Becca and Elias had finally made it back to the school. It was 11:30 which meant Becca still had time to prepare for her battle. They parted ways; and Elias went up to the arena while Becca ran to the locker room.
The fight before Becca was still going on and Elias found Aaron and Georgia watching the fight.
They turned and noticed, both of their faces falling to sadness. “Sorry Elias. I know you cared about her a lot.” Georgia said sadly. For a little, Elias was confused why she said this. Then he realized that they must not know that she came back.
“Y-yea... it’s fine. I shouldn’t have been so ignorant.” Elias tried to sound convincing. Luckily he was convincing enough and they seemed to truly believe that she went home.
“Shouldn’t you be resting? You got no sleep and just ran 5 miles and walked back.” Aaron asked.
“Lunch will be served after the next fight. I’ll go to sleep after I eat.”
“Sounds like a plan. I might do the same. When is your last fight?"
“Tomorrow night at 1800.” Elias answered.
“Well... good luck Elias. It’s your last chance.”
“I know.”
The fight ended and the stage was cleared up for the next fight. “This is just gonna be another boring 30 minutes. I don’t think the school knows Becca is gone.” Georgia said.
“Coming from the North Tunnel, Ghostly, Virgil Herrera!” A young man walked out to the front stage holding a mace.
“Coming from the South Tunnel, The Avatar, Rebekah Brooks!” Becca ran onto the stage in her battle gear ready to fight.
“Wait she’s here!?!” Georgia and Aaron both said in unison.
Elias simply smiled. “Ooh sorry... left out that little detail didn’t I.”
“Battle Start... 3... 2... 1... Fight!”
“You got her to come back!”
“Somehow. Yea.”
Her opponent suddenly faded into thin air as Becca ran towards him with flaming fists. She stopped halfway across the stage and looked around.
Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground as blood spattered out of her nose. She put her hand on her broken nose and frantically looked around. Obviously her opponent was invisible. Her eyes were useless. She unleashed a wave of flame in the area where she once stood hoping to hit something but made no contact. This time she keeled over into her knees as she placed her hand on her stomach. She was given no time to recover and once again suddenly was thrown back against the ground with a spurt of blood coming from her mouth.
“He’s gonna kill her!” Elias said standing up.
“Relax Elias, she’ll be fine. She can take a lot more than it looks.” Aaron assured him.
Becca suddenly surrounded herself in a rock wall. No one could see what was going on. The wall collapsed and Becca was surrounded by a thick circle of mud. She forcefully spread her arms out and the mud scattered all over the stage. Her opponent was now revealed. Becca immediately unleashed and powerful wave of flame towards him and the intense heat of her flames began to scorch him.
The man struggled to stand up. His combat suit burnt up and his skin badly burned. Becca unleashed a powerful gust of wind and blew him off the stage.
“Rebekah Brooks is the winner!”
“Believe it or not Elias; your roommate is very powerful and very resourceful. She isn’t someone to brag about herself and let’s her actions do the talking.”
“Yea... she really is.” Elias smiled.
“Attention ladies and gentlemen! The arena is now closed for lunch. Please exit in an orderly manner.”
Elias went off to find Becca after the match. He spotted her leaving the infirmary. “Becca! Over here.”
Becca walked over to him good as new. Her nose was longer broken and she wasn’t bleeding from anywhere. “Hey Elias!” She beamed.
“Let’s get some lunch. But after lunch I’m going to sleep. I need to catch up on what sleep I missed.” Elias smiled at her.
Becca smiled and looked into his eyes. They were still soulless... but they looked like they had a little more life in them. She giggled. “Ok Elias. At least you know you need rest.”
Elias and Becca has made it to the cafeteria. After they finished eating, Elias parted to the room and went to sleep. Becca spent the rest of the day with Aaron and Georgia. Eventually it became late and Becca returned to the room. The lights were off and she noticed a lump in Elias’ bed.
“Of course you’re still sleeping.” She giggled. She walked over to his bunk and kneeled over so she was head level with him. “You will win the fight tomorrow. I don’t know how, but I just know that somehow you will pull through.” She whispered to him as she put her hand on his forehead. “I like you Elias. I like you a lot. When I came to this school I figured that it was just going to be me training to get better. I didn’t think I would meet someone like you. I really hope that I, whether you return the same feelings or not, am someone that you can trust completely.” Becca let out a frustrated sigh. “Ugh if only I had the courage to tell him when he’s awake.”
