Twenty Three
Finals are only one day away, and my team is still quite pitiful. Richard isn’t speeding up any, but seems to get heavier with each passing day. Jamie won’t practice and Seth only improves when he drinks excessively. Instead of pushing them any further, we decided to take another day off. I know how much Dennis is suffering and I want to be there for him. Though he tries to hide it, his heart’s been beating irregularly all day.
Today marks the anniversary of Spencer’s death, and the potential declaration of Talib’s freedom.
“Are you really going to watch the match?” Carmen asks after I stick another lollipop into my mouth and walk up the stairs leading to Dennis’ booth.
“I can hear it anyway. Might as well see it with my own eyes.”
Dennis chose to remain in his office, but made sure to reserve the room for only me.
As I continue my stroll towards the glass window that provides an amazing view of the field, Carmen gleefully announces, “Okay. Well, I need to go get ready for tonight. I just wanted to hang out with you a little longer.”
The gorgeous girl quickly blinks and looks outside of the window as I spin around. She takes a deep breath before establishing an eye connection. Carmen’s made a conscious effort to not be afraid of my data and it’s been working. Sometimes she stares into them for no reason at all. Whatever my data does to her must be intense. I once noticed her muscles twitching involuntarily.
As I examine the massive sports room with memorabilia, and plenty of seats and television screens, I think of all the suits that have bet on some human’s death while laughing, smoking cigars, and drinking Scotch. Many are no different than Helios in their ambitions, but they all think of him as some grand evil. This red, white, and blue room is filled with the pride of a corrupt system.
Gods and demigods are treated as royalty in this world. Their lives are precious. However, mortals are deemed as “Apes” because of their primitiveness, or lack of power. That’s how I was treated all my life. An expendable Ape.
This booth represents everything I hate about Colt Arena and the gladiator system. I came here to destroy it, but lost that focus along the way. Now, I have a beautiful girl dying to get closer to me. She wants my love and affection, but my heart yearns for hatred and devastation.
“Don’t go.”
“Why not?” The often clumsy goddess is quite gifted at being seductively persuasive when she focuses. Carmen’s hips sway smoothly as she approaches me. Once she’s close enough, the beauty presses her body against mine. “You plan on finding some quality time for me, or will you keep practicing? You’re too busy for me now.”
“We’re always together and we both have work to do. How is that too busy?”
“Training isn’t the same. I want to trap you under a cover. But if you’re not going to let me do what I want to your body, at least watch a movie with me.”
“I’m watching one now. Valentine’s Obsession. It just started a few blocks down. Another stupid romance where the couple kisses at the end after surviving a near death experience. They both lose their parents and friends in the process, but luckily they have each other.”
“It’s romantic.”
“That doesn’t happen in real life. Women are always searching for some magical kiss or intimate moment. Guys want a nut. There are two opposing objectives.”
“Guys should get more romantic and change their objectives,” she asserts with an alluring tone before pushing me away. “What would you prefer? To have me speak dirty to you?” Carmen lies on the blue couch a few feet behind me and spreads her legs. In her best sex operator voice, she teases, “Come put it in, papi. Is that better?”
“What about me reminds you of a stereotypical guy? I never wanted either.”
“Can you at least tell me why you want me to stay?”
My chest burns as I release the breath stuck in my lungs. “When you go you’ll prove how worthless women are.”
“What?”
“Does that offend you? The fact is, women are worth less than my left testicle.”
“Papi!”
“You’ll play right into an oppressive stereotype when you go prance around for the bigot. He’s going to put you on display to show that even women gladiators can be controlled.”
“That’s not it.”
“The top three female warriors of the century were Amazons from Yang Arena. Beyond them, no armored vagina is respected or appreciated. Hannah Carey and Michelle Miyamoto were on their way to defying those statistics, but I helped kill one and made the other run away.”
“Angie.”
“She had potential to be the greatest gladiator of all time, without activating her barcodes, until she lost that match to Malik. I’m sure that was an intentional plan orchestrated by Vincent. The same man pulling your strings.”
