The Girls - Max's Lament

The storm was coming, the cold bitterness of winter was coming from the North and would sweep down into their world from on high. The sky was already a dark gray with thick clouds almost blotting the sunlight from the world, the wind blew through the streets and between the buildings. All who were caught in it’s strike and ill prepared would shudder, lips turning blue, body shaking as deep as the bones buried under the flesh.

For now, before the storm there was rain pouring in slants across the town. With the addition of the wind blowing in from the storm coming at them, it was as if an old vindictive God were attempting to berate the populace. The rain seemed to fall sideways when the wind blew like this, rather than soaking the collar and coats of people it would send the near blinding cold rain like needles at their faces.

People hurried along from building to building, street to street, trying to take as much shelter as possible as they went about their tasks.

Max shivered slightly as raised the collar of his coat and finished zipping it up all the way to the neck. He lowered his head, allowing his jaw to block the heat his body was producing from leaving the inside of his thick coat. His eyes were covered from the piercing cold rain with a pair of sunglasses, and the top of his head barely covered from the winter weather. The best it did was fully cover his ears to keep from ending with frostbite as the temperature gradually fell. Max reached a slightly numb hand up to adjust the thick band around his head to ensure his ears were completely covered, before stuffing both into his coat pockets.

Max made his way down the sidewalk, trying to keep himself protected against the weather, the sound of the needle like rain striking his coat leaving the mind to wish for better weather. They had experienced a strange period of warm weather, but it happened occasionally before a really cold winter set in. The fact that this one was so late into the season promised a brief spring to come as winter’s cold grip would attempt to remain as long as possible.

He occasionally glanced up to make sure he wasn’t going to run into anyone as he continued. He had no place in particular to be, no true destination. He had to sneak out while the girls were passed out just to be able to stretch his muscles. Of which felt thick and heavy, it had been too long since he had left the apartment since he had returned from the hospital.

As he walked, Max noticed a large set of windows and looked in, being distracted by movement. Inside he could see the place was a large open space, with a large group of people all wearing white and practicing movements. As he looked he could tell it was one of those new Karate classes he had always wondered about. With a shrug, Max walked to the nearby door and opened it and stepped in, to what was like a wall of heat and sound.

Inside from the weather, he removed his glasses and band and placed them in a pocket as he watched the group all moving in sync, a punch thrusting forward, pulling back, bodies leaning back before sending kicks into the air at unseen enemies.

“Hello there, interested in some classes?” Came a man’s voice from his left. Max turned to find a man with a strong form, also wearing clothing similar to those all around.

“It’s passed through my mind a few times. More so recently,” he admitted.

“Let me guess, home invasion?” Max shook his head, “Mugged in the streets?” Again Max shook his head, “Care to give me a hint?”

“I wasn’t the one getting mugged, I sort of stopped a mugging, and got shot for it.”

“Ouch. Man, and they say good people are rare these days. I’m Vincent,” the man said as he extended a hand to Max.

“Maxwell, though I prefer to just go by Max,” taking Vincent’s hand in his own and giving a firm shake.

“Fair enough, Max. Glad to meet you, so, are you able to do anything? Or are you still healing?”

“Oh, no, I think I’m fairly healed, at least physically. I was finally able to sneak away from the house. Been stuck for too long.”

“Sneak away? Wife have issues with you getting shot, huh?”

“No, not my wife, she is my girlfriend. Her and her sisters had pretty much not let me out of sight.”

“Ah, yea I can get that. So, care to watch the class? We are about to have some sparing matches, if you want to watch?”

Max shrugged, “Why not?”

Vincent lead Max over to the back of the room as everyone finished their final movements and began to move into small groups. Two young boys began to grab thick mats from a nearby wall and set them about in front of the groups.

“A new student?” came a voice from behind Max, turning he stared at an older man of Asian descent, trying to hold back laughter as the man looked like a slightly younger Mr. Miyagi from the movies.

“Don’t know yet, sir. He is willing to watch a round of sparing.”

The man nodded before walking over to the group of people. Each group and mat he passed, he would nod and two people would immediately take position across from each other at the edge of the mat. They then bowed to one another before taking up a stance to prepare themselves. Once he passed every group, he worked his way back, giving short instructions. He would point out something here or there, for the students to make a small adjustments to the positioning of their bodies before he moved on to the next group.

Once done, he walked back to the front of class and looked to everyone, before uttering a single word, “Begin.”

Max watched carefully as each pair, surrounded by their peers began to move. Punches and kicks began to move through the air, some blocked, some dodged, and a few here and there used grappling moves to render their opponent incapable of fighting back.

Max sighed a little as he watched, to him this felt as if it were no more than the usual practice, to him, no one here seemed as if in need to learn anything for actual application.

‘No, that’s not thew right way to look at it. They are most likely here to learn this discipline to better themselves and to be prepared for any situation life may throw at them.’

“You seem disappointed,” Vincent said, to which Max nodded.

“In myself is all.”

“How is that?”

“Just, looking at things the wrong way is all.”

“Trying to look at everything in a different perspective? That is a little surprising.”

