Chapter 11

The group walked on. Here and there they waved after some people. They arrived at the end of the room when Drin suddenly turned back to have a last view of the spacious room.

‘I have to say that I am indeed impressed, but I expected a little bit more.’ His tone dropped. ‘This room is kind of boring. Only grey walls and nearly no windows to let out this sticky smell. Aren’t you a big organisation? I expected you to be richer. Damn even broke life isn’t that bad!’ This was the signal for a dispute that the woman continued to nourish with her counter:

‘At least, it’s better than your run-down house, only if you even have one! I wouldn’t be surprised if you live on the streets, with the rats as your best buddies and news as bed!’ Bull's eye! Drin approached her and started his counter:

‘Well…’

Meanwhile, the other two guys were idly observing these two, thereby the skinny one was shivering. He was still only dressed in an underwear. Both guys: Shut up you two! Who fucked your heads like that? The two men’s eyes widened, likewise their mouth, as they gazed each other’s in the eyes and realized that their thoughts had been the same. How gladly the two would speak aloud what they had thought, but they did not, for fear of the consequences, in which there would only be a one-side beating for them. Before the dispute could worsen a gentle voice intervened:

‘You get along well.’ The woman pushed Drin aside and glanced at the man standing afore the group.

‘We get along well?’, she repeated. She pointed her fingers at grinning Drin who was busy standing up, then at herself. Then she gawked to the other guys and asked again, this time more aggressive and with a threatening gaze: ‘We get along well? You two agree?’ The two guys answered with a fast and dry:

‘No!’ Their faces were void of any emotion, but inside them an immense rage was boiling up. A rage that unfortunately would never come to the surface. Thus, they decided to just smile. Both guys: You fucking serious? You got some emotional problems, you and your crazy boyfriend. You fit together perfectly! Both guys continued to smile, hiding their inner thoughts and their fists they had formed behind their backs. They pressed their fists so tight that they were on verge of getting cramp. The man that had just joined the group, gave them a short glance. Unknown man: They must be reaching their limit!

‘Hope you enjoyed the mission!’, the man uttered, stopping his sight at the two men. ‘I’m sure you two are tired. Go take a rest!’ The two guys did not waste a moment. A brief bow and they disappeared at once. The woman approached the man and bowed halfway, placing one hand on her chest:

‘I greet you, Mr. Maida.’ Drin: Where did I end up here?

'Oh, you don’t always have to do it’, Mr. Maida said blushed while doing signs with his hand to convey the woman that she could stand up. ‘Really!’ The woman did as asked while responding:

‘Well, this shall be the last time then.’ Drin: You always do it? You don’t get tired of this shit?

Mr. Maida was a white man in his late thirties; however, he was a monster – A monster’s appearance wasn’t always according to its age. How old he really was, was unknown and maybe this was good so. Maybe he was already an old geezer. And some people tend to get more sensible the more they age. He was 1.90m tall and thus, about as large as Drin. He had a rough-edged face and dark brown eyes, making every person who looked at Mr. Maida’s face shiver with fear and a warm smile and that would scare away that fear at once. Mr. Maida may have been old; it wasn’t clear, but he was bursting with vitality and Drin remarked it at first sight. He was wearing a black suit and inside a red pullover.

Mr. Maida strolled towards Drin and stretched out his hand to greet him:

‘I’m Maida, Maida Wing.’ Drin: Not a fist-bum? Drin did likewise.

‘I’m Drin, just Drin.’ While greeting each other, Mr. Maida eyebrows winced. He started chuckling weakly.

‘You are powerful! I can feel it youngster! There is something inside you, but I can’t really grasp it. What kind of monster are you?’ Drin remained silent. ‘Sorry, there are monsters who don’t want to reveal what kind they belong to. It was rude of me!’, Mr. Maida excused. ‘But if you don’t mind, I would like to spar with you. My instincts are telling me that something interesting may happen.’

‘Why not!’, Drin replied. Drin: He’s the boss this woman was talking about, so he must be strong! I want to see it myself!.

Both didn’t bother taking a fighting-posture and at once struck. Bum! The woman stepped back. Punch after punch clashed. Nobody yielded. Mr. Maida: Interesting! Better finish before Jasmin appears! For a beat, Mr. Maida lost his concentration. Enough for Drin to react accordingly. He struck Mr. Maida with a karate chop from above. Mr. Maida was fast enough to shieled himself with his arms. Still, Drin’s attack was powerful. It pounded him into the ground. Bam! And yet, Mr. Maida didn’t fold. He held his own against Drin. ‘

Yes, that’s what I need right now!’, Mr. Maida cried out. Drin: What’s this unease feeling? Instinctively, Drin drew back. Wise decision! Shortly after, Mr. Maida went up in blue and partly crimson flames. They covered his whole body. Strong heat emitted from his body. And he radiated a blue light. The room’s temperature rose rapidly. The spectators also began sweating. Some men gazed away from the fight towards the women whose clothes were turning transparent due to the sweat.

‘I was bored of plain red flames!’, Drin said, shrugging his shoulders. ‘So, blue flames just come in time for me.’ Mr. Maida charged at Drin. Drin did likewise. He was faster and packed Mr. Maida at his shoulder. Not long, he let go due to the strong flames. ‘Ouch!’ He had lost his chance to attack. It was Mr. Maida’s turn. He punched Drin in his rips. Another punch followed in the face. The man didn’t stop there. He confronted Drin with a series of attacks. Every hit burned. 'Arghh! Seems like you enjoy playing with fire.’, Drin commented, slightly in pain. Suddenly, he grabbed Mr. Maida’s wrists. Despite the flames, Drin didn’t let go. They were burning his hands, yet the grips strength only rose. ‘Fuck the flames!’, Drin roared. And Mr. Maida responded in kind:

‘That’s the spirit, boy!’ Drin swung his arms up. And with it, threw the man up as well. As he let go of Mr. Maida, he jumped up. He was now in mid-air, slightly above Mr. Maida. In mid-air, Drin did a role while stretching out his leg. He then used the speed of his rotation to strengthen his coming kick. Drin hammered his heel on Mr. Maida’s head. With the face first Mr. Maida crushed into the ground. Bum! And Drin landed on his feet, at least that’s what he had planning to do after his attack. He fucked up. Instead, he also fell with his face on the floor. The woman shook her head, yet a flicker grin could be seen on her face. Woman: Idiot!

Drin as well as Mr. Maida rose up. Mr. Maida wasn’t wounded at all and Drin only had minor bruises. Though looking closer at his wound, one could see them healing slowly. The woman’s eyes focused at Drin’s hands. Woman: He can heal himself too? But his regenerating ability seems to be slower than mine! Well, Mr. Maida is also holding back! Again, Mr. Maida clamoured:

‘Interesting. I know you are holding back and I’m doing likewise. Let’s go all out, young man!’ This time Drin didn’t respond. He had noticed something during the short slugfest. Drin: I know it’s not his full power, but he’s still strong. I can sense it. I highly doubt I can win against him if he decides to go serious! Suddenly, the flames surrounding Mr. Maida increased in size and heat – He was about to transform.

‘Stop it you fool!’, a woman yelled running towards the group. Mr Maida’s eyes shot open as he mumbled:

‘Shit she’s here!’ He turned around, explaining:

‘Wait Jasmin, I was just’ – Jasmin grabbed him by the neck. Mr. Maida: Shit, she still must be angry because of yesterday! And then, smashed his head into the ground. Bam! Drin: Who is that? As the mist cleared, a woman came to light.

The woman had long blonde hair. Her white skin was slight tanned and her eyes were emerald green. All this together was a good fit to her violet dress and brown leather jacket..