Rough Start (Open)

[Rick Green]

I gulped hard and looked down the hallway, it didn’t look promising. Paragon was littered with some really scary looking thugs and it seemed I just had to pick the one that had the most, being new probably didn’t help my confidence much ether. Some of them just stood in doorways talking, others stood hunched over throwing dice. It was a plethora of shady looking guys, all of whom I would rather not have to associate with. Still I was going to have to go down this hall to get to my next class without being late. So with a sigh I started down the hall.

At first nobody really paid me much mind, which I was glad for. I wanted to stay away from unwanted attention. As I reached about the halfway point though some rather tall looking guy stepped into my path. He had flame orange hair and wore a wicked smile on his face; this guy was trouble I could tell. I stopped and tried to walk around him but he stepped in front of me again. I gulped and looked up at him, and I mean I had to really look up. It was at that time I cursed myself for being short.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

The guys grin widened and he rubbed his thumb across his nose. “Well I suppose you could answer a question for me.” He had a scratchy voice which made me flinch as he spoke. “What’s your question?” I asked tentatively. The guy turned to one of his friends and smirked then turned back to me. “Well me and my pal here just wanted to know what’s up with that get up your wearing?”

I was confused and I looked down, what was wrong with my outfit? I was just wearing my cargo pants and a white beater. It wasn’t until it was too late that I realized what I’d done wrong. Just as soon as I looked down the guy brought his hand up and smacked me square in the face. I stumbled backwards in pain.

“Ow, that hurt.” I yelled. My gaze rushed back up to tall guy, I glared at him. “What the hell was that for?”

Suddenly his expression changed to one of mockery to one of anger. “Hey you watch your language; no one talks to me like that.” I was too enraged at the moment to realize what I should and shouldn’t do in this situation.

“Oh what are you going to do, hit me like a girl again? Or maybe call your boyfriend over there to come and beat me up.” I said.

Obviously this pissed him off, and obviously I realized I had put my foot in my mouth. Smaller guys should not say insulting things to those who are much taller and look like they could pummel you. Sadly I had made that mistake.

The attack came in the form of a low punch aimed at my head. I almost smiled as I side stepped it and grabbed the guys arm. The next part was a little harder considering how tall the guy was but since he’d thrown himself with the punch I was able to carry him right over my shoulder. He landed with a thud on the tiled floor.

“You little bastard.” The guy said in pain. He rolled over onto his stomach and reached for his back. “I’m gonna kill you.” He yelled in rage and the guy began to get up. I didn’t give him the chance though as I brought my foot up and rammed it into his jaw sending him over backwards. He moaned in pain for a moment but otherwise made no other move to get back up.

I sighed; truthfully I hated fighting and only did it in self defense. Though as I looked at the thug on the ground I realized that I might have provoked this attack. I shrugged though, not like he didn’t have it coming. My eyes glimpsed the clock and I realized that I was late.

“Oh crap, just what I need.” I growled. I turned to go and was met promptly with a fist right to the face. My knees buckled and I dropped instantly to the ground. It took me a few moments to realize what had happened but when I did I could only just stare up at my attacker. It was the orange haired guy’s friend along with a few other guys accompanying him.

“That was a big mistake newbie.” He said. “Now were gonna teach you some respect.” The rest of the group started to laugh and I felt the guys shoe implant itself into my gut. Things were looking bad.

For being here just a few days this was turning out to be a rough start.

[Jesse St. Johns]

It's not a pretty way to attack someone. It could be straight up deadly if I did it wrong. But it got the job done. Luckily the janitor had been passing by and I was able to commandeer his supplies. A five foot mop handle flew in from the side and smashed into the fire haired man's friend, right in his neck. Not enough to break it but he'd have a hell of a welt tomorrow. But he didn't go down. Tough bastard. He turned, eyes big as tennis balls, and swung for my face. I jumped back, just out of range. I jabbed the stick forward aiming for his neck again, looking to blast his windpipe. But his punch was overpowered and he'd ended up lower than I thought.

The broken end of the stick pierced his eye and lodged in his socket. Only an inch, maybe two. Didn't hit brain I don't think. More than I wanted though I wasn't going to apologize. Clear fluid and red blood burst forth, sprayed a little, mostly leaked down his cheek. His scream set the primitive hairs on my neck on end. The whole hallway went silent except for the scream. He ripped the stick out. More blood. He took off running...he'd never have that eye again.