I’ve pissed Carmen off properly, but she doesn’t bite. Instead, she changes the subject, “You don’t want romance or sex. What,” under her breath she adds, “or should I say, who do you want?”
Hating myself for sounding so corny, I mumble, “I’m perfectly fine with having someone love me for what I am.”
“I do. Now, it’s your turn to do the same.” She stands up and spins around. “I’m a horny romantic. You have to take all of it.”
Returning to my original point, I demand, “Don’t go.”
“I have to.” Carmen fights her own desires. “I need to know why you want me to stay, but I don’t want to hear it. Let me kiss you. Open your thoughts up to me again.”
“Vincent’s going to use you.” My eyes focus on her. My sight is blurry. I think my eyes are tearing up, but I don’t feel any serious emotions. I shouldn’t be this hurt. “I’ve been listening to their ideas all week.”
She shakes her head and attempts to fake a smile, but I’m clearly upsetting her. “That’s okay. Look, you stopping me from doing this is like me stopping you from going to the dungeon. We both have responsibilities for this crazy family.”
“My responsibilities hurts others. Yours is hurting your self-esteem and pride.”
“Pride is overrated.”
“That’s religious bullshit. Pride is what keeps me going.”
“And what stops you from loving me!” Her voice is heightened and blood is pumping. “You may think you’re the only person that has trouble, but you’re not. We all have problems; don’t judge me for how I handle mine. I’m sick of your accusatory eyes.”
“Interesting. I thought you hated how terrifying they were. But is that what you see in them? Accusations?”
“I’m going.” As she walks to the door, I swiftly reach for her arm and yank her towards me. “Let me go.”
“Why do you have a responsibility to be there?” Her eyes water and I snap, “Screw your tears! Answer the damn question and stop crying your problems away.”
“I have to go,” she whimpers in a pleading voice.
“What the hell are you hiding from me? Why does Vincent have so much control over you? Just admit that you know they’re going to hurt you. I need you to say it. Because if you leave, I’m not going to save you.”
“He’s my husband!” she blares through the pain radiating in her arm and the agony piercing her heart. “I’ve wanted you to save me all this time. I want you, papi. I don’t want some family fortune. I want you to save me. He’s my husband, and I hate him. He hates me. Angie does too because we’re the same age. He’s my husband.”
All this time, she’s been holding this back.
The judgmental looks from friends or people passing us in the skyscraper all make sense now. Everyone knew but me. The Moreno-Colt are a secret that Vincent somehow let out, and I’m the only idiot that didn’t see through it.
Releasing her arm, I calm my breath and turn back towards the window.
“Papi,” she cries sweetly. “You’re going to let me go? You have to save me. I need you.” She nearly falls, but gains the strength to approach me. “I’m sorry I kept this a secre
t, but—”
The force etching through my body fills my small frame. The venomous energy stirs wildly. I look over my shoulders with a determination that could kill. Carmen rushes to hold me, but is blocked as my force pushes her back. Before it completely explodes, I mutter, “Fuck off.”
The shock wave releases a blast that thrusts Carmen out of the room. She smashes into the hallway wall and blood creeps down her neck. Chairs, couches, and tables twirl in the booth until the door slams shut.
Directing my eyes and ears towards the field, I listen as Thomas announces the fight, “Are you ready people? This is the moment everyone has waited for; Talib Lion’s last match at the Colt Arena! Unfortunately for the duo of Talib and Jay Jay, their final fight will be with the Spartan gym from Berkeley, California. These savages are known for their breeding processes. I’d like to welcome: Schmidt Arena!”
The crowd cheers loudly as both sides step onto the battleground. Talib and Jay Jay are matched against two men that I imagine were handpicked by Dennis. These guys are massive and their muscles sound as though they were built for speed and crushing power.
Both are blond with blue eyes. They’re an inch or two taller than the massive Jay Jay, and covered by large and bulky golden chest plates. Their red densely-padded pants and large diamond shields make them serious threats.
