7: Threats

Ralph POV

It's been months since the nine of us stepped into the grim building we soon called home. Weeks of what seemed like never ending torture of extensive training sessions, arguments, and unfinished plans. 

Smiles were rarely seen, everyone was on edge, and everyone was handling it differently. 

For instance, Briana was most likely to point out something beautiful, like a lady bug or the sunset. While Alex and Kadyn snapped at the slightest high pitched giggle or rolled their eyes in disagreeable silence. 

Their main priority was to focus, to grow stronger, and to kick the gang leaders asses. Of course that goal is what all of us are trying to achieve, but some of us need to really lighten up for God's sake. 

Jaanai knows every nook and cranny of the overgrown hospital, it's to the point where Kadyn can't even force her to go to gun shooting class because she hides in a new location every day. If she successfully misses her classes, you most definitely will find her in the cafeteria studying the many medical books she discovered. This has led to long nights of the group covering their ears because of the overbearing echos from Jack and Jaanai arguing, with Kadyn creating the tension at points. 

Because of Jaanai disagreeing with violence, Jack has the heavy weight of both of their lives at stake during battle. He trains more than all of us combined, he even has private sessions with Kadyn during lights out. Jack is incredibly fast, and sneaky at times. He can pick locks like his life depends on it every single time, we even time him to see if he can beat his personal record of eight seconds. He often collaborates with Tate about engineering and technical aspects we can use to our advantage. 

Tate is something else, first off he is a terrific liar, he has already made me believe he went to public school and that he's escaped several of Blade Briar's men with different identities each time. Then there's the fact that he literally has the recreation of Albert Einstein's brain in that little head of his. His IQ is probably tremendous, it hurts my brain just to think about. Tate is 100% an intellectual, he can create statistics of every possible outcome In his head at any given second, he is the definition of back to the future. We have backup plans A through Z because of him. Every computer, every security system, and every file could be at his access if he had the machinery. 

Hunter may be quiet and have really weird outbursts of energy, but he is very helpful. Living with a mother who believes she's the witch of medicine can really come in handy in times like these believe it or not. He created specific meal plans for all of us with the food we scrounged up, for our specific needs like strength, energy, etc. His knowledge of fitness machines and workouts also came to use, he made a gym using the hospital equipment. The fitness training course is all ran by him, we all meet with him for two hours daily. 

Then there are the rest of the girls that Kadyn tried to put down every second, saying stuff like the guys have to work harder to make up for the weak ones, but boy was he completely wrong. 

Alex is the spawn of satan with sharp weaponry. She can use anything as a weapon if she had to, her quick instincts, and smart ass wits make her the actual devil. The other day she was practicing fighting with a spear and holy shit if it was real Kadyn would be ripped to shreds. She definitely found her weapon of choice. Briar's army even has to fear her in hand-to-hand combat cause god damn I swear she's telepathic with how fast she responds to your movement. Her and Briana are each others hype girl, honestly they are each others only challenge. 

Briana never fails to surprise us all. Even Kadyn was found with his mouth open at her extremely accurate aim. She never misses. Especially since she started practicing throwing knives, it's her new favorite thing, you can always find her outside hitting tree trunks or the actual targets we set up back in the beginning. It all started at our first target practice, everyone got the hang of it at some point, but as soon as Kadyn handed Briana the gun and showed her how to turn the safety on and off, we were all done for. 

Kadyn didn't want to admit that she was good, he brought her all around the hospital giving her more and more crazy ideas of where to shoot and what she had to hit to pass. She shot every single one. Then came moving targets, which somehow she was even better at? She shot quickly and efficiently which allowed us to see her mind is what keeps her from reaching her full potential. I've been trying to help her with that. 

Then one day Kadyn was throwing his knife around because his slim ass is somehow always bored and Briana asked if she could try, and boom our greatest weapon was born. 

