One month since Ayihcah enrolled at the academy. Urjohar limped with his forehead busted open, blood trickling down the side of his face. Passing by the docking bridge he noticed Cherry resting by the railings.
“Cherry…” Urjohar said.
Holding up a cup of iced coffee, with a giddy smile she asked if he wanted any. Urjohar clenched his fists, sweat stinging the cut as his breath heaved. But, could he hold onto the anger? He couldn’t, allowing his fists to relax, opening limp. Closing his eyes, he sucked in a breath that hurt his chest like a burning pan to the back.
It’s hot… Urjohar thought as he sipped the bitter drink whilst sitting on a bench. Cherry’s long-skirt fluttered subtly under the warm winds of the deck.
“Weren’t you gonna ask me something?” Urjohar said as he placed the icy cup’s button onto his wound. “Like… I don’t know… Why I’m doing any of this.”
“Well, there’s one question I got. Someone on the net is spreading a rumor that you're using a metal baseball bat and lighting folk on fire.” Cherry said with her eyes closed.
Like a growling duck, Urjohar’s lips pursed with agitation. “I never use a weapon in a one-on-one, tch! And I ain’t tryna kill anyone, why the fuck would I light someone on fire!!! Who’s talking this bullshit?”
“If it’s like that… Well, it’s fine, but they’ll come after you soon, for sure.”
Brushing his braids, Urjohar looked to the sun’s arch as if he could hold it in his very hands. “Listen Cherry,” his face came close, “I’ve lost all my fear. In the beginning I was scared shitless, I was gonna fight the top ten of Ontiganel after all. But, today I wasted the third… the number seven. Now I see clearly how strong I’ve become. I won’t lose to anyone, ever!”
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A smile as ginger as a mother’s, Cherry began to pat Urjohar’s head. “You’ve really grown up a little bit, haven’t you?”
“Ha?!” Urjohar blushed.
“I’m not going to stop you from doing anything Urjo, but I just can’t free my mind of the thought that we are all being manipulated by somebody. So please take care. I don’t feel a bit like watching anybody die yet again.”
Watching Cherry pass him, Urjohar could only think about what Jaromir had told him a time ago. “Let me take your place… It’s much too dangerous for you…and I got something to find out, anyway.” Jaromir… Closing his eyes tight, Urjohar couldn’t shake the visage of Jaromir’s lifeless body.
“Ya I see him… He’s with some girl.” “There!!!”
Running up the stairs were five slack pants-baggy, chain wearing mofos. At one of their helms was a plump man that didn’t have a thick enough towel to dry off his sweat. Posing in extravagant ways, these locked wrists with their own, for they centered around one man in particular. A scar ran along his arm, up his neck, through his mouth, parting at the smile line, ending near his ear. Slick back black hair marked with a few grey streaks. He had a collagen rich face for all the wear and age the rest of his body displayed.
His attire was as though he were going golfing in the snow, however his arms and neck were covered with tattoos, not leaving a trace of canvas; just pure ink.
Leaning back, Cherry simply admired the scenery, for she could feel the wind. Laughing, she told Urjohar they were completely surrounded as if a ladybug had landed on her nose.
“Damn! This ain’t time for jokes…” Urjohar said, frazzled.
Following the large fellow from the right were two burly men, the left most one wore a silk beanie, a white top, with a diamond chain that weighed not only his, but his entire chest downward. To the right was a slit eyed male, wearing a tight-fitted durag, an unbuttoned dress shirt with bandanas used for a belt.
“Sorry Cherry, I didn’t want to…uh, get you involved. Why are you stretching?” Cherry grinned from ear to ear, stretching her arms and shoulders. “Uh, you seem to really be getting into it.”
You can’t imagine! Cherry thought, waiting to throw down. Indeed, it was a hot day, a very hot day…
