Chapter 3: Joker and Sword

"Clap, Clap, Clap"

The sound of slow applause drew Jayson's attention from the fight for a split second, following the source of the sound his eyes landed on two figures at the door the three of them came through a few moments ago, his pupils contracted in fear as a thought floated into his mind

"When did they get there?"

His body shivered as he came to a full stop turning around to face them, Faith looking up toward the doorway came to recognize one of them, a tall young man with skin dark as bronze, short hair and dark brown eyes full of mischief, he wore a goofy grin on his face, dressed in the boys uniform a small plastic bag dangled from his wrist that swayed back and forth as he clapped.

Standing next to him was a girl a head shorter, although she wore the girls school uniform Faith could tell her body was well built, in one hand was a cell phone, in the other the hilt of a wooden sword, on the sleeve of her shirt was a band that read Disciplinary Committee. With short brown hair that swayed back and forth by her ears and light green eyes filled with energy, as she looked expectantly at the situation unfolding before her.

The dark skinned young man continued to clap slowly, raising his nose in the air he began to look down on Jayson, with a flick of his arm the dark skinned young man pointed toward him

"My name is Kenny, I'm so winning, step to me get punched in ya kidney!"

He rhymed off beat opening the hand that was pointing, mimicking a mic dropping motion, he turned his head away, and began to twist himself into a series of awkward poses. With each pose the dark skinned young man who proclaimed himself Kenny, would wink toward Jayson, watching this Faith didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The atmosphere seeming to settle down after the spectacle occurred, the little girl looked between Kenny and Faith, snickering soon laughing

"Hahaha . . .Kenny you must think your hilarious rhyming such nonsense, you wont get anywhere with skills like those. Any way, you must be Faith. Very nice to meet you, I'm Annie, the new second in command of the Disciplinary Committee. Do you mind if I have that small fry there?"

Her voice matching her demeanor, light and carefree, the grip on her wooden sword tightened to a point where her knuckles whitened, her lips slowly tugging up wards into a cute smile that gave off a frightening pressure, it radiated covering the pointy-eared guy. At which point his body began to shake like a leaf in fear, he felt the urge to run away but was petrified to the spot he stood. Faith turned her head away from Annie, focusing completely on Jayson her hands curling into fists

"Do what you want."

Faith replied her gaze still on Jayson, she stood still making sure he didn't try anything as both Jayson and Faith looked toward Annie, Jayson had a beads of sweat trickle past his brows, confusion over taking his senses, his instincts telling him to find an escape, causing his eyes to dart between everyone to find an opening. Movement brought him back to reality as he focused on the unfolding situation, Annie started walking toward the pointy-eared guy bringing the sword to rest by her thigh, Pointy-ears was still shaking as he watched Annie approach closing his eyes he ran straight toward the open door way, disregarding everything else in his dash for freedom.

As he ran Annie stopped with a questioned look on her face, as she was unsure as to why anyone would come toward failure, planting a foot on the ground she kicked out with her free leg, embedding the tip of her toe deep into his stomach. Pointy-ears felt a sharp pain flow through his body, opening his eyes he saw the long length of leg protruding from him. Following the origins of the leg his eyes met the curious look of Annie who was slowly lowering her leg, folding his arms over his stomach he fell to his knees, his forehead touching the cool cement below.

"I wonder why, he ran towards me like that? That was a stupid battle tactic, and I wouldn't have closed my eyes either. How can you see if an attack is coming like that? Maybe he was trying to train his reactions? Aw well, good luck next time."

Annie mused to herself returning to Kenny's side, while doing so Kenny was clutching his sides with laughter, pointing at the pointy-eared guy and short fat guy respectively, tears of joy streaming from his eyes, wiping away the tears Kenny directed his sight toward Jayson again, the look of mischief shining brightly in his face, with a swift turn Kenny put his back to Jayson's view, bending over he began to slap his own backside in taunting

"You don't have skill got no style, surprise attacks can be seen from a mile. If you want to challenge the queen, you've got to beat joker and sword maiden Annie. Don't get your hopes up though, we're gonna send you home crying to mommy."

