Unlikely Warrior

Chapter 2

Rihanna

Pain explodes in my head as soon as I wake up, but I'm accustomed to injuries by now. Jor doesn't waste time playing nice with me. When he fights, be it training or real, he fights, and I've learned not to show weakness when I get hurt. Yawning, I slowly open my eyes to the sight of Jor, sweating and shirtless, fixing himself a glad of water. He turns around, smirking at me. "Well, hello there, Sleeping Beauty. And here I was, just about to give you true love's kiss, when you wake up." He laughs then, smacking his lips together while watching my reaction. My face turns red, and I frantically try to stop blushing and fail.

I give a nervous laugh, secretly wishing I was still asleep, just so I could experience "true love's kiss" from Jor. "Pfft. I would've pummeled you till your pretty face was nothing but a slab of raw meat." I say, trying to cover up my momentary weakness for the opposite gender.

Jor cocks his head, squinting at me. I squirm under his scrutiny, and quickly choose another subject. "So, how many minutes was I out this time?" I ask, stretching.

He quickly sobers, looking away from me. "Minutes? Ri, you've been out for almost a day."

I gasp, launching myself out of bed and grabbing my shoes. "A day?" What was Jor thinking? In Nyval, our country, a day is a vast majority of time. Wars can occur then. And, ever since my adopted father died protecting our family in the First War, it's just been me and Colt and his mom running the household. I'm the defender in my family. A day could mean they were dead! "What the heck, Jor?" I almost shout, running out the door.

I've made it two feet out the room when he grabs my arm. I tense, remembering the last time he touched my bicep. Turning me to look at him, he gives a sad smile.

"A lot happened while you were out, Ri." He speaks slowly, almost tentatively, as if I am a stay he's trying to get closer to. "I needed to make sure you stayed safe."

"So, instead of honoring our pact and looking after my family," I say, narrowing my eyes, "You chill by my bed and flirt with me after I wake up like nothing's wrong?" My family could be dead right now because of you." My words are calculated to hurt, and they do. His eyes dull, and he looks down.

"I'm sorry, Ri." That's all he says. Handing me a small note, he turns around. As tears pour freely down my cheeks, he walks away, eyes downcast. I want to scream at him, but my mouth won't seem to work.

Trembling, I open the letter. I recognize it as the "last letter" the enemy always allows their victim to write before they--I squeeze my eyes shut--kill them. Many others have gotten these letters, and after that their family is never seen again.

It's in Mom's handwriting. I brace myself and start reading.

"My dear girl,

Rihanna, as this is the last letter you will ever get from me, I have chosen to tell you certain things I have not told you before. Your father and I always knew you were special. You are strong, brave, and loving, my dear daughter. You are intelligent, cunning, and beautiful. Those are heady combinations, so take care you use them well. If given the chance, I'm sure you would greatly aid our side in the war, although I would rather you stay home and safe. But at this point in time, we are in danger no matter where we are. Use your gifts wisely.

My dear-we've kept this secret from you for a while. You see, you always believed your parents-your birth parents-were killed in the war. That's what we thought too, up until a few days ago. A stranger came to our door while you were with masetoro Jor, and introduced himself as Hiv. He told me the truth about your parents-they are alive, darling.

The enemy is getting restless. I don't have much more time, darling, to write or to live. I have important news about Jor, Rihanna. He's-"

The letter ends abruptly there. There are a few ink splotches beyond her words, but-suddenly, I realize the smudges I thought were ink is actually blood. My mother's blood.

Sinking down against the wall, I sit in a stupor, oblivious to my surroundings, lost in my hopeless thoughts.

My mother is dead. Colt is dead. Everyone I love is dead--except for my maternal parents, and did--do--they even love me? What kind of mom and dad would abandon their three-month-old child in an old farmhouse? And what was Mom trying to say about Jor that was so important she'd include it in her last words?

I sit up suddenly. The enemy always lets all their victims write things, just to rattle the surviving members of the family more! So where's Colt's note?

I frantically scan the paper, hoping against hope I won't see anything else. There is nothing on Mom's side. Laughing deliriously, I turn the paper over. My heart sinks. Colt's handwriting, messy and bold, lays in the top corner. Weeping, I drop the paper from my numb fingers and bury my head in my hands, not wanting to read Colt's last words. My mother's is painful enough.

But dropping the cursed paper isn't enough. I gather my remaining strength and grasp it, squeezing my last connection to my mom and Colt tightly. With a burst of adrenaline, I fling it into a nearby fireplace. I planned to watch it burn, but I'm too weak right now. Turning away, I sink against the walls and cry.

******************

Rihanna,

Hey, Hanna, it's Colt, if you didn't recognize my handwriting. Sorry if it's messy, by the way, but I'm sorta in a hurry.

You probably got Mom's letter and am wondering why I didn't save her. Hanna, you know I'd rather die than let them take Mom, but I was out with friends. I got home just in time to intercept that robot-letter-carrier thingy and knock it out. I'm adding this stuff into the card and returning it with Botty here so you'll know I'm safe.

Look, Hanna, I read Mom's letter, and saw her warning about Jor. I know Mom has never been wrong about character, so be careful around him.

Hanna, I've important news. I know of an army camp near here where I can camp. I can't live in this place anymore. The memories haunt me everywhere I go. If you want to come with me, meet me at midnight by the creek behind the training center tonight, after you get this letter.

With love, Colt.