((Continued from "You can feel what you can't see"))
John walked between the clustered trees, the storm was not making him very happy at all. And the fact that his ally had just been murdered did not make him any more calm. his heart beat quickened and he decided to take his medication. He reached his hands down into his pocket and grasped at nothing.
"SHIT!" John yelled, he began patting himself down as he looked for his pills. They were gone, he was screwed. He wouldn't be able to control himself any longer. John sat against a tree and tried to repress his rage, he needed to think of what to do next.
Rage against the Machine
-
ZigZaggerty*
- Posts: 84
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:52 pm
((Continued from Bloody Roses))
Felix Travertil was running. Sprinting, more like. Bolting his way over the course of the island, weaving and dodging, he'd ran far. Probably more than a mile witout stopping, he was starting to lose his breath. Well, no one could run forever. So Felix stopped, and caught his breath. Taking in the scenery, he'd wandered into the forest. Unless there was a another name for a large grouping of trees that extended as far as the eye could see.
He looked behind him. Venus could not be seen or heard, but he knew she was back there somewhere. He was fast, but she'd do fine. Besides, it wasn't as though he was being genuine. He'd take her no matter how well she did, he just wanted a change to the incredible creepiness of the situation she had put him in. The forests eemed msotly empty, he'd be able to spot someone entering from a mile away if he needed, and he intended to do so with Venus.
Felix was awakened to how hard it could be to know someone else was in the forest when he heard a not too far, extremely loud curse that echoed through the trees.
A lot could be discerned about someone from the way they shouted. This voice in particular belonged to someone very frustrated, but they had a lot of pent up anger inside along with it. Someone who might be dangerous in a dark alley but not necessarily dangerous to have as an enemy. Hearing someone scream amidst the trees could both be a reason to stay away, or an invitation.
Disregarding Venus for just a moment, Felix naturally chose to investigate.
The more stubborn your own will is, the more trials you will be blessed with...
It took some searching, the echo of the voice distorted the direction, but the voice was not far off, and Felix instantly recognized the form of 'John' - Jackie's ally in combat, and all alone, without Jackie's other friends to back him up. John had seen Felix kill his friend, and judging by the threat he'd shouted as Felix fled that particular scene, was planning to hunt Felix until the end of Survival of the Fittest.
Of course, if you can avoid the trials before your eyes, it is also possible for you to flee them...
"Might as well give him a shot now...." Felix muttered. It was never worthwhile to postpone a fight, and Felix was not one to turn one down anyway.
Felix emerged from behind a tree, from an angle slightly behind John so he wouldn't be seen. Stealthy as a cat, Felix approached, but only a short distance was crossed before he threw Jackie's jackknife at John. Felix's aim was off and the knife travelled slightly in front of John, colliding awkwardly with a tree by the handle and dropping harmlessly to the ground. Playing off the mistake, Felix spoke.
"You still want to scrap? It won't bring Jackie back... even if you do wind up meeting him." Felix smiled grimly at the threat, already prepared for John to close the distance for the fight.
Felix Travertil was running. Sprinting, more like. Bolting his way over the course of the island, weaving and dodging, he'd ran far. Probably more than a mile witout stopping, he was starting to lose his breath. Well, no one could run forever. So Felix stopped, and caught his breath. Taking in the scenery, he'd wandered into the forest. Unless there was a another name for a large grouping of trees that extended as far as the eye could see.
He looked behind him. Venus could not be seen or heard, but he knew she was back there somewhere. He was fast, but she'd do fine. Besides, it wasn't as though he was being genuine. He'd take her no matter how well she did, he just wanted a change to the incredible creepiness of the situation she had put him in. The forests eemed msotly empty, he'd be able to spot someone entering from a mile away if he needed, and he intended to do so with Venus.
Felix was awakened to how hard it could be to know someone else was in the forest when he heard a not too far, extremely loud curse that echoed through the trees.
A lot could be discerned about someone from the way they shouted. This voice in particular belonged to someone very frustrated, but they had a lot of pent up anger inside along with it. Someone who might be dangerous in a dark alley but not necessarily dangerous to have as an enemy. Hearing someone scream amidst the trees could both be a reason to stay away, or an invitation.
Disregarding Venus for just a moment, Felix naturally chose to investigate.
The more stubborn your own will is, the more trials you will be blessed with...
It took some searching, the echo of the voice distorted the direction, but the voice was not far off, and Felix instantly recognized the form of 'John' - Jackie's ally in combat, and all alone, without Jackie's other friends to back him up. John had seen Felix kill his friend, and judging by the threat he'd shouted as Felix fled that particular scene, was planning to hunt Felix until the end of Survival of the Fittest.
