I'm Alive [CANCELED]

Chapter Eight- Fruitcake?

Once the words leave my mouth, Jack locks eyes with me.

Then he starts laughing.

"Aw that's so sweet!" Jack says smiling. "Your girlfriend came to watch you get beat up? What a sweet relationship!"

Collin's eyes are now alert. His eyes find my own and suddenly I'm frozen.

Those grey eyes are almost the same color as mine. Inside his eyes I see bravery, but I know better. I try looking deeper and I find what is pulsing in his heart. Fear.

So hes's afraid of this Jack. Maybe he isn't. I have no idea.

"First of all Jack, I'm not his girlfriend." I say with confidence. "Second, you should just beat people up for no reason."

Jack starts laughing again. This time his laughter shakes the whole room, making me think for a split second that the ceiling may fall on top of me.

You walked into that one.

"You silly girl. Do you even know where you are? This is the place where you can beat people up for no reason. Now, I need to finish my job."

Jack turns back around to face Collin.

"STOP!" I cry out.

"What now?!" Jack asks, whipping around.

"I'll fight you myself, but let me help him." I say.

Jack laughs a harsh laugh, that rumbles in his gut.

"Okay little girl. Come on and let me break your bones." Jack says, with an evil smile.

I grab one on the ropes out lining the stage and pull myself onto the stage.

Jack grins as I walk over to Collin and wrap my arm around his waist. A horrible scream escapes him.

"I'm sorry Collin. I'm going to get you out of here." I say to reassure him.

"Fruitcake? Is that really you?" Collin asks.

"Yes you stupid nutcase, don't you see I'm trying to help you?!" I snap.

Collin smiles, and I manage to find a smile inside myself.

"COME ON! I'm not leaving here until both of you are in the hospital!" rages Jack.

I take Collin's arm and pull him off the stage. A nurse in all white clothing awaits us.

"I'll take it from here miss. Thank you and good luck." says the nurse with a wink.

Slowly, both the nurse and Collin make their way out of the Fighting Stage.

"Now that your boyfriend is gone, fight me." Jack says.

What the hell was I thinking?

Jack is about 3 times bigger than I am and probably weighs about 5 times more. But I am not afraid.

Grabbing a rope on the left side of the stage, I get myself on the stage.

"What made you want to replace that little kid?" Jack asks.

In a properly mannered voice I respond, "Life is about taking chances and standing up for what's right."

Jack narrows his eyes into slits.

"You are asking for it. Hit me and then we'll see who is wise then." Jack says.

Jack starts running toward me and at the last second I turn to the side hoping he would run past me into the ropes. It would have worked, if Jack didn't know what I was doing.

With a quick and swift motion, Jack pivots on the ball of his right foot and picks me up.

"Let me down you-" I scream.

Jack lets out a low chuckle.

"As you wish my lady." Jack says, throwing me on the ground.

When I land, there is sharp pain in my gut and I can't breathe. My head hurts and I'm starring at the ceiling.

Jack picks me up by my hair and punches me right in the face.

A loud scream fills the building.

"That'll teach you not to interfere with me and my fights." Jack says.

My world is spinning.

Suddenly, Jack throws me toward the crowd, right into the ropes.

Through my blurry vision, I see a girl about my age starring at me with sympathy.

A raspy "Help." comes from my lips. To my surprise the girl turns away from me, to walk toward the exit.

Maybe she's going to get help! Someone will save you from this MONSTER.

Or she just got scared.

Hands scoop up my body away from the edge.

Jack picks me up again with his hands around my throat. I feel as small as a rag doll compared to Jack. Both his hands can hold my whole neck.

"So have you learned your lesson?" Jack asks, spitting in my face.

I wipe away his spit on my cheek. "No. What you did to Collin was unnecessary." I choke out.

Jack removes one of his hands from my neck and punches me right in the ribs. Hard.

A scream forms in my mouth, but I bite my lip hard to keep it inside.

Jack's hand wraps back around my throat.

"Shut up. How long have you even been here girl? You don't seem to smart to have been here for too long." Jack tilts his head to the side when he talks to me.

"It may be true that I haven't been here too long, but it doesn't mean I couldn't beat you." I say, rasping.

Jack drops me on the ground and walks off the stage.

For a slit second, I thought I won. Badly broken, but still a champion.

Then, my blood runs ice cold through my veins.

With a practice pistol, Jack comes back on the stage and picks me up with one hand.

"Do you want to die? You are pretty darn close to it little girly." Jack says raising the gun to my head, right where my temple is. I freeze. Everyone in the crowd just stares with wide eyes.

"STOP! Everyone! Stay where you are!" says a commanding voice.

Jack let me go and I fall on the ground of the stage. This time the scream can't be tamed inside.

Jack still holds the gun on me and I cry into the floor.

Through my blurry vision, I see a woman making her way to the stage.

"Now, Jack Clark, would you like to explain what is going on in here?" says the woman, once she's on the stage.

"I'm fighting, just like we are suppose to do here." Jack snaps.

"With a gun? We teach you here to defend yourself Mr. Clark, not to KILL defenseless newbies." says the woman.

I'd recognize that woman's voice anywhere. Trisha.

"Is she conscious or did you kill her? You know the price you will pay if the girl is dead." says Trisha.

"I know. First of all, I was just fighting a boy. Then she came in and took his place. She started hitting me with snappy words and it ticked me off! What did you want me to do?! Let her taunt me and take it lightly?" Jack spits at Trisha.

"That tone of voice will not be allowed here. As for the girl," Trisha says. I hear footsteps coming toward me. Trisha taps my shoulder.

I scream. Blazing hot pain races up my back from when Jack threw me to the ground. Tears start pouring down my face.

Trisha pulls a black box out of her back pocket and says, "3 Emergency nurses, report to the fighting stage. Over."

Once, Trisha puts the black box into her pocket she faces Jack.

"Mr. Clark, your punishment is no stepping a single foot anywhere near fighting ground. Instead you will spend exactly one month in our education classes. IF you are to be found in the training room or in this current room, you WILL be removed from The Remedy and put back into the old life that you lived in just one year ago. Either that or we shall kill you here ourselves. Both ways, if you don't obey you shall be the one to feel pain. Now, get out of here." Trisha says.

Jack stomps off the stage and storms through the bystanders.

Trisha squats down next to me and says, "I'm sorry about him Katilynn. Drink this, it should take away the pain and make you sleep for a bit."

Without words, I take the little flask and look inside. There is no alcohol in the flash, but a light purple liquid. I open the top of the flask and drink it. Automatically, I feel my muscles relaxing. My eyes start to shut, but I see nurses come into the building, just like the one who helped Collin.

That girl did go get help. I wish I knew who she was.

Before I completely pass out, my mind forms one last thought.

At least I saved him.

A.N.

Sorry this is late, I'm always super busy. I hope you liked it! Vote and Comment please!

<3Hannah