Hello there everyone, how's it going?  Well then, here is a new story that I'm writing, and I hope that you all enjoy it!  The story was inspired and recommended to me by my Dearly Beloved girlfriend Inori! I hope that you all enjoy this new story, and I hope you follow it and comment on it!  Oh, and by the way, I may not be able to post that often since my internet will be disconnected soon. (My internet wasn't working these weeks so I was on my IPad, but for now I'll try to post as many chapters as I can.)  Enjoy the story everyone!

 

Prologue: One Goal

 

Muffled cheering can be heard from the locker rooms.  Cheers of fans waiting for their hero to emerge and face his next opponent.  He’s been the talk of the city for months now, claiming that he’s one of the most incredible underdogs in boxing.  He’s one of the only rookies in the sport who’s managed to keep an undefeated winning streak, and critics and sports professionals alike have been dazzled by his abilities.  And now, as the crowd pleads for him, he’s ready to face his next opponent.  And so, the young boxer makes his way to the ring, and as he walks down, the lights of the stadium blind him, but after he’s able to adjust his vision, he sees the legions of fans, screaming his name. He smirks and waves to the crowd and strikes a battle pose, and then he heads towards the ring, ready for a fight.

 

And so, with the match about to begin, commentators Nick Brandon and George Smith aim to excite the crowd before the big fight.  Nick looks at George reassuringly, and George starts off the hype: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our exclusive live boxing match of Markus Dominic versus Lance Storm!”  This is a battle that everyone has been waiting for, a match some say, that’s once in a lifetime, isn’t that right Nick?”  Nick smiles and waves his arm excitedly at the crowd and says: “That’s right George, and who would have thought that the rookie Markus Dominic would rise above the ranks and face off against one of the industry giants?”  George nods in agreement and fixes his tie.  “How right you are Nick, it’s a surprising fact to us all.  He came out of nowhere just eight months ago, and just look at him now, with his legions of fans and his skills to back him up.  He’s unstoppable!”

 

They both nod in agreement, and the fans roar of excitement.  “Well, it seems that the crowd is hyped for this match, don’t you think so Nick?”  Nick nods and looks excited himself.  “That’s correct George! And now, ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the match!”  As they continue discussing the latest news in sports events, Markus looks eagerly at his opponent Lance, and Markus’ coach, Mr. Craig, looks at him with a concerned look on his face.  Markus then looks at Mr. Craig, and his smirk fades into a frown.  “Hey, why the long face?” he asks.  Mr. Craig sighs and says: “Look Markus, we both know how talented you are, but Lance is a tough customer, and trust me when I say that it’s bad for you to fight him!”  Markus rolls his eyes and says: “Stop being so overprotective, your worse than my parents. Look, I know the risks that came along with this, but I’m prepared for whatever happens.  You just worry about keeping me up to speed and stitching me up when I get down, okay?”  Mr. Craig nods reluctantly, and Markus’ smirk comes back to his face, and he turns around to face the crowd and wave at them and get them even more excited for the match.  Mr. Craig then thinks to himself: “That boy.  I fear that one day he’s going to get beat down hard, and he may not get back up.  Why is it that those in youth must be so reckless?”  He then goes to the side of the ring and looks onward to the fighters.

 

Markus heads over to Lance, and he nods at him and then the referee makes his way to the ring, and he starts going over the rules.  Markus just ignores him. “Yeah, yeah, we get it already.  You don’t have to constantly be mentioning the rules you know…”

 

Then, when the referee finishes, he rings the bell, and the match begins.  Lance looks at Markus with no show of concern or intimidation in his face.  “Well kid, you made good to get this far, but every rookie must have his first loss.”  Markus laughs and says: “Ha, you wish!”  And then the match begins, and Markus quickly performs a jab to Lance’s jaw, then followed by an uppercut and then he strikes his ribs.  Nick and George marvel at his abilities.  “Unbelievable!  He’s one fast fighter, I mean, the match just started and he’s already taking care of Lance!  Just incredible!  Can you believe this Nick?”  Nick follows up while cheering on for Markus.  “I know how you feel George!  It’s hard to believe that a rookie could have such skill!”  The crowd goes wild as Markus keeps dishing out punishing blows to Lance.  Markus concentrates fully on his opponent, and he immerses himself in the match, drawing out all noise and distraction and only focusing on his target.  And with just the right timing, Markus delivers a fatal jab to Lance’s jaw and he smirks, as he sees Lance’s body falling to the mat.

 

The crowd stands up in anticipation, and Nick and George are awe struck.  Then the referee starts the count.  Markus smirks and lays back on the ropes, relaxing as everyone is cheering his name.  “This is incredible George, just five minutes into the match and he already decimated Lance!”, Nick says in bewildered amazement.  When the referee reaches the count of ten, he declares that the match is over and that Markus is the winner.  Everyone roars of approval as the referee raises his arm.  Nick and George stand up and clap their hands, and they have quite the smiles on their faces.  “Wow Nick, that was quite the spectacular show!  That was truly amazing!”  Nick smiles and pats George’s shoulder and replies: “We only see these kinds of things every once in a lifetime.  This kid’s going to the hall of fame for sure!  He’s elevated his winning streak to 18-0!  Just incredible!”  Markus smirks and makes his way out of the ring and towards the locker room, along with Mr. Craig.

 

“What did I tell you Craig?  I told you I would own that chump.” Markus says with a smirk on his face.  Mr. Craig smiles and shakes his head. “Boy, you have some unnatural luck, you keep coming out of these matches like if they were nothing but rag dolls.” Markus laughs and says: “It’s not luck Craig, it’s skill, and besides, I learned it all from the best coach around.”  Mr. Craig smiles and nods in agreement and then he fetches his keys.  “Okay sunshine, I’m going to rev up the truck, so pack up and let’s go home.  Oh, and by the way, someone’s expecting you.” Mr. Craig says.  Markus raises an eyebrow, but before he can ask, he hears a familiar voice: “Oh come on now Markus, did you already forget me?”  And out of the hallway comes a beautiful woman with green eyes and curly hazel hair perfectly flowing to her shoulders, with quite the features and attractive face.  Markus smiles and says: “I’d never forget you, sweetheart.  Come here.”  They smile and kiss each other, just the kind of kiss you’d see in romantic movies.  The woman smiles and says: “You won again.”

----------------------------

 

A man’s goal becomes his obsession.  As he gains more fame, his values disappear.  Will he awaken before it’s too late?  Or will reality crumble before his very eyes?  Stay tuned for Chapter One: “The Next Step.”

 

How right you are brother!  So then, here's the next chapter, enjoy!

 

Chapter Thirty: Phase Six, Facing Yourself

 

  Early in the morning, Markus wakes up and feels drowsy, and he notices that he’s in a tent.  He immediately thinks of Quincy and smiles and then lays back and keeps sleeping.  But his rest is cut short as Quincy calls out to him and urges him to come out.  After a few seconds, Markus comes out of the tent and he sees Quincy sitting on the tree stump quietly, as if in a pensive mood.  “Hey old man…is something wrong?”  Quincy stays quiet for a few seconds, and then he turns to face Markus and then crosses his arms.  “Markus, it’s time for phase six of your training.”  Markus nods and stands up.  “All right, what do I have to do now?  Do I have to fight a bear?  Outrun a pack of wolves?” he says laughing, but then he notices that Quincy is dead serious, and then the old man raises his hand.  “Sit down Markus.” Markus does as he’s told and he sits down, and then Quincy looks at him, examining him, and then he speaks.  “You are strong, boy.  But you still lack your inner peace.”  Markus looks at the old man quizzically. “What do you mean?”  Quincy then stands up.  “You still have to face the facts of your past.”

 

  Markus starts saying something but then is cut short by Quincy.  “You’ve made peace with the deaths of Keera and Craig, but you still haven’t forgiven yourself.”  At that, Markus stays dead quite, and then he looks towards the horizon, where the sun is rising.  “Forgiven myself…?”  Quincy nods.  “You’ve accepted the errors of the past, but you haven’t forgiven yourself for having been brash and ignorant and foolish.  You’ve run away from yourself.  You have become strong, but psychologically, you are still a broken man, affected by the way you once were.”  Markus stays silent and looks to his hands, and then he remembers his past, of how foolish and selfish he was, of how careless and reckless he would be.  He remembered the way he scolded everyone and didn’t have a care in the world.  About how he didn’t give a damn for anyone but himself.  “And what do you seek to prove with this, old man?”  Quincy looks at Markus and then he stands up.  “Phase Six, Face Yourself.”  With that, he leaves Markus alone, and Markus simply stays there, thinking about the words Quincy said just now.  Instantly he feels the weight of sadness over him, a sadness, he thinks, is too much to bear.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LbkxP_UCBQ

  Left with no other choice, Markus does as Quincy told him, and he finds that the best way to face himself is to go back into his memory and remember the events of the past.  He closes his eyes as he lets the calm breeze sink into him.  Suddenly, flashes of memory go through his mind, and out of all those memories, he remembers something that he holds dear to himself: the day he was found by Mr. Craig.  Instantly he saw how his younger self was mourning over the loss of his father, sadly looking at his grave.  He saw how cold and lonely he felt.  Not soon after, his mother had died as well, and he was left all alone.  Not even a few months passed, and he was already in the streets, fending for himself and brawling with thugs just to get something to eat. He would spend his days mourning over the loss of his parents, and he would feel even sadder when he remembered that no one else in his family cared about him.  Not his aunts, his uncles, anyone.  He was all alone.  He had to fight to stay alive, and he had to earn his way in life if he was ever going to get anywhere.  As he walked through the streets throughout the years, he became cold and unflinching, not giving in to petty emotions like love or kindness.  His heart had turned to stone.

 

  Just then, he had noticed a faded poster on a nearby bulletin board, and he ripped off the poster and looked at it, and he noticed the image of a boxer.  A famous boxer, no doubt, and then he noticed that there was a small training building nearby, and he could hear the sounds of people training inside.  Quietly, he made his way into the building, and he sat right next to where the door was, and he watched as other men were training and honing their boxing skills.  Markus had felt amazed the minute he stepped in there, and he couldn’t help but feel a certain curiosity when it came to this style of combat.  No one seemed to notice him, since he was hidden in plain sight.  He always made sure to hide so that the owner wouldn’t kick him out.  After the training sessions were over, he would go to an alley which he called home, and he would practice the boxing techniques he’d seen the other boxers do, and he started to train himself, to be prepared for whatever would come at him.  He would get better with each passing day, and so he began to have more ambition.

 

  As the months passed, he would hold his own more often in street brawls, and he would scoff the kids he’d fight, and he would brag about his skills, which only caused more trouble for him.  Then one day, he saw a young boy passing through the street, accompanied by his mother and father.  Markus instantly felt a tinge of sorrow and bitterness fall upon him, for he remembered that he had no parents, and seeing the boy so happy with his parents made him angry.  So angry in fact, that he went towards them, and he beat them up mercilessly.  He broke the boy’s nose and savagely beat the boy’s parents.  The boy cried as Markus beat them up, and after Markus had seen what he had done, he was overcome with shock and regret.  How had he become this person?  How had he stooped so low?  Instantly, he fled, and he hid to the safety of the alleys, where he thought would be his only chance at being safe.  Markus felt great remorse for what he had done, but at the same time he felt a sense of pleasure at doing what he had done.  He immediately felt horrified for feeling this way, and he conflicted himself over his emotions.  With nowhere else to think clearly, he went back towards the training building that he always went to.

 

  As usual, he arrived to the training building undetected, and the minute he got in, he sat in his usual spot where he could watch all the other boxers while staying hidden.  Watching them practice their techniques made him feel better, and although he still felt horrible guilt over what he had done earlier, he found that his pain was eased as he watched these boxers practice their skills.  After the training session was over, Markus quietly crept towards the exit, when suddenly he felt someone behind him.  Nervous, and uncertain of what to say, he simply looked down to the floor and turned around, and expecting to get a beating, he simply felt a hand on his shoulder.  When he looked up, he saw the trainer of the boxers, Mr. Craig, looking at him with sympathetic eyes.  “What?  I don’t need your sympathy…I was watching…you got a problem with that?”  the young Markus said with bold eyes. With that, Mr. Craig smiles and he heads over to the ring and leaves the room, leaving Markus alone.  At first, Markus thought this to be some kind of trick, but then, after a few minutes, he happily got on the boxing ring, and he started practicing his skills on a punching bag, and he felt happy and satisfied.  He thought of the old man, and he wondered if he had known that he snuck in here all along, and he had chosen to let him watch his trainees.  Whatever the case, Markus, in his own way, showed gratitude to Mr. Craig for this.

 

  The hours passed, and Markus kept training and training and training until he was all tuckered out and he felt so exhausted that he needed to get some rest.  Looking towards the exit, Markus sadly started walking away, until he saw Mr. Craig standing outside the door, looking up at the stars.  “It’s a cold night tonight.  I reckon you shouldn’t be out with this cold weather about.  I think you should rest here.”  He smiled at young Markus, who instantly felt admiration for this man, who had willingly let him in his training building, as if he was one of his own trainees.  “Um, thank you Mister…”  The old man raised his hand and reached out for the boy’s.  “The name’s Craig, son.  Mr. Craig.”  The young boy smiled and shook Mr. Craig’s hand.  “I’m Markus!  Markus Dominic!”  Mr. Craig smiled warmly at the boy, and then he put his arm over his shoulder.  “All right then Markus, I’m in the mood for some hot cocoa.  Do you want some?”  Markus smiled and nodded.  “Sure, I’d like some very much!”

(End Song Here)

 

  With that, they went inside to drink warm cocoa.  Instantly, the flashes of memory went over Markus’ mind, and he saw before his eyes the kindness with which Mr. Craig raised him, and how he taught him to hold his own in a fight.  He saw all the times when he had been cold that Mr. Craig came to him and gave him a warm blanket.  All the times when he would be hungry that Mr. Craig would give him food, freshly made and ready to eat.  As Markus felt these flashes of memory pass before his eyes, he felt tears rolling down his cheeks, as he realized just how much the old man had meant to him.  He had been a father figure, as much of a good father as he was a trainer.  Markus failed to see the value of that until it was too late.  He just wanted to open his eyes, but he found himself drifting in his memories, until he started seeing flashes of his memories from his teenage years.  “Quincy told me I had to face myself.  So I have to get through this…” Markus said to himself as he prepared to encounter his innermost memories.  All of this time, never did he think that he would ever go such in depth into his own persona.  It’s something that practically surprised him, and it’s something he felt he had to experience.  And so, the memory began to play in his head.

------------------

As Markus sees the moments of his past flash before him, he must do as Quincy had said.  He must face himself, and he must come to terms with the errors he made, and with the errors he already accepted.  But can he ever forgive himself?  Next time, Chapter Thirty One: “Meeting Keera.”

Edited October 23, 201312 yr by Golden Fighter

That's such a sad beginning for Markus.

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them!  Now then, here's the next chapter!

