STRANDED 008

Once we were out in the open, away from searching eyes, Atom removed his sword and began to talk. "This blade belonged to the gladiators of Athena. It is two times the length of my arm so, when I swing, I know where it reaches. I know the most firm way to hold it, I know that if I hold it here... He shifted his hands on the handle "It would slip. Like I said, the blade is your only friend but that is only when it is in your hands" he came close "hold up your knife" he commanded and I raised the blunt edge "a knife has four parts." He proceeded "the hold, the hit, the slice and the stab.

The hold is the connection with you and the knife, the hit is the blunt part. The slice is the blade and the stab is the pointed edge..." But I didn't really understand. He lowered his own sword and after seeing the puzzled expression on my face, he held my hand against the handle "the hold" he said and I understood.

Slowly, he took his stance behind me, still holding on to my hand against the handle, then he pulled me close so that we became one body and in one swift motion, he struck the blunt part against a tree which cracked in an instant "the hit" he noted then, he rocked me to the left and in one upward swing, he whipped the air "the slice" and slowly, he moved back to my front, held my hands against the dagger so that the sharp part pointed to him and in one swift motion, he pulled me and I slammed into him.

My heart fell. I have stabbed my master. He held me, pulled me, and drove the blade into himself. I let go and took three steps back in horror. I saw his head fell and he staggered like he would crash but it was just in my head.

Sharply, he raised his head and retrieved my dagger. He hadn't drove it into himself, he just slid it between his arm and body. "The stab" he added and his brows curved in mockery.

What was wrong with me? Why did it bother me?

I exhaled in relief and glanced at him to meet his glare. "The only thing you should fear is yourself. Once you conquer your inner demon, you conquer everything." He said then threw the blade at me. He had put on the safety so, it landed in my hands without scratching me.

He stood at ease and raised his blade then adroitly, he whisked the sword in the air, made few turns and landed the edge of his blade in the soil. He'd stood upright and repeated the process about thrice. "Go" he told me.

I learnt the three basic steps in four tries. My knife was shorter so, it was easier for me. I crashed the first and second times but tried to do well other times.

I began to heave with tiredness. I was hungry, I had used up all my energy and I became light headed. I has been a day since I ate; I filled my stomach with water before I set out but that didn't sustain me. Atom asked me to go again but due to the fact that I was famished, I crashed.

I stood up immediately, to repeat the moves but I refused to succeed.

"Stop" he told me but I couldn't let him see me as weak again. He had told me to prove myself and that is what I would do, even at that, I was failing. I stood to my feet again to try, but he caught me, held me in place and stared me in the face "do you have death wish?" He asked. Yes, maybe, at one point in time but right now, I just wanted to survive.

He took the blade from me and tucked it in his own pouch. "You are weak" he said "you can't continue..."

"Parvo...” I steadied my breath "pantenco tu survivo" sweat streamlined down my face and my hair was all wet from it.

"That's not how to survive" he was scolding me again like an errant child. "Let's take a little break" His voice drained. But there was no such things as break here at Elsewhere. He knew better. Just then, a black guard came to us.

"Master" he acknowledged Atom by bowing a little then, he stood upright to speak. "The black commander asks you to pay her a visit. She says you should bring the creature along"

I saw frown pull in Atom's face then he glanced at me and turned his face back at the guard "we'll join her in a while" Atom told the black guard who immediately dismissed himself but bowed before doing so.

"Come with me" he had an urgency in his eyes; urgency mixed with worry- maybe. At least, that was the impression he gave.

He led the way and we returned to his living space.

"Sit" he commanded as he searched the shelves; he was sounding like a prick again.

A visit to Disha, to him sounded like bad news.

I settled in a chair carefully and he finished rummaging the shelves. He turned to me quickly and handed me a brown paper bag. I glared at him, wondering what the bag was for and my look turned into an amused one when I saw what it contained.

"You need it" he said retrieving the bottle from earlier.

Food? My subconscious rolled her eyes and hissed but I was hungry, it was like he read my mind.

He eyed me, trying not to show emotions "hurry up. We certainly don't want to keep Disha waiting"

This was really odd. He was meant to be mean to me, treat me like a slum-dog but there he was giving me food; he should treat me like a creature that I am. But who was I to question him? I munched quickly on the bread and gulped down as much liquid as I could. I wasn't going to get a share ever like this again, so it was better that I used the opportunity because with people like Atom, such opportunity came only once. I never learnt to eat slowly because, I had little to savor and little time to do so.

Atom might have been a total jerk to hit me, and he might be sounding even worse when he spoke to me, but at least, he had a sense of responsibility towards me unlike the other commanders. But even at that, I shouldn't get comfortable.

As soon as I finished, we headed to the black-house where the black commanders resided. I had my head bowed for the fear of staring into one of their faces and stood closely behind Atom so, I don't get apprehended for trespassing.

We soon got to an inner chamber and Atom asked me to stay outside, seated quietly on a bench in the company of two-unsmiling-black-guards.

