Chapter 14: Shattered

It was the final day before the tournament, the lionesses continued to train in preparations. Ferral didn’t care. He stuck himself in his room, only ever coming out for food and water. He wanted to finish the cure, he HAD to. Loni came over, knocking on the door before entering. “What?” Ferral asked angrily. “Hey, you wanna do some last-minute training?” She asked. “No.” “Oh c’mon, I wanna show you this new move I’ve been working…..” “I don’t care!” He whipped his head around and snapped. “I don’t give a shit about your worthless new move, leave me alone!” He turned back around to his work. Loni’s face turned red with anger, “You could’ve been more nice about it, jerk!” She turned and stormed off. She made her way into the living room and threw herself on the couch. “What’s up with you?” Zuri asked. “Ferral’s a giant ass! He’s been a big jerk these last few days.” “Yeah, I’ve noticed it too. He’s lashed out at least once toward all of us.” Loni curled into a ball, her eyes getting watery. “I miss the old Ferral. When we first met, he was so nice and playful. Now he’s always angry and only focuses on that stupid cure.” She wiped her eyes, while Zuri sat next to her for comfort. “I know what you mean. He was so full of joy, so kind.” “Is he ever gonna be the same?” “Yeah, I’m sure of it. He’s just….stressed. Leona will talk to him, though. If anyone can snap him out of his funk, it’s her.” Loni sniffed, wiping her eyes again. “C’mon, let’s go downstairs to do some training.” Loni nodded and the two got up and left.

A few minutes after they left, Leona came out of her room to grab some food. That’s when she noticed Ferral working, muttering stuff. So she walked over, knocking on the door before entering. “Now what?” He sighed. Leona knew she needed to keep her cool, “We need to talk about your recent behavior, Ferral.” “There’s nothing to talk about. You’re all just annoying.” Leona scowled, “You said we should talk things over like adults, so that’s what I’m here to do.” Ferral scoffed, “You’re not an adult, none of you are. You’re all just irritating degenerates that get on my nerves.” Leona growled, walking over and forcingly turned Ferral around. “Alright look, idiot! I don’t know what bug crawled up your ass, but you better get it out because I’m going to deal with this shit anymore.” “Then I’ve got a simple solution, leave me alone.” He tried to turn back around, but Leona stopped him. “Ever since you started taking that cure of yours, you’ve been nothing but an asshole! That shit’s messing with your head! You need to stop it!” Ferral pushed her hands off and started walking around the room. “You’re just jealous, Leona.” “Jealous?! About what?!” He threw his journal and maker on his desk. “That I have the ability to make change. REAL change. And all you are is just a brute.” “I don’t give a FUCK about your cure, Ferral. I’m worried about you, about your mental health. You’re not well!” I know what I’m doing!” Ferral raised his voice, “But I don’t have to explain myself, especially to you of all people.” He started walking out of the room. 

“Is this what Dr. Amber would’ve wanted?” Leona retorted, stopping Ferral. “Is this what Ezekial and Belle would’ve wanted? To see you putting yourself through this pain?!” Leona began to tear up, something she very rarely did. “Please Ferral, I don’t want to see you suffer anymore. We all don’t.” Ferral gripped the side of the doorframe. “I don’t care what you or anyone else wants. Especially the dead.” Leona couldn’t believe what she was hearing. His words were so filled with venom, it was like she was talking to a completely different person. He started walking off again, Leona clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in frustration. “IF YOU TRY TO WALK OUT, I WILL STOP YOU!!!” Ferral stopped again, this time turning around, showing those piercing crimson eyes. “You’ll never beat me.” He turned back around, and in a split second, he caught Leona’s punch still looking away. He turned around to see she had gone into her awakened state, her face filled with anger, yet tears still filled her eyes. “I WILL stop you, Ferral,” She declared through clenched teeth, “And help you get better.” He pulled her face closer to his, “You’ll never win. You’re still WEAK.”

Ferral bashed his head into Leona’s, then kneed her into the doorframe She groaned in pain, but pushed him off, then went for another punch, which he blocked. The two fought in the hallway, Ferral keeping on the defensive, but one of Leona’s strikes managed to slip through and graze his cheek. He jumped back, realizing being his restrained form was going to hinder his movements due to the pain. But he pushed through the pain, charging forward at Leona, doing a spin kick at her that she blocked with her right wrist. The two had a back-and-forth of attacks and blocks, all the while veins started popping out around Ferral’s body and eyes. The heavy strain his body was having from trying to transform further, but the cure constantly preventing it. The two clashed fists before Leona grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a swift uppercut to the stomach. He coughed up blood, the Leona sent a barrage of punches and kicks, each one connecting. She finished her assault by kicking him into the kitchen. 