 

Chapter Thirty One: Meeting Keera

 

  It was a bright and warm morning, and the school bell had rung.  Markus was in the nearby park when he heard the bell ring, and he trod down towards Silver Peak High, and he went into school, walking alone, not bothering to look at anyone that happened to pass by him.  Even though Markus had a loving father figure like Mr. Craig to look after him, that didn’t mean that it was easy for him to try to be a part of the crowd.  He wanted to fit in, and he wanted to make friends, but everyone seemed to give him the cold shoulder.  He learned to come to terms with it, and so, during all his time in school, he’d go to his classes, he’d go to the lunchroom, he’d go to the park, and take the rest of his classes then go home.  Even the girls were rather distant towards him, as if he was some sort of ghost.  He didn’t understand why they were this way.  Was everyone in the world this cruel?  Slowly but surely, he went to his locker to get his things when the local bully, Ashton Griffin, came to dash his spirits.

 

  “Hey there loser!  Why the long face?  You look like you could use some company!”  The other kids laughed as Ashton punched Markus’ arm.  Markus ignored Ashton and just walked away.  “Hey, don’t turn your back on me you dweeb!”  Then everyone started cheering for Ashton, for everyone knew that whoever turned their back on Ashton was in for a world of hurt.  Everyone was seemingly against Markus, but he noticed this one girl, one girl in particular who couldn’t take her eyes off of him.  For a moment he felt paralyzed, and he felt as though he had made a friend.  He thought it strange since the only thing he did was look at the girl, but he instantly felt a strong connection.  When he came back to, he noticed Ashton was about to punch his face when Markus counterattacked and pinned Ashton to the ground.  Markus smiled underneath his serious composure, and he then stood up against the other bullies.  “What?  You want to get beat up too?”  He raised his fist and the other bullies ran away, while Ashton headed off elsewhere.  The other teens seemingly left the hallways, for they had seen all that they had to see.  Markus noticed that the girl he had looked at a few minutes ago was still there.  The only one who stayed after everyone had left.  Markus looked around, just to make sure that he wasn’t dreaming.  The girl smiled and giggled and she slowly walked toward him.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6uiijYqXnI

  “Um…hi.  I’m not exactly good at these kinds of things, but uh, my name’s Markus.”  The girl simply smiled and looked at him, as if examining him, and then she flipped back her hair and looked at him.  “It seems to me we’re both outcasts, don’t you think so?  My name’s Keera.  It’s nice to meet you Markus.”  With that, Markus didn’t know what else to say.  A gorgeous girl was talking to him, and he could barely form a sentence.  “I, um, uh, what I mean to say is, um, wow, it’s so hot now isn’t it?  This weather is crazy!”  They both looked at each other and started laughing.  “Really?  The weather?  That’s such an old conversation starter you know.”  Markus smiled.  “But hey, I started a conversation didn’t I?”  She smiled and giggled.  “Huh, touché.”  They smiled and they started walking down the hallway, and they went to History Class, and they ignored the professor and they were talking to each other for hours and hours on end.  Markus felt so happy and comfortable talking to Keera, he felt that he had someone to relate to.  He felt so happy, he wanted to tell Mr. Craig about it, for he was sure that Mr. Craig would congratulate him for having met a lady friend.  So he and Keera continued their conversation, and most of their day was absorbed in conversation.

 

  Before they even realized it, the school bell had rung, for it was time to head home.  Markus smiled and he scratched his head, feeling a little bit shy.  “So um, do you want me to walk you home?”  Keera immediately changed her expression, from happy to sad.  Markus immediately felt nervous, and he thought to himself: “Oh boy, she’s thinking that I’m a rapist!  Please don’t think that!”  Keera looked up at Markus, and he felt like he had shrunk to size.  “Um, I’m so sorry if I said something to upset you…”  Keera smiled again and she went to Markus’ side and started walking.  “I don’t…have a home.”  Markus then opened his eyes wide.  How could such a wonderful girl like her be homeless?  “I’m sorry.”  Keera nodded and flipped her hair back.  “It’s okay, it’s not your fault.  I was orphaned at a young age, so yeah, I’ve never had a real family.  And the jerk people here in this school don’t help either, so I’m an outcast.”  Markus looked at her with sympathy, the same way that Mr. Craig had looked at him when he was a young boy, and he looked to the distance.

 

   “Wow, how are you able to pay for the stuff in school?”  Keera nods and clasps her hands together.  “I make paintings and sell them to people so I can get by, and I also work at a nearby restaurant as the cook.”  Markus felt such admiration for this girl, for she practically worked to get her education.  “Hey Keera, if it’s not too much trouble, would you like to come home?  I’m sure Mr. Craig would love to have a guest!”  She smiled and nodded.  “Okay, sure why not?”  They both smiled and headed towards Mr. Craig’s training building, and when they got there, they found Mr. Craig outside fixing some crates, and he welcomed them both with open arms.  “Well hey there Markus.  Ah, I see you got a lady friend with you!  Good work boy!”  Markus immediately flushed with embarrassment and made a gesture for Mr. Craig to stop, and the old man instantly caught the message.  “Anyways, come inside folks, I got some steak and mashed potatoes with fries and Corned Beef on the side.  Come on in!” Everyone went inside, and Markus showed Keera around the building, and she smiled while Markus explained what each thing in the gym was for, and she smiled at the fact that he was sharing something he loved with her.  She felt such a strong connection with him, and she knew they had just met, in fact, she knew this was just like in cliché romance movies, but she felt so happy with him.

 

  “So, I’m guessing Mr. Craig’s a good dad, isn’t he?”  She says smiling at Markus.  With that, Markus smiles and he sits down near the ring, and he looks up at the ceiling.  “Yeah, he’s been a great dad.  He took me in when I was homeless, he gave me shelter, and he even taught me self defense.  He’s been a hell of a guy.”  Keera smiles and holds Markus’ hand.  “You’re lucky that you can have someone like him in your life.  People like him rarely come by in life.  You should always be grateful for having him around.”  Markus nods and he blushes as he feels the warmth of Keera’s hand on his.  “Yeah, your right.”  They looked into each other’s eyes, and for a moment, they felt as if time had stood still, and they gazed into each other’s eyes, feeling a swelling pool of emotions flood into them.  They couldn’t explain it, but they felt so alive being together.  Just when Markus was about to say something, Mr. Craig came in to announce that dinner was ready.  He smiled as he left to serve dinner, and Markus scratched his head and then he led Keera to the kitchen.  “Well then Keera, you’re about to taste the world famous culinary goodness of my good old man, Mr. Craig.”

(End Song Here)

 

  She smiled at Markus’ friendly bragging of Mr. Craig, for it showed that sweet side of him that she had immediately noticed when they met.  Markus felt such joy and he felt so important, and Mr. Craig noticed the happiness in the boy’s eyes, and he was happy for him.  And so they started eating, and over the course of the evening they talked about funny things, silly things, serious things, and everything in between.  The more hours passed, the more Markus felt a stronger connection to Keera, and he felt a strong tug of his heart, urging him to make a move.  But at the same time, he thought that this was too quick.  He had just met this girl, and he was already going to ask her out?  It sounded ridiculous, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but dream of a date with Keera.  They kept on conversing as the hours passed, and Keera loved Mr. Craig’s food so much that she asked for another serving, and then another, and then another once more!  Mr. Craig felt proud of his cooking skills, and Markus rolled his eyes, happy that the old man was enjoying it as much as he was.

 

  Just as happy as he had felt, he was immediately pulled back to the present, remembering that he was only remembering the past and not living in it.  Markus felt saddened that he hadn’t noticed such a wonderful time in his life.  He slowly realized what Quincy meant by facing himself.  Markus took a long and deep breath, and just as he was about to open his eyes anew, he found himself being pulled back to yet another memory.  But this one wasn’t as far back as he would have thought.  This memory is from his first boxing match, something he remembered very well.  Markus inhaled and exhaled and prepared for the flood of emotions that would follow with the memory.  He just wanted to open his eyes, for he felt like he was running out of air.  But something inside him was telling him to stay put and see these memories unfold.  Markus had no other choice but to stay put and let the memories keep flowing back into his head.  And so, with resolve and determination to see this through, Markus yet again plunged into the full extent of this current memory, hoping to finally be able to come to terms with himself.

-------------------

Markus keeps seeing the events of the past flowing through his mind.  He’s seen all that he’s lived and experienced, both good and bad.  But what more awaits in his memories?  Find out in Chapter Thirty Two: “How A Man Turned Into A Beast.”

So that's how Markus and Keera met. I wouldn't have guessed that she was homeless like Markus was.

 

P.S. If you mentioned that Keera used to be homeless in an ealier chapter I forgot.

Nope, I hadn't mentioned that Keera was homeless in earlier chapters.  Now then, here's the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy!

 

Chapter Thirty Two: How A Man Turned Into A Beast

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PcOAR7vr_M

  As Markus drew a deep breath, he saw this memory unfold before him, and he saw how nervous and excited he was for his first boxing match.  Keera was smiling and reassuring him that everything would be all right, and even if he lost, she would be proud of him for trying.  Mr. Craig was also backing Markus up, giving him encouraging words for the fight ahead.  Markus felt the excitement of the crowd resonate with him, and he smiled as he walked through the crowd towards the ring, and everyone was looking forward to this match.  Markus was going to face one of the industry greats, Dom Williams, a contender for the championship, for his first match.  As soon as the bell rang, Markus went for a full throttle assault, striking recklessly, much to the crowd’s excitement and surprise.  Even Dom was caught unawares as Markus struck quickly and accurately.  Dom smiled and blocked Markus’ attacks, and then he counterattacked with a jab straight to his jaw.  Markus sharply evaded the jab and then countered with a jab of his own, striking Dom in the ribs.  The crowd was going wild for Markus, and they were cheering on for him, eagerly anticipating what he would do next.

 

  Markus smiled and then he turned cocky, and he started taunting Dom, talking trash and even going as far as to spread his arms open and offer Dom a free shot.  Dom was insulted by this, and the crowd gasped of suspense, and just as Dom was going to hit Markus, he dodged and went to the corner of the ring, and he made a yawning gesture.  Everyone was going wild, and Mr. Craig and Keera found Markus’ overconfident act amusing.  Keera clasped her hands together, praying that Markus wouldn’t get hurt during the fight.  He noticed Keera praying for him, and he smiled and went to where she was and gave her a deep and passionate kiss, and then he pulled away and went towards Dom and delivered a series of punches and hooks, going as fast as he could.  The announcers were dazzled by Markus’ speed and prowess in the ring, and they were giving nothing but praise for the rookie.  As the minutes passed, Dom got staggered and started feeling dizzy.  Markus took advantage of this and he delivered a final and brutal uppercut, sending Dom crashing to the mat.  The referee started the count, and when it reached ten, everyone roared with approval.  Markus had just won his first match, and everyone was beaming with excitement.

 

  Keera entered the ring and she kissed Markus over and over, and she was crying of joy, and Mr. Craig entered the ring as well and gave Marks a pat on the back, his face full of pride.  Instantly, reporters and sponsors got in the ring, all wanting to hear a few words from Markus.  But Markus said nothing, and he simply smiled, and with that, he headed towards the locker rooms, and he stretched his arms wide, as if the fight had been nothing to him.  Mr. Craig and Keera had gone to fetch the truck, and Markus saw Dom walking down the hallway.  Dom stopped and glanced at Markus, and he went over to him.  “You know kid, for a rookie, not bad for your first match.”  He stretched out his hand for a handshake, but Markus simply started laughing and scoffed and rejected Dom’s handshake.  “Pfft, you weren’t even a challenge…and they call you one of the greats.”  With that, Dom got instantly angered, but his coach quickly urged him to calm down.  Markus smirked.  “Aw, the animal is being controlled by his master, how adorable!”  Dom ignored the insult and stormed out of the locker room, and Markus felt pleased with himself, and he felt a great surge of pride inside him.

 

  As the weeks passed, Markus become more arrogant, and he began scolding others and eventually he unconsciously started to push away Mr. Craig and Keera.  As the months passed, Markus would win more fights, he would gain more fans and praise, and he would gain more ambition.  Mr. Craig and Keera started worrying about his behavior.  They thought that it was only the pride he felt for winning his first match, but then they realized that his pride was becoming into something dark.  Markus kept honing his skills, constantly isolated from everyone, and then he declared his desire for the championship.  His heart was set on it, and on the news he had heard that Raven Sable was slated to have a match with Markus, and whoever would win would have a chance to face the champion.  Markus immediately saw this as a window of opportunity, and he immediately began making stronger training sessions, and he got absorbed into his training.  Then came the day, the day that he would fight Raven Sable, and he was more than ready to take him on.

(End Song Here)

 

  Keera was looking at him from across the locker room, and she smiled and headed towards him, and she sat down near Markus.  “Well honey, I wish you the best of luck on your match tonight.”  Markus apparently ignored her, since he was practicing his techniques on a punching bag.  Keera felt a little irritated by this, so she cleared her throat and then said again: “Honey, I wish you the best of luck on your match tonight…”  This time, Markus noticed and he smiled and sat down near Keera and kissed her tenderly on her forehead.  “Thanks babe, don’t worry, this will be a piece of cake, the guy has nothing on me.  The championship will be mine for sure!”  Keera stayed silent, and then the fans started roaring of excitement, and Markus anxiously went towards the crowd and he went towards the ring to face Raven Sable.  Raven knew how Markus was, so he didn’t even bother to offer any words of encouragement, let alone any taunts.  Everyone suddenly went dead silent, and the match started, and both of them delivered fatal jabs and hooks to each other, and the crowd then went crazy, as they saw both fighters dishing it out, trying to outdo each other.  Raven was very quick and he adapted to any kind of fighting strategy, because Markus was trying everything, but Raven simply dodged and adapted and changed his fighting arsenal.

 

  They both kept fighting for a few minutes, but then Markus smirked and gained a huge momentum burst and he started dishing out increasingly punishing blows towards Raven Sable, and Raven was not able to dodge or adapt this time.  Raven was facing the pounding of his life, and the fans loved Markus for it.  Markus felt like taking the guy apart, but he knew his limits, and he finished up the match with a fatal jab to Raven’s midsection.  At that, Raven went blank, and he fell to the floor, unconscious, and not likely to get back up any time soon.  Everyone roared with excitement and joy as Markus won the match, and this victory only led to Markus becoming ever more arrogant and ever more ignorant, which caused a rupture between him and his loved ones.  After that match, Markus could think of nothing more but the championship, day in and day out, without rest, without hesitation, without a second thought.  He dreamt, he awoke, he ate, he slept with the championship in his mind.  What had begun as a simple goal became into an all out obsession.  At that, Markus started seeing a flood of memories from three years ago, and the fact that he became such a monster gnawed at his mind, and he couldn’t believe that he had become this.