Of course, if you can avoid the trials before your eyes, it is also possible for you to flee them...
"Might as well give him a shot now...." Felix muttered. It was never worthwhile to postpone a fight, and Felix was not one to turn one down anyway.
Felix emerged from behind a tree, from an angle slightly behind John so he wouldn't be seen. Stealthy as a cat, Felix approached, but only a short distance was crossed before he threw Jackie's jackknife at John. Felix's aim was off and the knife travelled slightly in front of John, colliding awkwardly with a tree by the handle and dropping harmlessly to the ground. Playing off the mistake, Felix spoke.
"You still want to scrap? It won't bring Jackie back... even if you do wind up meeting him." Felix smiled grimly at the threat, already prepared for John to close the distance for the fight.
Felix's embarassing throw alarmed John, as soon as it hit the tree John had turned around to face his assailant. Before Felix started speaking John already felt himself fill with rage, rage that stilll lingered now from the short time since Jackie's death. He was fortunate that he found Jackie's killer so early, John would out his anger to good use. Felix talked his talk, a short taunt inciting John to attack, but he could see that Felix was ready for it. John took some steps forward.
"You're pretty cocky about this, I guess a shitlicker like you likes killing innocent people like Jackie?"
He saw Felix's mouth twist into a deadly smile, his head lowered so a shadow was cast over his eyes.
---
"You got me, champ. The survivors here are the ones who spill blood, and Jackie's was right there for the taking."
Felix hoped his faux sadism would incite John. In their earlier scrap, Felix had noticed John's anger was a driving force in him. Angered, John would punch harder, but sloppier. A weakness Felix could exploit. Unfortunately, John seemed to keep his composure, however crumbled it was. Felix made a beckoning gesture with his hand. If words wouldn't do it, actions would.
---
John saw Felix challenging him, and resolved to enjoy knocking Felix on his cocky ass before he avenged Jackie. He wasn't that good, he'd just gotten lucky in a fight that he started against a peaceful person. John was only feet away when he rushed Felix, hoping to take him by surprise. It seemed to work, Felix took a quick step back before John moved to tackle him, grabbing for Felix's legs to bring him to the ground - experience said that he'd gall backwards easier while travelling backwards, but Felix's legs weren't moving away from John. Felix's knee connected square into John's eye.
That would swell up after this was over.
John felt Felix push his face into the ground from above, John made a slight effort to spit the dirt out of his mouth when he hit the soil. Felix seemed to scramble to mount himself on top of John and before he realized what was happening, he felt Felix's fist connect with the back of his skull, painfully driving his face into the ground. John acted fast and did his best to shake Felix off of him, and gained the slightest bit of leeway to use to his advantage. John managed to squeeze his leg out from under Felix and promptly kicked Felix off of his back, sending him to the ground. John picked himself up the ground only to find Felix standing up and already facing him.
If John wasn't completely in the thralls of his adranaline, and didn't know any better than to be intimidated, the psychotic look in Felix's eyes would have sent chills down his spine.
Felix and John moved at the same time, and both threw a right hand. They mirrored each other for a moment, each using their left arms to hold the right one's back. John rose his knee and drove it into Felix's gut, but just before the impact John was blinded by pain, Felix's had purposely crashed his skull into the bridge of John's nose. Felix staggered back holding his gut, John had hit him harder than even John knew he could. Felix looked up, his dangerous expression unchanged, and John noticed his forehead was bleeding from the impact. Which didn't seem possible, until John rose his hand to his still aching nose and noticed how moist it felt.
He lifted his fingers away and saw a coat of blood on them, and John felt his stomach weaken with fear, yet his resolve to fight grow.
---
Felix read John's face, he saw fear, recognized John realizing the same thing. Were Felix nearly as overconfident as he played at, that would have seemed a good thing, but he knew no one could fight like a man afraid for his life. Felix resolved that this was a good time to try and bring out the anger, before he lost his early advantage. Because he could tell John was ready to go out swinging like a born and bred fighter, he had the willpower to win if Felix gave him even the slightest chance. Felix started to laugh, the creepiest laugh he could muster.
"Keep coming, chickenfucker. I could get a taste for this killing thing. Did you see the look on Jackie's face when I stuck him between the ribs? It was good to see him that pathetic because of what I did, almost as pathetic as your fighting right now." Felix let the words roll off his tongue, his most mocking tone carrying them. "If I had you fighting to avenge me I'd be turning in my grave by now. If he wasn't such a disgrace already, you'd be making things a lot worse."
