《Noxpolis the City of Dreams》


 Chapter 1

    Bedsheets swished and turned while an alarm was ringing. The person underneath unwilling to leave the warm comfort of the bed reached out a hand and searched around with it until he stopped his ringing phone.


    "AaaaaHHHHH." A deep groan was heard before the bedsheet was thrown to the side hitting a closet.


    A young man was left on his bed with hands and feet stretched apart staring into the ceiling. He did so until the last of his dreams left his gaze and shook his head. With that he rolled till he was on the edge of his bed and stood up from there.


    A headache at the back of his head welcomed him to a new morning.


    "This is going to be a day." He said. His voice deep, not from the maturity that usually gave it but by the torturous monotony of life that sipped away at that youthful vigour.


    He wore his glasses and the routine begun. Pyjamas off revealing his average body with some bones visible here and there. He was on the skinnier side. He wore his clothes, black trousers with a suit top both with certain red engravings. It was his and like many others uniform of Noxpolis University.


    He heated up the before night prepared breakfast, a meaty sandwich, and got to eating. Meanwhile with his other hand he fished out his phone from his trousers and pressed play for a message he had.


    "Good morning sweetie." He couldn''t help but smile. Not the usual slight smile he had on throughout the day when dealing with everything. Instead, this one was a genuine one, a smile only a mother can bring.


    "We know you have a lot of studying and you can''t see us every weekend. So, we decided to go visit you next month. Can''t have you becoming lazy, you have to clean yourself, clean your room and clean don''t forget that, Andy. Else you''ll be living in a dump. Not to mention..."


    ''And she goes on and on.'' Adrian''s smile got helpless from the overbearing love.


    He skipped to the end of the fifteen-minute message before he responded.


    "Yeah, thanks mom. I''ll be expecting you and don''t worry I''ll take care of myself." He sent it, finished his meal, took his textbooks into a bag and off he went.


    Before departing, right as he was opening the door, he looked into a full length mirror opposite a footstool.


    There he stood clothed and ready. An exemplary student, a good son, a hopeful dreamer in a world full of grey shades trying to dirty him.


    Yet this wasn''t what he saw instead there was something. Something that shouldn''t be there yet is. The source of his headache perhaps.


    [Adrain Greyhound]


    [Physical:80


    Intelligence: 120


    Charisma:50


    Looks:78 (type: Twink)


    Comment: There¡¯re few women that would like you. Unassuming and ordinary. You have nothing going except your intelligence and your good heart.


    Maybe take a chance and go the femboy route.]


    ¡°Look who decided to show up again.¡± He said.


    The empty room responding to him in kind by a negligible echo of his new living space.


    A text was looking at him in the mirror. He closed the door and jumped. It floated there no matter how he looked and moved in front of the mirror it still was there. Waiting for him.


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    He furrowed his eyebrows. His eyes went over the text scanning it. The more and more he read, the more his brows furrowed. Until.


    "A Twink?!"


    "Who''s a fucking twink. Look at this chiselled body." He uncovered his faintly visible one, two, three and four abs. In the next moment he flexed them and hit them with his fist as to show their strength.


    Looking back at the mirror he scoffed and continued reading.


    "Yeah, yeah. I''m not the most handsome looking fellow I kn-you motherfucker." He swung at it, then stopped, his fist hovering an inch away from his reflection. Paced around swung again and stopped. Muttering and cursing all the while under his breath, cursing out the whole lineage of mirrors right from sand.


    But the text wasn''t going anywhere. It still was in the mirror. He already broke a mirror when he was younger trying to scare this screen away. It did nothing other than getting his parents wrath.


    ''In the mirror, again.'' His pupils contracted because of the realisation. He sprinted. Into his bathroom where he grabbed at a sink and with his head down stared for a moment nowhere. His eyes searching around as he was deep in thought before he stopped his hand hovering over a bottle of prescribed pills.


    With one deep breath he forced himself to calm down and take the situation as it is. It doesn''t matter if it''s there or not. What''s it there for? No, that doesn''t matter too. He told himself.


    He lifted up his head and looked into a mirror above the sink. The text was still there, yet now he was impassive. He reached out and tapped at it.


    Nothing did happen as always. It was there. He was there. Five minutes later, going nuts over some text that called him gay. What a life. And now he is five minutes late for his subway to get to uni.


    He grabbed his stuff, clothes, keys, notebook and everything else he''ll need for classes and with one swift moment got out, locked the door, didn''t wait for the now moving elevator and ran down the stairs. In less than a minute he was out. Cold air hit him right in the face.


    He sighed. A breath of mist trailing behind him as he ran like the wind. A bus stop was a good seven-minute walk away from here and he doesn''t give himself much of time leniency. Instead opting for more minutes of sleep.


    He should''ve changed that habit at least for today and set up his alarm some few minutes earlier, but he didn''t and now is risking being late for his first day.


    He cut the last corner before the bus stop and it was there with its electric doors closing and the old bus¡¯s puffing of exhaust was starting. Andrian ignored the pain in his side and ran ever faster. To himself he seemed like the fastest man on that planet.


    He reached the bus in five seconds just as the doors were centimetres away from closing. He knocked on the plastered windows and with the glaring of the old driver the doors came open.


    "Where?" The driver barked at him, taking out a fat cigar out of his mouth. Letting out the last puff out of his mouth.


    "To Nox University Science faculty." A breath of cold air whizzed past Adrian''s neck as the door got closed.


    The driver only grunted as Adrian scanned his card.


    "Get in the back."


    "Thanks."


    The driver grunted again, ignoring him and instead enjoying his cigar.


    The bus started moving while Adrian was looking for a seat. There were a few open for him to sit in, every one of them though already having a person on the other seat. Three was a couple of girls, students like him that were looking at him with frowns on their faces.


    Their looks came as no surprise to him as his face was pinkish like a pig''s and his breathing hurried through his mouth as his nose was full. Thanks to this damn weather he thought.


    He sat at a empty seat, next to an older gentleman with his hair as white as the newspapers his finger was tracing, speaking about the slowness with which he was enjoying his morning. Nice and slow. That can''t be said about Adrian as he was catching his breath.


    The gentleman looked and only moved his cane to make enough room for Adrian to sit which he right away took. Fortunate for Adrian the way went smoothly for him without even talking with anyone. Not that the gentleman was keen on conversing with him.


    Five stops and they were at the University. All the students left, Adrian being in the midst of them. Going step by step down, careful not to fall, until his boots landed on the University grounds.


    A massive University building stood before them. Ancient through and through, the stones themselves paving the way, old and decrepit, speaking about how many people walked this path before them. How many succeeded, how many failed.


    So, this is the safe journey that I''ve secured myself. Adrian thought. And it''s only the beginning.


    He followed the group of students, blending in the middle as just another face in the crowd. They went into the building through the front door.


    One by one they came in till it was Adrian''s turn. He went in and as he looked into the slight reflective surface of the swinging doors, he saw something more.


    More than the system.


    [The beginning


    Description: Unavailable


    Reward: based on completion


    Failure: ???


    Accepted]


    His mouth went slack, eyes wide and all he could do was to be swept inside as the people pushed against him. Inside, he turned around to see his reflection but there was too many people coming and going.


    He shook his head and departed. His mind though in high gear and with one question.


    Is this real? Is that damn thing finally doing something? Did I go crazy?

 Chapter 2

    One lesson later Adrian was in the toilets, splashing cold sink water against his skin. Feeling it prickling him like needles.


    Yet when he upturned his head, it was there looking at him back frowning. His reflection. Together with the quest still there. He knew this was something different, unique even. If it was real that is.


    From a young age he saw it, the system it was there one moment then the next it was gone.


    [The beginning


    Description: Unavailable


    Reward: based on completion


    Failure: ???]


    Now though it wasn¡¯t disappearing. A glance somewhere else usually did it. Not now.


    He smacked his cheeks and went out the toilet. Right on his way to get more knowledge and possible contacts to root himself in this unforgiving society.


    He closed the door behind him and was about to go to his next lecture. His mind already thinking about another subject at hand physics.


    "Adrian is that you?"


    He turned around this set of words having surprised him, especially considering it was a thin girl voice saying them.


    "It really is you. I still remember that face, you haven¡¯t changed that much. Always in deep thought. Like you''re always about to discover something new." He looked at this girl, her student clothes unbuttoned as much as they can be for maximal looseness while her hands were in the pocket of her skirt.


    She looks like a gangster still, he thought and responded. "You haven''t changed one bit Ollie."


    "Neither did you Andy." Hearing her call him that he looked at her in the eyes.


    "Why Andy? You never called me that?"


    She giggled. "Can''t I? We''ve known each other for centuries."


    "Three years of talking here and there, but yes. Either way this is a first time you''ve called me that."


    "Yes, it is. You on the other hand always call me Ollie."


    "Isn''t that your name?"


    "No, it isn''t."


    "..." He looked at her scratching the back of his neck while his face betrayed a silly smile. "Really?"


    "Yeah." She replied with a smile truly enjoying his trouble.


    "Then-"


    "Olivia."


    "So, Olivia."


    "Call me Ollie." She looked at him, hands on hips and with a wide grin showing her pristine white teeth.


    "So, Ollie." Adrian waited a while to see if she wouldn''t cut him off again. She didn''t and her grin grew wider. "What is it that you wanted from me?"


    "Just to say hi and check up on you. How''s the fellow top student doing and so? We have a lot to catch up on. If you want to, we can go for lunch or something."


    "Okay."


    "Then that''s decided, meet you at the cafeteria. Later." She started walking away.


    "See you then Olivia." He smirked to himself.


    She waved her middle finger as a confirmation. At that he shook his head and got on his own way.


    Hours passed by and the lessons followed until the lunch came. Adrian came, took his portion of lunch and found a seat in the full cafeteria.


    He saw a group of students look at him and then speaking with their friends laughing a bit. I was only one table though.


    Seems like my running abilities precede myself. Adrian smiled and shook his head as he tentatively took a sip of the soup.


    "So how are you doing Andy?"


    He furrowed his brows at being called so familiarly again, but let it go. "It''s going forward and that''s what matters."


    Olivia sat down right across him, putting down her own lunch. Chicken wings with rice, the soups the same as him. She took a tentative first sip before eating.


    "How about you?"


    "Yeah, I''d say the same."


    A good amount of time passed of them both enjoying their foods. They didn¡¯t know how, but twenty minutes passed like nothing and they were finishing their lunch.


    "Let''s skip the pleasantries and get to why you''re here.¡± Adrian said scooping the last bit of potato mesh up. ¡°After all your friends been looking this way an awful lot, haven''t they?"


    "Oh, you mean them. No, they''re not my friends. You and your assumptions. But yes, let''s get to the point if you''d like." She stripped down the last of chicken, her fingertips glistening with a thin coating of grease. "Why are you here?"


    "Pardon?"


    "Why pick this school, it''s so unlike you. You don''t care for the prestige and you don''t strike me as a guy to go for contacts."


    "Well, I am going for contacts and the prestige does help, besides the knowledge remains the same across schools."


    Olivia stared at him, a neutral face on. "You don''t know how things function here do you? You shouldn''t have come here. You''ll be broken before the semester ends. I''m saying this as your previous classmate, this isn''t for you. None of this. Go for another school."


    "Broken?" He smirked letting the word roll out his mouth naturally, with ease and expectations to match it.


    "Yes, broken. Mentally, physically, spiritually. All those at once if you''re unlucky or you''ll be a lackey."


    He leaned back in the chair and let his arm fall behind and hang over the backseat. "Don''t joke with me."


    "Take it as you will, you know where to find me." Her smile was back on seeming as if it never left her face and the whole conversation was but a mirage. "I mainly wanted to satiate my curiosity."


    "..."


    They finished the last of their lunch in silence. Each of them having their own thoughts even if Ollie looked to be thoughtlessly stuffing her mouth with remainder of chicken wings.


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    She finished and stood up from the table.


    "Thank you." Adrian said absentmindedly.


    She spun around and nearly made a pose. "You''re welcome, don''t die."


    "..."


    She winked at him and went away into the crowd before the kitchen window.


    "You''re still so unpredictable." He said. At least that''s a constant with you.


    Soon he too had finished and returned his plate. Looking down at his phone he saw his next lessons. Programming then Management. A wide range if you ask him, but that''s to be expected from Noxpolis Uni. After all, here they''re not teaching people to be specialized tools, but to be successful. No matter what they have to use and that''s how it functions. That''s how life functions.


    He looked around and saw one of the guys that was staring at him previously now leaving. His arm around what could only be called a gal. Tanned skin, thick make up on and clothes worn loosely to show of some skin, accentuating those curves.


    They look so similar yet so different. What makes Ollie look so energetic and youthful makes this girl look so slutty. Yet they wear the same clothes.


    The gal leaned her head on the guy¡¯s shoulder as they passed by him. She opened her one eye just a bit to allow a low glint to pass in her eye. Meanwhile the guy snorted, a moment later they were out the cafeteria.


    Adrian followed, took a right turn to go to his next class still wondering what was that about. The rest of his classes went uneventfully, like any other classes they were boring and with a lot of yet to be taught jargon. He was happy to learn them.


    The day ended for him with the lesson on management and at 4:30 he was free. Free to go back into his dormitory and work on his 3d modelling, his one and only source of income and joy. For him it was much more than that, it was the very thing that''ll take him to the very top. It can¡¯t be said he was betting on it; he knew it.


    While the university, degree and all that was good it was ordinary. For Joes and Janes to get a same start at another bottom of a ladder. The difference being that the label of this ladder will switch from saying UNIVERSITY to CORPORATE. But not for me, he thought.


    He stood at the bus stop watching the cars pass one by one. Light rain was drumming on the pavement, a regular occurrence as Noxpolis was mere five kilometres away from the sea while having myriads of ports reaching out.


    Adrian waited by in the rain, raindrops soaking him through and through. He had forgotten to take an umbrella - a side effect of this unusual morning. It didn''t help that the bus stop overhang was all full. The rain drops continued to fall on him earning a cough from him. His hoodie didn''t help much against the weather.


    He looked at his watch, it saw 16:08 mere four minutes till the bus is here. He coughed again and tightened his hands around himself keeping as warm as possible. From the bus stop a bustle came from within the crowd before a girl popped out and walked to him.


    A silly smile on her face and an unsure step to compliment it. She looked just like any girl next door. In her hand an umbrella she opened it and stepped before Adrian.


    "I thought well you''d need it more than me. You know."


    "Thanks." He gave her a smile that seemed to put her at ease at having done something right.


    She gave him the umbrella and turned back to go below the bus stop roof. It wasn¡¯t possible people took their chance and squeezed in as much as they could. A few people were being pushed forward and away.


    ¡°¡­How about we share the umbrella?¡± Adrian said giving her an understanding smile that she returned in kind.


    She stepped forward and next to him with her shoulder next to his - so that they can be both covered by the umbrella.


    "..."


    "..."


    "How-" They both said at the same time. It earned a smile from both of them.


    "You first." Adrian said before she could present the offer.


    She nodded her head before shyly saying. "What''s your name? I was thinking since we''re probably be seeing each other or at least on this day."


    "Adrian Grey and in of flesh." He run his hand through his hair and took of his hood in one swoop. It was all wet and soggy, having it on was more of a nuisance than a benefit.


    "Kathrin Bleu. What''s with the ¡®in of flesh¡¯?"


    "A little to spice things up, to be easier to remember. Tell me how many people do you expect to say something like that."


    She covered her mouth with her sleeve to hide the growing smile. ¡°Not many...¡±


    "Then everything''s alright and my embarrassment is not for naught."


    "You feel embarrassed?" She smiled behind the sleeve.


    "Yeah. I''m not a wall and do feel shame."


    She remained silent.


    "What? Do I not look like that?"


    "I didn''t say that. That was you."


    "How high of an opinion you have of me, I''m moved beyond words." He bowed beyond the reach of the umbrella and the rain started hitting his hair before a sudden shower wet his whole head. He sprung up like never before, the coldness and shock adding to it.


    He saw Kathrin giggling there, her umbrella inclined downward while the rain was flowing down precisely where his head was a moment ago.


