By Darkness I Burn [EN]

Chapter 7

Nevio – 20 years old

After half an hour of running on the treadmill, I left to warm-up my arms and did twenty simple push-ups. Behind me, Massimo complained about me not stretching, and even though I rolled my eyes, I took his advice and started doing it. When I was finished I sarcastically asked if he was satisfied but was ignored.

Went for the pits jumps, selecting one that was as high as my hips. Alessio muttered about me being shown off and chuckled through his nose. After 15 jumps, I ripped off my shirt and drank some water, breathing quite heavily. I putted the bottle aside and did 4 more sets of 15.

"You should get some break between the exercises." Massimo warned when I got out of the box already grabbing a kettlebell.

I snorted.

"You became my trainer or something?"

"No, just your brain, since what you have inside your skull is not used." He responded promptly.

Alessio laughed.

I dropped the kettlebell and lay down on the floor starting a set of sit-ups.

"Is that your version of rest?" Alessio scoffed.

"It's not my fault if you're two chickens." I returned the mockery, without stopping the abs.

When I was done, I picked up the kettlebell again to do the swing squats, working the quads, shoulders, and arms at the same time. After the series was over, I moved on to the burpee, then I went back to the pits jumps, the russian twists and finished with the leg press.

"Who will fight me at boxing?" I asked after swallowing a bottle of water.

Alessio raised his hand like a child, and I walked towards the ring, letting him come after me. After he entered the ring as well, we put on our gloves and started.

I didn't see the time pass until Massimo called us, saying that other people needed to use the ring and that we had already worked too hard. I took off my gloves, throwing one in Alessio's face, who tried to throw it back, but I promptly dodged it, laughing.

I told them I was going to take a shower and they followed me, to do the same. When I got out of the bathroom, the two of them were already outside, just waiting for me.

"Looks like a princess." Alessio mocked.

"That's why you stink, Alessio." I returned and he laughed.

We left the gym, heading for the parking lot, but suddenly Alessio swerved and ran, crossing the street and entering a store. We tried to yell at him but he either didn't hear or didn't care. Not knowing what was going on, I drew my gun and followed him across the street and into the store as well. Massimo followed.

I entered and noticed that it was a geek goods store, I was surprised when I found the blonde calmly and attentively looking at the shelves, touching some items and checking prices.

"You crazy?" I punched his shoulder, after putting the gun away, and he looked at me as if I were the only one to run out of nowhere to enter some store. Massimo snorted behind me. "What do you want here? You don't even like those things."

"It's Vitiello girl's birthday." He replied, continuing to look at the items.

"What Vitiello girl? Isabella?"

Alessio just shook his head, not giving me much attention. Still without looking at me, he declared:

"I promised I'd give her something."