Chpater ~ 1# ~ Ghosts

Ethan ~ POV

I wish I was home watching Youtube or relaxing like everyone else. Watching some funny cartoon videos to get my mind off stress. Unfortunately for me reality was calling out loudly to me. And it was in the form of a clenched fist aimed at my face. It rushed past me as I leaned back to avoid getting a tooth knocked out like the last guy. I could smell the scented perfume; she smelt like lavender from how close she passed by me. Right now, I'm fighting a friend or sparring since we weren't trying to kill each other. At least I wasn't, though from the look in her eyes, she was determined to win. We've been fighting for a few minutes now going all out. I threw a back fist which she blocked and countered with a hook to my side. Though she didn't stop the quick kick to her thigh. She didn't fall but I could tell she felt it.

She's been chopping at my legs the whole fight; every hit taking chunks of strength out of me. At least I got something on her; even if it was small. But I guess that only got her more fired up. She began charging at me swinging with powerful punches and kicks that were inches away. She'd send me or anyone flying with one hit. And I did go flying a little when I felt a hook punch my upper arm. I felt it in my ribs through my guard from how strong she is. From the way she kept her cool, I could tell the kick didn't do much. Just to clarify this is a legal school club where kids can come to learn basic MMA. Some people call it the school's fight club and we spar against each other, getting black eyes and bruises is normal. Most join this club because their parents or they want to learn self-defense. Some think they'll be the next rising star, or underdog. Me…. well grandpa said I needed an outlet for my anger.

Like Rebecca; the girl in front of me now seems like a demon. She may be shorter than me, but I'm honestly having a tough time with her. Rebecca's an old friend; she and I started hanging out together after I moved here a few years ago. She shuffled from side to side; that hunter's gaze in her eyes again as she cornered me. I stepped back to avoid it, barely missing my chin. Though I didn't realize it was a feint until it was too late. She threw one of her sledgehammer kicks into my side. Feeling her shin slammed into my side, I stumbled back. Even through thick shinguards, it felt like I got hit with a metal pipe. She's only been practicing for a few months, and she's already getting me to back up. Whoever pisses her off better be careful from now on. Like I should be; my thoughts were distracting me. I blocked one of her punches but didn't see the second one that clocked me across the head.

Rebecca wasn't always this badass fighting machine. She's got the nickname Renaissance at our school because of her renaissance-themed artwork. Every weekend, the school holds a student fair where some sell their artwork and other things. She joined the club after an incident with a well-known bully, Jessica. Jessica dumped black paint over one piece of Rebecca's art for a TikTok video. She thought she was making a big statement; she only ended up getting her ass kicked. The two ended up fighting, and now we're here. The video went viral as a cat fight video, the whole school fair got shut down that day because of it. Rebecca's fighting me now because Coach Tanaka has a rule; all participants must spar once a night. And considering the program is only for weekend nights, gotta give everyone their chance.

I kept my eyes on Rebecca, who was sweating bullets like me. Though the look in her eyes said, she would finish this as she stared through me. Even though this had only been going on for around fifteen minutes, we pushed ourselves pretty hard. I kept one arm low and the other up, guarding my chin. Rebecca held up her fists in a peekaboo pose. She loves classics; I guess Mike Tyson spoke to her. I raised my leg for a kick, hoping to push her away. But when she caught my foot, I knew I was in trouble; she quickly knocked out the leg I was standing on. I landed on the mat with a heavy thud. She moved into a knee bar when she saw her chance. It works the same as an arm bar. Forcing a limb to bend the opposite way using one's entire body. I already felt the strain on my knee as she straightened herself and flexed her hips. I quickly tapped out, not wanting my leg to bend the opposite way. Some of the other kids who formed a makeshift ring around us promptly ran over and tapped Rebecca on the shoulder to stop her.

Some of the guys groaned, disappointed I lost, others high-fiving each other. Rebecca let go of my leg; I rolled onto my back; my vision was a little blurry, and I could feel my heart pounding in my head. After effects of adrenaline will hit you when you least expect it. As I lay there looking up to bright gym lights, I couldn't hear anything. Except my heartbeat thumping away my chest like war drums. As the adrenaline slowly left my system, I could see Rebecca looking down at me with a victorious smirk. She was on her knees panting and tired just as much as me. After this, I needed to up my game somehow. Maybe grandpa can teach me a few things from his army days?

With some help from another club member, I stood up. Rebecca stood up; She looked me up and down as we faced each other. I could tell everyone else was waiting to see if we start fighting again. They were surprised when Rebecca walked over; smiling and arms spread wide. We hugged each other like always; patting each other on the back. We both walked to the bleachers and sat down tired and exhausted. I reached into my workout bag and pulled out my water bottle. I take a big gulp of the ice-cold water before offering it to Rebecca. She accepted, opening the bottle lid and pouring some of the water into her mouth like a waterfall.

"Thanks again for the ride," Rebecca gave me back my water bottle.

I shook the bottle seeing it was almost empty. The ice jingling around inside was the sign.

"No problem… if you want, I got that old electric bike," I offered, as my grandpa and grandma got me a new one for Christmas last year.

"I don't have the money yet… I need to sell a few more pieces," Rebecca denied as she leaned back on the bleachers.

