The Demoner Series: The Trails

Chapter Three - Trouble with Raymond

The bell rang and so did Talon's eardrums. That was the call of nightmare, "dinner" time. It was the time when Talon watch people ate before him, causing his stomach to growl deeply, but he ignored it like his torn singlet that hung just enough to cover his chest. The hatred in his mind was too great to care about hunger.

It was Reymond Ashford. The most infamous bully that roamed among orphanage. Everybody was scared of him. As he strolled down the hall way to the dinner room, everyone seemed to shrink in size and scramble out of his way. His hair was wavy and golden, arms lined thickly of muscles from the years of terrorizing the school. He wore a smug on face like a mask. Don't get me wrong but that was the best face he have. Other times, he could flare up easily like a ticking bomb, his face would turn red in fury and the veins started to appear to the surface of the thick skin, blood pumping heavily through the vessels. He could strike any moment like a deadly snake and the force behind the punch or kick could be enough to break a blood vessel or bone.

Talon touched his left cheek as he recalled the punch Reymond landed on him when he did not give him his lunch food yesterday. They made a huge scene as Talon defended himself from the flights of tables and chairs. At one point, the bully went havoc and charged at him like a rocket, ready to make its point at the target's stomach. Reymond raised his fist, his face whitened with rage as his steeled fist swung a wide arch down to Talon's stomach.

But it didn't meet its mark. Reymond was strong but Talon was agile. Talon took a step back and steady himself. As the rock of a fist fell upon him, he grabbed Reymond by the wrist and pull it, making use of the oppesser momentum against him.

  Reymond fell forward and lost his balance. His face was masked with shock and confusion as it headed towards the dusty welcoming floor. He waved his arms around in hope to grab hold of support but managed hit Talon in the left cheek before making a solid loud THUD.

  Talon felt the pain but in an encounter with Reymond, it was a mere bump. But the assault was all that was needed to make Talon burn in life-consuming hatred. He began raining blows on the bent over bully, each stroke delivered with antipathy, each impact gifting satisfaction.

  Talon became oblivious growing circle of orphans around him as they witnessed their fellow victimized friend turned into a full blown assailant. They knew that one who does not attack them is their friend, but one that strikes their bully is dangerous. As the number of by-standers grew, the distance from the scene increases like a circle of expanding radius and circumference.

  When something gains the attention of children comes the curiosity of adults.

Now, Talon eyed at the other orphans with food stuffed in their mouth, his saliva spilled out uncontrollably. If the detention weren't good enough, it comes in a package, including no food the day after and isolation. I could not ask for more, could I?

  Wrong.

Stomping could be heard and the door flew open, revealing the figure of the infamous Reymond once again like every other days. However, this time he scanned around the room, his nose pointing up to the ceiling as if he was looking for someone with a sense of arrogance.

There was no doubt who was he looking for. For one, he fixed his gaze in Talon's direction, pointing his finger of danger at him.

"You, Talon! You are in big trouble!"

Immediately, the noisy dinner room turned into a low whisper. The orphans around me noticed Raymond and quickly scrambled away from me, some flipping the chairs in fright and even tripping over their own leg, to end up crawling away, doing whatever it took to run from the possible chaos. With every step Raymond take, the more frightened the orphans are.

What now? What does he want?

Talon clenched his fist in anger, ready to face Reymond.

Reymond towered over Talon, his shadow casting over him. His features became clearer now. His face is covered with a large bruise from the fall, fists balled up in rage. His eyebrows creased as he glared at Talon, teeth clenched and jaws shifting side to side. His curly hair seemed to be like fire from his head.

However, Talon's attention is focused on the patch of bluish black. On sight of this, his mouth arced upwards and air starting to fill my cheeks in humour.

"You have quite a fall, how clumsy," Talon smirked uncontrollably. Stubbornly......

Upon hearing this, Reymond went to his popular rage mode. He shouted in god-knows-what phrases and wore a mask of anger over his face. His brows furrowed and mouth quivered in fiery. His face fuming that it almost feel hot around him. His body heating and tense, feeling enraged and provoked. Just in time, a teacher came into the silent cafeteria and shouted, "Don't you ever start a fight or I'll expel you this time!"

  This time, the smile on Talon's face seemed easy and light. This is not a chance to miss. "Come on! Hit my right cheek and I will pay you for my facial treatment with the help of the teacher."

Reymond glared at the teacher and turned back to him. Talon remained calm and compose, without a trace of fear in him. Reymond finally done something right in years, he thought, giving up the chance to cause a commotion.

  Just like that, their little fight was over and everything returned to normal except that the room stayed silent. The orphans ate their food as quickly as possible, looking up occasionally and watching Reymond left to room without a word. Little did they know, right before he leave, he whispered to Talon.

"Meet me after sleeping time at the playground."