"Don't call me that. What are you calling for?" Timmers gruff voice came through the phone.
Reeves closed his eyes briefly. “Timothy Varmen.” He took another deep breath. How could he say it? “Seraphina Medina is . . .” He dropped the phone as he saw a small sign of life. Seraphina had moved her finger. “Seraphina?” He quickly grabbed a wet washrag and spread it over her temple as he heard a groan. Reeves removed the washrag and checked her pulse. It wasn't his imagination; it was coming back up.
Seraphina moaned and semi-opened one of her eyes. “Water.”
Reeves grabbed some water and helped her drink. “You scared me,” he chuckled in an odd way, feeling an insane amount of relief. "I thought you were a goner.” There was no ‘you wish’, no smart alec remark at all as Seraphina tried to sit up. “Easy, easy, let me help.” Reeves got behind her and helped her sit up. “What happened?”
“No water,” Seraphina slurred. “No food or water. Exercise but no energy.”
“No water?” Reeves tried his best to decipher her words in her altered state. "I don't understand.”
“No water,” Seraphina slurred again as Reeves kept her propped up. It wasn't easy, her motion was as controlled as wet spaghetti “Reward, good time. No water, no food, no good time. I danced with Medina.”
“You’re making no sense.” Reeves tried to comprehend what she was saying, but her mind was still in another place. “The Sergeant didn’t give you any water or food? Are you trying to say that?”
“No water. No food. Reward. I’m not strong enough.” Seraphina tried to stand up on her own but failed. “Where’s Medina? Among the reds and blues of the night, we liked to skip.”
“Your sister isn't here; she hasn't been here. You're in Hidden Secret.” Reeves tried to bring her back to her senses. “What did you mean by rewards?”
“Rewards,” Seraphina was slowly coming out of it. “Pompous jerk, kept them for rewards.”
“Rewards?” Reeves groaned. The Sergeant must have tried to be tougher. Reeves had talked about her progress right before she left last night with him and told him to be harder. Gradually, he wanted to build up her endurance. She had been doing better with her skill, whether others could tell or not. She may not have run as fast as even outsider kids, but she went from never running for years on end and walking with a cane, to becoming a well-to-do jogger. That was a significant improvement from where she had started. Still, there could have been a smudge of hostility that may have been involved with his talk to the Sergeant. “He was tougher. Did you receive any?”
“Not one morsel.” Seraphina tried to stand up again, this time Reeves helped. “I need to get moving.”
“You scared the Sergeant,” Reeves informed her as she stood up. “To him, you only looked tired. It’s a handy thing I came, or you would be a goner.” Then, the phrase he knew would be coming emerged from her lips.
“I want my pills.”
“I admit," Reeves said, "that was a close call but-”
“What?” Seraphina felt her shoulder, it must have been sore. “My nearly dying still wasn’t enough to convince you that I'm not like you? I need those pills; I don’t want to live like this.”
Should he tell her that she would not be able to go back on them for two weeks? This was a bet, something she had control of. To let her know that it was no longer in her control might make it harder. “I won’t let the Sergeant train you anymore at night. Your night sessions are over; the hardest hump is almost finished. If you quit now, it’s all been for nothing. You don’t get anything out of it.”
“I don’t care anymore,” Seraphina said raising her other arm toward him. “Give me my pills, I’m done with this. You almost killed me, not the pills, not the Sergeant. You. I’ve been unconscious, I can barely function enough to move, and I can’t make it without them. Give them back, get me out of this tower of yours and let me go back home.”
“I can’t,” Reeves said, “It would all be for nothing. You have to continue this bet.” Yes, her life depended on it now.
“For what?” Seraphina insisted, wanting an answer. “What? What is worth my life hanging in the balance? You said it yourself, when I’m in trouble, I look tired. How would anyone know whether I’m exhausted or dying, huh? You’re right, we are different. We can’t be pushed the same way, so how can you be sure I won’t die next time? On you?”
Reeves was silent a moment. He hadn't wanted to tell anybody, superpowers were for Adventurers, not Champion Paladins. His superpowers weren't even that significant compared to the other one's out there. One more thing to tease him about, but he couldn't hide it. “I know. It's an instinct I have.”
