snakebite's Blog

Step Towards The Edge - 6
Date: Jan 6th, 2007 8:44:08 pm - Subscribe


"Stand back, Sven."

Sven obidiently stepped back and flattened himself against the wall. He looked like a scared little puppy.

"Alright, you lot, get in your teams! Gerard, to the middle, and get ready! Matt! Take off that damn trenchcoat, and make sure you cover the sides. You're the team of two for today, make it worth our time!"

Gerard stepped into the middle of the circle, that was becoming ever shorter due to the teams closing in. "Alright," he yelled across the clearing. It was dark and silent. "Camo, clear?"

"Aye!" Came the roaring reply from the mass.

"Protection ready?"

"Aye!"

"Weapons weilded!?" He screamed, his light brown eyes widening with excitement.

"AYE!"

"Alright, on the count of three... Ready.. Set........." There was a big pause waiting for Gerard's signature signal. "RUMMBBBBLLLLEEEEEE!!!" Gerard howled, and the group set into motion.

For a few minutes after the howl, it was completely silent. Then the game began. Sven watched in horror.

"Gotcha," panted Matt as he tagged one of the newer 'cadets', Brendon. Brendon snarled at the cut on his chest. "I'll get you next time." he then trotted over to the captives area.

Time passed in what seemed like slow motion, until the only ones left were Gerard, Matt, and the trinity.

I nodded to the ones on my sides. We made a good team, but it was time to split. "Good game. Catchya on the flip." I disappeared into the darkness, as did the boy on my right. The girl also went in search of a new hiding place.

Time passed in silence and I waited. I knew they'd come by soon. I heard a breif "ah!" Of the other girl. She'd been tagged. I heard Gerard get out, and he called from the clearing. "Two left! Two thirds of the Trinity, still in the game!"

One on one. Me and my best mate. Sometimes this game really sucked.

I heard a wolflike howl from my left, and turned fast. I saw him flash out from the bushes, a decoritive sword in his hands. I streaked backwards, and he ran past me. I ran after him. My weapon scraped the material of his black shirt, but didn't cut. I ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction and climbed a tree, holding my breath.

I saw him speed underneath the tree, calling out with his howl. I answered with a howl and climbed down. "Best mates always." I muttered.

He smiled, and put his sword at my side, and I at his. "One, Two... " We both let out a howl and slashed each other. We walked slowly, panting, out of the shade of the trees.

"Tie. Mafia and I got to each other in the forest area."

Gerard nodded and recorded this on a clipboard hanging from the wall.

"Troops, Inside."

---

"Good game, guys. One of the most challenging yet. You guys are getting up there. Soon you'll be beating the trinity at our own game." He chuckled. "Alright," he said, grabbing three blankets and hurling one at me, and one at the girl next to us. "Get some sleep. First come first serve."

I gave the girl and the boy a sneaky glance and we all hurled ourselves toward a squishy red couch at the end of the room. "Damn!" He panted. "You guys always beat me. And in my own house. I should shank you both."

I laughed and gave the girl a glance. "We'll share," she said in a sneaky voice. I wondered what she meant, but laid out, taking as much room as I could. "You can, but I'm not."

The boy laughed. "Dogpile!" He shouted across the room. Seven other people shot across the room, jumping on top of me.

"Ahh!!" I screamed, muffled through the couch. "I get it I get it.." I sucked in as much air as I could. "I'll share, get off I can't breathe!!"

He pulled the people off, and I laughed. "Fine. We'll all share. But I get to use the armrest as a pillow."
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Step Towards The Edge - 5
Date: Jan 6th, 2007 8:22:17 pm - Subscribe
Status: sorry I haven't posted in so long!

"Breathe in. Out.. In.. good job."

His friendly green eyes smiled, although this boy still looked at him with fear. "You guys are crazy fuckers, you know..?"

I chuckled. The boy's head whipped around with such ferocity that I thought it might snap his neck. "Whoa there, sonny, breathe. I'm not gonna stab you or nothin."

The boy's brown eyes narrowed.

I stepped back almost as though walking suddenly onto something hot. "Ouch! Someone get me some water, this one's a hot coal!"

"Go easy on, he's new."

I nodded. "He'll get whipped into shape in no time," Taking a worn, almost archaic-feeling cat-o-nine-tails out from behind my back. "Time to show him how things work around here."

---

"Volunteers?" I called from the center of the group. The other two leaders were standing next to me, we were back to back, the trinity of the army.

"You know the law," snarled the brown-haired girl at my left side. "Stand up, quick or we'll pick those who look most.. unwilling to participate.."

"Yes," agreed the boy at my right. The most vicious of the three, and also the friendliest, he sent around a malicious grin that sent chills down the backs of the spineless. He spoke up again. "Gerard." He indicated a short, but otherwise muscular boy at his immidiate front. The boy had black hair and light brown eyes, and an awkward build, like one just coming out of peuberty.

The one called Gerard stood, saluted stiffly, and snarled under his breath about ever joining these dumbfucks, oh how they've changed since the beginning.

"Alright!" I barked, and a few jumped. "One more, to do the honours." Immediately, a tall blonde boy in a black coat stood, his boots making a hollow sound on the hardwood floor. "Aye. I'll do the honors." His deep voice resonated through the room, creating an intense atmosphere.

Purring with delight, the boy at my right smiled. "Outside, you lot. Come on, Sven. You're the newest, this is an important part of your ceremony."