Over time, Jay Jay has become more gruesome himself. He’s lost a lot of fat and his skin seems darker. It’s like he’s been training in the sun every day. Talib has taught him various fighting techniques that he didn’t know before. The two are often paired together because that’s what many fans want to see. Dennis still won’t go against his fan’s wishes, no matter how much he hates the beast.
Then again, it isn’t like he should want Talib to lose. The lion is profit as much as he is a prophet.
Thomas yells, “I’m not supposed to be biased up here, but ya’ll know me. I’m sad to see you go Talib. Let the match begin!”
The two men from Schmidt Arena run away from their targets as Jay Jay activates his barcodes. They separate in a perfectly even V-shape and I don’t blame them. They’ve obviously watched a lot of film on the two warriors and know that head-on attacks mean death.
Once the men are a considerable distance away and Jay Jay’s tattoo is a bloody red, the Colt team chases down the Schmidts. Their opponents aim their shields and fire a bright beam that covers the field in the same V-pattern. Both Talib and Jay Jay are hit and don’t seem like they’ll be up any time soon.
Converting the shields into diamond staffs, the Schmidt team hunts down their prey. Jay Jay rolls to the side to dodge his attack and Talib catches his opponent’s weapon. I can hear crackling under his palm.
The staff continues to burn Talib’s hands. The sizzling sound increases and the tip of the spear pierces his arm. Talib windmills his legs and trips his attacker. The two roll over each other and Talib stabs the man in the heart, through his armor, with his bare hand.
“That’s one down,” Thomas blares. “Where you at, Jay Jay?”
Jay Jay is stabbed in the leg by his opponent. He doesn’t even grunt before he pulls the Schmidt warrior in and catches him between his arm. He spins the blond around and chokes him tightly. The man tries hitting the staff to make Jay Jay lose focus, but it doesn’t work. Once he’s weak enough, Jay Jay snaps the man’s neck and removes the diamond spear from his leg.
Talib walks over to help his friend as the crowd screams loudly.
I leave the room and exit to the dungeon, listening to the people chant the name of the first liminal being to fight his way from gladiator prison.
Once I’m underground, I don’t have to hear anything from the above world. There’s no Carmen or Dennis down here. I can skip out on the fans and avoid the self-inflicted torture for the night. My schedule isn’t as long as I’d like it to be, but maybe I can visit Hades’ place when it’s time to leave.
I spend a few hours sitting and converting Shiva into various weapons. Though she and I have plenty of energy to spare, she zaps me. “What’s that for?” I tap on her a few times and she hits me harder. “You’re mad at me? Whatever.” Shiva returns to wristbands, tighter than usual.
With nothing else to distract me, I turn my attention to the movement in the shadows. It has been the same for twenty minutes. “Blue-Skin are you going to come out or just stand there with your creepy expression the entire time? It’s rude to stalk people in the dark.”
“I was just worried about you,” he says as he steps away from two black rocks. “You seem upset.”
I inhale a large whiff of fog. The girls really did make it thicker. I’ve been so pumped up with their power down here, I thought I’d return to my normal self. I feel my muscles expanding inside of my bandages.
Though it’s nice seeing Blue-Skin, I don’t really want to hang out with anyone right now.
The deliveryman continues gawking at me. I try making my desire to be alone obvious, “Why are you here? You don’t transport on Thursdays.”
“That’s because I generally have a date, thanks to you.”
“Make ugly babies. Have a nice life.”
“Do you think you’ll ever do something like that?”
“What?”
“Make ugly babies and have a nice life.”
“Probably not.”
“We all make our own decisions, I guess.”
“Now you’re my psychologist?”
“I’ve been through our psycho-therapy a few times.” I look at him with a twisted expression. “What? You don’t know how lonely it gets down here for thousands of years. Kid, you’re complaining about a miserable twenty years of life. Try not having a date for a few centuries.”
“Point taken.”
“After a small forever, I discovered that you are your own roadblock.”