I sat patiently in silence for a while and the chill on eagerness swept up and down my spine. What could they be talking about that was taking forever? I sat upright and tipped my head towards the door and to my luck, it wasn't fully closed. I saw Disha pacing and Atom wasn't in sight; probably somewhere inside. She had a frown on her face and she reeked of restlessness. Was I in trouble again? I wondered. I have done nothing wrong this time; or did Den come to her again? My head ached with questions - questions that had no answers.

I bowed my head trying to process everything and licked my lower lip which was dried and beginning to crack when, something or someone tugged at my neck.

Immediately, I looked up and met the glare of one of the black guards. "The black commander wants to talk to you" he pulled me to my feet roughly and pushed me indoors to meet whatever wrath awaited me.

The black-commander wasn't the only one in the room, she had company of two other women. She stared at me for quite a while then took solid steps towards me.

"You can't last" she said only then turned back to Atom. "This is a waste of time."

"You should give it more time"

"We don't have that time. It's either I dispose it or sell it off on the next caravan going to Africa. You should be doing something else, not wasting your time with this thing!" She pointed to me

"If this is load for you Disha, give it to me. Let me do to it whatever I please, let it be mine. We can't keep killing every creature that comes here from Athena"

"You can't own a creature. I can't let you throw your life away!"

I saw Atom scoffed. He looked exasperated; he heaved a sigh and spoke "we don't even have a life. I can't let you kill this one Disha without seeing what it can do."

"You don't understand Atom. It is not like Jonas. You can't protect what is already destroyed" Disha had pure compassion in her voice; at least it was what it sounded like but a spark of anger ignited in Atom. I could see it in his eyes, pure anger mixed with guilt- that was what my eyes were trained to do.

There was a glow in his eyes that glared straight at Disha.

"Don't you dare bring Jonas up" he said through clenched teeth in a husky voice.

"I want you to wake up Atom. The only way you can do that is to severe all your ties with Athena!"

"It is you who need to wake up."

"Don't you dare start with me!" Her voice rose

"You started it when you brought up Jonas." He said in the same husky tone "you said I should handle this one. You gave it to me yourself so, let's see in five days black commander" then, he turned to me sharply "let's go"

"You will not treat me like this in front of the creature" I heard Disha rant but Atom didn't look back. He grabbed me by the hand when I hesitated, defying all protocols and pulled me along leaving Disha stunned and upset.

An angry Disha is definitely someone we shouldn't mess with.

As soon as we got a safe distance away, away from the searching eyes, I yanked my hands out of his tight grip and immediately, he turned to me.

My voice got lost somewhere in my throat as soon as we made eye contact, then, I looked away and summoned a great deal of courage to speak.

"Disha know I won't last" I said gently hoping he would trash-talk me like he always did but to my amusement, he came close, hands on hips and he spoke

"We’ll prove them wrong" he had determination in his voice, something a normal master won't give his slave but I knew that somewhere deep down, he didn't have that much faith. He grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

It was only a matter of time before, we arrived at Den's pit.

"Are you back to apologize?" We heard Den's teasing voice but like Atom, we ignored him.

Atom pulled me to one of the bags and commanded I stay in position.

"Good" he said once I had my elbow up, and my wrist turned in position. He moved behind me and adjusted my legs as well.

"Go!" He said and I hit as hard as I could.

"You hit weakly" he snapped and I increased my effort.

I went on and on and on till my fingers went numb. Sweat drenched me and I heartbeat raced to survive.

"Stop" he said then, he turned me to him.

"There are three ways to keep a huge man off balance. First, his throat. Second, his groin, third, his knees...." He took a step away from me "hold your hands out" he commanded and I obeyed. He held my wrists in each of his hand then asked me to stand in position.

I put my left leg in front and my right at the back for stamina.

"Like this..." He slowly raised my elbow towards myself then jabbed slowly at his throat "got it?" He asked and I nodded in affirmation. "If I were the one attacking, you'd do this..." He let go of my hand and did something with his own hands like a defense skill. Then, he repeated it over and over again.

"Try it" He said and he stood back like he was going to jab at me then, using the defense mechanism he taught me, I dodged it.

I tried jabbing at him too and he blocked it as well. We tried the process three times before he released me. "Not bad for a start"

"Yes, not bad Dome" Den came over then he burst into a hysteric laughter "do you realize that you are wasting your time"

"Stay out of this Den"

"You are belittling yourself Atom"

"I said stay out of it!" I have never seen Atom turn towards Den in such a way. He seemed like a tiger ready to pounce on his prey. "Back of!!!"

"Woah woah woah" Den held his hands up        

Just then, sirens began to blare. It only meant one thing; something was going down at the square. It was only then that Den really let go but with a sly smile on his face telling that there was more to come.

Once Den was out of sight with his entourage, Atom turned to me.

"Don't listen to whatever he says. He is a jerk"

"Ye?" I didn't understand

"Forget it" Atom sighed in frustration, if there was something he also needed to work on apart from trying not to get me killed in five days, it was our communication skills. "You have to work on your stamina and defense" he shook my shoulder. He looked at me like there was still substance in me; like I was worthy of being kept. Then he released me and shrugged.

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