Ink Chain

-Nova Basal-

     My black hoodie jacket hung loose on my body, guarding my arms against the cool breeze. I didn't have that protection in the cuts of my jeans and the cold chains hanging from the belt loop. My low-heeled boots thumped against the pavement.

     While criticizing my clothing choice of the day, I walked away from the cafe, still in a huff over losing my job, the only job I've had all year that I could have any actual tolerance for. My coworkers were kind, most of the customers were fun (emphasis on most), and my manager was kind of an ass, but the good kind. Dream job, right?

     At least it was for me. But because of my damn temper, I'm outta the job. It's gonna be a while for the whole news cover to blow over, that man was the one to blame. I had done nothing wrong except for my tone of voice. He threatened me, I defended myself.

     As I thought about it, I kicked a can on the side of the road. I watched the tin can roll and hit a curb. I saw something reflect the sun from the corner of my eye. I looked up from the ground and before I knew it, I was at my father's diamond-encrusted school.

     "Did you hear what Mr.Basal's kid did today?" A group of guys stood beside the school. As a way of announcing my presence, I cleared my throat and walked past them. I could hear them laughing as I walked through the door.

     I walked through the cafeteria, people staring and whispering about the news. I gave myself a curse to myself, just praying that everything would blow over by the next 2 weeks. Before the professor comes back in for the answer to the question he gave me.

"Begins with him and her ends as your champion. May she lives on".

-----------------

     I heard silent gasps and saw students running away from the large monitors at the end of the corridor. My picture appeared at the top corner of the screen. As I walked closer to the crowd, I heard bags and books hit the ground. Was there a fight?

     "What the hell is happening in there?" I pushed past students in the crowd, trying to reach the center with desperate shoves. More gasps and sharp breaths rang through the crowd from students I had moved aside.

     When I reached the center, the girl with the fear symbol was on the ground, using her elbows to hold her up. Her arm laid on the ground in a fist, her veins close to bursting through the ink on her skin.

     Across the open space, a large man laid sprawled on the floor. His red hair was a mess, poking out every which way. Obviously, he had fallen as well. Against him, was a girl with bright pink hair. And just by her look, she obviously had some attitude as well. 

     Both their faces turned from shock, eyebrows raised and mouths agape, to fury. Their brows furrowed, gritting their teeth, and willing to fight. The brute of a student pushed the girl off of him, in 1 move, both swift but gentle. His steps were quick and he pushed his short-sleeve over his shoulder.

     "Fuck, he's about to hit her-!" I moved through the last layer of students and made my way closer. But about 3 steps away, I hear a large blow of skin on skin. I felt anger in my blood boil. My hands heated at the sound. Although my views of equality have grown with the generation, there's 1 thing that will never change; NEVER hit women.

     "You son of a bitch, the hell is your problem?!" I pushed him back and stood in between them. She scrambled to her feet once she saw me. She pulled on my shoulder.

     "Let it go, it doesn't matter," Her grip tightened on my arm. Her pleads grew quiet when she walked in front of me. "He doesn't matter." 

     A deep growl peeked behind her, low to the ground. Students gasped and began running. She turned and was met with the same sight as we. The ginger man had turned into a ginger-haired bear. The girl standing behind him stood proud, her arms crossed and her pink hair draped over her shoulder.

     "You gotta be shitting me," I pushed the girl behind me and handed her my bag and jacket. Stepping away, I heard and watched students around us running away, down each corridor.

"We gotta get out of here!"

"Don't go near them!"

"Their fighting! Find Mr.Basal!"

     Find my dad? Oh, fucking hell. I didn't care. I pulled the neck of my T-shirt down my shoulder. My symbol seemed to shine in the light above us. I heard my jacket and back hit the floor. I looked to my right, and there she was. She held her arm out in front of her, ready to scare the living hell out of them. 

     "You can't scare me, bitch." The walking highlighter of a woman seemed too cocky. Before the bear could make a move, teachers and student reps came from every angle.

     "You 4, in the office, NOW." The class president, Ms. Uada Féret. A personal friend to my sister and a close favorite of my father. She pulled her glove off of her hand and held the dorsal side of her hand to the sky.

     "Listen here, Ms-" Silence. She fucking SILENCED us. All 4 of us! I looked at her hand as she lowered it. Figures, the dorsal of her hand is inked. She has the symbol of silence, go figure. For someone obsessed with silence, she gave the 4 of us an earful on the way to my fathers' office.

     Me and bear-boy held a death glare while we waited for my father. But soon enough, I heard them both. We all 4 looked towards the door.

     A tall girl with skin-like sepia strutted into the office. Her long and dark brown curls bounced against her back and shoulders. Her tall black heels clicked against the ceramic ground and you could hear her metal bracelet clink against her watch.

     "You've got to be kidding me." Finally able to talk, I grabbed the girl of fears' arm and stood up to walk away and out of the office. But when I got us both to our feet, I saw him. The tall old man in a light tan suit.

     "Hello Nova," the 2 spoke in harmony as if connected robots. They looked dead into my soul, their eyes not shifting for anything. Of course.

     "Hello, Dad and Calla-Bots. How are you this fine afternoon?" I tucked my hand into my pockets and smirked. I felt the chains on my jeans shake with the fist I had made. The girl of fear shook my free hand off her upper arm and she crossed her arms. A little ball of attitude, I realized.

     "Unfortunately," Dad-Bot began. "Mr. Carliel Basal and Ms. Calla Basal could not be present today. But they have given a video message to show you, Ms. Nova Basal." They hands held a small tablet, each of them holding a corner.

     I snatched the tablet from them and clicked play. The girl of fear, the highlighter, and bear-boy all peered over my shoulder to see the screen as well.