    Seeing him looking at her like a wet dog left outside. His hair glued to him and eyes like saucers she laughed and laughed. Her small sleeve doing nothing to hide it.


    "Real funny." He rolled his eyes and grabbed the umbrella halfway up and straightened it out. Meanwhile Katherine somewhat stopped laughing.


    The bus came and stopped right in front of them, the door opened and they went in. The driver was the same old smoker, though it didn''t matter to him this time as he was on time.


    "Where do you live?" She asked.


    "Huh? Are you thinking of following me home?"


    "Maybe." She smiled with closed eyes. Her face not saying a bit about her intentions.


    "And here I thought I was sure to have my first stalker."


    "Would you like to have one?"


    "No."


    "Then..."


    "I don''t know. Everything''s for the first time. It would be an interesting experience. Southlane Dormitories are where I''m at."


    "You really are hoping to get a pretty little stalker, aren¡¯t you?"


    "As if."


    "St. Anna''s."


    "Huh?"


    "That''s where my dormitory is, since you''ve said yours."


    "You too hope for a stalker, huh?"


    "Maybe. That''s why I take a taser with me - among other things. Besides you don''t look the type."


    "Then what type do I look like?"


    She smiled and looked at him, she opened her mouth and closed it a few times thinking about how she should put it.


    "Never mind then. You don''t have to say.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡±


    He waved her off. ¡°But why did you help me anyway?"


    "I just wanted to help." She said and averted her gaze to the passing road and trailing led lights of the cars. She then murmured more to herself than to anyone. "I don''t know anyone here so..."


    "Then I''ll be your first friend? Here."


    She nodded.


    It unknowingly brought a smile to his lips and the rest of the way home passed by like in a dream a nice morning dream. Fragile in its length yet so sweet. He didn''t know what he said, the words flowing out by themselves and her giggles that followed it. The world was blending in like a painting meant to last but a single moment in a story.


    It burst.


    "Wasn''t this your stop?"


    He looked around and into the window where he saw the dormitory in the distance.


    "Yeah, it was I guess I''ll take a next one. No biggie."


    "Yeah."


    They sat in silence the spell as if broken, each one throwing glances at each other but never having the courage to catch and hold each other¡¯s gaze.


    God, you fucked it up Andy.


    The low rumbling of the engine was the single most loud thing that occupied their little world and seemed to even more jumble up their thoughts. Words rolled down to his tongue, he opened his mouth but nothing. He saw her small mouth open, her lips rosy red and parting slightly then stop and continue.


    "So, this is a goodbye?" She said as she looked at him and slowly moved into the middle corridor.


    "Yeah, I guess it is." He moved out and stepped next to her. He was now looking at the top of her head as he was holding onto railing of the bus.


    He was about to say something to her, but she stole it from him.


    "But we''ll see each other, right?"


    "We will. There''s a day tomorrow and then the one after it and so on. We will see each other." He said looking into her clear eyes. "If you want to, of course."


    "I do."


    The bus stopped abruptly. It threw all the passengers forward and then backward. Kathrin collided against him and by instinct Adrian pulled her closer to him and wrapped one arm around her waist while looking through window to what¡¯s happening. She saw his serious face from downward, her face pushed against his chest and her arms holding him for support.


    "Hey you''re going down or what?!" The bus driver shouted after cursing to himself in other language about the car in front.


    Adrian shot him a glare which garnered him nothing but closing of doors. Not having any more time, Andrian released his hands and slipped out the doors just as they closed.


    She tried reaching out for him, but all she caught was empty air. Fingers left outstretched she wasn¡¯t sure what just happened. All she felt was her heartbeat thumping in her ears and the comforting warmth on her cheeks.


    On the pavement Adrian turned around and saw Kathrin, he waved at her and she waved back after a moment. The bus went, he was waving a bit more until it was nowhere in sight, only then did he stop.


    He looked at his open palm and couldn''t help but helplessly smile. That didn''t last for more than a second before he slapped his cheeks.


    "If you want to." He shook his head like that would help get rid of these thoughts. "That was cringe and that before it. Ahhhh..."


    That was enough of a motivation to get him going to his new home.


    But she said yes. He thought. She really did, but when can I see her. The St. Anna''s dormitory. So I just show up there and go like I''m looking for a Katherine or if there''s no reception lady then I just go door to door. Yeah, yeah and the next door I''m going to get into will be of a jail cell. As if...


    He sighed letting a cloud of smoke disappear along in the wind with his worries.


    "She said yes... and that''s what matters." He better wrapped up his hoodie around his body.


    The sun was up still, bringing down soft rays of light into the city. Through the clouds now painted with all kinds of red stretching all the way to blue in a gradient. With dots of stars breaking the fold. A night was settling down. The weather though was promising change in temperature, it could be felt in the air. It was coming, a fall like no other.

 Chapter 3

    "Aghhhh." Katrin groaned and turned in her bed. Her imagination working in full gear.


    ''Katie.'' He called out to her in his strong manly voice. A scent of his washed to her nose smelling of fresh roses and with a certain chilliness as if you could almost feel the sting of the thorns.


    She looked up into his clear blue eyes as he wrapped his hand around her and brought her closer. Her lips parted in a simple. ''Huh.''


    He brought down his mouth closer to her ear and his breath licked her neck. Close enough so she could almost feel it tasting her skin and how it would feel if... but not there for it to happen. ''Let''s go away from here and be together. Live together one for another, hand in hand we''ll go and simply... be.''


    ''I- We can''t. We have universities we''ve just started and degrees to get.''


    He put a finger to her lips. She wished it could go deeper. ''That''s what we should do, but not what you want and you know that.''


    ''I''


    ''Say it.''


    "Say, have you seen my Spring Lily scented shampoo? I can''t seem to find it."


    Kathrin turned around in her bed forcing the covers down from her head. First thing she saw was her roommate in panties and a shirt running around like a headless chicken.


    "Haven''t you dropped it into the drawer in the bathroom?"


    "I looked, but it wasn''t there."


    "Then look again."


    "That''s a nice tip you got me."


    "Glad to have been of help." Kathrin rolled her eyes and pressed the covers tighter to her and released a hot breath.


    Oh god what went into me? I was totally flirting with him.


    That¡¯s so unlike you Katie. Maybe I have¡­


    ¡°Gosh.¡±


    "How grumpy you are. Sorry if I did anything to you." Her roommate appeared in the doorway to her room. "Or did I interrupt something~."


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    Kathrin just glared at her while trying to press the covers as tight as possible to hide the blush she had.


    Her roommate nearly smirked, but that look soon turned curious.


    "No, you didn''t interrupt anything April. Now get out."


    "Then why are you so angry at me if I did nothing wrong. Do you no longer want me, have I been used by you and now you throw me away..." With each word April got closer and closer to her bed. Each step was accompanied with the proper drama of a heartbroken lover about to learn the heartwretching truth he deeply knew but never gave into. "Why-must-you be so heartless."


    April hanged over her, face near as Kathrin numbly watched on. Fragments of her daydream were creeping back in as she felt her roommate closer and closer to her.


    Kathrin tried to turn around and hide herself under the bedsheets, but that went nowhere as April already had her claws on the bedsheets and was only getting closer.


    "Don''t be shy~. What were you doing?" April climbed on top of the bed and towered over the covering Kathrin like a beast enjoying the helplessness of its prey.


    "Nothing."


    April came closer like a cat on four and placed her hands next to Kathrin''s head. Making her look only at her. She then inched closer.


    Kathrin felt the long blonde hair of her roommate licking her forehead as she lowered her head closer and said. "Were you enjoying yourself?"


    In that moment Kathrin froze. April, tasting the mouthwatering taste of victory in reach, clutched the bedsheets and tore them off Kathrin.


    "NO!" Kathrin stammered, grabbed the pillow and with all her strength and more smashed it against April.


    A big rumble was heard as not only did the pillow do the job but other items joined in and fell on top of April. As if to beat the idiocity out of her head.


    "You''re fully clothed!" April said with a pout as if accusing Kathrin.


    "Yes. Why wouldn''t I be I''m waiting for you to shower and then I''m going."


    "Isn''t it normal to wait nude?"


    "Do you want me to freeze?"


    April pouted ever more so with tears at the corners of her eyes. "You''re bullying me!"


    Kathrin rolled her eyes and rolled down from her bed. She stepped over April as she was getting up from the ground and headed out the room.


    "Hey wait, where are you going?" April was quick to follow. She found her friend in the bathroom rummaging through her drawer.


    "I told you it¡¯s not there or are you trying to find-"


    In her joking eyes she pulled out a shampoo bottle. Clearly labelled ¡®Spring Lily¡¯ hair wash.


    "Yeah, then what''s this if it''s not there?"


    April hugged her letting their boobs press together. "Thanks. Katie. I''m forever grateful to you."


    To that Kathrin scoffed and broke free from April''s grasp.


    "Yeah whatever." Kathrin waved and closed the door.


    From behind the door, she could still hear her. "No, I''m really grateful to you. So much so that I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this who made you feel that way."


    Kathrin right away turned and reached for the doorknob only for a soft ting as the door got locked to crush her resolve.


    "April! Open that damn door. I''m not going to ask again."


    "Then you admit."


    "He''s not making me feel. It''s just..."


    "So, it''s a he. Ok. Got it thanks Kathrin."


    "You!"


    No matter how much Kathrin knocked and pounded on the door it did nothing as a while later the sound of flowing water was heard mixed in with out of tune singing.

 Chapter 4

    In the Southlane Dormitories people were going in and out. They all looked different, from places where they come from to their accents, their clothes and conduct. What they all had in common thought was a sharpness to them seen unlike in anyone.


    They spoke in groups. Careful to make that distinction and if conflict arose it was just as quick extinguished. Like it wasn''t there in the first place.


    In such a delicate balance of a situation walked in Adrian into the common longue on the first floor. He was carrying a plastic bag in each hand filled to the brim with groceries.


    As he passed by, he received various glances. He glanced back at them and noticed those stares to range from curiosity to disgust and to downright ridicule. One person in particular, the tattooed guy back from lunch, was glaring at him like at a bug about to pole dance.


    Adrian shook his head and walked to the elevator. The swishing of his bags was the only sound that was heard all throughout the first floor. Then silence.


    He had pressed the elevator button and now there was an absolute silence as he was waiting. And it seemed the people were waiting with him.


    He started tapping his foot rhythmically. Looking at the touchpad he saw 8 blinking there and an arrow pointing downwards.


    That''s just great.


    Having nothing to do he started checking his groceries, one by one.


    Kilo of rice, the same with potatoes, then a three packs of tortillas to make easy dinner for later if need be. Yes, then sauces and...


    A step that''s what he heard. It was a single sound that cut off all of his thought processes. It was like something got woken up inside him that made him focus all on that sound. His muscles got tense in preparation for what''s to come. He was at an all-time peak condition just waiting for the moment to come. For the string to be cut. For him to be released from his cage.


    And he saw it with each soft ping of the elevator coming down a floor the steps followed.


    Until it came down to 0. His body turned and


    His shoulder got caught and the strength as it came got dispersed.


    "Yooooo, that''s some good things you''ve got there. You''re a cook or something? If so¡­ I don''t think I''ll be able to live without you for long." A male voice sounded from beside him. It was exaggerated like no other with familiarity tinged in it for treating everyone as a friend.


    Those words were like a wake up for Adrian as that feeling and whole situation came back to him. His muscles became relaxed and he was back to normal.


    What was that? This... I could''ve just hurt someone. At least I did not. Damn it¡¯s weird. And what has made me feel that way some footsteps? I''m worrying about footsteps. Hah I should go home, relax, get dinner and sleep.


    Adrian turned his head and first saw a smiling boy beside him. He had painted red hair brushed into a bird''s nest on his head. The look was complete with a pair of glasses that made him look ridiculous. He was the one holding his shoulder and now even him.


    "Thanks for holding me back. I''m getting kinda jumpy."


    The boy smiled and waved his hand in front of him. "That''s fine, that''s fine. It happens to the best of us rough first day, huh?"


    "Yeah... I guess so."


    "Right. So, how about then you make me dinner?" The boy let go of Adrian''s shoulder as the elevator was there waiting for them with its doors open.


    "Pardon me?"


    "You''re pardoned."


    In a silent awe they both stepped inside.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Just as Adrian turned, he saw the tattooed guy along with the gal as they were looking at... him. The guy had his arms to his sides while one foot forward. The gal on the other hand looked oblivious to the whole situation preferring to twist her dirty blond hair and look on in amusement.


    "You two lovebirds? Are you going in or what? We can''t let the elevator stop too much; there''s other people too. We''ve got to think about them too." The boy beside him said.


    Before the tattooed man could speak. The gal placed her hand on his chest and ran it slightly down before speaking in his stead. "No, we''ll go after you. There''s no need for you to make space for us."


    "As you want." The boy said and pressed a button to floor 5.


    The elevator doors got closed as they were all staring at each in silence. While Adrian was still wondering what the fuck is going on?


    Just as he came to his senses and leaned forward to press his button, he realised it was already pressed.


    "What''s happening?"


    "You mean them? Don''t worry about them that''s just Becky and Nicolaus and their antics. You''ll get used to it, but don''t think about what they do in the elevator." The boy shuddered as he looked all around himself and jumped back when he thought he saw something wet and glistening on the floor.


    "No, I mean. What''s the matter with you?"


    "Oh. Me. Ooooh right. I forgot." He leaned back and slapped his forehead, before going forward like a jack-in-the-box. "I am your new roommate Huymin Jin. Nice to meet you."


    "Yeah... Nice to meet you."


    "Good, good. So, what''s the thing you wanted to ask?"


    Adrian looked at him, then downwards and sighed.


    "It''s alright I''ll say what I know and not less."


    "About the dinner? That you were joking right? Better yet, how did you mean to put it because it''s hard for me to read you and know if you''re joking or not?"


    "I wasn''t joking." Jin looked at him dead in the eyes and Adrian without having to do anything reciprocated the look.


    "Ok..."


    "No. I meant you do dinner and I''ll do everything else around it. You know the dishes, serving and I''ll be paying for half the groceries. Half and half. That''s how it should be. What do you say?"


    "Ok."


    "Right, I know. I''m - you know¡­ here take this." Jin reached into his pockets from where he fished out his wallet. He then started counting the bills. "Let''s start now. Here."


    A stack of bills appeared before him, counting all the way up to 50.


    "I can''t take this. It''s too much."


    "Yeah, you can. This is for next time as well when you decide to cook."


    In a moment a stack of bills disappeared into the plastic bag as Adrian couldn''t defend himself from Jin''s onslaught.


    "Nice." Jin said.


    "You''re weird."


    "That''s not nice, but I can live with that."


    They both smirked.


    The next two floors went without a hitch with their light banter making for a ride. They stepped out the elevator, it got closed after them and with great satisfaction they both headed for their new home. 551, 552, 3 and 4 and they''re here.


    Sweet home.


    Adrian waited by with his groceries and looked at Jin for him to open, show him if he really lives there. Andy had a small smile on watching Jin as he first got what he meant and then reached out into his pocket and... nothing.


    It was empty, Jin looked alarmed for a second like a scared cat with a tail being stepped on. He patted his front pockets, then back ones, then front. He reached out into his other front pocket and pulled out the keys.


    He sighed and put the key in the key hole. "I was worried there for a second. That could''ve been a rodeo having to go get a new key from the school." Adrian watched him as he turned the keys and the door unlocked - in part even more glad than Jin at not letting just any stranger follow him.


    "Yeah... They for sure would remember you."


    "True. Or you could''ve just let me in yourself." Jin stepped inside and turned to see a face that said ''Not in a million years''.


    "Would you let me in if our situations were swapped?" Adrian asked as he put down the groceries and closed the door behind.


    "That depends."


    "On what?"


    "My ability."


    "Yes?"


    Are you kidding me? Adrian was so done that not even his face changed as he continued looking at Jin. Today nothing more could surprise him and a shower plus good sleep sounded more and more like a lottery win.


    "If you''re asking for yourself. Then yes I would let you in, you look like a ... cool guy."


    "Why the pause? And what do you mean for myself. You''d let in someone else right on the first day? You outta your mind?"


    "There are some people. Cool people like you I mean and stuff that I would let in. Don''t take it to heart I didn''t know the best word to say it."


