At first glance, it seems like a regular breeze, a regular day, a regular beach without a soul around to kick its sand or fill its waters. Now, if you're one of us, you would stand back or either help as history was being tampered with, changed to fit the hands of those who wouldn't want their evil plans being disrupted. You see, there was an important battle unfolding here and a significant day that results in the being I am today. Luckily I wasn't out of the womb at the time, so if I told that part of the story, you would be missing juicy details, no my story begins in a place that still lives by the old ways.

A small village where I, My'Koda A'Ni, am now being born today, February 25, my father, The Chief of a village named A'Ni, meaning "Long hair." I will be next in line, which is something to look forward to as I age, but you see, my father has been taking his title as "Chief of A'Ni Village" as king of the world. Half the village knows that the Chief has been doing away with women not only around this village. During and after meetings with other villages Chiefs, he sneaks around with their women tampering with pure bloodlines.

At the age of two-years-old I got extremely sick, and by that, I mean one breath away from it being my last. As much as the village try's to stay away from modern technology, a doctor had to be summoned immediately. Mysterious enough is a young lady not far from the village who says she a doctor. She claims she was in the area looking for berries to make a more organic medicine; her name was Dr. Dite.

Now I don't know why it wasn't strange to other people, but without equipment, she was able to tell my family and others that I had a disease called Sickle Cell Anemia, and just as easy as that was, she laid me in water. The temperature of that water quickly rose; the effects and pain were not cured but momentarily subsided. Strange enough, once removed from the water in the middle of my head, hair started to turn white, forming a perfect circular patch.

The village doctor\shaman said that it was the spirits that had cured me. Dr. Dite explained to my father over and over that she could take me away for better treatment. It seems she was very anxious, but he refused, so the next offer was that she would return daily to check on me and insist on being my doctor at no charge. Moments later, there was an uproar in the village; Chiefs from all across were fed up with my father's games and started to rage war on my village.

The A'Ni clan refuse to fight, for they knew this day would come, so they peacefully step to the side and hand over their chief. Without a fight, even with his two-year-old son just getting over a fatal disease, my father accepted his punishment with his life. My mother and my newborn sister were released free to go and me since I was the son of a tyrant rapist. The next Chief in line, and because I have a disease that may prevent me from being strong enough to lead, the village refused to let another person like him take this responsibility.

I was banned at the age of two, but because of my mother's desperate pleas for mercy, they didn't kill me or send me off alone. Instead, they trapped me in a small cave, another thing suspicious was that they still allowed Dr. Dite to continue her checkup visits, and when they weren't paying attention. She even taught me, snuck me an extra meal, and made me study. Besides Dr. Dite, the only company I ever had was a small fox that sneaks in and out now and then.

Of course, as years past I have tried to escape, but it seems my faith was tied to this cave, left here to die. At least that's what I thought but plans where quickly changed when I turned 16. The villagers demand something be done because I was a useless extra body taking away food and water. That's when a strange man, an ally to the village, suggested some kind of battle royale where they could profit money and resources from me fighting.

The day they came to take me was harsh. I would imagine this is what happens to people when they're about to get the electric chair. Bigger meal and new clothing that I edited to my liking, thanks to Dr. Drea for the lessons. Oh yes, and bash to the back of my skull along with a blindfold and a sack over my head, a little overrated if you ask me.

Not to mention the way my body felt. I swear they dragged me all the way to my arriving destination. Honestly, I couldn't tell if they loved me or hated me; wait, that's right, I may be going to an arena to fight a bunch of barbarians to raise money for my fellow village. I said this with a smile, and did I mention I have zero combat skills? You see, my dad forgot to teach me how to defend myself. Instead, I was watching a dark cave, two men with tomahawks, and I nice big tree blocking my view of everything else.

Once they removed everything and let me go, the only thing I could do was stare—there where literally hundreds of kids around my age. I couldn't really get the jiff of what was going on, thanks to being a kick in the back forcing me to move on to my cabin. Inside the cabin, I was placed in there with 3 other people. Seeing that this is pretty much the first time meeting other people besides being beaten, feed, or Dr. Dite, I was a little excited.

