Bad Blood

Chapter; ceremony pt. 2

Italics - present/thoughts
Normal - flashbacks

***

Damon's lips are pursed in disdain at my shaking form. I know that he's upset with the burn mark on my side being held there for a extra few seconds, by yours truly; fucking Schmidt. I almost follow his movements. Though, I stop myself from doing so.

"I was in your position five years ago, the pains going to be there, I'm not going to lie and say it's fine... because it's not, you'll go through intense training tomorrow once you find out your position in your ranks and you psychological levels" he says, hasty and fast. Much like our footsteps behind the dozen members in front of us. I feel his cool breath close to the back of my neck as he voices his words.

I think of the pro's of dying today; no pain and intense training. "It's not just hand-to-hand combat, Grace. You'll need to kill someone" I think about the life that would be taken from someone who would be strapped on that red tainted chair, bawling their eyes out as their killer is timed on how long they stall before they make the shot.

"You'll have to be selfish to live"
I think back to the other day when Sage (his actually name) was choking me. His eyes holding no remorse. Distant and animalistic as he enjoyed seeing me trying to fight back.

"You can't be a coward in here, Grace. You'll be eliminated... I-I don't want that" he voice falls by the end. He squeezes my hand in his a little tighter as we make it closer to the pit. I think back to the night before, if me thinking that I had accepted dying. Now, I don't want to die.

"Just know that you where always my favourite, Damon" I smile stiffly. "I know I'm going to die, I accepted it last night. But, I don't want to die anymore... fuck" I clear my throat, cringing at the foul word.

It's fitting really; The ominous, haunting yet heavenly vibe of the pit. I feel fear creep up the base of my throat. We stand in the middle of the floor. Standing in groups and rows; coordinated and organised. I smile softly when Damon choices to stay with my group; new comers, and not up the little bridge near the pit.

"First up, Oscar Ronin!" He was in the 'crew bornes'. Black haired and blue eyed. I never spoken to him. But, I remember him help someone who had bullet wound once. His eyes were puffed as he made it to the front. He dropped to his knees as Schmidt came closer to him in predatory steps. The bastard enjoyed the thought of him cowering in front of him.

"Rank; below average. Psychological level; easily broken"

Damon's hands come up to my line of vision the moment Sage pulls out his gun. For a few moments it's silent... then bang! A bullet slaps the air. I hear a kick and a grunt before Damon removes his hands. "Holy shit" I whisper. blood smudged the bottom of sage's shoes

"Let the show begin!" His voice was like a smooth snake.

The ceremony goes on for the next hour and a half. By now, my nerves savagely jab at my gut. I don't want to hear what he had to say. Was I below average? Was I going to be easily broken too? More than a hundred people already died, there's more of a fifty percent chance that I'll die to. "Grace Fields" I feel my heart drop as I take my first step toward him. his body tall and Arrogant compared to my hunched structure - scared, obedient and submissive. I wait for my score, my nerves heightening as Sage walks around me. He's enjoying it. My body shuddering as his breath fans over my unclothed skin.

I catch the eye of Xeno, dressed in black, his hands are bawled in fists and he smiles at me. "You'll be fine, Grace" he mouths. But I know it's bullshit. I'm not. There's a long messy line of pink from his elbow to his fore-finger. I try to smile, it was paint. The bright colour almost makes me want to roll my eyes, the stray line of pink on his inked skin and the glassy look in his eyes was so odd to look at that it became a blur.

As Sage passes me for one last time I think back to Damon's words; "I-I don't want that". I almost smile through the pain - Damon has a way with words, whether it be a way to break down your walls and wreck you or they would be sweet and gentle; heavenly. Sage stops in front of me, finally. His hair is parted in the middle with a midnight black tint - I want to glare at him but I'm scared, he can easily wrap his hands around my neck again. I can see the black ink of the tattoo of a eagle peaking from under his collar, toward the back of his ear - it was a beautiful drawing, Xeno had done it for him. His eyes catch my movement and he smirks softly. He didn't look malicious, he looked trustworthy someone who doesn't have the blood of his family on his hands. I almost give in, wanting him to taint the back of my head with a bullet.

I flinch as he brings his hand up my forearm and up to my jaw. My tattoo-less arms lift with goosebumps as he traces non-existent circles on my rigid skin. This is it. I'm going to die in the hands of the man I swore to myself I would never breakdown in front of. I close my eyes, waiting for his next words.

"Rank; average. Psychological level; strong"

I look at him shocked, he smiles - a genuine one, for a moment I feel as if there isn't anyone else in the room. Not the blood stained floor, the shocked faces of the people around us. But, just me and Sage. The relief brings tears to my mismatched eyes. I blink them away and throw my hands around Sage's neck, pulling him down a inch to my level. He stiffens as I connect my body closer to his, he soon relaxes, placing his masculine arms around me.

"Congratulations, Grace" he whispered in my ear. It was smooth and gentle. Something that I wouldn't usually associate with Sage. His fingers graze the back of my neck before we break apart.

I turn and look at the eyes of Damon. From the distance I can see the hard glint in his eyes. His eyes are different now, a deathly shade of obsidian - two black balls in his skull. My throat itches as i walk closer to him, my body's coated with a thin layer of sweat, causing a stinging sensation wash over the mark on my side.

I walk toward a podium, standing next to a crew borne, I'm safe and alive.

No, I'm not. That was the beginning of the horror.