    "Ok.¡± Adrian pressed fingers to his temple, massaging it in slow circles as he worked out a feasible plan to end the day on a good note. ¡°If anything, I''m going to make that dinner. What do you say, still keen on helping me?"


    "Yes, bring it on for Hyumin Jin never runs from a fight." Jin rolled up his sleeves and exposed his athletic hands before picking a fight with the tableware.


    Adrian closed his eyes and sighed. I guess this is something. Not too bad, not ideal. Yeah, but alright.


    He opened them and saw Jin about done, just refilling the salt while hanging on the backseat, going forward and backward.


    This is going to be something. Adrian took out some food and started by preparing the cutting board, heating the pan and


    A big BOOM interrupted him and made him look back. On the floor was Jin with his hands outstretched while salt was all around him. It looked like he was doing a rendition of a snow angel.


    "I''m fine... Just resting..." Jin intertwined his hands and started enjoying his new view at the ceiling with no intention of getting up.


    "Of course... I wasn''t thinking otherwise."


    Never a dull moment huh. At least there''s going to be some fun in my day-to-day life.

 Chapter 5

    It was a lazy afternoon in the city. No one was out. Everyone chose to stay inside and take in the cold air of the indoors save for one not yet couple - or rather they wouldn''t admit it if asked. Adrian and Kathrin.


    They were out on a terrace, cold drinks in hand while the air around bubbled with the heat. Giggling and laughing could be heard from their table while an easy conversation rang in the air. Talking about their hobbies, about sports, stories, everything and anything under the clear blue skies.


    That could be agreed by the bushes right next to them. A small hole opened in one of them on which end a pair of green spying eyes lurked, like that of a cat and mischievous one at that.


    "You didn''t think Katie I would let you go without protection." April muttered to herself.


    "Are you going to join any sports club on the campus?¡± Kathrin asked and sipped her strawberry lemonade. ¡°I heard they have a lot of such clubs.¡±


    "I''ll wait and see a bit, it''s still the first week of the semester. I''ll wait till things shake up and the puzzle pieces fall into place. Then I''ll look into it. Anyway, I''ll probably end up going to the gym as I can do that whenever."


    "You going to become a bodybuilder?"


    "As if." Adrian rolled his eyes as Kathrin giggled. "What about you then? And don''t laugh too much or else I might end up rescuing you."


    "And what if I want to be rescued?" Kathrin said with humour in her voice.


    "You enjoy getting kissed in CPR?" Adrian smoothly replied and froze.


    They both froze. They ended up looking at each other, their cheeks a healthy red and only getting warmer. In such new silence they sipped at their lemonades while their eyes looked everywhere if it wasn''t each other.


    "They''re hopeless. And it¡¯s both of them. " April cackled like a witch. "They''re like made of the same dough. If there''s a perfect couple then this is it." She wiped away the tears in her eyes, she herself didn''t know if they rushed out from the sight being so heartwarming or her laughing so hard.


    "What we watching?"


    April abruptly turned around. She wasn''t used to getting sneaked on. It was unusual as she was paying attention even if she was mainly looking at the hopeless couple.


    "Who are you?"


    "That''s what I''m wondering, you pervert. You''re the first female one I met."


    "No, I''m not." April quickly replied, stunned by the reasoning.


    "Sneaking around, talking to yourself, hiding in a bush, spying on people. Then what are you if not a pervert?"


    "I''m..."


    ¡°I¡¯m going to call the police.¡±


    April ran over what to say to save the situation and it turned out there was no saving it. Telling the truth was all that was left. "I''m her friend. Yes, I''m Kathrine''s friend."


    "So that''s her name."


    "I''m sorry?"


    "You''re sorried."


    "What?"


    "I''m that guy''s roommate. Yeah, that guy that¡¯s sitting across her. I was just passing by and saw them. I kinda wanted to say hello, but didn''t want to intrude so I didn''t. Then I saw you and wanted to know what''s this about. By the way name''s Jin."


    In silent awe April shook his hand.


    "So, if her name''s Kathrin, then what''s your name?"


    "April."


    "Okay April." Jin crouched down beside her. "So, what''s the current situation? Did they at least hold hands?"


    "No."


    "Did they go for a kiss already? I know that Adrian''s got the spirit and hearth if he gets into it." Jin said like an old father watching and awaiting his son¡¯s next step in life. Yes, he was content on being on the sideline as that¡¯s what was needed in teaching kids sometimes.


    "No. I would be surprised if they could even hold eye contact for more than a while." April then went on and on about what she already heard and saw of them both being so clearly into each other, but neither of them being able to take that step further.


    ¡°Do you know how Kathrin¡¯s been stressing all over the place before coming here? I¡±


    ¡°Hey¡±


    "They seem to be leaving."


    "Already?"


    "Yes, they already drank their lemonades and paid and are now on their way."


    "Then what are we waiting for. Let¡¯s go after them."


    "Aye-aye captain." Jin said and stepped out the bush for but a moment before landing back on his ass as April reeled him back in.


    "What''s the matter?" Jin asked.


    "You can''t just go out like this he''ll know it''s you." April looked out at the street. "This calls for a disguise."


    Jin looked at the shop she was observing.


    "Yes, I tried playing games like that, but it isn''t for me. Too much toxicity and hate." Kathrin said as they were walking through the streets.


    "But that''s what makes it special."


    "Oh, come on."


    "No, I''m serious."


    "Really." Kathrin skipped right in front of him and then spun around. "I think you just like to make people angry."


    "Just a little bit."


    "I knew it."


    "Can''t help it that they get too angry easily."


    "Then I''ll have to beware of becoming your target."


    "Not at all." Adrian said.


    "And why¡¯s that?"


    "I don''t bully cute... and animals."


    "So that''s what I am to you an animal?" Kathrin turned to the side with a hmph and a pout. Her eyes though never left Adrian together with a joking glint.


    "Yes, you''re a cute animal." He said. "A little cute Cat."


    The smell of ripeness was in the air. The trees along their way threw blotches of shade on their path while the bees were buzzing collecting pollen from the concrete flower beds that acted as a fence separating the pavement and the street.


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    "You know you''re the fourth person that calls me like that."


    "Who are the three people that beat me?"


    "My parents and roommate."


    "What is this? I got robbed of a third place by a roommate. I''m not even in the top three!" He said childishness dripping out with every word.


    "No, no she''s not only my roommate she''s also my lifelong friend.¡± Kathrin waved her hands around in distress to save a situation that needed no saving. ¡°She''s been with me for years and years now."


    "In that case it is tolerable then."


    "It better fucking be tolerable." April said and whispered to herself. "I worked hard for that third place."


    A few people were on the pavement moving about.


    "Isn''t this too suave. I mean I dig it. In fact, it was really missing in my wardrobe." Jin said as he tensed the floral string he had around his neck. They bought it as a set with summer Havanan clothes. Shirt, shorts, slippers and sunglasses. Everything in colourful flowers of course.


    "You have a wardrobe?"


    "No. But a theoretical one¡­ And what''s that supposed to mean? You say it like you''re astounded that I have more than one pair of clothes."


    "It is because I am."


    "Woah, that''s hurtful of you."


    "I''m glad."


    "I won''t be talking to you."


    "Good." April said. "Why are you even here?"


    "Because you are here. That''s why. You going to kick me away?"


    April looked at him and for a moment it seemed she was considering it. "I guess no. But you better act nicely."


    "I don''t think I have to remind you who was the first one stalking."


    "We''re now on the same boat. The same crime."


    "At least you''re admitting it. That''s good. Give it time pervert and you''ll be cured."


    April right away struck. She grabbed Jin by the neck and squeezed a bit to make him aware of the situation he''s in. "Shut up or I''ll take care of you. Be good and I''ll be good. Capichto?"


    "Capichto."


    "Good." She released him.


    He coughed and breathed heavily.


    "Come on I wasn''t that rough."


    "You were rough enough." Jin said with as much of a neutral face as his smile let him. "Just what I like."


    "I should''ve been rougher." April said matter-of-factly, not turning around to hide her expression. "To choke out the stupidity out of you."


    "You should''ve been rougher."


    "How about next time I do it tighter and lift you up."


    "That would be preferable, mommy."


    The people around them were throwing them glances as the bits and pieces of the conversation were heard. Their own discussions quietened as if someone lowered the TV volume and this show became more important.


    "I won''t get embarrassed no matter what you''ll say." April smirked before slowly, letter by letter addressing Jin. "Daddy~."


    "You don''t know how happy that makes me."


    "And I''m sure I don''t want to know that."


    "Don''t be like that mommy. Don''t you care about me?"


    "But of course I do. I''ll let you feel it how much I care for you."


    "What-"


    Jin moved backward, but that didn''t save him from April''s claws. He was caught all the same, he closed his eyes and the pain didn''t come. Instead, an additional weight landed on his back and made him wobble a step.


    "What are you doing?" Jin asked.


    "Say stupid things, so why not act on them. Treat me like your queen or whatever, yeah? It just so happens I''m tired of walking. Let''s start by you carrying me."


    "That''s unreasonable."


    "Too bad."


    Jin shook her from side to side. "Go down." He wasn''t stopping.


    "I don''t think I will." April said and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck like a boa.


    His struggle became weaker and weaker. Like a charm it worked and he stopped trying to throw her down.


    "In this case it is acceptable." He managed to say.


    A man passed by them in that moment with his girlfriend, it was a noisy couple in which it was obvious the woman was dragging the man. From the look, they were going shopping, worse yet for the man it was clothes shopping.


    Jin saw him. They nodded at each other; it was a nod of acknowledgment of the others achievements in life. One that came straight from the heart, it was like looking at a fellow soldier marching to his death and saluting. One thing was different though they were both going with smiles. A flash later the man along with his girlfriend was gone in the crowd.


    ¡°Hey, look where you¡¯re going!¡± April shifted his head like she was ratatouille cooking. More surprising was it worked. And not only did Jin turn¡­ he also slightly moaned. "You really are a masochist."


    "I guess I am¡­"


    "I think I''ll have to wash my hands when this is all over."


    "Hey that''s just plain rude." Jin looked back at April only to see her disgusted look that spoke for itself.


    They spent their time at the arcade, then it was the small shops. Everywhere Adrian and Kathrin had a great time laughing and having a great time. There always were Jin and April somewhere in the back making the most ambiguous and uncomfortable atmosphere that was possible. In lot of cases they were fighting, thankfully when they got into the arcade it was no longer physical. That didn''t last though, it lasted precisely three fighting games that Jin won against April. And that was a mistake Then it devolved into real fighting game when April said that he was cheating with spamming buttons.


    The time got late and the sun, pinkish in its hue gave the sky a faraway radiance. Their journey too reached their end with their way to the theme park where they got on a Ferris wheel. First Adrian and Kathrin, then Jin and April into another one.


    "It''s been so long." Kathrin said.


    Adrian glanced back at her. She was sitting opposite him looking much farther out and even closer still.


    "The last time I was on a Ferris wheel was with my mum." She sighed. "But that''s years back."


    "I''m sure you can go with your mum again. I think if you ask her, she''ll agree. Not that I met her or anything, but from your talking I''m guessing she''s really good and not some old witch."


    "That''s how you call them?"


    "Some. If they are witches or old bi-¡­ ahem. Facts are facts."


    Kathrin turned to facing Adrian as he tried to be as much comfortable as the rickety wood and metal seats enabled. "But yeah, I think I will ask my mum the next time I''ll be with her. But what about you. Were you ever on a Russian wheel?"


    "Promise that you won''t laugh at me."


    "That''s a promise I can''t say I''ll be able to hold."


    "Then just laugh with reservation."


    "Okay I promise. You''re making me too curious as to what is it."


    "Okay." Adrian leaned forward and Kathrin mirrored him. Their faces were mere centimetres from touching. But neither seem to notice as they were more focused on the conversation.


    "I''m afraid of heights."


    They stopped there for a bit looking at each other. Adrian with his worried face and Kathrin with a blank look. That soon turned into a giggle like the sound of bells jiggling.


    At least she isn¡¯t full on laughing, he thought.


    It had the same effect though of making Adrian look aside out of embarrassment. Then see the ground as they were just about to reach the top and turn back to Kathrin that was silent now since a few moments ago.


    "It''s illogical I know. There''s-"


    "No, no it''s quite logical. You''re afraid because there''s a real chance of dying. But you''re the one illogical still." She said. "Why did you agree to go here if you''re afraid of heights? We could''ve gone elsewhere."


    Adrian was without words to say. All he could do was make a silly smile that explained it.


    In that moment the Russian wheel came to an abrupt stop. It pushed Adrian back into his seat while he held the seat with one hand. The other hand was already holding Kathrin as she was thrown towards him. He wrapped his hand around her waist in that split second and held on as the metal squeezed and squashed under them and stopped.


    "You, okay?" Adrian asked.


    "Yes..."


    "I think there''s been some problem. The people below seem to be repairing it already."


    Kathrin nodded.


    They sat there one on top of another, holding each other close and not separating even if they could. The city laid bare before them, a river with lights floating in them, the park behind it and farther the flats bustling with life and stories of their own. Whatever window was a new story. Windows to other lives reflected upon the waters, little lights holding strong in the current to not be drowned.


    "Beautiful." Kathrin said.


    "Yes..." Adrian said while his gaze trailed off right back to the moment. "Beautiful..."


    She looked back at him and he at her.


    The world stopped for them; they were frozen in a chaste kiss. Sound, smell, sight was all muted, all disappeared except the both of them going deeper holding each other tighter and the kiss changed to a searching one. But they already found each other and the kiss was just a final seal.


    A trail of saliva connected them as they breathed heavily. Their minds hazy yet resolved for each other. They wanted to continue whenever into the night for each other into time that has yet to come. They went back in for another kiss and stopped as they felt the earth moving again.


    The moment passed just like anything, but in that one moment they were perfect. But perfection is just that. A moment elusive in time.


    There was just one thought on their minds.


    Why couldn''t they make it stay?


    The Ferris wheel was turning again.


    A few cabins down were Jin and April. A smell of gunpowder was in the air while they sat opposite eyeing each other. An imaginary clock ticked by, the tension rose, their hands ready on non-existent guns strapped to their non-existent belts. The noon of theirs imaginations was high as they rose to the very top of the Ferris wheel.


    Jin smirked.


    "Don''t you fucking-"


    But it was too late as Jin was quicker in drawing his weapon and said. "Wanna kiss?"


    He didn''t expect the counterattack though.


    A punch kissed his face.


    Twenty-three seconds later and they were back down and on the uplift. Jin was in one corner of the cabin holding his bruised cheek while sitting in the farthest corner covering from April. And her tyrannical ways as he thought of her.


    Like he, she was looking at him, her legs crossed.


    "Play stupid games win stupid prices." She said.


    "But I thought I had a chance."


    "Keep dreaming."


    ¡°You gotta get some practice in etiquette. You act like a gorilla.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± She leaned in while he tried, but was unsuccessful at getting away. He had his back firmly pressed against the seat.


    ¡°An ape that¡¯s how you act.¡±


    ¡°An ape. You! Take that back.¡± She grabbed his cheeks and pulled and pulled.


    ¡°Yeash¡­ an Apeh.¡± He said and found a way to her cheeks with his hands and started pulling the same way.


    ¡°Y ouh t-t-take thath back.¡±


    ¡°Neverh.¡±


    For them it was another five minutes of nonstop arguing mixed in with few instances of small physical violence before they all went back to their dormitories. One group content and closer than before, the other¡­ yeah let¡¯s not talk about the other group as they were still giving each other a headache.

 Chapter 6

    Few days of rain passed and so did school and everything started getting unto the right track. Lessons were the same old boring stuff, while the highlight of his day remained Kathrin.


    Just like now.


    "... that can''t be right." Adrian said.


    "But it is. You wouldn''t believe what my mother is capable of when ''she''s standing up for what she should get''." Kathrin said acting like her mom, cold tone, the look of superiority, the whole set. "Because ''Kathrin you won''t get anything if you can''t stand up for it''. Like yes, but sometimes that just makes things worse or doesn''t change anything. Just being sympathetic can take you a long way."


