FAITH

Chapter 2

To think I’d cut class to join my mom in the wrestling domain. The adoring onlookers cheered on the professional wrestlers, each entrance blew smoky fumes in their presence. I didn’t care for flashy outfits, though, my mother highly encouraged that I wear something, my dad’s police uniform. The thought of using his uniform, made me wonder how did a wrestler and police officer get together?

My mother wore something else, her classical outfit. She was literally a goth. We waited inside the square whilst other fighters glared at our direction, my mother patted my shoulder trying to reassure me. You have no idea, ma, maybe this could change your notion. We waited for the contenders to fill the square's room. "

Mom, what sort of event is this?” I whispered to my mother. 

“A royal rumble.” Here I thought it was going to be one on one. I recognize these wrestlers, we’ve got like ten to deal with, if you aren’t familiar with them. I’ll tell you. The guy in the back, an overly muscled man, bald, the rock. The four next to him, the slithering quadruplets, their fashion of attacking was belligerent and incalculable. The ones in the front, the four, I’ll go by chronological order from right to left. Shackle-man, Telekinesis, Bedlam, Irk. Shackle man’s strength estimates human peak strength and speed. Telekinesis literally has peak agility, Bedlam, oh that guy he’ll just blare some random sounds to dodge defeat. Irk, human peak reflexes and peak human durability. The last one, watched by the sidelines, still trying to recover from the car crash accident.

Shackle-man, Telekinesis, Bedlam, and Irk, locked their gaze at me, viewing me as the easiest to rid of. I’ll prove them wrong. Shackle-man zoomed towards me, hands extended towards me. I palm strike him to the mug, temporarily stunned, then, I grabbed both of his wrists and dropped on my backside, hurling him through the ropes. “Did something ludicrous just happen?” One of the speakers said. I kipped up returning to my feet, turning my gaze to my mom. “I knew you had it in you.” Nara commented, then she whipped towards the slithering quadruplets lunged at her. Nara caught one of them by the throat, two tackled on her legs, the fourth wrapped both legs around her neck, spinning around her then knocking her groundwards. I felt a tight grip on my ankle – The shackle-man wasn’t done, he yanked me out of the square as I hang upside down by one hand. I was flung pretty damn high up almost to the ceiling, then plummeted on the right side of the square. Shackle-man was pretty damn fast, he was there before I could hit my backside. He sends me through the ropes, skidding backward to the rock. The rock, sort of stopped me in my tracks with his huge muscles. 

“You all right?” He asked, looking downwards at me. 

“Yeah, thanks,” I moved onwards to face what was infront of me. Telekinesis. He corkscrew roundhouses me to the side of my neck, damn, a clean form too. I skidded back to the rope, Telekinesis front handsprings towards me then threw corkscrew knee strike to my stomach. 

Telekinesis vs Nara's kid!

“Crud.” I was literally expecting that. 

I then threw a full turning roundhouse but before that action, Telekinesis gets behind me throwing his weight against to me sending me forward to the ropes. I turned to him, throwing a right hook across his jaw, then a left hook – that one missed, Telekinesis then threw a bencao kick to my stomach sending me backward. Telekinesis comes forth, throwing a 540 I ducked avoiding that kick. I threw a jab at him, he raised a palm countering the attack. Then he threw a front kick high up to my face, I raised my palm up countering the attack. Telekinesis comes in forth, throwing multiple jabs with his right fist, I shift back keeping my head jerked. Telekinesis then threw a right hook across my jaw, then I threw a left hook, he ducked down evading the strike. He threw a right hook across my jaw, then I threw a backfist strike impacting his jaw. Telekinesis threw a back hand strike, stunning me for a moment, throwing wing chun blows to my stomach then a mean haymaker punch across my jaw. I threw a temple kick at him but he raised his forearm, countering the attack, I threw a turning roundhouse just in time! I move forward then he threw a knifehand strike at my mug, he then hip throws me to the ground. I keep a hold of his wrist, then ensnared him in a triangle choke lock or the arm bar, he raised my weight up without effort but I let go and aim below, hands meeting the floor and my legs bringing him downwards. He performs a safety roll on the side, then turned to me. I come forward to him, throwing a sweeping kick, Telekinesis performed a sideflip avoiding my attack. Telekinesis then moves in forward, throwing an axe kick – I shift to the side evading him, preparing to strike but he threw a swift backfist to my mug. Then ran towards the corner of the square, then bounced off it and threw a sidekick to my stomach. 

