Body of Scars

Chapter VI

My braid slices through the air as I spin, punch and jump, my body vibrant with youthful energy. Having been taken from the Care Home I have now been placed in this...Training Home. I’m not completely certain what the training is for, but it involves learning to fight, fighting strategies and partnership. My fist weakly meets the hard stomach of my instructor who barks ruthlessly at me to “Get my head together” roughly pushing me into the next field of training. I suck in a sharp breath as I see tangle of limbs as kids fight in teams against one another. Uncertain which team to join I catch the steady gaze of Jared. He was taken from the Care Home around the same time I was. And boy has he changed. 

I am no longer looking at the skeletal form of an insecure boy but the brawny body of a teenager who hit puberty with the force of a tornado hitting another. His often bronzed skin has lightened to a softer caramel and his hair parts roughly in the middle. Grinning wickedly I step forward to join him though feel the abrupt force of a punch to my stomach. Winded, I double over, greedily gulping for air which isn’t coming. I blink rapidly, forcing myself to a standing position. Before me stands an older girl. Her build is stronger, she is swifter and I know I can’t beat her. Shrugging inwardly I throw a lousy punch at her face anyway, which she easily misses, ducking behind me to swipe a long leg under me, lifting me off my feet and planting me on the ground. I growl childishly, attempting to push myself up but she only places a foot on my chest. 

Gripping her foot with both hands I swing it roughly to my right, giddy with amusement as she stubbles and falls beside me. I jump onto of her, straddling her hips and pinning her hands to the ground. “Don’t choose the wrong team” she speaks, managing a smirk as she tries to break my grip on her hands. I stare at her blankly, though give a shout of panic as she free’s herself and nudges me off her. I hit the floor once more and stare up at her moodily. “Alway’s choose the winning team” she says, smiling slyly before jerking her head toward a person calling her name. Melanie. 

“Melanie” I voice, beginning toward her slowly, my soft footfalls the only disturbance in the deadly quite of the room. “How-?” begins Jared, though Melanie cuts him off sharply. “Mirko works here. He recognised your face and called me. I thought you guys might need a little help” her eyes wander lazily from Jared’s bare chest to the sheet tightly wound around my body. “Mirko?” Jared asks, ignoring her straying gaze. “Short. Fat. Mexican. He joined the Training Home. You guys even met him” she answers, her hand airily gesturing to the front desk of the motel. “Come in” I announce, the moment of silence stretching further until it became uncomfortable. “Yeah, thanks” she replies, stepping into the room and plopping herself ungracefully on one of the small chairs surrounding the only circle table within the room. Jared closes the door quietly and stalks to the bathroom, picking up pieces of his clothing on the way. 

The room feels warm and I don’t doubt my cheeks have become a similar shade to red. Shuffling my feet nervously, I narrowly avoid Melanie’s gaze, almost giving a whoop when Jared emerges from the bathroom fully clothed, throwing me a cheeky grin before he sits with Melanie. Entering the bathroom I shut the door behind me, dressing quickly and roughly tying my wild hair in a loose bun on top of my head. Exiting I find Melanie and Jared animately discussing the events of yesterday and the day before. I give a start. It was only a few hours ago that Alex was shot and killed. Only a few hours ago that I sped from the Johnson’s manor under a rain of heavy bullet fire. I settle myself on a chair closest to Jared, glancing at Melanie as she speaks. Her hair has been cut short, closely curling around her scalp and the tops of her pixie-like ears. Her eyes are a watery brown and she wears faint eyeshadow in an attempt to conceal the tired dark circles beneath her eyes. Her nose is pinched and small and her thin lips are painted in an out dated purple shade. I smile softly as I recognize her often relentless dressing style. Always black. Always hanging loosely from her tiny frame. Always suggesting she was an extremely bi-curious female. “What are you smiling at?” I hear the defensive tone of Melanie’s voice and my eyes snap to hers. “Just examining” I exclaim innocently, barking a laugh when she responds. “Haven’t you had enough examining already” her eyes wandering to Jared suggestively. “No. No she hasn’t” adds Jared sneakily, his cheeks denting as great dimples appear on either cheek, crinkling the beauty spot beneath his eye. “Oh I see” is all Melanie responds her gaze flickering from Jared to me. “I honestly can’t decide which one of you I would rather sleep with” she honestly voices and Jared laughs outwardly as I pinch the bridge of my nose and attempt to block out filthy images from my mind.