King Cobra

King Cobra Chapter 8 Part 2: Taking the Next Step

This is part 2 for chapter 8. Enjoy! I think this chapter is fairly fun.

King Cobra Chapter 8 Part 2: Taking the Next Step

"So what do you think?" Alex had brought Pierre to a wide open forest with tall trees, crisp grass, and animals in free motion.

Nature's playground.

"Better than a cherry field," Pierre was still getting a good picture of everything.

"It's better now in this weather. You should see it when Washington brought me here in the winter," Alex joked.

"Who's Washington?" Pierre asked for more clarity.

"My mentor. He was like a father to me. The best man I know, or well...knew," Alex reminisced with a nostalgic smile. He then looked to Pierre "But I also know how hard it is to not have a father."

Guilt struck Pierre's throat in the earnest way Alex said that.

He hadn't been completely honest with Mr. Hamilton. Not about who he was. About who his father was.

"Yea, about that.." Pierre muttered, staring down at my hands.

"Yes?" Alex asked him.

"My dad-" Pierre began to explain, though seeing the way Mr. Hamilton looked at him, his eyes printed with trust, he couldn't go through. "-is still in town. We're just not as connected. Not yet at least..it's a work in progress."

"Oh," Alex understood. "Well, hopefully you can change that."

"Yea, I don't know...he isn't the best person," Pierre revealed. "Not to mention the lack of dad awards."

"Hey, it's okay," Alex patted him on the shoulder. "Family is family. We can't ignore them even if we wish for it."

"Hmm, we can only hope," Pierre mumbled before he followed Alex.

 "You see Pierre, you need to have balance in your life?"

The two practiced slow and tame movements on a dock, acting like they were being guided by the waves.

 "I mean I'm healthy, smart, and pretty mature. I would say I'm pretty balanced."

They walked across a log with their arms outstretched, moving one foot after the other.

"Not really. I mean your family isn't already balanced, how could your life be? You need to take the good and the bad and let it be you. Mr. Washington told me that."

They practiced kicks and punches, Alex allowing Pierre to practice on a bag he set up to hang from a tree.

 "Not to mention, Eliza told me about your little school fiasco."

Pierre struggled a bit, messing up a couple of times.

 "It was experimental. I was trying things out."

Though that didn't stop him from getting up and trying again.

"Sometimes the end doesn't justify the means. That's a lesson I've learned on repeat."

Pierre then noticed Alex had suddenly disappeared.

"Mr. Hamilton?" Pierre called out. He looked around, finally noticing Alex on a rock. Well not just on a rock. Upside on a rock. Balancing. On one hand.

"Is this the next lesson?" Pierre wondered as he wandered over.

"One of the last things Mr. Washington taught me," Alex exacted as he increased his effort at remaining upright. "I never could do it exactly right though."