He comes in forth, throwing two kicks going to my inner thighs then retracted. He raised his knee up trying to intimidate me, then he threw a guyver kick. Again, I was familiar with this kick, but it’s tricky, the second one usually hits you. As Telekinesis gets on his feet again, he reared a fist hurling a left jab I raised my arm ninety degrees countering the strike then threw a backfist strike across his mug. Digits fold on his wrist, then I knelt down and grabbed his inner thigh hurling him to the side. Out of the blue, Shackle Man german suplexed me from behind. I quickly get up on my feet, whipping outwards to see Telekinesis about to jump off from the edge to me. Telekinesis hurls a superman punch, I threw a muay thai roundhouse at him – my knee hitting his stomach. He hits the floor, on his knees, I then front kicked him to the side of his temple dropping him to the ground. Shackle-man throws a turning backkick, I threw a front kick to his inner leg joint countering the attack. Though, that wouldn’t be enough to bring him down. With one hand, he lifted me by the throat but Nara charged at him throwing him off balance. Nara pinned him against the ropes, then threw a right hook across his jaw dazing him. Nara then lifted him up by the arm and ankle, then dropped him groundwards – the square’s legs snapped – shaking the fighters on the square.

Now I kinda get why ma never had someone helping her, she’s a tank. 

“You are quite the obstacle.” Shackle-man uttered, something about his demeanor hints evil, like he is about to pull an underhanded trick. I was about to intervene in the conversation, until Telekinesis drew my attention, he delivers an illusion swipe. I threw a front kick at his body sending him backward, those movements were getting easy to read. I looked to the west corner of the square, so that’s where the slithering quadruplets went – defeated. 

Telekinesis was quick to get on his feet, throwing a front kick, I caught his ankle and pirouetted in on him (facing outward), elbowing him to the mug then facing him again then kicking his inner thigh to drop him to the ground. Bedlam pushed Irk to fight, obviously, this mysterious wrestler was very capable. Irk moves in forward, throwing a psycho kick across my jaw. That damn kick. Always cool to look at. I shifted away from the ropes, gathering my consciousness before continuing the fight. Before I even knew it, Irk threw a tornado kick, sending me flat on my back. I was forced to stand up, briefly, an arm under my throat as I get pounded on my backside. I raised an arm countering his punch, then turned it forcing both of us to the floor, he was underneath my weight. I threw a jab to his mug, he caught my fist then threw a kick upwards to my skull sending me backward. If this guy has peak reflexes and peak durability, I’ll really need to figure him out. I anticipate for him to move forward, I bent on my knees and threw a hook to the side of his knee, then jabbed twice to his abdomen, then threw a right hook – my right hook fails to hit him. 

