by K. A Knight
“Two,” I yell breathlessly.
“Ya cheatin!” he hollers back, making me laugh even as a cannibal flies through the air. Ducking to the side, I spin so my back is facing the tunnel wall and they are both in my eye line.
“Come on, all you can eat buffet right here!” I yell, holding my arms out to my sides. Both cannibals turn to me and let out a scream.
“Yeah, yeah, come and get me. I taste better than that old bastard.” I crouch as I talk, grinning at the curses flying from Vasilisy’s mouth.
“I’ll gi you old bastard, ya little shite,” he yells back, grunting as he fights.
One flies at me and I grunt as it hits my chest, sending me back into the wall. I manage to get one of my swords between its head and mine, but it is using the weight of its body to pin the other to my chest. I can see the other one circling and know if I don’t move soon, I could be cannibal fodder. No thanks, I only like to be eaten for fun.
I have to turn my head away as its face gets closer, its rancid breath hitting me as it chomps on air trying to reach me. When I spot Vasilisy’s fallen flamethrower next to me, I let out a breathless laugh. Turning my head back, I blow a kiss at the cannibal before using the wall and pushing us. It tumbles back, not expecting it, and while it’s on its two legs I kick out, hitting it in the chest until it flies back to the floor.
I drop my sword, a risky move, and turn and sprint to where I saw the flamethrower. I can almost feel their breath on my back and I jump, rolling over the hard cement and grabbing it as I go.
“Eat this, motherfucker!” I shout as I point the flamethrower. Pulling the trigger, I watch in rapt fascination as a column of flame shoots out and hits the cannibals mid-leap.
The noise they make burrows through my head and the smell has me sneezing, but I don’t let up until they have stopped writhing and are nothing more than charcoal curled up on the floor. Letting go of the flamethrower, I lean back on the floor.
“Four!” I shout.
“Ah, ya fuckin’ won,” Vasilisy says as he walks over, kicking through the bodies and making the ashes float away, he offers me his hand and I grab it, hauling myself to my feet. Looking around I spot the dead cannibals and our bikes.
“Time to go,” I say and he nods. I pass back the flamethrower and he cradles it like a baby, glaring at me. Backing away with my hands up, I laugh.
“You dropped it!” Turning, I right my bike and kick the gas to make sure it still works. When it roars to life, I jump on.
“Forget something?” Vasilisy asks, holding up my sword and whip, and I gape at him. He passes them over and it’s my turn to cradle my weapons like a baby before sheathing the blade and wrapping my whip back up.
He jumps on his bike and spins in a circle, showing off, and I roll my eyes before setting off through the empty tunnel, the smell of barbequed cannibal following us.
We get back on track, anxiety nudging me again and making me remember why we were rushing, although not nearly as bad as before. I think the fight helped me think clearer and I know hurrying and getting myself killed won’t change anything, even if I hate being patient.
I slow down to a pace that won’t kill us if we crash, not by much though, and we ride silently, both our minds locked on what we will find when we get there.
About twenty minutes later, we see the top of the building as The Ring comes into view. I look back at Vasilisy before speeding up slightly. We pull into the car park, and park at the very back, just in case. Turning off my bike, I look around for any vehicles I might recognise. Frowning, I smack my bike. I forgot how busy it was because of The Summit, any of them could be Berserker rides and I wouldn’t know. We are walking in blind and I hate it.
Taking a deep breath, I swing my leg off the bike and stand next to it.
“Ya ready, little queen?” Whenever Vasilisy’s emotions run high his accent gets more pronounced, to the point I can barely understand him, like right now.
“Let’s do it.” I nod and we walk side by side towards the closed gate of The Ring.