    "You''re right, but you must also see her side. If she''s getting something for you, her daughter or the family it''s a different matter altogether."


    "I know. It''s just..."


    "It''s okay, I understand. My mum" Adrian scratched his neck while a smile played out on his face. "She does act like that sometime. Used to anyway." It was slightly different then.


    "So, you also had the pleasure of just standing there."


    "Dozing off."


    "And being kinda embarrassed."


    "Yeah."


    "Good."


    "What''s good?"


    "That there''s one more person that has suffered as I have." She looked with a cheeky smile at him.


    "Yeah, you little monster want to see me suffer? That''s what you like?"


    "No. How could I?"


    They both stopped the doorway of St. Anna''s looming before them, the light from below still yet to fully reach their faces.


    "We''re here." Adrian remarked.


    "Yes."


    They were both looking forward, wishing this walk could perhaps last just a bit longer a bit more. Neither of them voiced out those thoughts and then they passed as fireflies started flying with the stars.


    They followed them up in their flight up the balconies till the sky full of appearing stars. In them the fireflies disappeared like one of their own. And so, their sights returned back to Earth and met in the middle staring at each other.


    "I should go." Adrian said.


    "Yeah. Me too, so see you..."


    "We can go out for dinner tomorrow. It''s a weekend. If you want to, of course."


    "Yeah, I''d love to."


    "Then see you then."


    She hopped away like a startled doe, her face down turned and moving by instinct. Adrian looked on with a foolish smile having a bit of red in his cheeks too. Not that he''d admit it.


    He remained there looking up at the sky. Not thinking just... feeling. Letting the night breeze in and out his lungs in satisfying low breaths. This was the life. Carefree and light, easy with some rough edges here and there of not so sure future, but all future is unsure and right now for a while Adrian though it didn''t matter. Neither the marks or the university or the label that comes with whatever degree. And fame. Recognition. What''s that? Being here fluttering with every word of hers was more than he could¡¯ve gotten.


    He smiled and felt his feet back on the ground. Back at the parking lot before her dormitory. But so what it''s not so bad of a future, but it can be better. Yes. Adrian thought back to his room and the computer with a still opened 3d model. Another of a myriad. For him it was more than a hobby, but a ticket to freedom. A financial freedom. The only freedom that seemed to matter in this time.


    He walked away, determination reigniting with every step he took and oh the growing grin. It was all going to work out well. And he damn well will take care that it does.


    A window roller rattled and closed.


    "Did he finally leave?" April asked as she put her head on Kathrin''s shoulder from behind.


    That earned her a gasp from Kathrin.


    "Did I scare you? I didn''t mean to." April said and while Kathrin was forming her answer stealthily slipped her arms around her and ended with them on her breasts. And as Kathrin was about to answer squeezed them like dough and kneaded them like one.


    "Ahh." It elicited a moan from Kathrin before that got turned a notch higher and it clicked for her what was going on. "April!"


    "What''s wrong?" April did a last unwilling squeeze and stopped. "Just enjoy it. You don''t know how therapeutic it is for me. I''ll let you fondle mine."


    "No. You''ve asked me that now about a million times and it¡¯s still a no."


    "Why? You always let me do as I please. Why''s it different now? Don''t tell me..."


    "I have a boyfriend now." Kathrin turned and forced that way April off her. To be sure she crossed her arms around her breasts as a countermeasure which only accentuated them.


    "Noooooooo. What then about me Katie, you can''t do this to me."


    "Yes, I can and you should go looking for someone yourself. Get over Nataly, that''s over. Here''s a new chapter of your life."


    April didn''t expect that. To hear that much truth and of all things her accursed name. She had mulled it over in her mind time and time again without Kathrin having to tell her. It all accumulated in a single. "I know."


    "Soooo?"


    "Yes. I did speak to some of our classmates and dormmates and there are some girls that would previously make my heart flutter. Their supple skins, sweet faces that remind you of little animals. Oh what would I do to see them change under me. But -"


    ¡°Please language.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know but it¡¯s just¡­¡±


    "Not one of them can measure up to Nataly."


    "Yes, not one of them is as good as Nat. As understanding as her, kind as her, as humane as her, yet so angelic."


    "Yes. Not one of them are like her and no one will ever be."


    April focused as she heard that, her eyes tightened into small pins as her heart clenched.


    "And that''s a good thing. You know each of them has something of their own. They might not be as kind as her -"


    "And no one will ever be."


    "Yes, but that doesn''t mean they can''t be more caring or gentler than her."


    April froze there as she heard it then burst out laughing. "Yeah, she''s not exactly one for subtleness and being gentle. She has her own love in a hard way but ultimately it''s good for you." She said with a sweet smile before it got complicated. "No matter how unwilling you are to receive it and admit it."


    "And here we are again. I know it''s hard but can''t you just call her. I''m sure you two can do it together. Even if that means running away from her parents. I''m sure she''ll be willing."


    "It''s not that easy, but don''t worry about me. I''m getting there." She flashed her a smile, self-assured and content with her path. "Rather than that let''s talk about that boyfriend of yours and how he stole you from me."


    "As if I was ever yours to begin with." Kathrin huffed and puffed. April again with her antics.


    "Don''t be so mad, chipmunk."


    "I''m no chipmunk."


    "Whatever you say chipmunk."


    Kathrin only looked at her now knowing that denying it further will let April stick it to her more.


    "I wanted to say you two look cute that''s all. And how none of you want to take the first step it''s so dramatic and nerve wrecking. Just kiss god damn it. Is it that hard?... and look as I''m saying you''re blushing, that''s what I mean."


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    "April!" Kathrin shouted now without the previous ferocity of a tigress but a little kitten begging her ma not to embarrass her in front of other kittens.


    "Don''t try to deny it. I see it and you better French kiss the living breathing ghost out of him or I''ll go insane watching you and muttering to yourself in your room." April said panting as her rant was coming to a close. "And yes, I heard a lot of it and let me tell you girl you''re a bigger freak than me. You''d want-"


    "April!" She hurled herself at the now running April. And without a hitch April dodged doing a graceful spin in the process.


    "Or it''s worse you yourself aren''t aware of it. Is that it?"


    "You won''t sleep tonight till I get you."


    "Don''t threaten me with a good time!" April said and let herself be caught. A bit smaller than Kathrin as she held her against the wall, but what she lacked in height she compensated by sharp speech.


    "Argh, that''s not what I meant and you know it."


    "No. I don''t. Tell me what was it?"


    "I can''t¡­ with you. You don''t take anything seriously."


    April sighed and lowered her head as Kathrin let her hands go. She still stood in front of her though with crossed arms now.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯ll get out of here without any sequalae.¡± April whispered, nothing from the previous good mood visible on her face.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Adrian was walking back to his dorm. His steps took him across the streets and into the park that formed the backside of the Southlane dormitories. Light was sparse, the lamps far in between and more like decorations.


    He saw it or at least thought he did. A pair of his schoolmates at first kissing by a thicket before after a lengthy wrestle they disappeared in the far reaches of the thicket.


    It seemed the world was laughing at him. Showing him what he can for now only dream about. It didn''t bother him and why should it? He thought to himself. This way it''s better, we have time we can enjoy ourselves and when time comes, we can tear each other like animals.


    Footsteps were getting closer to him. All he did was glance behind, but that did nothing other than reveal there to be two people walking. No more no less as the sparse light didn''t allow him no more than to see their silhouettes.


    "Now what do we have here?" He turned at the sound of a male voice behind him. He stopped in his track right under the park lamp and was about to call out to the dark who it is.


    It was Nicolaus and of course along with him Becky.


    He turned his head in front to check.


    "Yes, Nickie''s talking to you."


    The buff guy Nickie grunted as Adrian turned back to them curious enough to see what''s their business.


    "What''s wrong Nickie?" Becky asked tilting her head while twirling a sucker in between her index finger and thumb.


    He grasped her hand and the twirling stopped. Her searching sight returned back to his face.


    "What did I tell you about that name in front of strangers?" He said.


    "But come on he''s not going to be stranger no more so what''s the big deal?" She tried putting the sucker back in her mouth, but his grip was too strong.


    He remained looking at her and at her futile struggle. As each time she was about to succeed he pushed it further away from her. He was in control and that¡¯s how he liked it. After her third attempt he put it in her mouth and turned whilst saying "So, now you have two choices either you join..."


    Adrian was nowhere to be found, his place occupied by a healthy amount of oxygen combined with sodium plus a sprinkle of carbon.


    "Couldn''t you have said he ran?"


    "No, you were more interested with playing with myself and why would I refuse that?" Becky flicked her hair behind her ear and revealed a defiant expression saying ''what are you going to do big guy?''.


    And the big guy didn''t disappoint.


    He smacked her behind which elicited a hop followed by a moan from her as she nearly closed her eyes looking at him from enjoying the sensation.


    She let his hand rest in her butt as his imprint reddened.


    "I''ll play with you much more later." He said and pinched her butt. "For now, I still have a¡­ fun to have."


    She opened her eyes fully and huffed at being so rejected. She started walking a few steps in front of him. Letting her hips sway and showing her bubble butt from under her mini denims with the red imprint peaking right from under.


    He laughed.


    Some few hundred meters away.


    That was weird. In anyway If they want something serious then they''ll say it in the dormitory. I for sure don''t want to be part of whatever''s that. Adrian thought as he was quickly getting closer to his dormitory. His thoughts went back to them again and again wondering what they wanted on a dark night, in a park, all alone¡­ yeah that looked more and more like some sex play awaiting to happen.


    Maybe the big guy likes to share. Everyone¡¯s different. Adrian laughed.


    The dormitory was already in front of him, right behind those bushes. He crossed them at once and the rest was just a hundred meters lit up by the faint lights from the first floor.


    His walk got slow as he saw a myriad of people on their balconies or just hanging from their windows and smoking. It was all right, he was on the dry ground.


    Not a moment later he heard something. Too quick and he was on the ground, tackled. Adrian rolled and that didn''t help him.


    A pair of arms grabbed him from behind around his neck and pressed. That wasn''t all though, he saw another guy, tattooed and casual wear with flip flops.


    Casual kidnapping huh. Such a ridiculous thought ran through his head before he kicked. He planted it right in this kidnapper''s thigh.


    That stopped him for a second, but as another kick was coming for him, he dodged and stepped on his other leg. Adrian grunted and thrashed and kicked again this time hitting squarely his chest. The kidnapper folded into himself, Adrian didn''t let that chance slip and kicked again aiming for his head.


    It didn''t happen. The one underneath him turned and reoriented the trajectory of his kick while also twisting his clasped leg.


    Adrian gnashed his teeth as if that would help with the pain. Instead, what did was this curtain that was overcoming his whole vision. It was there, then with a jolt it wasn''t.


    Grass tickled his face, the sensation dulling each second.


    All he did know was looking at the balcony and seeing the people looking down at him. Shadows in basked in lights of rooms. Flashing, flickering, whirling around, closer and farther. He thought he saw someone on the fifth floor and third window, he hoped, a shadow hovering in the window and¡­ nothing.


    The next time Adrian woke up it was with a shower of cold water. He wanted to sit up, but found himself unable to as there was a suffocating feeling in his abdomen.


    "What.... the Princess¡­ nothing... what do you... I didn''t... And that''s... I''ll... Everyone.... No one will... to beat me... No one will beat me." The voices they were blending in and were incoherent once loud the next second too quiet to catch.


    He opened his eyes and saw a boot pressing down on him. Trailing his sights up along the boot he found a towering presence hovering above him.


    "He''s getting up... I... Let''s get.... Yes... Get him too, double the fun."


    But no face. There was instead an orb of light shining into his eyes blinding him while voices were getting clearer and clearer.


    "What''s the matter sleepyhead?"


    "What... do you want from me?" Adrian asked, he had difficulty breathing. He moved his arms a bit to get rid of the stiffness, but it didn¡¯t help. They were tied above his head to something.


    "Nothing much."


    "I can give it to you whatever it is you want just let me go. I don''t know how I have offended you, but I''m sorry if I did." Adrian said trying not to sound worried. Not worried as any person in an unfamiliar environment, with kidnappers and without a chance to move could.


    "Wonderful. This is what I''m talking about cooperation and everyone''s happy."


    A smile flashed across Adrian''s face, a crooked broken smile. While he thought about it all how when he gets out of this the first thing he''ll do will be to get the police.


    His dreams though were to be postponed a little.


    "You know there is something I want from you." The boot went off his abdomen and he sat up, not completely as his arms were taut.


    "Thanks. I knew we''d be able to come to terms-" As Adrian said those words a sharp pain assaulted him and thrown him back to the ground. Now his voice lost, his breath gone and mouth open in a silent scream searching for lost oxygen.


    "Yeah, I knew we''d be able to." Another kick followed this time to his face.


    The light started spinning and strong urge to vomit overtook all his senses until he let it all out.


    "Hey you''re going to knock him out. That''s no fun." A different, a female voice called, Becky''s voice. The puzzle pieces fell together, but didn¡¯t paint the whole picture. He knew who¡¯s doing this to him. But why?


    "I couldn''t help myself seeing that pretty face and that hope. Hah, this sets nicely for him."


    But"...Why?" Adrian breathed out with a hoarse voice.


    "What speak up? Didn''t people teach you how to speak properly?" Nicolaus said.


    Adrian straightened himself as much as he could and caught some of his breath back. Then it came out naturally, an accusatory "Why?"


    And nothing followed other than deafness.


    "Why not?" And maybe sometimes it¡¯s simple as that.


    Adrian wanted to say so much and then more as there was not one case where he''d go so far as to hurt someone. And for what? Not for himself, not for someone else...


    "Is it because I looked at your girl?" Adrian scrambled for an answer, a truth why it''s happening to him. More so for the silence of his soul than to get out of this ridiculous situation.


    A silence followed.


    "He got it." A one-man applause followed, with the pause between each clap being progressively longer. Like a scream into the dark and yet no one other than the people gathered here seemed to care about it.


    "Nickie. Please, punish him more and more. Do it for me, he sullied me and I can''t stand that. It''s too much to be looked at by trash such as him. You wouldn¡¯t let me stoop so-"


    "End of this act. And stop leaning against me."


    "Why?" She said.


    He grunted at her as an answer.


    Short silence followed before a sound of heels click-clacking was heard and then a sting in both his palms. "It''s all because of you."


    Adrian¡¯s face went from pain and settled on confusion.


    "So, to answer your big question." A big tattooed hand reached down and grabbed him by the neck, inclined him so he would face towards him. He couldn''t see him through the blinding light, but Adrian for sure knew he was there. Looking at him and grinning from ear to ear enjoying what he brought him.


    "At first I wanted to give you a choice, but I changed my mind. It''s all because of what I saw. A pussy and no more... I don¡¯t know what she saw in you." He pushed his head even closer. Adrian felt his arms go taut again. "And now I''m doing it all because I''d like to. You''re going to be my trophy and a warning. Right boys."


    "Yes, boss!" A plethora of voices called out. So near, so close to him. Adrian felt this was the opportunity and took it.


    "So-" Nick''s voice was cut short as he felt something wet in his face. Then it hit him, it was spit. "You motherfucker."


    The grip around Adrian''s neck tightened. The one hand was enough to reach all the way around his neck and still have the strength not only to disable his breathing, but to allow him to feel his bones creak against each other.


    "Nickie. Nicolaus. It''s okay."


    His grip tightened and Adrian was about sure this will be the last thing he''ll see. There''ll be no rude waking up. No more kidnappers humiliating him. No more Kathrin.


    "Remember what we have planned." Becky''s coy voice continued. It had its effect as the hand slowly came lose and Adrian started coughing.


    "Yes. Get to it, Lian, Tobias."


    And before Adrian could properly cough to his heart¡¯s content a face appeared from behind the light. It was covered by a shadow, but Adrian knew. He knew that damn face and he for sure knew he won''t ever forget it.


    "Mutt. This is the last time you''ll be able to breath for a while. So enjoy it while it lasts." He spit down at him, a childish retribution. "And one more thing we invited a guest over that''ll be your main host. I expect you to properly welcome him."


    Another silhouette was pushed towards him. This one jittery, with strong smell about it pungent of dead fish and whatnot. It was a strange silhouette nothing Adrian expected from these gangsters.


