A Clash of Fates: Confrontation and Sacrifice

Four years ago, When I was 10 and Akira was just 6 years old, she followed me outside to play. I met up with a friend of mine at the time, he was our neighbor and he lived next door, His name was Damian.

He was a pretty handsome guy back then for someone who was the same age as me. Solid jawline, nice facial features and easy on the eyes with just the perfect brown skinned tone. But that's just about it because at the time we were both ten years old. I was just born earlier in the month but the same year as him. He was the only child, pretty popular with everyone, always got what he wanted, loved by people his age and even those older than him. But that isn't where I'm headed with this story. I had three other friends who lived on that block but one of them wasn't allowed to go outside. She was always under her father's watchful eye, the other could join us but wasn't with us at the time and as for the last one? Well… He was sort of a vampire. But this was all back when I was home in Nigeria, in the city of Abuja

We lived in an area with a quiet street behind our houses. Somewhere most kids use to test out their bikes, roller blades, skateboard and play some street sports. We decided we couldn't do anything dangerous since Akira was with me so we just took a walk down the street and watched the other kids play. My friend had a lot of things and anything he wanted he could always ask his parents for and they'd get it for him. Of all the things he had the one thing he didn't have was a skateboard I'm not sure why but when he saw this boy on it, he wanted it badly.

The kids that played on that street rolled in packs and had bad tempers and attitudes, they were the delinquents of the whole area. The crew that happened to role in Large numbers was one the kid with the skate board was part of, a really popular and dangerous one, but at the time we didn't know. Damian approached the kid and complemented the tricks he was trying to do. Akira was easily impressed so at the time she was the most excited one to see them. The kid had a soft spot for little ones and asked if Akira wanted to ride but I was against it, I didn't want her getting hurt or worse. She begged me to let her ride but I still couldn't take the chance. So, the kid asked if I wanted to ride. I said yes. Now I couldn't ride to save my life but the kid told me I'd be fine as long as I was balanced.

I got on the board and rode down the street a bit for a while nearly tripping towards the end. I got off the board and went back to the kid and gave him back saying thanks. That was the most we had been involved with those kids and I felt we didn't have to get any more involved. The kid took his skateboard and was about to leave when Damian decided to ask him whether he could ride, the kid said no. Damian could have easily walked away and we could have closed the chapter on that story but no he had to insult him, he just had to

"Look at this guy! Is it because you I'm asking you for a ride you won't let me? Is it because you think I can't buy it? Is it because you have one?!" Damian yelled

I begged Damian "Please dude let's not do this, not in front of Akira, can't we just leave?"

Damian agreed but as we left. We got on the stairs that led off the streets to high ground and up to our homes

He continued the insults "I don't blame you" Damian left with that as his last remark.

The kid didn't like that and couldn't take that disrespect and to top it off. His gang was behind him. At first, they were just pumping him with energy to di us, then they joined in and before we knew it… We had started exchanging insults. He insulted every single one of us there besides Akira, Akira wasn't a part of this but she wanted to try and defend me so she picked up a stone, ran and threw it at the boy. He dodged it, and stared Akira down. His boys laughed and they pumped the kid up some more, the kid was clearly pissed off and decided to curse our parents in his language.

We couldn't understand what he was saying we just knew It was bad. I didn't care because it didn't sting, Damian on the other hand was furious and decided to curse them in his language, I didn't know how to speak mind so I just did it in English, the fact he insulted my parents didn't bother me but it clearly bothered Akira, because when I checked my side Akira had gone down to pick a fight with the boy. I panicked, these boys weren't against hitting a girl if they felt they needed to. I immediately followed after her

When she got down the stairs she told them to apologize. They just laughed at her, not moving, not intimidated by some little girl, they stood their ground and asked what she could do. Akira hated being made fun off so she slapped the boy who offered her the skateboard. The boy didn't like that and hit her back before I could reach her in time. I just…couldn't understand what was happening. I couldn't accept it…Someone…Someone hit Akira? It felt like time had paused, the way I saw everything in slow motion and she fell back in suspended animation. I wanted to believe it was all unreal. But the pain I felt in my throat, the heat I felt on my head, the sting I could feel in my eyes, the blood rushing through me at bullet speeds. This definitely was happening.

