Ethereal Madness

Chapter 16- Resentment

The air around me was noticeably different when I touched Marquese's shoulder. Saahas identified hostility from every corner of the room, although I didn't care enough to look.

None of them matter right now.

Marquese perpetual frown deepened. "Ya know, I remember you being a problem before. But now...almost inhuman." He grabbed my hand and studied it. "It's these gloves, isn't it?"

"And if it is?" I asked.

He let go and my arm fell to my side.

"It's whatevs. Doesn't change nothin' at the end of the day."

Was I imagining things or did I just feel everyone in the room move closer just now?

I smirked. "Hmph, you sure about that? How are you planning to take over the entire city if I by myself pose a threat to you?"

He cocked his head. "A threat? Where'd you get that idea? You're just a piece of trash I forgot to pick up."

I don't think he means that. If I was unimportant to him, why have people jump me? Why kidnap the trio? Would a person who didn't care go to such lengths?

"Hmph. We'll see about that."

My grin shifted into an neutral look much like Quese's. We stood there, our eyes bleeding into one another's. And for a second, time stopped. No distinct movements, twitching, or blinking. Breaths were slow and hollow, and for the first time since entering the large, crowded room, it was silent. The shuffling of dozens of feet, popping of muscles, clanging of weapons, light whistling of the cool morning air through the open windows, and even my own thoughts, were deafened, like someone pressed mute on a t.v remote.

Quese was the first to move. Malicious intent spewed out from him but because he was so close, by the time I was alerted of it I was already staring down a fist. I blocked with both hands, and was surprised by how much it stung, to the point where I swear my bones were vibrating. He followed with another, and despite blocking it again, my guard broke and I was forced back, dancing on my heels to prevent falling to the ground.

...!

Before I could tell what happened, pain erupted into my stomach and it felt like my organs exploded. As I resisted the urge to fold over, I yanked his arm as he tried to retract it. He grit his teeth and pulled harder. I let go just as he tugged, and his arm snapped back to him, throwing him slightly off balance. I launched a sidekick straight for his chin but he leaned his head back, avoiding my kick by mere centimeters.

Quese rushed me and was retaliated with an instant back kick to the stomach. Confusion set in when I saw that it hadn't slowed him down at all. I launched off his apparently iron chest and narrowly avoided getting K.O.ed by a wild swing.

I mirrored his step forward with a step back, and suddenly fell on top of the refrigerator I forgot was still on the ground. Quese ran up while I was scooting off of it and aimed a kick for my chest, but I lifted up one of the fridge doors as a shield. I was in shock when I saw his foot not only form a dent in the steel door, but almost break through it. I sprung forward and readied my knee for his face.

He's wide open. Should just be a dub.

My eyes grew wide when I watched him stop my attack with a lazy slap right onto my knee. My foot shot down to the ground, and it took all my concentration to not accidentally step incorrectly and twist my ankle. He went for a quick jab, or at least that's what it looked like, but when I blocked it, my bones rattled like they'd been shaken from the inside. Even after moving away from the fridge to gain distance, my arms still shook.

This is insane. Even his weakest attacks are heavy and he doesn't take damage when I hit him. Even if I factor in him getting tougher due to being in a gang, there's no way he should be able to shrug off my hits while I'm wearing Saahas.