The Decision
I know something is wrong when I reach the gates and no guards greet me. “Fuck,” I mutter, my heart slamming into my rib cage as I take a deep breath. He’s here, isn’t he? I always thought I would be filled with rage, an avenging warrior woman, screaming as I fling myself at him... but I find terror racing through my veins, fighting with anger at the thought of seeing him. One day I knew I would, and I know I will kill him or die trying, but I also know that man is responsible for some of the darkest, most painful times of my life. He played my strings like a puppet, ripped out my soul and rebuilt it. So, yes, anger is there, but so is terror. Terror that I might freeze, that I might retreat back into myself. Nothing more than his pet…
“You think you will ever be free of me, pet?” he pants. “You think I will ever let you go? You. Are. Mine!” he screams the last, spittle flying from his bust lip and raining blood and spit down onto my upturned face.
I just stare back, my face blank and my eyes dead. What more can he do to me? He took my only friend, broke my body, and stole my innocence. All that is left is death, and I would welcome that with open arms. The thought makes my lips stretch in a smile.
He watches it form on my face and lets out a wordless scream, his eyes crazed and his crown titling with his movement. I stare at him impassively, waiting for the next hit, but instead, he steps back, his control returning as an evil glint enters his eyes.
“You aren’t bothered about me hurting you, but what about hurting the people you care about, pet?” he taunts, and I launch myself from the chair as he laughs.
Stepping closer, pushing past the memories, I spy the writing through the gates. No doubt Ivar’s pet torturer’s handy work.
“Are you ready to play, pet?” Scrawled in blood.
“We could wait here for the others,” Vasilisy adds, his voice hard like he doesn’t want to wait.
“Wouldn’t make a difference, we both know they are watching us. They knew the minute we pulled up; if we try and wait they will only come and get us. Better we go in on our own terms,” I say, blowing out a breath.
“Aye, least ya can protect your men,” he adds, both of us just staring at the gates.
Gritting my teeth, I unlock the gate and push, when it doesn’t budge I start to get angry, all the worry and panic at seeing Ivar again spirals into pure, red-hot fury. I let it out with a cry, kicking out and smashing the gates back into the posts at the side. I look at Vasilisy and he grins.
“Now, that is how you make an entrance, little queen.” We share a grin before turning back to face The Ring.
I might die as soon as I get in there, but sands below, I will die on my own two feet, free.
As soon as we step through the gates, I hear the whispers of the Berserkers obviously watching us. I decide to ignore them, they won’t attack. Not without orders, and they are probably waiting to see what I will do.
Holding my head up high, I walk down the same dirt path I have a million times. I just hope it won’t be my last. I feel like I am walking to my death, and it makes me look around with a new light. I once thought of this place as my cage, but glancing around now, I can smile at all the beauty and happiness I had here. I met Major, the man, in his own words, is an asshole. But an asshole who saved me, trusted in me, loved me when no one else did. He fought for me when my own father wouldn’t. I finally gave into my men here, I let them in, I trusted them. The Ring is an important place for me, it’s a place of change, so it makes sense I would meet my end here.
We walk past the empty ring, a feat by itself. I wonder what they did with all the clan’s warriors, I think idly, eyeing the silent fighting ring which was full the other day when we came. When the house comes into view, I spot the Berserkers waiting on the steps.
“No matter wha happens, little queen, I will be by your side and we will go down fighting.” Vasilisy reaches across the small space between us as we stand and stare at the steps
. When his hand touches mine, I allow myself a second of comfort.
“Thank you, for fighting by my side, you didn’t have to,” I say softly, just for us.
“It wa a pleasure, I get to say I finally saw a true queen.” I grin over at the crazy bastard and he grins back. Who knew I would grow to care for a Berserker so much? Ivar jaded my view of them, and if Vasilisy is anything to go by, they can’t all be bad. Maybe I can use that to my advantage, I just don’t know how.
When the door to the house opens, we split apart, our stances turning ready, just in case. Ivar’s pet torturer steps out, shielding his eyes from the light as he looks around, before his eyes land on us. I can see the evil grin from here and I have to grit my teeth. Looking at him now, no longer a child, I can see that he is not the big monster I made him out to be in my head. In fact, I am probably the same size as him, he just has more muscle, but it’s his sick mind that is the worst. He is so twisted and cruel, and I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of that.
