.
"Again, thank you for the water, Carrie." She thanks her.
"Mah pleasure. Ya' should try mah whiskey sometime soon."
"Oh, I don't really drink…"
"Seriously-huh? What in tarnation is goin' on here?" Carrie asks, turning to all 4 of us.
"Damian's gonna fight Kai." Jack bluntly states.
"TARNATION?!" Carrie exclaims, Cameron suddenly remembering who Damian is, and likely conjecturing on what he's going to do to me, seizes a bottle from Carrie and starts to chug it. Carrie pulls up a communicator watch similar to Zechariah's and contacts him. "Zech! We got a problem!"
"What is it, Carrie?"
"Damian's challenged Kai to a fight. Y'know, our security guard?"
"Why?!"
"Some BS with him not being able to get the girl he wants."
"Dammit. Can't stop him, unless we want trouble from his father…"
Later, in the parking lot
It didn't take too long for word of the Duel to reach most of, if not the entire, school.
This is the first time any physical conflict has been on school grounds and for some reason, students are eager to witness it.
Especially when it's a human vs their antichrist.
Zech rationalized this for the students, calling it 'Mutual Combat', where 2 consenting parties willingly participate in a duel overseen by others to settle a dispute.
Some consider it barbaric, but honestly, as one of the greatest fighters I've known has said, paraphrasing it:
'People have gotten so used to disrespecting others without getting punched in the face for it'
I'm standing alongside the more peaceful students, Zill, Kayla, Jack, etc. in our spot in the parking lot.
They're giving me words of encouragement and advising.
Meanwhile, Damian on his own, with only a couple of other troublemaker students off to the side egging him on.
He's hyped up, cracking his knuckles and shooting me death glares any chance he gets.
Yet he's still alone, for the most part.
For some reason, I feel the slightest bit of sympathy for him, not having anyone real to back him up…
But it can only go so far when you realize who he really is.
There's bound to be other reasons as to why he's a part of this society, but that doesn't excuse his actions.
Zechariah stands in between us, the other faculty also having gathered to witness this fight.
I know throwing hands isn't exactly the best way to solve disputes…
But as previously said, sometimes somebody needs a fist to the face to be humbled.
"Everyone, let this be an honorable duel. You will fight until one can fight no more, or until the other surrenders. Remember, this isn't to the death! No killing! Understood?!" The giant cheetah announces, we both nod, but Damian rolls his eyes while he's at it. Zechariah soon gesturing to me. "On the right corner we have our beloved security guard: Kai!"
My name is met with a brief cheer from my friends, Cameron included, who came to watch.
"And on the left corner we have the one we all know, the antichrist: Damian Beelzly!"
Despite some awkward cheers from his other troublemaker friends, he still puffs out his chest in pride, despite the fact that there's not much to be proud of.
He points to Kayla.
"Doin' this for you, girl!" He pumps his chest with a devilish smile.
"Still not interested!"
He dismisses her with a look.
He then looks to me, giving me a slit throat gesture.
I merely stare him down, frustrating him that he didn't get a rise out of me.
"Combatants! Are we ready?" Zechariah asks, pointing to me, I nod, and he soon points to Damian. "Ready?"
He bares his fangs in confirmation as everyone backs off to give us room to fight.
"BEGIN!" He announces as he leaves the temporary arena.
The devilish child starts off by walking towards me almost as if he could one shot me, looking to and from the crowd with pride, as I don't take my eyes off him.
VVVVWHOOOSH!
Suddenly, in a flurry of dark red particles reminiscent of visible heat, he disappears.
Was that some form of teleportation?!
"He already broke it out!" I hear someone call from the sidelines.
VVVVWHOOOSH!
"BAM!" I hear Damian say…
Behind me…
In the half second that I take to turn to see him, I'm met with an immensely powerful strike to my head, 2 to my back, and one more to my leg, all while Damian lets out sounds going like 'HA!' and 'HO!'.
While I'm blinded by the pain of the forceful hits, he kicks me forward.
VVVVWHOOOSH!
"BAM!"
He reappears in front of me, delivering an uppercut straight to my jaw, sending me flying straight into the air!
"SHORIYUKEN!" He cries out with a smile as he teleports again.
VVVVWHOOOSH!
He does some deadly acrobatics midair while finessing a barrel-roll spin.
"CATCH SOME RAD AIR!" He says before roundhouse-kicking me back to the ground.
I land on my back, being flung backwards and manage to regain my balance, stopping myself in my tracks using my legs.
"Might as well give up now! You're so-o-o outmatched!" My opponent taunts me with that same cocky smile as he lands.
I stand tall, cracking my neck and stretching my arms, staring down Damian.
This kid talks a lot of smack, but if there's one thing I'll give him credit for…
Is that he's got the strength, and even the skills, to back it up.
"Thanks for the warmup." I say, confusing him, but he shrugs it off.
I continue staring at him, making him wonder what exactly I'm planning.
"Tell me, Antichrist…" I say. "Do you bleed?"