    Tattered clothes. Yes, it was a homeless man. But there was something off about him.


    He glanced up in his quiet acknowledgment and saw a sink head above.


    So, this woke me up.


    He felt his pants coming down by themselves and before he could get a good look on what¡¯s happening a bag was thrown on his face.


    His body tensed as it knew what was going to happen though his mind didn¡¯t let him know, but let him roar out. All the last of his air as if there¡¯d be no tomorrow.


    "You''re going to pay for this, Nicolaus!"


    ¡°You hear me!¡± he shouted.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay!¡±


    ¡°Nicolaus! Nicolaus¡­.¡±


    He heard no answer as water clouded his senses.

 Chapter 7

    Birds were chirping, awakening the world into another bright hot day. One of those birds, a mockingbird, sat down upon the wet ground.


    The grass sparkled in the soft sun rays like new glass. It was a classical morning with the afterburn of the summer still in the air.


    In the park was the same. The same grass, the willow trees and a small easy to miss pond. To which a trail of water was leading. Not a stream, it was too little water there. The trail ended at a sack of clothes and in it a body, sitting and stale. Looking at the water and perhaps it was the water that was copying him in his stillness.


    Adrian sat there casting his glance down into the shallow water. And nothing did happen. It was more like a painting than anything. Simply frozen in time and without purpose in on of itself, but of what the observer forces upon it.


    The water was reaching out for him, his own reflection. He saw it, he thought he saw it and something more. It all seemed it could be there at a touch of his fingertips and all he has to do is reach out to know whether it''s real.


    He did, he let his hand slid down the side of his pant in between his legs and down. It didn''t quite reach it yet. He lowered himself whole and saw his reflection.


    Not of calmness and soullessness, but twisted beyond recognition, screaming and contorting so much so it gained animal like ferocity and likeness. Then the ripples came and he withdrew his fingers.


    The image came broken and back to normal to reflecting his broken state. He ran his hand through his hair and stood up. The sun has kissed him good morning, and he knew this better be the last morning out of jail for some special one.


    Adrian took out his phone and ignored the new web structure on its display. He unlocked it and before he could call the police he saw an unread text.


    ''Hey Andy, I know we wanted to have that dinner, but I forgot I gave my word to my roommate that I''ll be attending this one party. And it''s a tradition as I''ve heard to attend it. I was wondering if we can maybe do the dinner some other time if you''d like.'' And Kathrin followed it up with a smiley face and a heart.


    His neutral look was about to falter, something was tearing out of him and he didn''t let it go. No, not until it''s all done then it''s okay. He said to himself.


    ''We can go to that party. It''s the one on the Jarwood street, right? 8 o''clock arrival and you''ll never wake up after this was the slogan on the posters no?'' He did a quick reply that he¡¯ll be there and opened contacts.


    1-1-2 and his thumb hovered over the call button. A ridiculous thought was running laps in his head, what if someone will notice what happened here to me? His hands were shaking and with a look up at the peaking dormitory from above the leaves he pressed the button.


    He flexed his fingers in relief, breathed in¡­ and out a long sigh.


    The phone rung once and was picked up. "112. What''s your emergency?"


    "I was assaulted and tortured. Can-"


    "Your location sir?"


    "A park near Southlane Dor-" And the line went static. He put the phone down and saw the call had ended.


    He called again.


    This time he heard it ring once, twice and all the way until it forced him off the connection.


    "What a great morning. A problem with connection just when I need it. Perfect." He pocketed the phone and looked at himself.


    He pondered for a while to go back into his dormitory and change, but decided against it. There''s going to be a great hustle and bustle there right about now. Becoming a topic of today''s talks wasn''t one of his priorities, at least for now.


    When it''s all over and with those four behind bars then it''ll be different, much different. Those news will be much more bearable then than now.


    He walked all the way to the nearest police station; his phone was still capable of navigating him.


    Adrian right away rushed inside. There was a receptionist there and a man in his fifties seated waiting for his turn to come.


    Instead of rushing forward as he first planned, he sat down. The torture was already over, now was time. All the time in the world for him to report him. It''s not like they can stop it now that it has already happened, but they for sure can penalize the criminals.


    "Next." The reception lady called out, not too strong. After all it''s a job there''s no need for shouting.


    The man said not glancing up from a stack of papers he was reading. "You should go first. Your case looks to be more serious than mine." The man looked at Adrian and his exposed wrists and at the dried blood and red imprints on them.


    Adrian retracted his hands into his pockets and smiled at the man. "You can go in first. I''ve already waited long enough; some five minutes won''t make a difference now."


    Revenge is a dish best served cold.


    The man wanted to protest again, but was cut short by a stronger and more annoyed "Next."


    The man stood up. "Take care buddy. I hope everything will work out for you." He said while going away.


    "Thanks, you too, buddy." He let the last word remain on his tongue. A disdain for it like never before in his life and he didn''t even know why.


    Adrian waited next fifteen minutes; an intermittent music played as the receptionist scrolled her phone. Adrian followed suit and too took out his phone because he still has a thing to get.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    He opened the university''s web page and search there for a name. It wasn''t difficult to find it as he knew business lessons was what that fucker was taking. Nicolaus Hill. From there it was more difficult to find Rebecca Ironheart. Her name took him for hunting on social media as she wasn''t in those classes.


    In that hurry he hadn¡¯t noticed neither the time passing nor how the app looked nor the slight voice in his head as if a migraine.


    The man went out the hallway, passed the reception and left. His walk now a bit more energetic than before at having dealt with his case or at the very least pushed it a tad bit forward.


    Now it was wait again, this time two minutes and the "Next." came like on a horse.


    Adrian didn''t know how he got into the office, his thoughts already preoccupied by... everything that has been done to him and what can he say and what he''ll keep to himself. Like little souvenirs that may at times come back to open those now fresh wounds and aggravate his flesh. All he did know he passed through that last door and there he sat and let go.


    Not of all, but enough.


    Enough for it all to seem normal again and for them to get enough years so, these animals can''t live with humans. They''re too different, that¡¯s were his thoughts.


    And a Police Officer listened, legs that were at first resting on the desk got down as the conversation was progressing. His hands though remained clasped.


    "Five perpetrators. Is what you''re saying?"


    "Indeed." Adrian pushed his chair forward.


    "Three accomplices and -"


    "One." Adrian stared at the officer. ¡°The men tracked me down and beat me, then took me away."


    "Yes, and can I know their names?"


    "Two I know. Nicolaus Hill and Rebecca Ironheart. The other two men should be able to be identified by proximity and the description I gave you, no?"


    "Yes, indeed." The officer closed his eyes for a brief second when he decided something and opened them. He stood up and went around the desk. "About the homeless man."


    "Yes?"


    "We won''t be able to do anything. Maybe after they are..." He spoke quieter and quieter until he reached the door and the lock sung its soft ting.


    Adrian in the meanwhile was silently observing him and showed no signs of repulsion upon such strange act. He didn''t know it himself what it was fear, anger, curiosity or simply he didn''t care what that was about? That must be it, he simply didn¡¯t care.


    "Mr. Greyhound-"


    "Mr. Grey is enough."


    "Mr. Greyhound I insist. It''s one of my peeves, you see I can''t help myself but be and act as the paper dictates." To that Adrian said nothing, even if it sounded ridiculous. What mattered most was for this to be dealt with. Dealt with them and them being forgotten by him and the world. That was what he wished for.


    "You see Mr. Greyhound, I think I won''t be able to help you and neither anyone in this city. Let me speak then you can ask your questions." He settled into his leather chair, pulled out a cigar from a top drawer and lit it. "You don''t know what you walked into. That can be observed by you simply being here."


    "I know what I came here for. To demand justice." Adrian said irritation overflowing from him, every fibre of his being waiting to be released and choke this so-called defender of civil rights.


    The police officer took a puff, leaned back his head and with great satisfaction released a slow chimney of smoke. "To demand justice, huh. Listen closely as this might - no, it will decide your life or death."


    Adrian wanted to cackle, but forced it back in and eased himself as much as he could. A semblance of rationality returned, waiting to be cut again.


    "This is Noxpolis. A city of crime. And not just some crime, but the organized kind, the insidious crime where brother doesn''t recognize brother where intrigue is a must and a mask." The police officer opened his palms out and heaved in a magician''s gesture. "And I want to formally welcome you as the Vice-Chief of WNPolice department."


    All that was missing was a bow, a hat and the applause of the audience. None of which he got, instead a sneer congratulated him.


    "So much so for ''acting as the paper dictates''."


    "I''m trying to help you, boy and you''re not making it easy for me." He returned to puffing his cigar. "There were many before you, many will be after you. Do you know though what you all have in common?"


    "Enlighten me."


    "This defiance, if you''re pushed you return to the system you so disdainfully hate and want to get out. Yet you''re seeking its protection. It isn''t there and now you won''t be able to do anything because all that was given to you by the system. The interconnecting of society so it can function can be taken away by one''s one mere word. You haven''t even begun to play and you''ve already lost."


    Adrian glanced across the table at the ring of keys. "Open the doors I''m going out."


    "Like now, Mr. Grey, or whatever is you want to be called. What if I say, no?"


    Adrian straightened up, the feeling returning like some kind of promotion.


    The police officer took a puff, glanced at the remaining half a cigar and put it in an ashtray where it was wafting its smoke like an incense. "Then you''re without any choice. You''re depending on me as a part of the system, that I will act as is normal, acceptable."


    "Why?" Adrian muttered, his nails digging into the cheap chair. The fragments they came back. He couldn''t care anymore and didn''t want to care anymore.


    "I''m sure you''ve heard this one before." Adrian lunged at the officer, both his hands going for his exposed neck. Adrian felt his skin, his tightened muscles, taut veins bound like ropes.


    He froze, his mind blank, muscles limp. He couldn''t continue that much he knew, instinctually his body knew what that cylinder pressed against his temple represented. He was looking up a gun barrel.


    The police officer''s finger was curled up around the trigger a breath away from blowing his brains out and a shout away from having a cleaning lady in here.


    "You''re crazy." Adrian managed to say.


    "No, I''m in control. Stronger so to speak. Maybe I will be the only person to give you this lesson so take it to heart. Just this one sentence." The officer rested his finger. "Nothing equals strength in Noxpolis."


    Adrian put down his hands.


    "So, I leave you this question you must answer for yourself. Do you stay and risk it all or are you content with it as things are with your clear future ahead of you?"


    Adrian opened his mouth to answer.


    "Don''t. It''s for you to know. Now take those keys and get out."


    Adrian gave him a hard look. It revealed nothing more than he already knew. A hypocrite cop that has his gears loose, he thought. Nevertheless, he did as was told and took the keys and unlocked the door.


    Behind him the officer holstered his pistol.


    Adrian walked the hallway, around the reception and unto the street. He heard the sliding door close behind him and he turned around to look.


    It was indeed all real and the police officer was standing in there waving to him while smiling. A big toothy smile.


    Adrian departed.


    "Again, one of those?" Asked the receptionist.


    The officer didn''t answer and watched as Adrian''s back got further and further till, he disappeared behind one of the street corners.


    "Sucks, the year went on so quick and it¡¯s here again.¡± The receptionist sighed and went back to looking at her phone. ¡°One thing I don''t understand is. Why they all have to be so headstrong?"


    "That''s the beauty of youth. They''re young, optimistic, cream of the top with big ambitions. Headstrongness is a second nature for them. A trait which got them here in the first place."


    "Really?"


    "Yes." He said. "He might not look like it now, but that''s the emotions speaking. He''s like a man thrown into a well. Clawing at the walls, begging the heavens, pleading for something and anything."


    "Right, right Vice-chiefman. But what do we do with him?"


    "We?" He looked into the distance where he last saw him. "We will see."


    "K. If he''s dead than it''ll be your job to bag him up. I''m just saying, you too have to help us with the clean-up and not just be doing your papers."


    "I did my fair share when I was a green ear. Besides the truly dirty work is done by the media and not us."


    To that the receptionist nodded.


    "Anyway, be as you were."


    "Will do."


    She blew out a bubble-gum bubble and tapped away at her phone. It was impossible not to get a glance as he was turning. She was texting someone and he had an inkling who it might be.


    He clicked his tongue and walked to his office.

 Chapter 8

    Adrian took his time in the city. He shopped around and got himself a clean pair of clothes he put on right away. One trip to the toilets and thanks to the soap he was looking presentable.


    A black eye was forming around his right eye, but he can''t do anything about it.


    When he was in the shopping zone, he also had lunch and had a moment of just savouring food and thinking.


    The realization settled in. He was nearly killed.


    This is crazy. What am I going to do?


    He breathed out and leaned back into a chair.


    The west police is a no go. So is any police it seems. That first call wasn''t a mistake, they really didn''t answer.


    He looked down at his hands.


    It''s all in my hands now. But how? How to deal with it?


    A mounted clock was ticking, customers were coming and going as he was deep in his thoughts. The clock hit one hour and beeped.


    The principal and faculty presidents. They''ll be forced to act else the name of Noxpolis University will be smeared and dragged through the mud. That''ll do it. They''ll value it, their profits are on the line. Just like that corrupted cop.


    He paid his meal and took a bus to the university. On the way he checked the website and saw he still had time till they''ll have office hours. He can wait and why not? In the meantime, he can get other things sorted out. He arrived at the Southlane dormitories.


    He looked at the flats, their windows and balconies. He remembers them, remembers them good. It''s sickening here and a few hundred meters back is the park.


    He steeled himself, walked in, took an escalator and like so found himself before his door in a few steps. He reached into his pocket... nothing, he searched and the result remained the same.


    I must''ve lost them in the park.


    His mind didn''t even think about retrieving them. He knocked on the door, not expecting anything. But perhaps someone was expecting him.


    The door went ajar and after a while of them not going full, he pushed them. Inside was Jin.


    "Hey, Adrian how were you? Out partying or something?" Jin asked sleep still present in his voice.


    "What were you doing?"


    "Nothing interesting. Playing games wasting time really."


    "Ok." Adrian said and glanced at his room. It was closed and he had locked it as always. So, it seems his plan of relaxing was foiled.


    "Oh, your room? There have been some people... Some serious looking people. I''ve been told it was someone from the dormitory administration. Yeah... they unlocked it."


    Adrian gripped doorknob, an uneasy feeling pulsating and swallowing his senses. He didn''t hear what Jin was saying, he didn''t even hear the unending thoughts that were making rounds all day around his brain.


    He pushed them open.


    And it was there. His stuff packed into luggage and resting on top of each other. A letter was sitting on top like a cherry.


    "Just so you know I tried talking it out with them, but they wouldn''t listen. It was-"


    He again, with his big mouth can''t he stop and see for a minute. I can''t hear my own thoughts with this.


    "Hey." Adrian called out.


    "Yeah, yes. What''s the matter? Should I go down with you or?"


    "Shut up."


    "..."


    "Thanks."


    Adrian read the letter:


    Dear Adrian Grey,


    I hope my and Becky''s gift to you is well appreciated. We were thinking about it for a long time, I hope it finds you well.


    If by any chance you feel like you need another good beating go to this address. Augustine''s Street 163. There you''ll find Berserkers, our little gang. If I''m not there then I''m sure one of our guys will gladly deal with your business.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Yours Faithfully


    Nicolaus


    Underneath was another letter this one with only one sentence: Eviction notion, immediately in effect.


    And below a wild unreadable signature.


    Adrian crumpled the letter and threw it in the trash. Trash it is and that''s where it belongs, he thought.


    Jin meanwhile was curiously examining him. "That''s not all."


    Adrian glanced at him. What more could there be?


    "They did something on your laptop."


    Adrian fought through the luggage until he fished out a laptop case and took it out. He turned it on and input the password.


    It booted right up.


    That''s good that''s good.


    What wasn''t good thought was the lack of applications.


    No, no, no, no, no, no, no. NO!


    He clicked through and opened his Cloud, but there it was. Empty and desolate.


    His knees buckled right from underneath him and he fell like a puppet with its strings cut, though he still had a play in front of him.


    "Is it that bad? Can''t you get it back? Maybe some backup or something?" Jin said with carefulness and concern in his voice.