“Over seventy five percent of Adventurers have that sixth sense crap, I don't care." Seraphina stretched out further toward him. "Pills, Reeves, give. Now.”
“I can’t," Reeves knew he couldn't hide it much longer. Seraphina wouldn't back down from her decision. “Seraphina Medina, the truth is, I can't let you go back to your medication for two weeks. According to the doctor, after this close call, going back sooner could cause damage.”
“I can’t go back?” Seraphina Medina’s eyes turned from an angry glare to one of shock and disappointment. “Are you saying to me that I don’t even get a choice in this damn bet anymore? There’s absolutely no backing out?”
“No, you don’t. It’s life staking now,” Reeves admitted. “In two weeks if you don't want to continue, I won't make you. That’s it, I draw the line against it if that’s what you want, but it goes two ways. So, if you don’t make it, then I- “
“Don’t have to go on the pills. Yeah, I get it.” Seraphina Medina sank her head in defeat. “Fine, if I quit in two weeks, then happy you, you’re free.”
“Look, I am sorry.” Reeves apologized once again. “I should have explained more clearly to the Sergeant what I meant better, but other than that, I have- “
“You don’t care a bit about me, you only care about getting me off those pills," Seraphina interrupted him. "You see me as the female version of Timothy or something, so why are you trying so hard to keep me away from my medication? It wouldn't matter who I was, you don’t want anyone taking that medication. Stop lying.”
Reeves rubbed his head, being cautious to how he answered the question. “I don't see you as a female Timothy.” Strangest words he ever used. “True, we don’t get along the best at times-”
“-Ever.”
“Most times,” Reeves reasoned. “That doesn't mean I don’t care about you." He released her back and sat by her side. "By the time it's safe again, you should be ready to continue.”
Seraphina chuckled oddly three times. “You think so? After all this, how could you possibly think that you asshole?”
Reeves pointed at himself and sighed. He'd skip the lecture on vulgar language, it made no difference to her. “I didn’t start for any deal, I had financial trouble. Credits from the government refused to cover it, and as a kid, I had no insurance. My parents didn't care, didn't actually even know me. I didn't know what to do so I had no choice. I had the Sergeant stay on me twenty-four seven, so I could eat and live.”
"You mean you worked with the Sergeant?” Seraphina gawked at him.
“Yeah,” Reeves chuckled. “I know he's hard, and maybe senile now, but I told him to be extremely hard on me. It was either learn to live with it or die, and until I learned complete self-control and could come into a balance with food, he would push me as far as he could to the limit." He hunched forward to her, his metallic medallion dangling on his necklace. "So, you see? I'm not torturing you and you're not alone. This ongoing training won't last. One day, you'll be able to take it easy again, like me.”
“Well,” Seraphina said, “I guess you have an idea then of what it’s like.”
“Yes, I do.” Reeves sat back up. ““If you want, only if you want?” Reeves said as he gestured with his fingers. “I know you are against it, but I can always train you without your guidelines.”
“Guidelines.” Reeves brought out a medium sized packet and gave it to her. “I am not a doctor, as I have been told many times by Timothy, you will not trust me if I don’t follow the doctor’s advice.”
“Six hundred ninety-five push-ups? Four hundred twenty-nine sit-ups?” Seraphina stared at the numbers in the packet. “I did all of this?” The numbers were staggering. “So, you weren’t working me to death, it was that corrupt doctor.” Seraphina dropped the papers on the ground. “Why’d you push me so much then?"
“If I didn’t, Timmers would not recommend my method,” Reeves reminded her. “You wouldn't follow me alone without the doctor’s approval, remember? You needed to stay off that medication; I had to push you to continue.”
Seraphina stared at the papers. Unbelievable. “I didn’t want to work that hard for a whole month.”
Reeves didn't say ‘I told you so’ nor did he comment about anything else.
“Yep,” Seraphina sat back down and looked at the papers even more. Everything she did was in there. “You did set me up with the Sergeant.”
