Legs are heavy, lungs are burning, and my heart feels like it is about to jump out of my chest as it beats faster than a drummer on a drum solo. I can hear the footsteps of my pursuers slowly gaining on me as they shout profanities on how they will desecrate my corpse once they catch me.

Dashing through the thick woods, I don't mind the cuts and bruises I get from running through bushes and bumping to trees and rocks as I try to put more distance between me and my pursuers. When I couldn't hear them anymore I looked back and couldn't find any sign of them. I let out a deep sigh of relief and find a place where I could hide while I catch my breath.

As I sat down and lean on a tree with large roots that I can use as cover, I began to wonder how the hell I got into this mess.

The name is Cloud Alistair, weird name and even weirder reason on why I am named that way. The story is that when I was born, my father looked at the hospital window and saw clouds in the sky and marveled at how they look so carefree. That is the reason behind my name.

For how I got in this mess this is how it started.

I was a former delinquent when I was in high school, always getting into fights and sometimes in cage matches to earn money to fund my studies in high school. Yes, there was a wide contrast between being a model student in school and a street fighter when outside but I don't want to disappoint my parents who want nothing but to see their son finish school since they weren't able to even go to school since they grew up poor and don't want their only son to experience the hardship they faced when they were young.

I continued my downward spiral into further violence until I met my future master.

He was an old nosy coot who wandered in an alley where I was beating my former bully when I was but a meek high school freshman.

Whenever I remember that day when I threatened to beat him up if he does not go away and not bother me beating up a high school kid, it makes my face red with shame.

I remember him refuse and started making fun of me as I try to attack him to no avail. That old coot was agile at and too skillful at his age that I was unable to even touch him, and I was supposed to be the baddest bastard in town.

After getting my ass beaten down. He said I was strong for my age. Maybe even the strongest high schooler in town. But strength without purpose is just violence, and violence begets more violence. He asked me why I fight but me being me, I ignored it and vowed to defeat him one day. He just chuckled and told me that he will be in that same alley at 4:00 pm every day.

At first, I thought he was joking but when I went to that alley the next day, there he was. After seeing him I again attacked, but with the same result as the other day. After the fight, he gave me another life lesson. Being a mule-headed guy that I am, I still disregarded it and vowed for revenge again.

It continued for days, weeks even. Every day I try to formulate a way to defeat the old man. Every day I lose horribly. Then the life lesson. On and on we go until one day I find myself not attacking any of my school mates for weeks for I have been looking forward to fighting the old man and having fun in trying to find a way to win against that old bastard.

One day after the fight after getting my ass handed to me for the umpteenth time. I sat up and ask him to teach me. To help me find my purpose. He then smiled and told me to find him in the gym near the outskirt of town. That is where he teaches mixed martial arts to people like me who are lost in the sea of violence.

My life turned around after joining the gym. I have real friends, an outlet for my pent up aggression against people who can fight better than I can thus temper not only my body but my mind. Become kind of famous in our little town by becoming the amateur mix martial arts champ in a tournament held in the city where I met and befriended a lot of competitors and future rivals. I still don't know my purpose but at least I have found a path to follow.

Everything is looking up and up for me until I entered college. That is when karma hit, and karma is a bitch.

I had a lot of fans after becoming a champion. But among the numerous fangirls, Althea stands out the most. Not because she is the most beautiful, but the most persistent.

She follows me around the campus. She took every class I took so that she can sit beside me and stare at me all day. She follows me around and sometimes I even see her silhouette in the alleys I take to get back to the dorm.

One night at a party to celebrate my 2nd championship win where I defeated Lei Shen for the second time. It was the hardest fight in my life. I only won because near the end of the match he was too eager to defeat me and that left him open to a counter-attack. I headed back to my room early since I was tired from my earlier matches.

Lo and behold, Althea was in my room butt naked. She professed her love to me and tried to kiss me but I rejected her. I said I don't like her that way and we could just be friends, and boy did she scream so loud when I rejected her. I tried to calm her down but she quickly ran out of my room, still naked, screaming that I raped her.

In a blink of an eye, all the things I have built for myself fell apart.

Even though my close friends and family don't believe Althea's accusation, everyone else did. Due to my past as a delinquent, the school kicked me out without even investigating further and even though her claims were dismissed by the court, the incident continued to haunt me as colleges refuse to accept me because of my rape charges.