 

  He was finally able to open his eyes, and when he opened them, he noticed that Quincy was eating an apple, a few feet away from him.  Markus felt the flood of tears falling down his cheeks, and he wiped the tears off his face, and then he made his way to Quincy and he stayed silent, and Quincy crossed his arms, as if in a questioning gesture.  Markus sat beside Quincy, and he took a deep breath and looked towards the horizon.  “Quincy…I’ve been a terrible human being.  I mean, I loved Keera and Mr. Craig with all my heart…I still do…but I treated them like dirt…and I treated everyone around me as if they were nothing but dust.  I’ve been such a horrible person, and the consequences of my actions have been fatal.  I’ve seen just how much of a monster I’ve become.  I often ask myself how I let myself be seduced by something as stupid and insignificant as a championship.  But thanks to this second chance in life, I’ve been able to put my feet on the ground and realize what’s truly important.  My darling daughter Michaela, my beautiful Katrina, my friends Denzel and Joshua, and the ever loving Angelica.  And you Quincy.  You’ve all opened my eyes and helped me become a better person.”

 

  At that, Quincy made an appreciative smile, and he patted Markus’ shoulder and he sighed of relief.  “Well Markus, congratulations, you’ve completed your training.”  Markus looked at Quincy in shock and amazement.  “Wait, you mean to say I’ve done it?  But wasn’t there ten phases?”  Quincy smiles and he looks at Markus and nods in disapproval.  “Well boy, this was the most vital part of your training, and it was the most important, and you proved to me that you have what it takes to face any battle that comes to you in your life.  Not only did you accept the mistakes of your past, but you accepted what you had become, and you embraced the second chance life gave you.  So now, all that’s left for you is to take the final step and fight Raven Sable.  Hehe, I know you have it in you boy.  Now that you’ve finally made peace with yourself, now you can be able to face anything.”  Markus smiled appreciatively and hugged Quincy, and he started crying, feeling tired and relieved that his training had finally been completed.  “There there Markus, there there.  It’s all right boy.” Quincy said as he returned Markus’ hug.

-------------------- 

 

Markus has finally overcome everything that he had to overcome.  Now that he’s ready physically and mentally, he’s now ready to face Raven Sable, in the battle that will define his next step in life.  But first, he has a family to return to.  Be prepared for Chapter Thirty Three: “Homecoming.”

Okay, here's the next chapter!  Enjoy everyone! ^_^

 

Chapter Thirty Three: Homecoming

 

  The next day, as Markus and Quincy returned to the city, he felt strange, and he found the crowds of people overwhelming.  Quincy looked over his shoulder and noticed that Markus was spaced out, and he smiled and went over to him and pat his shoulder.  “Don’t worry kiddo, this is natural.  You’ve been away from the city for a week now, so it’s only normal that you feel out of place.  Now come on, let’s get going, your family’s waiting for you!”  Markus shook his head appreciatively and he followed Quincy as they made their way through the busy city streets and they found themselves in the neighborhood a few minutes later.  Markus immediately felt his heart pounding.  He was going to see Michaela and Katrina after one whole week of being apart from them.  He didn’t even know what he was going to say.  He felt ridiculous and silly, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but smile.  After a few more minutes, Markus heard Michaela’s excited voice, and she quickly stormed through the door and she went to hug Markus tight, and Markus happily returned his daughter’s embrace, and Angelica and Katrina were smiling as they were watching from the windows.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeB8SysPiFE

  “Daddy, I missed you!  You were gone for a whole week!” Michaela said as she hugged Markus tight, not wanting to let go.  Markus felt tears roll down her cheeks, and he instantly started crying as well.  “I know baby, I’m sorry I was gone for so long, I was busy getting stronger.” he said as he lovingly kissed Michaela.  They pulled away from the hug and Markus patted her hair and then he wiped off her tears.  “So, what were you up to while I was gone?”  Michaela immediately smiled and she held Markus’ hand and took him to the porch, and she sat on the stairs, and he sat beside her, and she eagerly showed him a pair of slippers.  “Well, while you were gone, Grandma and Katrina took me to the mall and they got me this nice pair of slippers, and we went to the park, and we watched movies together!  And I had a play date with Joey!”  Markus smiled and took the pair of slippers and observed them.  “Oh, is that so?  Aw, I’m happy you had so many things to do.  So, do you like this Joey?”  Michaela immediately made a dead serious face and she urged Markus to get closer, and she whispered to his ear: “He’s a nice guy and all, but he’s a dork, and a funny face, so no, I don’t like him!”  Markus immediately laughed and Michaela joined in the laughter.  He felt relieved that he and his daughter could share a simple moment like this.

 

  Just then, Katrina came out to the porch, and Michaela giggled and stood up.  “Daddy, daddy, Katrina’s here!  I’ll leave you two alone so you can talk lovey dovey stuff!”  Markus laughed and glared at his daughter.  “Hey, how do you know we talk about lovey dovey stuff?”  She smiled and stuck out her tongue.  “Because that’s what two people who care about each other talk about!”  Before Markus could say anything, Michaela had already stormed inside the house and Katrina stood for a few moments, staring at Markus, looking into his eyes.  He smiled and stood up and he walked towards her and they both hugged each other tight, and Katrina was crying, clinging on to him, not wanting to let him go.  “I missed you!” she said in between sobs, and he smiled and held her closer to him, and he looked into her eyes and touched her face.  “I missed you too honey.  Believe me, I missed you terribly.  But I’m back now.” Katrina nodded and smiled and Markus wiped off the tears from her cheeks, and they sat on the stairs of the porch and she looked at him eagerly.  “So, how was your training?”

 

  Markus thought about the question for a moment, and then he smiled to himself and he looked at her.  “It was actually pretty good.  It was unlike anything I’d have ever experienced before.  It was really something all right.  Believe me when I say that there were a lot of times that I wanted to kill that old coot.  But his training proved to pay off.  I was even able to face the mistakes of my past.”  Katrina looked at him and said nothing, urging him to keep on speaking.  “Katrina, I’ve realized over the course of this week that I’ve been a bad person, and that I didn’t know how to appreciate the things I had until I lost them.  I didn’t appreciate anything in life, and all I did was push people away.  But now that I have a second chance in life, I want to prove to everyone that I’m a changed man, and I want to prove to you what I’m made of.”  Markus looked towards the horizon, as he saw the sun high in the sky, with a few clouds covering it.  Katrina smiled and she held Markus’ hand tightly in hers, and she leaned onto his shoulder and kissed his neck.  “You’ve grown stronger Markus.  Not just physically, but mentally too.  I’m proud of all you’ve done.”  With that, they kissed each other with tender and loving passion, and then Markus suddenly heard a car honking, and he smiled as he saw who it was.

 

  “Yo Markus!  Your back!”  Denzel said as he got out of the car and he literally pounced on Markus and hugged him.  Markus laughed and hugged him back.  Joshua came out of the car and shook his head of embarrassment.  “Good God Denzel, seriously, when will you greet people in a grown up way?”  Denzel smiled and laughed.  “Ha, I guess never!”  Joshua glared at Denzel then smiled.  “Well that figures.  Welcome back Markus, it’s good to have you back home.  I hope things went okay for you.”  Markus nodded and he looked at them, and he smiled.  “Yes, things definitely went okay for me.  Thanks very much for the warm welcome, I appreciate it.”  They all smiled and then Angelica called to inform that dinner was ready, and everyone went inside.  As the hours passed, everyone enjoyed Angelica’s dinner, and they all discussed about current events, and Markus was constantly being asked questions about how his training had turned out.  Markus felt so happy to be back home.  Seeing all the loving and caring faces that surrounded him, he felt an enormous sense of peace inside, and he looked up and thanked God for having given him the resolve to push on through this hard time.  He then continued enjoying his time with his family, and the hours kept passing by.  They eventually watched a movie and even went out to go bowling.

(End Song Here)

 

  Later, as the sun was setting on the horizon, Denzel and Joshua left, Michaela went to her room to see her favorite show, and Katrina went to the kitchen to do the dishes.  Markus stood quietly in the hallway of the house, feeling relieved to be back home.  He felt such a serene calm that he almost didn’t notice Angelica standing behind him.  She smiled at him and hugged him, and Markus hugged her back, and he nodded and smiled.  “Angelica, thank you so much for everything, and thank you for taking care of my family.”  Angelica smiled and felt tears swell her eyes.  “Of course Markus, it was a pleasure.  Oh, if only Keera could see the man that you’ve become now, she would be immensely proud of you.  And Mr. Craig would be proud too.”  Markus nodded and smiled reassuringly.  “Thank you so much Angelica, that means a lot to me.  You know, I’ve noticed how things have changed so much, and I’m glad I changed for the better.”

 

  Angelica bid goodnight to Markus, and then he made his way to the kitchen, and he saw Katrina washing the dishes, and he smiled and hugged her from behind, and he leaned his head on her shoulder.  “It’s so good to be back honey.  I feel so happy you know.”  Katrina held his hand and rubbed his head.  “I’m happy too.”  They smiled and kissed each other tenderly and lovingly, and then he splashed water on her face.  “Ha, I got you!”  Katrina laughed and glared at him.  “Really!?  Ha, then take this!” She smirked and sprayed the water hose on Markus’s shirt, and they both started splashing each other with water like children, and they laughed gleefully, and then Katrina stopped for a moment.  “Katrina, what’s wrong?” Markus said curiously. Katrina looked at Markus and then she paced back and forth.  “Hey, what happened to that old man, Quincy?  I saw him walking home with you, but he never stopped by.”  Markus immediately gasped and crossed his arms.  “Your right!  And I didn’t get to thank him!  I’ll go look for him right now!”  Katrina smiled and nodded and she slowly walked up the stairs to the bathroom and she said in a seductive voice: “I’ll be waiting for you in the bathroom.”  Markus smiled back and he winked at her.  “Oh, I’ll be looking forward to that baby.”

 

  Markus made his way outside, and he started looking for Quincy around the house, but he didn’t see him anywhere near.  He kept on looking for a few minutes, and when he saw that he couldn’t find him, he went into town to see if he was in his favorite restaurant.  He went inside and asked for Quincy, but no one had seen him come by.  Markus found this rather odd, and he searched the town again, but with no results.  He started to get worried.  What if something had happened to him?  What if he had gotten ambushed?  “No, knowing that old coot, he’s too stubborn to die.”  He smiled and laughed to himself and he kept searching for Quincy, but when he saw that his search wasn’t bearing any fruit, he decided to call it a day and go back to the house.  As he headed back, he saw Quincy sitting near a tree stump, eating an apple.  Markus immediately smiled and ran towards him.  “Hey you old coot, I’ve been looking all over for you!”  Quincy laughed gleefully and chewed on his apple.  “Oh yes, I know you were looking for me, but I wanted to see how long you’d take, but then I got bored so I sat on this here tree stump.”  Markus smiled and sat beside him, and he gave a reassuring pat on the shoulder to Quincy.  “Thank you for everything Quincy.  You really helped me overcome myself.  For that I thank you so much.”  Quincy smiled and offered Markus an apple.  “Anytime, son.”

---------------------

 

Greeted by the warm smiles of his family, Markus has finally come home, and now he feels happier than ever.  Now he must prepare himself for the battle against Raven Sable.  What else will happen?  Stay tuned for Chapter Thirty Four: “Something Unexpected.”

 

 

That was such a great reunion. I loved it. I wanna know who Quincey really is. Why does he keep disappearing and reappearing?

That's something I'll leave to the imagination Keyblade101.  Here's the latest chapter of my story!  Enjoy!  Sorry for the delay on chapters, but college has me busy, so my sincerest apologies! ^_^

 

Chapter Thirty Four: Something Unexpected

 

  The following day, Markus wakes up later than he expected to.  He then realized that it had been a whole week since he hadn’t had such a deep sleep, and he smiled and nestled himself in the blanket for a while longer, savoring the lazy feeling of sleepiness.  Not a minute later, Katrina comes in and she smiles and slaps Markus’ back, and she throws him off the bed.  “All right champ, get up, it’s almost eleven in the morning, I already made you breakfast!”  Markus smiles and stands up and rubs his back and stretches out.  “You know, you didn’t have to slap me so hard.”  Katrina smiled devilishly.  “You didn’t say that last night.”  Markus immediately shut up but couldn’t hold in the burst of laughter that came out of him. “Huh, your right.  What am I going to do with you?”  Katrina smiles and looks at him and tilts her head.  “Hmm, let’s see, love me, hold me, and never leave me, how’s that sound?”  Markus smiles and walks towards her and wraps his arms around her waist and he pulls her in for a kiss.  “That sounds perfect.”  They smiled as they enjoyed the warmth and passion from their kiss, and then they fixed the bed sheets and went downstairs.

 

  As Markus went down the stairs, he noticed that the house was unusually quiet, and he wondered why that might be.  Katrina smiled and washed the dishes while Markus started eating his breakfast, a full plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast with butter, along with some orange juice.  It’s clear that Katrina prepared this breakfast with great care, so he was determined to eat it with just as much care as she had prepared it for him.  Midway through his plate, he asked: “Hey honey, where is everybody?”  Katrina put the remaining dishes away and she sat down beside him.  “Oh, Angelica took Michaela out to the park to play with the other kids, they should be back in about an hour or so.”  Markus nodded and he kept eating his breakfast, and then he asked: “What about Quincy, do you know where he is?”  Katrina thought about this for a moment but then she shrugged.  “Hmm, now that you mention it, after you talked to him last night, he seemed to have left.  I guess he’s just taking a stroll around town.  You know how that old man is.  He’s always wandering here and there.”  Markus smiled back and appreciated Katrina for being such a good source of comfort and company.  He finished the last bites of his plate and then he washed his dish and he held Katrina’s hand and they went outside to the porch. 

 

  The minutes passed and Markus and Katrina looked at the children playing across the street, and they smiled in silence while looking at how much fun the kids were having.  Markus smiled and then went running outside towards the kids, who immediately followed along and decided to play hide and seek.  He then came and dragged Katrina out of the porch.  “Come on honey, let’s play hide and seek with the kids!  I’ll count!”  Katrina smiled and nodded.  “Okay, sure!  Come on kids, let’s go!”  Immediately, Markus started counting and Katrina hid with one of the little girls while the rest of the kids hid around the houses and bushes and cars.  When Markus reached the count of thirty, he started searching for them, and one by one he began to chase them down, and they were enjoying every second of it.  Katrina couldn’t help but admire Markus’ love and care for children.  Maybe it’s because of all he had been through, maybe it’s because he wanted to imitate Mr. Craig, who had been practically a father to him.  Whatever the case, Katrina felt proud of Markus, and she giggled along with the little girl hiding with her.

 

  After a few minutes, Markus found everyone and the kids were begging for him to play again, but then Markus and Katrina noticed something odd.  Angelica and Michaela hadn’t come back yet.  Markus said goodbye to the kids and he went towards Katrina with a concerned look on his face.  “Honey…it’s way past an hour.  Do you think they’re okay?”  Katrina looked worried and nodded.  “I’m sure they’re okay, besides, time flies when you play with kids.”  Without another thought, Markus and Katrina darted inside and checked their cell phones, but they didn’t find any missed calls.  Immediately they closed the house and then went to the park where Angelica and Michaela should be.  When they arrived, the police were near the side of the street where the swing set was, and Markus and Katrina feared for the worst.  One of the police officers went towards them and looked at them with an unsure face.  “Excuse me you too, are you Markus and Katrina?”  They both looked at each other nervously and replied yes.  The officer nodded and looked down sadly.  “I’m sorry to tell you this, but a little girl named Michaela and her grandmother Angelica were run over by an unknown assailant.”

