"Unacceptable", Piter said stuttering as he and Emily left to go to their friends.
"Come on Pit, just don't get it wrong in the finals!"
"IF," he said pausing for dramatic effect "I didn't, get the 'easy' ones, correct. What chances do I have to get it right when the text will be more 'difficult'?"
She nodded. "You're right. However you can still work on it and get better at it."
"I just don't want to fail man. I want it a lot," he paused and the giggles and whispers of students.
Emily got a concerned look on her face, "What is it?"
"You know," he threw his left hand to the air.
She shook head.
"My mum man."
She slapped her forehead. "Right, sorry."
He sighted, "it's okay". They continued walking.
"Just so you know," she hit him gently with her elbow and a smile , "I know you can do it".
He smiled, "thanks. I'm trying my best."
"I know, that's why I'm confident you'll make it."
"You're right, it isn't like my life's in danger". Piter laughed.
Emily had a subtle smirk written in her face knowing that what he said couldn't be further from the truth. "Right. Let's keep going, the others must have gotten furious." They started to walk faster, "I truly hope you and the others won't leave me, if I ever tell you."
The rest were waiting for them outside the school gate. Ann called out to them asking what to took them so long. Mario and Nik were talking a little further from the others. "Is George still writing?" Piter asked.
Ann nodded, "that's how it looked before I left since you didn't see him it means he's still writing."
"Probably writing the story of his life." Said Mia.
"Can't blame him," John said, "after Wednesday he won't live for long". The rest started laughing while Piter and Emily exchanged looks. "What do you mean?" Said Emily.
"Oh, right." John started to explain George's situation to them. Both of them were left speechless. "And he will actually fight her?" asked Emily.
John nodded, "don't worry. I will come to the rescue when he will need me the most."
She raised her eyebrows, "Really? What plan did you have?"
"Well you know, it is a small island, incidents happen."
"I'm serious."
"So am I." said John.
Emily took a deep breath while Piter pulled her from her shirt like a little kid who wants his mum to buy a candy for him. He gave ger a signal moving his pointing finger. She leaned close to him, "is it that bad?"
Emily's face cracked like an egg. "Seriously? Even you?"
"HEY!" Piter yelled out, "It's not like I'm pro violence. BUUUTT-"
"Unbelievable."
"Come on dude, it's for George's sake. Don't think like we are killing someone-" John said as Emily was scratching her eyebrows rapidly."-think like we are choosing the life of our friend over an unknown person. Is this so bad?" Emily raised her face to look him in his eyes. "Metaphorically of course."
"I guess", she said in an exhausted tone that a person whom has just finished a 12 hour shift would make.
Ann let out a sigh, "Don't worry, it's just a friendly fight." Everybody turned their gaze upon her. "In the sense that no one will attend a funeral."
"Right," Piter said, "something else?"
John shook his head, "except catching the bus that is." That is when they started running towards the buses while Mario and Niko had already gotten inside. The bus started, on the window Piter noticed George and Bynight walking along. He scratched his head and put it to the window, he looked back and saw Nikos talking to some of the fellow classmates. He noticed him and gave him a smirk and waved his hand to him, Piter waved back and threw his head next to the window.
"What will you do with fight?" Asked Bynight.
"I'm telling you once more", George smiled, "give me some faith."
He nodded, slowly looking at his feet as they were walking, with cars passing by and students talking in front of them and behind them. George noticed his unease aura and tried breaking the ice.
"People", Bynight looked at him, "like this, will find an excuse to make a fuss. Won't they?"
Bynight smiled, "no, no you're right."
"Then do not let it get over you. All I need to do is make a phone call this time tomorrow." He smirked, "or, rather I'll tell a friend to make a phone call. EHHHH" George pointed at himself then at Bynight then back to himself.
Bynight just looked at him and he raised his glasses. "I don't get it."
He sighed. "Nothing, don't mind it too much." He pulled out his phone out. "I will handle it, it's just a small inconvenience in my peaceful and normal life that I want."
"That's it? Just an ordinary life?"
George nodded, "yeah. Trust me, the" he caressed his right cheek, " 'exciting' life, isn't for me. I have had enough of that." He made quotation marks with his fingers and called his mother telling her he is coming to her, Bynight thought of what he had just said.
The days leading up to the match up came and went. The group were each writing their last exams before the Christmas break. Some students were staring at the wall waiting for something to give them a sign, some were writing whatever felt right and some were whispering either cheating on their exams or talking about the fight by the end of the day.
George, had already finished his exam, was waiting for Helen to come and start the fight he was forced into. He saw Emily walking up to him, she waved to him and he waved back. "Perfect, let's hope she doesn't act all mother Theresa." He re-thought it. "OK. Yeah, Emily is better... for now, that is."
"Good morning George, how did the exam go?" She asked sitting beside him.