    "You let them?" Adrian clutched at his face, fingers digging into his skin.


    "I didn''t know... I mean. I wouldn''t if... I did know..."


    But it was locked as always...


    Adrian looked through the gaps in between his fingers to the mirror on the wardrobe and saw right behind him the always smiling face of Jin''s now in a frown.


    "You saw..."


    "What?"


    Adrian stood up and turned to him. "You let them in."


    "I-I did." Jin stammered.


    Adrian grabbed him by his neck and pushed him against the wall.


    "Why did you do it?"


    Jin remained silent as he dumbly gazed at Adrian''s face.


    Adrian pulled him to himself and back against the wall. Jin''s head did a small pang as it crashed against the concrete wall.


    "Why?"


    And again.


    "Did?"


    Again.


    "You?"


    And...


    "I-I-I"


    "Yes, you you you. Why did you do this to me? I thought we were getting along. Hell, I thought we were friends."


    "I-I" Jin gulped. "I had to. They were going to break the doors if I didn''t."


    "Then what do you think the neighbours wouldn''t notice and call someone?"


    "Who? I tried, but there''s not anyone you can call. They did the same to the neighbours from room 1." Adrian noticed as Jin was trying to get something out of his pockets, but his trembling arms didn''t do it much better.


    It was a phone. Jin unlocked it and showed it to Adrian.


    It was a video showing the hallway from the crack in the door. At one end was a group of three men with crowbars hanging around a door a few meters away was the elevator.


    As it played out cries of help were heard followed by cursing and demanding to open up. One sentence though sticked to Adrian.


    "Join us or serve us!"


    The video quickly ended when one of the men looked to the camera and smiled. Like that it stood frozen smiling at Adrian.


    Adrian knew him it was one of the men, the baldie that was choking him just a few hours before.


    "Now you''re with them."


    "I had no choice it was either this or serving them."


    Adrian sneered at him and let him go live his insect life.


    Adrian looked around one last time at the room and walked out.


    Only a broken laptop remained before the door. Screen sizzling and seething with rows of colorful pixels.


    Adrian''s walk led him to the Main university building where he came to a reception.


    A Middle-aged man sat there reading newspapers and the sound of incoming steps didn''t break his concentration one bit.


    "I-"


    Adrian stopped. The man motioned with his index finger just a minute. But Adrian already had enough of waiting around, he just has to get to the board and that''s it. Everything will be discussed and proper punishment and compensation will be made.


    "I need to speak with the Dean."


    "I''m sure." The man didn''t turn his gaze away and his little eyes continued trailing the words as they came in big news.


    This is pointless. Adrian walked around and into a hall clothed in grandeur of old paintings of people who once built it and the engravings made in wood. He glanced at it between every door and the next when he was reading the name tags on each door.


    "Mr.Adrian Grey. Please if you finish your tour, come to me." The receptionist''s voice was heard.


    Adrian walked back and saw the receptionist sitting with the newspapers rolled and put on his table. His posture was straight and proper.


    "Yes?" Adrian asked.


    "The Dean and other members were informed of the nature of your visit and rejected your-"


    "Rejected? Do they know what happened to me? How serious of a thing it is if word gets out? This whole university will get the blame, will come under scrutiny and the professors that accept these heinous students. Do they know what''s at stake here?"


    "Yes." That simple word was enough for Adrian to get silent. "Thanks for your concerns, but they, I assure you, are completely aware of these risks and they were taken into consideration. That-"


    Adrian started sneering that turned to cackling and then full on laughing. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes as he held an arm on his belly and he bellowed to the heavens above.


    The receptionist meanwhile continued regardless of what was happening in front of him."...They also wanted to for you to have this. Here."


    The receptionist took out a paper and a pen.


    "This is-"


    "A joke!" Adrian pointed at the receptionist.


    "This-"


    Adrian didn''t pay attention and was about to walk off again and look at what this so-called Dean was about.


    A whistle was heard before the two men waiting ran straight at him. He didn''t even run as he was laughing. He got caught and hoisted by his armpits and dragged like a sack of potatoes before the receptionist.


    The receptionist stored the paper in one of his pockets along with the pen. "Here this is for you, Mr.Grey. I''m sure we won''t see each other. Good luck on your other ventures."


    Finally, he took one of his hands and shook it as Adrian''s laughter was getting hoarser and his expression more macabre, warping in on itself.


    "Get it over with."


    The two staff men took him out and into a back alley a distance away. For the next few minutes laughter and dull trashing was heard. It was like flattening meat for schnitzels plus the laughter - schnitzels don''t laugh.


    When they were done they came back to the lobby and sat down after wiping off the blood with their handkerchiefs. They took out their mobiles and the scene regained its preparedness.


    The receptionist flipped to another page and slid down a bit in his chair to stretch his back. He could already feel it.


    A sound of hurried footsteps was heard. It was a group coming.


    "Hello? We''d like to report something."


    And the receptionist simply put up one finger for them to wait a while.

 Chapter 9

    The sound of disco was heard long before people got there. The party was happening in Central dormitory on the university grounds. One whole floor taken up all the way from rooms 301 to 340.


    Most people were already there bopping to the beats, drinking to their hearts contents and giggling with their friends. Men and women mingled about getting to know each better, but all this was just starting.


    The night was young with the clock yet to turn for the twenty third time.


    An elevator at one end of the corridor arrived with a ting. More people joined the crowds as they got to finding a room to their liking. Katie and April were amidst those new arrivals.


    "Are you sure this is a good idea, April?"


    April pushed on through the crowd doing a job of a bulldozer as she was looking for a somewhat quiet place.


    "April?" Katie followed behind her.


    "Yeah, yeah? I can''t hear you!" April shouted, but just like Katie most of her words got drowned out by the upbeat music.


    "Are you sure this was a good idea?" Katie shouted.


    "Yes!"


    They got through and into a room with a large balcony with glass panels as windows. Outside was a small plaza that was encircled from three sides by the U shape of the Central dormitory.


    The plaza was all dark, like covered with a blanket.


    Inside the apartment was what could be described as a peak of modern luxury. Every bit of furniture streamlined, be it the couch, the kitchen island or the shelves and the nearby bedrooms.


    On the couch was a serious looking man with two women by his sides. They were leaning on his broad chest and giving him delicacies from the coffee table. The seriousness came from his expression, he was clearly enjoying this. It was clear how he pinched them from time to time which elicited either a moan or a giggle, a Casanova through and through. His expression remained stoic.


    "Are we in the right place?" Kathrin asked quietly.


    "Yes." April answered and they moved over to the kitchen where there were eleven people each with their own drink. Many more drinks were on nearly every surface visible.


    There were some voices heard from the nearby rooms, but when Kathrin looked she saw a buff man clothed in a tuxedo standing in between the two bedroom doors.


    "Are you sure we''re supposed to be here? It looks strange in here."


    "It''s better than being in other rooms, it''s like hell in there with the speakers and people on top of each other. Ignore those two guys and we''re fine." April came behind the kitchen island opened some drawers and produced a pair of glasses. She opened another drawer and now they had wine.


    "But what''re we going to do here?"


    "Do you want to be in those mosh pits?"


    "No. There''s too much people. I can''t." Kathrin said.


    "Let''s be here and maybe chat around with people."


    "But I have to find Adrian. He said he''ll be here."


    "Then call him or text him."


    "But will he hear it through all this?"


    "Just call him and if he doesn''t answer give him a text that you''re in room 314."


    Kathrin called him... It rung once, twice, thrice...no answer. She texted him.


    "In the meanwhile, let''s do something fun. You know, it''s not everyday that there''s a party."


    "I don''t know. Must we?"


    "Yes." April said and turned her head before saying something to herself. Her plan was on.


    "April?"


    "Let''s go Cat." April took her by her arm and took her back into the party.


    Kathrin called as she was being pulled away. "Don''t call me Cat!"


    "All right Cat!"


    "Don¡¯t! Ape!" And they got lost in the music and crowds.


    Their danced around from group to group and at first slowly getting drinks then faster and faster as the music tempo increased so did the people. They were moving as did the music, rising and falling with it, breathing with the words, hearts beating per the beat. Now was now and that mattered. Nothing else.


    ---


    Somewhere else in a back alley where people don''t go a breathing was heard. Uneven and wheezing like a burst tire.


    If someone were to walk past and hear it they wouldn''t see much as darkness covered the whole alley, moonshine as if stopped at the entrance to the alley. Precisely there, blood started, first a trickle and it was expanding the closer to the breathing.


    A pool of blood with a body up top. The body writhed, torn bloody clothes moving and making way for the movements. It got up from its side and grasped the rocks underneath. Blood droplets fell down its chin. A clear ting as if of a bell was heard. Blood awoke it. The eyes opened and saw for the first time.


    It was like it was birthed once more. It saw itself, it knew its face. Saw it before, yet now so familiar and obsolete felt so different. So strange.


    But that wasn''t it. Far from it.


    It finally saw it, what was always fleeting from it. Now it laid here before it. Written in its own blood.


    [Adrain Greyhound]


    [Physical prowess: 80


    Intelligence: 120


    Charisma: 80


    Looks: 78 (type: Twink)


    Skills: Animal Instinct (new)


    Comment: A new world stretches before you, now it depends on you and your choices for the first time.]


    It was floating next to his reflection.


    Adrian laughed. He smiled as sweet as anyone with a bloodied face could.


    Like this day could get any better.


    [First step: Defeat a person


    Reward: based on completion


    Failure: Death


    Time remaining: 24 hours


    Accept/Decline]


    As if I care. I might as well be dead. I Accept.


    [Quest Accepted]


    [System unlock package being delivered]


    [Starter package open?]


    Open, he thought.


    [Boxing level 1]


    That''s all huh? Some fancy text and a load of nothing. What was I expecting anyway?


    His pupils constricted. It hit him; his mind started operating in full force. He was thinking, dreaming and going through the basic movements in his mind. His perception of time warped and faltered, it felt like too much has passed, but with a final breath he was back.


    "I know boxing." And it got followed with maniacal laughter.


    He shakily stood up and threw a jab and a straight punch. A basic combo. He now knew it and much more.


    Yes. Yes. YES.


    He looked down at his reflection. A grimace of pain and laughter looked back. There was no clear distinction which was greater.


    [Time remaining: 23:59:08]


    Yes.


    He made his way out, but further into the city.


    ---


    Back at the party it was still hot for everyone involved. For some more than for others.


    Meanwhile Ollie was walking through the party. A group of people following behind her. People in the corridor were giving them place as they saw how coordinated they were and how they looked. Every one of them had a blue band or cloth visible.


    Ollie had one such cloth tied around her neck like a bandit.


    "Hi, Olivia. It''s a pleasure meeting you here." Casanova called from his room, still sitting on that couch enjoying the two beauties.


    It seemed enjoying they were as redness was evident in their cheeks, their movements sloppy and clothes hastily arranged somewhat properly.


    "Hi, Fabian." Responded the Casanova.


    "Why the cold face?"


    "It''s none of your business." A man from behind her answered.


    Fabian turned his head to him and just stared at him, but there was something in it that made the man freeze and feel as if at death''s door. Fabian turned away and playfully bit into his partner''s neck. She in turn reached her hand below his shirt and went down and down.


    A cough sounded.


    "Later, sweetie. Now daddy''s going to work."


    The woman clicked her tongue and withdrew her hand. She hatefully turned around and gave Olivia a look that said ''What a bitch you are.''


    Olivia couldn''t care less.


    "You should train your dogs better."


    "The only training he''s missing is biting your balls off." Ollie managed to hold in the following retort. They aren¡¯t here to go to war, but a smile still etched its way onto her face. The same could be said about these bitches.


    He laughed which only served to dampen Ollie¡¯s good mood and strengthen her conviction that she made a good choice not aggravating the issue.


    "Let''s be civil and amiable for this one evening and then we can play friends, enemies or whatever. It doesn''t matter, does it?" He said.


    Olivia stepped inside. "Pray tell. Why wouldn''t it matter?"


    "Because I''m the best there can be. Those tricks will crumble like ash before me."


    "As I see humbleness became even smaller than since we last met."


    "Why be humble when you''re fully capable? Why not tell the truth and let the truth speak for itself?"


    "Nutjob." She sat down right across from him, mirroring him in kicking her legs up on the table.


    "You praise me."


    The rest of her gang went and stood behind her guarding her from all sides like a queen.


    "How is your new leader role? You like it?"


    "Don''t act like you care."


    "And can''t I care? You know it''s always so n-no-no... I can¡¯t seem to get the, help me here."


    "Novel."


    "No, nostalgic to see another new gang leader. An upcoming lass like you. Tsk. That''s going to be rough, you''ll need a lot of friends to balance, to manage."


    "Don''t tell me that after what you told a moment ago, you suddenly want to be friends."


    "No, no, no. Oh god no. You got it all wrong, I''ve matured from all that playing. I''m no longer that theatre kid. It''s too exhausting."  He stood up. The clock was minutes away from being at midnight and walked over to the balcony. "I''m just saying you all will need to band together to hold us. Me."


    Before Ollie could retort back the clock hit midnight and bells sang their ceremony. It was heard all throughout the city, all in applause of one single event called First Bloodletting.


    As in on cue a microphone was thrown to Fabian that caught it and tapped it thrice. The music stopped and a smile appeared on his face.


    "Friends we have gathered here again after one year. To welcome new friends. Brothers and sisters among ourselves. Our new family. It''s a joyous occasion to be able to get to know interesting people from all walks of life." He stood up gradually letting go of his woman''s hand and walked over to the balcony. "Share their perceptions. Talk about life. Discuss anything and everything, but now¡­ I think it''s time."


    He took a deep breath in and shouted: "It''s time to show them how we live here!"


    A cheer followed. Massive stadium lights lit up the plaza below and now everyone saw it. In the middle was no fountain, no statue. There stood an octagon cage.


    "This year there has been a decision agreed by most of the important leaders to do something a bit special. You can say performative even."


    The cheers quietened, people listening to his voice with respect he deserved as a leader.


    "There''s no prepared fight. Instead, I would like to invite Eidar the leader of Valhalla to step forward as he''ll be one of the fighters."


    On the right wing of the building, there were some crashing sounds and curses being hurled before a burly bearded man got to the nearby balcony. Some forty meters away from Fabian.


    "What do you want oh the big leader of Batheroes?" The Valhalla leader shouted while Nicolaus stood behind him together with two of his deputies.


    "There''s this news that reached me. I for one wouldn''t care, but there are rules in place and your deputies together with their goons broke them. And we can''t have that for that shows disrespect and you know how that''s handled here, don''t you?"


    "I do."


    "So, you take responsibility for your incompetent subordinates."


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "If getting a headstart is considered incompetence then yes. If we''re going to fight let''s go. Stop wasting time! I still have booze to drink and I don''t think you''ll be so kind now to serve me some. We''ll see after the fight though!" A loud laughter was heard from the room.


    Fabian turned off his mic and glanced back into the room. "It seems he''s more impatient than I am." He said with a small smile on his face.


    Eidar meanwhile looked back at his deputies and questioned them, like he had done before. "I said to do it quietly. Without any blood spilt, no bruises nothing and only with a few promising people. So, who was it?"


    "It was my people, lord."


    "Nicolaus don''t." A soft trembling female voice was heard from within this apartment. It was Becky that rushed and hugged him by his arm.


    Nicolaus stepped before him with his head lowered. "I''m prepared to accept any punishment for them."


    "He didn''t do it. He shouldn''t be blamed it was them Kalgar, Ivan and Jacob that did it. They were the ones that were going flat to-"


    "Don''t put your nose where you shouldn''t, little lass." Eidar said. "Nicolaus has a responsibility for his people as do I. I''m going to fight in his stead and in the stead of his people."


    "But-"


    "Becky!" Nicolaus shouted. "I''m willing to accept any punishment."


    "Good. The punishment will be done on our turf." Eidar leaned in and then whispered into his ear. "You have a good girl. You should take a good care of her and be kind to her. She means well to you."


    "I will... leader."


    "I know. You have a good heart."


    Eidar turned around and couldn''t see the crooked expression Nicolaus had on.