Dylan is beyond crazy. He leaves the hospital every morning and night to go on an hour long run. We all despise him for doing this and Briana has tried to persuade him to stay in our safe zone limits we created but he always replies it's not far enough. I know what fear looks like in our group and it always appears when he leaves, and doesn't decrease until he returns. Sometimes Kadyn and Hunter offer to go with him, which he allows. They both said he doesn't say one word or take one break throughout the whole course. He's been training non-stop, all the anger, guilt, and sadness was eating him alive, now it's feeding him. Which is terrifying all the same. 

I'm legit the therapist of the group, I contain a regular training schedule, healthy meals, and the same amount of responsibilities as everyone else, but every single Forbidden Child in this hospital has come to me more than once when they have a emotional or mental problem. It's exhausting yet heart warming at the same time. It gives me a sense of relief knowing they still think of me as their leader even though I got my ass kicked awhile back. 

I grew up around the phrase that actions speak louder than words, but I haven't disagreed with anything more. Words have affected me in ways I can't forget. My mother singing to me every night until I closed my eyes for I wouldn't have nightmares about being taken, my father saying he's proud of me, Simon telling me I was the reason he decided to live this long, all of my memories include words, not actions, words. 

Just seeing the change I create in my friend's day because of a simple sentence gives me a familiar vibe, that keeps me sane. So I'm perfectly fine with being the therapist that leads a group of rebels in his spare time.  

Briana POV

"Briana and Alex, y'all are up!!!" Kadyn shouted across the hospital gymnasium that was used for therapy. 

It was combat training, my favorite session of the day, and I'm sure I could say the same for Alex. Today was the first day Alex and I were up against each other, both of us being undefeated, we were definitely going to have an audience. 

"These are the days I wish we had popcorn." Hunter entered grinning. 

"Both of my bad ass besties fighting, no way!" Tate followed shortly with Ralph on his tail clearly complaining about something. 

"Hello it's me!!!" Jaanai came crawling out of an air shaft near the basketball hoop. 

"It's us." Jack corrected her climbing out after her. 

"Whoah what were you two doing in there?!" Hunter laughed evilly. 

"Talk to me when you have a girlfriend." Jaanai smirked. 

Hunter smiled while looking at Alex. 

I gave Alex a "We are definitely talking later" look. 

She shook her head in defeat. 

"Ok contestants, this combat will only be hand-to-hand, if any weapon is seen you will be disqualified and the opponent automatically wins. No extensive injuries are allowed, whoever is seen bleeding first is in fact the loser." Kadyn started explaining the rules. 

"Come on! That's no fun!!!" The crowd booed him. 

"Talk to me when Blade's army gets us and two of our best fighters are down for the count for what? Entertainment?" Kadyn argued back.

Silence followed.

"That's what I thought." Kadyn said while clearing his throat. 

"Take five steps back while I count down, as soon as I say begin you may fight." He finished. 

"Good luck Alex." I smiled while squinting my eyes. 

"Good luck Asian." She snorted while Kadyn started counting down. 

"5" 

"You won't be able to snort for much longer." I glared taking a step back. 

"4" 

"Didn't know Asians talked so much, especially since English isn't their first language." She smiled politely while continuously moving. 

"3" 

"Seems like lover boy is taking most of your focus then huh?" I retaliated while raising my eyebrows along with moving my feet back. 

"2" 

"Shhhh highness of obliviousness." She said while moving her eyes between me and Kadyn. 

"Wha-"

"1!!!" 

Alex charged at me with no hesitancy while I moved even quicker allowing her to bolt right passed me. 

"Good job at trying to distract me." I laughed.

"Honey I haven't even began my job yet." She exclaimed while aiming her punches for my neck and nose. 

Hands up Briana, hands up.

I blocked my precious face while she abused the back of my hands. 

Hah I have legs.

I brought my leg up and kneed her in the groin which caused several of my guy opponents to instantly fall to the floor but girls don't have dicks so it didn't give me as much time as it would of if Alex were a boy. 