He snored. "Good. If the finals are as easy as this, then I'll enter Harvard." George and Emily both laughed.
"True." She let out a sigh. "The teachers don't really care about us. With an exception here and there of course." She said tying up her hair because the wind kept send it to her mouth.
"I mean, why should they? Whoever wants to enter uni already goes to cram school, why bother?"
She shrugged. "You're right. They just want us to think we are educated."
They stayed in silent for a while and looked around. "Do you know if the others are close to finishing?"
"Well John finished, I saw him when I came down here." George laughed. "He said "Don't you worry, I'll be here just in time to save you, just keep her busy."" Emily giggled.
"Oh really? What will he do?"
"I have no idea. But, hey. What's the worse thing he could do?"
She shrugged. George nodded. He suddenly got a serious look on his face.
"What is it?"
"Do you... Do you truly believe that you can do it?" He said, not in a tone of irony but of genuine concern.
She didn't understand what he was saying. "About the exams? of course-" he cuts her off.
"You think you can free those people?" Her face turned white, she listened him careful without interruption. "Do you have any idea what you are dealing with? I'm surprised that the only one with logic in our group is me and Piter. I told you once and I'll ask you again. Why is this so important to you? You saw it in a dream? Well I saw in a dream where I became the prime minister of Greece. Should I chase it? I will do good to 11 million people not just couple hundred. Why don't I follow it? Because I know my limits. Think about it. Let's assume you learn this- magic thing, how do you know you won't become corrupt? Or even better, what if you find something that won't let you sleep ever again? Suppose you don't become corrupt. Do you think that rest who have conquered this magic will let you do as you please?" Emily felt dizzy from his speech, she thought how did come up with so many stuff all at once and how was he so close to figure it out what she had to do. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "I consider you one of the most important people in my life."
She smiled, "so do I"
He smiled back. "Great, so you understand I want what's best for you. Once you get in a rabbit hole like this, there's no turning back."
"You have no clue, how right you are." she thought.
The school bell rung signaling the end of the day and the ending of the school exams. Slowly slowly the students started coming out of their classes where others started writing faster. George got up getting prepared.
"You are really doing this?"
"I don't have much of choice, after all this is the first and maybe the last time I can hit a woman without being called a monster". Both of them had a laugh with him sweating.
"You have had a lot of bad influences in your time, no?"
"Piter alone takes the 10 first places." They laughed as a lot of students rounded up in circles. "About what I told you, I'm doing it out of care not to discharge you." He thought again. "Ok it was but not-"
"I know, and for that I'm very grateful."
"That's what friends are for."
Rest of the group came up to them, they started chatting with Bynight thanking George one more time. They saw Helen approaching them. He started walking towards her while the crowd, made mostly out of teenage boys, started cheering. The teachers were either watching from inside or the second floor of the building. "Let's hope there won't be any damage." The principal told the teachers around him. Whereas another one said: "The children these days, find any excuse to not focus on school."
"You're fighting alone?" Helen asked confused that he would be this dumb.
"What do you mean? Isn't this supposed to be a one-on-one?"
She started laughing hysterically. "You serious?"
George was both confused and embarrassed.
"PICK." She growled. "I have more things to do, so please help me."
He nodded. "Piter come here buddy".
"What?" He started stumbling. "ME?!"
Helen tilted her head and they started to look at one another with Piter getting more and more anxious.
"WILL YOU KEEP STARING FOR LONG?!?"
Piter flinched like an abused child and placed himself next to George.
"Sorry man."
"Your sorry won't fix my broken bones."
She started stretching. "Since you are the underdogs you'll pick when we start."
"Never?" Piter mumbled.
"WRONG ANSWER!" Helen screamed as she launched a kick on Piter's stomach making him fly and hit the wall. The kick was so strong he didn't fell after he hit the wall. Not only that but was enough to make it wind more than before with George flinching when she landed the hit. While the audience quickly got quite and started to walk a little away from the "arena".
"I can't feel my face." George thought. When he regained his conscience. "WHAT THE HELL MAN!!!"
Helen put her foot down and tilted her head allowing the wind to take her hair with it. "You chose a weak comrade. I feel generous today, pick another!" She said in a chilling tone.
George started to get actually nervous. He realized she was dangerous and what he has heard weren't exaggerations, rather they toned down her capabilities. His gaze turned upon his friends, whom all had worried looks and thoughts to save Piter crossed their minds, however it was useless none of them could move. Except one. George noticed Ann who seemed angry rather afraid. "It could work, but..." He swallowed his spit. "Can I pick more than one?"
She laughed. "Lost confidence?" She laid her head near the floor but not fully touching it. She looked at George between her legs. "Although the right thing to do is to torment you for your silliness, I'm willing to let you pick up to 4 more fight mates."
"Come on Johnny, I need you!" "I pick Ann, Niko, Mario and... That's it, we don't need anyone else at the moment."