I couldn't remember most of the fight, I could only remember it in flashes because I somewhat blacked out. I just know I fought them all, I beat them all, and I couldn't be satisfied…My blood lust couldn't be satisfied by anyone of them. In my mind a voice kept on saying to me and shouting at me

"KILL THEM! KILL THEM! YOU CAN DO IT, THEY HIT AKIRA, YOU HAVE THE RAGE AND POWER TO SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST KILL THEM? KILL THEM ALL!!!"

But despite the voice in my head I couldn't. So, torn by this mental torment I began to cry…but I was also smiling and laughing. Both sides of me, one in pain and the other in the joy and heat of a fight because I had finally unleashed my rage. I don't have a quick temper. I'm actually pretty difficult to piss off. I don't have anger management issues… Well not exactly. I just have an issue stopping myself from enjoying myself when I'm angry... But that seems futile now…The voice, is back

The clown up in the V.I.P sweet says with a malicious grin "Eeeeeeeeeeeedddwwwwwwaaaaaarrrdddd" He calls out dragging his name slowly, like a whisper

"Of all the toys in this play ground, you're my favorite. My most prized possession"

The other cell mates of prim rose scattered across the field, lost in their confusion can't understand where the screams are coming from. All but Edward. On the mountain of bodies, he raises his head and starts to approach the location of Mr. Will's death. With darkness heavy on his eyes and murder on his mind he slowly approaches. Cayafaz sees Edward and runs after him while Ethan and Isabel run around the maze of death finding their comrades.

A while passes and after walking over several bodies Edward, is finally about to reach Maya's location. The only thing in his way is a wall of dead bodies… and Cayafaz. He takes his spear and holds it in an offensive position, not knowing what is behind the wall of dead bodies, he dares to stop Edward.

"Where do you think your going?" He walks up to him slowly, asking him in such a bold manner

Edward doesn't pay any attention to him, he just keeps his head down and tries to walk past him, not even looking at him

"Tsk! Damn it!" He goes around Edward and gets in front of him, blocking him again

"What's wrong Ed? Not good enough to get just a moment of your attention?" He says with a nervous smile

Edward replies, saying "I don't have time for this"

He raises his head with a fiery look in his eyes "You want me to kill me, right? To save everyone's souls or maybe just yours? Who cares really. I have no issue with that, but if your going to do that your going to have to wait for me to finish my mission. Once I've saved her then you can take my life"

"Stop babbling all this nonsense! As if I'd waste a perfectly good opportunity to kill you so you could run away" He takes a stance with his spear

"I didn't take you for the cowardly type Ed, making up stories just to escape me? Hmph, but its fine. I won't make you suffer, I'll kill you quickly!"

Edward only has one goal in mind with no room for anything else. So, he can't understand what Cayafaz is talking about

"What are you even? … It doesn't matter, I don't have time for this" Weapons ready, Edward is prepared to break through Cayafaz

"Either you let me through or I force my way through, but no matter the outcome, you're going to let me pass and I don't care what I have to do to you. I'll apologize later, right now I don't have the time to be sorry… Cayafaz"

The boys are about ready to take each other's life meanwhile behind the wall. Maya cradles Mr. Williams dead body in her arms and Cheshire looks down on her in disgust. Incapable of feeling such emotions towards anyone or understanding those sorts of emotions. She tries to separate them, but Maya won't let go, she continues to struggle with the body, fighting Cheshire back to keep it. Finally, Cheshire has enough of it and kicks Maya's jaw

"Get off!" She says as her foot lifts Maya's head into the air

Maya falls to the floor with a bloody nose and some blood dripping off the left side of her lip

"Look at you pigs! Falling over yourself with some sort of bond? Nothing you have is real, you just cuddle up to the next person who is just as weak as you are to share some sort of… understanding. That your all weak and can smile together about it rather than do something about it is what really is sick about you all, and then when one of you dies, you cry and you mourn rather than understand its your fault for letting yourselves be that weak and that vulnerable and that naïve, to think if you were together it would make you strong. You have no one but yourselves to blame, its your fault he's dead because if you weren't weak he wouldn't have had to die to protect you. Which spoiler alert! Changes nothing because I'm still going to kill you!"