She did her nightly routine and took her place on the bunk above him and fell asleep.
Becca sat in the stands of the arena with Aaron. Georgia was currently the one fighting in the arena and Elias was next. Georgia was doing well against her opponent, it almost wasn’t even a match. Her opponent couldn’t quite grasp the concept that she couldn’t suffer damage and the only way to win was to exhaust her or knock her out of bounds. He just simply blasted her with water over and over. The fight ended pretty quickly. She subdued her opponent with ease. Victory on her second fight.
“Now it’s time for Elias.” Aaron said as Georgia came up to the stands.
“Coming from the North Tunnel, The Walking Battery, Cole Price!” Cole walked onto the stage ready for his opponent.
“Seriously!? This is gonna be really hard for Elias.” Georgia said.
“Coming from the South Tunnel, The Powerless Weakling, Elias Roberts!” Becca watched the tunnel anxiously waiting for him to walk out, but he never came out.
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“It would seem that Elias has not shown up for the 2nd time in his fights. If Elias Roberts doesn’t make report to the arena in 30 minutes. That match will be given to Cole Price. This will be Elias’ 5th loss and he will then be expelled.”
“What the heck does he think he’s doing?” Aaron said and looked over to Becca. She was gone.
Becca ran to the locker room searching for Elias. He’s wasn’t there. She ran to the room and all of his stuff was gone. His key card was sitting on a desk with a note attached. Becca reached for the note. “If you’re reading this then I’m gone. I’ve left the school. I found out I’m fighting Cole again. Goodbye Becca. Thank you for sticking with me through the end.”
Her stomach dropped. “Elias you idiot.” She ran towards the front of the school out of the door and spotted him walking away with his stuff in tow. “Elias!” Becca called him.
He stopped and turned around. “Becca?” His eyes were void. The most void she’s ever seen.
Becca reached for his hand and firmly grabbed it. “What in the world are you doing?”
“I’m leaving. Did you not get my note?”
“Yes I got your note. Why? Why are you leaving? You still have a fight left! You still have a chance!”
“No... I don’t.”
“What do you mean you don’t? You’re not even going to try?”
“There’s no point Becca. You already know who I’m fighting right? I can’t beat him. He’s a skilled fighter... not just with his ability either.”
“But so are you! You’re a skilled fighter too!”
“Even if I was on par in terms of skill his ability is too strong. One hit with his lightning and I’m done for. It’s game over.”
“STOP! Why are you giving up? You’ve been fighting for this your whole life. Why stop when you’re so close?”
“Because there’s no point in trying to fight him. He’ll defeat me before I can even do anything. I might as well just leave now than later.” Elias turned and began to walk away.
“No, please Elias you have to try. I made a promise to stick with you till the end.”
“I know. You kept your promise. This is the end Becca. Thank you for staying around.” He said walking further away. His voice was so empty. He looked so empty.
“Please don’t leave Elias. I don’t want this to end. I can’t let it end. Please Elias... you’re the reason why I stayed. Don’t leave me.” Becca fell to her knees. She couldn’t hold herself up anymore. She fought back tears. “Please Elias...” Elias barely heard her last plea. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He couldn’t even remember the last time he cried. He fought them back. No he was not going to cry. He was strong. He didn’t get sad or angry he accepted what happened. Emotions didn’t exist for him. “Please... I need you.”
In an instant Elias stopped. He couldn’t fight them back any longer. His eyes were alive and crying. “S-she needs me?” He turned to face her. She was looking at the ground and shaking. He dropped his stuff and ran to her throwing his arms around her. “You're right... I am an idiot. No one has ever needed me before. I’ve always been tossed aside. I didn’t realize that you needed me.”
“Elias...” Becca wrapped her arms around him. “I really do need you. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be at this school until I met you. When I saw that someone who didn’t even have powers wanted to become a hero; made me realize that I would be an idiot for not being here. Elias you’re more than just a classmate to me. More than just a roommate... you’re my friend Elias.. my best friend... I... I really like you.”
