Chapter 21:
Beyond The Flame.
DARK HIERARCHY
GRACEFUL HORSE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THREE YEARS AGO.
It was a dark and stormy day. The clouds were so gloomy, almost pitch black, the sun was far away on a temporary vacation, and the rain showed no mercy in soaking up the environment.
The thunder was on a level of its own, screeching out of sight, like a broken noise machine. And the rain smell had gotten everywhere.
The school structure was more like a square, having flat roofs which lacked zincs, the grey painted walls almost synced up perfectly with the atmosphere, as if it had been waiting for this particular day to justify the painter's efforts.
Fourteen-year-old Shade stood with his back turned, glaring into one of the few lonely alleys linked with the school.
Soaked wet in his white shirt and plain red trousers, the clouds cast deep shadows on him, darkening his yellowish-red hair totally, as they fell flat around him, completely soaked and dripping water. His outfit wasn't spared either.
The atmosphere around him seemed tense and suffocating, "Quit it, this is the last time I'll warn you. I might kill you next time."
His head was slightly bent as he stared at the semi-paved ground.
A shuffle was heard from deep within the alley; the atmosphere totally neglected that area, it was almost like nighttime in there, allowing one's eyes to barely even see simple shape outlines.
The shuffle came again, like the sound of dragging feet against little stones.
"Why, you think you can scare me away?" came a voice from within the dark alley, followed by haggard breaths.
"I told you I wouldn't stop till I get one on you, when have I ever gone back on my word?" It came again.
The sky growled with thunder again, and the light got even weaker, indicating that the storm wasn't done with them.
"What are you even saying? We both know that'll never happen. You're just using me to make yourself feel better, you're using my strength— like everyone else!" Fourteen-year-old Shade instantly raised his head with visible grit, his purple-themed eyes still managing to glitter in the darkness, shining with a light of its own in contrast to Shade himself, who seemed to be in a very bad place.
"Dude, don't make this weird. I don't know what you're going through, but we're kind of in the middle of something here, so.." The origin of the worn-out tone emerged from the darkness, his appearance strikingly similar to that of Deckra.
"Why do you care about fighting so badly?" Shade furrowed his brows; his shoulders were too sloped.
The kid stared at his palms, folding them fondly,
"If I get stronger, then I can attend that academy, and then I can find someone very strong to work under, I'll live the life man," A smile stretched across the kid's face.
He was bruised and battered, beaten down like a dog, but somehow was standing, and even speaking.
Shade scoffed, a smile almost emerged but he quickly took care of it.
Shade threw away his gaze, "If you think I'll let someone like you into my group, then you—"
"You're joking right?" Deckra's words stopped that of Shade, his smile had turned to a smirk, a mocking one.
Shade's eyes conveyed different emotions, not sure what Deckra was trying to say.
"Not to be rude or anything, but I'll never join your group, no— you shouldn't head a group to begin with."
Shade's eyes glittered again, watching as someone way lower than him, both in status and power, relayed such hurtful insults to him.
He glared intently at Deckra, desperately searching for a hidden smirk or any other sign of amusement, since he figured he had to be joking.
Deckra's lips made a thin, flat line; his face, though torn open, backed up his seriousness with blatant glares and depth.
"You have power for sure, but you don't even have a goal, a longing. You'll just lose interest in everything sooner or later, and go on the wrong path."
"Someone like that, shouldn't lead others"
Shade turned his gaze back to the somewhat paved ground, he didn't utter a word, he didn't even try to counter anything, he just stood there, actually watching his drenched pair of shoes.
"You're right, I've been using your strength to train myself, but that's honestly the only thing that's keeping you alive right now isn't it?" Deckra's smirk surfaced once more.
Shade didn't reply.
"People like you never want anything, just to glide through life, so yeah, I decided to seize the opportunity. I'm going to get stronger, find someone who has quality leadership traits, a goal, and then I'll give him my all. That's all a scavenger like me can dream of."
"What is your dream, Shade? What do you want to do apart from what is expected of you?" Deckra inched closer, little by little, till he was within Shade's arm's length.
"What do you want beyond the flame?" Deckra whispered, the thunder clap came again, its light highlighting Deckra's smirk in perfect accordance as it cast a shadow across his face for a second. The air stiffened as Shade still peeled his gaze on the ground.
Shade folded his right fist. "I see why you got your scholarship here then," Shade quickly raised his right arm, swinging it towards Deckra with full force, but Deckra was barely fast enough; he dodged it by an inch.
"You sure know how to get on my nerves." Shade swung his arm again, and this time it connected with Deckra's gut, throwing him to the wall.
Deckra crashed to the wet ground, holding his stomach as he groaned.
"I can't let you keep running your mouth, or I might actually cry, you understand, right?" Shade stalked his victim, slowly drawing closer.
"Damn, you never let down. But I guess you feel better right?" Deckra let out a quick laugh amid the groans.
Shade paused; he forced his teeth against each other. He didn't even notice how many words he'd said today, unlike before.
