Lost

The Other Side

There are days when your lips curve into a smile as your eyes greet the morning days and then there days when you want that sun to burn you so that nothing else in this world can, not people, not their words or even you yourself.

It was a former kind of day for me. I felt relaxed albeit the fact that I was dying but then again, who isn't?

In my kind of life, there are only a few such days in which I feel borderline optimistic and today was one of them. Sam gave me the curious eye as I smiled at her and she thought that probably I was weird.

"What is wrong with you?" Sam finally asked which made me answer her with a pert shrug.

Yes, girl, you keep guessing because so am I.

"Sam," Leanne called out.

She was one of the girls crushing on Jack among the few others. Leanne was the cat woman of our people. She was wicked, a great thief, dangerous and helped a few including me thanks to Jack, again.

Her lithe figure was the envy of many but then again scars on her figures were unmatched. Let's just say her start at this place was not as smooth as it was for me. Her blonde hair was messy and her eyes bloodshot probably drinking did that. There was a scar on her forehead and a light white trace of another scar on chin and even after that, she managed to look intimidating.

"Anne, everything good," Sam asked with furrowed brows.

"Not really. You brother is messing with the order again." Her words were laced with worry.

"Is he fighting one of Royals ?" Sam sounded incredulous while I stood there shocked.

We all know Royals if ever attend an underground fight. They are the top gang or group or whatever we call them. Five fighters that remain undefeated. One only went against Royals if they are confident to win and win big or you are suicidal and stupid.

Jack was good, I know that but Royals are lethal. Everyone know that as well.

"Why?" I asked the only thought in my head.

Anne's gaze shifted to me and she gave me a bored once-over, "Why do you think? He wants to get out."

Get out? As in getting out of this hell hole?

"I will talk to him," I said with fury building inside me.

As if he hasn't done enough, he is going to put his life at stake as well.

"No good, he registered himself. The fight starts this evening." Anne said in a tone that suggested she already tried talking to him.

And just like that my day got from being optimistic to being completely doomed.

***

I was at a hot-dog stand when the sudden blurriness surprised me. I clutched the cart with my hands, afraid that in this moment I will go blind.

The hot-dog man knew us street kids well enough since we usually came to him for food at a cheaper price when the day was over.

"Reena," He called me with an accent, "You are sweating, what is wrong?"

"I am fine Carl, just keep giving me food and I will live." I gave him a strained smile.

He nodded with a frown but didn't pry. I mean thousand street kids die, he decided it was better not to give a s**t.

I ran back to our place with five hot dogs and people hounded around me as soon as I reached there. But I had a secret priority list, I always gave it to little ones first. This angered some of the rogue ones but mostly people don't mind. They know as there was a time they were young and there was no one to give them food.

I rush back to the hospital as soon as the lunch hour is over and walk straight into Shawn's room. A week ago guy saved me from being fired when that good-looking jerk was throwing me out. I would never say it loud but whenever I saw that guy I had an inexpiable strange sensation in the pit of my stomach.

I have never felt this and I don't know what to call it or why it was happening?

In the retrospect, I should have been nicer to him since he was the star and all but he did scold me the two times we have met. And he called me Magenta, it was as agitating as it was surprising.

"Is there something wrong Sasha?" Shawn asked when I entered his room without even knocking.

I wanted to tell him that pain in my head is increasing or that I get temporary blurriness or that there are times I felt numb over some part of my body but for some reason my mouth remains shut. I was never the one to share the pain and suddenly dying doesn't seem to alter my personality.

"Umm.. is there is something I should not eat while I am sick?" I asked him not sure how I should react in that moment.

Shawn looked a little shocked at my question but his face relaxed in a smile as he asked me to take a seat. His golden blonde hair was a mess after a long shift at the hospital and his eyes looked dull. The light blood stains on his white coat were kind of unsettling that which so much ease and nonchalance these people handled death.

"Not that I can think of but I would advise if you avoid alcohol and other such things like strong caffeine or drugs." I didn't miss the underlying accusation in his voice.

The prejudice against young kids was heartbreaking. Not all of us are addicts, some are actually brave enough to live through the pain.

"Okay, that will be all. I will leave now." I moved from feet to feet shuffling uncomfortably.

"Sasha, are you not curious?" He asked before I could walk out.

"About?" I stop in my track and put up my defence mode.

"How long do you have?" His words were soft but the truth in them was so harsh that for a moment tears threatened to surface.

"Not really." I gave him a casual smirk like death was a thing I did daily.

"There is no one I want to live for." I tried not to sound like a doomed to depression teenager.

"Not even yourself." Shawn was asking me to face my inner demons.

"Especially not for myself," I told him the truth leaving the reasons behind it.

And I hurried away before he could rattle more emotions bottled inside me for so long.

***

The hype when there was a match between Royals and someone from the homeless lot was huge. The girls dressed up, the money makers went around taking bets and cheap drinks came flooding in. The area of the match was actually the basement of a five-star hotel where such tournaments held. We always hide the harsher realities with something more expensive deceiving touch.

But all the hype was a mere buzz as Sam manoeuvred me through the shouting crowd who was here to enjoy on others pain proving the sadistic side to human which appalled me.

My eyes were stuck on the stage alighted for the fight of blood and the yelling bald host sounded too excited about it. We stopped pushing through the crowd as we reach a suitable point to view the fight.

"Today, we invite the Royal who remains unbeaten for the longest time, the obliterator, the monster, the devil himself, Satan." He announced the fighter's stage name for the match and his description made my stomach recoil in fear.

The thudding pain in my head was making me nauseous but I endured the pain and tightened my grip on Sam's hand who didn't notice since she was fretting for her brother right now.

The Royal in the discussion came to the stage in style wearing a purple velvet robe. This should have made me curious and a little bit excited to see the man under the hood had it not been for my brain clouded with panic.

The crowd started howling like wild wolves and I used my one free hand to place it on my ears unless my eardrums start to bleed, the heart too heavy in my bosom.

"And the opponent is the undefeated fighter from the slums, the man who we all fear and respect, the man known for his honour and code of a warrior, The Wolf." Jack's introduction was extravagant and kind of appealing to one's ear but it was nothing but pitiful.

He was just a boy who had been transformed into a rough man due to the harsh situations, he had honour and code but that was because he didn't want to be a murderer and hoped for a better life unlike rest of us.

The Wolf, a.k.a, Jack walked in with a red robe and a large hood. His stance was that of a fighter, intimidating and lethal. I avoid these fights, I hate violence but this time my eyes are glued to the two opponents. My heart was thudding with worry and the certain amount of adrenaline that was contagious. I was not excited to watch the match but there was a thrill that I can't deny.

"Hoods down." The command came over the loudspeakers and both the opponents hoods went down and a half mask graced their face.

My mouth fell agape and a sharp gasp escape my mouth as I saw the opponents glaring with absolute hate at each other because Royal I could recognise even through the mask was none other than Jeremiah, Mr Filmstar.

☘ ☘ ☘