“What?”
“I like you Elias. Not just as a friend either.”
Elias didn’t know how to respond. “She likes me... do I feel the same way? I don’t want to make her cry again. I’ve already done it too much.” He only hugged her tighter. So much running through his head that he couldn’t make a conscious decision. He didn’t want to say he liked her back just to make her happy. He wanted to make sure that he really felt the same way.
Becca popped up with a worried look on her face. “Elias your fight!”
Elias’ eyes widened. “Oh crap. I don’t have time to change into my gear and get this stuff back in the room.”
“Don’t worry about your stuff or your gear. You need to go now! I’ll get your stuff to the room.”
“Ok.” Elias stood up and took his sword and ran towards the school. Becca quickly gathered his stuff and began to haul it back to the room.
“5 minutes left until Elias Roberts forces another forfeit.”
“Come on Elias where are you at?” Aaron said trying to call him.
“Wait there he is! Elias Roberts has finally entered into the arena!” Aaron and Georgia both looked and sure enough there he was with his sword and standing in his usual position.
“He’s not wearing his combat suit.” Georgia pointed out.
“He must not have had time to put it on and could only grab his sword.” Aaron responded.
“Battle Start... 3... 2... 1... Fight!”
Becca made it back in the nick of time to watch and took her place next to Aaron. Sitting on the edge of her seat in anticipation as Cole immediately shot a bolt of electricity at Elias.
Elias was barely able to move out of the way and made a mad dash towards Cole rapidly closing the distance. Cole created his sword of electricity and immediately clashed with Elias.
Becca watched the two swordsman as they clashed. Their movements were rapid and unpredictable. Elias kept fighting with his right hand because he had no time to switch to his other while Cole had to stay defensive to block his rapid slicing and twirling of the sword.
Elias brought his sword down towards Cole’s shoulder but only met an electric blade. He quickly recoiled his attack and switched his grip to slice at Cole’s neck meeting electricity again. Once again recoiling his sword switching the grip again and bringing it down on his other shoulder. Once again he met electricity. They sat in this position trying to overpower each other. “I’m getting tired. But I can’t give up.” Neither of them making any progress on each other. Cole released his right hand and created another electric sword and slashed at Elias before he could respond. Elias flew back from the sudden shock and grabbed his arm with his free hand.
Cole unleashed a stream of electricity towards Elias but missed. But he didn’t relent and fired again catching Elias before he could move. Elias fell to his knees and dropped his sword as the electricity courses through him. “No, I’m not finished yet.”
Elias began to stand up only to be met with another painful stream of electricity. Elias collapsed on the ground, but he was still moving and fighting to get up. “No! I have to win.”
“Give it up Mr. Roberts. You’re going to die if you keep this up.” Cole said unleashing another stream of electricity at him.
Elias was still pressing against the ground to stand up. Another stream hit him. Then another. Then another. He struggled again. One more stream hit him and he stopped moving. “I can’t do this. I won’t win. I... I give up.” Elias closed his eyes, letting his exhaustion take over him.
Becca watched him begin to give up and stood up. She took a deep breath and her eyes began to glow white.
“Get up Elias!” He could hear Becca’s voice in his head.
“It would seem that Elias is not moving. We will now start the countdown.”
“Get up you idiot.” Her voice rang once again.
“5...” The announcer spoke.
“Please Elias don’t give up.”
“4...”
“Elias you need to fight!”
“3...”
“Come on Elias! Get! Up!”
“2...”
“ELIAS!”
“1...”
“I NEED YOU!”
“There you have it ladies and gentlemen! It looks like Elias is unconscious making Cole the win- wait I can see movement. Yes! Elias Roberts is still in the fight! He’s still moving!
Elias slowly moved his arms under him to push against the ground. “I’ll give it to you kid.” Cole smiled. “You have heart. I’ll grant your wish. I’ll take you out of this world.” He unleashed a stream of electricity at him again.
Elias lost strength in his arms as the stream continued to destroy him. “NO! I have to fight!” Elias pushed against the ground despite the electricity still coursing th right him. “For the first time someone needs me; and I’m not going to let her down!” Elias stood up leaning on his sword. “I’m afraid that I’m not ready to leave this world yet Cole.” He said quietly.