The bad news, the three guys left from the group were no longer merely beating people. They were playing for the blood their buddy lost. The stick was gone; I had only bare hands. I tried to run but I got flanked and booted from the back onto the floor. I scrambled to the wall to stand and only barely avoided another steel toed kick. I was dodging for my life now. Too many to fight back against alone, it was taking all my concentration to keep tabs on the three and move at the same time. And they had both exits of the hallway blocked. Not good not good...where is that short guy from the floor?!

[Rick Green]

It was funny.

I’d never seen someone, other than in the movies, get their eye stabbed out with a stick. I watched in wonder as some guy with dark skin jumped in and beat up the orange haired guy’s friend with what looked like a mop handle. Though I detested the sight of ultra and violence that came next it didn’t faze me that badly, after all this guy had saved me. Plus seeing that big macho guy run off screaming his guts out made me feel better after that beating he gave me.

The new guy’s actions were enough to draw away the three other thugs who’d been beating on me. That was a major relief cause I didn’t know how much more of that I could’ve taken. The dark skinned guy took off, smart guy, with the odds so heavily against him. He didn’t get far though as the three guys followed him and knocked him down from behind. I saw him just barely dodge another attack as he placed himself against the wall. Now things weren’t looking good for him!

I managed to get up and felt a bit of pain in my abdomen. Those bastards had used steel toed boots, and now I was going to feel it all day. At least I didn’t break any ribs, I didn’t think. Using the wall to support me slightly I assessed the situation. The three guys who were left looked like your typical small class goons. Still with three of them there it would be hard for a single person to win against them.

Truthfully I thought about walking away, I considered it a great deal. However the good natured guy in me screamed that I couldn’t let this guy who saved me get pummeled. I smiled and righted myself. Besides I wanted to take out some of my frustration on these guys. Not only did they beat me up, they made me late for class. what a way to start off this school year.

I rushed in with my shoes echoing in the hall. Those guys though were to busy with the guyed who’d impaled their boss’s eye with a cleaning accessory. I took the opportunity to aim for the guy in the middle as he looked like the most likely to cause me problems as this thing escalated. Running with full force now I dived low and aimed my shoulder at the back of his knee.

The impact was sudden and painful, even for me. As the guy’s leg gave out he fell backwards. But because I still had his leg he came down awkwardly. I could hear the snapping and tearing noises of when something breaks or tears in the knee. It made me shudder as the guy wailed inhumanely from the pain. I jumped quickly though because I knew the other to guys wouldn’t give the time to leisure around.

Against the wall now I found myself right next to the guy who saved my ass earlier. I didn’t turn my head to greet the guy as my attention was focused on the final two thugs.

“Well I don’t know who you are or why you saved my, but lets keep the formalities until we get rid of the rest of them. What do you say man, I’ll take the one on the right if you’ve got the one on the left?”

[Jesse St. Johns]

"Fine."

No time for more than a word and even that seemed like pushing it. Two on two. The odds were improving but I still wasn't out of the woods yet. Gotta do this quick and mean 'cause they sure as hell won't pussy foot around. For an agonizing moment the two sides stared each other down, contemplating the next move. I decided to break the tension. With a loud exhaled breath I pushed off the wall and sent the heel of my shoe straight out in a boot kick for my target on the left.

It was quick but easily dodged. I figured it would be. The guy side stepped to his left and swung wide and hard with a massive right hook. I just managed to duck under it by leaning back and watched the scarred knuckles sail above my face. I straightened back up and found his left fist following up the near miss with a snapping jab. He caught me below the eye and my head whipped around, dreadlocks flailing, as I staggered a step or two back. My eye swelled up immdietely and I knew I'd lose half my vision through it in the next minute. Lucky punch. He wouldn't get a second.

He rushed me and went for the kill. I played it mean and swung my leg one more time, this time up in an arc. Between his legs. My shin smashed directly into his nuts and for a moment I thought I felt one pop. His eyes bulged and he dropped like a rock. Not many guys can take something like that and even remain standing, let alone thinking straight. He stared up at me from the floor and screamed, "You dirty fuck! Who the fuck does something like that!"

I dropped my heel into his face. This time I was sure something popped; his nose cracked in half and a small river of blood opened up. My eye was nearly swollen shut now. I ignored the sting and the throb. I replied to his question, "The winner. I'm standing, you're not."

I wonder how the other guy is making out...?