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvNh7hZnfXg

  Markus felt his heart sink.  He immediately felt weak and dropped to his knees.  He gave out a cry of frustration and sadness, and he felt tears roll down his cheeks, and he grabbed the officer by the collar of his shirt and he struggled to stand.  “Please don’t tell me that they…” The police officer helped Markus get on his feet.  “No, they aren’t dead, but they are in a very delicate condition, they’re in the hospital nearby, I could take you there.”  Markus nodded.  “Please, I need to see them!”  The officer nodded and Markus and Katrina quickly got in the police car and the officer drove quickly towards the hospital, and once there, Markus and Katrina gave the officer thanks for taking them here, and they went running towards the room where they were being kept.  Once inside, one of the doctors almost fainted of shock when he was startled by Markus and Katrina.  “Pardon me Mr. and Ms., but you can’t barge in like this!”  Markus immediately replied: “I’m the girl’s father! And the woman is my caretaker and grandmother of my daughter!”  The doctor immediately apologized for the rudeness and then he regained his composure.  “Oh, I see.  Well I’m glad you two are here, these two have been asleep for a while now.”

 

  “What’s their condition?” Markus said with a pained and sorrowful expression on his face.  The doctor sighed and put his hand on Markus and Katrina’s shoulders.  “They’re in a delicate state now, but with enough days here in the hospital, they’ll recover.  Thankfully, no serious body damage was made, so they’ll both be okay in due time.”  Katrina hugged the doctor.  “Thank you so much doctor.”  The doctor nodded and smiled.  “I’ll leave you two alone with them, when you leave, sign on the receptionist counter so that we keep a record of your visit.”  With that, the doctor went out and Markus sat on a chair beside his daughter, who was sleeping peacefully, even though her body looked battered and destroyed.  “Good God, how didn’t we see this coming?  Why weren’t we aware?”  Katrina hugged Markus and held him tight to her chest.  “It’ll be okay Markus.  It’ll be okay.  The important thing is that they’re safe here and that they’ll recover in a few days time.  But who would to this?  Who would hurt our family like this!?”  Markus immediately found the answer to that question.  “Raven…” he said to himself.  “He’s taken this to a far deeper level.  He’s overstepped the boundaries…and he’s going to pay.”

 

  Katrina turned on the TV and the news was on and the reporters were talking about the incident involving Michaela and Angelica.  Markus’ eyes become blood red when he saw Raven Sable at the scene of the crime, apparently pretending to be a concerned bystander.  The interviewer approached him and asked him: “Mr. Sable, these people are relatives of your opponent who you’ll be fighting in the ring, do you have anything to say to him.”  Raven Sable looked towards the camera and he said in a concerned tone.  “As far as things like this go, I feel terribly sorry and I truly and deeply sympathize with Markus.  I hope that his relatives will heal, and I sincerely hope for the best.”  Markus immediately turned off the TV, and Katrina looked at him sadly, and Markus clenched his fists, trying to control his rage.  “I can’t believe the nerve of this jerk…he said this was personal, but he crossed the line when he involved my family in this, when he decided to go after them!  I’m not going to stand for this!  Katrina, I’m going to teach him a lesson, I’ll make him pay for this!”  Katrina hugs him and cries, and they embrace each other, both of their hearts hurting for their loved ones. 

 

  Now Markus can’t think of anything else.  Now he’s out for blood.  He’s not going to feel at peace until he takes care of Raven Sable.  He’s going to make sure that Raven regrets ever having messed with his family.  All Markus can feel is a burning rage inside him, a rage that can only be quenched in the ring.  Markus cries of frustration and sadness as he looks at Michaela and Angelica, and he holds Katrina closer to him, and they embrace each other for a long while.  Markus then whispers into Katrina’s ear.  “Baby, don’t worry, I’ll make things right.  He’s not going to come after us anymore.  I’m going to see to that.  You won’t ever have to worry about him coming after us again.  I’ll protect all of you, I’m not going to let anyone else get hurt because of my mistakes.”  Katrina nods and kisses him with loving and gentle passion, and he returns the kiss back, and they pull away, and she touches his face and nods.  “I know.  I believe in you, so I know that I can count on you.  But for now, Angelica and Michaela need us, so let’s stay here for now, okay?”  Markus nodded.  “Agreed.”  They both smile and they look at Michaela and Angelica, who both sleep peacefully.  Markus looks at them and closes his eyes.  “I’ll set things right.  That’s a promise.”

(End Song Here)

------------------------------

 

His loved ones wounded, and his resolve now filled with rage, Markus now feels even more determination to take down the man who wants to ruin his life.  But his daughter needs him, and he needs her.  What can a father do to atone for the past? Find out in Chapter Thirty Five: “Finding The Words.”

Raven has officially reached a new low. How could he hurt Angelica and little Michaela?!

Yes, Raven is definitely a scum bag, and he's the lowest of the low.  By the way, sorry for the long delay on chapters, college keeps getting me on the busy end of life, but I hope you enjoy this chapter!  Just 15 more chapters and this story will reach its conclusion!  I hope your looking forward to it! Thank you for reading!

 

Chapter Thirty Five: Finding The Words

 

  After many hours, the doctor came inside to tell Markus and Katrina about Angelica and Michaela’s condition.  They’re stable for the time being, and they should recover in less than a week.  They sigh of relief as they hear the news, and the doctor proceeds to go out of the room, and Katrina sleeps peacefully on one of the chairs near Angelica.  But Markus can’t sleep.  He can’t bring himself to sleep after feeling horrified of seeing his daughter and his once mother in law just laying there, asleep and not moving.  He sits beside Michaela and he touches her soft and innocent face, and he holds her hand tightly in his, and tears roll down his eyes.  He can’t bring himself to say anything, let alone hold his tears back.  But who can blame him?  After all he’s been through, he deserves nothing less if to shed tears, after a lifetime of torment.  He then looks towards the distance as the moon rises slowly to the sky and the stars blanket the heavens.  He sighs and stands up and stands near the window, and he notices Katrina sleeping peacefully, and he smiles and then continues to look onward to the horizon.

 

  “How could Raven go this low just to get back at me?  I understand that he wants vengeance towards me, but there are limits to what he can do.  He could have done anything, and he had to do this.  He just had to hurt the people that are close to me!  Well I’m not going to stand for this, I’m not going to let anyone else get hurt because of our conflict.  We’ll settle this one on one, and I won’t allow anyone else to interfere and get hurt.” Markus says to himself as he feels a grim shadow clouding his heart.  He knows that he can’t let this get the best of him, he can’t get his mind clouded by thoughts of revenge, because he’d be just like Raven, and the match he’s going to have with him is to prove to himself that he’s changed.  To prove himself that all this training has been worth it.  Markus knows that he has to do this, not just for his own path of redemption, but for the safety of his family.  He then turns around and notices that Quincy is sitting in the chair next to Michaela.  Markus smiles warmly and goes towards Quincy, and the old man hugs Markus reassuringly.  “I came as soon as I heard about this my boy.  I’m truly sorry for what’s happened.”  Markus nods and folds his arms and leans his back on the wall.  “It’s not easy, but I have to hang in there for my daughter and for Angelica.  I can’t let them down.”

 

  Quincy nods and he eats an apple and then he stands up and walks towards the window.  “Well boy, it seems your opponent has really gotten under your skin.  But I know you won’t let him get the best of you.  I know more than anyone that you have what it takes to make it.  And after all the training I put you through, I know that it’ll come in handy for when you need it the most.  Just be sure to never lose sight of yourself and never change the man that you’ve become.”  Markus looks to the ceiling, again feeling the urge to burst into tears, and then he looks at Quincy with a defeated expression on his face.  “But what else can I do, Quincy?  How can I hang in there?  I’ve tried being a good father, I’ve tried being a good person, I’ve tried my best to bury my past self, but all these bad things that keep happening are just shadows of the past that want to take me down in flames!  What else can I do…?”  Quincy smiles and puts his hand on Markus’ shoulder.  “You’ve done more than enough boy, trust me, you don’t need to do anything else, just stick to yourself and be true to your path.  The rest will come slow and steady.”

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7uohBpxDbQ

  Markus nods and looks over to Michaela, and when he looks back to Quincy, he sees that he’s already gone.  “Where did..?” Markus starts to ask but stops when he notices that Quincy is indeed gone.  Markus then turns around and sits beside Michaela, and he holds her hand gently, and he feels the tears rolling down his face.  “I have a lot of apologies to make.  I know that I haven’t been the best person in this world, and I know that I haven’t done good things in a long time.  I know that I haven’t been the best I can be, but I need you to know what I’m about to say.”  He pauses and catches his breath, and then he holds Michaela’s hand tightly, and he looks down.  “I’m sorry for not being able to be there for you when you were born.  I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to make your mother happy.  I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be there for you when you needed me.  I know that Angelica’s had it rough since she was raising you alone, and I’m sorry that my selfishness robbed you of your mother.”  Markus then bursts into tears and sobs uncontrollably. “If it hadn’t been for my selfishness, things would’ve turned out different!  If I hadn’t been selfish, you wouldn’t be hurt right now.”

 

  “Life has been rough on the both of us.  But your still young, and you can still be able to set things right and be the person you want to be.  I was ignorant and didn’t care about anyone except for myself.  Before I knew it, I messed everything up, and I have no one to blame but myself for what’s happened.  It’s too late for me to fix all the mistakes from the past…but at least I’m trying to make amends for you Michaela.  I’m sorry that I haven’t been a good father.  But I swear, that with time, I’ll be able to be the father you deserve…and if I don’t turn out to be that kind of person, then I swear that I’ll find someone who will be a better father to you than me.  I swear it.” he says as he puts his hand on his face and continues crying.  Then he feels Michaela’s small hand touching his cheek, and she opens her eyes filled with tears.  “But daddy, I only want you to be my daddy!  Everyone makes mistakes, but you said your sorry, so you don’t have to feel sad anymore.  You’ve been a good daddy, and I don’t want you to find another daddy for me, because I have you.  I love you daddy.”  Markus hugs Michaela tight and they both cry as they embrace each other, feeling each other’s pain and sorrow.  “My little Michaela!”  As they hug each other, Quincy looks at them through the door and then he smiles.  “As I said my boy, you don’t need to do anything else.  Stay true to yourself, and everything else will fall into place.”

 

   He smiles and then he walks down the hallway and out of the hospital.  After Markus and Michaela finish hugging each other, she falls asleep again, feeling tired.  Markus smiles and stands up and then he grabs the chair and sits beside Katrina and cuddles with her, and she smiles and holds his hand in her sleep, and he smiles and lays his head on her shoulder.  It’s been a long day for Markus.  Probably one of the longest days of his life, but at least now things are looking better.  Markus thought long and hard about what Michaela said, and he found himself dazzled at the fact that Michaela stated that she only wanted Markus as her father.  He smiled and found comfort in the thought, noticing that his love as a father was planting good seeds in his daughter.  He then slowly closes his eyes and feels the comfort and soothing presence of sleep falling over him.  As he feels Katrina’s warmth and the room darkens completely, Markus closes his eyes, and falls into a long and deep sleep.  And for the first time in a while, Markus sleeps peacefully, feeling at ease, feeling that everything will turn out okay.

(End Song Here)

 

  Outside of the hospital, Quincy walks down the street and towards his favorite restaurant.  On the way, he notices that a few men are following him.  He remains calm and doesn’t pick up the pace, and the other men pace quicker.  As soon as they’re within reach, Quincy quickly delivers sharp uppercuts and roundhouse kicks to the mysterious assailants.  He then sees that they’re thugs, and he stands his ground and he laughs.  “Well boys, if you tried to pin down an old man, I’d have to say that you miserably failed.” One of the thugs stands up and growls at him.  “Raven’s been looking for you old man!  He ordered us to take you out!  Your not going to come out of this fight alive!”  Quincy eats an apple and sighs of boredom.  “Ah, is that so?  Well, would you care to actually throw some punches instead of making empty threats?”  The thugs get irritated, and they quickly lunge towards Quincy, but the old man simply dodges and delivers deadly karate chops to the thugs’ backs.  They scream of pain as Quincy seemingly plays with them like if they were nothing more than rag dolls.

 

  Just when he’s about to deliver another devastating attack, the thugs decided to flee.  Quincy managed to grab one of the thugs by the collar of his shirt and dragged him down and pinned him to the floor.  “Now then sonny, you’ll be telling me why this Raven is so bent on taking me out, you hear me?”  The thug spits Quincy’s face, and Quincy spits the pieces of apple that were in his mouth out to the thug’s face.  “Don’t you dare spit me again, boy, or it’ll be the death of you!”  The thug silently agrees and Quincy drags him quietly to a dark alley and through many passageways, until they’re far out of the city and in a place where no one can find them.  The thug sits on the floor, feeling terrified that Quincy might kill him, and so he stays silent and doesn’t utter a word, hoping not to make the old man angrier than he already is.  Quincy then takes out another apple and starts eating it.  “So then sonny, tell me, what’s this business with Raven?  Tell me everything that you know, and I’ll let you go.”  The thug breathes in deeply, and so he starts telling Quincy everything.

-------------------------

 

As days go by, the tension for Markus’ final confrontation with Raven becomes ever more desperate, and everything seems to be at higher risk.  How will Markus handle the situations that have fallen before him?  What else will occur?  Stay tuned for Chapter Thirty Six: “Heart And Willpower.”

Wow. Quincey has some skills. You don't want to make him mad.

I'm glad you liked the chapter!  Now then, without further ado, the story continues in this chapter!  Enjoy!

 

Chapter Thirty Six: Heart And Willpower

 

  The thug, fearing for his life, tells Quincy everything about why Raven sent for him and his men to attack Quincy.  The old man was a few feet away from him, not amused by his explanation.  “So, your telling me that Raven sent you folks to take me down so that Markus wouldn’t be able to think clearly when fighting him?  Well, isn’t Raven a sly dog?” Quincy says while in a pensive mood.  The thug squirmed away from Quincy and backed up against the wall.  “Look man, I already told you everything, so please let me go!”  The old man went towards the thug and took a good look at him.  “Hmm, your eyes tell me that your being honest, so I’ll let you go.  But if you ever cross me again, I won’t go so easy on you, do I make myself clear?”  The thug nods helplessly, and the minute Quincy unties him, he leaves quicker than quick, and he’s gone before Quincy can say anything more.  “Huh, the poor guy was scared witless.  Ha, I still got it!” he says with a smirk, and then he suddenly stopped, for he felt something strange.