*Sigh* "And I thought I'd find someone strong in these games" with a plane and emotionless face she lifts up her sword "Well goodbye I guess"

Cheshire stabs her in her thighs accidentally. Maya screams out in pain.

"Huh? I missed? How did I miss? I never miss?" Cheshire contemplates for a few seconds while Maya continues to cry out and sob in pain.

"Sorry about that, must be off my game. Ill go again and this time I wont miss" She raises her hand ready to go again when the wall of bodies is broken through

The two girls look to their side to see what the ruckus was all about and to Maya and Cheshires surprise, its Edward surfing on Cayafaz body like a board as he crashes through the bodies and into the ground

The two girls in their shock call his name at the same time "Ed-ward!?"

"Looks like I made it here in time. Sorry I took too long… Maya"

Cayafaz body is laying on the ground, motionless, speechless, his eyes wide open. He's staring at Edward from the ground. Edwards knuckles are covered in blood but there isn't a scratch on him, Cayaz nose is bloody, his eyes and lip swollen, blood pouring like sweat from his lips and nose. Edwards right foot is resting on Cayafaz chest, Cayafaz tries to say something then Edward lifts his foot from his chest

"Sorry, almost forgot you were under there. Oh well, were done here" He walks towards Cheshire. Cayafaz tries his best to stand up

"Waaaiitt… Eeeedward" he tries to call Edward back

"Cayafaz! You want to kill me… that much is clear. But your going to have to wait…I've got to take care of something first, once I've done that ill give myself up to you without a fight. I don't want to have to kill you to reason with you. We've lost one already"

"What are you-" Just then, he notices Mr. Williams body

"Mr. Will?!" Cayafaz gives Edward a stern look "W-what happened?"

"Mr. William was killed… and that's his cold, lifeless body laying right there"

Cayafaz grabs and squeezes the dirt and grass of the field soaked in blood, he gnashes his teeth "Whooo! Who did this!?"

With Edwards head barely turned back a blank expression on his face and his eyes giving Cayafaz a condescending look He faces Cheshire "The person your looking for… is the girl standing right over there"

Cheshire sheathes her sword "Eddy… Did something about you change? You seem different… And why haven't you killed that guy yet? He a friend of yours? You two just having an argument? Well… if I was the one fighting him, I'd have killed him"

"I'm sure you would have. Listen, I watched you kill a friend of mine and I thought I'd come stop you before you killed another"

"Oh wait…This dead old geezer and the weak little chimp are your friends? Oh gosh Ed! Why do you hang out with such weaklings?!"

"To me it doesn't matter if their weak, they're my friends and I'd appreciate it if you would return her and the corpse of the old man to me"

"Ed… Baby, I like you but you gotta understand. She's my prey and I caught her fair and square. I can't just hand her over to you…If you want to steal my catch your going to have to earn it"

"I see, so what do you want for it then? My weapons? Me to surrender?"

"Oh, nothing boring like that. I want you to fight me for it"

"What?"

"You heard me. I haven't found a single decent opponent in this game, despite the fact he promised me that there would be one. I know your not that strong but I'm sure you could at least keep me entertained for 15minutes"

"I see… Is this really the only way? I'd prefer to avoid conflict if it's possible"

"Sorry Eddy. But it isn't"

With a disappointed exhale he accepts the challenge. He tells Maya to go stay next to Cayafaz so she doesn't get in the way of their fight and she goes, but she does so hesitantly. Inside herself, sure that Edward will march off to his death, she whispers

"Don't do this Edward… please"

Just then a groan comes from a small pile of dead bodies not far from where Maya is standing, Jason crawls out struggling to stay alive, bleeding from his neck with his hand on it, squeezing it to reduce the bleeding.