She nodded. "Suit yourself". Mario and Niko were getting worried, the ladder also felt annoyance, while Ann got in a fighting position.
"Why me? God what did I do?" Mario thought. "How much will I act on this circus, it's getting ridiculous! Not to mention the damages." Niko thought.
The principal was on floor crying while one of the teachers was holding his hand. "I AM DOOMED. I WILL GET SACKED TOMORROW FOR SURE! IF IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH, A STUDENT DIED!" He continued crying.
"Psss." Piter whispered to him, he looked up. "I am fine, I knew something like these would happen so I put a lot of blankets in my backpack for safety and in my jacket arms and-"
The rest saw the exchange and looked at one another until Helen broke the silence. "YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?"
Piter froze and closed his eyes. "WE SAW YOU!" She picked up one of her shoes and threw it at him causing him to fall down on his knees. "Give me a moment." He said holding his tummy.
"There's your 4th fight mate."
"Thanks..." George said.
Ann jumped towards Helen throwing her left foot, Helen blocked it and grabbed her and threw her on some students causing them to fall. "Nice try." He looked behind her. "Who's next."
George stepped forward. "I know you are angry. How about we talk about your anger issues?"
"Is this your way of saying you are a coward?"
"Yes, but actually no." He pointed towards the sky on his left. "Let's say I'm a survivor."
Before George knew it she started giving him the Mortal Kombat. Hit him on the face, tummy, cheeks and legs. She then turned him over and made his back softer than the clouds. Punch, kick, punch and kick again. He couldn't understand if he was in a nightmare or in hell. "Damn!" He thought to himself. "Is this real life? Or is just fantasy?" He sung to himself. "I sure hope it's the ladder. Then again. I might get accepted to uni for this misfortune." He laughed to himself. Helen finally let him catch a breath. The rest of students started to leave screaming. Mario was flabbergasted, he looked to his left just to see Niko running away and the rest of the gang running away. "Wallahi I'm finished!"
"THAT'S..." Helen said stumping her right foot on top of George's body. "... WHAT YOU GET FOR CHALLENGING ME. NEVER FORGET IT!" She let out her breath. "That was refreshing. We should do it more often."
"NO WE SHOULD NOT!" Piter screamed panicked, unable to get out of the wall. She stared at him to the point he started sweating and he could barely breath.
"You next?" She said in a chilling ton. Mario faints thinking she's talking to him and falls to the ground. He shook his head silently.
"He will be next." Pointing to the entrance. She could not see anything because there were multiple students running towards it. She looked at Piter with a silly eye. "Wait for it!" She continued looking. Emily grabbed Piter, Ann, Mario and George along side Mia, Bynight and Eva dragging them. Helen looked at her. "We are taking them with us, there's nothing more to prove." She looked at them. George and Mario lights cut out. Piter retreating and Ann still angry. She nodded. "Sure." They were about to leave. "One more thing..." Piter started praying while Mario and George woke up. "Good luck in your test scores. Here and in Gram school."
Emily nodded. "Thank you, you too." They left and slowly, slowly she saw who Piter was pointing.
"You have made a mess, haven't you?" The dude said.
She got an annoyed look on her face. "What you are doing her?"
"I had an instinct."
She raised her eyebrows.
"One of those kids told me."
She nodded while smiling. "Let's get this over with." She said throwing away her jacket revealing her abbs and muscles.
"What do you mean?"
"You wanted to fight, no? That's why they texted you."
He got anxious. "NO, no. You got it all wrong, he asked me to put some sense to you."
"Yeah, some sense through fighting."
He froze. "Never mind, I'm leaving."
"It's too late now." She started chasing him, throwing away the students in front of her. He started crawling to get out. Piter spotted him and waved to him, but raised his hand down when he realized was panicking. He managed to get through everybody else and started sprinting down the road to escape her. In a matter of seconds he ran over a mile away from the school. Helen got out of the school. John, who had come back with his car and shotgun, tried running her over but Helen stopped the car with her right leg. John got out of the car quickly pointed his shotgun at her and shot. Helen fell away from the shot she took, got up, saw everything was fine with, and went up to John slowly. He panicked and started shooting everywhere. She picked it up and threw it away. John was breathing hard, when she looked back at him, he started to take a step back. Before he could start apologizing she asked him. "How much for the car?" He got confused. "What?"
"HOW MUCH FOR THE CAR?" She said angrily. He didn't respond. She sighted, looked at the dude and scanned the car. "Tell you what. Go grab my jacket, I have around 20k there. I am sure it will be more than enough. Consider it a Christmas gift." She patted him at his back, got the shotgun, which was loaded, started his car and chased the dude over. He started screaming while Helen shot close to his feet not hitting him though. "RUN FORREST GUMP, RUN!!" She screamed while laughing.
"Do you think he'll be ok?" Piter asked.
The rest exchanged looks without saying a word.