She staggered backwards, I used this to my advantage to punch her in the stomach. 

She grabbed my wrist and twisted it in ways it shouldn't be able to go. 

"UGHH!" I screamed while bringing my other elbow and pounding it on the back of her head until she let go. 

She started to lean down because of the shortage of balance coming from her position. I kneed her in the forehead, and went to kick her in the stomach but she grabbed my leg and brought me down to the ground with her. 

The solid ground made my head throb with pain along with my elbows. Alex climbed on top of me and punched me in the nose a few times, barely missing my eye. I grabbed her hand and used the acceleration of her punch to bring it back to her face. I kicked her off of me and tried to get up but she grabbed my foot causing me to slip and hit my face right against the bleachers. 

"Time out, interference of objects!" Kadyn yelled while running over. 

"Are you alright?" Alex asked while out of breath. 

"Yea, but my nose." I tried to exclaim, blood was running down my face, hands, and shirt with attempts of me trying to stop it. 

"You win." I said while laughing.

"Great, she's delusional already." Kadyn sighed while taking off his shirt and handing it to me.

"You love this shirt, I can't." I said while sounding very congested. 

"Unless you want to bleed out I suggest you can." Kadyn said already somehow being angry. 

"I love you Briana." Alex sighed while taking my hand and helping me up. 

"I know, I'm the best asian you could've asked for." I laughed while hugging her. 

"I call a draw, you both had a lot more fight left In you, these stupid bleachers!" Kadyn shouted while kicking them. 

"Shh please it hurts." I said closing my heavy eyes while leaning on Alex's shoulder. 

"Sorry." 

"Pay up Kadyn." Hunter came waltzing over. 

"What is he talking about?" Alex whispered.

"Kadyn and I made a bet, I get his twix bar if you won, he gets my kit Kat bar if Briana won." Hunter explained sneering. 

"You bet me?" I questioned Kadyn, last time I checked I clearly annoyed him. 

"Yes obviously." He shrugged while telling Hunter where his candy was. 

"Good jobs girls, I'm going to go wait up for Dylan so we can lock up for the night." Jack came towards the bleachers with Jaanai. 

"You should let me help you B, at least with pain meds." Jaanai begged. 

"Ok." I sighed trying to stand up.

"I gotchu." Kadyn hurried towards my side for I could lean on him.

"I call other side." Ralph came running over. 

"Tate I expect it soon." He glared at him. 

"Yea yea, all you do is blah blah blah." Tate said sighing while exiting the gym. 

I wonder what that is all about. 

My entourage followed me and helped me of course to the cafeteria where the medical and sleeping stations were all set up. 

"Bring her here please." Jaanai said while pointing to an empty cot. 

She scurried over to an overflowing cabinet and searched it throughly before she came back with cotton balls, Advil, and hydrogen peroxide.

"Uhm privacy please." She snapped at Kadyn and Ralph. 

"Fine, let me know if she gives you something weird ok?" Kadyn looked at me.

"Kadyn I know where every drug is that could potentially kill you." She growled.

"I'm kidding Jesus." He stated while leaving. 

"Jaanai can I see Briana when you're done?" Ralph asked politely.

"Yes I don't see why not." She replied while removing Kadyn's shirt from my bleeding nose. 

"Ok feel better B." He said waving goodbye. 

"Yup" I replied while I felt soft cotton going in my nose. 

"You are so beautiful and you allow for it to be messed up." She laughed lightly. 

"I mean, being born a forbidden child sort of already signs you up for that." I replied while sounding very nasally. 

"Very true." She replied quietly while filling a glass with water. 

"Look at you, you have the potential to be an extremely good doctor, and you're saying you don't want to fight for that chance?" I asked. 

"I do, but I don't want to deal with the consequences." She said shortly while handing me two pills and the heavy glass. 