His body slammed into the stove, screaming out in pain. He strained to get up, while Leona came charging at him. Then, his body bulked up slightly, more veins forming as he rushed at her. His speed increased, and despite being restrained, his body still evolved in a fight. She launched her left claw forward, but Ferral dodged it, cocking back his left fist and slamming it into her face, sending her flying into a wall. Ferral followed up his attack by elbowing her in the face. Having Leona pinned against the wall, he socked her face left and right, each punch getting faster and faster. Then, a sharp pain shot through his body, causing him to howl in pain. Leona used the opening and clasped her hands together to knock Ferral across the face. He fell to the ground, Leona jumped up into the air and slammed both her feet into Ferral’s stomach, causing both of them to go crashing through the floor. As the two fell in the air, Ferral grabbed her ankles, spinning her around to smash her into the floor of the main gym. Everyone jumped, ran, or yelped in surprise. As the dust settled, the other lionesses watched in horror as Ferral lay on top of Leona, gripping her throat with both his. She thrashed and clawed his arms, only causing him to tighten his grip. As her face started turning red, she began losing consciousness.

“FERRAL STOP!!!!” Venus shouted. “FERRAL PLEASE!!!” Zuri pleaded. Ferral looked up, his face in a nasty sneer, he looked around to see everyone watching terrified. Then his gaze turned toward Loni, who watched him in terror. Despite being enraged, Ferral’s eyes widened with the realization that what he was doing was wrong. He looked back down at Leona, who was nearly unconscious and let go. She coughed and gasped for air, Ferral looked around at everyone. His body shaking in fear…..what had he done? He got up and ran off, out of the gym and didn’t look back. The other lionesses ran over to help Leona, still in shock at what happened.

As Ferral ran, he decided to head into the woods that surrounded Central City. Once he got there, Feral panted, his entire body felt like was set on fire. He curled up in pain, fear started overtaking his body. Then he remembered Mr. Bose, and he got up and ran toward his and Ms. Avery’s house. As he ran through the forest, his mind raced, it was all happening so fast. It felt like the world was spinning rapidly, his mind couldn’t keep up. When he finally got there, he started banging on the door. Then, Ms. Avery opened the door, surprised to see Ferral. “Ferral? What’re you doing here?” She asked. “How’s Mr. Bose? Is he okay? What’s his condition? Please! TELL ME!!!” Ms. Avery looked down, and tears started flooding her eyes, “You’re too late, Ferral. Bose, he….he….” She broke down crying and Ferral could feel the world tilting. He walked past Ms. Avery ran into their bedroom, and found Mr. Bose’s lifeless body lying on the bed. He gasped, slowly walking toward him. “How? Why?” Ferral’s legs felt like jelly, could barely move forward. “It was tuberculosis,” Ms. Avery said after regaining her composure. “We tried to seek help. DESPERATELY tried, but no one would take us.” Ferral stopped, standing over Bose, Ms. Avery walked over and hugged him. “Oh Ferral, I know you wanted to help him. All that struggle you went through…” But he didn’t try. He was completely caught up in his work, Ferral had forgotten. And now….

He walked off further into the woods, until collapsing on his knees in front of a large boulder. The sky started to turn gray as the rain started coming down, hiding his tears. He grit his teeth, so hard blood started coming out of the gums. “GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!” He screamed as he started punching the rock. “NO! IT’S NOT FAIR!! WHY?!?! WHY?!?!” He continued to attack the bolder, each blow taking pieces of the stone, his right knuckles becoming bloodied. “NO! WHY?!?! WHYYYYY?!?!?!?!” He fell back down to his knees, sobbing. It was all his fault. He died because of him…..

NO!

It wasn’t his fault. It was the normal humans. They shut Bose out! Ferral’s rage and hatred boiled up, until it finally exploded. “THIS IS ALL THEIR FAULT!!!!!” He got up, “ALL OF THIS PAIN IS THEIR FAULT!!!!!” Ferral smashed his right fist into the stone, and it broke into pieces. “I HATE THEM!!!!!! I WANT THEM ALL DEAD!!!!!!” And that that moment, Ferral had finally chosen his path. He chose to fall into the darkness.