 

  Quincy paid close attention and kept his ears clear so that he could hear attentively whatever it was that he had suddenly felt.  A few minutes passed, and Quincy shrugged and kept on walking.  Meanwhile, in the hospital, Michaela and Angelica were sleeping peacefully, and Katrina was sleeping besides Markus, feeling safe in his arms.  Markus abruptly woke up, as if someone had shook him awake, and he looked around but noticed that the room was pitch black, except for the tiny bit of light coming from the bottom of the door.  Markus slowly stood up and kissed Katrina’s forehead, and then he exited the room and walked down the hallway.  He could hear the doctors talking ahead, and the hallway was quite spacious and empty.  He went towards the southern end of the hallway and looked out the window, where he could see the city lights.  He felt calm and relaxed, but for some reason he felt heavy, as if he were being crushed.  He couldn’t explain why he felt this way, and when he turned around, his vision started to blur.  “What’s happening to me?” he says almost in a whisper, and he struggles to stay awake.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVs0egR_pQ

  Before he knows it, he feels that he’s lost his ability to hear as well, and he feels that his body is collapsing inside him.  When he finally falls down, he takes a deep breath, and then he looks up and notices that he’s in a pitch black place.  He can now see and hear again, but he still has that heavy feeling.  He looks around, wondering where he is, and then he sees a cloaked figure in the distance.  He takes a look closer and notices that the mysterious cloaked person has a long black cloak, and an intimidating aura about him.  “Are you…Death?” Markus says half amazed and half terrified.  The cloaked figure nods and he points his skeletal hand towards him, as if wanting to communicate.  “I don’t understand what you want.”  The cloaked figure then slowly walks away from Markus, and then he notices that he’s in the hallway of the hospital, the pitch blackness gone.  “Wait…you don’t mean that…” and only then does Markus understand what Death wants.  Death goes through the door where Michaela and Angelica are sleeping, and Markus, in a frantic panic, heads towards the doctors, but notices that they’re frozen, as if time had stopped, and without a second more, Markus storms into Michaela and Angelica’s room, and he sees Death in between the two beds, watching the two of them sleep, as if analyzing their state of health.  “Please, don’t do this!  There’s still a chance for them to live, it’s not their time yet!  You can’t do this!  You can’t take them from me!” Markus says.

 

  Death slowly turns around and crosses his arms, as if questioning Markus as to what he’ll do about this.  “Don’t take them…take me instead!  I was on the verge of death once, and you didn’t take me!  Don’t take them away from me, they still have so much to do and so much to see!  Take me, I’ll be the replacement, that way they can live!”  Death slowly walks in circles around Markus, and then he nods in disapproval, indicating that he’s here to pick up Michaela and Angelica, and that there can be no replacements.  In a panic, Markus struggles to get in front of Death, but the closer he gets, the farther the room stretches out, as if impeding Markus from reaching Death.  But Markus doesn’t give up, he keeps on going, even as his body gives way and he starts to feel numb, he keeps on going, for the sake of his daughter and her grandmother.  He can’t allow them to die, not now, not when they still can live.  He feels as if time is freezing over, as he sees Death slowly reaching out his hand towards Michaela.

 

  “No, I won’t let anything bad happen to you Michaela, I won’t allow it!” Markus says in his mind, and then, in a sudden burst of energy, Markus makes his way to Michaela, just in time to make Death stop in his tracks.  The following moments are filled with somber silence, as Markus and Death simply stay there, staring at each other, not saying any words.  Markus stands up and stretches his arms protectively in the middle of the two beds.  “I won’t let you take Michaela and Angelica.  Not while I’m still alive and breathing!  You may have come to pick them up, but I’m here to postpone your duties! It’s not their time yet!”  Death stands still, for he seems to be amused by Markus’ speech, and then he turns around and slowly starts to walk away.  Markus sighs of relief, and Death turns around and looks at him and nods, and then he disappears, and time flows back to normal, and Markus finds himself sweating, but to his relief, everybody is sleeping, so at least no one has to be scared of what just happened.  “Was this a dream…or did this really happen right now?  Am I starting to hallucinate?” he says to himself as he shakes his head.

(End Song Here)

 

  He makes his way back to his seat, and Katrina moves in her sleep and lays her head on Markus’ shoulder, and he breathes in and out slowly, still feeling his heart pounding from this supernatural occurrence that happened.  He can still hardly believe that he saw Death face to face, and he can’t believe that he actually stopped Death from taking his loved ones away.  “What I can’t shake off though, is that he seemed to let me see him, because normally no one can see Death…he only appears to those who are on the brink of death.  If that’s the case, then how come I was able to see him if I wasn’t the one he was after?  Could it be that he wanted to see how I would react when he tried to take Michaela and Angelica away from me?  No…that can’t be it.  But still…what was his intention?”  Eventually Markus shook away the thought, and he suddenly felt sleepy again, and he took a look at his watch and saw that it was 2:00AM.  He rubbed his eyes and cuddles Katrina, and he slowly started to close his eyes, feeling the comforting soothing feeling that comes with sleeping.  Before going to sleep, he took one last look at Michaela and Angelica, and he smiled.  “I’ll always be here to protect you.  Of that you can be sure.”  With that, he closed his eyes, and he smiled in his sleep, confident and calm and relaxed, feeling at peace.  “Thank you for not taking them away from me.” he said in his sleep, and he wrapped his arms around Katrina and drifted away into slumber.

 

 

  Outside, Quincy was near the newspaper stand, taking a look at a few magazines and snacks here and there.  A few seconds later, Denzel and Joshua came running towards him and they caught their breath.  Denzel was about to speak when he saw an issue of Otaku USA magazine and he immediately got his hands on it.  “Oh wow, look, this issue’s got Attack On Titan on the cover!”  Joshua snapped his fingers.  “Denzel, concentrate, remember why we’re here!”  Denzel quickly changed expression and crossed his arms.  “Right.  Quincy, you called us about an emergency.  What is it?”  Quincy looked at them.  “Well, I’m glad you two could make it.  Here’s the problem.  Markus’ opponent Raven is doing all in his power to prevent Markus from going to his match, and he even went so far as to send his men to attack me.”  Denzel and Joshua looked at each other uneasily.  “And where’s Markus right now?”  Quincy pointed behind himself.  “Inside the hospital with Michaela and Angelica.”

 

  “Are they okay?” Denzel asked, and Quincy nodded.  “Yes, they’re fine, they’re recovering, and by the way, your sister is also with Markus.”  They all exchanged quick looks and Joshua sighed.  “It disgusts me how criminally insane people will go to such lengths to cause suffering.” Denzel nodded in agreement while eyeing over his magazine.  “So, what’s the plan chief?” Denzel says.  Quincy thinks long and hard, and then a smile comes across his face.  “Gentlemen, I’ve just come with the perfect idea!  There’s only a few days left for Markus’ big match, so until then, he doesn’t need to know about any of these things that have been happening.  He has to concentrate on keeping his family safe and preparing himself for the match.  So, I’ve come to the conclusion that the three of us shall be his bodyguards!  What do you think?”  Denzel and Joshua both nod in agreement.  “You can count us in!” they say in unison.  Quincy smiles and crosses his arms.  “Well then gentlemen, we’ve got work to do.”

---------------------------

 

With this matter currently settled, Quincy, Denzel and Joshua will be Markus’ bodyguards.  Hopefully, things can go smoothly now, and there won’t be any need for any more situations to arise.  With only days left for Markus’ big match with Raven, what will happen now?  Next time, Chapter Thirty Seven: “Detecting A Weakness.”

 

 

 

 

I'll be honest: that part when Death showed up scared me a bit.

Haha, I laughed at that comment Keyblade101, lol.  Okay then, so here's Chapter Thirty Seven, sorry for the long delay, but college has kept me busy, so again, I apologize for such a delay on chapters!  I hope you enjoy this chapter everyone! ^_^

 

Chapter Thirty Seven: Detecting A Weakness

 

  The next day, Denzel, Joshua and Quincy stroll through town, as non suspicious as possible, seeing if there are any signs of Raven’s henchmen lurking around.  For the most part they don’t find anyone, and they eat at a nearby Chinese restaurant and then they go to a newsstand and then they continue their search.  Hours pass and nothing happens.  Denzel decides to break the silence between them and walks ahead of them.  “So guys, what do you think will happen once Markus beats this guy?”  Both Joshua and Quincy stop to ponder this question, and they find themselves at a loss as to what to answer.  “Well, I imagine Raven will leave Markus and his family alone, as far as I can tell.  I mean, that is the reason why this match has been set, right?” Joshua says.  Quincy looks at both of them and nods in a not so sure gesture.  “Well, Markus is in for fighting for his family, but Raven just wants revenge, and money, so we have to keep an eye out so that Raven doesn’t do anything extreme after the match is said and done.”  They all agree, and then they suddenly see a shady looking person going through the crowd rather quickly, as if he had seen them, and he aims to disappear into the crowds of citizens.

 

  Quincy silently ushers Denzel and Joshua to move from different sides.  Joshua takes the left, and Denzel takes the right, while Quincy goes through the center, going through the crowds of people just like the mysterious man is doing.  The shady mysterious man picks up the pace faster, and as he keeps running, Quincy notices that he’s heading out of town and into the countryside.  He notifies Denzel and Joshua about this, and they make sure to keep themselves close.  They keep close, certain that they won’t lose this mysterious man who seems to be in quite a rush.  After a few more minutes, the man arrives at a barn house, and he looks around to see that no one is following him, and then he heads inside, and then Quincy, Denzel and Joshua quickly head behind him, and they halt right at the entrance of the barn house, and then they go quietly to their right, and they peek at through one of the windows cautiously.  Luckily, they’re covered by some nearby trees and shrubs, so the people inside won’t notice them.  As the man they were following starts to speak, they quickly quiet down so that they can listen to every word that he says.

 

  “Were you followed?” one of the men said.  The mysterious man replied no, for apparently he hadn’t noticed that Quincy, Denzel and Joshua were following him.  “All right then, tell us what’s up.” one of the others says.  The mysterious man then sits down near a stack of hey and takes his breath.  “All I know is that Markus is in the hospital watching over his daughter and his former mother in law.  He’s vulnerable right now, so Raven can be able to avoid the match.”  One of the men looked at the mysterious man in surprise.  “Avoid the match? Wait, are you saying that Raven doesn’t want to fight Markus? Is he afraid of the guy or what?”  The mysterious man shrugs.  “I’m not really sure myself, but every time I mention him about Markus, he kind of loses it.  And remember that he has a wound in his lower rib, so he has to watch out for that.”  At that, Quincy smirks and Denzel and Joshua both nod, for it seems that they’ve found a weakness on Raven Sable.  They then keep quiet to see if this mysterious man sheds out more information, but for the most part, they end up talking about random things, and after a few hours, Quincy, Denzel and Joshua decide to call it a day.

 

  Joshua nods his head in disappointment. “This Raven fellow is such an ingrate.  He’s not man enough to admit his mistakes, and now he’s trying to avoid fighting Markus.  Should we tell Markus about this?”  Denzel agrees with Joshua.  “He’s right Quincy, I mean seriously, if we just let Markus know about this, it’ll no doubt give him the upper hand, and you know it.”  Quincy shakes his hand dismissively and then he nods in disapproval.  “No can do boys. If we go on telling Markus this, chances are he’ll get too cocky, and we don’t want that.  We want him to go level-headed to this fight.”  Denzel looks at the old man curiously.  “Oh come on, who’s side are you on anyway?”  Quincy then takes an apple from the tree that is covering them and he starts eating it. “I support Markus all the way, but trust me, this is his fight, we’re just in the sidelines, we have no part to play, besides, I trained the kid hard, so if we go on telling him about this, he won’t even consider all the lessons he’s learned.  He may have changed, but remember that Markus is entering this fight with much anger towards Raven.”  Denzel and Joshua nod and say in unison. “You’ve got a point there.”  With that, they set to return to town, but then one of the men from the barn house notices him and alerts the others.  “Hey, we got some people spying on us!”

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1YbGmv3jHE

  Denzel rolls his eyes and sighs in agony.  “Damn it, seriously!?  Out of all the times we’ve been in rough spots, we have to get ourselves in deep six now?”  Quincy laughs and finishes eating his apple.  “Oh don’t worry boys, we can take care of these knuckleheads.”  They all smile, and then one of the men from the barn house shouts.  “Hey, what’s with the stupid grins on your faces!?  You punks are gonna get it for spying on us, so prepare for a world of hurt!”  Denzel lets loose and smirks.  “Try me.”  Furious, the man charges at Denzel, and Denzel easily dodges the attack and then he counterattacks by jabbing his elbow at the man’s gut.  He then smirks and throws him to the other side of the field.  “So then, what are your names?”  The men introduce themselves.  “I’m Trey.” “I’m Greg.” “And I’m Ted, and these will be the last names that you’ll hear!” Quincy laughs out loud and then he regains his composure.  “Oh good Lord, you can’t be serious!  Names that rhyme, well I’ll be a son of a gun! Ha, now this had made my day!”

 

  Ted growls and spits to the ground near Quincy’s feet.  “Hey, don’t you dare make fun of us, we’ll wipe the floor with you little ass wipes!” Joshua rolls his eyes and then he stretches his arms.  “Eh, I don’t know, I really don’t wanna die by the hands of people whose names rhyme.”  Greg then shouts. “Hey, stop making jokes about us, your gonna regret it!”  With that, Greg charges towards Joshua, and they exchange some quick punches and kicks, but Joshua quickly outsmarts Greg and then pins him to the ground, and then Trey lunges towards Quincy, but Quincy throws an apple to Trey’s face, making him fall down.  “Damn it, that hurt!”  Quincy laughs and nods.  “That’s the power of a good old apple.  It can hurt you if I hit you in just the right spot.  Ha, wow, if I didn’t know any better, I would say that Raven hired these three to be his personal three stooges.  Ha, of all the people I’ve seen, you three are the less intimidating I’ve had the displeasure of meeting.”  Feeling fed up by the constant insults, Trey, Greg and Ted proceed to take our their guns and they start shooting at Quincy, Denzel and Joshua, but they’re able to get out of the way and seek cover.  Denzel then curses under his breath and stays behind cover while the shooting continues.

 

  Trey, Greg and Ted laugh maniacally as they keep on shooting, making sure to keep Quincy, Denzel and Joshua right where they are.  Quincy then thinks of what to do, of how to escape from here.  “Damn, there’s no way we can get out of here without getting shot, and we don’t have any guns to  even up the odds, so it’s a bust, but the only way we can escape is when they run out of ammo.”  he thinks to himself, and then he looks towards Denzel and Joshua, who seem to be thinking the same thing, as they stay immobile, patient and hearing the maniacal laughs of their aggressors.  “Aw, come on, what’s the matter?  Why do you want to hide now!?  The fun’s just starting!” Ted says as he shoots constantly and keeps on laughing in a psychotic and unsettling way.  Joshua then shouts back.  “Yeah, real nice, the three psycho stooges are using guns to take us down.  What a bunch of pathetic and weak excuses for human beings!”  Denzel and Quincy laugh, appreciating the outrageous insult Joshua just delivered to their aggressors.