"Hey kid… I can see your strong, but right now you seem conflicted as though your torn because your being tormented by something or someone… I can see that in you clearly because I often see it in myself" He coughs up some blood

"Look I don't have a lot of time left, I was planning to originally sneak a hit in while Cheshire had her guard down but that won't be possible. I also wanted to ask you if you could to avenge me and my friends who were murdered by her in our fight, but it would be cruel of me to ask you to do that, especially with the way you are now. So instead I'd like to ask you to run from here with the girl and get lost on this field until the game comes to an end. I'll use what I have left in me to take down Cheshire so you don't have to lose your life with that conflicted mind of yours" He uses his Mace to stand himself up

"I also have to ask one more thing… if I am…No… when and after I die here, I want you to inherit my name for me. Inherit the name Brute so that when this game ends the, everyone will know you killed her… because I plan on taking this woman with me when I die"

Cheshire with a sadistic smile "Is that right, big boy?" Suddenly she's in front of him with her blade to his chest "Sorry but I really want to fight Edward and I can't have you getting in the way of that" She cuts his head off and kicks his head over to the edge of the field

Maya and Cayafaz are shocked to see how cruel Cheshire is but Edward isn't moved, he just sighs heavily

"Was that necessary?" Edward asks with a blank expression

"Yes. If he kept on talking I felt he would kill your reason to fight and I know your motivation to fight me was already low, so you might actually run…Now that that girls with you" Edward doesn't respond and Cheshire doesn't like it

"It seems ill have to ignite another fire underneath you, for you to fight me" She walks over to Williams body and grabs it by the head

"What are you doing!?" Edward asks but Cheshire doesn't respond

Cheshire drags Mr. Williams body to the edge of the field where the chimera sit at the bottom, drinking the drops of blood pouring from the field, waiting for a taste of flesh. As she drags him his tracksuit comes off. She stops at the edge and grabs him by the leg, dangling him over it. The match is lit

"If I threw this man away…would you hate me enough to fight me then?" the fuels been poured on the wood

"Cheshire! Stop it!" Edward screams

"Finally, an energetic response from you"

"It's me you want to fight! I promise ill give you the best fight of your life just let him go!"

"oooohhhh *clicks tongue* You gotta be more careful bout what you wish for Ed, but your wish is my command"

With a sick smile, Cayafaz and Maya screaming at the top of their lungs and Edwards head about to blow, Cheshire throws him down into the pit and the chimera tear him to pieces.

The match's been thrown into the fuel and the fire is lit. Edward grinds his teeth and grips his blade. His palms turn red and the veins on his hand start bulging.

"Yooouuuuu… I'll kill you! CHESHIRE!!!"

"That's perfect, exactly what it was I wanted to hear. Now, come at me"

Before Edward attacks her. He goes to pick up Mr. Williams tracksuit covered in blood, takes off his and puts on Mr. wills tracksuit. A surge of clear blue and deep blue aura envelops his body

"I'm going to kill you to avenge Mr. will. Him and the other people you've mercilessly killed" Suddenly wings burst forth from the back of his track suit and he launches at her with high speed

Cheshire struggles to fend off the first attack and though her feet her tearing through the field as she's being pushed back, with a red gleam in both their eyes she smiles and says suddenly "Surge! Activate!"

A pulse noise suddenly starts to come off her body like a heart beat and an aura of red and orange envelops her tracksuit. She stops herself from moving and is able to stand firmly in the ground, now both her and Edward are a match for one another.

"Bet you didn't know the tracksuits for team damnation came with instructions did you, Ed? They weren't announced, to see those who knew. But I think I was the only one who found out. You see our suits came with demon like power that would give us the speed, strength and even greater durability to take on those with salvation tracksuits. So, you see? You may have grown wings… but I'll still cut you down"

"You talk to much!" He head butts her and kicks her in the stomach

The clown in the V.I.P suit gets up shouting "Yes! He's done it! He's unhinged! Ha-ha-ha, I couldn't have asked for a better outcome than this"

A figure from behind him suddenly speaks "So you did it… You finally broke the boy

"Ah, Nibera… it's been a while since I last saw you. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The Captain of the Harpies steps out of the shadows "I came because of the boy"

"I see, so you really have taken a great liking to the boy all that much?"

"He was someone I really found interesting, but now that you've broken him I can only imagine what's left of him that I can love"

She sits down gently on the veranda, her wings graciously covering her shoulders and highlighting her features in the lights of the arena. Her colorful skin glowing as a sad look rests on her face and she sighs at the sight of what Edward had become

"Did it all have to come to this?"