Strengthening my back, I refuse to cower. He might have seen me at my darkest, but he will also see me at my strongest. Striding across the sand, I meet him on the steps, stepping up each one until we are equal and mere meters apart. Vasilisy’s heat moves behind me, watching my back as I stare down the monster in front of me.
“He is waiting for you,” is all he says, his eyes sparkling with delight and madness as his lips curl up into a big smile. His cheeks crinkle and the lines around his eyes show that time has not been kind to him. I should be filled with terror, but I know whatever they do to me will not matter. They have done it before and I will die knowing the taste of freedom and love, and they can’t take that away from me. So instead, I stare right back, waiting for him to lead the way.
“Looks like the kitten finally got her claws,” he mocks and the two warriors flanking the door laugh. I cut them a look and they snap their mouths shut, making me smile.
“You have no idea. Now, unless you want me to use them on you, I suggest you show us inside.” I arch my eyebrow and wait like I have all the time in the world.
“I hope he lets me play with you first,” he sneers, his eyes lighting up with lust, but not just for my body, for my screams and pain. He gets off on it, I remember that like it was yesterday.
“In your dreams, now move the fuck out of my way,” I demand, tilting my head and showing him how serious I am. I am tired of this dick measuring contest.
He stares me down for a second before something flashes in his eyes and he steps back, still locked with my gaze. When I arch my eyebrow and roll my eyes, he turns and opens the door. Stepping inside I get a sense of déjà vu. It feels like it was weeks ago when I turned up here for The Summit, although it was only a matter of days, so filled with hope that we could come together and defeat Ivar. So much has happened, so much blood has been spilled in that short amount of time, all reminding me exactly who I was dealing with. It was a child’s dream that The Summit would work, and we could all rally together and defeat Ivar. He is always one step ahead, and it only shows now more than ever.
Where I followed rules and sat and fought through the political bullshit, he was breaking treaties and slaughtering people, making his moves on the chessboard, playing dirty. I guess it’s my turn, fuck the rules. Fuck the politics; I was always better at fighting than talking.
The blood from Priest’s punishment is dried in a puddle on the floor, but there are also new splashes spread around the hallway. The red is bright against the white paint, a warning.
“Looks like you had some fun,” I say dryly, trying not to think of whose blood it might be.
“Not as much as I would have liked,” he replies with a wink, which sends a cold shiver through my body. I try to think logically, he wouldn’t have killed any of the leaders, including Major and Nan. It would be a stupid ploy, I just hope they didn’t piss him off at all… they are not exactly discreet with their thoughts and if they sent him into a rage…
I even hope Doc and the Paradise people are okay.
When we reach the doors to The Summit meeting room, I ignore the two scav bodies propped up next to it like honour guards. Blood covers the walls and I have to breathe in shallow breaths from the stench of piss and shit. People died here, quite a few from the smell of it.
Vasilisy has been quiet throughout, following my lead, but I hear him mutter under his breath when the smell hits him. I wish I could say it is like those movies I watched when I was younger, all dramatic and shit. The person died, their eyes slowly closing as a peaceful expression crossed their faces. Instead, death is just an end, and not a pretty one. It's not dignified and peaceful, especially like this. Your body shuts down, expelling the waste, and it’s painful, their eyes hold their terror of their own demise, and they will be frozen that way forever. I notice their clothes have been removed too, not even death allows them peace. That’s Ivar’s way. Even now they are humiliated and paraded about, smeared in shit and blood. Another reminder. When I spot what they have done to their genitals, I have to hold in the bile that wants to rise from my stomach. Gritting my teeth and pulling my lips shut tight, I try to look away, but when I do I meet his eyes and see the delight there. He was waiting for my reaction.