My roommate's first impressions wasn't the best, not that I actually cared. After all, it's not like I need anyone, and I'm used to being alone in the dark. Once I placed my bags, announcements came on for everyone to report to the arena. The director put names and matches in place for one on one fights.

I really didn't understand at first, but after observing, I learned a few things. Everyone in my cabin was currently in the process of their first fight already which just leaves me. Two, the three people I share a cabin with are sixteen-year-old Luka, four hundred pounds of pure muscle, blond low cut hair, and blue eyes; Mr. No brain all muscles. I learned that by observing him in the cabin as he approached the middle of the arena, you could hear the rumors spread through the crowd.

His story is that he and his parents got separated during a car crash when they made it here from Russia.

"Fight," said the Referee.

As I watched, Luka dominated his opponent with brute force by allowing his opponent to strike him. Luka acts as if the hits did not affect him. He then grabbed his opponent's head, lifting as far as his arm stretched, and slammed him to the ground, "Instant Concussion."

Next was fourteen-year-old Angeni or Angel for short. Let's say always keep your guard up around this one. She's a demon with the face of a goddess, purple eyes, hair in an afro, and a short temper but, her opponent found that out the hard way. Facing a male, she showed no hesitation; in fact, she let the gameplay itself.

Her opponent went around showboating, showing off his strength and speed. She approached him with her hand out and a smile, as if she wanted to touch the muscles he praises so much. When she was close enough to have a feel, she started rubbing his abs, caressing up to his chest then made her way to his muscular arms. She then started to squeeze his arms to test if it was all muscle, or so he thought, instead her grip got tighter, and when her grip was tight. Before he could speak, she pulled him close and delivered a solid uppercut, shattering his precious abs like glass.

Then there's sixteen-year-old Nyx, the leader of the group, and I can see why. This light-skinned young lady with purple eyes and hair is the sneaky rebel type but fights like she was bred to be a pure professional killer. Watching her fight, I just knew this is where I was going to die. Her opponent didn't feel the same as she just went rushing towards her.

The only thing Nyx did was get in a weird stance and waited until her opponent was close. It seems she used her opponent's speed and strength against her, throw her down to the ground, and broke both of her arms. Crazy enough, the scary part is how she calmly got up after breaking her opponent's arms and walked off the battlefield.

Last I learn about the whole rank situation, so the camp has four hundred children, mostly sixteen and below.

There are four people per cabin, a group of four. Divide four hundred kids between one hundred tiny houses, and you got yourself one hundred teams pretty large camp. So each person gets judged off their speed, strength, strategy, and time taken to defeat the opponent during the first fight, and that score places them in ranks. Now depending on everyone's status in the cabin, it determines the cabin rank.

The lowest ranking cabin after the two-year term is done either dies or fights for amusement for the rest of their life. The top ten highest cabin ranks either become a professional fighter, joins the army, or joins an assassination organization.

After being placed in position, everyone except those who haven't fought was sent back to the cabins. Since some of us arrived a day later, we needed to complete registration. Name: My'Koda A'Ni, Age: sixteen, Height: six feet, weight: one hundred fifty-five pounds, Race: Native American, Eye color: Hazel, and Hair color: Black and White. Afterward, they gave me an Identification Number, or IN which, is twenty-two, Nyx is twenty-one, Luka eleven, Angel thirty-three, and our cabin number is nine. Afterward, I was sent back to my cabin; even though I have a big day tomorrow, everyone else in the cabin was just train and learning about fighting styles. It was my first fight, and I have no idea how to fight that wasn't in Dr. Drea's lessons.

That morning about thirty minutes after, everyone in the cabin left for training and thirty more mins of prepping the stage. Random numbers for the first two fighters to enter the arena were drawn. Cabin thirty-one number thirty-one vs. Cabin nine number twenty-two. Heartbroken, why... why was my number call the first round. I mean, I at least wanted to see some more fights, learn some moves.

I guess I was to learn hands-on, I thought as I approached the middle of the arena. I started to remember... fights I saw my teammates have, all coursing through my mind; I didn't think I paid that much attention.

"Fight," says the Referee.

