Free *Editing*

Chapter 15

 In the main hall, an apathetic yet curious crowd begins to form around four individuals inciting a scuffle. The dry eyes of the prisoners watch meekly as a body drops to the floor screaming. It is a woman, she curls up in a ball and holds one of her hands out in a feeble attempt to defend herself.

"When I ask you to do what I say, I mean it! What the fuck is wrong with you!?" The man shouts and kicks the woman in the gut. She doubles over coughing, her long blonde hair spilling out of her ponytail...

"What is happening?" The trio ran downstairs in a flash at the sound of the woman's shrill cries of pain. Birdy is trying to peer through the crowd, but the tall bodies of men and women block her.

"Just another person getting the shit kicked out of them." The siblings snap their heads in disgust. Markus quickly apologises but immediately goes back to not caring.

"Please! Stop!"

Her voice is familiar...Birdy sucks inwards and pushes against the prisoners with all her might. Some fight back, leaving her shoulders bruised but her fury masks the pain. The boys follow behind, confused by her sudden need to join the fray.

Ardenia is being circled by Craag, Janie, and two other adults. They have large battery tattoos with a cartoonish flare on their arms identifying them as fellow Nitro's goons. They look like wolves circling in on dinner. Ardenia's doe-like eyes stare up at Birdy as she explodes into the space.

"Markus, Barn, get her up!" They listen and gently grab Ardenia by her tiny arms. They look down at her bruised face and broken nose. Her soft white skin is marred with blood and her lips are swollen and cut. A sense of disgust rolls between them and the men are outraged.

Craag lunges in her face. She does not flinch. Despite her size, she is unafraid. "Stay out of this bitch! This doesn't concern you!"

"Stay here love.." Barn whispers to Ardenia and they place her on the outskirts of the semi-circle. They turn and run to stand their ground. Craag growls in her face. "When sluts don't listen, they get punished. Get it?" Her brother shoves his chest and Craag stumbles. "Fucker, stay out of this!"

"Don't talk to my sister like that! I'll fuckin bury you!" The Spector leader has his fist raised, and looks up to the third floor to see Enzo staring down at them disappointed. So much for not causing a ruckus.

"I'm only going to ask you one time Craag. Don't touch Ardenia again." her shoulders are relaxed, but her eyes are inflamed in rage. Her usually childish face, is cracked with insanity and she feels delerium creeping up in her mind. She starts to visualize all the terrible things she could do to him...

"Janie, grab Ardenia and bring her over here! I'll teach her a lesson." Everybody goes to move at once.

She hears it in her mind- "C_me here Birdy! _igh_ now! I'll teach you a lesson!"

She screams and lunges at Craag. Her long nails dig into the soft flesh of his eyes and he howls while blood is drawn. He grabs her by the shoulders and lifts her off the floor, but she won't stop her pursuit. She starts cramming her fingers deeper into the sockets and he throws her to the floor now blind and in agonizing pain. He holds his face and howls.

The Nitro's members go to grab Ardenia. Markus delivers a swift punch and knocks the man's jaw open. He stumbles and the second rushes in for a tackle. They fall to the floor and both men begin kicking Markus's core. He clenches his abs and kicks at them trying to stop the onslaught.

Janie screeches like a wild cat and jumps on top of Birdy. The woman grabs her hair and pulls as hard as she can causing Birdy to break out of her feral state for a meer moment. With pin-point accuracy Birdy headbutts the woman in the nose and elbows her across the brow. Janie stumbles and Craag goes to throw her off- "back up! She's mine!"