"Everything we do has consequences, you giving me these pills will have a consequence." I explained before chugging the water to help the medication go down.

"A good one." She sighed while crossing her arms.

"And fighting to be a known doctor wouldn't?" I eyed her. 

"Ok Briana." She closed her eyes and relaxed her breathing for a few seconds. She removed the cotton from my nose after containing her composure again. 

"It finally stopped bleeding, that's good." She smiled while dabbing hydrogen peroxide on my skin. 

"There are extra shirts lying around here, I'm sure you'll find one. Use the sink to wash up." She concluded while exiting the medical station. 

I sighed. I liked Jaanai but she was so uptight and tense all the time. She just needs some gossip buddies like Alex and I. 

"Knock, knock. You seem to be deep in thought." Ralph entered again. 

"Yeah like always, what's that?" I asked pointing to something he was hiding behind his back.

"Choose a hand." He smirked.

"I'm not five." I giggled.

"Eh sometimes you act like it." He laughed too. 

"Rude." I glared at him.

"For goodness sake just pick a hand!" He raised his voice. 

"Tate's right you have no patience, but fine, right hand." I gleamed. 

"Nope." He revealed his right hand. 

"Left." I sighed frustratingly. 

"Nope." He slowly revealed his other hand.

"Then wh-" 

"BOO" He said jumping towards my face.

"Don't fucking do that!" I said almost pissing myself. 

"They are on my hands." He said while dying in hysterics. 

"The gloves?" I questioned the brown leather gloves that left the fingers unhidden. It almost looked like the center of them were silk, or even velcro. 

"Yes, thank God. I almost thought the bleachers really affected you." He answered while slipping the gloves on my hands.

"They feel great, what are they for?" 

"Well Tate made these for you, and now he's making a knife that will respond to these. Per my request." Ralph's eyes sparkled. 

"What do you mean?"

"Like a boomerang almost, just now it's a kniferang." He chuckled. 

"So when I throw a knife with these gloves on, I don't have to go get it?" I said while starting to get excited. 

"Exactly, just keep your hand open after releasing it and it should come right back." He replied noticing my excitement.

"That's amazing thank you so much, I can't believe Tate can do this." I exclaimed while hugging Ralph. 

"You aren't alone there, one day I was just explaining to Tate everyone's specialty and he helped me create this idea for you." 

"Girl you coming!" Alex came running in. It's Friday night which means the girls have their time together since "sAtUrDaY iS fOr ThE bOyS." 

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" I smiled back towards Ralph. 

"Thank you." I mouthed as Alex grabbed my hand and we went towards our cots. 

Alex POV

"Come on slow poke as soon as Ralph leaves I can tell you all about you know who!!!" I whispered while legit dragging Briana. She is so slow and stupid sometimes. 

I hate talking about boys and gossip, it makes me angry for some reason. I take personal moments and thoughts seriously. My love life is something I count personal so I usually disregard it, but I really need advice from my best friend who of course had to fall into the bleachers and take time out of our session. 

"Ok sit." I demanded as I shoved her onto her sleeping bag. 

"Damn someone has news, miss.bossy. Or should I say mrs.bossy." She laughed while wiggling her eyebrows. 

"Stop." I silenced her.

"Hey guys..." Jaanai came up to us.

"Oh my god finally!!!" Briana said spontaneously while jumping up and hugging her. 

Jaanai already looked like she regretted this. 

We've invited her to all our girl talks since the beginning but she never came. We understood at first because we thought it was her time with Jack but their days are Sundays. So we were a little annoyed with her "so much better than us" attitude but in reality she's just scared, like us all. 

"Yea Yea I get it." She began to speak while practically taking Briana off of her. "The boys can hear everything you say in here by the way, they always talk about it. I have a way safer spot that's a lot more comfier." She smiled while whispering.

"Hell yeah, I'm in, ew" I said while standing up quickly going over how many things Briana and I have said to each other during these times. 