Not paying any attention, I was still thinking about the moves; maybe I could pull some off. Thinking to myself, I didn't notice my opponent rushing towards me until it was too late. As a shadow was cast upon me blocking the sun, he had jumped into the air and coming down with a powerful kick. I was ready to block it, but he quickly reverted to a low sweep kick knocking my feet right from under me.

I don't know want kind of flips he was doing after that, but it seems like it was taking me forever to get up. Before I knew it, he did a front flip kick across my ribs, slamming me back down in position. After a blow like that, I could barely stand, and that was only two hits. At this moment, I have no idea where my head is, but once I focused on the pain, it wasn't as bad as I thought.

I guess I was exaggerating just the thought of me knowing I'm losing. I quickly get up on my feet, and we are staring face to face. I mean, he didn't even fall back to get some distance between us. While I had the chance with all my might, I balled my fist and delivered a blow that knocked out his tooth. At this moment, instead of victory and relief, I felt like I brought a knife to a gunfight, like I was Dave and the rock I launched at Goliath missed and gave him a baby scratch.

He didn't even stumble on top of that; he started laughing, and his eyes began to get big as if the fight had just begun.

"I instantly thought to myself, What happens now? Should I run, or should I give him another punch to show I'm not messing around?"

I... I mean, this is my story, so I did what any hero would do. I turned to the crowd and the judges to say, "I Quit."

I can't die here; there wouldn't be a story to tell, but before I could say it. He grabs my shoulder turning me around, and gave me a wicked right uppercut that forced me to stand up straight. If I had a crooked spine, he might have just fixed it. He then finished this fight with an unspeakable left hook. The next thing I know, I woke up with a swollen eye, busted lip, and three fractured ribs.

So yeah, while everyone else was training the next couple of weeks, I was on bed rest. When I was allowed back to my cabin, the team was furious. I knew this because they threw my mattress outside, broke my bed frame, and the writing on the wall should have had the person responsible doing some hard time. The last person I would think to approach me was Nyx herself.

" I want you to see exactly where you stand in this equation," she said. "Out of four hundred people, I'm rank number four, Luka is ranked seventh, Angel is ranked fifth, and you, you My'Koda, you're ranked three hundred tenth," she said.

The only thing that saved me from being at the bottom was my lucky hit and the fact that some people are in a coma. Who am I kidding? These people are in the top ten. Talk about the pressure; the only thing stopping our cabin of elites from being in the top ten for cabin rank is the only non-elite… me.

Two weeks had passed when my body recovered, but not entirely back to normal. For some reason, I felt stronger, like my muscles were about to pop out of my skin. Luckily nothing much besides training had to happen, not any fights, not yet anyway. As I was going to attend my first day of training, Nyx approached me.

" Have you ever fought a day in your life... you know what, never mind, that's pretty clear," she said.'' I have places to be once I leave here, so I really don't have time to be the lowest-ranked cabin do you understand, so how about you train with me'', Nyx continued.

" Real leader material," I thought. "You know what, Nyx, I'll take you up on that offer," I replied.

As I trained with Nyx, we grew closer and closer; we got close enough to where instead of hi, bye, work harder, you're pathetic, or you're doing it wrong, we actually made small talk.

So I asked," why are you here? How did you end up in a place like this"?

She said she was here for fun, so I thought, what kind of parents let their child come here for fun? Then I remembered what kind of village puts a two-year-old in a cave and then sells him.

" If you're wondering about my parents, forget it you won't believe me even if I told you," She said.

Honestly, that made me even more curious than I already was from there on; when I asked about it, she adds more training. She stated multiple times how easy it was teaching me. She said I quickly catch on, and some I did on the first try. Even though I didn't know about fighting, it came naturally. Of course, over time, it became a problem all the training and overworking myself.

My sickle cell moments were still there; the doctor on-site always told me to stop before I die, but the people who control the camp paid for me and wanted their money's worth and could care less about my condition. When Nyx found out she was hurt and confused, she didn't know what to do, so I got the team together and explained. I told them about my condition and that I have it under control, that they shouldn't worry, and that I wouldn't drag the team down. No one in the room spoke a single word, but everyone's eye said enough.