He pulls my wrist forward, then threw a curving knee strike to my stomach. Throwing a right hook, then, a short uppercut to my jaw, damn his fists are damning dense. He wrapped both legs around my neck then spun, knocking me downwards to the floor. I kip up, throwing a right jab, he slapped my fist to the side, I throw a left jab, he shifts to the side, I throw a knee strike – he punches my knee sending it back, I throw a sweeping kick, he raised his knee up evading the strike, I attempt to throw a horizontal elbow strike at him. He ducked evading my blow. Slippery piece of meat. I threw a right hook, he ducked and threw a jab to my stomach and a left hook across my jaw. I ran to the corner of the square, then bounced off it to throw a superman punch but he raised his arm ninety degrees blocking the attack. I hurl a round kick to his thigh but he threw a punch to my knee, sending it back, then tossing a right hook across my jaw. I throw a backfist but he counters it with an overhead block, then I throw a jab to his midriff he had his arm outstretched blocking my wrist from touching that spot. I threw a front kick to his abdomen sending him backward, front kick usually is pretty damn effective. He then moves forward to me, sending a flying dropkick and backkick to my abdomen, pushing me against the ropes. I shook my head, subsiding the damage, I continue onwards to him. He threw a right jab, I caught the pit of his bicep and threw an upwards elbow strike and horizontal elbow strike to him. Then I changed my hand’s position to his wrist and grabbed his inner thigh with my unoccupied hand and threw him over to the side. As he gets up, he threw a turning backick sending me backward then comes in forth with a double leg kick. My forearms facing downwards to block the attack, then he threw a roundhouse I ducked evading the attack, then threw a front kick, he blocked it with both arms in a cross. I threw a right jab, he ducked and threw a short jab to my stomach, then threw a right hook across my jaw. Two hits. 

Irk.vs Me!

He threw a turning roundhouse, I lowered my head eluding the attack, then Irk threw a sweeping kick, which I evade by raising my knee to prevent my ankle from taking a hit. He threw a right jab, I caught his wrist and placed a hand under his bicep throwing a kick upwards to his mug. Irk tried to throw me off, but he fails, I performed a corkscrew and put my other hand on his forearm – once I land, I knelt and turned my weight (facing outwards now) bringing irk to the floor once again. I put a distance between he and I, Irk threw a turning roundhouse and I duck evading the male’s strike. He throw a bencao kick go his abdomen, I use both of my forearms to block his knee whilst pushing his leg slightly away but he threw a jab to my mug as I blocked it. He then clinched on me, knee striking me but I managed to use my forearms again to block the attacks. He then rammed his forearm to my mug, stunning me, then I felt my back against the ropes once again. He performed a sideflip kick to my stomach, pinning me to a corner, both of us threw a jab at each other but his actually makes contact before I did. He threw a curving knee strike at me, I raised both of my forearms to my stomach guarding that area, he then threw a right hook across my jaw – again. He comes in forth, throwing a right jab, then I ducked and threw a jab to his abdomen then a right hook to his jaw, then an uppercut, then, a high sidekick to his chest. He skidded back, then he threw a left hook – I raised both of my forearms to that side, then on my knees, I threw a jab to the male’s thigh, then a jab to his abdomen, then a right hook to his jaw, continuing on – I front drop kicked the male sending him backwards to the ropes. 

“A newcomer… who thinks she can just beat me?” Irk uttered lowly. He then paced towards me, throwing a front kick then threw a sidekick, backkick, and a roundhouse to the side of my neck. I skid back, he held this expression of fury, like he planned for my funeral. As I was about to throw a jab, he threw a short uppercut to my chin, sending me backward. He continues onwards, he threw a right jab, I raised my right arm ninety degrees blocking it but he threw a jab to my abdomen. Damn. He’s taking it seriously. Irk continues with a muay thai kick to my thigh, then a roundhouse up to my neck but I raised my arm up to block the attack. I then threw a front kick to his stomach pushing him backward, then I threw a roundhouse, he backs up, then once I throw another roundhouse, he comes in closer and swept me off by my one unguarded leg. He forced me up on my feet, then threw a sidekick to my stomach hurling me towards the rows of audience. The crowds took pictures of me, others helped me up. Irk safety vaults over the padded fences, marching towards me. “Thanks. I’ll get out of your way now.” I performed a double corkscrew before landing infront of Irk. I get up and he threw a right hook across my jaw, then I threw a turning roundhouse across his jaw stunning him for a moment then threw a solar plexus punch to him. K.O!

Nara threw him hella high, literally to the backrow seats. Bedlam yielded to the new rookie.