"You let me hit you?"
Deckra sat up, still gripping his abdomen, his innocent smile didn't seize as he stared at the ground.
"You were right, I was being selfish, so just for today— I'll let you use me"
Shade stood still and firm, not drawing closer nor retreating, his lips parted, taking different shapes yet not producing any sound...
"What if— "
He went silent again, while Deckra still faced the ground but his pain did seem to be fading.
"If you eventually find someone, but he doesn't like something crucial about you, say your smile. What would you do?"
"I'll erase it."
Shade's tongue got tangled. He didn't expect such an answer so fast, his effort at making a point just strengthened Deckra's mentality.
He just stood there silent, then he turned. This gained Deckra's attention; he quickly dragged himself up.
"Wait, where do you think you're going?!"
"We're not done here!"
He didn't get as little as a sigh from Shade, who just stood firm.
"Do you think... I can find someone like that too, someone I'm willing to erase myself for?" Shade's voice was so low, yet it was easily heard over the growling weather.
"Doubt it, you will always be the strongest, no matter the crowd you're in."
Deckra leaned against the moist cement wall, his smirk everlasting.
"I see. Hey lowlife—"
Deckra grunted in response. He closed his eyes; the cold was seriously dealing more damage to his broken ribs.
"Don't lose that pathetic smile, no matter what."
Shade started on his way, nearly leaving the alley when the sky growled louder than ever. Then came the rain pouring down, definitely back for a sequel as it instantly drowned the uneven grounds with its heaviness.
Shade could barely feel the rain beating on him, or he just didn't care at the moment. His hair was now totally flattened, his uniform was stuck to his body like glue, showing tiny glimpses of his young but built body, six-pack, and all.
If that's the case, then I just need to find someone stronger than I am, someone not from this place. I need — someone.
"Damn, I guess that's it for today then, mind helping me back to class? I don't think I ca–"
Right before Deckra's eyes Shade vanished. Like a gust of wind, he was gone, no trace, no footpath.
"Tsk, that bastard," Deckra cursed under the full impact of the rain.
........
I might have found someone to give me meaning, but I'm still having second thoughts, even though every day is like a blissful, unpredictable journey.
........
That's why—
→ → →
PRESENT DAY.
Shade stared plainly at Deckra, both roughly thirteen feet from each other.
Deckra's transparent blue aura surrounded him, bending with the wind in Professor Hungman's Ultra Space.
Shade folded his right fist. "I told you to keep your smile didn't I? Let me see it."
That's why I'll have to continue my streak today. Sorry lowlife, but I'm coming out on top.
THREE YEARS AGO.
It was a dark and stormy day. The clouds were so gloomy, almost pitch black, the sun was far away on a temporary vacation, and the rain showed no mercy in soaking up the environment.
The thunder was on a level of its own, screeching out of sight, like a broken noise machine. And the rain smell had gotten everywhere.
The school structure was more like a square, having flat roofs which lacked zincs, the grey painted walls almost synced up perfectly with the atmosphere, as if it had been waiting for this particular day to justify the painter's efforts.
Fourteen-year-old Shade stood with his back turned, glaring into one of the few lonely alleys linked with the school.
Soaked wet in his white shirt and plain red trousers, the clouds cast deep shadows on him, darkening his yellowish-red hair totally, as they fell flat around him, completely soaked and dripping water. His outfit wasn't spared either.
The atmosphere around him seemed tense and suffocating, "Quit it, this is the last time I'll warn you. I might kill you next time."
His head was slightly bent as he stared at the semi-paved ground.
A shuffle was heard from deep within the alley; the atmosphere totally neglected that area, it was almost like nighttime in there, allowing one's eyes to barely even see simple shape outlines.
The shuffle came again, like the sound of dragging feet against little stones.
"Why, you think you can scare me away?" came a voice from within the dark alley, followed by haggard breaths.
"I told you I wouldn't stop till I get one on you, when have I ever gone back on my word?" It came again.
The sky growled with thunder again, and the light got even weaker, indicating that the storm wasn't done with them.
"What are you even saying? We both know that'll never happen. You're just using me to make yourself feel better, you're using my strength— like everyone else!" Fourteen-year-old Shade instantly raised his head with visible grit, his purple-themed eyes still managing to glitter in the darkness, shining with a light of its own in contrast to Shade himself, who seemed to be in a very bad place.
"Dude, don't make this weird. I don't know what you're going through, but we're kind of in the middle of something here, so.." The origin of the worn-out tone emerged from the darkness, his appearance strikingly similar to that of Deckra.
"Why do you care about fighting so badly?" Shade furrowed his brows; his shoulders were too sloped.
The kid stared at his palms, folding them fondly,
"If I get stronger, then I can attend that academy, and then I can find someone very strong to work under, I'll live the life man," A smile stretched across the kid's face.
He was bruised and battered, beaten down like a dog, but somehow was standing, and even speaking.
Shade scoffed, a smile almost emerged but he quickly took care of it.
