Chapter 8 The initiation

Alena's POV

I pull my hair up into a ponytail as I look down at my white tank and black tights. I bet Gabriel picked this out. He's disgusting.

I can't believe my dad is here. Alive. Part of my heart is falling back together. I have to get him out of here. I have to survive this fight tonight.

In case I don't survive this, I need to hear his voice one last time. I pull out my phone and facetime Khar.

It rings 10 times. Just as im about to give up Amberus answers.

"Oh my god Alena are you alright!" She yells, panicking as always. Her hair is a mess and her lipstick is smudged

"I'm okay Am, I just needed to say something to Khar"

She holds the phone as she walks to his room "You sure your okay, whats with the white walls in the background. Where are you?"

"Don't worry im safe, Im visiting a friend. It looks like you just had the best sex of your life" I say trying to change the subject, even though I don't want to know the answer

"Weeeell I been seeing my dad's doctor for a few weeks now" She says looking away shyly.

Her father has been battling pancreatic cancer the past few months which has been so hard on her. I don't want her to experience what I have. Thankfully someone has been able to bring some light into her life. Im so happy for her.

"Wow Am, that's amazing"

She opens his door and walks over to Khar

"I know right! Hurry back so we can talk about it. By they way he's miserable without you" She chuckles as she blows me kisses.

She tries to hand him the phone. He gets up out the bed and walks out the room. I can see him walking away, my heart killing me with every step.

"Khar please!" I beg through the phone.

He freezes, refusing to turn around.

"Talk to her now! What the hell is wrong with you" Amberus says irritated.

"Am its okay " I reassure her.

His back still facing the camera, I decide to speak

"Khar Evans, I know your being stubborn right now. It's why we became best friends in the first place remember. Our stubbornness?" He continues to stand still.

"Just in case something happens, I want you to know you are everything to me. You keep me going every second of everyday. I know I hurt you by leaving but you have to trust me. Always remember you are my lifeline Evans. Forever"

Tears roll down my cheeks. This man makes me feel things I never thought I would feel. He finally turns around causing me to gasp. He looks at me with the worst pain I ever seen him in

"I would believe that if you didn't leave so easily. I mean where the fuck are you. Don't tell me your visiting a friend because I know it's a damn lie, I know you Alena. White walls? Since everything is normal, show me where you are" He snatches the phone from Amberus. Damn he's pissed.

"I cant Khar"

He laughs and shakes his head "Right, of course not. You and your secrets"

He has every right to be pissed with me.

"I will explain much as I can when we see each other again. For now I just needed to see your face"

"Well you seen it"

He hands the phone back to Amberus. I let the tears fall. I deserve it

"Alena he's being a jerk right now. He hasn't been this way since he lost Alexandra. I don't know what his deal is" she says sadly.

"Take care of him Amberus. Kiss Cassie for me. I promise we will have a drink soon an talk all about your hot doctor" She smiles and nods

"I will. Becareful Alena"

I hang up the call looking in the mirror. I wipe my tears as the door slides open.

"It's time, lets go" Gabriel's assistant sighs.

I walk out the room and up the hallway. As she opens the door, we approach the gym. Its packed to capacity. Everyone is cheering and staring at me like I don't' belong. That I agree with.

I look down at the screen saver on my phone. A picture of me kissing Khar on the cheek on my balcony. His smile is priceless. I smile reminiscing this moment. Just as I felt safe, my phone gets snatched away from me.

"On to the platform" Grabrial says smirking.

I roll my eyes and walk into a large platform matt. Gabriel walks around me as I stand in the middle.

"Welcome everyone to initiation. Alena Fields, brings a lot to the table. Years of training in combat. A set of skills that are quite unbelievable, no one has reached her level of expertise. But... does she still have what it takes to become a Mercury Agent??"

Everyone is screaming No.

"Well Alena Fields you will prove yourself. If you survive, you become one of us" He proudly states.

Margo is all the way in the back looking at me with worried eyes. I smile and say it will be okay. Hopefully she can read my lips. Why is vick still next to her.

"Alena meet your opponent"

The crowed breaks apart, a young guy walks through. I notice how familiar he looks as he gets closer.

No Hayden!!

He finally stands in front of me, completely shaken. "Im sorry alena" He says with fear.