--

“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU MADE OUR DAUGHTER FIGHT!” Of course, we couldn’t have escape dad’s fury, why because of my face. 

“She’s been doing pretty well, Howie! Ya think she can’t defend herself? She beat Telekinesis and Irk without my help!” Nara shouted at her husband. 

“YOU SHOULDN’T ENDANGER OUR DAUGHTER!” Not really. 

“Were you in danger, lass?” Nara looked in my direction. 

“Nope.” I folded my arms under my chest. “You’re pretty tough, who taught ya?” Nara patted my shoulder. 

“Nobody special.” I shrugged my shoulders, my father wanted to test if it was true. Not some make up on my face.

He approached me, I threw a jab to his thigh, then two jabs to his stomach, then a right hook across his jaw. He dropped to the floor instantaneously “Ow…” Well. He didn’t believe me. “Sorry, dad.” I apologetically said to him. 

“It’s his fault for not believing ya.” Well, I didn’t want to hide the truth from him. The truth is supposed to hurt. Though, what makes me wonder, where the hell are those assassins? Are they still out there, planning for my death? Where the hell is that duplicate of mine? I kept my mouth sewn shut until further notice. I noticed the police sirens flashing through the windows, -- knock knock – my parents handled the situation while I listen by the sidelines. 

“Sir,” A deputy's eyes meet my mom’s. 

“What?” Nara narrowed her eyes at him. “I mean –” The police officer regretted what he said. 

“Yes?” Howie raised a brow at the officer. “Sorry, ma’am.” 

“You oughta be!” Nara was offended by that. “So, officer, what seems to be the problem?” He raised the topic’s relevance.

The deputy didn’t miss a beat when he asked, recent abductions and murders, the victims shared one common trait usually a highschooler. The forewarning was to keep their doors and windows locked to prevent the mysterious killer from entering as the police handle the situation. “Good day, officer.” What if it’s those damn ninjas? I decided to help my parents out with locking our damn abode. Though, as my dad affirms the state of his locks, he enhances it using his engineering skills. My mom pulled me to the kitchen to talk. 

“Faith. I trust you have faith in my words.” Snort. 

“This is serious, young lady.” My mom gave me a serious look, but considering my name was literally ‘faith’, there would be a good reason to laugh.

“I’ve been managing a crew of my own, we handled problems like this, you’ve got some sweet moves. Perhaps you’d like to join the social justice association?” Nara proposed an offer, something more action-packed than the life I was living. 

“What do we do? Patrol until we see something dangerous at night?” It sounded definitely superhero-like. 

“Yeah, that’s the idea. Though, you’ll need to keep quiet about it, yer dad’s gonna get overstressed about it again.” Mom had faith in my abilities, which I’m glad for, though I don’t know if beating my dad up would count as proving my abilities. 

“Hey, girls, how are ya?” Howie walks in on the scene. “Well, mom and I were talking about boys.” I tried to make the conversation sound normal.

 “Oh, reaalllly?” He narrowed his eyes at my direction. “Mom says you moaned loud as hell in bed.” I commented. Nara suddenly bursts into laughter, falling on the chair while I keep my composure.

“I shouldn’t have intervened.” He felt embarrassed, his cheeks already in a deep shade of red. As he left, Nara gets up slapping her thigh.

 “You’re quite the comedian!” She slowly gathered her strength to talk normally. “Say, who taught ya to be discreet? Your dad couldn’t even tell!” My mom was really proud of what I did there. 

“Nobody special.” That person passed me her knowledge, then left, didn’t tell me her background. I’m starting to gather the pieces, my duplicate must be a wanted criminal from wherever the hell she’s from.

My mom could linger on about the new me, they were pretty damn extraordinary, though I’m having doubts she wouldn’t believe in it. I don’t know when I’ll ever get to see this duplicate of mine, though, what I do know is that she never granted me immortality but routines to maintain my youth.

Until… next time.