One by one, they started to fade from the room except for Nyx; she just stood there staring me down.

"Nyx"--

" I trust you don't let me down or you will regret it," she interrupted in a shaky voice, then she left.

That week I trained six times as hard by myself I was ready, every fight on, then everyone in the cabin was winning all of their battles we were living legends. My rank soon rose to second, Nyx was ranked first, Luka ranked fourth, and Angel is ranked third… with us all combined, the cabin's status became number one. Soon even I was getting respect around the camp despite my first fight, so we came up with a plan. We approached the camp director and suggested that each cabin have a free for all and decide team captain instead of rank.

The Director's eyes were like the night's sky; she thought that idea was a "Money Maker," she called it. They started to prep things immediately; you may think that this would cause chaos between friends or rip teams apart, which may have been a good idea and might have to jot that idea for later. It was all smiles out there in the arena, teams went one by one, and they were all having a good time. Some of the victors were obvious, but some even the group's lowest ranking member was victorious.

So much respect spread around; we all have been with each other this long, some people were basically family. When it was Cabin nine's turn, the stands were quite so much tension, for the fact that people had been bidden on this a long time ago this tripled the money raised overtime just within minutes, I mean not that we got a piece of it, but still, it was terrific.

When the fight started, we clashed like titans. Believe it, or not Luka was the first to get out before the word "Fight" could flow from the Referee's lips. Eye's had already targeted Luka; the plan was to use his strength against him. Easier said than done, everyone charged a Luka from three different directions we came, tackling him from all sides.

Stay close and deliver blows but at the same time making sure not to get too far from him, allowing him to land a full extended strike. Luka lifting his hands, leaving his self wide open, seem as if he was going to deliver a blow to someone with all his might. So we all quickly dispersed... an unexpected bluff from Luka, and we failed for it... next strategy. The way we were so coordinated, you would think that we went over plans before the fight.

Charging towards him, we all knew what had to get done. The girls charged with full speed head-on with Luka, as he stretched his arm back, ready for the girls to get in striking distance, to sweep them both away with one hit so that his focus can be on me, who was charging him from the side. As I was charging in, I knew I had to put all of my strength in this one hit... in fact, we all knew we had one strike each to finish this with Luka. At that moment, it was as if the time itself slowed as I leaped in the air, my hair turned all white started to glow, and I felt my strength rise, and just as fast as time reverted. The girls were in striking distance Luka swung his arm all his power in one swipe, but they dipped into a slide on the ground.

Sliding in and delivered a critical blow to both of his knees, bringing a giant down to regular size. That's when I came in with a leaping superman punch to the temple, putting the giant to rest...the crowd went crazy. In the middle of the crowd cheering, people on the edge of their seats Nyx walks up to me.

"Hey Mykoda... was your hair just... umm, was it just glowing," she asked.

" What you say something... glowing Haha no who hair glows. Maybe it was the sun reflecting off the white sot in my hair", I laughed off nervously." "Did his hair glow... why didn't you ask if my shirt glowed because it did"-

"OMG, you're just drooling Cupid juice," said Angel.

From there, I knew the next fight was about to break out. One for a min that just started locking eyes at each other, and in a split second, fist started to fly. The only thing I did was stand back and watch the show. For Nyx to be a natural, Angel was amazingly handling her own, but it was becoming a little too deadly for a friendly fight.

Once Angel got the upper hand on Nyx, she sent her flying and fell back to recuperate.

"So Mykoda, you're just going to stand by and watch your girlfriend get eliminated," said Angel.

"Girl... G... Girlfriend", I said in a timid voice.

" Angel, I'm going to kill you," Nyx shouted angrily! "

"Just hold on one-second ma'am, there's enough of this Angel Deluxe to go around," Angel said in a funny cowgirl voice."

"Wait, Angel, you want us to jump you," I asked.

" Yes, I want to grow and become more robust, and what better way to unwind than to face the two deadliest people I know" she replied.

