Chapter 12: A Tournament Announced

Ferral and Everett had both decided to grab some lunch before Ferral went back home. Once the two were finished, They returned to the park to grab Ferral’s bike, which he had forgotten. Ferral didn’t forget things often, so he was surprised at this occurrence. “Well, I’m off,” He said, “Same time tomorrow?” Everett nodded, “Sounds like a plan.” He chuckled but just as he was about to leave, Everett grabbed his sweater collar and pulled him in for a kiss. He was shocked at first but melted into it. They were together for a few seconds before Everett moved her head back and the two looked at each other with beat red faces. She smiled, “Bye.”

Ferral’s face still in slight shock, took a second to reply. “I wanna rail you so bad.” Her face grew an even darker shade, “W-WHAT?!” Ferral, finally regaining his composure, started stammering. “I-I-I’M SORRY!” He turned his head and sped off, “I LIVE WITH DEGENERATES!!!” He yelled back at her, still stunned by his comment. As he rode further away, she laughed a little, remembering what he had told her about living with the lionesses. Their somewhat vulgar nature rubbed off a little on him, causing him to blurt out something like that.

Once he returned to the gym, Ferral remembered he had gone on his lunch break. He checked the time on his phone, it was 1:45. He had been gone for longer than he thought, so he quietly crept into the building, hoping no one was around. Thinking he was in the clear, he started walking toward the door that led into the main gym room, only to be met with Venus standing there, arms crossed with a stern look on her face. Ferral chuckled nervously, “Heeeey. Sorry, I’m a little late.” She walked over and gripped him by his hair, pulling him toward the door. “Ow ow ow! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” The two walked into the main room, Veusnus still pulling him until they made it to the front desk. A lot of the people stared at them, and she tossed him in front of her, causing him to stumble a little before leaning his right arm on the desk. Savannah and Zuri who were working the front desk giggled as Ferral rubbed his head. 

“You were gone for an hour and fifteen!” Venus scolded. “I know, I know. I’m sorry, I just lost track of time.” “That’s your excuse?” “It’s the truth, actually.” She scoffed, “Look Ferral, you may be the secondary owner of this place, and you may be handsome and rideable. But that doesn’t give you any special privileges to come back on your own time.” “It won’t happen again, I’m sorry.” Savannah and Zuri walked closer to join in the conversation. “What were you even doing out so long?” Zuri asked. “Is it because you dyed your hair?” Savannah pointed out, causing the other two to notice. “Huh, why did you do that?” Venus questioned. “Yeah, and why did you choose THAT color? Purple so does not suit you.” Zuri added. “Don’t worry about it, okay. Can I go now?” Ferral started to walk away, but Venus got in front of him. “Oh no you don’t. You still gotta work the rest of your shift like the rest of us, AND you’ll be punished for your negligence to come back on time.” Ferral and two lionesses looked at her slightly confused. “What does that mean?” He asked. “Tonight, you’ll be on dinner duty instead of Zuri.” “Really? Well, that doesn’t sound bad.” Venus smirked, “But there’s a catch. You’ll be wearing an apron.” “What? But I already wear one.” “ONLY an apron.” Zuri and Savannah started laughing while Ferral groaned. “Ah, what?! Can I at least keep my boxers on?” Venus shook her head.

“Oh c’mon sis,” Savannah intergeted, “Lay off him a little. We both know you’re just doing this for your thrill.” “Yeah, and I’d rather not see Ferral’s bare ass while he makes my food.” Zuri added. Venus rolled her eyes, “Fine, you can keep your boxers on.” Ferral sighed with relief, then remembered he still had the plastic bag with him. “I’ll be right back, just let me put this in my room.” He lifted the bag and sped walked to the back of the gym and up the stairs. As he made his way to his room, Leona came walking out of hers. “Oh, you’re back from your super long lunch, huh?” She teased, wiping sweat off her face with a towel. “Laugh it up.” He groaned. Leona looked at the top of Ferral’s head. “You’re in your retained state. Why?” “Being like this calms the physical effects the cure has on my body. It’s not what I intended, but it’ll have to work for now.” “I’m telling you, that cure of yours is bad news.” She remarked as she walked past him. Ferral didn’t bother responding, and quickly went to his room and dropped the bag on his desk, then headed back to the gym. 

After the gym had closed, the lionesses sat around the living room watching TV, while Ferral worked on dinner. Only wearing his boxers and an apron that covered his waist. Venus had given it to him to wear, despite his efforts to not. While he worked, Loni walked over to grab a water and glanced at Ferral’s back, turning her full attention to the large circular scar on his right rhomboid. “Woah, where’d you get that big scar, Ferral?” She went over and raced her finger over the scar. He looked back, “I was impaled through my right pectoral by a male lion experiment named Leonidas.” The other lionesses turned after hearing that name. “Wow, how’d you survive that?” Loni continued. “After he did that, I awakened into my evolved state.” “But when that happens, your body heals all injuries once only,” Leona interjected, “So how you can still have a scar shouldn’t be possible.” Ferral shrugged, “Beats me, I never really questioned it.” “But then, why do you have other scars? And why didn’t your arm and eye grow back?” “Because they were all received after I awoke. And you heard Leona, you only get a one-time heal your first time. If I had lost my arm and eye before awakening, then I would’ve gotten them back.”

….When an experiment awakens for the first time, he or she heals all physical injuries. However, the experiment MUST be alive for the awakening to occur. An injury such as a decapitation will not be healed….

“By the way, why is your hair purple? And what’s with those rings on you?” “Don’t worry about it. It’s personal stuff.” As Ferral was finishing up cooking, everyone continued to watch TV, a commercial popped up that caught the lionesses' attention. “This next Thursday! An Experiment-exclusive battle tournament will be held! The first-place winner will receive a check for $100,000! The two runner-ups will receive $10,000! Don’t miss it!!!” “A fighting tournament?!” Leona exclaimed. “And a grand prize is a hundred grand?!” Venus added. “Woah! We all gotta enter!!!” Loni jumped. The five started talking excitedly, all while Ferral paid no attention. “Ferral! You’re joining, got it!” Leona shouted. Ferral looked up, “Pass.” They all clamored in protest. “What’s the point of me entering if I know I’ll win?” “Easy money, that’s why.” Zuri said. “Yeah! If we all get first, second, and third, then that’s $120,000!” Savannah stated further. “There’s five of you, I’m sure you can manage that on your own.” They continued to push him into joining, but Ferral continued to refuse. 

After dinner, Ferral went to his room and Leona was at the door waiting for him. “You know you gotta enter, right?” She said. He rolled his eyes, “This again? Look, I already said no.” “This is a great chance to show you just how much stronger I got. And, in front of a larger audience.” “Then you can show by fighting someone else, 'cause it’s not gonna be me.” Leona scoffed, “What happened to you, Ferral? You used to be ready to spar or fight with anyone who asked. Now you just focus all on your stupid cure.” “That cure will fix lives, Leona. The sooner the better. Besides, I’ve just started growing apart from sparing and fighting. I’ll continue to train, but what’s the point of going up against someone when I know what the outcome will be.” Ferral opened the door and walked inside his room. He turned and was about to close the door, “There’s simply no challenge anymore for me.” He closed the door, leaving Leona alone in the hallway. She scoffed, grumbling as she went into her room and slammed the door shut. Ferral walked over to his desk, grabbed his journal,l and started to work on making the perfect cure. Ignoring the medicines that he was going to use to help Mr. Bose.