I went back to my home town in disgrace, never leaving our family home. I care less about what others say about me, but when they say my parents are scum for raising a scum like me hurts me more than all of the bullying and harassment I experienced when I am still in high school. What makes me feel worse is that I failed my parents again. They only wish for me is to graduate college and live a better life but I screwed that up too.

My parents and especially my sister were very supportive of me and never blaming me for anything and for that I am thankful for without them I didn't know what I would've done to myself.

I've started pulling myself out of that pit of despair with the help of my family and started to find a part-time job. Even if I could not fulfill my parent's dream for me, I will give my full support to my sister to realize their dream that I failed to achieve.

Master and my gym mates never doubted my innocence so I was still welcome in the gym. With the referral from my master, I was able to work as a deliveryman, delivering packages in the morning till afternoon and after my shift, I go to the gym to continue my training since I was still planning to continue my path in becoming a professional fighter in the future.

One evening after practice in the gym as I was driving my motorcycle, I recognized Clyde and his gang harassing a woman. I tried to not get myself involved since Clyde and I have a nasty history but after hearing the woman scream for help once more I turned around to help her. 

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Clyde and his gang tried to beat me up for interfering but with my improved physique and skill due to training I was able to fight them off, even breaking Clyde's nose in the process. In the end, the woman escaped while we were fighting without even a word of thanks. Not that I mind, for I helped her not because I want to help, but because my conscience will haunt me if I stand idle when I know I can do something to stop it.

I told my family about the incident and they advised me to not come to work while the situation is still volatile. After a month I resumed my usual schedule since I have to prepare myself for another mixed martial arts tournament that is being held in our town yearly and I can't just hide in our house forever. 

That is when they were able to ambush me. 

Clyde and his usual group was able to catch me unaware and started chasing me inside the town. I would've fought back if only Lei Shen wasn't there. I don't know what they did to convince Shen to assist them but with him being the hardest opponent I ever fought outside the gym, with the other hoodlums with him I don't have a snow ball's chance in hell to win.

So I opted to run.

I wanted to try my luck and run towards my motorcycle but there is no such luck since at least 5 people are wrecking it when I got there. Thus I ran and ran until I got to where I am right now.

"Look what I have found hiding in a tree-like vermin that he is!" A voice said, startling me out of my thoughts.

I quickly stood up and readied myself to run but my pursuers continued to pop out of the bushes to encircle me. 4 people are blocking my escape. I recognize their faces especially the hateful face of Clyde who still wears his face protector. The other 3 were Jeffrey, Clifford, and Timothy who are the original lackeys of Clyde ever since high school. Their gang spread out into small groups to find me. Thankfully Lei Shen is not with Clyde and co. with luck I can probably escape with my body intact if I act wisely.

"Clyde," Clifford said. Anxiousness etched in his face. "Shouldn't we call Lei Shen first before we do anything?"

"Why Cliff? Afraid of a single shit head? Even if he is the champ, we have four people here so stop quaking in your boots you chicken shit and start acting like a man for once!" Clyde burst in anger after hearing his friends' suggestion.

"Hey there, you son of a bitch!" Eyes bloodshot and with a maniacal grin he unsheathed his 20 cm army knife.  "I hope you haven't forgotten that you broke my nose." He said as he slowly swings his knife in front of him. "because not only I will cut off your nose from the ugly mug that you call your face. I will cut off your fingers one by one and feed them to you. I will torture you till you beg for death, you son of a bitch! For all the pain and the humiliation that you made me suffer, even if I kill you a hundred times over it will not be enough!" almost frothing in the mouth, Clyde ran towards me with his knife raised high, intent in cutting me up as he exclaimed.

I quickly spring into action and with a quick dash, I close in on Clyde and grabbed his wrist mid-swing to neutralize the threat of getting cut with his big ass knife. I pivot and twist my body to transfer all my weight to my fist and delivered a body blow with all my strength. 

Taken by surprise, Clyde wasn't able to react to my quick attack and quickly crumpled down after receiving my body blow which brought down tougher fighters than him. I quickly kicked the knife away towards a fallen tree when it fell from Clyde's hands and rushed to my next opponent before they manage to surround me. A step too slow due to the shock of seeing Clyde go down, his lackeys were too late to respond.

Seeing me rush towards him, Clifford threw a clumsy punch in hopes to keep me away as his 2 other companions leap into action. I easily caught the punch and using his momentum I threw him towards Timothy and they both stumble down.

Arms wrapped around my waist with his head in my gut, a tackle from Jeffrey almost brought me to the ground but I slide both my feet back and pressed my body on top of him causing him to plant his face in the ground. I then quickly rolled away and stood back up. When I saw him try another tackle, I quickly stepped forward and delivered a knee to his face knocking him out instantly. 

