Dare to Love

The Battle

    Jade eyed the letter with distaste, a feeling of dread washing over her, her heart beginning to pound obtrusively. The sight of the letter always brought up memories that she usually kept buried deep inside her, hiding away the bitterness of her life. The sudden silence of the previously loud and clangorous courtyard rang in her ear as everyone melancholy eyed the letter. Jade turned to look at her best friend, who was standing not too far away from her with her forehead connected to her husband Travis’s. She bit her lip, upset that their wedding party had to be broken up so soon.

    “Don’t fight today. I want to take that dress off myself,” Jade overheard the private conversation, making her cheeks blush as she gagged to herself. Chaos soon followed, moving around her, side-stepping her in every direction as a sense of urgency hit her. She felt Seth’s hand squeeze hers, pulling her to look away from the confusion. Seth eyes had turned darker, more serious as he looked over her. Jade didn’t retreat as he leaned forward, pecking her cheek.

    “Let’s talk later, ok?” Seth pulled away with a confident smirk, a look that Jade knew all too well. She gave him a small nod, watching as his frame slid away from her, disappearing into the sea of bodies. She turned back to the chaos, watching as several men and women rushed by her, ripping off ties, heels or some form of clothing. She felt useless, standing there, watching everyone, whom she had grown to love like family, went off to fight for her protection and her own life, as she stood lifeless, rooting her heels into the ground. Her hands curled into balls, her loyalty to her father wavering into the need to protect herself and everyone else.

    “Jade,” She could hear her friend calling out for her, trying to stop her as she pushed her way into the crowd, slipping out of her own heels as she did so. She ignored her friend's ongoing calls as she entered her house, taking the stairs two at a time up to the fourth floor, slamming her bedroom door after she entered. She struggled with the zipper to her dress for a few moments, lowering it enough to wiggle out of the tight fabric. She switched out her outfit for yoga pants and a t-shirt that barely hid the bulletproof jacket strapped to her chest. She clipped on a leg strap that already holstered a pistol. Jade opened her door, letting it bang against the wall of her bedroom, her eagerness getting the better of her.

    “Where are you going?” Eileen huffed up the steps, lifting her dress in the front, her lips pursed in irritation. Pushing her eagerness away, Jade helped her best friend to the top of the staircase. Adrenaline had begun to make her bounce om the pads of her feet.

    “I’m going to fight,” Jade answered, determination lacing her words, slowing them to a normal speed. She moved to her closet, picking up an old, black hat as she felt her friend’s eyes on her.

    “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Eileen had put on her motherly tone. Jade eyed her friend as she looped her hair back through the hole in her hat. “I mean, your father has forbidden it, hasn’t he?”

    “I can’t let others fight, get hurt, or die for me while I sit back and do nothing, Eileen. You can’t tell me that you don’t feel something while I stay at home and Travis has to go out and fight to protect us, can you?”

    “I saw how you looked at Seth.”

    “What does that have to do with anything?” Jade rolled her eyes, not wanting the topic of Seth to come up now.

    “C’mon Jade. Don’t deny that you still like him, maybe even love?’ Eileen’s tone quipped back. “He looked back at you the same way.”

    “I’ve never denied that I still like him. He’s handsome, tall, has a good personality and he cares about me. I know all of that but it doesn’t change the fact that everyone is out there fighting, for me, including Seth, while I sit here and do nothing. Why did I spend a year in China learning if I can’t use the skills I’ve learned?” Jade desperately pleaded her case, knowing she was running out of time. She eyed Eileen apprehensively as her friend moved closer to her, opening her arms to embrace her.

    “Are you sure you won’t stay and keep me company?” Jade heard the pout in her friends’ voice as they hugged, a guilty feeling washing over her. One day there would be a time when no one would have to leave, they could all just have a good time together, but Jade knew for that to happen there also called a time to fight. “Promise me you will be safe,” Eileen gave her one last squeeze, ending the hug. Jade nodded to her, noting the sad look on Eileen’s face. She walked over to the door, looking back once more to her friend who had taken over her bed, refusing to look at her. Jade jumped down the steps as quickly as possible, landing on the bottom floor with a thud.