(End Song Here)

 

  Greg smiles and heads over to Trey and whispers something to his ear, and that only brings a demented smile to Trey, for it seems they’ve come up with some sort of agreement.  They suddenly stop shooting and then Greg shouts.  “Come on, you can come out now, we’ve run out of ammo!”  Quincy, Denzel and Joshua don’t know what to do.  For all they may know, it could just as well be easily a trap, so they decide to stay in place.  Ted then smirks and raises his hand.  “Look, we’ll prove to you that we’ll play fair.  See? We threw our guns away!”  Quincy looks through the hole of where he’s taking cover, and he sees that what they’re saying is true.  He then signals for Denzel and Joshua to come out, and then they head towards Trey, Greg and Ted, and then Quincy heads toward the center, and Trey also heads to the center, like two warrior generals greeting each other before combat.  “Now then, let’s play this game the right way.” Quincy says.

------------------------

 

An intense showdown now looms between these men, and only time and fate will decide what will happen to them.  Will they be able to survive this fight, considering that Trey, Greg and Ted may eventually cheat?  You can only find out in Chapter Thirty Eight: “A Brawl Of Six.”

The three stooges are gonna get it now.

I ship Markus and Katrina

Thank you all for your comments, I deeply appreciate them!  Now here's the next chapter, and let me just say, be prepared for anything. Read on, and see what happens...

 

Chapter Thirty Eight: A Brawl Of Six

 

  Tension is high in the air as Quincy, Denzel and Joshua square off against Trey, Greg and Ted.  There is a sudden silence pervading the air, and in that moment of silence, it feels as if time slows down significantly, and then Trey speaks up.  “So, what are you guys doing spying on us anyway?  It won’t do you any good.”  Denzel frowns and then clenches his fists and then speaks his mind out.  “Don’t play dumb!  All of you are behind what happened to Michaela and Angelica, and we’re here to make sure that you three don’t end up hurting even more people!  We’ll expose you as the cowards you are, and once this is all said and done, you’ll rot in jail, where you belong!”  Ted angrily shouts. “All right, I’ve had enough, die you imbecile!” he says as he heads towards Denzel and pounces on him, and then Trey and Greg assault Quincy and Joshua, and the fighting begins in earnest.  Quincy quickly dodges Trey’s attacks and counterattacks with swift jabs and even an occasional karate chop, and then he turns over to Denzel and Joshua to make sure that they’re okay. 

 

  Meanwhile, Joshua is taking on Greg, and he notices a pattern and decides to play along to make his opponent think that he’s got him pinned.  A few seconds more, and Joshua fights back with a fatal kick to Greg’s leg.  “Oh come on, I thought you’d put up a much better fight!” Joshua says as he taunts Greg to stand up.  And stand up he does, and then Joshua smirks.  “You really are a dumbass, but at least you did what I expected you to.”  Greg starts to say something but is quickly silenced as Joshua picks him up and throws him straight to the wall of the barn house.  “I’ll make you pay for that you bastard!” Greg says angrily, and Joshua rolls his eyes and waves his hand dismissively.  “Yeah, yeah, you want to get back at me, blah blah blah, same old, same old.  Let’s finish this already!”  Not tolerating another moment of Joshua’s mocking remarks, Greg angrily goes berserk, and Joshua actually gets hit by surprise, but then he proceeds to keep blocking Greg’s attacks until he finds an opening and strikes him on his left pectoral, sending him reeling to the ground.  A little more and Joshua would have reached Greg’s heart!  Increasingly angered, Greg continues to stand up and keep going at Joshua, which suits Joshua just fine.

 

  Denzel, in the meantime, has a breeze fighting Ted, as he’s dodging his punches and kicks effortlessly, even going as far as yawning to taunt Ted.  Ted doesn’t even speak, rather, he lets his fists do the talking for him.  It’s not long before Ted lands a hit on Denzel, and then that’s when he smirks and cracks his knuckles.  “Okay Ted, now you’ve done it!”  Ted looks surprised, but before he can even react, he’s taken down by Denzel, who delivers a devastating left hook across his face, making him fall hard to the ground.  “What!?  No one hits Ted Williams!  No one!”  Denzel laughs and then he crosses his arms.  “Well, I should congratulate you, for this marks the first time you’ve been hit!”  Ted furiously stands up and picks up a nearby rake and then starts to swing it angrily at Denzel, who again dodges Ted’s strikes without even the slightest bit of effort.  “Damn you, no stupid little bastard is going to make a fool out of me and my friends!  You’ll get it good you punk!”  Immediately Denzel grabs hold of the rake and brakes it in half and then he tosses it aside.  “Uh huh, less talking, more fighting please!”  With that, Ted snaps and he goes crazy, as he does all in his power to at least make a scratch on the amused and relaxed Denzel.  For now, this fight is going well.

 

  The minutes pass by, and as the heat of the day sinks in on everyone, Quincy, Denzel and Joshua quickly step back, and they take their breath as Trey, Greg and Ted draw back as well.  After a few seconds, they go at it again, but this time, with more intensity in each strike.  The fight intensifies, and Trey manages to hit Quincy’s jaw, causing him to bleed.  Denzel and Joshua quickly look at the old man, alarmed and hopeful that the injury isn’t serious, but Quincy simply spits out blood to Trey’s face in a defiant way, and he proceeds to mow him down and pin him to the ground and punch him viciously.  Greg and Ted draw Denzel and Joshua away from Quincy slowly, like predators picking out their prey.  Joshua notices this, and he dives towards Ted and elbows his throat, making Ted cough and gasp for air.  Greg furiously attacked Joshua to defend Ted, and Denzel takes swift measures and makes sure to put some distance between them.  Joshua looks at Denzel, half exhausted from the fight.  “Well Denzel, it looks like these guys aren’t messing around.  I think we should fall back!.”

 

  Denzel nods, unable to speak for a moment, and then he finally catches enough air to speak.  “Right.  Come on, let’s get to Quincy while these guys are out.”  With that, they quickly run over to Trey, who’s trading blows with Quincy, and then suddenly Greg and Ted jump on them all of a sudden and pin them down to the ground.  Surprised, Denzel curses under his breath, and he tries to struggle himself free, but Greg has a tight lock on his arms, and Joshua is in the same predicament.  “All right then you ass wipes, your going to witness the death of that little old man in front of you!”  Denzel refuses to let this go by without a fight, and he keeps on struggling to free himself from Greg.  Meanwhile, Joshua looks on as Quincy is actually starting to look weak.  Trey smiled, noticing that his job is almost complete, and he decides to prolong Quincy’s suffering by smashing his ribs unmercifully.  Joshua breaks free of Ted, but Ted quickly knocks him out, which only leaves Denzel, still conscious, to see Quincy get beaten to a pulp.  “Come on old man, don’t let this bastard beat you!” he thinks to himself as he worries for what might happen to Quincy.  He tries to struggle himself to freedom yet again, but to no avail, as Greg simply pushes him to the ground.

 

  Quincy falls near a stack of hay, and he notices a big piece of wood laying there, and he notices sharp nails on the other end.  With that, he lifts it up and he smashes it against Trey’s face, and Trey screams of agony and falls to the ground.  Greg quickly goes to aid Trey, and Denzel finally stands up, and he notices that Greg is heading straight for Quincy.  Then he notices that Greg has a knife at the ready, to stab Quincy to death.  “No, that bastard is cheating!” he says to himself, and he quickly runs over to reach Greg, and everything plays out in slow motion, as he feels time slowing down around him, in this one desperate moment, where a single action can determine the life or death of Quincy.  With no hesitation, Denzel quickly jumps in the way, and receives a fatal wound in the vital arteries connecting to his heart.  At that moment, Quincy opens his eyes wide, noticing the great sacrifice his friend has just made.  “Nooo!!!!!” Quincy screams as he pounces on top of Greg and beats him mercilessly with the nailed wood until bashing his face, and Ted quickly comes to end things, but Quincy is the quicker man, as he cracks Ted’s neck, leaving him dead in the ground.  He then goes towards Trey, who’s still agonizing over his wound, and he deals the killing blow by putting the nails through Trey’s eyes, immediately causing him to die.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LbkxP_UCBQ

  Almost as quickly as he killed the three aggressors, Quincy made his way to Denzel, who was bleeding from his mouth and staggering, struggling to get up.  “Come on boy, don’t die on me, please don’t die on me!  Why did you have to go and do that!?” Quincy says, tears rolling down his cheeks.  Denzel smiles as he spits out blood, and he looks up to the sky, as if trying to find something.  “Hey, that’s what friends are for.  You got my back, I got yours.  It’s how it all works, you get me?” he says as he starts to close his eyes.  Quincy grabs hold of Denzel’s shoulders and shakes him.  “No, this isn’t happening, you won’t die on my account, oh hell no!  Please, just hang on, I’ll get you to the hospital!”  Denzel nods in disapproval, and he simply pats Quincy’s shoulder.  “No…it won’t do.  Besides…it’s too late for me.  Hey, please promise me one thing…”  Quincy nods in agreement and stays silent to hear what Denzel has to say.  “Please promise you’ll take care of Joshua for me.  He’s like a brother to me…like the little brother I never had…and please take care of Katrina for me too…my little sis, and please tell my wife I love her…keep…them…safe..”  And with those dying words, Denzel stops breathing and his eyes stare blankly to the sky, as death embraces him.

 

  Quincy looks away, trying to hold back the tears, as he feels Denzel’s body go cold.  To think that Denzel sacrificed his life for him, and now this.  “I promise that I’ll take care of them.  My good friend.”  With that, Quincy sadly stands up, and a few minutes later he finds a car nearby and he puts the unconscious Joshua in the back and he puts Denzel in a body bag, so that he can take him to a funeral so he can be buried in a cemetery, properly, as a brave soul like him should be buried.  “How am I going to break this to Joshua?  The kid will be heart-broken once he hears about this…the poor guy.”  He then punches the car, feeling rage and fury for not being able to do anything to save Denzel from dying.  But in the end, he decides that by seeing this whole thing through to the end, and bringing Raven Sable to justice, then, and only then, he can be able to guarantee that Denzel rests in peace.  “Markus, now we need you more than ever.  Raven’s plans are taking a toll on us all.  This has to end.” he thinks to himself as he starts driving to town.  He then arrives to the hospital and stays in the parking lot, sad and clueless as to what to do now.  For now, despair is the only thing that is actually taking a toll on the old man.

(End Song Here)

------------------------

 

A life for a life, a friend standing up for a friend.  Now the board has gone dark, and all the pieces are starting to scatter.  Will this madness finally end, or will there be more casualties?  Stay tuned for Chapter Thirty Nine: “Lost And Alone.”

Nooooo!!!!!!!!! Not Denzel!!!! Why'd you have to kill Denzel?!

Yeah, I know you probably didn't expect that to happen! Story twist! Anyways, here's the next chapter, and sorry if it seems rushed, I just finished writing it right now, so please forgive me if this chapter doesn't have the same quality as the others. I sincerely hope you enjoy either way! Happy reading! ^_^

Chapter Thirty Nine: Lost And Alone

Quincy, feeling immense sorrow and sadness over what happened, doesn’t even begin to wonder how he’s going to break the news to Markus and Katrina. “Why did you have to pull a stunt like that, boy? Why!?” Quincy says to himself as he feels tears rolling down his face, probably the first time since he can remember. He feels the sadness and pain of Denzel’s death, and he can only feel even more sadness once Joshua wakes up and notices what’s happened. All Quincy can do now is be strong and face the facts. Reluctantly, he shakes Joshua awake, and then Joshua rubs his head in pain. “Uhh…Quincy? What happened?” Joshua then noticed Quincy’s grim silence, and then he quickly looked back to see if Denzel was in the back seat, but, much to his fear, he wasn’t. “Don’t tell me he’s…” Quincy nods in confirmation, and then Joshua bursts into tears, and he clenches his fists. “He was like a brother to me…why did he have to die now!? It’s not fair…it’s just not…” Quincy then puts his hand on Joshua’s shoulder and nods. “The only thing we can do now is be strong and give the news to our friends. But first, we have to take the body into the hospital so the doctors can take a closer look at all the injuries. Come on, let’s get to it.”

Sadly and reluctantly, the two friends take out Denzel’s body and then they go inside the hospital, where the doctors immediately notice them and proceed to take care of the body. Time seems to slow down for both of them, as they can only think of how horrible this news will impact Katrina, Denzel’s loving sister. They go to the elevator and for a few, very long minutes, they stay silent, unable to say anything, for they know that no words can bring Denzel back. “I just hope that Denzel is resting peacefully now…” Joshua says quietly as he looks down to the floor, feeling a great sadness and sense of despair come over him. Quincy thinks of the sacrifice that Denzel made, and he can’t bring himself to believe that Denzel is dead. “Don’t worry Denzel, your death won’t be in vain. We’ll avenge you, and the match Markus and Raven will have will be in your memory! You can be sure of that!” he says to himself as he clenches his fists. Now he can’t wait for the day when all their hopes will be placed on Markus, whom will take on Raven Sable to determine victory, and to end this nightmare that has engulfed them all. They then reach the fifth floor, where Markus and Katrina are, and they slowly walk towards the room where Michaela and Angelica lay in their beds, sleeping, recovering from the accident that had happened not too long ago.

(Start Song Here)

When they go inside, Markus and Katrina quickly go to them and hug them, and Katrina looks as cheerful and optimistic as ever, and Markus seems to be looking positive as well. Katrina then notices that Denzel isn’t accompanying Joshua and Quincy, and they look at her with great sadness in their eyes. Markus, fearing the worst, looks into Quincy’s eyes. “Old man…please don’t tell me it’s what I think…” Katrina’s smile quickly fades away, and then she starts taking a few steps back. “Guys, your scaring me…where’s Denzel!?” Joshua grimly places his hand on her shoulder and then he takes in a deep breath, for this isn’t any easier for him than it is to her or anyone in the room. “Katrina, Denzel is dead…he was killed while protecting us.” Katrina quickly takes a few more steps back, now a look of shock and horror on her face. “No…no…this can’t be…he can’t be dead…he’s not dead!” Quincy sadly looks down and tries to hold back his tears. “It’s true lass…he’s no longer of the land of the living.” Katrina’s heart suddenly stops, and then she bursts into tears and runs out of the room, and Joshua and Quincy proceed to go after her, but Markus stops them. “Don’t worry guys…I’ll handle this.” Markus says with his eyes filled with tears. They nod and stay in the room as Markus quickly goes after Katrina, who’s running to the elevator to go to the forensics room. Markus quickly rushes into the elevator after her, and with no words, she simply hugs Markus tight and digs her head into his chest, her tears rolling down uncontrollably. Markus cries as well, both of them feeling pain over Denzel’s death.

The minutes go on forever as the elevator goes down, and then they make their way to the forensics room, and time seems to slow ever more for them, as they see a body covered in a white sheet. “Markus…is that…?” Markus nods and holds her tightly to him, ready to see the body. One of the doctors proceeds to go towards them and then he examines them. “You two…friends of the deceased man?” Katrina nods. “I’m his sister.” Markus also nods. “I’m his friend.” The doctor nods and then slowly unfolds the sheet, and to the horror and sorrow of Katrina, she notices that the dead body is indeed Denzel. She then gets down on her knees and collapses, instantly unconscious. Markus holds her in his arms, and the doctor sadly looks away. “I’m sorry for your loss.” The doctor goes away and Markus puts Katrina in a chair and then goes near Denzel’s body, and then he cries. “My good friend…I swear to you, your death will be avenged…this won’t go unpunished. I won’t let this injustice stand!” he says as he clenches his fists. He then controls himself and the doctors come to take the body away, and Markus picks up Katrina’s unconscious body and he carries her back to Michaela and Angelica’s room. Joshua and Quincy look at Markus with grim expressions on their faces, and he sits down and sits Katrina beside him. “Is she all right?” Quincy asks. Markus nods. “Yeah, she’s just unconscious.”

