HOOD

Catharsis

     Why? I understand sparring, but is it even a real fight?

     He wants us to go all out... I don't fight as well when I don't have reason to.

     Everyone hesitates. They want to see who moves first and how. I agree.

     Layne, the weakest of them, starts running at me. He dives in an attempt to tackle me. I sidestep and he falls. He gets up with a sprained wrist. He's out. Really? I see why he isn't a frontman...

     The next to move is Mathew, quickly followed by Lee. Mathew goes with a barrage of punches. I grab his right hand, bring him around, put my left arm under his arm, and around the back of his neck. I bring my right arm over his right shoulder and put my hand on his elbow. I have my left hand go to my bicep. Good enough of an air choke. I use him as a shield for Lee.

     Lee has no choice. As soon as Mathew passes out, I ram him into Lee, unintentionally knocking him unconscious. I look back to where they all began.

     Everyone's out?

     I hear Ann whisper in my ear. "Sorry."

     I get knocked out.

     I awake a few minutes later.

     Wow. I wasn't expecting that.

     Falsetto says exactly what I'm thinking, almost as if he can read my mind.

     "Wow. I wasn't expecting that."

     He hesitates and speaks again.

     "You're in our underground medical facility."

     I turn to my left. I see Layne watching me.

     I turn to my right. I see Lee and Mathew, both still unconscious, next to me.

     It's nice to know no one died.

     At 1904 hours, I make sure no one is near the exit so I can get out for a bit.

     I have the feeling someone is watching me.

     I shrug it off, walking towards Jerome Combs Detention Center.

     What I didn't tell Lee was that I'm in contact with my parents' murderer. I still want the unjust to happen to him, but I have respect.

     When I get there, I see that... What the--!

     There's just... there's a hole in the wall from a blast. The blast itself killed many inmates and employees. The sight of the gore. Blood still running in a flow sort of way. I can see a pair of eyes looking at me from a beheaded woman. I recognize her. Her name was Juliet. She was a long-time employee at the facility. I used to have very quaint conversations with her about political opinions. She grew up poor and hated by the more wealthy in her town of Peru, Illinois. It felt like we had a mother-and-son bond type. I feel a tear run down my face. I wipe it away, hearing footsteps behind me. I call out that person.

     "Who's there?"

     Silence. Then they appear. I manage to identify her, even in her cloak. It's Ann. She saw me cry.

     She propels herself forward, wrapping her arms around me. Why does she care so much? People can't love me. They'll either be torn... or I will. I feel a tingling in my neck. I stumble and then I collapse.

     I awake the next day in my room with Lee. Was that a dream? I turn and see that Ann left me a letter. I guess it really happened. I grab the letter and open it.