Shade threw away his gaze, "If you think I'll let someone like you into my group, then you—"
"You're joking right?" Deckra's words stopped that of Shade, his smile had turned to a smirk, a mocking one.
Shade's eyes conveyed different emotions, not sure what Deckra was trying to say.
"Not to be rude or anything, but I'll never join your group, no— you shouldn't head a group to begin with."
Shade's eyes glittered again, watching as someone way lower than him, both in status and power, relayed such hurtful insults to him.
He glared intently at Deckra, desperately searching for a hidden smirk or any other sign of amusement, since he figured he had to be joking.
Deckra's lips made a thin, flat line; his face, though torn open, backed up his seriousness with blatant glares and depth.
"You have power for sure, but you don't even have a goal, a longing. You'll just lose interest in everything sooner or later, and go on the wrong path."
"Someone like that, shouldn't lead others"
Shade turned his gaze back to the somewhat paved ground, he didn't utter a word, he didn't even try to counter anything, he just stood there, actually watching his drenched pair of shoes.
"You're right, I've been using your strength to train myself, but that's honestly the only thing that's keeping you alive right now isn't it?" Deckra's smirk surfaced once more.
Shade didn't reply.
"People like you never want anything, just to glide through life, so yeah, I decided to seize the opportunity. I'm going to get stronger, find someone who has quality leadership traits, a goal, and then I'll give him my all. That's all a scavenger like me can dream of."
"What is your dream, Shade? What do you want to do apart from what is expected of you?" Deckra inched closer, little by little, till he was within Shade's arm's length.
"What do you want beyond the flame?" Deckra whispered, the thunder clap came again, its light highlighting Deckra's smirk in perfect accordance as it cast a shadow across his face for a second. The air stiffened as Shade still peeled his gaze on the ground.
Shade folded his right fist. "I see why you got your scholarship here then," Shade quickly raised his right arm, swinging it towards Deckra with full force, but Deckra was barely fast enough; he dodged it by an inch.
"You sure know how to get on my nerves." Shade swung his arm again, and this time it connected with Deckra's gut, throwing him to the wall.
Deckra crashed to the wet ground, holding his stomach as he groaned.
"I can't let you keep running your mouth, or I might actually cry, you understand, right?" Shade stalked his victim, slowly drawing closer.
"Damn, you never let down. But I guess you feel better right?" Deckra let out a quick laugh amid the groans.
Shade paused; he forced his teeth against each other. He didn't even notice how many words he'd said today, unlike before.
"You let me hit you?"
Deckra sat up, still gripping his abdomen, his innocent smile didn't seize as he stared at the ground.
"You were right, I was being selfish, so just for today— I'll let you use me"
Shade stood still and firm, not drawing closer nor retreating, his lips parted, taking different shapes yet not producing any sound...
"What if— "
He went silent again, while Deckra still faced the ground but his pain did seem to be fading.
"If you eventually find someone, but he doesn't like something crucial about you, say your smile. What would you do?"
"I'll erase it."
Shade's tongue got tangled. He didn't expect such an answer so fast, his effort at making a point just strengthened Deckra's mentality.
He just stood there silent, then he turned. This gained Deckra's attention; he quickly dragged himself up.
"Wait, where do you think you're going?!"
"We're not done here!"
He didn't get as little as a sigh from Shade, who just stood firm.
"Do you think... I can find someone like that too, someone I'm willing to erase myself for?" Shade's voice was so low, yet it was easily heard over the growling weather.
"Doubt it, you will always be the strongest, no matter the crowd you're in."
Deckra leaned against the moist cement wall, his smirk everlasting.
"I see. Hey lowlife—"
Deckra grunted in response. He closed his eyes; the cold was seriously dealing more damage to his broken ribs.
"Don't lose that pathetic smile, no matter what."
Shade started on his way, nearly leaving the alley when the sky growled louder than ever. Then came the rain pouring down, definitely back for a sequel as it instantly drowned the uneven grounds with its heaviness.
Shade could barely feel the rain beating on him, or he just didn't care at the moment. His hair was now totally flattened, his uniform was stuck to his body like glue, showing tiny glimpses of his young but built body, six-pack, and all.
If that's the case, then I just need to find someone stronger than I am, someone not from this place. I need — someone.
"Damn, I guess that's it for today then, mind helping me back to class? I don't think I ca–"
Right before Deckra's eyes Shade vanished. Like a gust of wind, he was gone, no trace, no footpath.
"Tsk, that bastard," Deckra cursed under the full impact of the rain.
........
I might have found someone to give me meaning, but I'm still having second thoughts, even though every day is like a blissful, unpredictable journey.
........
That's why—
→ → →
PRESENT DAY.
Shade stared plainly at Deckra, both roughly thirteen feet from each other.
Deckra's transparent blue aura surrounded him, bending with the wind in Professor Hungman's Ultra Space.
Shade folded his right fist. "I told you to keep your smile didn't I? Let me see it."
That's why I'll have to continue my streak today. Sorry lowlife, but I'm coming out on top.
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