We followed Jaanai up many flights of stairs, through dark eerie hallways that repeat any noise you make, and countless rooms until we finally stopped at a really cute daycare. 

"This was for the really sick kids, that's why it's so far from everything else." Jaanai explained. 

The walls were yellow and pink with clouds and birds images painted over the pastel colors. Toys were sprawled across the floor along with books and crumbs of food. 

Jaanai started opening up cabinets and drawers. 

"What are you doing?" Briana questioned.

"They usually have reading cushions." She replied.

"Oh yeah those are great." I added while helping her look. 

After we discovered the yellow, blue, and pink cushions in the small pantry, we arranged them in a circle and started talking. 

Jaanai was generally funny and kind once you got past her critical, cautious figure. She explained how you are taught to carefully analyze someone before fully letting your guard down around them. That's why she hides, to observe, and also to avoid harsh training sessions. She despises violence. Even if it's for justice, she would rather let it be handled the way the law says it should. Ironic isn't it. She has attended all her fitness trainings, just not combat or weaponry. 

"At least you're staying fit." Briana shrugged her shoulders while taking another dried banana chip. 

"Yeah I'm not an idiot. We are going to need to run, or at least have strength to break something to escape." She whispered. 

"Yep." I was getting pissed at her stupidity even though she believes she's not an idiot. 

"Ok enough about stuff we hear everyday, Alex talk about lover boy." Briana said with her mouth full. 

"OOO Hunter." Jaanai stated while grabbing her knees to her chest.

"Is it that obvious?" I asked with gritted teeth.

"Yup." She replied shortly. 

"I mean, he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend or anything, but he always want's my opinion on things, and he's always talking to me about his deep feelings, like how he misses his family. Just like he would do on text. I really like him, but he doesn't drop any hints and he literally has balls why should I figuratively grow them and ask him myself." I said huffing. 

"I know for a fact he likes you, maybe he just doesn't even know what that feeling is, you know?" Jaanai tried to reassure me. 

"Yea we've been hidden for our whole lives. You were his first friend, and he barely knew what that was." Briana said while shoving her face with more food. 

"So more time?" I said angry.

"Yeah sorry girl." Jaanai said.

"If you want him to ask then yea I don't see anything else to do." Briana swallowed. 

"I can get Jack to be like "So you and Alex huh?" And maybe that'll start his train of thought." Jaanai smiled. 

"Yes perfect." I sighed with relief, that makes me feel ten times better. 

"Briana you were the talk of the party last Saturday." Jaanai suddenly mentioned.

"What?" Briana asked.

"Yea Jack tells me everything haha." She giggled.

"Im surprised usually I just hear the fights." Briana stated.

"Briana!" I shushed her. 

"It's fine I know we get pretty loud. I just worry about everything, and so does he. Not a good combo sometimes." She sighed.

"Sorry I need to work on thinking before I speak." Briana looked at me ashamed. 

"Kadyn says that about you." Jaanai answered her.

"Great, another thing he hates about me huh? He must got a whole list." She ranted.

"I think it's the complete opposite." Jaanai laughed. 

I joined in on some giggles, glad I'm not the only one who noticed that opposites definitely attract. 

"Whatever, let's dance it out." Briana said while rubbing her hands on her pants. 

"Dance it out?" Jaanai questioned and started to stand up. 

"Yep, just dance away all the emotions and allow your body to feel complete happiness. You are around friends! You are around forbidden children living life, enjoy it." I said while setting up the digital iPod Briana and I found while cleaning out the basement for weaponry sessions. 

"Hmm." She breathed heavily.

"Come on gurl loosen up!!!" Briana screamed while grabbing her arms and shaking her. 

The music blasted throughout the rest of the night melting away any pain, any guilt, any burdens. Briana, Jaanai, and I would be found beating each other senseless with pillows and laughing like hyenas for hours on end. 

That was the best night I've had in awhile.