Felix remembered something his father had once said about respecting the dead, and resolved to apologize to Jackie if they went to the same place after death.
John's neck seemed to bulge, his pupils seemed to grow, and he started shaking. Felix was pleased to see his words take root, though he didn't show it. Felix knew what this meant; if he screwed up even once it would be very painful, but if he was lucky he could end this quick. John started to speak, his voice was gravelthroated and harsh.
"Fuck you, you prick. Jackie was a better person than you could ever be. So am I."
Given the chance, Felix would have lambasted himself for not reacting faster. HulkJohn charged quickly enough to catch Felix off guard. Felix was correct ina ssesing that John now lacked finesse, and even though Felix managed to avoid John's fist, John slammed into Felix with his full bodyweight and Felix lifted off the ground, shocked, and landed on one knee and foot a few feet back, and John was again pressing the assault before Felix recovered. John's knee soared towards Felix's face and Felix used both arms to send it back, tipping John off balance long enough for Felix to quickly rise with an uppercut, catching John clean in the throat. John staggered back, but didn't clutch his throat in pain and din't seem to have trouble breathing, which meant he wasn't nearly as hurt as Felix would have hoped.
Maybe John's hulk syndrome was a bigger asset then Felix had anticipated. Felix reacted the way he knew he should when unprepared: retreat, then regroup.
Felix dived for the discarded Jacknife at the base of a nearby tree and took off into the woods with John close behind, but Felix's sprint was faster.
"COWARD!"
Felix heard the taunt from several feet back. Felix looked around, and saw John was out of sight temporarily. A plan ready in his mind, Felix dove to hide behind a nearby tree just barely wider then he was, ready for John to come by, the oldest trick in the book. Felix pulle dhis hammer from his belthoob, the large framing hammerweighing down his left hand as his right clenched the knife. Heavy footsteps signalled John's approach. Felix clenched the hammer titghly and as soon as he felt John coming past the tree, Felix doubled back out of sight, around the tree, and came from behind, and swung the heavy hammer into the temple of John's skull. Knowing not to expect the usual knockout that would come from such a blow, Felix continued his assault - John was still disoriented from the blow as any human would be. Felix wrapped the hammer around John's neck, his right hand awakwardly holding the hammer and the jackknife, and pushed him face-first into the tree.
And so Felix's plan had come to fruition, a bit of planning ahead beat an unstoppable beast, and Felix didn't even need his gun.
Felix drove his knee into the back of John's ribs repeatedly, sinking in as many blows as possible while still choking him. He'd break those ribs eventually, and thought he'd heard cracking before John forced himself off the tree, again catching Felix by surprise with his raw strength. Felix stumbled backwards and narrowly avoiding tripping both of them up, and John spun around, seemingly unfazed by Felix's barrage. Felix prepared himself again, this time, no surprises.
John was close enough to punch again, and he raised his fist to try it, and hesitated a moment as an unexpected pain erupted from theis right ribs, and the attack didn't have much force in it. Felix capitalized, and shoved John backwards, John barely managing to stay balanced one leg as the other flundered behind him looking for a footing. Felix didn't give him a chance to find it, as he raised his foot for a vicious stomp on John's supporting leg.
The attack was rewarded with the crunch of breaking bone, and even HulkJohn had to scream.
---
The anger, the fear, everything subsided when John felt his leg break, as he fell to the ground, sitting and facing Felix. Immediately, his vision started to go red, he felt a fever coming fast, memories of past broken bones rekindled, His eyes lsot focus but he dind't lose conciousness, he struggled to to look up, try and stare at Felix. John dind't know what he would accomplich, but he wouldn't die here. He couldn't, not with this scumsucker still alive.
"...I'll tell you the same thing I told Jackie." Felix started. "I'm not sorry, but..." John could see some kind of sympathy that betrayed the earlier display. Was that what it was, a trick? Good acting?
"Shut the fuck up." John barely managed to get out. "Murderer."
"That I am." Felix smiled. "Suit yourself, mate." John got a good look at Felix. He had that confidence around him again, but not psychotic sadism. He really wasn't sad about killing anyone.
"You're fucking terrible." John spat, and for his efforts he felt Jackie's knife carve a cut in his throat. It wasn't deep, but deep enough. He could taste blood in his throat.
You can't let him kill you. He has to pay. John struggled to get up and was rewarded with pain in his ribs, throat and especially his leg. He saw Felix look on, no longer with arrogance, but stoic skepticism.
