The Destroyer

Chapter 3

The taste of fear

BELLA’S POV:

I landed on a soft net. My body bounces, and i felt dizzy, as if my brain inside my head had bounce too. A luminous light suddenly flashed to me, it was too hard for me to figure out where it came from until I heard two voices gulp in surprised.

“A lame was the first one who jumped? That’s a first.” A voice said. Magus people might call them crazy for being too brave, they call us ‘lame’ for being too kind. Or, maybe, because of how we dress.

“Turned the lights on.” the other Combat boy said. The lights were switched on, I can see where I am, and what I had landed on. 

“Lame, you can climbed down now.” The combat boy said. He has a piercing on both ears. His left arm was inked with different styles I have never seen before. I obliged. When he notices that I am still dizzy, he helped me climbed out. I heard a screeching noise, it was large volume noise coming from above. The net bounces back and forth as another person landed.

***

The leader on the roof, Felix, showed us to our accommodation room. It was a hallway with five bunk beds for us ten transfers. 

"Wait, we all have to sleep together?" the other aucourant boy, Frank asked.

"Yeah. Live with it," Felix snapped. Everyone groaned and shuffled into the room, involuntarily. The Magus wore the same expression as I do. 

I walked over to the bunk bed closest to the bathroom and set my clothes on the lower bunk. I sighed. I miss my old room. My old room might be small. But, at least, it’s clean and comfortable to sleep in. But, Simon, seems to be unbothered by the idea. He climbed on top of the bed, higher level of my bed.

The Combat boy arrived, carrying parcels of black clothes on both hands. He lays it on the floor, in front of Felix. He crosses both of his hands in front of his chests.

"Wear these and get down to the dining hall in five minutes," Felix said, gesturing at the stacks of black on the floor, and turned on his heel, exiting our quarters.

"Hey! I'm Ruby," someone said, making me jump. I looked at the bunk beside me and saw a girl with light brown hair and brown eyes, dressed in Aucourant  clothes.

"Hi, I'm Bella," I smiled back.

I didn’t know Aucourants could be this friendly after meeting Tony, and Ruby. But, they are not Aucourant anymore, and neither are you. My subsconscious said, reminding me.

We changed into our black clothes and walked to the hall. There was a huge fire on the center, and everyone surrounds it. Each transfer were in a one line to throw their old clothes on to the fire. When it was my turn, part of me wants to still hold on to the last piece I have of my parents, but this is the new beginning of my life. With one last glimpse and touch of the clothes I used to love to wear before, I tossed it on the fire, and watch as the fire slowly swallows it. I could say I was glad I didn't wear my favourite white jacket, or else it would only make it hard for me to move on from my own life. I watched Simon tossing his Magus clothes without any trace of hesitation on his eyes. He sighs, as if throwing every last piece of his old clothes made him relief from a burden he has been carrying for a very long time. I can’t blame him though, everyone could say that he was really a natural Combat. He’s too violent to be a Magus, anyway.

Tony, and ruby joined me and my brother, as we search for a vacant table to seat on. We have our own trays of food on our hands. The dining hall was noisy, the chatter filling our ears. We took our seats and like hungry animals, started gobbling our food.

"This hamburger is heaven," Tony said between chews. Ruby nodded and laughed a little. I turned to my right and saw that our tables were next to Combat borns. I’m sure that they are, their tattoos were evident of it. There is no Block who allow any member to have their skin inked, cause there’s no member of Aucourant and Magus would do such a thing. My mom always taught us to eat quietly. I couldn’t imagine my mom’s reaction to see these teenagers shouting while they still have foods inside their mouth.

“Quit staring” Tony said, nudging me. “It’s creepy.”

“I’m just observing how they behave.” I said. My eyes were still on a group Combat borns.

The banging of cups on the tables made us turn around. The Combat leaders were looking at us from above the dining hall. One of them, a guy with hair as red as a firetruck raised a hand and the noise died down.

"All initiates, please stand," he said, and we all stood up.

"Today, we celebrate the initiates, transfers or Combat born. They have chosen the path of the brave and fearless, and hopefully, they'll stick around after the initiation. Have fun," he said, and the Combats cheered and clapped their hands. They were hugging each other, feeling better than ever. Although they were celebrating us now, there'd be a time where some of us would have to go, and I knew I didn't want to be there when it happened.