Hellebores
"Patience is a refined virtue that not many people possess. It is a unique characteristic that demands tenacity, restraint, and introspection. Those who practice patience are able to maintain a composed demeanor and address challenges with grace and acceptance. Patience is an individual's capacity to keep themselves calm and collected, despite whatever situations come their way."
I forgot where I heard that. It just pops out of my head. Maybe it's because I'm pissed off. Maybe it's because I'm bored. Maybe it's because I'm about to lose my shit and all hell break loose.
In spite of the circumstances, I stay calm and try to project innocence. I don't want to give these men any reason to think that I might cause them trouble, so I keep showing that I am a compliant and easygoing individual.
I'm going to bite their master's neck off.
So I need patience.
"If you would kindly inform my family that I hold them in the deepest affection, it would be greatly appreciated," I asked, maintaining a placid and polite tone to project innocence and vulnerability.
I think of playing the pity card to get them to lower their guard and not put too much restraint on me. It'll be a hassle and too tiring if they put too much restraint on me and treat me like a mad shit or a crazy woman. They seem to be buying into my act, so I keep playing it up.
"Please, gentlesires, I implore thee to tread gently upon the delicate petals of my being. I am naught more than a delicate damsel, weak in body and frail in spirit. For the love of all that is holy, be careful with me. I beseech thee to exercise thy utmost courtesy upon me, for I can withstand naught but the utmost of tenderness." I play up my innocence and weakness, using a pleading, childish tone to get them to lower their guards even further.
Shit. I feel like barfing all of my shit and organs out of my body.
"A-A delicate flower, you say?" One of the men snickers. "Well, isn't that just charming? Don't worry, sweet pea. We'll be as gentle as lambs with you. Just relax and enjoy the ride."
The other men also laugh, nodding their heads and giving nods of approval at my "delicate" behavior. It seems like they are buying into my pity party.
Sure, I'll enjoy the ride straight to the cemetery. Should I offer a hand to drive instead? I know shortcuts straight to their graves.
With my plan set in motion, I decide to wait patiently and behave myself according to the image I'm presenting of a meek and delicate young girl. My acting may have been overdramatic and exaggerated before, but now I am doing my best to be calm and still.
I keep my eyes glued to the window, watching the scenery go by in a daze. My mind is racing with thoughts, but I'm not letting them show on my face.
As the car decelerates, the car comes to a smooth stopping point, the brakes squeaking and the engine idling. I can feel the tension in the air, the silence filling the car like a thick blanket. I've been playing the innocent and compliant card long enough - now it's time to see what the men have planned for me.
I maintain a calm and patient demeanor on the outside. The men are waiting for me to get out of the car, and I follow along silently, not knowing what to expect next.
I get out of the car and take a moment to take in my surroundings. I'm not sure where we have arrived, but it is definitely not the beach. I can see buildings all around me and there is a sense of urbanization to the scenery.
I sighed.
Fuck, I really want that beach picnic.
I feel the cold air against my skin, the wind carrying the icy winter breezes that seem to penetrate my bones. I shimmy slightly and cross my arms tight to my chest, trying to keep warm.
The men are standing nearby, their faces stoic. They don't seem bothered by the cold, and they don't seem to have any concern for me either.
Hm...
"Might I please have a coat?" I asked, keeping my voice calm and polite. I look the men in their eyes and wait for a response, trying not to show any signs of irritation despite the cold.
One of the men considers this request for a moment, looking me up and down from head to toe.
Wow, fucking rude. Checking out for what, hm? I'm taking this trash out first.
I continue to play the pity card, trying to get the men to show mercy and compassion towards me. I look up at them with pleading eyes, using every ounce of innocence and fragility at my disposal to get them to loosen up and treat me with kindness.
"P-please, I'm freezing..." I say in a soft and gentle voice, hugging myself as I shiver and wait for a response.
Just take the fucking pity card, assholes.
I wait for a response, holding my breath and anxiously awaiting their decision. After a moment, one of the men hands me a thick wool coat, and I gratefully slip it on over my clothing.
I was suddenly grabbed by one of them and led inside the building.
The other two men followed us into the building, closing the door behind them. I could feel the tension in the air, my fear growing as I was led into an unknown, enclosed space.
I take the opportunity to slowly and subtly grab a towel from my backpack, hiding it against my body as I don't want to give them any suspicious signs. Along with the towel, I grabbed my sunglasses.
As the men lead me deeper into the building, I waited for my opportunity to strike.
When the moment arrives, I quickly and confidently grab the towel from my chest and whip it out, lashing hard with all my strength across the face of one of the men. The surprise element of the strike catches them off guard, and I immediately turn and strike again, slashing at the second one.
I pulled out my sunglasses and quickly broke the temple with a quick stomp of my foot. I spotted one of the men closing in for a tackle. He tries to grab me by the arms, but I slash at his hand with the jagged edge of the temple, and he lets go with a shout of pain.
I raise the jagged edge of the temple in a stabbing motion and jab hard at his throat, making him flinch and back away. As he stumbles away, I turn my attention to the other two men, striking them multiple times with the broken jagged edge of the temple, aiming for the face, the throat, the groin - all the most sensitive areas.
The other two are trying to come after me, grabbing at my arms and trying to get me into a grip that I can't get away from.
I kept my composure and continued attacking, swinging them wildly with O-Soto-Gari, Seoi-Nage, and De-Ashi-Harai, not allowing them any opportunity to get a hold of me.
The men try to get back up and fight back, but the surprise element and ferocity of my onslaught takes them aback. I don't give them any window of opportunity to recover; I keep going, taking them down one by one.
The men are bleeding at multiple critical points, with wounds that would take a long time to heal, if they healed at all. The one on the ground is barely able to move, and the other two are visibly limping and in pain.
That concludes the fight...
As if.
More men arrive on the scene, having heard the commotion and wanting to investigate. I freeze mid-step and look toward them, assessing the situation and trying to decide what my next course of action should be.
Fuck this.
A few of the new men try to attack me from behind, but I swiftly and gracefully turn and sweep their legs out from under them, making them crash to the ground and slowing them down. The rest of the men are gathering around, trying to make sense of the situation. They looked at me with confusion and caution, unsure of what had happened and how I managed to get the upper hand.
After a fierce back-and-forth battle, I am the only one left standing. My knuckles are bruised and there are tears in my shirt, but otherwise I am unharmed.
I took a moment to catch my breath and survey the scene, my eyes taking it all in. I have managed to overcome the impossible odds and survived this ordeal.
The hunt for the mad fucker behind this is what's coming next.