    It''s going to be a tough fight that''s for sure, but to lose? Not a chance, it¡¯ll be a draw. He¡¯s good, better than good, but so am I. He thought and jumped down the balcony. Who knows what the bastard¡¯s been up to since anyone had seen him?


    It was twelve meters up, the pavement was rapidly enlarging in his vision, for a moment it seemed he¡¯ll become a big stain on the pavement. Thar wasn¡¯t possible, such a funny way to die, he wouldn¡¯t let that happen even if he¡¯d have to walk it off with a split head. He touched the ground he rolled three meters and dispersed the impact.


    "So, who''s going to fight me?" Eidar asked as he looked to the different apartments. In each balcony a shadowy figure stood, each a leader there was thirteen of them.


    He knew it was just an act, a circus to be exact. His opponent was already chosen for him long before he jumped down and who other would it be.


    "It is I, Fabian Bathereon that will take you on." Fabian threw the mic behind and said to himself. "There''s people that don''t know my strength and..."


    "That''s INTOLERABLE!" He leapt down the balcony and struck the ground. A big cloud of dust shrouded his figure for a moment. It dispersed with one motion of Fabian''s as he threw back his smoking jacket and revealed a plain shirt beneath. Below him were two craters each twenty centimetres in depth and reaching out the same length in radius.


    A moment later they were both in the cage. There was a clear disparity between them in their statures. Eidar was well over two meters reaching a graceful 240 cm dwarfing Fabian and his 210 cm. The weight was the same thing except Eidar looked like a proper Viking with his muscles combined with fat.  It can be said he embodied a Nordic God with all his tattoos and numerous scars of variable sizes that were crawling on him like centipedes.


    Fabian on the other hand looked like a newborn baby. Unblemished and without a scar in sight except one on his cheek reaching for his eyebrow, but not quite touching it.


    Even with all this disparity it was Eidar that looked more serious in this instance. Meanwhile Fabian was waving to his two women.


    "Don''t be arrogant. That''s a short road that leads nowhere. Trust me I know it firsthand." Eidar said.


    "Then you should listen to your own words more. Maybe you''ll learn something."


    Eidar only shook his head and started stretching his muscles. He knew it was going to be a tough fight. Against one of the leaders of the Central dormitory no less.


    "Do you hear it?" Fabian asked as he basked in the cheers of the audience.


    "Do I hear what?"


    "The tension, the hunger in their gazes, the bloodlust. Do you feel it? The new students don''t get it yet these feelings. Can you believe it only a few years ago we stood there ourselves?"


    "Yes, I can believe it."


    "But the hearts not there you know. The new ones, they don''t get it none of them do. They want to remain civil, cheer but in reservation, shout but are afraid to be heard. It''s maddening."


    "We''re going without referee, right? First to concede."


    Fabian completely ignored him. "But when they wake up and confront the new reality before them or run - although there''s no running is there? No. So they''ll fight and do as we do."


    "Not everyone fights. Not everything has to be resolved by fighting. An agreement comes a long way if both sides get what they want."


    "You''re not wrong, not one bit." Fabian turned to face him. "But for two sides to do so, there''s the inherit power that has to be in the equation for the cooperation to work. The power be in whatever form. Those two sides are afraid, afraid of mutual destruction. Such is the trouble of the weak."


    "That''s how the balance is born. An intricate web of interests navigated to the best of abilities."


    "With enough power it can be simply shattered. You take what you want and no one''s going to stop you for the fear of destruction." Fabian bowed having decided to put an end to the conversation. ¡°Say no more lest your flowery language runs dry and you¡¯ll be forced to accept the truth.¡±


    Eidar assumed a fighting stance. A classical boxing stance of guarding his chin with one hand while utilizing the length of his hands and using the other hand for keeping distance. "You speak as if you''re above all."


    "I am and here I''m going to show it." Fabian cracked his neck and let his hands on his sides before muttering: "I finally understood it. You won''t¡­ but I. I''m beyond human."


    Eidar frowned. This was a clear disrespect for him. Defeat is nothing, every scar spoke a story saying just that, but not being taken seriously that''s dishonourable.


    Eidar spoke, not out of appreciation his opponent¡¯s character, but of the road that took him here. "I''m honoured to fight you."


    "You should be."


    And with that they rushed at each other.


    A few minutes earlier. Just when the bells were rung. In Apartment 309.


    "What''s this, April?"


    "Remember what I told you when you were sending in your letter. This is it. And no matter how many times I warned you we still are here."


    "I thought -"


    "That I was joking. And I wasn''t¡­ I wish I was."


    "What''s going to happen?"


    "There''s going to be a fight. They call it a welcoming ceremony. Here they''ll separate the people to groups and let the people that don''t want to be a part go back. Resign and live their lives."


    "So, I can go back."


    "Yes, if that weren''t the case I would have done everything I could to make it so you won''t be here."


    Kathrin was about to hug April and take her to leave, but was ruthlessly pushed by her. "Look at it."


    "I don''t want to."


    "Do it for me. Please."


    Kathrin hesitantly nodded and looked back down. She was oblivious to the faces April was making even less aware of how tightly her fists were clutched.


    It''s the right thing. She must see it. After all, if she doesn''t understand it and this guy, Adrian, will stay then she''ll stay too. And she won''t even know into what hell pit she threw herself. April though, releasing her fists.


    Kathrin meanwhile unsurely joined the applause as both the fighters got into the cage.


    Yes. She doesn''t belong here. Staying here would only cause her more and more heartache. I can''t do it to you Katie. You might hate me for it, but this is all for your wellbeing. April held Kathrin''s hand and looked at her, tears at the corners of her eyes but smiling.


    Kathrin didn¡¯t see that, her pupils were the size of pins as shivers went down her spine. The fight below had started.


    Both fighters did one and the same move. A straight punch to the face. it seemed to be an equal exchange, but an acute observer would note that Fabian''s fist had much less power behind it.


    Yet it was what happened afterwards that disturbed Kathrin. Both fighters regained safe distance and started circling each other. On the third steps Eidar vomited blood.


    "A...pril." Kathrin clutched April''s hand subconsciously.


    April only clutched her hand in response.


    What was that? Eidar thought. How could he have caused so much damage? In one hit. It wasn''t brute strength.


    "You wanted me to take you seriously so there you have it. Do you regret it?"


    "No." Eidar upturned his head and said with his mouth dripping with blood. "This is exactly what I wanted."


    Fabian nodded in appreciation.


    What followed was a flurry of punches and kicks. Each time Fabian managed to trade a hit. Though it was Eidar''s situation that was worsening. Purplish spots were appearing on each part he was hit. Meanwhile Fabian receiving Eidar''s full brute force only had skin injuries and muscle bruises.


    In the end, on one exchange, with a loud roar Eidar turned his punch into a grab. He had him and was going for a leg sweep and a takedown when his leg stilled.


    A sudden rush of pain assaulted his mind as he withdrew his leg and prepared for a counterattack. But it never came.


    "You know what I''m doing."


    "Yes. You''re attacking my weak points."


    "Yes I am."


    "And you''re drilling by some technique an internal force instead of external into my body."


    "That''s it."


    "But it ends here." A faint aura like mirage appeared around Eidar''s body. It made his hair lift off a few millimeters from his body. His eyes reddened and breathing became heavier. That aura was the excess heat that he was emitting.


    In the next instant Eidar lunged forward, his fist leaving a sonic boom behind as he threw a right hook. Fabian on the other hand took a step back and leaned backward. The fist travelled in front of his face, brushing his hair and then disappearing.


    A straight punch followed with a sure intent to hit this time. There was the wall of the octagon behind. In that small instant as the punch was about to connect Fabian disappeared. The punch connected with the solid wire and made a dent about the size of Fabian''s head.


    Fabian was beside his fist staring straight at Eidar.


    "That''s good, very good. One small issue. You think I''m not underestimating you." Fabian struck with a palm strike. It sent him crashing on the opposite wall.


    Eidar regained his bearing and saw a fist going for him.


    Too quick.


    His pupils widened and body prepared for a strike.


    The punch landed next to him. He felt a blow of cold wind, he frowned and glanced back.


    His pupils dilated.


    Behind him was a hole, about his torso in diameter with bent sharp edges. A sole thought ran through his mind.


    Is this possible?


    "See the gap between us and despair." Fabian said while withdrawing his hand.


    Instead of answering Eidar kicked a quick low kick. It connected and made Fabian frown.


    It was the night sky that Eidar saw next. His head upturned, body in flight together with a trail of blood following him. The moon was shining bright, it seemed massive in the sky like a big spotlight. It sure is bad Eidar had no chance to bask in its glory.


    "This is barbaric. How can these people cheer it on?"


    April didn''t answer.


    "But at least it''s the end." Kathrin said, her hands were shaking through the whole ordeal.


    When Kathrin didn''t get an answer a second time she turned to April. But all April did was point with her hand down.


    There was Fabian bowing and presenting himself to the audience while behind him lied Eidar. Ge was slowly getting back up on his feet.


    "I''m... not done... yet."


    Fabian smiled and turned. It was a smile full of understanding. He was glad that they aren¡¯t ending.


    That only made Eidar angrier. It did nothing though against Fabian.


    The result didn''t change though for Fabian. For him the result remained the same only the amount of effort changed that''s all.


    "He''s going to kill him..."


    Each time Eidar was put down he stood up. And the cycle continued in Kathrin''s horrified eyes.


    "There must be something we can do."


    "There isn''t."


    "There is."


    "..."


    Kathrin steeled herself and turned away, April continued holding her though.


    "Where do you want to go?"


    "Down to stop it."


    "There''s no stopping it."


    "Let go."


    April pushed her to herself and hugged her from behind making it impossible for Kathrin to get out. No matter how much she struggled April was immovable.


    I''m doing it for your wellbeing.


    "Let go!"


    "I can''t."


    "Let go!"


    "..."


    A while passed of her shouting and hitting April before the shouts changed.


    "Please April. I can''t watch it." Kathrin said two clear trails of tears streaming down her cheeks.


    April dodged her gaze and held on a bit longer, that¡¯s what she said to herself a bit longer else she¡¯ll think about staying. If you let go she won¡¯t. It soon became irrelevant as the match had ended. Fabian won. April let go.


    "I hate you!" Kathrin ran through the crowd of people. Stumbling her way forward as tears clouded her vision. She reached the room''s bathroom door, but it was locked. A clapping sound was heard from within.


    She ran out into the corridor and made her way through the few people that were still there until she found the toilets. Kathrin burst in like a tornado, inside she right away took paper tissues and wiped her tears incidentally wiping away at her light makeup.


    Throwing away the last of the tissues, Katherine saw what she got herself into. There were people here with her, sunken eyed, pale skinned. In their hands syringes. They were looking at her and she at them.


    "W-what do we have here?" One of them stood up and motioned with his head for others to follow his lead, there was five of them here. Another junkie understood and blocked the door behind her.


    There was now no escape. She was trapped here, a white rabbit in a cage.


    "Please..."


    "W-what do you want?"


    "You don''t have to do this... Please don''t..."


    Only a jittery smile answered her as he took a step towards her.


    Back in the cage. It was all over.


    "Thank you. Thank you. And once again thank you all." Fabian said and departed from the cage. It wasn¡¯t obvious, but he was somewhat limping with his left leg.


    Meanwhile Eidar or at least what was of his body, an unmoving and a bloody mess, was hoisted up and dragged away by his deputies to the side building - on the first floor. Where Becky was already waiting around with a makeshift bed, three tables were put together to hold his massive body. Around, on other table, she had an opened medkit, some other medical supplies and a few other small bottles of seemingly homemade type without any label.


    "Put him here."


    They did.


    "Fabian got you good." That was an evaluation without even a need to properly examine his wounds.


    "...yeah."


    Becky got to working while the three deputies stood about guarding them. "Did you have to fight to the last ounce of your power?"


    "...if I didn''t then what''s the point in fighting?"


    Becky smiled.


    The deputies without a command did their job and forced everyone that was on this floor up or away. It was just them on this floor.


    "...use what the... Witch doctor made for us... I can feel this is going to heal¡­ a good while..." He said with a drawn breath. With each breath he was leaking like a torn tire.


    "I will. You just be silent and rest." She took one of the bottles and shook it.


    Some time passed spent in the silence of the swishing and tying of the bandages.


    "Right... with this I should be done. The basic treatment I mean." Becky said as she fastened the last oily gauze. "Now take this." She handed him a bottle.


    "What''s this?"


    "That''s the Cell activation serum. This one can be ingested."


    "...so we finally got it. That took some time... can''t believe the Witch doctor..." He started chugging down the bottle, gulp after... He threw it up.


    "The taste doesn''t suit you?" She asked and stepped to the wall.


    Eidar looked at the bottle, inquiry in his eyes, then anger and then determination got mixed in as the situation started clicking in for him. He shook the bottle again and looked on as the viscous liquid flushed around.


    "It''s supposed to taste bad. Don''t waste anymore it was expensive."


    Eidar sat up. "I know how it''s supposed to taste like."


    He saw them tense.


    And he knew. They weren''t guarding the entrances so there wouldn''t be anyone getting in, but so he wouldn''t get out.


    "Why?"


    "I wonder why? Maybe because... you''re not a good leader."


    "Becky!" Nicolaus said.


    "Why Nickie? It was you who-"


    "Yes." He gave her a hard look and she retreated behind. He returned his sight to Eidar. "She ¡­does have truth to her words." He started walking towards him. "You gathered the biggest group of people, of us Vikings." Each sentence was a step forward. "We trained. We bettered ourselves. We fought against each other and learned. And for what? So, we can stay in one place. Stagnate? Decay?"


    "But it seems... the bettering of yourself... did nothing..." Eidar said dragging the words and making them as clear as possible.


    "As if."


    Eidar eyed him and slid of the table onto his legs.


    "This, all you see." Nicolaus opened his arms and motioned. "This is all of your making. This is where your morals, your meagre aspirations and your honour led us."


    Eidar saw them positioned around him in a triangle. Every one of them a hair''s breath away from his striking distance. It was natural for them, the years of sparring engraving it into their bones, every move of his.


    "It led you to your downfall. Upon which fulfilment Valhalla can rise to what it should have been." Nicolas said. "Don''t worry, your sacrifice won''t be forgotten. In your name we''ll rise, that''s what I can promise you."


    Eidar was supporting himself up by holding the table. His blood was seeping through the bandages. Blood and oil mixing. Blood and Funeral medicine mixing.


    They didn''t want to give me a chance.


    It was a parasitic agent, one which slowed his reaction speed, weakened his senses, loosened his muscles.


    He threw up again, this time on top of the table. His hands brushed along the edges and in the corner of his eyes he saw them coming closer.


    Come, just you come. If this is to be my last stand so be it, he thought. But for my brother''s to be swept up. Furious about my death and starting a bloodbath... THAT CAN''T HAPPEN!


    Eidar took the table and with a turn threw it at Nicolaus.


    "Ni-"


    He got hit, most of the impact taken by his arms. The table was shattered.


    Meanwhile the two deputies ran at him from two sides. Eidar pushed the second table at the first one and pushed him back, but got hit by a kick in his back afterwards.


    He turned around, blocked another incoming attack and kicked back throwing the second deputy into the nearby wall.


    Eidar walked to the last table, he felt it. His control, his muscles weakening, failing him. The cold as it was biting deeper into him. Yet he took hold of the table legs and ripped them out.


    He spun them around and felt an unwilling smile grow. He looked the part like a mad Berserker, covered in blood and facing any enemy that dares to stand in his path with his axes.


    "Bring it on you traitors. I won''t let you ruin my home."


    "Join us. You won''t regret it."


    "No." Kathrin pulled away, but couldn''t. He was holding her wrist. Clasping it like a spring trap just waiting to tear her head off. "I-I-"


    "Hey, don''t be afraid." Another junkie, a woman, said and took a hold of shoulder.


    "Shhh, that''s right. You''ll feel great. The greatest you ever felt, I promise." He put a finger to her mouth so she wouldn''t say no more. They pushed her back, closer to the various substances they had on the sink.


    "That right there "


    She didn''t hear no more. Her breath was quick and her heartbeat was ringing in her head. thump-thump. The closer she got the more the world before her caved in and the larger, more intimidating. Their faces nothing but macabre mascaras of theatrical expressions as they were about to put one on her.