"You really are a fighter. Stick to your guns all the way, huh? I can respect that. Hopefully I'll be able to do the same." Felix turned to leave after he finished speaking, just as John found his last spark. He was going to stand up, grab Felix's knife out his hands and stick it into his heart, and that would make his dying breath a breath well spent.
As soon as John kicked off the ground with his good leg and outstretched his arms to luncge at Felix, he found himself staring down the barrel of a Nine millimeter Glock.
Why didn't he just shoot-?
John didn't finish the thought, and he never even heard the gunshot.
Boy #26, MATTHEWS, John. STATUS: DECEASED
But the true purpose of a trial...
...is to make your soul stronger.
((Felix Travertil continued elsewhere.))
"You're pretty cocky about this, I guess a shitlicker like you likes killing innocent people like Jackie?"
He saw Felix's mouth twist into a deadly smile, his head lowered so a shadow was cast over his eyes.
---
"You got me, champ. The survivors here are the ones who spill blood, and Jackie's was right there for the taking."
Felix hoped his faux sadism would incite John. In their earlier scrap, Felix had noticed John's anger was a driving force in him. Angered, John would punch harder, but sloppier. A weakness Felix could exploit. Unfortunately, John seemed to keep his composure, however crumbled it was. Felix made a beckoning gesture with his hand. If words wouldn't do it, actions would.
---
John saw Felix challenging him, and resolved to enjoy knocking Felix on his cocky ass before he avenged Jackie. He wasn't that good, he'd just gotten lucky in a fight that he started against a peaceful person. John was only feet away when he rushed Felix, hoping to take him by surprise. It seemed to work, Felix took a quick step back before John moved to tackle him, grabbing for Felix's legs to bring him to the ground - experience said that he'd gall backwards easier while travelling backwards, but Felix's legs weren't moving away from John. Felix's knee connected square into John's eye.
That would swell up after this was over.
John felt Felix push his face into the ground from above, John made a slight effort to spit the dirt out of his mouth when he hit the soil. Felix seemed to scramble to mount himself on top of John and before he realized what was happening, he felt Felix's fist connect with the back of his skull, painfully driving his face into the ground. John acted fast and did his best to shake Felix off of him, and gained the slightest bit of leeway to use to his advantage. John managed to squeeze his leg out from under Felix and promptly kicked Felix off of his back, sending him to the ground. John picked himself up the ground only to find Felix standing up and already facing him.
If John wasn't completely in the thralls of his adranaline, and didn't know any better than to be intimidated, the psychotic look in Felix's eyes would have sent chills down his spine.
Felix and John moved at the same time, and both threw a right hand. They mirrored each other for a moment, each using their left arms to hold the right one's back. John rose his knee and drove it into Felix's gut, but just before the impact John was blinded by pain, Felix's had purposely crashed his skull into the bridge of John's nose. Felix staggered back holding his gut, John had hit him harder than even John knew he could. Felix looked up, his dangerous expression unchanged, and John noticed his forehead was bleeding from the impact. Which didn't seem possible, until John rose his hand to his still aching nose and noticed how moist it felt.
He lifted his fingers away and saw a coat of blood on them, and John felt his stomach weaken with fear, yet his resolve to fight grow.
---
Felix read John's face, he saw fear, recognized John realizing the same thing. Were Felix nearly as overconfident as he played at, that would have seemed a good thing, but he knew no one could fight like a man afraid for his life. Felix resolved that this was a good time to try and bring out the anger, before he lost his early advantage. Because he could tell John was ready to go out swinging like a born and bred fighter, he had the willpower to win if Felix gave him even the slightest chance. Felix started to laugh, the creepiest laugh he could muster.
"Keep coming, chickenfucker. I could get a taste for this killing thing. Did you see the look on Jackie's face when I stuck him between the ribs? It was good to see him that pathetic because of what I did, almost as pathetic as your fighting right now." Felix let the words roll off his tongue, his most mocking tone carrying them. "If I had you fighting to avenge me I'd be turning in my grave by now. If he wasn't such a disgrace already, you'd be making things a lot worse."
Felix remembered something his father had once said about respecting the dead, and resolved to apologize to Jackie if they went to the same place after death.
John's neck seemed to bulge, his pupils seemed to grow, and he started shaking. Felix was pleased to see his words take root, though he didn't show it. Felix knew what this meant; if he screwed up even once it would be very painful, but if he was lucky he could end this quick. John started to speak, his voice was gravelthroated and harsh.
"Fuck you, you prick. Jackie was a better person than you could ever be. So am I."