As if he were insulted by that statement, he sprints at me this time in rage, I take a deep breath and anticipate what he's going to do.
Sure enough…
VVVVWHOOOSH!
THIS TIME…!
I turn behind myself, putting as much acceptable force into an elbow as I can…
VVVVWHOOOSH!
I end up landing a critical hit into Damian's torso, causing him to fall back in pain.
"GUH! MY KIDNEY!" He exclaims comically.
I take this second to retaliate with a rapid sequence of a right hook, downwards left punch, and ending with a powerful right uppercut, knocking him back again. I waste no time in following up with lunging at him, seizing his neck, lifting him up in the air and slamming him straight into the ground. He's not that heavy, surprisingly, so it was easy, at least for now. I finesse a somersault over him, maintaining my grip on his neck, and throw him in front of me. He tries to regain his balance like it did, but I interrupt it by running at him with a punch that knocks him down.
Surprisingly, he recovers fairly quickly, sweeping at my legs and causing me to leap back to avoid losing my stance.
He's back to staring at me again, breathing heavily after still feeling the pain of my elbow in his kidney. He feels around his mouth, spitting out some blood from his mouth.
It didn't seem like it was from internal bleeding, but more from after I punched him in the face.
He continues breathing.
In rage? Exhaustion? Both?
Some students from the sidelines are murmuring.
"He actually made him bleed!"
"I didn't even know Demons could!"
"What's also scary is that KAI was the one who did it, much less survive anything Damian threw at him…"
Those three statements seem to be the things that hurt his pride, and stares daggers at the students who whisper it, they instantly shut up after they see him looking.
"They're telling the truth, Dame." I half-insultingly call him by his nickname. "Just because you're an antichrist, doesn't mean you can't be beat."
Damian growls in anger again, seemingly seeing the reason why I opted to work for security here.
"So that's what this is about, huh?" He hisses, soon turning to me. "The things of which we are…?"
What's he on about…?
He gets up, at least attempts to, and manages to maintain a stance, staring me down.
"What about you…Kai…? Why don't you tell us what YOU are…?" He hisses again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.
"Don't bullsh*t me…I knew from the exact moment I saw you save your little friend over there that something was off about you." He proclaims, pointing to Cameron. "How is it that you are so different from the other humans who've come here? Why have you been fearless against literally EVERYTHING that normal humans would go insane over!"
"Hey Dame! Just because you're losing doesn't mean you get to slander!" Jack calls out from the sidelines, causing his cousin to growl.
"Have none of you been wondering this at all?! Am I the only one who senses something is off about him?! Addison is the only one who even remotely pointed that out!" He shouts, pointing to a white haired and green clothed kid who was commenting on our duel a moment ago.
"Hey, leave me out of this!" The kid holds up his hands, backing off.
"But still! Why else did he show no fear when I challenged him?! Humans would literally tremble in fear at my mere presence, yet he looked like he was ready to throw hands with me the moment we met!"
"Maybe it's because I don't like troublemakers." I say.
"Or maybe it's because you've got some other reason for being here…" He glares at me.
Sooner or later, I'll have to open up about that.
Though for now…who's that in the air?
As I'm distracted, Damian sees an opportunity to run up to me, kneeing me in the gut, grabbing me by my neck and tossing me up into the air.
It stings, but I've been hit harder.
"Cheap move Dame!" Jack calls out.
"Hey, he was distracted!" Damian retorts cheekily.
"Dammit!" I hear Zill exclaim as he, for some reason, goes to assist me.
While in the air, I feel myself make contact forcefully with something…
Or someone…
I land on my feet atop the Academy, overlooking the parking lot and shaking off the soreness from the low blow.
I look above me to witness the one I unintentionally hit.
Some…being with wings, red eyes and hair, hovering mid-air.
"Dude, you okay?" Zill asks as he lands right next to me after somehow making his way up here in a significantly short amount of time.
Before I can say anything, I look upwards to where I collided with whatever it was…
"What're you…?" He asks, confused as he follows my gaze.
I grip my hands.
"I know you're there." I say boldly.
.VVVMMMMM!
Suddenly, in the same manner in which Kaycee made herself known before, the being drops whatever semblance of invisibility it…
No…she…has
Whatever this distinctly feminine being is, her hair is dyed dark red and her skin is a pasty periwinkle tone. She wears a dark crimson dress with a glowing red amulet attached to a necklace…
Her whole form emitting…a similar presence to that of Damian…
Another Demon of this world…I'd gamble…
"How observant…" The being with a distorted voice like Kaycee's says.
Zill is frozen, his eyes locked on the being in pure fear…the emotion in question radiating off him.
"V-V-VA.." He stutters.
"Vampire?!" I ask, looking back at the creature.
"You got that right…"
"What're you here for…?" I ask, my hands ready to fly either at her, or to my weapons.
She smiles as Zill's fear intensifies.
She leans in closer to us, me stepping in front of Zill to protect him.
"You boys…of course…"
Chapter end