“My mistake, I’ve said that,” Reeves insisted. “I admit, mistakes were made. Selfishly by me. The doctor said either him or let you sleep, and that would be risky the first two or three days.”
“Reeves.” Seraphina felt incomprehensible anger as she ripped the papers in half. All that work not created by the Paladin. Seraphina looked at the ripped-up papers and wished she could burn them all. "We’ll try things your way.”
“Are you sure?” Reeves asked. “Timothy made it quite clear that I wasn't a doctor and if I did not- “
“Timothy’s not my dad,” Seraphina interrupted him. “No one knows what JNSQ is or how it works in us. No one's ever beat it except you. If I have a choice between you and the constant exercise killing me, then I choose you.”
“My way would be different,” Reeves warned her. “You have to agree to a few things if I do train you the way I feel would be best."
Couldn't be any worse. Seraphina nodded; an alternative approach would be worth trying. “Okay. What?”
“No more making fun of me,” Reeves demanded. “My name is not Pervert or Paladin or Mister Reeves. My name is Reeves.”
“Well don’t trick me into a pool and I won’t use pervert.” Seraphina gave in. “Okay, I won’t call you any of those names.” Although not wanting to be called Mister was kind of funny. That was respect.
"Number two," Reeves continued. “You have to tell Timothy you decided this, not me.”
“When did you talk to Timothy?” Seraphina had to ask. It was apparent Reeves and Timothy had more of a basic talk somewhere along the line. Reeves told her that it had been agreed to after the deal. That's nice, and Timothy never bothered to mention it. Reeves told her that she had to make it clear to him that it was her decision. Please, she wasn't a goody gumdrop that did everything everyone wanted. If she had been, well, she wouldn't have a hit on her right now. "Okay, I can abide by all that. Is that it?”
“Jumping jacks.” Reeves began doing jumping jacks. “You’ve stayed still for our entire conversation; you need to move.”
Seraphina started doing jumping jacks. “Okay, is this it?”
“If I ask you to do something, no complaining,” Reeves said as he finished up his jumping jacks. “Plus, no more cussing. Hidden Secret is not the sector. No more of the A word, S word, the heavy F word, or Son of a you-know-what.”
“What cussing? You haven’t heard cussing.” Seraphina smirked. The people of Hidden Secret, what a bunch. “My tongue does slip, but I’ll try to watch it.”
“Okay then, I'll switch the training. First, let’s head back to Timothy’s,” Reeves insisted as he started to run. Seraphina groaned. Hopefully, there would be a difference between Reeves’ method and the doctor's method.
Chapter 11
“What do you mean you’re going to follow his methods instead?” Timothy grabbed his head. “Seraphina, he is not a doctor.”
“The doctor was an ass. I mean idiot,” Seraphina corrected herself for Reeves. Under these new rules could she even say the word butt? “Why didn’t you tell me that you were the one who demanded he follow the doctor’s training, or I’d quit? I only wanted to speak to his doctor, not follow every little thing.”
“You have a serious condition; I wanted a doctor not some obscure Paladin to take care of it. I cared, I’m sorry.” Timothy said in an odd way as he looked over at Reeves. “I will find a way to rescue her from your training, just watch.”
“You do that,” Reeves said, “meanwhile, I must train Seraphina Medina.” He gestured toward her. “Let’s go, follow me.” Seraphina followed him out of the house, then bumped into Rebecca.
“Hello Rebecca, what are you up to?” Reeves said with a skip in his voice.
“I wanted to play basketball, but everyone’s watching an eating competition." Rebecca sighed. “Do you want to play, Reeves?”
“Absolutely, I love basketball.” Reeves caught the ball that Rebecca tossed to him, and he tossed it to Seraphina. “Now we need one more player.”
“Oh, me, me!” Simps ran over to them with his hand in the air waving wildly. “Me, Reeves, I’ll play with you!”
“Great news, Simps. Rebecca, you’re on Seraphina’s team. Simps, you’re on my team.” Reeves decided.
Basketball? Seraphina watched as Rebecca came over beside her. No running, no jumping, no pushups? “Reeves, why am I-“
“Ah, ah, no complaining. You agreed.” Reeves tossed Rebecca the ball. “You start.”
