Sunday, September 25, 2011

Story

Not part of the story I was writing, but just something I jotted down real quick. I might expand upon it, but I don't know where I would take this. Still, it's been awhile since I updated and I figured I might as well throw something down.


    Zeke zipped up his jacket tighter and took a long drag on his lit cigarette. It was a rare occurrence, but sometimes he just felt that need to chew on something. The butt of a cigarette worked wonders for that and the warm smoke filling his lungs, as acrid as it was, was almost soothing for such a cool night.

    He smoked maybe a pack, two at the most in a year, so he made sure to cherish each inhale as sickening as it was. Every time it he exhaled, he let the taste build up in his mouth to remind him why it was such a rare thing. It tasted terrible, but it was like a treat. He opened his mouth and let the smoke leave his lungs and watch it float up and away in the cool autumn air.

    The smoke left a hazy trail up into the immediate sky above him, only faintly blocking the stars, or at least the ones he could see. It annoyed him only being able to see a fraction of the cosmos. Zeke always wanted to see more of it for himself, but was only left to what he could find online when he had the time. Still, he took the time to appreciate what he could observe.

    Another inhale of smoke. He held it inside him, letting the warmth expand. The feeling made his fingers tingle a bit. He just wished that smoking wasn’t so unhealthy. If it wasn’t for how much it kills the body, he’d gladly pay the six dollars to keep the habit.

    But it is how it is and there’s no point in thinking about what ifs…Zeke thought to himself. Just so long as he made this count.

    VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVTTTTTTTT!!!!!!
    VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!

    The next exhale was more of a sigh at his phone’s vibration. He got a text and flipped it open.
   
    From: Hayley            Time: 12:54 A.M.

    Hey ba-

    Zeke flipped it back closed, “whatever…”, he said before stuffing it into his jacket pocket. At that point in time, he didn’t give a shit what it said. He just really longed to be alone, at least for a little bit.

    He reconsidered a bit. He flipped the phone back open and turned it off. He usually kept it on during a late night stroll such as this. He didn’t want to be mugged or hurt and not able to call for help, but decided this time, he didn’t even care.

    Zeke, though usually indifferent to much of life’s troubles, now he found he was growing quite apathetic to his own life in general. He shrugged to himself deciding that if he were to die on this walk, that night then and there, it wouldn’t matter if he had a phone or not. It was just giving him a false sense of security.

    He put up his hood and took another long drag on his death stick. Zeke probably looked more threatening to anyone else that should happen to be walking by at that time anyway. Only twice did he ever meet anyone on his walks. One of them was a homeless man who asked for some spare change. He gave him twenty dollars.

    The second was a man who said nothing. Maybe he was just like Zeke, just wanted to spend some time to himself. Maybe he was just walking home. Maybe he was homeless as well. Zeke didn’t stop him to ask and the man didn’t stop to tell his life’s story.

    His cigarette was just about out, so he took once last hurrah of an inhale and flicked the butt away. Holding that last bit of smoke inside of him, he let it spread throughout his body until he was finally content and opened his mouth. The smoked rolled out and like each path of smoke before it spiraled up into the sky above.

    As the last of the smoke finally rolled off his tongue, he decided to satisfy another one of his sense. He took out his iPod and placed the buds in his ears and tuned it to his “Relxa” play list. When he first typed it, the typo was an accident, but decided against changing. It seemed more natural that way, the way he originally typed it, and kept it there.

    Zeke scrolled down to a song called ‘Breezy’ and let it soothe and wash over him. It was hardly even a song. It was the sound of waves washing up on a shore with a Spanish Guitar playing a slow, happy melody. It was more relaxing than the cigarette.

    A coincidental breeze swept over him and gave him the chills. Zeke looked up at the moon and decided
maybe it was time to finally head back. Putting his cold hands in his pockets, and turn his iPod up, he turned on his heel and started his trek back.


    Zeke arrived at his doorstep finding himself unable to put his hand on the knob for a moment. He hesitated, but pushed through and walked in.

    “Darling!”, he was instantly greeted by his girlfriend, May.

    She jumped off the couch and leaped onto him. She latched her arms around Zeke and he embraced her warmth. It was soothing to have a warm body to hold and he loved how soft she was. May pushed him back for a moment and punched him square in the chest.

    “You dick! Can’t you at least let me know when you’re going on a walk this late?”, then she hugged him again.