    “Jade?” Her father, who was looking out at the courtyard, had turned, having been alerted to her arrival. His salt and pepper hair and the wrinkles under his eyes seemed to stand out more today than they had in the past. Ignoring the sternness in his voice, Jade turned, running towards the front of the house. She opened the front door, leaving the secure façade of the townhouse, running down the path with her father’s voice echoing after her, the pounding of his feet on the concrete threatening to overtake her. The wind had picked up significantly, whipping her clothes against her body and her loose strands of hair stung her face as she connected with Essex street that ran West to East towards the train tracks between North and South Boston. She ran continuously for the next fifteen minutes, finding the way easily as if she had just taken this course yesterday. North Boston used to be beautiful when Jade was a girl, now the streets had grown desolate except for the overgrowth of weeds and vines taking over the sides of the buildings.

    She slowed down as she neared the train tracks, allowing herself to take a few minutes to catch and steady her breath. She listened for any sounds that might give away where most of the fighting was taking place as she stuck to the shadows of the buildings overlooking the train tracks. It didn’t take long for her to hear some grunts and the sound of flesh on flesh. Jade peered out across the train tracks, looking over the scene where several men were fighting each other, their use of kung fu rivaling that of the Shaolin masters. The closest to her was Tao fighting off a fighter for the enemy with a slow sweeping kick and explosive fists. As she swept the battlefield with her eyes she noticed several of her friends were standing in various forms that resembled different animals, striking at the enemy in many different forms of kicks and punches. Jade decided to watch from the shadows as the fight appeared to be under control. She continued to scan the area, her eyes landing on Gavin. As the second in command, it was no surprise that he was gaining leverage on his own fight. She moved on, finding Seth not too far away, the sight of him making her relax. She blew out a stream of warm air that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding in.

    “JADE?!” A deep angry roar pierced the area around the train tracks, startling Jade into a fighting stance. She looked around, finding Gavin strutting away from the man he had just finished fighting, towards her. “What are you doing here?” Anger was evident in his voice as he stepped forward. Jade observed him, his thick, black hair bristling in the wind, his dark brown eyes shadowed by the increasing clouds. She planted her feet, not backing away from any fight.

    “Jade?” Another voice grabbed her attention, the voice softer but just as angry. She turned, finding Seth not far behind Gavin, walking towards her. She softened a little, looking over Seth’s features once again. She looked over his angry features, a sense of guilt washing over her for the first time. Jade knew she should have believed in her crew, trusted them to do a good job without her. A shine of metal caught her attention, turning her gaze away from the features she adored. A few feet behind Seth stood another man, standing close to her own height with similar looks. Jade’s eyes widened in surprise as she found him holding a steady hand on the trigger of a gun, extended towards them. She lowered her hand to her thigh, gripping the handle of her pistol. Her sudden change of demeanor must have alerted Seth and Gavin to what was going on, forcing them to turn around.

    “James?” Jade called her brother’s name, a sense of loss and pain washing over her. His face was hardened with hatred and anger, his gun pointing towards her. She kept his eyes locked on his, taking a step forward.

    “Don’t move,” James’s voice flickered with distrust, echoing across the train yard. Jade paused, wishing she could talk to her brother and briefly go back to the days when there wasn’t a war. “We’ve been waiting to see you, sister,” His voice lingering on the last word. Jade was aware that the train yard was now a standstill, everyone’s eyes on her and her brother. “Mother sent me… to kill you,” Jade sucked in an involuntary breath of air, the realization hitting her hard. She knew that she was his target now. She pulled out her pistol, raising it up so it was parallel with her chest, but even then, she could see it was too late. The roar of her brother’s gun went off just before her own. Jade squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for some kind of impact. She had become so scared so instantly that for several minutes after nothing happened, she still remained frozen, keeping her eyes closed.

    When she opened her eyes again, she found Seth in front of her. A panicky smile grew on his lips as he stepped toward her. Jade held her breath, her eyes glazing over in disbelief, a sob escaping from inside her, scaring her. Tears she couldn’t feel dripped down onto her cheeks. She was rooted to the spot as Seth tumbled forward her, a red stain growing on the front of his t-shirt.