I quickly turned around to finish the 2 remaining opponents when a punch hit me in the face and I stumbled backward. As another punch from Timothy was about to hit me again in the face, I quickly ducked under and threw across counter to the chin. Like a doll with its strings cut, he collapsed. I turned around to face the last remaining standing opponent and I see the fear and hesitation in his eyes as he is frozen where he stood.

"HOW DARE YOU MOTHERFUCKER!!!" Clyde's shouted at the top of his lungs. "Continuing to humiliate me like this! You will pay! Not only will I kill you, but I will also kill your whole family you son of a bitch! Torture them then burn them alive!" Anger rises in my chest as I hear Clyde's threat and I started to move towards the little shit and beat him to death once and for all, not because of the threat of him being killed but for the audacity to threaten his family. Clyde tried to push himself on his feet and was alarmed when he saw me approaching, he yelled at Clifford. "Cliff you pussy ass bastard. If you don't go and attack him, I'm gonna kill you too! Now go!"

Clifford with his eyes full of fear roared and charged at me. He threw a punch, which I easily caught then I shoulder threw him to the ground and punch him in the face to finish him off. A loud noise pierced the silence of the night as a searing pain emanates in my side. I turned around and saw Clyde with a crazy look in his face, his hands holding a smoking gun.

"I finally hit you, you bastard! Now I'm going to fill you full of holes!" Clyde announced as he laughed maniacally.

I readied myself to dodge when a rustle from the bushes startled Clyde and he shoots the bush. A loud yell comes after, apparently, it hit someone. Someone appeared from behind the trees followed by five others. It was Lei Shen and the rest of their back up. His eyes darted around and when he saw the gun in Clyde's hand, he quickly runs towards him and kicked the gun off his hand.

"What are you do—"before Clyde could complete his sentence, Shen punched him in the face.

"Clyde you crazy bastard! Why are you carrying and firing a gun! You hit Alfonso, you motherfucker!" Face full of rage Lei Shen walked towards Alfonso who seems to be hit in the chest. 

"Lei Shen you motherfucker! You dare hit me in the face! You want to die next?!" Clyde threatened Lei Shen but quickly backed down when he saw Shen turned around and move towards him again. "So what if Alfonso got hit? He won't die, just rush him to the hospital and put the bill on me. I have an unfinished business to attend to."

Lei Shen grabbed Clyde in the lapel. "Bastard, this is not part of the plan. We agreed to corner Cloud and we fight one on one first. After I defeat him you will have your turn to settle your grudge. Now, look at what you have done! Not only I won't have the rematch I desire, but one of our friends is also grievously injured." Lei Shen exclaimed as he shoved Clyde causing him to stumble and fall over a fallen tree. "I am going to rush Cloud and Alfonso to the hospital. I am not going to take part in this lunacy any longer."

"Are you backstabbing me son of a bitch! Right now that I have finally caught this despicable shit that humiliated me so?" Clyde stood up and grabbed the knife which I kicked when I disarmed him earlier. "You will not ruin my plan you loser asshole. All of you guys, attack Lei Shen. Whoever knocks him out I will give ten thousand dollars."

Severely outnumbered six to one, Lei Shen readied himself from the betrayal. I took advantage and summoned all the strength I have left and quickly bolted out of there. I heard Clyde yelling orders to his lackeys to follow me so I continued to run like hell. Dashing across the forest while avoiding the trees, I continued to escape until I can't run no more since there is nowhere left to run. In front of me is a deep and fast waterfall. I tried to look for another way around the obstacle but I hear the loud yelling of my pursuers. 

They found me. 

I gaze at the waterfalls, I see there are few stones at the base. It was at least as tall as a 5 story building. I hear my pursuers closing on me and I swallow my fear and leap towards the waterfall, hoping and praying that I won't land on any of the large stones and the water is deep enough so I won't die from the fall. 

As I am about to hit the bottom, I closed my eyes. Whatever happens, even if I die, I hope my family stays safe. I brought them too much grief already after I lost my way before. I wish them to be happy. 

God, I don't want to die. I still have a lot of things to accomplish. Fulfill my parents' desire for me to graduate. To become the world MMA champion. To find the love of my life and raise my own children like how my parents raised me. I just hope my parents won't be sad when I am gone. 

Little Anise, I wish you will succeed where I failed.

I feel freezing cold enveloping my body and everything went dark.