For a long and silent while, the three of them stay silent, not knowing the words to say to make it all better. For now, everything is in an eerie calm, as even the room is deadly silent. While they remain in silence, Katrina is in her unconsciousness, feeling as if she’s sinking into a black hole. She screams of the suffering she’s going through, and she feels lost and alone, and she feels the weight of despair coming down on her. “Denzel…why did you have to die!? Why…?” She sobs and then feels a comforting light shine through the pitch black darkness of her unconsciousness. She then sees Denzel, with his reassuring smile, looking at her. She gasps and then she whispers. “Y-you’ve come to pick me up?” Denzel nods in disapproval and keeps smiling. “It isn’t your time yet Katrina. Your not yet ready to die. You need to live your life, the life you’ve so longed and dreamed of. Go to Markus, and live the life fate has in store for you.” Katrina nods in agreement and she wipes off her tears. “I’ll miss you.” she says with a struggling sob. Denzel smiles and hugs her and she feels his warm embrace, and she feels warm light reaching into her heart. “Don’t worry sis, I’ll always be with you. No matter what happens to me, no matter how much time may pass, I’ll always be in your heart. Remember that, and I’ll always be there. Always.” Katrina smiles and feels relief. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind bro.” Denzel nods. “Okay then. Now, it’s time to wake up.”

(End Song Here)

With that, Katrina wakes up with a gasp as she feels like if someone had dropped a boulder on her stomach. Markus, Joshua and Quincy jump from the startle she gave them, and then Markus hugs her and kisses her, relieved that she’s all right. “Thank goodness your awake now, I was worried about you!” Katrina smiles and touches Markus’ face, and then she looks at Joshua and Quincy, who are still with grim expressions on their faces. She then stands up and walks to the center of the room, and she looks at Michaela and Angelica, and then she looks back at them and she claps her hands together. “All right people, we have to stop moping around, okay? We have two people who are sleeping, and they’re in need of us, so we’ll do what we’re supposed to do and we’ll be there to help them wake up!” Markus smiles as Katrina makes this triumphant speech, and Joshua and Quincy stay silent as Katrina continues to speak. “We’re blessed to have such a wonderful life, but even though we have life, we also have to go through pain and suffering and sadness. But that’s okay, because that’s part of what makes us who we are. Our experiences shape us into the people we become, and every single moment that we make a decision, we make a choice that changes our lives for better or for worse. Denzel knew the stakes ever since he’d met Raven Sable, but he knew that it was a risk that he had to take, because he knew in his heart that it was a risk worth taking!”

“Even though my dear brother Denzel is gone, we can’t just give up now! This is when he needs us the most! We have to see this through to the end, not only for him, but for everyone who’s suffered from this! We have to take things into our own hands and see all of our objectives through, no matter how hard the path towards them may be. We need to keep ourselves strong and steady, and no matter what happens, we have to keep on, pushing our boundaries, and always yearning to reach out for the stars! That’s what my brother Denzel taught me, and it’s a lesson that I want you all to take to heart! We need to complete this goal to the bitter end. We need to do this, because this is my reason to fight, my reason to keep on going! So no giving up now, you hear me? We’re going to do this for our loved ones, and we’re going to do all in our power to set things right!” With that, Markus, Joshua and Quincy nod in determination, Katrina’s words filling them with determination, motivation and hope. Thanks to Katrina’s triumphantly comforting words, they now know that they must keep on going in their path, and that they can’t stop now. And so, with that being said, they all make a promise to themselves: that they will never give up.

--------------------------

After triumphant words, now the souls that were lost are now found, and the determination that each of them has will be necessary in order to overcome the final destination that is at hand. Stay tuned for Chapter Forty: “A Week Left For The Big Match.”

Edited December 3, 201312 yr by Golden Fighter

Well everyone, this is it!  Only ten more chapters and this story will come to its end!  I hope your all looking forward to the finale!

 

Chapter Forty: A Week Left For The Big Match

 

  Early the next morning, the doctors confirmed that Denzel was officially dead, and so Markus made some calls so that Denzel’s body could be placed in a funeral.  The proceedings were done throughout most of the day, and the day had become from sunny to cloudy.  It even looked as though it was going to rain.  Markus reassured Katrina that they would go to the cemetery where he would be buried, rain or shine.  Katrina smiled, feeling appreciation for Markus and for all he’s doing to honor her brother. Mika had been notified about Denzel’s death, and she was the first to be in the funeral.  Markus, Katrina, Joshua and Quincy met her there, her eyes blood shot from crying so much, and she went towards them and hugged each of them.  “This was all just so sudden.  My baby was a good man, he didn’t deserve a death like this.”  Markus nodded in agreement and the others didn’t have the heart to give their condolences, for their grief too had rendered them silent.  As the hours passed, many more people came to attend Denzel’s funeral, many of which Katrina knew.  She went to them and thanked them for coming, while Markus, Joshua and Quincy stood in a corner of the funeral, still feeling the loss of their beloved friend.

 

  Joshua’s sad expression changed into a half smile, as he remembered the triumphant words Katrina had spoken last night.  “Guys, let’s not forget what Katrina told us.  We can’t give up, not now, not when the stakes are this high!  We need to see this through, for Denzel!”  With that, Markus and Quincy smiled and nodded in agreement, and then they headed towards Katrina and the many people attending the funeral, and for the rest of the day they talked about past events, and many of the people there recalled their most funny, serious, and even embarrassing moments with Denzel.  Katrina’s laughter and reassuring smile made Markus feel happy, knowing that she was trying her best to fight off the sorrow and make way for the love and the fiery determination to live for her brother. As he turned around, he noticed that Quincy was looking out the funeral door, as if something interesting had caught his eye.  Markus excused himself from the crowd, and he went towards the old man, whose sight was heavily bent on the outside.

 

(Start Song Here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dacLbA-k19s

  “That miserable little…after what he’s done…the bastard comes here.”  Quincy says quietly.  Markus begins to say something when he looks at Quincy’s direction and sees what Quincy was seeing.  For there, coming up the stairs, was none other than Raven Sable himself, along with a few news reporters and some fans here and there.  Markus immediately felt disgusted by the sight of Raven, intending to make this moment of grief a publicity stunt.  He knew that was what Raven was intending to do, but he didn’t oppose to let Raven enter either.  And so, he was let in, and the reporters came towards Markus quickly.  “Markus, your opponent Raven Sable has come to deliver his sincere condolences for what’s happened to your deceased friend, what do you say to that?”  Markus intently stares at Raven, who keeps a neutral composure, not letting anyone know he’s a messed up criminal, but not being a pushy show off either.  Markus then walks directly towards Raven and looks at him in the eye.  “Well, I just want to say that what happened to my friend Denzel was an act of murder…by someone who didn’t have the balls to come and solve the problem for himself.”

 

  One of the news reporters, seemingly surprised, quickly picked up the microphone and then said: “Markus, are you saying that your blaming Raven for murdering your friend?”  Markus nods and clenches his fists.  “That’s the gist for you.”  At that, the news reporters quickly started muttering, and the fans stopped messing around and then looked at Raven seriously.  Raven, who was surprisingly calm, simply raised his hand and put it on Markus’ shoulder.  “Oh come now Markus, I merely came here to deliver my condolences for your loss, and I’m not here as your rival or as your enemy, I’m here as a fellow person.  I am sincerely sorry for your loss.”  Markus felt the tinge of sarcasm coming from Raven’s voice, and Markus wanted nothing more than to crush Raven’s face into his skull, but he didn’t do so because he didn’t want to make a mess at Denzel’s funeral, so he simply breathed in and then growled softly and looked at Raven intently.  “In just one week Raven…you’ll see.  It’ll be all over, and this little feud of ours will finally be settled.”  Raven simply smiled and laughed and then he proceeded to go out the door, along with the news reporters and fans that had come with him.  For a moment, the room was silent as everyone was staring at Markus.

(End Song Here)

 

  Katrina quickly went towards Markus and touched his face.  “Baby, are you okay?” she says in a sweet and soothing voice, and Markus immediately feels better and smiles reassuringly, making her worries go away.  “No worries honey, I’m all right.  Now come on, let’s go.”  He smiles and holds her hand, and they both head towards the room where Denzel’s casket is and everyone sits as the preacher comes to say a few words. Markus then notices Quincy at the front of the casket, and then he remember that he still hasn’t seen Quincy’s face, because for some reason, he never takes off his hood, but no one seems to notice.  He then shakes off the thought and then looks at Katrina, who lays her head on his shoulder.  After a few seconds, the preacher comes into the room and takes out the bible and then he says for everyone to stand and to make a prayer.  As everyone prays in unison, Markus thinks of why Raven wanted to show up today here.  Probably just to show off, that was for sure, but there was something else he thought of.  But he then shook aside the thought, as he wanted to listen to what the preacher wanted to say, and paying no more attention to his thoughts, he proceeded to listen to the preacher.

 

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to honor the life of a good man, who was well loved by one and all.  Now that he has entered eternal rest, and now the Lord shall come unto him and receive him in the kingdom of heaven.  Let us all take a moment of silence to honor our good friend Denzel.”  With that, everyone begins to pray, and for a few seconds, Markus feels the whole room go silent as he remember the good moments that he and Denzel shared, and the moments when Denzel gave him advice.  He smiled as he remembered these little moments, and that made the grief less horrible on him.  When the preacher said Amen, everyone said Amen in unison.  After a while, people started leaving the funeral one by one, and then only Markus, Katrina, Joshua and Quincy remained.  Then, they headed towards the cemetery, where he was buried.  Katrina couldn’t help but burst into tears as the casket was being sealed tight.  Markus, Joshua and Quincy shed tears for Denzel, and the minutes passed on by, until everyone was gone except them.  And for that instant, everything and everyone felt silent. They were all silent, but then Joshua decided to break the ice.  “So guys, what do we do now?”

 

  Markus looks towards the sky, as if waiting for God to give him an answer, and then he looked back at Joshua and then he breathed in slowly.  “We have to be prepared for anything.  No matter what happens, we have to be on our guard.  Remember that there’s only seven days left for me to face off against Raven, and we all know that if he intends to do something else, he’ll do so when we’re all off guard, so we need to stay on our toes and make sure that no one else gets hurt.”  The others agree with him, and Katrina then looks at Markus intently and then she turns around towards Joshua and Quincy.  “Excuse me guys, could you leave me and Markus alone for a few minutes?”  she says with an innocent look in her face.  Joshua and Quincy nod and they head towards the cemetery’s exit, and then Markus looks at Katrina curiously.  “What is it Katrina?”  She then hugs him tight and cries on his chest, and Markus embraces her and doesn’t let her go, and he gives her a reassuring hug.  “It’s okay baby, it’ll all be okay.  We just need to hang in there.”  Katrina then looks up at Markus and kisses him with deep passion, and he kisses back with equal passion, as both feel each other’s embrace.

 

  They then pull away from the kiss, and Katrina looks at Markus with determined eyes.  “Markus, we’re all counting on you.  The rest is up to you.  We’ve all been struggling for so long, and we’ve had so many losses and casualties.  This has all turned into such a nightmare.  I want to live my life without having to constantly worry if someone is behind my back waiting to kill me. I want to be able to live a normal life with you and your family.  I want to help you raise Michaela to be a good and honest girl, and I want for us to have a happy life together, for a bright and better future!” She looks at him with tears in her eyes, and Markus smiles and wipes off her tears and then kisses her gently and tenderly, and then he hugs her, and she smiles as she feels Markus’ warmth.  “Don’t worry Katrina. After everything we’ve been through, after all the training I’ve done, and after all the things we’ve learned, I’m more than certain that I’ll make Raven regret the day that he decided to mess with us.  I promise you that I’ll finally end our problems and we’ll be able to have a peaceful life.  Of that you can be sure.  I swear it.”  With that, they smile and hold hands, and then they head towards the exit of the cemetery, where Joshua and Quincy await.

----------------------

 

The burial of a cherished friend, the appearance of his sworn rival, and the resolve to set things right, Markus is ready for the final step of his journey.  To face Raven Sable and finally bring peace to his family.  What will happen next?  Find out in Chapter Forty One: “Press Interview.”

Edited December 5, 201312 yr by Golden Fighter

I'm still mad that Denzel was killed, but I though that was touching that he came to visit Katrina one last time.

 

And also, Raven bringing reporters and fans to the funeral? How emotionless can this guy be?

 

P.S. Sorry I didn't reply sooner, Finals week is tomorrow and I've been studying for the past few days.

Edited December 8, 201312 yr by Keyblade101

Yes, Denzel's fate is indeed sad, but alas, nothing can be done.  And yes, Raven is indeed an emotionless man.  And I wish you the best of luck on your finals, Keyblade101!  Now then everyone, enjoy this next chapter!

 

Chapter Forty One: Press Interview

 

  The next day, Markus was woken up by the alarm clock, and he almost fell out of bed from the startle it caused him. He took a moment to breathe in and then breathe out, and he looked towards his right and he saw Katrina peacefully sleeping beside him.  Yesterday wasn’t easy for any of them, so Markus was glad that Katrina was at least sleeping peacefully, and he found it a bit irritating considering the fact that she wasn’t even fazed by the alarm when he, on the other hand, almost had a heart attack.  He shook his head and smiled and kissed Katrina’s forehead and then he went downstairs, where Quincy had already prepared breakfast.  “Morning old man.”  Quincy nods silently.  “Good morning Markus.  Here, eat up, your gonna need your strength and your brain today.”  Markus looks at Quincy curiously.  “And why is that?”  Quincy then looks at Markus and folds his arms.  “Yesterday, while Joshua and I were waiting for you and Katrina to come up with us, this sports reporter fellow came by and said that if I knew you, and I said yes, and then he said to tell you that today you had a press interview against Raven Sable.”  At that, Markus’ eyes flared, but he quickly calmed down.  “So, that’s why you set the alarm on my clock.  All right, then I better eat this breakfkast.”

 

  After eating his breakfast, Markus and Quincy proceeded to lock the house and go towards town, where the Press Interview would be held.  “So old man, where is this interview supposed to take place?”  Quincy looked around to pinpoint an exact location and then he pointed to his right.  “Over there, near the stadium.  It’s going to be an outside interview, I guess it’s to get the fans excited or what not, since most of them are about to overflow this  place.”  Markus nods and then notices that Joshua isn’t around.  Before he even says anything, Quincy answers the question he had in mind.  “If your wondering where Joshua is, he’s off in town, making sure the preparations for the fight are going accordingly.  Now come on, we’re almost there.”  Markus nods and they keep walking, and as they go nearer to the stadium, the more crowded the streets become, as fans of Markus and Raven shove and push each other and cheer in excitement, waiting for the two opponents to take the stage.  When one of Markus’ fans sees him, she shrieks of joy and claps her hands, and immediately all of Markus’ fans rejoice and raise their fists in the air, cheering for him and wishing him the best of luck, while Raven’s fans naturally boo him.  “If only Raven’s fans knew the horrible person he is…” Quincy thinks to himself.