Rebecca was always the stubborn type. She offered to buy my old electric bike off me. But she refused help from me or her parents; even when I offered her a payment plan. I ended up agreeing to sell it to her for five hundred mostly because she wouldn't go any lower. She does make some good money selling her paintings for a highschooler, and she's good with saving. I offered to throw in the plug and everything, along with the basket and side saddles. No skin off my back either way since I got upgraded on everything. I knew she could handle it; she may look like a dainty flower but trust me, she's got thorns a rose would envy. Just as I stood up to stretch, I heard the doors to the gym open. Everyone looked over to see Sheriff Olivia and Deputy Johnson walk into the gym. She gave a smile to everyone as Coach Tanaka walked up to her. Sheriff Olivia is one country-born and raised woman who could fold a man easily. She had a reputation around town for beating the Sheriff's department into shape and putting new training methods into action.

On the other hand, John was more diplomatic and focused on working with the people. I noticed Coach Tanaka waving over Thomas, the club's president. No one moved as we all listened to the conversation, wondering what was going on?

"Thomas, you turned off the alarm, right?" Coach Tanaka asked.

"Ya… Remember I turned it off while you set up the mats?" Thomas asked.

Thomas was one of the seniors of the club and helped start it. He had the nickname Bruce for his fighting and workout inspiration, Bruce Lee. Thomas led Coach Tanaka and the Sheriffs over to the keypad near the back of the gym. I looked at Rebecca and whispered.

"Refilling my water," I told her mainly in case the sheriffs started asking questions.

Walking outside the gym where the water fountain was, I couldn't help but look up at the stars. Having moved between big cities where the sky was black during the night seeing natural stars was strangely calming. My mind wandered back to when I was a kid with my dad. I looked up to the stars wondering what he was doing right now.

"Wish you were here, dad," I said, knowing he couldn't hear me halfway around the world, but it felt nice letting it out.

As I filled the bottle, I couldn't help but notice something. A faint dim light from the computer lab across the courtyard. The school had separate buildings; classrooms had two-story buildings with doorways and catwalks along the outside. The gym was one of the larger buildings—housing both the locker rooms and weight lifting all in one. Then you have the cafeteria and outside eating. Alongside the library and computer lab with teacher's offices. Above those on the second floor—all the buildings are connected by a circular courtyard that had a concrete dugout stage built in the center.

The gym's bright lights were pointing towards the walls and doorway of the building, drawing attention from anyone that stepped onto the property. But looking over to the computer lab, I noticed a faint light coming from one of the windows. Considering the gym's spotlights were so bright and drawing attention, I guess the Sheriff didn't notice someone was in the computer lab. But that was weird; it's a Sunday; most people would be home getting ready for bed by now. I set my water bottle on the fountain before walking over. I started making my way over to the computer lab; the first floor only had two doors; one from inside the school and the library's door that faced one of the parking lots. So whoever got in must have used the library entrance.

Walking to the wall of windows, I looked through, noticing someone far off next to the door. They were facing away from me as I watched them quietly. I noticed they wore a thin black hooded jacket with a design on it. It was too dark to see anything iconic about the person. I looked at the computer monitor, wondering if I could figure out what they were looking for on the computer. I could barely make out the top of the computer screen when an all too familiar voice yelled out.

"Ethan… that you?" Came the voice of Deputy Johnson.

His flashlight hit me, painting a silhouette inside of the computer lab. It was still tough to see inside, and whoever was inside didn't want to be seen. Whoever was there bolted straight for the exit, not looking back for a second. I looked back to Johnson, who had covered the distance from the gym to where I was quick. I told him what I saw; he looked through the windows and saw the office chair smashed into another desk and the computer still on.

"Head back to the gym." He ordered me, and I complied.

Back at the gym, I noticed everyone staring at me like I was an exotic animal. I walked over to Sheriff Olivia and whispered to her. I could feel all the others look at me as I told her what I had seen; she patted me on the back. Sheriff Olivia and my grandpa knew each other well, mainly because my grandpa was a significant supporter of Olivia during the last election. Me and Tanaka stepped off to the side with Olivia. Glancing over, I saw Thomas lead everyone to the closest parking lot so their parents could pick them up. I honestly felt terrible; the last thing the club needed was lousy press like this. I told Olivia what I saw and about Johnson scaring them off by accident; she nodded in understanding.

"Ok… Ethan, why don't you head home. I'll call you if there are any more questions." Olivia said as she patted my shoulder reassuringly.

I walked out of the school with Coach Tanaka to my bike, which was still chained and locked to the bike rack. Tanaka gave me a smile before walking over to his car to leave. I looked at my bike, where I saw Rebecca sitting and waiting for me. She smiled at me as I saw her sitting on my bike, ready to drive it. I couldn't help but smirk at her as she sat there.

"You said whoever wins our sparring match gets to drive." She teased as she looked over her shoulder at me.

I am a man of my word; I pulled the key from my workout bag and handed it to Rebecca. I then hopped on the back seat and wrapped my arms around her. Just as we began to leave, I saw a few more Sheriff's pull into the parking lot.

"Looks like you got one hell of a story to tell," Rebecca joked as she pulled out of the parking lot and sped away.