“Whew, I am beat!” Rebecca sucked on a water bottle.
“Rebecca needs a break,” Reeves said. “Let’s get some push-ups done, Seraphina.”
Seraphina got down on the ground and did pushups. Reeves gave her no set amount, simply had her do pushups. Overall, the day hadn’t been miserable. This was the first time since they stopped running over to Rebecca that Reeves gave her any physical exercise to do. They had played basketball, then soccer, and then baseball. What kind of training was this? She wanted to ask Reeves time and again, but he kept saying no complaining, and she couldn’t push it. Not that she wanted too. How long had it been since she had even played sports? Too many years to count. She didn’t understand it, but she wouldn’t complain.
“Great, I feel refreshed.” Reeves placed his hands on his hips. “Now what should we play?”
“Ooh, Ooh!” Simps jumped up and down in anticipation. “Monster tag!”
“Yeah, monster tag.” Rebecca grinned as she ran back over. “One of us is the monster and runs to catch us. Whoever gets tagged, becomes a monster. We play until there’s only one person left untagged.”
“Sounds fun,” Reeves looked at Seraphina. “Guess who is monster first?”
“Monster tag?” Seraphina watched as everyone ran away from her, including Reeves. Was she playing a child’s game? Basketball and baseball were one thing, but tag? Was this training? She couldn’t help a small chuckle. “I’m gonna find you,” she said as she raised up her arms like a monster and ran. She looked around suspiciously. Where would be a convenient hiding place? Aha. She spotted her first victim.
Simps ran from behind the tree as Seraphina started to chase after him. He yelled for Rebecca’s help which gave away her location. Rebecca started to run not too. Seraphina chased them around a tree and around the block before she started to close in. Simps yelled out for Reeves, which also gave away his location in a tree.
Reeves hung down from the tree by his ankles and shook his head at Simps. "Thanks much."
“Reeves, save me!” Simps yelled, out of breath, right before Seraphina had tagged him. “Ahhhh!!” He covered his eyes.
Seraphina laughed. What a strange little boy. “Simps, everything’s fine.”
“Oh. Oh yeah.” Simps looked beside himself at Rebecca. “I’m a monster now, and I’m gonna get you!”
As they played, more tempies wanted to join in. Seraphina laughed, the game ran rampant around her, voices and laughing everywhere. When was the last time she had played tag? Sixteen or seventeen years maybe? Maybe more. Life’s hard experiences made her grow up so fast. Shouting came from all directions, how she kept up with everything going on, she didn't know.
“Run Jackson, Seraphina is a monster! She’ll grab you and turn you into one!”
“Seraphina’s a monster?” Jackson said with intrigue. “Okay, she’s welcome to grab me.”
Oh, growing boys. Everyone ran from Simps and Rebecca called out to Reeves again, asking if he’d been tagged yet. Those kids were hilarious, they knew all the spots Reeves would go. Must have been doing it for a long time.
After the game was finally over, everyone sat down and relaxed with a glass of water.
“That was fun,” Rebecca smiled at Seraphina. “Is this your training?” She looked over on the other side of her at Reeves. “Are you going to start playing with us all the time again?”
“Yeah,” Reeves smiled, “Done with all that other rubbish, playing's always been the way to go.”
“How can I play though?” Seraphina finally got her question in. “I’m not complaining, I’m not, but I need to ask.”
“Your adrenaline is moving, and you are moving,” Reeves simply answered. “What more do you need? Did you want to put the guidelines back in?”
“No!” Seraphina coughed. “I mean, no.” Reeves hid his chuckle, he must have known he’d get that response. Seraphina sipped her water as she thought carefully. Timothy cared for her very much, but was that why he told Reeves he had to do everything by the doctor’s rules? Or was it more about winning the bet? No, surely not. Seraphina took another small sip. Timothy was a bit villainous when it came to the sector, but he’d never make her suffer more to win a bet, right? “So, what’s next?”
“One hundred pushups or . . .” Reeves flipped his water bottle in the air and caught it. “Red light green light maybe?”
Reeves Page 8