    Zeke didn’t answer, but he held her tighter. If it was one thing he liked about her, it was her passion.

    “Sorry, I just kinda decided to go last moment”, he grinned and ruffled her hair, “now can you let go so I can at least take off my coat?”

    She stuck out her tongue and let go, “Why the hell do you feel the need to worry me and go out on a stroll anyway?”

    “Well, I just need to clear my head sometimes”, it was an honest answer; for the most part.

    May looked up into his eyes. There was something there that was troubling him, but as per usual, he tried to hide it. She bit her lip and put her hands on her hips. She gave him an accusing glance, but he just shrugged and grinned again. May sighed. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she wasn’t going to force him.

    Zeke walked over and put his hand softly on her cheek, “don’t worry. If there was something big going on, I’d tell you.”

    May rolled her eyes to which Zeke responded by kissing her. He loved her soft lips and as much as she loved his, she still pushed him away.

    “Hey, Ass Hat, don’t forget, you’re still in trouble for making me worry.”

    “I love it when you pout like th-”

    “Don’t you try to sweet talk your way out of it. Something is bugging you and you’re not telling me something”, she hated being out on something. It was an old habit of his she’s tried to break for years, but could barely even bend it.

    Zeke put his hands behind his head and just looked at her bright amber eyes. They were dazzling really. He knew that as long as he stared into them long enough, she’d melt and buckle. Resist as she might, he knew that she just loved him too much. Whenever he thought about it, the power he truly had over her, he got an odd twist in his stomach.

    “Listen…”, already, the cracks were starting to form, “you know I love you right?”

    He snickered, “Babe, I’ve known that since forever.”

    May punched him in the stomach, that was a new one, “then why do you insist on always making me worry?”

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Chapter 5 Part 4

    Cylvia ground her teeth as Auvyr twisted her arm farther and farther. She made no sign of giving in or even any of pain. It was slowly broken, bones popping, she could feel them, but didn’t so much as flinch. Auvyr was put on edge. There was no point in killing someone who wasn’t afraid. There was no point in killing someone if there were no screams or any pain.

    “Scream. Scream you bitch. Fucking. Scream”, he was fed up with it. All he wanted was one good, earsplitting scream.

    Cylvia held her ground. She refused to show any kind of weakness. He started to twist the bone at an angle. She felt the bone start to pierce through her arm from the inside. It was a sickening feeling, and it was an almost blinding pain, but she kept a straight face.

    “Listen here”, he flipped her onto her back, “If you don’t scream, I will cut your throat out here and now”, he brandished his sword and held it up to her neck.

    Cylvia spit in his face and grabbed his arm and pushed it up towards him. He easily anticipated the sword, but didn’t expect the kick in the crotch. Even for someone like him, that easily crumpled his game plan.

    Even a demon like him wouldn’t be able to withstand that without at least faltering, Cylvia thought. She picked up her sword. She had only one usable arm, her left, but she was fortunate enough to be ambidextrous when it came to the blade.

    Auvyr bitterly snickered, “Good, it seems like you still got some fight in you. It‘d be a terrible pity to kill a helpless little girly.”, he grabbed his crotch with one hand and grabbed his sword with the other.

    “Alright bitch, you ready to get in the fucking ground”, he screamed.

    Auvry charged, sword at his side. Cylvia kept her eyes sharp and prepared for an attack. She anticipated a possible sweep followed be a kick. Maybe even an overhead slash with a punch afterwards. She admired his ability to chain swordsmanship and martial arts together so fluidly. It was going to be hard, but she couldn’t fail. She never failed before, she wouldn’t start today.

    Cylvia wouldn’t have to do anything, at least not at that moment. Auvyr was blindsided and tackled by Adva. Auvyr kicked the body off of him, but not fast or far enough. Auvyr was too far into Adva’s range and Adva was too close to adequately make use of the swords.

    Adva knew with his surprise attack he would have a few moments to get in a few punches before Auvyr would have a chance to reclaim his senses and counter. A right hook into the jaw, left jab into the collar bone, right upper into the ribs. Adva just kept on throwing as many punches as he could.

    Then, even in a flurry of punches, Adva could see that Auvyr was starting to smile.

    “Cylvia, get the hell outta here! You can’t hope to win, just go!”, he barked. It was the most serious he had ever been on a mission, it shocked her that he even had a serious side.

    Cylvia took the hint. She sheathed the sword she had in her hand and picked up her other and walked away. There was no point for her to try and help. She bitterly swallowed her defeat by a superior and left him in Adva’s hands.

