Page 62 of Retaliation

“That’s rough.”

“I knelt beside my brother’s body and swore to Reaper that I would kill him, even if it meant my own life,” she recounted, regret seeping in.

“I’ve been fighting for just over fifteen years, but my brother started teaching me at a very young age. He was just a year older, but he used to do martial arts since I could remember. He even had a sponsor that sent him training all over the place.”

“And exactly how many have you killed?” Gunnar’s impressed tone grated on her nerves, reigniting her frustration.

“I stopped counting!” she snapped.

That made him shut up, but remorse seeped through her armor.

“I’ve played God with so many lives. I had no right to do it,” she confessed, her armor momentarily pierced. “I wish I could turn back time and undo what I’ve done, but I made a promise. I guess I understand exactly how Scorpion feels. The hatred bottled up inside you is all-consuming. You crave revenge, and you won’t stop until retaliation prevails.”

“Be that as it may,” Gunnar shrugged, unfazed. “Scorpion is going to try and kill you. Best you can do is hide until we manage to calm him down.”

A surge of pure fury coursed through her veins once more. This man had a knack for igniting her anger in an instant.

“I refuse to hide! Running away from a problem isn’t my style, but I won’t engage in a fight either. If it comes down to it, I’ll defend myself,” she declared, her voice firm with resolve.

She took a deep breath, attempting to rein in her emotions, and offered a nod to them.

“Listen, guys. I’ve got to go. I’ll catch you later.” With those words, she turned on her heel and strode back toward dry land.

However, Dennis trailed closely behind, his hand lightly gripping her arm to capture her attention. Turning to face him, she met his gaze as he studied her intently. His mahogany eyes seemed to penetrate her soul, and she felt a flicker of appreciation for his genuine concern. Slowly, he released her arm, letting it fall to his side.

“Need us to drive you home?” he inquired softly, his sincerity apparent in his voice.

Dear Dennis, always so earnest.

“No, thanks. I’ve got a few other stops to make,” she replied, offering him a small smile of gratitude.

He nodded understandingly, recognizing her need to be alone.

“Take care, Poison,” he said as she turned away.

TWENTY ONE

With a heavy heart, Poison turned away from the pier, a sense of dread weighing her down. She had known that things with Phillip would be difficult, but she hadn’t allowed herself to fully comprehend just how serious the situation would be.

The rest of the day blurred into a haze as she wandered aimlessly through the town, desperately trying to clear her mind and devise a plan of action. Mile after mile, she drove through the streets without a destination in mind, lost in her thoughts.

As the late afternoon sun kissed the horizon, she found herself in a small clearing in Latourette Park. The clearing offered an escape, enveloped by wilderness for miles around.

Moving her body, she lost herself in the graceful flow of Capoeira, feeling the rhythm of the movements ease the tension in her muscles and calm her racing thoughts. Surrounded by nature, she savored the freedom of being untethered from the weight of her troubles as if they evaporated into the air, leaving her unburdened and at peace.

With a fluid motion, she swayed her hips from side to side, finding her rhythm in the gentle sway of her body. It was a seamless dance with the beat of nature. Stepping lightly, she shifted her weight gracefully from one foot to the other, evading imaginary strikes with nimble footwork. Her movements were as agile as a forest cat. With a swift spin, she launched her leg into the air, the arc of her kick tracing a graceful path through the sky in a demonstration of her control.

Bringing her leg down with force, she unleashed a powerful kick, her foot slicing through the air with precision and strength, the wind whistling.

Transitioning seamlessly, she flowed into a cartwheel-like motion, her body moving like a serpent’s. Dropping to the ground, she rolled smoothly with the momentum of her movements, the earth embracing her as she moved.

She rose from the ground, extending her arms outward. And with a final turn, she came to a graceful stop, her breathing slow and steady, her mind clear and focused.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the clearing, she knew what she had to do.

Gathering her backpack and helmet, she returned to her bike with a plan in mind. She didn’t know whether it was brilliant or stupid. Either it would work, and she would get Scorpion to listen, or she was going to die trying.

When Poison arrived home, darkness had already enveloped the neighborhood. Dragging her feet down the hallway from exhaustion, she pulled her keys from her back pocket. As she walked to her front door, intending to unlock it, her elbow accidentally knocked against it, causing it to swing open with a creak that echoed down the hallway.

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