Mortalized

Blood Birds (11)

Just as a little cautionary thing, if you haven't noticed before, "Mortalized" is/will be handling quite triggering topics. I am still debating whether or not I should switch it to 'mature' yet, like I did with "The Last Human" just recently. So far my scenes haven't been as explicit, but that might change in the future as more and more is slowly revealed. I dunno. Tell me your thoughts please. I wouldn't consider myself the best at deciding whether something is too "deep/violent/graphic" or not, so I would really appreciate your opinions here.
Also, why the title is named "Blood Birds," I, honestly, am not quite sure yet.
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     Death to all of them!

     The daunting crowds cheered as I flew to my back, dislocating my shoulder as I landed. Blood was gushing into my mouth. I had bit my own tongue. This was beginning to look exactly like the last time. Was I stuck in a loop?.. Wouldn't be much of a surprise.

     Standing over me, maybe about five feet away stood: the champion, absolutely drenched in consuming darkness. I could barely see the outlines of his piercing white eyes through the fog clogging up my vision. The psychopath's fists were tightly clenched as he slowly approached me. My own red blood dripped down from his coated hands, which were always ready for more.

     There was a mixture of cheering and boos from the crowd.

     He made his way over to me, marching almost. In a cowardly attempt I tried to scoot away. Immediate pain kept me from going too far. I was not yet ready to face him. This champion was obviously way above my league in every aspect. Why was I expected to fight him?

     The crowd roared.

     I hissed back in hopes to frighten them a little. It only managed to paint me as the helpless kitten, however. Again and again, I was labeled "pathetic," as if they were expecting more from me. My attention was gained again by my opponent when he full-on kicked me across the jaw, knocking me over onto my side again. His foot kept me from sitting back up.

     "You lose again, little boy." The being teased, pressing his foot further into my side to make me hiss. "Oh, what am I saying?" His tone turned to humorous. "You never even stood a chance." He half laughed, though he did not know the meaning of it. Taking notice again of the crowd and their shouts, the champion's goals somewhat shifted. "You know what? How about I give you a second chance? Here. I'll even help you up." And he did just that, crudely lifting me from the ground so I was once again trying to keep balance on only one foot. I panted hard as the dark creature backed away from me, eyes never moving off of his opponent. My eyes were still blurry. All the noises had melded into one endless series of endless screeches. The crowds moved about carelessly in the shadows, bending the light with their presence. I could not identify a single one of them. Their roaring laughter and wild chatter together made up the static consuming my ears. My eyes, they could not see anything clearly. My nose, could not smell anything but fresh blood and cut metal. My ears, could not hear anything but dulled down static. Everything. Everything was chaotic...even for me. "Oh Hero~" The dark being captured my slow attention through the mix of noise. My head turned to him slowly, brain taking a while to register why he was pointing up. "Be sure to always double check your surroundings.~" Looking up, I could see what that psychopath had 'warned' me about. A giant crate, presently falling down to meet me in the face, changing my world to once again, an empty blackness.

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     A black blur skidded across the sharp, red rocks, coming to slip off the edge of a cliff. Below him rest a sea of haunted sand and large skeletal figures, clouded by the deceptive blue mist. The landscape still eerily hot, as to not let a drop of sweat from one's brow. I landed firmly on my own two feet, standing again tall as the landmass under me trembled beneath me. The psychopath, this time, held on to the ledge dearly for his life, having lost his power of flight in a misfire. I watched as my adversary squirmed upon sighting me, barely able to hold onto the jagged cliff himself. This time, I approached my opponent with pride growing in every slow step.

     "Who is the loser now, huh?!" I teased, raising my paper-thin edged blade towards its target's head. Though I knew he had to have been scared, the being shown no true fear in his eyes. He merely focused on fighting the slipping pebbles for a hold of the cliff-face. "Hey! Do you not hear me?! I have surpassed you in strength, after all those years of humiliation, and now I will finish you off piece by piece!" I boasted, not finding it as fulfilling, though, as not all his attention was on me. Oh, whatever. The revenge would be sweet, regardless!

     "What do you want? A metal?" The psychopath scoffed, a hand finally holding firm to a large enough stone. I growled under my breath. He wasn't allowed to make a mockery of this moment.

     I combated with, "No. Your head will suffice."

     "Well then, if you are such a professional now, then surely you will have remembered the very first lesson I taught you." The being managed, as he swung a foot up too, over the ledge. I paused a moment, mind searing with pain at the memories he surely knew that would cause. I grunted as my mind without my allowing searched for an answer, looking through old "lessons" he had taught me.

C-t-CRACK!

     My head shot up, seeing that the humans had managed to break off the entire Eastern wing of my fortress, which enjoyed hovering over the cliff just above this one. It would be only a moment before the whole thing came crashing down on me.

     "Always double check your surroundings." The being reminded, finally shoving himself to the top of the ledge. Then, he knowingly stared me blankly in the eyes. "Your choice: finish off your greatest adversary, or run off and let the meaningless fortress do it for you." He laid out simply, knowing, as he lifted his hands at his sides, that he was going to die either way. Once again he stood so the two of us were facing eye to eye. "..little boy." I began breathing heavily, eyes flashing between blurred and normal. Ears making up the sound of screeching static.

Pow!

     By the command of TNT, the entire eastern wing began its descent down for us. Bricks crumpled and fell down the sheer cliff first after us like rain, a rust colored dust coming after it. I could see it in his eyes. Taunting me. ""What will it be, then?"" The answer was obvious, as danger loomed over-top my head... Revenge!

     I sprinted forward at the elder; the champion; the psychopath; one of my tormentors; the one I was so eager to slaughter. As the building's shadow stood over me, I bolted for the expecting foe. His arms spread out on either side of him, fully accepting such a horrid fate. My sword pierced right through his chest. It was done. I could see it in his dimming eyes. I would forever recall my victory. Only, it wasn't that. The only fight I ever won against him, he let me. He let me. He let me kill him. Why? How? Impossible. He had to still be alive. Before the dark being could even drop to the floor I pulled my sword from his chest and sent it through him again, and again. Still, I did not find the satisfaction I was looking for. He had to still be alive! I jabbed down at the dark form until he completely disintegrated into nothing but a pile of black dust. By that point I was Infuriated. He must have been toying with me again, like he always did! He would never let me win just like that! I then stomped on the ashy remains, digging my heel into what I was desperate to believe would surely finish him off.

     I didn't even look up when the bricks pelted my back. It wasn't long until the east wing smashed through me. Glass shattered all around, biting into my back. Bricks cut deep into my skin. The weight was unbearable.. nearly.

     There was a long dead silence before I rose from beneath the rubble, eyes sparking with rage as I searched for my next victim. Those humans who had teamed up with Null sure had something coming their way... I would make sure not a single one of them saw the sun's rays ever again.

     Death, to all of them...