    Auvyr dropped his blade and started his counter assault. He ducked another shot to the face and punched his sternum and followed with a shot to the solar plexus. Adva gasped and dropped to his knee, but he quickly recovered by throwing a punch into Auvyr’s stomach.

    It connected, but Auvyr easily absorbed and caught the blow. In a quick flow, he was able to kick Adva onto his back and arm bar him. Adva didn’t panic, but knew he had to think quick or he was going to have his arm snapped in half. He tried snaking his arm out of his grip, but it was too strong. He tried to roll over, but Auvyr’s legs had him pinned down. The only thing he could do is flex his arm and prolong it unless he could think of something else in the next thirty seconds.



    Nearing the entrance of the Katacombs, Jack and Skylar were getting closer to escaping. Skylar had much longer legs and was a few paces ahead of her smaller bodied partner, but he was still keeping an even pace behind her.

    “C’mon Jack, we’re almost there. If anything else, we can at least get the hell outta here”

    As they approached the spiral staircase,  another figure slowly stepped down. Although there was no way Jack could’ve known who that was, Skylar had heard of a girl fitting the description of the girl walking towards them now. A monster, a murderous monster. Without weapons, they would have no way of even touching her.

    “Jack, quick, dodge”, at her words, they both leaped to the side.
    “Gotcha”, Aqua was at the foot of the stairs, ready to meet the blonde. She raised Thanatos and Mors and hastily fired off a few rounds.

    “Oh c’mon, won’t you come out and play? I love those icy blue eyes of yours blondie”

    Skylar swore to herself. She was the target, and if what she heard was correct, this girl never gave up on a prize until they were dead. Seeing that killer was still alive, Skylar didn’t think anyone had ever bested her either. She didn’t even seem to acknowledge Jack however. Sksylar took that into account in hopes that she might be able to use that fact. 

    She looked over at the body of Max, the man now dead and the weapons at his sides. If only she had the foresight to pick them up. Jack was shaken from being shot at, but he was at least on his feet. He stood with his gun gripped tightly in both of hands and held close to his chest. Jack was breathing hard, but his eyes seemed determined. He was quickly adapting, Skylar just hoped he wouldn’t do anything stupid.

    He did.

    Jack reached around the corner and fired off a few blind shots. Aqua was so focused on her right, that she almost was hit by the shots coming from Jack, but she caught the sight out of her peripherals and was able to duck out of the way. She smiled out of amusement and fired her guns right back and hit him in the arm.

    “THE FUCK!”, Jack screamed. He dropped his weapon and instantly fell back. The ripping pain of the bullet penetrating his flesh, was more painful than he thought. He looked at the wound and thankfully it grazed the top, but it was still bleeding.

    Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of peroxide and dumped it on the wound. He usually savored watching the foaming of the liquid, but he couldn’t take the time. He took out a length of bandage and wrapped it around the wound, tying it securely.

    “Took too much time fucker”, Aqua smiled a wicked grin and cocked her gun behind Jack’s head.

    “You’re missing someone”, Skylar said from the other side. Aqua quickly turned ready to fire. She knew the Blonde couldn’t have been far away and she’d protect her comrade. Regardless it was a stupid move, she figured the chances of the blond having a weapon for herself was slim lest she would have fired in unison with the boy. Calculating everything out, Aqua figured she was in the clear and she would have the blond to herself soon.

    What she didn’t expect was a wall of dirt flung into her face. Skylar threw the biggest handful of sand she could into her assailants face and ducked. Aqua grunted in annoyance, but couldn’t get much out. Sand went into her nose and a bit into her mouth, but her eyes are what disrupted her.

    She shot in random directions hoping to hit, but she heard them all hit stone. Skylar snuck by and took Jack by his good arm and hid behind a pillar with him. She held him close to make sure neither of them stood out. His heart was pounding hard against his chest; she could both feel and hear it.

    “Pretty cheap fuckin’ trick blondie”, Aqua’s spit into the ground, but just couldn’t help smiling like a fool, “but that’s why I figured you’d be such an interesting mark.”

    She finished wiping most of the dirt out of her eyes. Aqua’s eyes still stung, but nothing she couldn’t take to get that ultimate high. She raised her guns and pricked her ears up like a cat trying to pick up any kind of noise. It was unnecessary however. They left foot prints. She'd have no difficulty stalking them.