I turn towards Gabriel ready to attack him but it would be foolish with hundreds of his people ready to defend him.

"You heartless asshole"

He smiles and back away leaving us on the platform. Everyone sitting excited. Me and Hayden look at each other.

"Survive or Die!" Gabriel yells out.

Everyone starts chanting Survive or Die.

"You have to fight me Alena" he voice shaken.

I shake my head "I won't hurt you Hayden. I'll get you out of this" I try to reassure him. He shakes his head, no faith left in him.

"They will force us it fight until one of us dies. There is no way out. You have to fight me or they will kill both of us. There is no walking out of here" He smiles but I can tell he's terrified.

"Start fighting in the next 5 seconds or I will end both of you!" Gabriel orders.

Hayden walks up to me "Hit me Alena, Now" I shake my head, I won't become like Gabriel.

"No I'm not doing it"

Next thing I know his fists connects with my jaw, causing me to tumble over. I use my hand to wipe away the blood spilling from my mouth.

"I'm sorry Alena we both have people we want to protect. I suggest you fight me now because im not holding back" He says, as he sends another punch to my cheek. People are cheering, while Gabriel is observing with his arms crossed.

"Hayden this isn't the way, you don't have to do this. I can protect you"

He replies by trying to punch me again. I block his attempt by grabbing his arm bringing it around to his back. He uses my technique against me and throws his head back against mine.

I fall onto my back, my vision going blurry. Hard fists striking against my stomach.

"Alena fight please!!!" I hear Margo begging.

I manage to push him off. I stand up, holding onto my ribs. Fuck it hurts.

He charges at me with full on attack mode. I slide onto the floor and swing my foot under his legs causing him to fall.

He lands on his back. I take the opportunity to pin him down by holding both his arms. I can end him right now but I won't hurt this kid. This is sick.

Everyone is booing and screaming survive or die. I stand up and offer him a hand. He takes it and stands up in front of me.

"I'm so sorry Alena, please forgive me" Hayden cries.

"Enough!!!" Gabriel screams, causing the whole gym to go silent.

He walks onto the platform, his eyes full of fury. He grabs Hayden into a headlock and faces me

"You refuse to fight right? I will snap this boys neck"

Just as he's about to twist his neck, I step forward. "Fight me instead Gabriel"

"You think you can change my rules around here Feilds?"

"It's simple, you and me 5 minutes. If I survive after 5 minutes then I win" I say, compromising.

He nods his head anxiously and pushes Hayden off the platform causing him to tumble over into the crowd. At least he's safe.

Gabriel takes off his shirt, leaving on his grey sweats. If he wasn't an asshole, I would've defiantly been drooling like the rest of these woman in here.

"Vick start the clock! Alena Fields you have 5 minutes with me. Survive or Die" He yells.

His agents continue chanting. I wish I stretched before this. I have no idea what this man is capable of.

We start circling around each other, he has the stupidest grin on his face. He's studying me.

He strikes first. I duck as his fist flies past my head. I knee him in the chest, causing him to slump over.

I punch this shit out of him, causing blood to drip from his mouth. He wipes away the blood smirking at me. Wait this is to easy. Something isn't right

Before I can grasp what is happening in front of me, im thrown onto the ground.

His grin just got wider. He throws punch after punch across my face. I cant break free from his hold. He's to damn strong. All I can feel is multiple blows. I can feel myself loosing conscious.

"Get up Alena Fields!" he demands.

He stands up backing away far enough to let me get up. I'm scared to see how my face looks now. Blood dripping non stop from my face. I look around and see all his agents smiling, cheering and looks of disgust.

Margo hysterically crying trying to break free from Vick, I wish she didn't have to see this.

3 minutes left. I swear it feels like 20 minutes went by. I manage to stand. He charges at me, kicking his foot into my chest, hard enough to throw me off the platform. I land on the hardwood floor, every bone in my body feels like it collapsed.

"Alena Fields you are a disappointment. I thought I was fighting a future legend. This is pathetic, I'm not even trying"

He's standing over my still body. "I changed my mind, your not worthy to be one of us. Your too weak"

He looks down at me shaking his head. He pulls me up by my throat, holding me up in the air. My feet no longer touching the ground, I feel the air leaving my body as he squeezes harder.

