The Pain of Retribution

Tit for tat? So spiteful, so pointless. I just don't get it... Why?

Cheers infiltrate. Screams agitate. Blood boils. Fear overtakes me. Shake. Quiver. Drop to the knees.

Unfazed, fearless, menacing. He steps forward. Choose your poison. Blurred vision. I... I-

Tears are stolen from me. Foot meets stomach. Bile escapes in a high-pitched screech.

Two options before me. One corner, pierced. Vitals are a man's weakness. Instant. Painful. Effective.

In the other, blunt. Aim for the head. Slow. Damaging. Non-lethal... if you want it to be.

Nerves ravaged. Fight, fight, fight! Encompassing madness. Sanity leaves slowly. Help...

 

Give in. He kicked you. He deserves this!

My thoughts are fading. I... love this man. I... love this man. I... love this man? Can't...

Enough! My body leaves me. Arms reach out. O-Option one... Didn't say that! ... Did I? He smirks. Finally. Let's end this...

 

A blade scars my cheek. It plants behind me. I turn around and pick it up.

T... T... T-This is the end. What am I saying? I... steel my resolve? Now... Come at me!

 

Clanging metal. Arousal erupts from the crowd. Joy overtakes the area. So... So am I... am I enjoying this?

His edge nears my throat. His skill is astonishing. Take a step back. Trip. He grapples me. Defeat. I refuse.

One kick in his nuts. He groans. Push him off. Straddle him. Grab his blade. Now... kill him!

 

Pestering silence. Held whispers. Breath keeps going, heavier, louder, uncontrollable. I want to end this. Just... have to-

P-Please, no, stop! Drop the blade. Grab my hair. Tearing echoes. So many eyes on me... But no. Refuse.

Don't care. I kiss him. So... soft... I-I... I love you. I... I... I don't want to do this. Please, stop!

 

Noise encompasses the battlefield. What the hell? F**k this. Kill him! We want blood! We want blood! We want blood!

Glistening tears land on my face. She... She... spared me...? She... She loves me, too?

O... O-Okay. I-I-I admit defeat. Let's leave...

No, you don't, you fuckers! We were promised a show! Pitchforks and torches line up. N-No... We... We just...

I won't let you! She... steps in... in front of me? She draws her blade. Beautiful. Frail. Majestic.

Overpowering confidence. So inspiring. N-No. No, you don't. If... If we have to fight... We... We fight together...

 

Now that's the man who stole my heart! She giggles. Serene sound. Chuckle. Grabbing her edge from the floor.

So this is what it's like. Something to care for. Someone to protect. A reason to fight for. The masses approach. We charge.