Chapter 127 - The Scars Of The Past Part 3

(Disclaimer: This chapter contains scenes of violence and mild gore that some readers may find disturbing.)

The other me tossed her knife, "I can't believe you lost them so easily."

I looked up at the sky, "How far are we from the border?"

"A few days."

We continued to walk. I barely slept the entire journey. Not like I needed to in the first place. It wasn't like I could sleep even if I tried. A few hours here and a few hours there was the best I could do.

When I was hungry, I'd steal from a farm I passed by. It's not like they would notice it missing. After a few days, we arrived at the border.

The other me laughed, "Wow. Even though it's medieval times, they still protect the border as if their lives depended on it."

"It isn't medieval times." I answered flatly.

She rolled her eyes, "It was an expression."

"PoonPoon."

The monkey lifted his head out of the bag and looked at me. Not only had Bertram followed me, but PoonPoon had as well. He was a bit sad he could no longer hide in my hair, but he didn't dare voice his disapproval.

I looked at him, "I need you to cause a distraction. Get the border officer's attention so I can get over the wall. When you hear my whistle, it's safe to come find me."

PoonPoon nodded in understanding.

The other me laughed, "How can a monkey understand? Doesn't that seem impossible?"

I ignored her and got into position. PoonPoon went in front of the border security officers and started dancing.

They smiled, "Oh look! A monkey."

"How cute!"

"Wait, do we have monkeys here?"

Taking advantage of the distraction, I jumped over the fence and ran away. When I was far enough away, I whistled out. I waited a bit for PoonPoon. When he arrived, he hopped back into my bag, and I continued on my way.

I walked from city to city, making sure no one checked for my identification. Luckily, the country was poor and seemed to have a lot of orphans and commoners living on the streets. So I didn't stick out at all.

I came to a more populated city and roamed around. I didn't really know what I was looking for, but I also didn't care.

My stomach growled as I walked by the stalls on the street. My mouth watered at the smell of candied yams. The other me had a mischievous grin, "You should just steal one. Come on, they won't notice."

I hesitated at the stall, but kept going. The other me frowned, "What's wrong with you? Why wouldn't you grab one? Aren't you hungry? They will probably throw those away anyway."

I smirked at her and pulled a candied yam out of my pocket. "Who said I didn't grab one?"

The other me grinned largely and chuckled. "You're getting better at that, little butterfingers."

Although stealing can help me get food and other necessities, I need to find something more lucrative to make money off of.

Even though this is a neighboring country, it should still have a red light district. Those are pretty universal. It's probably the best bet I have for finding a job. Illegal or legal.

As I walked around the red light district, I noticed it was a lot more populated than the one back home. It may even be more popular than the one in the Imperial City.

I passed two younger men who spoke in excitement. "Come on! The fights starting soon!"

"Who are you going to bet on?"

"Definitely that Racer kid! He's a lot bigger and more experienced."

I stopped and watched as they ran off. A malicious grin spread across my face.

Gambling? Count me in.

I quickly followed after them. They went down several alleys until they came to a secretive small stadium. It almost looked like a boxing ring. Dozens of men shouted and screamed at the two fighting in the middle.

As I watched the fighting in front of me, my blood felt as if it was boiling in excitement. This is what I was missing. This is what I was looking for.

The other me let out a nasty smile, "What whimps. We could totally take them."

I let out a low chuckle, "I have an idea."

_____

I hopped back panting and wiped the blood from my mouth. The man twice my size collapsed on the ground, not even budging.

The referee raised my hand, "And the Jackrabbit does it again!!! An overwhelming victory!! Can anybody stop him?!"

The crowd shouted, "D*mn! I lost!"

"I didn't think he would be able to hit him three times!!! I thought he'd go down sooner!"

The announcer continued, "It seems like everyone is after the Jackrabbits life, even though he always spares theirs! Today the opponent actually managed to cut the Jackrabbit not once, not twice, but three times!!! A new record! Anyone who has won, please find the bookie!"

I stepped out of the ring with an irritated expression. My side was bleeding from the wound I had gotten while fighting. Although Dante's training had been beneficial, I still wasn't perfect.

The man I faced was almost three times my size. I was faster and more skilled at the sword, but he had a size advantage. The bookie smiled at me when I went over.

"Good job kid. You got real talent."

I grabbed the bag of money from his hand and grumbled in response.

I sat in an alley dressing my wound. The other me frowned, "I can't believe you let him hit you three times."

I ignored her.

She clicked her tongue, "Why wouldn't you just kill him? He was obviously trying to kill you."

I shrugged, "Why should I kill when I could just knock him out?"

I stood up and started walking away. She followed me while tossing a knife. "Aren't you angry? Hurting them makes you feel good, right? Just think about how good you will feel if you killed them."

I entered a bathhouse and threw money on the counter. "A private room please."

The worker nodded and led me down the hall, "This one has just been prepared. Will you require assistance?"

"No." I growled back. She bowed and left quickly. As I undressed the other me laughed loudly.

"She thinks you're a boy!!! Hah! You never even told anyone you were a boy, yet they assume you are one!!"

I ignored her and got into the warm porcelain tub. I began to clean my wounds and body. The other me snickered as she leaned against the tub. "You're covered in scars now. Don't they consider that ugly here?" She spoke in a mocking tone, "Now you won't be able to get married."

I looked in the mirror. Most of my wounds had either healed into nasty looking scars, or were still bleeding. It was due to months of underground street fighting where killing was discouraged, but not punished.