His eyes meet mine as he touches her. The ferals were dragged away by some Berserkers while I was tied to the wall outside, my hands chained to the top, and my feet spread and chained to a boulder next to it. The freezing wind up here chills me to my bone, even as the sun shines down on us. I don’t want to look, I don’t want to see but I know if I don’t, Ivar will only make it worse, do something worse. So my eyes lock with his, Ivar’s pet torturer, as he plays with the remnants of Petal’s… no I can't think of her like that otherwise my mind will break, her...her body.
Crouched on the other side of her body so I can see him clearly, and him me, he drops his hand into the hole the ferals made in her stomach and rummages around. Bile rises and I have to swallow repeatedly, I will not be sick. I will not be sick. I repeat it until the need disappears. I try to think of other things but when his hand raises from her half-eaten body, covered in blood and other things, I can’t keep the horrified gasp from escaping. He grins, knowing he is getting to me. When his hand opens, I see the lump of a red bloody organ and my face pales. He raises it slowly, and still with his eyes locked on me, takes a bite. Blood smears around his face and when the scent of it hits me, I can’t keep the contents of my stomach down. He laughs hard, throwing his head back, showing me the half-eaten organ and the blood coating his teeth. I retch again and my vomit splashes down the front of my clothing as tears are squeezed out of the corners of my eyes.
“Do you like my handiwork? I think they are some of my best yet.” His voice brings me back and I meet his eyes. We stare each other down as the door behind him opens.
My eyes flick up automatically and my heart stops at the man who stands there.
“Hello, pet.” Ivar’s smile is wide and cheerful as he looks at me, his crown sitting on his head and his wide, scar-filled chest covered in weapons. His tight leather pants are the ones that he always wears, and his hair has grown. After all these years, I am finally facing my demons. The man who twisted and carved me, Ivar The Destroyer.
I can’t help but drop my hand to grab my blade and he sees me do it, his head throws back and that familiar laugh booms out, running across my skin and raising memories.
“Now, now, pet. Is that any way to greet me? Why don’t you come and have a seat, it seems we have things to talk about and everyone is waiting.” He steps aside, and I glance around him to see Major, Nan, Reeves, and Priest all sitting ramrod straight in their seats around the table. Doc stands at the back, as do some of the other Paradise guards. Berserkers are everywhere, covering every surface, some even asleep on the floor and it’s obvious why none of the leaders tried to make a break for it. They are quite literally trapped with the devil.
Under the careful scrutiny of everyone, I make my way inside and to
the chair left free for me, the one to the left of the head of the table, where Major sat last time.
I don’t want to sit down, I don’t want to be at that disadvantage, but I know I have to. Gritting my teeth, I sit slowly, at the edge of my chair, ready to move if anything happens. I jump when a hand lands on my leg under the table and squeezes. Looking to my right, I nod at Major. He looks like he doesn’t have a worry in the world even though one of his eyes is black and blue, and his lip is split. His hair is out of place and his suit ripped, yet he sits there like he is still the leader here and I respect the hell out of him for it. I watch as Vasilisy gets manhandled to stand with his back to the wall next to Doc. I nod at him and he relaxes slightly before glaring at the two Berserkers tugging him. They back away quickly which makes him grin.
I run my eyes over the rest of the leaders. Priest’s face is blank, but I can see the quiet fury burning in his eyes. Reeves looks pissed, there is no other word for it, his face is an ugly purple shade and his nostrils are flaring as he glares at every Berserker in here. I look at Nan last. She looks calm, way too calm, the type where she usually just starts shooting people. Her nose is obviously broken, and dried blood has dripped down her face, and onto her pearls, then finally to stain her pink cardigan. One of her eyes is sealing shut with bruising and I can’t see her handy shotgun anywhere.
A Berserker stands nearly straight behind her, his face covered in blood with a massive cut marring his neck, his eyes are locked on the back of Nan’s head with a searing intensity and I am betting she did that to him, you gotta love her.
Ivar walks around the table, strutting as everyone watches him. When he reaches the free chair at the head of the table, he looks around before dropping into the seat, casually and leaning back, watching us.