The Ace of Swords

Chatper 24

All my muscles ache. That's my first thought as I wake up. Diesel and Arsen have taken up my training. I now feel like I am dying all the time. They don't focus on the fighting aspect, according to them I already have that part down. The are focusing on building up my muscle. The has me running laps, lifting homemade weights, and stretching a lot. They also like to yell at me why I am doing all this. They are the coaches I hated in gym class. They also watch me while I eat to make sure I won't pass out. They just keep telling me if they didn't get rid of the Blues you wouldn't be going through this. It makes me miss Cade. All he did was answer all my questions.

I sit up in bed and nearly jump ten feet in the air. Callie stands at the foot of my bed. She actually smiles at me. Her skin isn't as pale as it was and now she looks like she isn't dying. She looks like the Callie I met when I first came here.

"I am only here to tell you that your friend is awake. She is asking for you," with that she walks out of the room. I stand there staring at the spot Callie just stood. I can't believe she just talked after so long without. I was sure she would be mute or something. I guess she healed herself.

I run to the Yellow's room as fast as I can. Thanks to my lessons it is pretty fast. I use my arms to swing me around corners. I will be the first friends she sees. I have to be. She is my roommate and could potentially be a really good friend. I finally make it to the room. Storm is sitting up and seems to be arguing with Dawn.

"I am FINE. I want to return to my room and I want to see my trainee. Someone get me Ace," Storm shouts. Lee opens his mouth to argue but I cut him off.

"I'm right here Storm. It's is really nice to see you alive. You had me scared that I would need a new roommate," I wrap my arms around her. I am glad to not have lost the only sane Red I have met.

"Don't get too sentimental now. I don't like tears. They always make things majorly awkward," Storm says with a small chuckle. I smile at her as I seperate myself from her. I sit beside her and wait for her to continue.

"How did your fight go? I don't remember anything past when I got thrown into the wall. Did you win? You don't seem to be maimed so I assume you won. How much money did you earn or did they not tell you? They sometimes don't tell newbies so that they don't know how much they earned. It's rather stupid if you ask me," Storm fires question after question still keeping the excited look on her face.

"Um yah I guess I won. It was a hard fight and I accidently killed him. I'm  not sure about the money but I guess it doesn't matter," I feel tears forming in my eyes but refuse to let them fall. No matter how much I care for Storm I am still not supposed to show any signs of weakness. I am in the lion's den after all.

"Oh Ace. It's all right. At least you won the fight, my first fight the guy practically mopped the floor with my face. I had three broken teeth, a broken arm, and my nose was practically shattered. Killing is just a byproduct of our life. It's kill or be killed. That guy wouldn't have though twice about killing you. Don't give him a courtesy he doesn't deserve," Storm started rubbing my back soothingly. I leaned into her slightly. If she was offering comfort I was going to take it. It's not like anyone else is going to attempt to comfort me.

"I know I just wish I hadn't done it. I only wanted to knock him out and save you. That's all I wanted. I honestly didn't think I had the strength to do anything like that," I whisper hoarsely as I allow a few tears to fall. I am so lucky to have people like Storm. I really hit the jackpot in roommates.

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You hold yourself back because you don't want to be one of us but if you step back you would realize. You already are one of us. You belong to us and with us. You are a Red in your heart," Storm gives me a bright smile. She's unaware how much her words scare me. I know she speaks the truth. I just can't wrap my brain around it. I don't actually want it to be the truth.