“You learned that through how many centuries of therapy?”
“None. You taught me when you encouraged me to ask the Charon on a date. Come to find out, she was just as eager to go out as me. She was lonely all that time.”
“I’m touched.”
Blue-Skin removes a glass bottle wrapped inside of a protective cushion from the brown pouch around his waist. “We tried making twenty of these, but only one came out with enough power. It’s not easy to filter this fog back into water.”
“Thanks.” When I remove the glass bottle from his hand, a chill shoots through my body. It’s a horrible feeling.
“I could be wrong, but you look pretty down.”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
“Whatever you’re going through is probably bad. I’ve never had human problems, but let me say that you’re strong enough to get over it.” Without waiting on a response, he disappears into the shadows.
As I climb the stairs, I wonder why I’m so upset with Carmen. She didn’t lie, but I still feel like an idiot for prancing around the academy like a couple. I basically told a married woman that I love her.
I promised that I’d always protect her if she were within reach; then, I let her go into harm’s way.
As I leave Casey’s room and close the dungeon, I listen to a conversation between Malik, Wesley, and Patrick. They’re all snacking on zebra jerky and laughing in the hallway directly outside.
Malik and Patrick have a lot of bruises on their faces. It seems that their bullying doesn’t go unanswered anymore. After students found out that his match with Angie was fixed, a lot more people have stood up to him. Many aren’t strong enough, but with him in bandages and them in groups, the odds have worked themselves out. This idiot no longer dominates the arena and it shows on his face.
“Can’t we just go for a second?” Patrick pleads while bouncing up and down like he has to pee.
Malik grabs his leg and drags him down. “No. I don’t want people to see my face like this. The bitch wouldn’t kiss me, even with Vincent screaming at her. Plus, Monte said he needed to do something, so we have to make sure our hands are clean. We’re on the
school cameras here; we have an alibi.”
Wesley’s on the opposite side of the hallway against the wall. He probes, “Just tell us, dude. He’s going to kill someone again. I know he is.”
“Shut up Wes. Someone could hear.”
“No one’s here; I’ve checked a million times already.” Wesley’s voice is deep, manly. He’s gotten more powerful since last year. Even Malik might see him as a threat if they were to face each other at finals.
The demanding tone from his friend convinces the mutt to reveal a bit of the secret, “I think he’s trying to kill some of the girls this time. I don’t know. I just gave him the stuff he needed for the drinks.”
“But Monte can’t be there either, right?” Patrick inquires while biting into his jerky.
“No. He’ll probably do it like the other party. I gave him some stuff to make them a little woozy. It’s strong, trust me. It even works on gods.”
“I know what you’re talking about. I used it on Selena.”
“Me too,” Malik teases. A look of disgust stretches across Wesley’s face. He flashes his barcodes to scan the area. I wait to hear him rat me out, but he never says a word. “Oh come on Pat. You know I’m just kidding.”
Wesley flashes his codes again. It’s like he knows I’m here. He’s trying to communicate something to me, but I can’t understand it. Resting his head against the wall, he casually asks, “Who is he after?”
“Carmen. Angie. Not sure. He asked if they’d be there.” Malik stuffs a fist full of chips in his mouth before spewing, “But he definitely requested some of my nastiest friends from East LA. Horny guys, were his exact words. Probably wants to make it look like it was rape or something.”
“Won’t Vincent be pissed?”
“About Angie? Probably. But I don’t think he cares for her. Just needs her to make a son. He’ll probably have her ovaries removed and thrown on ice, knowing him. Then, he’ll put her head on display in his office.”
I black out for a second and have to remember where I am. Something screams inside of my flesh as my ears travel down the street to Vincent’s building where Monte is just leaving. The guys in that place are touching over the prostitutes from Block 22. Those girls are as slutty as they are deadly.
Carmen nervously takes a drink as Angie watches her from the corner of her eyes. Carmen’s wearing a white dress with a slit that travels up her thigh. Angie has on a black one that’s very short and shows off her body.