 

  After politely going through the crowds of fans, Markus approaches Nick Brandon, who smiles and stretches out his hand for a handshake.  “Hey there Markus, long time no see.  By the way, I’m sorry about what happened to your friend, and I hope your daughter and her grandmother recover soon.”  Markus appreciatively nods and then he stands behind his podium, waiting for the moment when Raven comes to the podium next to him.  The fans demand for the interview to start, and then George Smith, who was attending some of the fans on the other side, came to control the crowd.  “Ladies and gentlemen, we need to ask for your patience, for the interview cannot commence until both opponents are in their respective podiums.  A little more of your time is what we’re asking for, please.”  With that, the crowd calms down, and Markus continues to try his best to stay calm, for he knows that the minute he sees Raven, he’ll have to control the urge to basically beat the living hell out of the guy. 

 

           (Start Song Here)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sxLq_MoKyU

  A few more minutes pass, and instantly, Raven’s fans begin to cheer like crazy, when out of a fancy limousine comes Raven Sable.  The minute he gets off the limo, Markus suddenly gets the urge to run through the crowd and decimate him, but he can’t let his composure slip. He has to stay calm.  Only six more days and he’ll be able to get the payback he wants.  With that, Markus calms down considerably and draws a deep and long breath.  Raven smiles and stretches out his hand to offer Markus a handshake, but Markus defiantly ignores, which makes Markus’ fans go crazy with approval and they cheer him on.  Raven’s fans boo, and then Nick Brandon raises his hand so that the crowd’s uproar can subside.  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the official press interview of Markus Dominic and Raven Sable!  We’ve gathered these two fighters today so that we can witness their thoughts on the match and what their goals are!  With only six days to go for their big match, I’m sure all of you are excited, because I know that I am!” With that, everyone roars of approval and cheers for their respective boxer.  George Smith then proceeds to go to the center of the two podiums.  “So then Markus, let’s start with you.  What is your goal going into this match?”

 

  Markus takes a moment to think of the answer, and then he voices his answer in what could be the most politest way possible.  “Well George, my goal here is to give it my all in this match, because this will be my one and last match that anyone will see, because after this match, I plan to hang the towel in boxing.  The other goal I have in mind is to unmask this…fine gentleman to the world.”  With that, the crowd goes berserk, and he sees Raven’s smile fade, and Markus feels satisfied that he was able to take his opponent’s grin off his face.  George and Nick look excited, and then Nick proceeds to ask the following question to Raven.  “With that being said Raven, what is your goal going into this match?”  Raven stays quiet for what seems to be a minute, and then he takes the microphone from Nick and starts to run his mouth in the cockiest way possible.  “Well then Nick, I’m glad you asked.  My goal going into this match is to prove to the world that the great Markus Dominic is dead, and he won’t rise again.  I’m going to prove to the world that all that Markus ever was, was a wannabe boxer who could never fulfill his dream of obtaining the championship.”  With that, he satisfyingly receives the applause of his fans, and he looks back but notices Markus is calm and collected, which makes Raven quite angry.  Raven then sits down and stares at Markus.  “How can I break him…?” he says to himself.

 

  George then asks the next question to Markus.  “So Markus, in these three years of absence from the ring, are you ready to face Raven Sable?  What training did you undertake?”  Markus then calmly answers.  “Well, in these past three years I was in a comatose state, and thankfully I was able to recover, thanks to God, and thanks to Quincy, the old man beside me, he trained me for this match, and I can honestly say that I’m prepared for this match, just like I’ve always been for my matches in the past.”  Nick then asks Raven another question.  “All right then Raven, how about you, what training have you undertaken for this match?”  Raven then crosses his arms and smirks.  “Well, I’ve been lifting heavy weights, running, keeping myself in shape and sparring with some of my old high school friends who frequently visit the gym.  So the long and short of it is, that I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for this match, and I’ll crush Markus.”

 

  The crowd grows ever more excited as the tension of this interview rises.  Reporters write down and record everything that’s happening, and fans eagerly await what Markus will say next.  George then asks.  “Markus, do you have anything you wish to say to your opponent, and a message you would like to give out to your fans?”  Markus looks at Raven and then he takes a deep breath.  “Well Raven, what I want to say is that come six days from now, I’ll make you regret the day that you decided to mess with me.  Actions have consequences, and I’ve already paid for mine, and now it’s time you paid for yours.”  Raven looks at Markus shocked, and Nick and George nod in excitement, and then Markus looks towards his fans.  “And to all of you, my dear fans, I want to say that no matter the obstacles that come your way, and no matter what threatens to ruin your life, so long as you have the will and the reason to fight, then do so without fear, and you’ll be able to accomplish anything.”  With that, Markus leaves the podium and walks through the crowds as his fans cheer for him, and Nick and George give a silent good luck nod to Markus, while Raven remains speechless.

(End Song Here)

 

  Quincy walks over to Markus and gives him a nod of approval.  “Well kid, you managed to keep yourself in control of the situation, plus, you did a big number on Raven.  Good job.”  Markus smiled and nodded and then he looked towards the sky and thought of Keera and Mr. Craig.  “Don’t worry guys, I’ll finally set things right, you’ll see.”  With that, he and Quincy go to find Joshua, who’s somewhere in town.

--------------------

 

With the calmness and capacity of Markus, he knows that he’s prepared for what lies ahead.  With only six days left for his confrontation, what else will occur?  Will Markus finally find peace?  Stay tuned for Chapter Forty Two: “Michaela And Angelica Awaken.”

I had gotten behind on reading this, but now I'm finally caught up and I must say I'm really proud of you for writing this much! And it's nicely written too I can't believe you've completed 41 chapters!

And I loved Denzel, that made me so sad lol. I think Markus is still my favorite though. Anyway keep up the excellent work and I can't wait for the next part!

I had gotten behind on reading this, but now I'm finally caught up and I must say I'm really proud of you for writing this much! And it's nicely written too I can't believe you've completed 41 chapters!And I loved Denzel, that made me so sad lol. I think Markus is still my favorite though. Anyway keep up the excellent work and I can't wait for the next part!

Thanks very much, I'm glad that you were able to catch up on the story!  And I appreciate you taking your time to read this story.  Only nine more chapters left and this story will reach it's conclusion.  I hope you look forward to it!

Okay, here's the next chapter!  Enjoy everyone!

 

Chapter Forty Two: Michaela And Angelica Awaken

 

  As the day goes by, the town gets crowded with people coming here and about in their comings and goings.  Markus and Quincy struggle to stay together amidst the growth of the crowd, and then, out of the dozens of streams of people, they see Joshua near a newsstand, where he’s taking a look at the newspaper.  Markus and Quincy head over to him, and then he greets them with a warm smile.  “Hey there guys, word is that the press interview went very well.”  Markus smiled and patted Joshua’s shoulder.  “Are you sure you weren’t one of the fans in the crowd hearing everything?”  At that, Joshua laughed and then he put the newspaper down and said goodbye to the clerk.  “Ha, oh Markus, you always make me laugh.”  Quincy then proceeds to keep up the pace of Markus and Joshua so that they don’t get mixed in with the crowd.  “So Joshua, how’s everything going for the match?”  Joshua looked at Quincy with a serious expression.  “Everything’s fine and accounted for.  Rest assured Markus, you won’t have to worry about Raven weaseling his way out of the match, because otherwise his reputation would be ruined, and we all know he wouldn’t want that, so he’s facing you whether he likes it or not.”  Quincy clapped his hands together in approval.  “Excellent.  Then it’s only a matter of time.”

 

  Joshua looks around only to notice that Katrina isn’t with them.  “Hey, just asking, where’s Katrina?”  Markus then looked at him.  “She called me earlier and told me she was in the hospital watching over Michaela and Angelica.  I’m really grateful to her for that.  She said that if anything happened, she’d let me know, but I plan on stopping by at the hospital anyway.”  Joshua and Quincy then make warm smiles, for they know how deeply in love Markus is with Katrina, and they feel relieved that Markus is so relaxed and at ease.  Joshua then goes in front of Markus and Quincy and he raises his hands.  “All right then, let’s celebrate by going to the arcade and playing a bit of Street Fighter!”  Markus rolled his eyes and made an appreciative smile. “All right, but only a few rounds, because I really need to go see Michaela and Angelica.”  Joshua nodded.  “Of course.” With that, Markus, Joshua and Quincy headed towards the arcade, and when they arrived, Quincy immediately went to the snacking booth where there were many things to choose from.  Joshua then yelled over to Quincy.  “Hey, aren’t you gonna play Street Fighter with us!?”

 

   Quincy waves his hand dismissively.  “Oh, don’t mind me boys.  I’m too old for this video game business, besides, I’m plenty happy with this little food stand right here.”  Joshua and Markus smile and then Joshua looks back to Quincy.  “Wow, with that old man’s fighting skills, you’d think he’d play video games effortlessly.”  Markus then shrugged his shoulders.  “I guess video games aren’t for everyone.”  As they approached the token machine and then proceeded to go to the Street Fighter game machine, Joshua suddenly stopped and started shedding tears.  Markus immediately understood what was happening.  “This was Denzel’s favorite game in this arcade, huh?”  Joshua nodded silently and then he dried his tears and made a half smile.  “Heh, yeah, the guy would always brag about his high score, and he actually could back up all the bragging, because he was indeed an excellent player.  Anyways, would you do the honors and insert the coins?”  Markus nodded and smiled and placed two tokens on his side of the machine, and then Joshua put his, and the game instantly started to boot up.

 

  After choosing their respective characters, they went all out on each other, and they were having a blast while doing so.  Markus noticed Joshua’s expression change, for he noticed that by playing this game with him, he was remembering the good times he had shared with Denzel, and if that made Joshua happy, that made Markus happy too.  They went a total of five rounds, and in the end Joshua came out the victor.  As they were finishing up, Quincy came with a stack of Cheetos and Doritos bags, and he had a bright smile.  “So, what did I miss guys?”  Joshua kindly bragged about how he beat Markus, and soon after they left and were heading on their way to the hospital.  The sun was starting to set, and the streets were getting emptier as they made their way to the hospital.  Soon the stars began to appear, blanketing the night sky, and then the moon appeared, full and bright, and the cold breeze came blowing.  “So hey Quincy, after all this is over, what do you plan to do?” Joshua asked.  Markus felt interested in the question, and he looked at Quincy to see what he would say.

 

   Surprisingly, Quincy shrugged his shoulders in the most blankest way possible.  “To tell you the truth my boy, I’m not sure what I’ll do after this.  Maybe I’ll go trekking these United States, and see the world.  What about you Joshua?”  Joshua took a moment to think about his answer, and then he smiled and looked up towards the sky.  “Well, what I’d like to do is maybe open a nice little business, like a video game arcade with a cafeteria included!  And then I’d like to look for a nice girl and marry her and raise a family.  What about you Markus?”  After both of them had answered, Markus wanted to give them an answer too, and then he smiled and a hopeful gleam came from his eyes.  “Well, I’m thinking of proposing to Katrina after all this is over…and I’d like to ask her to live with me and raise Michaela.”  With that, Joshua and Quincy hugged Markus out of sheer emotion.  “Good for you my boy, that’s the good thing to do!  I’m sure Katrina will be more than pleased with this!” Quincy said enthusiastically.  Joshua joined in on the enthusiasm.  “Oh, I can’t wait to see the look on her face when you propose!”  Markus smiled and then he heard his cell phone ring.  He saw that it was Katrina calling him, and he immediately picked up.  “What is it babe?”  After a few seconds, Markus, with a shocked expression, said goodbye and hung up and went running like a madman towards the hospital.

 

(Start Song Here)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pp0Qp4CEpQ

  “Wait, Markus, what’s all the commotion about!?” Joshua says.  Markus looks back, smiling, with tears in his eyes.  “It’s Michaela and Angelica!  They’ve woken up!”  Without a single moment more of hesitation, Joshua and Quincy quickly head over to the hospital with Markus, running faster than they’ve ever ran before.  A few minutes later, they storm through the lobby, they go up the stairs, and they burst into Michaela and Angelica’s room, where both of them are standing near the window, talking with Katrina.  The minute Michaela sees Markus, she opens her arms wide and runs towards her father.  “Daddy, daddy, you’re here!”  Markus kneels down and hugs his daughter, feeling so much joy and relief that she’s all right, and Michaela and Angelica smile at this heartwarming moment.  “Michaela baby, I missed you!  I was all worried about you!”  Michaela giggled and poked Markus’ nose.  “Well, it was all thanks to you daddy, and while I was asleep, mommy told me to stay strong, because I had to come back to be with you!”  When she said these words, Markus felt his heart stop.  He looked upwards towards the ceiling, nodding silently in appreciation, for God had helped Michaela through this difficult time.  Then, he stood up and went towards Angelica and hugged her tight.

 

  “Oh Angelica, I missed you!  You and Michaela were sleeping for so long…” Markus began to say, and Angelica smiled warmly and rubbed Markus’ back.  “It’s okay Markus.  Now we’re all better.  I have to thank you so much for looking after us, and I have to thank you too Katrina.” She said as she turned towards Katrina and gave her a warm and loving hug.  Everyone appreciated this moment of relief and joy, and Markus felt a satisfying breeze swell inside him, feeling happy that Michaela and Angelica made it all right.  He looked back towards Joshua and Quincy, who were shedding tears and smiling.  All of them held this moment sacred, for there were no words that could describe such a happy and emotional moment.  Soon after, the doctor came in and gave the diagnosis, and to everyone’s relief, the doctor confirmed that Michaela and Angelica were fully recovered and that they could return home.

 

  And so, after so much time, that’s exactly what everyone did.  Markus happily held Michaela’s hand, and he put his arm around Katrina, and they all went out of the hospital with smiles on their faces.  When they arrived home, Markus and Joshua insisted on cooking, and so they went into the kitchen while Angelica and Michaela went back into the house, and Quincy went into the kitchen to help the guys out.  Katrina stayed outside, and she looked upwards towards the sky, and she felt a comforting warmth spread from inside her heart.  She felt such a wave of relief and happiness, and she nodded silently and a tear rolled down her cheek.  “Denzel, I imagine you must be smiling now, huh?  I imagine you must be rejoicing, celebrating the recovery of our beloved friends Michaela and Angelica.”  With that, she closed her eyes and smiled and then went into the house.

(End Song Here)

------------------------

 

Now with all of his loved ones by his side, Markus feels as triumphant as ever, and now peace has allured the air and seeped into everyone’s hearts.  In his mind, Markus hopes this happiness can last.  Be prepared for Chapter Forty Three: “Farewell, Dear Quincy…”