In that instant, Nyx and I locked eyes and knew what the plan was; from there, we both charge at Angel with a similar method to Luka. Although Angel was no fool as soon as I came close enough to tackle Angel, she came fast with a strike of her own, but if I wanted this to work, I had to absorb it. I grabbed Angel lifting her in the air with all my might to meet Nyx, who had jumped with a spinning kick. Little did I know Nyx had a bigger picture in mind; it was a spinning double kick.

She was trying to get us both out of the game simultaneously. Luckily I had my face planted in the side of Angel when I lifted her. So instead of one, Angel received two critical blows that put her out.

So comes the fight everyone has been waiting for the last two standing Me Vs. Nyx, starting, we surprised each other with a new couple of moves we have been working on behind each other's back. But the fight was far from over. I charged at her, but she didn't move; she stayed ready to defend and reversed my incoming hit, and put me down with a hard body slam.

The move she used the first time I saw her can't believe I fell for it. She stepped back to gain some distance; clearly, it was time to quit playing around, time to show her how hard I have been training, that I can carry this team and that I wouldn't let them down. So I rose to my feet and revealed my secret weapon, a new fighting style I have been working on by myself, and now it was ready. The crowd was silent; I had her corned she had to think fast… at least that's how I felt until when a wide split spread across her face breathing hard, she looked at me with an evil yet seductive look.

" Did you think this was a moment where the underdog is losing, suddenly he rises with a new ability, increasing strength, speed, overpowering the opponent, and wins? Oh, My'Koda… that would have worked with one of these lames, but my status is a boss sweety, and I'm always prepared," she states.

She also stands in a new stance, ready to fight; it was clear this fight had just begun. In a mist of combinations getting thrown, and I was struck without noticing, I swear it was like my foot sunk into the ground, and I don't remember a hole being there. I stumbled and fell, plus one of her hits landed once I was on the floor, she took the opportunity and quickly got on top of me, ready for the finishing blow. The Referee came to the middle of the field prepared to declare Nyx the winner.

"It felt good; I'm glad we had this showdown. I needed this," Nyx said, breathing heavily. She took in a deep breath, and at the top of her lungs, she shouted," I Quit."

With an enormous smile on her face, the crowd went wild. I was speechless and confused; why would she give up leadership like that. Before I could speak to her, the crowd quickly spread us further and further apart. Later that day, after the little celebration, the Director announced that the number two cabin had challenged us to a four on four matches, another type of battle the Director came up with based on the challenge today, so of course, we accepted.

"My'Koda, meet me by the south gate when you finish up here. I need a word with you", said Nyx.

As soon as I finished, that's where I headed; once I spotted her, she stared and waved. When I came closer, she smiled, Cheeks turning red, eyes staring into my soul for a moment. It was getting awkward because this is not the Nyx I know at all. My heart started to pound faster and faster, my eyes got blurry, my body started to shake, palms sweaty, and my ears began to ring.

I couldn't hear what she was saying, but I knew she was talking because I could see her lips move. I told her that I'm sorry I couldn't hear anything for some reason, suddenly she reached to grab my hand and started to giggle. My body relaxed, my eyes became focused and sound came to my ears.

Softly she spoke again, " I Lo--

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!"

"What!" I started to look around, people screaming and running all over the place. I looked back at Nyx. "Come on. We have to go; what are you doing".

She didn't move. Instead, she stood there with a desperate look on her face.

"Nyx, come one," I grabbed her hand and tugged.

" No, wait, I have something to tell you," she said.

"OK, that's fine. Tell me when we get to safety," I cried.

She stood there with a long gaze, my heart pounding.

"OK what, what is it? Tell me quickly," I said.

" I Lov-

Boom! Blast! Boom!

That last explosion was so close it blew the both of us apart, badly injured. I couldn't feel my legs, plus my vision was going in and out, making it hard for me to see where Nyx was. The last thing I saw before passing out was a man that had picked up a body from a pile of rubbish. That's when another figure appeared and started walking towards me.

" Something about you seems familiarrr," he said as the words slide off his breath like poison toxics.

" Leave him," said the man holding the body.

The sound of his voice sent an unease filling down my spine, and from there, I fainted.

