Each tree I pass seems the same, bloodstained, and at this altitude it's hard to breathe, and my vision is blurry, although that could be the result of a mixture of dust and tears. I've been running for what seems like an eternity, but each time I stop to halt my ever-escaping breath, that chilling snarl whispers to me from a distance, a cue to push on. Soon a clearing reveals itself, an abandoned campsite perhaps. Instinctively, I crawl under the moldy wooden tent pad. Deafened by the sound of my breath, I try to stay as still as possible.

An excellent plan if you encountered a bear, but this was no apex predator; what had been hunting me for the past hour was a creature not of this food chain; it was nothing short of a monster.

(About two hours prior)

"Donni, wake up! The food's getting cold.

"Wake up!! You sleep like you're dead.

"He might as well be if he eats whatever you call that."

Gem hurls the spoon in hopes of shutting her smart-mouthed sister up, but with the aim of a toddler, that spoon becomes a literal awakening call for Donni.

"I was just falling asleep too," Donni sadly exclaims while rubbing the knot on his head.

Gem and Bea, my adopted younger sisters

They're a hassle, but at least they cook and do most of the chores around here, even if the "here" in question is an old single-bedroom cottage that I lowballed the previous owner for. Being the younger sister, naturally Bea taunts her elder sister. I just wish they wouldn't do it as often or, at the very least, keep me out of their "environmentally destructive" fights.

It is quite a sight to see, though; Gem, who couldn't kill a bug and wouldn't dare raise her voice in public, was jumping about and flinging anything within her reach while Bea remained the same, running away laughing maniacally.

To the average passerby, he'd see a short, wandering-eyed brunette and an even shorter, mischievous-looking blonde. A compliment or two would be thrown, but that was it; they were spared from these girls' heathen-like ways.

"If I eat it, will that settle you guys down?"

Gem poking her sister with the spoon—

"Of course it would, right Bea?"

"Ahh, whatever, hurry up and fix me a plate too; it's been two days since we had a proper meal."

I tried to make ends meet by whatever means possible, whether it was hunting game for food or illegally fighting so we had money for clothes.

I refused to burden my sisters with any of it; it's only fitting, seeing as I was the one who killed their parents and took them in nine years ago.

Those demons deserved it. I went through hell at their trafficking ring of an orphanage. It was only after the deed was done that the two fellow orphans confessed to being their daughters.

Through my actions they had become my responsibility; a plethora of emotions and questions ran through me: "Could they forgive me?" "Can I protect them?" One thing was certain: I'd never let them experience a hell like that again.

The time came for me to go to "work." I bid them farewell and traveled into the city. Making my way through the masses and down into the basement of this pawn shop. It was most likely a front; their items were subpar, and I barely saw customers.

"Glad to see the don making an appearance today."

Silv was the lusty clerk who'd lead us down to the ring for our fights; everyone got the same complimentary treatment. I'd be foolish to think she had a thing for me.

"I hear there's this new guy coming in from out of town; he's never lost a fight."

The elevator door rings open.

"Yeah, well, we're in the same boat."

"He isn't as 'by the books" as you, ya'know."

"It's a street fight; I expect that."

"Yeah, well, you'll see what I mean. Take care, Don."

"Was that hug to rattle my nerves? Is that what she does now? No matter, let's just see what this new guy is all about.

"We got ourselves a real brawl today, folks!!"

"In the left corner, the undefeated, don!"

"And opposing, practically blessing us sewer rats with his presence, Barry 'Rain" Cord, the mayor's son!"

"Holy shit, he seems important. What's a guy like that doing here?"

"Now that I think about it, there are a lot more suits than usual, probably with him."

"I take it they all placed considerably large bets on him, meaning the odds are against me. Ah, what the hell, let's give them a show."

"I heard you're undefeated, Don!"

"Well, so am I, and I hate to break my streak on shit like you!"

The bell rings, and all I can think about is why he still has on his jewelry; is he really that cocky, or is it something else?

I throw a couple of jabs to loosen up; he dodges as expected. I mean, he is said to be pretty skilled as well. What I didn't expect was for him to retaliate with a gruesome axe kick; if I wasn't in the mood before, I definitely am now. Given his stature, I didn't think he was that fast, let alone that flexible.

"What's the matter, champ? Scared?"

We trade blows for a bit until I go to end it with an elbow to the temple; I feel it connect, but he reels back unfazed. Was it weaker than I thought, or is he really that great an opponent? Nevertheless, I don't let up, but my flurry of blows gets cut short when I slip on the sweat on the mat. It was just for an instant, but in that moment, like clockwork, his fist connected with my chin and the other with my jaw. My mouth's bleeding, and I'm dazed, but it's nothing I haven't come back from.

Soon the fight is back in my favor as I line him up for a front knee; finally, I connect. Seems to have broken his nose too.

He stands up, nose pouring, but his eyes tell me that did nothing; I'm getting fatigued.

But he… his breath is calm, low, unwavering.

I take a few steps back,

"Am I afraid? What is this? He should at least be panting too.

"You look confused, champ."

"Don't worry; I'll end this soon."

The bell rings, and we take a minute in our corners; glancing over, I see the suits; they seem to be writing, taking notes. Another two come up beside Rain, and instead of wiping away the blood or even giving him water, they slip on a few more rings onto his fingers and another chain around his neck.

The bell rings again to resume, but I can't stop thinking about that odd behavior; I've heard the word "hex" being thrown around here and there.

"You're super lucky today; it must be a hex."

"I got rid of that old chair. All the previous owners were in the same kind of accident; it must've been a hex."

"Ever since I bought her those earrings, she's been at the top of her class; they're probably a hex."

I get snapped out of my recollection by a chin check and then a knee to the gut, but I can't shake the feeling that there's definitely something strange going on here.