Elias sprinted towards Cole. Cole stopped his stream of electricity and created dual electric swords and prepared to end Elias. Elias positioned the sword in his right hand running towards Cole’s left. Cole brought his electric sword down on Elias to block the sword and his other arm came to disarm his right hand. Literally. In an instant Elias stumbled to a halt. His right arm laid on the ground now detached from him. The electric sword had also cauterized the wound so he wasn’t losing blood.
Suddenly, Cole coughed up blood into the floor and collapsed. He fell onto the ground and stopped moving with Elias’ sword in his abdomen.
“Cole has now stopped moving! We will begin the countdown! 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! Elias Roberts is the winner!”
Elias gripped his right shoulder with his left hand and walked over to Cole. Cole was smiling. “You know I saw it... you switched hands at the very last second. Too late for me to do anything about it. Congratulations kid. You might just pull this hero thing off.” Elias offered his free hand. Well... his only hand. Cole grabbed it and hoisted himself up. He kept the sword in to not cause further damage. Elias picked up his severed arm and together they walked to the infirmary to heal up. "Mr. Roberts if you ever need anything just let me know. You definitely deserve that last name." Cole told him with a smile.
"I'll be sure to remember that." Elias smiled at him
Elias’ sword was returned to him and his arm was healed back on, and all of his electricity burns were removed. Cole was healed of any internal damage the sword had caused. “Alright you two will be staying the night here just to make sure we don’t any problems.” The nurse informed them.
“Ma’am?” Elias asked. “May I come back later tonight. I need to take care of something first.”
The nurse looked at him and saw the determination and pleading in his lively eyes. “Ugh fine... but you better come back at 2200.”
“Thank you ma’am.” Elias took out a phone and shot a text to Becca and left the room.
Becca, along with Georgia and Aaron waited for Elias outside of the locker room. “He lost an arm. I’m pretty sure he’s in the Infirmary.” Aaron said confused why they were by the locker room.
“That’s a good question Georgia.” Becca joined in on the confusion.
“Right... I forgot people go to the infirmary after a fight because of possible injury.”
“You forgot he lost an arm?!?” Aaron and Becca deadpanned.
“My bad.” Georgia held her hands up in defense smiling.
Becca heard her phone ring and checked it. “Oh! I gotta go guys. I’ll catch up later!” She began to run off.
“Wait! What about Elias?” Aaron asked. Becca kept running ignoring his question.
Elias leaned against the railing on the roof. The sun was starting to set. Becca walked up beside him and leaned against the railing. “I don’t know how. But for some reason I could hear your voice while I was on the floor.”
“Oh... yea. That’s because I was communicating to you through my mind.”
“How is that possible? I thought your ability was elemental control.”
“It is. But I’m also what they call a duo user. I have two powers. The other is telepathy.”
“Ha ha. Go figure. The guy with no ability has a best friend with two.” Elias smiled and laughed.
“It’s kinda weak though. I can only do it with people that I’m really close to.”
“Ohhh ok. So you can do it with Aaron?”
“No. Just you and my parents.”
“So it’s a special type of closeness.”
“Y-Yea.” Becca could feel her cheeks warm up.
“Remember earlier... when you said you like me?”
“O-oh y-yea that. Sorry... I- was just throwing words out there. I didn’t actually thi-“ She began to flush.
“I think I feel the same way for you.” He began to hide his face and his voice became quieter near the end.
She began to blush even harder. “R-really?!?” She looked up at him.
“Y-Yea. I think so.” He looked at her. His lively brown eyes meeting her deep light blue eyes.
Before either of them realized it the distance between them had closed. Both of them quickly blushed and looked away from each other towards the setting sun. “It’s really beautiful up here.” Becca said gazing into the sunset.
“It really is. I'm glad I was able to see it with someone like you."
“T-thank you!” Becca blushed again hiding her face. After a little; she leaned against him and they continued to watch the sunset together like they had planned since their second day at the school.
They turned to face each other and the distance between them nearly became nonexistent. Their lips just hovering next to each other. They could feel each others breath from the closeness. They closed their eyes and drew closer until they finally sealed the long waited deal.