Once I awoke, I honestly couldn't tell you how long I was out for or where I was, but one thing was for sure every time I tried to remember what happened, the name Nyx comes to mind, then my head starts to pound like crazy with so much pain. Looking down, Next to my hand was two pieces of paper, a map, and the other paper had instructions; these instructions read:

" From this point on, nothing in this world matters. Your life is more precious and complicated than you know. Take this ticket for bus 2318 and go to the bus station a few blocks down. The money left is for food eating before getting on the bus is essential you will need plenty of energy, be right back see you soon".

After staring at the paper for a dramatic five minutes, some may think I made a stupid decision and followed the instructions. Well, here's the thing for some reason, I feel like a big what-if person. If I didn't follow the paper and the person who put me here decided they didn't need me alive anymore, then suddenly a pack of Siberian husky's come charging at me, chasing me down the street. Next, five guys pull up beside me, jumping out of the vehicle with guns gat gat gat gat gat… strangely detailed and extremely dramatic, but it could happen. If I follow the instructions, they wouldn't want me dead I mean, they healed my wounds and gave me money to eat. My life is precious; remember what's the most they can do to get me healthy to take me to another all-out fighting match for another two years. It wouldn't be the worst, so I went on by the map, not long at all, it took about thirty minutes walking long enough to site see a couple of buildings.

Once I made it to the bus station, I asked around for a bite to eat; the only thing around everyone referred to was a vending machine. As I was going over towards it, I found the word vending machine very fun to say.

I mean, come on a vendingggg machine… AAAA vvvendinggg mmmachineee.

"Do you need help with that, bro'', said a stranger next to me?

"Actually, I do. Thanks, just give me a bag of chips," I said.

"What kind are you looking for," he said.

" Give me Chilly Cheese Frito's. I love it when Dr. Drea use to bring me those", I replied.

After I said that, it was strange that I could remember Dr. Drea but nothing else. Maybe my memory is trying to come back a little.

" Are you OK?" said Drax."

"Oh, sorry, I just remembered something but thank you anyway," I replied.

"Sure thing, by the way, my- name is Drax if you don't mind, where are you heading," he asked?

" I'm supposed to be getting to bus, um bus 1018", I said.

"You don't say that's the same bus I'm getting on; what do you say we ride together," he said.

"Aww, so sweet look at this we got traveling buddy's haha, nope I'm just messing around but, say do one of you have a phone I can use real quick," says the mysterious person.

"No, my phone's dead, man," says Drax.

"Wait, a phone, I have heard of them, but I have never seen one before," I said excitedly.

"Oh alright, dude got jokes," he retorts.

"If you didn't want me to see your phone, just say no you don't have to lie about it," he says.

" Who said I was lying? My phone is dead," Drax says.

" Let me see'', he replied.

" I'm good man… you ready we have to catch that bus before we're late. Come on," Drax says.

The guy Quickly grabs Drax's shirt " Oh, before you go, have this for the road.

The guy swings at Drax, but he reacts quickly and weaves the hit. Instantly I felt right at home; someone who was with the mysterious guy quickly rushes at me. Swinging three times left jab clear as day I weave backward just a little. Right hook, I promptly slip to my right, left hook, I roll to my left and counter with a right hook to the stomach. A left uppercut to the body, making him bend over just a little, and another quick left uppercut to the chin, causing him to stumble back a little.

I look over a bit from the corner of my eye, I see Drax and the other guy still fights and almost everyone at the bus station with flashes of light cheering on the fight. My opponent thought I wasn't paying attention and quickly rushes me with a barrage of punches. I prep myself slip, slip, slip, slip once more while simultaneously pivoting to the right, followed by a right jab knocking him off footing clasping on the benches.

"You serious man, come on, and you... don't get cocky. You better watch your back, real talk", said the mysterious person.

"Announcement last call for bus 1018".

Once we heard that, we quickly burst into a sprint for the bus. Once we climb aboard, the driver closed the doors to the bus and started to drive off slowly.

" Where did you learn to fight like that" Drax asked.

"Oh um, I was in a camp called-

Booooooommmm!!!!!!

This was the moment my life had changed, well, mostly because everyone on Bus 1018 was now dead, including me.