His audience cheering as I'm a breath a way from death. I can't move even if I wanted too. I have no energy. I'm sorry dad

......

*Flashback*

"Again!" Shooting pain pushes down my spine as my back makes contact with the ground. My mentor who saved me from the explosion years ago stares at me pacing back and forth impatiently. I try to force myself up but the pain is unbearable

"I can't move Kygen"

His foot presses against my neck, cutting off the air I'm desperately holding on to.

"You think your enemies will have mercy on you?? I won't be there to save you Alena!"

Pressing harder, he kneels down watching me choke for dear life "You will be in worser battles than this, take control! Remove my fucking foot and get your ass up now before I kill you!"

What an asshole, my desperate attempt to break free turns into rage.

"Prove to me I will not train a weak warrior; you call this avenging you family? Your enemies will slaughter you and finish what they started. Get Up!"

End of flashback

......

My eyes shot open, looking into the eyes of the monster still strangling me.

A new surge of energy goes through me as I hear my mentor's words igniting through me like fire.

I bring my fist against his eye hard enough for him to drop me. "Ah!! Fuck" He screams, holding onto his eye.

He speeds towards me trying to grab neck. I dodge, he's reacting out of anger.

I grab hold of his arm, forcing it behind his back. I kick the back of his leg, causing him to fall to his knees.

I twist his arm, pulling it out of the socket. He screams in overwhelming pain. I slam my knee into his face as he falls backward. Im not even close to done with this sick fuck.

I straddle his waste and give him the same treatment he gave me. "Survive" Punch "Or " Punch "Die" Punch " You Son Of A Bitch!" I feel like a demon on fire. I'm in full kill mode. I can't stop.

He manages to kick me off, I instantly stand back up. He stands up pulling a knife from his pants. Oh so he wants to cheat now

"Come at me Motherfucker!" I scream in rage. I can't wait to pull his head off. He charges at me with the knife.

"Time is up!" Vick yells out.

Me and Gabriel face to face, so close that one of us would have been dead in the next second. He continues to stare down at me and breaks into a creepy grin.

"There she is" he says smirking.

"What?" I ask confused.

"This is the girl I was waiting to break through. The killer. Your rage, it's inspiring. You just needed a little push" he whispers.

I just noticed, the rage that I felt a minute ago, I was ready to kill him. Nothing else mattered in that moment

He grabs my hand and lifts it in the air "Mercury Corp, Our first survivor who's made it through a match with me. Only a true potential warrior, a killer can survive my battle. I want you all to welcome our new family member, your new and first instant C level senior agent. Alena Fields welcome to Mercury Corp"

Every agent in the room starting cheering as if they weren't cheering for me to die a few seconds ago.

He walks up to me, bringing the knife to my stomach. I jerk away, what the hell is he doing.

"Hold her down" He demands

Two of his agents holding me down on the mat. I try to release from their grips but it's impossible.

"Fuck!!" I scream at the horrible pain as the knife digs into my skin.

Gabriel carves the letter -M- into my stomach. Sweat is pouring off me. My arms are released.

Gabriel tosses me a towel to put against my stomach. I wish I could kill him right now

"Don't worry it's temporary until you get your real initiation tatoo. You just completed your initiation" He says proudly.

I feel like I just sold my soul to the devil. I feel disgusting.

I look for Margo, she's passed out in Vicks arms. I run off the platform and push through to them. I manage to hold onto her hand as he looks down annoyed.

"What happened to her!" I ask, worried she needs help.

"She's fine, she passed out when you were dangling in the air about to die" Vick says calmly. Such an ass.

I squeeze her hand and kiss her head. Gabriel walks up to us with his assistant. She hands me a company access badge with my name and picture on it.

Gabriel throws me a leather jacket. I look at the back of the jacket and notice a bloody lion with a M symbol.

"The bloody lion represents a victor who just won a battle defeating their prey, a true warrior king" He says smirking. Nobody asked him for his imput.

I throw on the jacket, flinching in pain from what he did to me. I clip the badge on my leather tights and send him a glare. I know he's so happy right now.

He pats my shoulder "Welcome to Mercury Corp Alena Fields, get ready for your first mission"

Fuck