The Carnage of War

Chapter Five

The practice hall was a smaller building. Long twisting hallways that led to different gyms for different weapons and specialties. Ty and Ash lead me past every door until we came to the one that read Sparring and Vs Training Arenas. I swallow as Ty pushes open the doors. I look over the empty room and walk over to a small square stage. I look around examining the other training stages nearby.

"This is where a one v one takes place," Ash tells me. I climb up and look around.

"Looks cool," I mumble. "So who's going first?" I ask looking over to Ty. He shrugs nervously.

"I mean...I'm a bit shaken right now after the whole Lurker situation, so I'll go against Ty for a....warmup," Ash says with a smile and steps up onto the stage. I hop down and Ty gets up as well.

"Did you just call me a warmup?" He asks drawing his crossbow.

"Yes- yes I did," Ash replies with a smile. I grin and walk to a small foldable chair and sit down patiently. I look over my shoulder as the sound of a door open rings through the gym. Four guys walk in and I lock eye contact with the tallest one first. A smile sneaks across his face.

"Well lookie here- the two misfits finally made themselves a unit. I thought it would take forever." The guy says looking at Ash and Ty. "And they seemed to rope in a newbie too," He adds. My eye twitches slightly at the comment while Ash and Ty postpone their practice turning their attention to the four guys.

"And who are you?" I say crossing my legs. He chuckles.

"Wow you must really be new here," he says with a morbid grin. I glare at him. "I'm Alto," He gestures to a guy beside him with long-ish white hair and blue eyes. "This is Linus, and those two are Iker and Jet." I look at all for of them. My eyes rest on Iker and Jet who seem to be twins with short curly black hair and green eyes. "We're one of the best units in the league." Alto brags. I raise an eyebrow.

"I didn't ask but...thanks?" I say. "I'm surprised a unit would be successful with someone as ignorant as you leading a group," I say leaning back in my chair. Alto's smile quickly changes into a grimace and he glares at me.

"Arie..." Ash whispers to me in a warning tone.

"Yeah Arie, how about you listen to your friend over there and back off," Alto hisses stepping towards me. 

"How about you remove that stick from your ass and stop being so stuck up." I counter coldly. He scoffs angrily and walks up to me swiftly his fists clenched. I stand up abruptly my chair sliding out from behind me. 

"Hey Alto!" Ty calls. "You better watch your step, Arie here just took down a Lurker!" He calls from the stage. Ash quickly shoves an elbow into his stomach causing him to stumble back and cough. 

"Shut up!" Ash hisses. "Don't fuel his fire," Ash tells him. Alto doesn't stop his pace as he walks up to me only inches from me. He chuckles and leans down our noses centimeters apart. I stare up into his brown eyes defiantly.

"You took down a Lurker huh?" He says with a smile. I reply with a slow and silent nod. "Well guess what honey- I'm a lot tougher than a Lurker," He whispers with a wink that follows smirk. I shudder and step back crossing my arms.

"Then prove it," I hiss. He laughs and draws two long swords from his back. "Let's go, honey,"

"Don't call me that," I mutter. He turns and heads to the stage across the gym. His three buddies follow him and Ash and Ty hop down and head to the stage with me. Ash grabs my shoulder.

"Please don't do anything stupid," She mumbles as we walk. 

"Oh she already did," Alto calls his back to me as he steps onto the stage.