The Thin Line Between Good And Evil

Chapter 11: Helpless Little Girl vs Professor Claws

The room was messy and smelled odd, like no one had been here in a while. I noticed that there were two beds, one unmade and rumpled, the other had clothes thrown on top of it at random. Figuring that was the bed meant for me I started to pick up her clothes and throw them on her bed. When it was cleared I saw that the sheets were rumpled as well, meaning someone had used this bed. I sighed and gathered up the sheets. using one of them to hold the rest and walked with it floating behind me, carried by a bird made of air. I peaked into the open rooms, hoping to find someone to guide me to the washer and dryer machines. When I didn't find anyone I retreated back to my room, feeling defeated. I plopped the bundle of laundry down on the hardwood floors and laid down on the unmade bed, playing with the pendent I'd wrapped around my wrist.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy I'd first seen playing with fire looming in my doorway. "Can I help you?" I sighed tiredly, the events of, today?, taking it's toll. He stepped past the threshhold and looked at me with an odd expression.

"I'm Lennon. Scott asked me to show you around tomorrow, so I came to let you know that we will be getting up at 5:30. Logan has some extra training he wants us to do." His voice was low, much lower than Kurt's, and made something stir inside of me. He almost sounded familiar, but not quite. I chewed on the inside of my lip and nodded, not sure how to respond. "Do you have any actual clothes?" His questioned startled me. I shook my head and he sighed, for reasons unknown. "Do you want me to talk to someone about getting you some?"

"No, it's fine. I'll figure it out on my own." I responded politely, wishing he would leave. Besides, I added to myself, I don't want to stay too long.

"You almost killed Asuna. The others aren't too pleased, so you might want to watch your back." He spoke casually but I could hear the warning in his voice.

"And you? Am I also going to have to keep an eye on you?" I challenged in the same laid back tone. He chuckled darkly and shook his head, stalking away with a smirk on his face. I thought back to what he said about me dissapearing for a couple days. Had I been in a coma? I felt fine now, aside from being tired and hungry.

The clock on the wall read 9:47, well before when I usually went to bed. I groaned and willed the door to shut and the light to turn off before curling up into a ball and drifting to sleep.

§~§

The next day passed with a blur, with me following Lennon to each of our classes, but mainly ignoring him and his friends. The only time I saw Kurt was when I was walking to the kitchen to get some lunch. Neither of us acknowledged the other and I took note that he was, again, in his disguise. After eating dinner I was informed that we were to go down to the training room to work on hand to hand combat.

Always one for consistency, I simply nodded and followed the group downstairs. When we entered the room, I saw our instructor and resisted the urge to light him on fire.

"We're doing hand to hand, pair up and square up." He spoke in a no nonsense tone and I watched everyone else find their partners. We happened to have a larger class than my earlier ones, consisting of a total of 23 students. That left me partnerless, but fear not, the ever so considerate Professor Claws was making his way to me.

I groaned internally as he spoke to the class, telling them to work on what they had been taught individually with their partners. I chewed on my lip as he spoke, wondering if I broke my leg I could sit out for today. It would heal in a couple hours, but at least they would get the message.

I snickered to myself as I imagined the looks on their faces if I jerked my leg from my knee socket. Perhaps on of them would even scream.

"Alright Alex, what do you already know about hand to hand combat?" I wanted to slap that smug smile off of his face bit resisted the urge.

"Enough to win against you," I bit back confidently. He chuckled, trying to belittle me, and shook his head.

"Kid, when we fought, that wasn't you fighting. What are you going to do when someone makes it past your dirt men? Hug them into submission?" He mocked me with that same smirk on his face. I could feel my temper start to rise and glowered at him.

"Say you were on a mission and you were the only thing keeping your team from drowning is you. What would happen if you were attacked? You couldn't make clay men or run away, you'd be forced to fight. Would you be able to do that?" He challenged, angering me further. Who is he to assume he knows what I am capable of?

"I'll manage," I growled, trying to keep my temper in check.

"No you won't. It's people who think like that get the rest of us killed. You think you can do these things but you're a weak, self serving, helpless, stupid little girl." With that I snapped. I felt my fist collide with his face as I roared in rage. He stumbled back in shock but I wasn't finished. I launched myself at him and knocked him over before pounding fists into his face. Still shocked, he was slow to react, shoving me off of him with a great deal of force. I landed on my back but jumped up, quickly getting into the rhythm I'd hoped I'd never have to use again.

I watched as he struggled to keep himself in check, taking advantage of his distraction. I swiftly jabbed him in the ribs and knocked him off of his feet. I stepped on his throat, effectively cutting off his oxygen supply and smirked down at him. "Helpless, huh?" I looked up and saw other groups staring at us, slightly shocked. I bristled and glared at them.

Suddenly, I was yanked back onto the ground. I scrambled to look at him, knowing I was a dead man if he stayed out of my sight for to long. "Don't believe your opponent is defeated unless they aren't moving. Keep your eyes on the other person." He spoke behind me. I reeled around ready to attack him again but was caught by the throat and slammed to the ground. I sputtered in response, trying to catch my breath.

"Go to hell you bastard," I rolled over and got to my feet before balling my fists and glaring at him.

"We're done," he said simply, sounding almost bored.

"No. We're not, now stop holding back," my teeth ground in frustration.

"Alex-" He started to warn me but was cut off by me once again launching myself at him. Instead of throwing me down again he punched me in the stomach, leaving me coughing and gasping for air. I coughed into my hand and saw red splatter against my pale skin. Rage clouded my mind as I attacked blindly, barely allowing him to fight back. I didn't care if I killed him at this point, I just wanted him to hurt.

Because I was moving so quickly I didn't see his claws slide out. I was practically on top of him, as that was my fighting style, and didn't realize what was happening until I felt three claws pierce my flesh. My voice carrid throughout the gym as I slid back, his claws making a sickening noise as I moved back. I looked at him with shock and found my legs would no longer support me.

I tumbled to the ground and continued to cough, blood splattering against the gray floor. Somehow, I managed to choke out, "Finally," before there was shouting and the sound of people running towards us. Out of nowhere, my head was lifted from the ground and I saw Kurt's worried yellow eyes searching my own desperately. For what, though, I did not know.