[Rick Green]

The dark skinned guy who’d saved me w had just barely finished what he was saying when suddenly the guy I was supposed to take on charged me. I prepared myself thinking he was coming in with a punch but I was mistaken and paid for it. Just as approached he lowered his fist and shoulder then speared me right into the wall. Pain etched through my ribs and the breath flew out of me. I almost collapsed in pain but the guy kept me standing by repeatedly ramming his shoulder into my stomach.

Things were becoming blurry and the world around me started to spin. I knew I was in trouble again but it was unlikely I was going to get help again. Trying to think fast I wrapped my left around the guy’s neck and squeezed as hard as I could. The guy stopped ramming then and started trying to back away. He dragged me with him as he walked backwards while trying to push me off. Knowing I was too weak to keep a hold of him while standing I brought my right foot back then launched it forward right into his shin. I heard the muffle cry, and then we were falling.

My back hit the tiled floor and I felt the wind knocked out of me. It wasn’t till it would be too late that I realized that I’d then released my grip on the choke hold. I prepared myself for an onslaught of battering that never came. The dude rolled away from me holding his head, crimson fluid stained his hands and the floor. I watched stupidly for a moment before realizing this was my chance. As he sat up still holding his head and moaning I got to my feet took a few steps back then ran at him launching a knee strike right into his face. The guys head shot backwards and bounced on the floor with a sickening thud. He didn’t move after that.

The momentum of my attack took me off balance and I ended up the floor again. I landed on my stomach but with little force. For a while I just laid there breathing heavily, I wasn’t expecting this to turn out the way that it did. I didn’t want a fight in the first place but yet here I was the victor thanks to a little help from somebody I didn’t even know. With that in mind I turned over and sat up slowly wincing at my sore abdomen. With a quick glance around I spotted him standing over his opponent.

“Well looks like you took care of business man.” I called to him as I slowly got to my feet. The pain in stomach was enough to make me want to sit back down but I didn’t. So instead I made my way over to the guy who’d saved my ass.

“Damn that looks like it hurt.” I said looking down at the other guy. “Well I guess I should thank for saving me back there. Don’t know why you did it, but thanks. Anyway the names Rick, what’s yours?”

[Jesse St. Johns]

The man at my feet was squirming, trying to hold his nose and his crotch at the same time. He wasn't going anywhere. Damn that looks like it sucks, not knowing which hurts more. I heard the 'in-trouble' guy from before slide up next to me and start a conversation. He asked my name. I was silent for a moment afterwards, making up my mind of whether to tell him or not. I finally chose and said flatly, not looking at him,

"Jesse St. Johns."

Afterwards I closed up again. I was still edgy from the fight and I wasn't looking for a pal. I didn't feel safe here any more, too much shit had gone down. Even for Paragon this was an above average fight on the brutality scale. Others might be wanting to join in soon. I glanced down the hallways, over my shoulder. I wanted to be gone.

"Only did it 'cause I hate bad odds. You'll forgive me if I still don't 'xactly trust you, after watchin' you flip like you did. Only thing I'll say is this: I'd get the hell outta Dodge if I were you. I sure am."

And with that I pulled my dreadlocks from my face and turned on my heel, walking in the opposite direction. I needed to drain the fluid from my swollen eye, if I didn't ice it or bleed it soon it'd be stuck like that all week. And I needed my eyes.

[Rick Green]

[[Sorry for the late response]]

Jessie's words were abrupt and to the point. He cautiously looked around with his one good eye. Rick watched him closely and took in his words but before he could say anything in response the guy took off. Rick was left standing there alone with a hallway full of beaten up guys and bloody floors.

Rick watched Jessie go and thought to himself, what an interesting guy he was. The perhaps he might have to reacquaint himself with someone like that, till then though. Rick looked around and got Jessie's meaning. It wouldn't be long before word of this brawl would reach other students ears. Especially with a guy with a stick in his eye running across the grounds.

Rick smiled and rubbed his chin. "Man what a rough day and its only barly begun." He slowly started walking down the hallway. His eyes glanced a clock and he knew that he was really late now. Screw it, he wasn't going to go.

Rick opened a door leading to the next hall. Before he went through though he gave a look back at Jessie's handy work. The kid was a scrapper and dangerous. Still anybody who would put their own well being into danger just to even the odds of a fight. That was somebody Rick wanted to get to know a little better.

[[As far as i am concerned this thread is over, unless Jessie has anything else he wants to add.]]