As Kenny shook his behind toward Jayson, Faith covered her mouth shivering constantly doing her best to maintain her composure, coughing dryly to bring everyone's attention back to her. Looking to Faith, Jayson narrowed his eyes before fully erecting himself in a professional manner, pushing up his glasses a bit reflected the light off his lens, calmly he surveyed his surroundings, looking at the two guys that brought him here both unconscious, he clicked his tongue

"Tsk. They didn't hold up at all and now I'm out numbered, how to escape? The only exit in the door leading down stairs, but those two won't let me near it I'm sure. . . I could jump but I wouldn't survive the fall. These people are trouble, especially that girl with the red hair."

Jayson thought to himself, his instincts screaming at him to get as far away from this place, his muscles locking up still rooted to the spot, a vein popping up like earthworms on his forehead throbbing constantly, his mind in a frenzy due to be cornered, his heart rate slowly growing out of control, with his blood circulating irregularly he jolted forward, rushing toward Kenny and Annie.

"I'll get by these two and escape down the stairs, once I'm there I can at least get my back to a wall and can fight them at my pace."

Reassuring himself, Jayson focused and pressed forward trying to knock over Kenny in his charge, lowering his shoulder aiming for the center of Kenny's chest, the glare in his eyes conveyed the violence he wanted to cause, the idea of Kenny gasping for air on the ground, brought a smile to his face, returning from his thoughts he braced for the impact.

Kenny watching the incoming human projectile he reached back, fingers wrapping around the shiny door knob, pulling the door closed he moved away from his original position just as Jayson came within a breath's touch.

"Bang"

Kenny smiled as he watched him run into the door, not breaking his stride towards Faith waving happily, coming to her side he reached into the plastic bag and retrieved a package of candy, tossing it to her. Pulling a box of cookies out as well he threw them to the approaching Annie, looking beyond at the freshly made dent in the door, whistling he turn back toward Faith chuckling,

"Lady, if we hadn't shown up, those guys might have gotten seriously hurt. You gotta learn to hold back or you might kill someone. I mean, not that anyone could really stop you or that you know how to hold back for that matter."

As Kenny scolded Faith stepped forward, delivering a swift headbutt , knocking into him ruthlessly

"You've got to stop that stupid rhyming, it doesn't help."

Faith retorted stepping toward Annie looking her up and down, Kenny receiving the unexpected attack cradled his head, his face scrunched up in pain as his brain jumbled around in his skull. His balance disrupted he wobbled for a moment stretching his arms out looking for something to stabilize himself on, fingers settling on something sturdy and broad. Clearing the stars from his vision Kenny looked to see what held him up, only to be met with a heavily breathing Jayson, the arm that ran into the door swaying freely by his side.

Supporting the dislocated shoulder with his free hand, Jayson stared down angrily at Kenny before looking to Faith and Annie respectively. The anger in his eyes faded slowly replaced by a disturbing peace, the tranquility taking over his face, he faced the closed door bracing his dislocated arm against it.

"Ha!"

Roaring loudly Jayson threw his full weight and strength into the arm and door.

"Kacha, Pop, Pop!'

The sound of eggshells breaking filled the air as Jayson forcefully relocated his arm, the following popping occurred while shrugging it, settling it into place. Watching this Kenny jumped backward coming to a rest next to Annie and Faith, the latter bearing an impressed smile stepping out to the front, cupping her hands in greeting, Faith assumed a horse stance, her body tightened making sounds like stretching leather, the space around her began to distort with a ferocious aura.

"Can you still play?"

Taunting him Faith's smile started to shift forming into a snicker, staring at him with expectancy dancing about in her eyes. Taking joy from the brutish manner in which Jayson recovered, igniting her passion for fighting to its fullest extent. Faith clenched her fists turning her knuckles white from the strength of the grip, her feet dug into the ground preparing for the first sign of battle to leap directly into the fray. Within her spirit the urge to bring down anyone in her path burned, driving her blood to boil. The aura she bore intensified as a result, waves of fighting intent swam toward him.

Jayson watching the situation unfold began to feel the pressure, maintaining an indifferent look he struggled to resist the powerful aura, rocking on his heels, his instincts took over completely propelling his body toward Faith, kneeling before her Jayson prostrated himself, forehead resting on the cool floor. Only the sound of his heavy breathing could be heard.

"I lose, I can't beat you. In respect for that strength, allow me to follow you."

Jayson closed his eyes after speaking, leaving the rest to fate.