The two are being displayed in the center of a party crowd on throne-like chairs. Carmen begins wavering slightly. Angie blinks strongly and clutches her teeth. She knows that she’s been drugged, but she’s trying to play it off. There’s nothing left in her cup, but she’s pretending to drink it to ward off anyone attempting to set her up. Unfortunately, the toxin is seeping into her brain more with every passing second.
“Stop drinking, you idiot,” Angie barks as she snatches the cup from Carmen and puts it with her own. “Sit up straight and fight it off for as long as possible. Don’t move.”
“But I feel like I have to throw up.”
“You don’t. It’ll kick in more if you move.”
“What?”
“Stop talking and present yourself the best way you can.”
“What do we do once it kicks in?”
“Shut up,” Angie snaps forcefully, causing the drug to react to her heightened blood pressure. “Just follow the same rules for being stuck in the desolate lands.”
Wesley draws my attention back to the hallway as he stands up and starts to walk away.
“Where you going?” Malik shouts, raising a bottle of alcohol.
“Restroom.” Under his breath he mumbles, “Worthless ass.”
“Just make sure you’re back soon. I don’t want to report to the police that you snuck away to poke your pee-pee in one of the girls.”
I’m not thinking straight. My legs are moving on their own.
No. Stop.
I slowly open the door, focusing my attention on the two pricks remaining as Wesley continues his decent down the hallway. He passes up the bathroom and proceeds towards the exit.
The walls expand slightly. I don’t mean I’m lightheaded. They stretch from the hostile energy I gradually discharge. The mutt and closet freak giggle and look around.
“Man, I’m drunk.” Patrick rubs his eyes and leans his head on Malik. “The walls are moving in my mind, man.”
Malik holds his head with both hands. He shivers and releases a disgusting burp. “Whoa. Kay?”
Pulling my hood over my head, I zip up my jacket and pass the idiots. I beg my body to reach over and kill them, but nothing happens. I understand. That’s a fight I can’t waste time on.
“Nice hoodie, but you’re not the only one with cool tricks,” Malik teases while moving his hand and making a barking sound. “Oh. I guess it’s not the same with the bandages covering my dogs.”
The two laugh uncontrollably. The walls expand more and the floor rumbles. I stop dead in my tracks and my heart weighs heavily in my chest.
No. Can’t kill them now.
I finally continue down the path, but Malik impedes my progress. “Hey? It’s midnight. Do you know where your bitch is? Or is she yours at all?”
Without turning around, screaming, or raging through the hallway—all the things I want to do—my force destroys the area and the museum in it. Armor and shelves bash into the two men as they scream hysterically. The walls crumble and chunks of the ceiling smash onto the floor. The ground splits in some areas and I create thousands of cracks under my feet.
Malik and Patrick are trapped under the debris, but they’ll live. I continue my walk and refocus my attention on the girls.
Carmen’s head sways as she looks to her left. “Angie. It’s hard sitting up straight and I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw up.”
She doesn’t reply. Angie’s drifting in and out of consciousness, but managing to maintain her composure. Carmen, however, panics and tries to stand up to check on her. When she falls, a man the same height and build as Monte catches her. His barcode crackles with the power of a demigod’s.
He runs his hand over his smooth hair and insists, “You look tired. Let me help you find a bed.”
Carmen whimpers, “No,” the entire way.
I try forcing my body to speed up, but it continues walking calmly down the street. I’m fighting half of my will to destroy everything in my path. The other half is trying to make it in time.
As I refocus my attention on Angie, I listen as a blond guy approaches her. “Hey. You don’t look so hot.” He actually sounds concerned. “You want me to take you into another room?”
Angie’s lost all control of her body, but shines her barcodes while biting into her cheek. Blood drips from her mouth. She’s trying to power herself up, but can’t.
“Oh no. Your mouth’s bleeding,” the guy drones. He maliciously grabs her waist and throws her over his shoulder.