“Why is that surprising?”

Vincent seemed to shrug and didn’t offer anything more. Max turned his attention back to the room, as people began to switch out when one person had surrendered.

“Vincent,” Came the voice of the Mr. Miyagi look alike.

‘Aw, crap. Am I being racist? Yeah, I bet I’m being racist thinking like that.’

“Yes sir?”

“What is the young man’s name?”

“Max, sir,” He said simply.

“I would like you to take Max, and step up to a mat, please.”

“Sir?” Vincent asked, uncertainly.

“Max,” The man stopped watching the students and turned to him, “May I see what you can do?”

“Uh, I’m sorry, I’ve never taken a class like this before, so most likely, I will end up on my back.” Max explained, hoping to hide his embarrassment as people stopped to turn and watch the conversation.

“I apologize, I am getting ahead of myself,” He said as he walked over to Max, and bade him to stand. “My name is Adam, it is nice to meet you, Max,” he said as he extended a hand to Max.

For his part, max could not help but to stare at his hand for a second, before uncertainly taking it and giving it a quick shake.

“Good, good. Would you care to entertain an old man?” Max gave him a look as if he had grown three heads. “Do not worry, Vincent will be your partner, he knows how to hold back.”

Max shook his head, it would seem Adam, the teacher, and master, he supposed, wanted to find out if Max could hold his own. As Max removed his coat, his mind planted a visual aid to make him nervous, of being sent flying through the air to land on his back in a daze, then politely asked to leave while everyone laughed at him.

‘Karma, if this is for the racist thoughts, I hate you.’

Max walked over to the nearest mat, where Vincent now stood opposite of. Max appeared as if he were already defeated, with his shoulders slumped and arms hanging at his sides. He looked up and saw Vincent offer him an apologetic look. Max looked down to his clothing, he had dressed with comfort more than warmth, since his coat was made for this type of weather. All he had on was a pair of faded jeans, boots, and a t-shirt with a very faded logo of a former gym he had once gone to years before.

“Wait,” came Adam’s voice. “Max, straighten your shoulders, relax your body, but do not let yourself be loose. You may end up being hurt.”

Max nodded as his closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, allowing his lungs to fill to capacity before slowly releasing his breath. He straightened his shoulders, and raised his arms slightly and spread his legs and feet trying to find a way to balance himself.

“Max, I want you to try and block or dodge Vincent as he moves to strike. Vincent, as you very well know, do not hesitate, but do not hurt the man.”

“Yes sir.”

“When you are ready, Max, signal Vincent to begin.”

Max shrugged, “Well I suppose this is one of those situations you’ll never be quite ready for. So let’s get this over with.”

Vincent nodded and the two stepped forward onto the mat.

Vincent, for his part, was being kind and throwing only a punch or two at first. To Max, it seemed as if her were testing things as he easily moved out of reach. He moved in to take a swing and yanked his arm back as a way to startle Vincent. The man in turn grinned, “Don’t worry, you won’t hurt me enough. If you think you can make a swing, go for it.” he advised, to which Max nodded.

They closed the distance again, mac moving hesitantly as he watched Vincent. Vincent swung and stopped before connecting to Max’s face, only to see Max flinch a split second too late. They moved around again, and Max tried to work his mind to focus on what to do, a she took his eyes away from Vincent, the man moved quickly swinging his arm to the side of Max’s head.

He did not know what was happening, but in that moment, something in him snapped and a feeling of danger alerted Max. The arm and movement seemed to slow to a crawl and Max moved back and to the left of the arm that was coming at him. As he did this, his body, seeming to move of its own accord raised and knocked Vincent’s arm up and his other arm swung in, fist clenched and made it’s way to Vincent’s ribs.

As Max realized what was happening, he screamed in his mind, and with that a trickle of fear forced his body to alter itself just slightly right before he made contact, the effect being merely a tap on Vincent’s rib before he yanked his arm back. Chest heaving, the two men stepped back, Max finally noticing as they did, everything seemed normal. Or, at least as normal as it was before this, though he felt a little light headed.

'Don’t hurt him, Don’t hurt him, donthurthimdonthurthim,’ Max repeated the words like a mantra as Vincent moved in again. This time though, instead of things slowing down, Max leaped back to the edge of the mat. Vincent looked at him confusedly, before taking a few quick steps forward, only to find Max side step out of reach again. Max moved about, out of Vincent’s reach for a minute or so, growing tired as he did.

“Max, it would be best to move in on your opponent, if you try to stay away, you will tire faster than he will.”

Max groaned inwardly as he heard Adam’s advice. As he once more took his eyes from Vincent to glance at Adam, he was surprised as his opponent swooped in and began to throw a punch straight at his head.

Once more, his mind shifted as everything slowed down with the thought of danger going off in his mind. Max reacted, letting his arm to shift Vincent’s arm away from his head, and felt a sting and the sound of a delayed slap. Glancing down, Max saw his body had somehow moved to catch a low blow Vincent was aiming at his stomach. The two men moved back, but Vincent was not giving Max a second to think as he shifted his back foot and rather than take a full step back, he almost launched himself forward.