At first, I suffered many wounds. My ankle still wasn't the strongest and my challengers knew it was my weakness. But weakness can be turned to strength.

I lured them in to attack it, but was able to counter them and bring them down. After that, I was undefeated. My ankle was weak, but I had learned to fight around it...

The other me smiled as she traced my face, "Good thing no one has managed to hurt that pretty face of yours."

I crinkled my face in anger at my reflection. Disgusting.

The other me smiled as she played with her knife. "They are the ones who made you like this. Aren't you angry?"

I got out of the bath and redressed my wounds. I was covered in bandages by the time I finished. I put on my clothes and headed out. I returned to the shack where I lived, along with a lot of other orphans and homeless young adults.

I noticed a group of young adults sitting around, discussing something with serious expressions. They noticed me and stopped. The leader of the gang jumped up, "Oi! Jackrabbit come here. We have a job. You interested?"

I walked over with a scowl. I responded curtly, "What job?"

A wicked smile crossed his face, "We have another assassination request."

I rolled my eyes, "Not interested."

"You will be when you hear this. They are offering gold. Bags of it!"

I hesitated, "Gold?"

Another spoke, "Yeah! They want us to kill someone high profile."

The leader spoke, "We are in charge of separating the target from the knights who guard him."

I felt a creeping feeling in my stomach, "Who?"

The leader looked around making sure no one else overheard, "The Prince of the neighboring kingdom."

"William." I repeated flatly.

He smiled, "Yeah, that's the one. Isn't he from the country you are from? At least, you talk like you're from there."

I tightened my fists.

I smiled, "That's right. I'm from there." I looked at him, "Explain to me this plan of yours."

He looked excited, "I knew you'd help us!!" He led me over to the middle where they had mapped something out, "The Prince participates in this yearly parade. The plan is to separate him from the rest of the group using a bomb as a diversion. Then, once we get him alone, there will be too many of us that he won't be able to kill all of us."

I shook my head, "That won't work. The knights won't allow him to be ambushed so easily."

He sneered, "That's the best part. They've already infiltrated the knights. When he is isolated, the knights will be able to force him down the alley where we will be waiting to ambush him." He clicked his tongue, "The only problem is that loyal dog of his."

Dante.

He continued, "That's why the knights will stay back to fight him while we take care of the Prince."

I looked over the plan again and clicked my tongue, "It's actually a pretty good plan."

He smiled proudly, "We'll be counting on you to help us over the border and blend in."

I nodded, "I'm just curious... Who hired you for this? This is actually pretty meticulous planning. There's even a plan for every little thing that may go wrong."

He shrugged, "Don't know. The person had a sword with a symbol of the knights. But he kept his identity hidden."

Another spoke, "He was just a footman though. He mentioned his boss would pay us handsomely if we managed to succeed."

The other me had a violent smile as she tossed her blade, "Aren't you angry?"

I smirked and crossed my arms. I leaned against a building in an arrogant fashion. "I'm just curious... Why would you guys want to assassinate the Prince? He doesn't even belong to your kingdom."

-Aren't you angry?-

"We don't care about the Prince. We just want to make the King suffer. He's the reason why our country is so poor. Plus, it's not just us. His own people hate him. He sucks up to the rich and stomps on the poor."

-Aren't you angry?-

I clenched my jaw, "I see."

-Aren't you angry?-

He smiled at me, "So are you in?"

-Aren't you angry?-

-Aren't you angry?-

-Aren't you angry?-

-Aren't you angry?-

-Aren't you angry?-

I'm f*cking pissed.

I gripped my blade and took it out of the scabbard. The other's noticed my hostility and took out their own knives.

The other me whispered softly in my ear, "This will make you feel better..."

They charged at me.

"Aren't you angry?"

I raised my blade.

"Aren't you angry?"

I slashed mercilessly.

"Aren't you angry?"

I plunged my sword into them without hesitation.

"Aren't you angry?"

The leader bit his lip and my blade pushed deeper into his chest. He struggled to whisper out, "W.. Why..."

"Aren't you angry?"

I stood over their motionless bodies panting for breath. I was covered head to toe in blood. But not a single drop was my own.

It was too easy.

After I caught my breath, I stared down at their bodies with a cold expression. They are just characters in a novel... Right?

My shoulders slumped down. "Why didn't you stop me?"

I turned my head and saw Bertram step out from behind a tree. He looked at me with a complicated expression. After a while he spoke, "Do you feel better?"

"No."

I still feel angry.

He looked at me with unwavering eyes, "When my wife and child died, I thought I would feel better after killing. But I didn't. I only felt empty. I didn't stop you because... It was a decision you had to make on your own."

I smirked, "Well it looks like I made the wrong one."

I dabbed my hand in blood and drew a symbol on the wall.

Bertram looked at it, "That is?"

"A warning to whoever is behind this assassination plot." I spoke in a firm voice, "I will kill anyone who dares try to take another person from me."

We stood in silence for a few moments. I couldn't pull my eyes away from the blood-stained wall. Bertram glanced at me, "So what do you plan to do now?"

My eyes never left the Black Death's insignia. "I think... I want to go home now."

He smiled softly and held out his hand, "Then let's go."

I turned to him, "I have to make a stop on the way home."

"Oh?"

I grabbed his hand. "I think I know who is behind this... But I just need to make sure first."

After all. There was just one character in the original novel who was too suspicious.