Chapter 72

REID:

If I said I was not in awe of the activity going on right before my eyes, I would be a terrible liar. Watching the Red Legion train was something I would never hope to see in a million years but here was I witnessing it firsthand.

Diana took permission from me this morning to use the training area to train with her men. According to her, it was the only way they could still be on track with their skills.

I had agreed but only on the condition that I would be there to witness today’s training. And after today, they could have the training area to themselves whenever they needed to.

She had thought it over first before agreeing to it. Not like she had a choice. And that is why I am here to witness the remarkable display of the skills the Red Legion possesses.

Their prowess was much unique from what I have ever seen during any form of practice made by warriors. I could not seem to figure out the various forms of techniques they were showcasing. And it should not be much of a surprise knowing for a fact that they operate much differently from the regulars. Still, I have every reason to admire them.

I was not here alone to watch. The three that are mostly with me nowadays were right by both sides. And it is none other than Hunter, Ryu, and my sister, Venice.

“This is something I have never seen before. How are they able to do that?” Venice says with an ounce of awe filled in her tone. It was at that time that those training made a move I have never seen in my life. It looked like they had just vanished and reappeared at the same time when they all attempted kicks to the air.

“You only say that because you have not witnessed enough training,” Hunter chooses to respond to her. “Besides I see nothing special in what they did. Just bunch of peeps jumping with no aim.”

I look to my left to stare at Hunter. And no lies about it, there was contempt written all over his face. It made me shake my head in disappointment because I knew what he was up to.

So I say to him, “Because you hate their presence in our pack doesn’t mean you should rule out the fact that their techniques are actually something special. Tell me, where have you seen such being displayed before?”

He looks at me uneasily. It was obvious he has nothing to say to that. And even if he does have one, I am sure it is not going to be worth linking with this conversation.

“That's what I thought,” I say with a scoff when he looks away from me to continue to focus on the ongoing training of the Red Legion. I do the same soon after because if his was just a lousy sight for him, mine was a sight to behold.

Minutes passed with the training and I think I have had enough of sightseeing so I decide to push Hunter aside because I have something important to discuss with him.

We were still in view of the training going on but the distance was more now. And even more from Ryu and my sister who were still immersed in the training.

“So I was thinking...” I start to say.

“About?” Hunter asks with his brows raised.

“I think we should both pay Simon a second visit. I’m tired of waiting for him to come to terms with what is going on when we should be seeking a solution already.”

The look I get from Hunter has me second-guessing myself. Did I say that the wrong way?

Hunter asks, “Are you sure you are not planning to go there just to get in touch with the girl again?”

“What girl?”

“Your mate, of course. You want to act like you don’t understand what I'm talking about?”

“Because I didn’t,” is my response which was a counterclaim. “And no, that is not my main reason for planning to go there.”

“So it's a second reason?”

I shrug. “Perhaps,” I have to admit.

“Well, tell me something I don’t know.”

I was going to tell him already what happened the last time I met with my mate. The strange meeting, yes, of meeting her here in my pack. But I was not going to go into full details with Hunter because it would only make him despise her more.

“Her parents are dead. That’s what you need to know.”

Hunter’s reaction is first neutral that it had me wondering if he was not moved by the news. But soon after, he seems to have recovered. More like he was trying to process what I told him at first before getting an idea.

“Woah. How did that happen?” he asks.

And my answer to that is, “‘It’ happened.”

“Goodness. Do you mean her parents died at the hands of the substance? Or should I rather call it the Abomination?”

“Call it whatever you want. The fact remains that she is now a victim of what is upon us. And don't bother asking me how I found out about this because the response would only make you hate her more than you already do.”

He frowns deeply at that. “She trespassed again, didn’t she?”

“I told you not to ask.”

“Well, your words made it obvious that it is what she did. So why shouldn’t I ask to confirm?”

I shake my head. “What if I told you that she never did trespass?”

“Then how did you meet her?”

I have it in me to tease him so I play along with the mindset that has taken over me at the moment. “I met her here.”

Hunter is instantly donned with confusion as he looks at me weirdly. “I thought you said she didn’t trespass...”

“Well, technically she didn't. Because if you look at it this way, she is already a member of this pack. At least she will be when she finds out the truth about the bond that she shares with me.”

“And that’s if she finds out about it.”

“Hey! What does that mean?” I switch from being playful to being serious because I was not having any of that anymore.

“The crisis is still ongoing, man. You know how peeps are dying daily. What if one of you two gets caught up before then? It’s not like it is assured that you both would survive the ongoing crisis. Let us just say I am being realistic here.”

“Nah, you are just being a sore pessimist that I have always known you to be. Dude, you need to change the way you think. It’s toxic.” my tone is laced with bitterness when I tell him that. I could not believe that he would bring the quote of realism to me when he damn knows well that I hate such talks. I wish I could just give him a punch for ruining my mood.

I shift my attention to those training and notice that my sister was speaking with Diana. I would love to listen in on their conversation but it would be uncool so I decided it was best if I ask Venice later about it. Pretty sure it involves the training.

Diana suddenly looks in our direction. To be fair, it was directly at Hunter. I stare briefly at Hunter to realize that he is passing a glare in her direction. Diana simply retains her neutral look as she stares at him.

I could have sworn that Diana said something about not being the cause of Hunter's toxicity before looking away. Because when I look back at Hunter once more, he was looking more annoyed than he was a few seconds ago.

“Chill out. You look like your brains are about to pop out of your head.” I say to him because it was actually looking true. The veins in his head were enlarging to an extent that it made me wonder why he has to be so angry at Diana. I know he could not stand her but was it worth all of this?

I eventually figured that something was not right when I notice that he was starting to get red all over. The feeling intensifies when he bends all of a sudden as if to tell that he is going through pain or something.

“Are you okay?” I have to ask as I move closer to him to try to understand why he is acting this way. This was not a result of being angry.

“I don’t feel too good,” he manages to say in between clenched teeth. He was not even sounding like himself no more. “I think...” he starts to say that but stops before he could complete the sentence.

“What do you think? Tell me what is going on with you!”

“Get the chains!”

I instantly get the message. And it sends me into paranoia. But I do not let that overcome me as I quickly turn around to look.

“Ryu! Get the fucking chains now!”