This time, max did not try to block or shift the punches thrown at him, he merely moved his head and upper body to dodge. That was when Vincent surprised him by shifting his body. Max saw a second of white in the corner of his eye, and threw up his arm. The thought to turn his arm, came just a second too late as the full on blow from Vincent’s kick was abruptly stopped against Max’s forearm.

There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room, as the two men stopped and starred at one another.

“Enough. Max, come here and let me see your arm,” Adam’s voice cut through the ensuing silence.

Max turned when Vincent brought his leg down and stepped back, his own eyes wide and staring at Max. For his part, Max was surprised there was so little pain. He could feel the spot on his forearm where the leg had connected, as if the pressure had not let up. Just as he reached Adam and raised his arm, he became aware of the tingling in his entire arm down to the tips of his fingers.

‘Ah, there is the pain. Was wondering when you were going to start in. Crap, wonder if the bone is broken.’

Adam checked the arm and grunted, “Not broken, there will be a nice bruise. I am very impressed, Max. You said you never took a class before, right? You wouldn’t be lying would you?” Max shook his head to confirm he was not lying. “You seem somewhat fit, so you at least exercise. You are very fortunate. Vincent strengthens his legs by placing a thin padding of carpet on the corner of a brick wall and kicks it several hundred times a day.”

Max shook his head, “There is no way, he would break his leg.” Adam looked at Max, his gaze never wavering leading Max to wonder if it really was true.

“Not only did you block his kick, you did it without the force affecting you beyond your arm. Despite doing it with your arm just in the wrong position, you did not waver from the strike, you did not flinch in the slightest.”

Despite his confusion, Adam dismissed the class, and waited until everyone was gone, before he and Vincent spoke. They made arrangements for Max to come in to begin his lessons.

Rush looked around the dark dank concrete room. The smell was musty and thick, but it didn’t matter, this lower part of the abandoned building would suit him fine.

Another set of screams echoed off the wall, making Rush glad he had closed the doors. With them closed, no sound could escape this room, though with it open, no doubt it would have brought unwanted attention. He looked over at the girl that was lying on the floor wriggling as if tied up sobbing and occasionally screaming. He did not know what her fear was, but it had to be frightening as he watched her.

The room was dark, she knew she should never have gone with that weird guy, he gave off the creepiest vibes, but to her better judgement he had offered free entry into a club next door. That was when she felt a blow to the head behind her. She awoke to this strange and frightening singing, there as she watched, eyes growing wide she saw them. The small slender bodies making their way to her, the muscles under the leathery flesh tightening to push themselves forward towards her. Along with them, and their small glass like eyes, flickering tongues were many other dark things on sets of legs that were too many to be natural. As the cold hard feeling of the snakes began to make their ways up her legs, Erica screamed, closing her eyes wishing it was all just another one of her nightmares.

That is until she felt the stinging sensation of a pair of teeth force their way into her body. She screamed out in pain, hot tears sliding down her face. Along with these bodies, muscles wrapping around her in various parts and tightening, she began to feel the multitude of legs making their way across her body as well. So many legs, it wasn’t right, they were things right out of her worst nightmares, all the insects, bugs, anything with more than four legs, that felt like prickly needles moving along her skin.

She could feel the stings from some mixing with the numbing sense of the venom of the snakes. Then she felt something thick and strong, like a massive arm making its way across her throat and slowly tightening closing off her airways. She opened one eye as she felt its disgusting tongue flickering against her cheek and saw the massive brown and black snake. It was considered the king of snakes, as Anacondas were the largest to be recorded. She watched as she felt her face swell, turning blue the sensation of millions of tiny little needles striking her face as she could feel her lungs suffering from lack of oxygen.

Just as she heard the loud cracking of her neck snapping, rendering her still pain wracked body of its ability to move her eyes widened as she saw the large head begin to split. This was it, her mind began to despair, watching as the jaws of the anaconda open wide, before seeing the jaw almost break and its lower mouth sagged slightly. She closed her eyes not wanting to watch anymore as the head lowered itself to hers.

She could feel the small turned blade like teeth on both sides of her head as it latched on, before feeling the sensation of it working side to side to fit more of her head into its mouth.

The girl went silent now, eyes wide, her chest jerking as if trying to fight for air, her cheeks slightly blue. Her last struggles ended with a series of spasms, then several ounces of fluid seeped out from between her legs, filling the air with the acrid smell of piss and ammonia.

Rush walked over and removed the buds from her ears and looked over the girls body. He then watched with a strange fascination as small marks appeared around her neck. It looked like small marks from something with many jagged teeth had clamped down on her. With a smirk, Rush walked away, before donning on his gloves, preparing the plastic at her sides and began to get to work. He did not want her body to remain here, it would ruin the limited amount of space he had to work with and he wanted to fit as many bodies as he could in the end. He had already begun to work in a series of chains and cuffs along the concrete walls to maximize the space that was there. It was hard work, but he felt it was worth it, as in the end he would be able to decorate these walls with the most beautiful bodies and voices known to him.