No one else at the party pays any attention to them. There are hundreds of people dancing with flashing neon lights. Several of the Block 22 girls are pleasing various god-level warriors, and even regular humans, in the next room. The bass in the speakers pumps loudly and the party continues as two innocent women are taken advantage of.
Both ladies are carried into rooms away from the crowd. The men laugh at each other before opening doors on opposite sides of the dark hallway. They carry the girls in and lay them on beds. The guys undress themselves, speechlessly.
My blood becomes a poison that feels as though it could melt my flesh.
Carmen’s captor eases his hand across her cheek. The other goes directly after Angie’s dress, tearing it and laughing demonically.
They both lean down to kiss the girls and I black out. From the darkness I hear people screaming, windows exploding, and cars crashing through buildings or skidding across the cement.
When my sight returns, both men’s blood spills across the girls’ beauti
ful dresses. I inhale deeply and exhale a long and dragged out breath.
I’m in Carmen’s room and my clothes are painted red.
I wave my hand to see if I’ve regained control of my body. My vision is blurred. I continue moving my arm until the surreal feeling vanishes. Then, I rush to Carmen and carry her out of the room.
I run through the dark hallway and place her in the dimly lit lobby directly outside of the party. Because the area is empty, I temporarily leave her alone and run back inside to grab Angie. I can’t throw her over my shoulders because of her short dress. Therefore, I cradle her in my arms and move swiftly. While laying her against the wall next to Carmen, I hear two guys yelling over the loud Punk Rap music.
“Did you see little man carrying the tall chick?”
“Yeah. He had Monte’s other girl a second ago.”
“Should we go get them?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s in on it.”
“Yeah. It looked like he had their blood on him. I hope he didn’t kill them already. I want one.”
“Check him at the door.”
I could drag these girls into the stairwell and hide them until it’s time to go. I could. I can get them out safely and not cause any issues for Dennis.
Lay low Kay. That’s what he would say. Lay low.
But as the men approach us and I analyze the faces of the two women I love so much that it hurts, my chest tingles and I nearly black out again.
Carmen lifts her head and smiles. “See. You love me, papi. I kept praying you’d save me anyway.” She sobs a bit, but I can see the determination to withhold her tears. “I knew you loved me.”
Laughing through my burning eyes, I utter, “I do.”
Angie’s head falls on Carmen’s shoulder. She’s really gone.
“They’re coming. Get us home safely.” As I hold her hand, and the blood on our skin links us together, she ignites her lips and reads my thoughts. “No baby. Don’t. We can get home without any problems.”
Carmen’s head drifts before she passes out. I stand up, releasing my hold, and consider my options. The worst one is dominating the fight.
No. I’ll just drag them to the stairwell and run like she’s telling me. Plus, the Block 22 girls are in there. I could lose inside of these bandages and they’ll still get their hands on Angie and Carmen.
The two men watch me from the door for what feels like an eternity. The largest one walks right behind me and removes my hood. When he sees my closed eyes, he smiles. “You with Monte?”
My silence causes him to fidget and rub the back of his neck. He even looks back at his friend. If I take any longer to reply, they may attack me.
“He didn’t tell you his little brother was coming?”
The big guy steps back. “Oh. His brother? My bad. It’s good bro. It’s good. It’s just, I really like the girl in the black. Pass her on when you done, if you can.”
He races back to his friend as the other says, “Man. I want one, but I’m not mad. Let little man get down and we’ll move in once he’s done. Where you think he’ll take them?”
I sold out. I’m so afraid of being attacked while being trapped in these bandages that I can’t face some thugs from East Los Angeles.
My legs won’t move besides the minor trembling. I eventually grab Angie’s arm in order to drag her to the stairwell. I haven’t touched my best friend in a year. I recall the oath we made, to always protect each other.
“Fuck it.”
I reach inside of my coat and remove the glass bottle. I twist it open and drink the entire twenty-four ounces.
As I increase in size, Angie cries, “Kode?” with her eyes halfway open.
“Yep.”