Given the chance, Felix would have lambasted himself for not reacting faster. HulkJohn charged quickly enough to catch Felix off guard. Felix was correct ina ssesing that John now lacked finesse, and even though Felix managed to avoid John's fist, John slammed into Felix with his full bodyweight and Felix lifted off the ground, shocked, and landed on one knee and foot a few feet back, and John was again pressing the assault before Felix recovered. John's knee soared towards Felix's face and Felix used both arms to send it back, tipping John off balance long enough for Felix to quickly rise with an uppercut, catching John clean in the throat. John staggered back, but didn't clutch his throat in pain and din't seem to have trouble breathing, which meant he wasn't nearly as hurt as Felix would have hoped.
Maybe John's hulk syndrome was a bigger asset then Felix had anticipated. Felix reacted the way he knew he should when unprepared: retreat, then regroup.
Felix dived for the discarded Jacknife at the base of a nearby tree and took off into the woods with John close behind, but Felix's sprint was faster.
"COWARD!"
Felix heard the taunt from several feet back. Felix looked around, and saw John was out of sight temporarily. A plan ready in his mind, Felix dove to hide behind a nearby tree just barely wider then he was, ready for John to come by, the oldest trick in the book. Felix pulle dhis hammer from his belthoob, the large framing hammerweighing down his left hand as his right clenched the knife. Heavy footsteps signalled John's approach. Felix clenched the hammer titghly and as soon as he felt John coming past the tree, Felix doubled back out of sight, around the tree, and came from behind, and swung the heavy hammer into the temple of John's skull. Knowing not to expect the usual knockout that would come from such a blow, Felix continued his assault - John was still disoriented from the blow as any human would be. Felix wrapped the hammer around John's neck, his right hand awakwardly holding the hammer and the jackknife, and pushed him face-first into the tree.
And so Felix's plan had come to fruition, a bit of planning ahead beat an unstoppable beast, and Felix didn't even need his gun.
Felix drove his knee into the back of John's ribs repeatedly, sinking in as many blows as possible while still choking him. He'd break those ribs eventually, and thought he'd heard cracking before John forced himself off the tree, again catching Felix by surprise with his raw strength. Felix stumbled backwards and narrowly avoiding tripping both of them up, and John spun around, seemingly unfazed by Felix's barrage. Felix prepared himself again, this time, no surprises.
John was close enough to punch again, and he raised his fist to try it, and hesitated a moment as an unexpected pain erupted from theis right ribs, and the attack didn't have much force in it. Felix capitalized, and shoved John backwards, John barely managing to stay balanced one leg as the other flundered behind him looking for a footing. Felix didn't give him a chance to find it, as he raised his foot for a vicious stomp on John's supporting leg.
The attack was rewarded with the crunch of breaking bone, and even HulkJohn had to scream.
---
The anger, the fear, everything subsided when John felt his leg break, as he fell to the ground, sitting and facing Felix. Immediately, his vision started to go red, he felt a fever coming fast, memories of past broken bones rekindled, His eyes lsot focus but he dind't lose conciousness, he struggled to to look up, try and stare at Felix. John dind't know what he would accomplich, but he wouldn't die here. He couldn't, not with this scumsucker still alive.
"...I'll tell you the same thing I told Jackie." Felix started. "I'm not sorry, but..." John could see some kind of sympathy that betrayed the earlier display. Was that what it was, a trick? Good acting?
"Shut the fuck up." John barely managed to get out. "Murderer."
"That I am." Felix smiled. "Suit yourself, mate." John got a good look at Felix. He had that confidence around him again, but not psychotic sadism. He really wasn't sad about killing anyone.
"You're fucking terrible." John spat, and for his efforts he felt Jackie's knife carve a cut in his throat. It wasn't deep, but deep enough. He could taste blood in his throat.
You can't let him kill you. He has to pay. John struggled to get up and was rewarded with pain in his ribs, throat and especially his leg. He saw Felix look on, no longer with arrogance, but stoic skepticism.
"You really are a fighter. Stick to your guns all the way, huh? I can respect that. Hopefully I'll be able to do the same." Felix turned to leave after he finished speaking, just as John found his last spark. He was going to stand up, grab Felix's knife out his hands and stick it into his heart, and that would make his dying breath a breath well spent.
As soon as John kicked off the ground with his good leg and outstretched his arms to luncge at Felix, he found himself staring down the barrel of a Nine millimeter Glock.
Why didn't he just shoot-?
John didn't finish the thought, and he never even heard the gunshot.
Boy #26, MATTHEWS, John. STATUS: DECEASED
But the true purpose of a trial...
...is to make your soul stronger.
((Felix Travertil continued elsewhere.))