Seize A Lost Identity

Chapter 12: Fractured Instincts

The schoolyard was tucked away behind an unwelcoming, dank, and eerily silent passage. Xio stood facing Pavel and his group of seniors, their faces twisted with malicious grins. There was tremendous pressure in the air, and while Xio's face remained placid, his whole being was heavier than usual, as if in a leaden state.

And here's the hero who wants to humiliate us, " Pavel laughed, snapping his knuckles. "You should've stayed in your lane, kid."

Xio said nothing. He shut his eyes, jaw tight, posture solid yet his breath rasped almost too quickly. His feeling, his gut told him to be alert, to act quickly—but it felt wrong.

The First Strike

Pavel lunged and threw a punch into Xio's jaw. Xio bent and skilfully parried striking Pavel in the upper part of the body. The punch hit, but not with the knockout punch Xio hoped for.

"Lucky shot," Pavel spat, regaining his footing.

All the remaining seniors stood, forming a circle around Xio like a mob of wolves. They struck together—one with a pipe, and the other with a kick. Xio deflected their attacks, his attacks scoring, but also slower than they could have been. Each hit that he delivered felt weaker with each turn felt less smooth

The Struggle Begins

Holding a fist roughly Xio's shoulder uprights him and throws him off balance. He clenched his teeth in an effort to right himself, but a blow struck his cheek, followed by another blow to his side.

"Not so tough now, huh? one of the seniors taunted.

Xio grunted to himself, forcing himself up. He countered with a sweeping kick, knocking one of the attackers off balance, but his body screamed in protest. His muscles ached and his field of vision came into focus, only for a nanosecond, then out again.

"What's happening?" he thought, his frustration mounting.

Fragmented Memories

With each passing moment of this battle they weren't subjected to a whole image but images patched together in stages-all passing through the mind in the form of flashes of disjointed images. A dimly lit room. The sound of gunfire. A voice-faint, yet hauntingly familiar-calling out a name. Jules.

The distraction was also such a success that Pavel proved capable of delivering a strong blow to Xio's abdomen. Kneeling down, he doubled over in agony, the moment two elderly people seized hold of him pulling backward and slammed him against the wall.

Seems our protagonist's a little tootin' in the trunk now," Pavel grinned, sauntering over.

Xio's head throbbed. The flashes grew more vivid-a sensation of cold steel in his hands, blood on his skin. His drive to fight compelled him, but his physiology felt alien, as though it did not belong to him at all.

Get out of there, he thought frantically, but his arms and legs were slow to react.

The Turning Point

Simultaneously with the occurrence of Pavel's blow, Xio spun away, clinging to as little strength as he did, to knock him off . He stumbled forward, catching his breath, his mind racing.

"Why am I like this? he thought, clenching his fists. "This body... it's not ready. Fighting like I used to, but the body feel like it is not keeping up.

The seniors laughed, closing in on him again. Xio could not help but concentrate, despite the thumping in his head and the weight constricting in his lower limbs. He parried another blow, then tripped with a pitiful kick that did little more than momentarily shock his opponent.