    All she had to do was choose which it will be.


    But even that seemed to be taken away from her as these masks reached out and chose for her. A mask of ecstasy.


    That''s when it all crumpled. A crack in the sky and she was set free. The masks, no these people were kicked and punched away. A hand reached out for her in her fall and pulled her up.


    She closed her eyes and grasped it. It felt warm, protective, safe. She was safe she knew it and this party, this nightmare was coming to an end.


    She felt herself running and being pulled forward, but it was all so cold, distant. She didn''t know for how long she ran, but that wasn''t important.


    It all ended when they stopped. And it had to end. Thankfully you were here¡­ Adrian. Else I don''t know what would have happened to me. Kathrin knew it deep in her mind, it would be ruin and things she would regret for the rest of her life. Those people would ruin her and she doesn''t know, can''t know... what she would do.


    She opened her eyes.


    "It''s okay Cat. You''re safe now."


    Kathrin frowned. Those were the words she wanted to hear, but it wasn''t Adrian.


    "You wanted me to see that too, April? Get some of that medicine?"


    "No I-"


    "You want me gone. Is that-"


    "Yes!" April shouted.


    Kathrin started at her, words caught in her mouth.


    "Yes, I want you gone. Is it that difficult for you to see that you don''t belong here.¡± April looked straight at her. ¡°And it''s my wish you never will."


    "That isn''t for you to decide."


    "Some of it is. I''m your friend and I can''t bear to see you break before my eyes."


    "Then why did you do this to me?"


    April remained silent. The thoughts only now hitting her, maybe she did go a bit overboard. Maybe she should''ve let her see a while and the crowd and they could''ve been already home. Talking it through while she was signing the resignation letter and the next day she''d be gone.


    No ¡­yes. God, April it doesn''t matter anymore, you already fucked it up just see to it that it has a good ending.


    "It doesn''t matter now."


    April listened.


    "I''m going away. Leaving the school and all. That''s what you wanted right. Me gone from your life."


    "No that''s not it."


    "Then what?"


    "You aren''t thinking straight."


    "It doesn''t matter I''ll be happier that way. Me and Andy... That''s it. I''m your next catch you want to break us apart. That''s what this is about! But it won''t be like that I''ll be with him someplace away from you..." She continued on there was no stopping her rambling.


    April saw it, she was delving into hysteria. Though April was shorter she reached out and pressed her against herself. There was a struggle, but she could bear it. It would be different if Kathrin had trained...


    Soon they went back into their dormitory. A semblance of home at last even if only for the last instance of time.

 Chapter 10

    This city¡¯s sick. There''s no humanity to be found here. Animals in human skin waiting for an opportune moment to bite and chew off the biggest chunk of meat.


    Yes.


    They aren''t humans. Animals. Only animals are found here.


    Adrian was going down the street. He saw that side of the city. For what it was. Noxpolis. A gathering of night animals and predators that by day look normal, but in the night¡­ In the night they show their teeth, claws and fight.


    Muggers, murderers, gangbangers, junkies, crack heads, mental cases. Criminals all gathering in groups and fighting for the sake of fighting. They were on every street, away from glare of streetlights. They were there in front of closed shops gathered in circles around fights, betting and shouting.


    They saw Adrian strolling down letting a bit of blood drop with each step and they smiled at him. And he was smiling back, face bloodied, blood dripping down his chin.


    And they motioned for him to come over and he did without any hesitation. He was welcomed in this circle. A fight was just starting a big bellied man on one side looking like a sumo warrior, while on the other a man with a tomahawk with visible needle ticks.


    "Bets! Bets, anyone?" A man was tearing through the crowd, asking the same question over and over again.


    A next moment he was next to him.


    "Who are you betting on tomato?" The man grinned at him.


    He looked back at them. The Fatty stood at 180 cm, weighted 120 kg and had an arm reach of 170 cm. While the Tomahawk stood at 187, weighed 80 kg and had an arm reach of 190 cm.


    Adrian just stood grinning at him.


    The man saw no point to it and moved on.


    He finished taking all the bets and with a shout the fight begun.


    The two men rushed at each other. They hit each other like two seals, but it was evident right away who had the upper hand. The fatty easily brushed off the impact and threw the Tomahawkman away.


    The Tomahawkman came crashing down on one side of the circle where he was quickly rebounded by the people back to the fatty. He struck him with a knee to his stomach. It giggled his stomach and the fatty grabbed his arms before he could strike him.


    They were looking at each other for half a second, but that was broken as the fatty swung his head and broke the Tomahawkman''s nose. What followed was the weakening struggle of the Tomahawkman as hits fell down on him.


    Finally, after a sixth hit the fatty threw him away like a used toy. The Tomahawk man fell before Adrian''s feet. He was gurgling up blood, his face a bloody mess, mouth open with teeth missing and bubbles rising from that void.


    "Fatty you''re my god!"


    "There''s going to be booze!"


    The crowd shouted.


    On other hand those who lost were spitting and seething at Tomahawkman.


    "I lost money for my rent thanks to you!"


    "Die!"


    Meanwhile Adrian stepped over him and came face to face with the fatty.


    "It looks like we have a new challenger here! All the bets are open. We''re going 1,5 to 4 with 1,5 being for fatty!" The best master called out.


    "That''s not fair! It''s lower than last match!"


    "Give us a better bet!"


    "We want a better bet!"


    "Shut the fuck up!" The best master jumped atop a shop windowsill and shouted. "If you want to win big then risk big. The kid''s scrawny. 1,5 is big enough if you look at it this way. If you want to play then play. If no then don''t. I''m upping the stakes for the kid to 8!"


    It was followed by screams and shouting. Adrian afterwards threw his wallet to the bet master. The crowd quietened.


    "You know you can''t bet against yourself."


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Yes."


    "Good. I like your spirit." The man pocketed the wallet.


    The crowd went mad with laughter and bets got underway. Even though the stakes were raised for Adrian no one bet on him.


    Adrian looked back at the fatty. He was massively in disadvantage when it came to weight while in length they stood on even ground.


    But that wasn''t what was on Adrian''s mind. Instead, it was this feeling of blood pumping. His senses sharpening. Oh, how addictive it felt. The taste of his own blood as he licked his lips.


    So, you''ll be it. You''ll be my first victim.


    "This is going to be a long path for me. Be honoured that you are going to be the first step!" Adrian leaned backwards and bellowed. His arms outstretched.


    "Bets are closed."


    "Come here you, nutjob." The fatty rushed at him.


    Adrian dived to the side and dodged his frontal attack.


    "Boo!" The crowd booed and whistled in protest. Hungry for more blood.


    Adrian struck him in the head as he was turning, but had to dodge as the fatty rushed again.


    He crashed into the crowd and got thrown back. The circle was small and he knew he''ll eventually get caught.


    As he was tumbling away the fatty threw a punch at him that hit him in the shoulder. Adrian ducked and dodged the next punch. He finished it with a punch of his own that hit the fatty in the side of his face.


    His double-chin giggled with fat dampening most of the force.


    "You can''t hurt me with these puny punches. Come here and give me a hug." The fatty said as Adrian made some distance between them.


    Adrian grinned at the image, but didn''t go ahead. His shoulder hurt, the numbness of having his nerves hit travelled all the way down to his fingers.


    Boxing wasn''t what was going to cut it. It''s okay, I''ll get you other way.


    Adrian waited a while for the fatty to catch his breath. When he did, the fatty broke out into another full-on rush like an angry rhino.


    Adrian stood there unmoving, waiting for that one moment when he was two steps away and then he dodged to the side. He crashed into the crowd and so did the fatty except he was thrown at him.


    When fatty got his bearing back it was too late. Adrian was already before him. The fatty felt a crushing force assaulting his balls. His face reddened, then went purple, his eyes bulged and he leaned down to lessen the pain.


    That was another mistake as Adrian''s punches rained down on him. One after another he ate them like he''s been eating McDonald''s.


    His head bled and his ears rang. He clenched his teeth and grabbed Adrian before he could pull away.


    The fatty straightened and now was in control. He brought his head back and with an angry expression headbutted at him.


    Except he hit air and felt a striking pain in the side of his neck. Adrian had bitten into him and was tearing his way through his double chin.


    "You motherfucker!" The fatty clutched him by his arms tighter making his bones squeak as they pushed against each other. "Get off me!"


    The fatty tore him away, tearing some off skin in the process leaving a trail of exposed flesh on his neck.


    The fatty reached his arms up and gripped his neck. Adrian started hammering at them it didn''t help him, he was overpowered.


    Fatty had him in his grasp, now he couldn''t move his head away and could only accept being headbutted to oblivion. That''s what fatty did, he swung his head and hit him.


    "You motherless son of a bitch! I''ll kill you! You''re dead!" The fatty swung his head again. When he was about to stop as after the fifth time, he felt Adrian become numb in his grasp that¡¯s when Adrian spat blood into his eyes.


    Adrian took that moment and stepped back. He expected to feel pain and disorientation, but none of that came only more of that gloating feeling crashing into his mind. Saying, continue like that and we''ll have him. He''ll be our prey. We''ll bathe in his blood.


    Adrian went around him and as much back as he could to the edge of the crowd that was now silent. They were waiting with batted breath at what''s going to happen.


    The fatty was still getting the blood out as he was turning around searching for Adrian''s silhouette.


    Adrian dug his feet into the ground, flexed his left hand and ran. When he was a step away from the fatty he jumped. The fatty was just turning and saw his bicep enlarging in his pupils as it came for him.


    There was a crash, a thud and a cheer.


    The fatty fell head first on the pavement.


    Adrian got up from the ground and kneeled beside him, he took the fatty by his hair and slammed his head against the concrete.  That¡¯s when he saw it in a pool of blood.


    [Quest ¡®First Step¡¯ completed]


    [Calculating Rewards]


    [Distributing rewards]


    [Physical attributes +5, bonus for quick completion]


    [Bonus for user''s promptness: Postwar healing level.1]


    He did it again and again, the blood flowed. The loss of cheering around him didn''t bother him, he didn''t even notice it, neither did the screen take his attention away. At this time there was nothing on this green Earth other than him and this fatty laying now beneath him.


    He felt a grip on his shoulder, with a last splat he stopped and turned around.


    Faces, people stood around him, encircling him. He felt a grin touch upon his face.


    This is going to be fun.


    He rushed into the crowd.


    .


    .


    .


    It didn''t last long. He delivered some punches, injured people, but there were too many. He got overwhelmed in no time plus the previous injuries were there. Though they didn''t hurt they slowed him down and soon more appeared and he got overpowered. Not before taking a few people down with him.


    "Take both of them to the Doc." The bet master said and the a few people grabbed them and took them away.


    "Good now that''s done. Let''s get another round underway. Do we have anyone itching for a good fight?" The bet master called.


    Not one person moved or answered.


    "What about the bets? Deal the bets." Someone from within the crowd said. It was echoed forward by the crowd.


    "What about them? You lost that''s that."


    "That isn''t fair! We didn''t have any information on that bloody guy."


    "Yeah. We should be compensated!"


    "I lost my last money."


    "Give it back!"


    "Give it back!"


    The crowd was pushing on to him. He jumped up the shop windowsill once more.


    "Gentlemen!" He shouted and pulled up his hoodie revealing a modified Glock. "Everything was fair and square. You should know yourselves, getting information on the fighters is your own ability and choice. As is whether you play or not."


    The crowd quietened regardless of what he was saying. No one wanted to get shot even by accident.


    "Good. I''ll be considering this a goodbye for now."


    The bet master disappeared in one alley following behind the two wounded men.

 Chapter 11

    Night was still yet to leave, but a group of people was already far away from the previous songs of the party. Now the rhythm of the beat was changed to a heartbeat, the small and waning beeps of a heart-monitor.


    They were in a hospital. Eidar was lying in bed and over him stood his deputies. If he just knew this would have been the end getting stabbed in the back by his own, his once called brothers and sisters. Would he have chosen them? These were to be his last moments spent around the people he helped and took care of and in their own way they did the same.


    But he wasn''t dying, not yet. Becky took care of that as she had pricked a little bit of extra spice into his injection. After all this is but a stage, there''s still an act to be played.


    The nurse was already gone. They had hurried her away and she had no problem to do so. She was in their district under them, it''s only natural to listen to your bosses.


    They were looking at him through the glass windows of the room. Seeing each of his breaths to be more laboured than the one before.


    It was wakening to see such a figure fall. With it that brought feelings. No, it wasn''t sadness they were feeling, no revelation of what they did. No, it was a sobriety, freedom of not stagnating of being allowed to rise.


    That''s what they knew. That now, there''ll be good, their people won''t have to survive at the edge where they''re scrambling for food and water. Now they''ll have it and much more. All they have to do is fight for it.


    You didn''t want this did you? You were scared of change. You hated it, despised it, any point to grow you puffed out in the cradle. But no more, Nicolaus thought. No more...


    A rush of footsteps was heard from down the hall thundering, beating at their senses and over shadowing the beeping. It grew louder, louder till they saw a group of people of long haired, tattooed and gruff people.


    One thing that was out of place on them were the faces full of worry. Their eyes looking lost and confused.


    "How is he?" A concerned voice called out from the group. That''s when they crowded around them and waited in silence for the answer.


    As they did so they heard the beeping. It was there quiet, fragile not like anything about the man.


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    No there was one thing fragile about the man and it was his heart. Even now as he was laying there on that bed, waiting for the relieving embrace of death his subconsciousness came through. Tears streamed down his closed eyes.


    Like a church idol he was caught in the moment weeping.


    He couldn''t hear them nor see them, but it was like he felt them. Familiar people, his family that came to support him every time was here again supporting him in his final journey.


    Hank, Abby, Richard, Small Jill, Not so Small Jill, Big-Man Jones, and Bernie his brother, like this.


    And Falco. Yes, a brother from beginning to an end.


    It was the end. The beeping strengthened, quickened, went haywire.


    "Quick someone call a nurse!"


    "Nurse!"


    "HELP! Someone, help!"


    "HELP US!"


    The people went mad, they screamed clawed at any chance they could get to keep him. They chased and took hold of what staff they could and brought them forward.


    In all that midst there were only five people that were still. The three deputies, Becky and to their side Falco.


    They were looking at him without interruption. They saw him open his mouth and speak, it was faint, swept up in all that screaming. Yet it was easy to understand. Those words were


    "I''m glad..." Spoke Falco and smiled. "I too¡­ am glad. I''m glad I could live by your side."


    Beep-bee


    The beeping turned to a constant sound.


    I too am glad, thought Nicolaus. Thanks for your final sacrifice. You won''t be missed.


    That was the call Nicolas needed to act. He turned and saw Falco. Two small streams were leaking out of the corner of his eyes, his eyes though revealed he was no longer there, a part of him died too.


    Nicolas placed his hand on his shoulder and was about to say his practiced condolences when.


    "How?"


    A silence overtook the hallway. Now every attention was on them.


    "How did this happen to him?" Falco asked. His eyes peering straight into him. "Did the Batheroes do this to him?"


    You could hear your own heartbeat. That was how loud the silence was.


    "Yes, not just them." Nicolas turned and pointed to his arm. He had a broken arm tied with a cloth and spots of blood on his new T-shirt that was hiding the full extent of his injuries. "They joined with others and prepared an ambush for us when we were rushing here... It was thanks to boss..."


    The words hanged in the air. The message clear.


    "We tried to get him away." One of the deputies said and faced their people. Revealing the hole where once was his eye. Other injuries were hidden just like the second deputy that turned around too. He had only a limp in his leg that was noticeable no more.


    All the broken ribs and bones weren¡¯t noticeable at first sight, but they stood before them unwilling to show weakness. Although they noticed and that was enough to strengthen the conviction about their leaders and their fight.


    "These injuries are nothing comparable to the loss of our leader and brother Eidar." Nicolas said. "He wouldn''t want us to be said to grieve his loss. I know that, but let us grieve for this one day..."


    He looked at each of them. His good brothers and sisters, he saw in them the immense grief, but also the sparks of rage within. And that flame will be a massive fuelled by grief and more grief.


    That he''s certain.


    On the 17 of September at 02:23 Eidar Hadonfield was pronounced dead.