The boy named Sven followed him closely, nervously shaking. His left leg buckled every few steps, and he limped heavily on it. There was a bloodstain on the bottom of his shorts, where the back of his knee had been marked.

I fell back, ushering the last few outside and closing the door. Before I did...

---
The voice purred with delight, just as he had, only darker, more laden with satsifaction at our cruelty. "You're no longer lying. Next time you can kill him."

My eyes widened. "No! I can't. I won't. He didn't do.. I..."

"Kill him."

...

"Kill him."

"I won't!"
---

"Maf.. are you coming?"

My vision blurred back and I focused on the boy in front of me. "Hehe.. Sorry, I got.. sidetracked." I cast a glance at the dagger in my hand, then followed back outside.

"Oy! You lot of dumbfucks, listen up!"

I took my place next to him, we three formed the triangle again. It felt so safe.. so natural.

"We're out here to show Sven how The Army plays its games. You ready?"

A roar of approval met these words. For only about 15 people, they sure could make a lot of noise.
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Step Towards The Edge - 4
Date: Aug 23rd, 2006 6:38:22 pm - Subscribe


The moon shone feircely at my body, biting into my skin as if the sun itself had decided to trade places with the moon. I shook a head of wet hair, sending drops of life scattering; staining their way onto the others' faces.

"It's time, Mafia. You know your place."

I nodded, drawing a straight line with the blade. A tear escaped from my eyes but I couldn't move, or it would be wrong.

I drew a short breath in and dropped the blade. It clattered to the floor, splattering red on the tile.

"Good job. Stay still or it'll hurt more."

I breathed in through my nose, a deep breath, and let it out through my mouth, a calming technique I'd learned.

He drew a diagonal line across the line I'd drawn. One more to go.

A girl with brown hair stepped forward, taking the blade in her hands and drew another line, straight up and down. Now the star was complete, and I'd just have to wait for the blood to stop flowing.
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Step Towards The Edge - 3
Date: Aug 7th, 2006 3:38:09 am - Subscribe


I reached out; my fingers wouldn't close on the material.

"Come back!"

I tried desperately to reach the cloth of his shirt.

"Come back." I knew my eyes were filling with tears as I spoke, and my arms were getting heavy.

"Please don't leave me now!"

He turned, his green eyes burning into mine. And then... he changed. Mousy brown hair became flowing black locks, eyes turned to the deepest blood red. What was happening?

"..What are you doing? What's happening to you? Please don't--"

I was cut off. There was a hand at my throat, and a knife at my chest.

"Don't do this.. I can't.. I won't let you.." My breathing was shallow, my heartbeat quickened and tears spilled from my eyes. "Stop!" My voice came out a desperate whisper.

"It's too late for you." He said coldly. His grip tightened, and I felt the sharp peirce of metal at my heart...

"WAKE UP!"

My eyes shot open. I was hyperventilating; six pairs of eyes stared at my limp form, buried in pillows on the couch.

"Maf, you okay?" It was him. My savior. My friend. His green eyes stared into mine. I leaped up as far as I could from where I was laying and wrapped my arms around his middle.

"What the.. how much did you..? You okay?" He reluctantly returned my spontaneous embrace.

"I'm sorry!" I cried, tightening my grip. "I was so scared.. I had a nightmare.. and I.. I don't want to lose you, you're my best friend..." The sentance died as it left my lips.

"Don't worry, mate." He sat down next to me, and I took my arms off him. He gingerly laid me down again, almost acting more like a brother than a friend.

"Get some sleep, Mafia. You haven't been in a very good way lately.." He smiled and walked off, shooing all the other onlookers out of the room. The door shut with a snap, and I drifted back into a deep sleep.

---

"Stop lying to me."

I was staring into the eyes of a goat. What? Why was there a goat there?

"I don't lie to you, you are lying to yourself. Don't waste time fighting while your ship sets sail behind your anger."

The animal turned, and as it walked away it faded.

"I trust myself. I'm not lying...."

---

I woke only to the singing of cicadas outside; the stars shone brightly through the window on the far side of the room. I stood, and immedeately fell into the corner of the glass table, adding another gash to the millions all over me. I stood, walking shakily towards the window, and looked out.

What was I trying to tell me?
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Step Towards The Edge - 2
Date: Aug 6th, 2006 3:21:15 am - Subscribe


"IDIOT!"

As my vision was beginning to fade I looked towards the speaker.
Yes. I knew it would be him. He was always there for me...
Their voices were distant. They were fighting, accusing, hating.

"What are you trying to do, kill her?!" Came a heated remark. He
aimed a blow at the other's face. "You idiot! I can't beleive
you'd do that to a girl!"

"I am trying to kill her. She has a fucken demon in her! She deserves to die for what she just did! And over an argument you two fuckfaces had!"

I tryed to hang on to their words, but it wasn't working. I was half past gone, and all I had to hang onto now was the blackness that filled my vision.

---

"A lie?"

It was that sweet, metallic, silky voice again. It soothed my aching head and my sore arms. I opened my eyes. I was looking into the mirror. What had I once seen in the mirror? I don't know what I used to see. Maybe it wasn't the horror that stood before me now.

"I wouldn't lie to you."

I studied my reflection. Bloodshot eyes. Red hair. Everything was in order.. Red eyes. Had I always been this way? I couldn't remember if I had always had red eyes, or if this was something unexpected. I growled at my reflection.

"You lied."

---

I heard something slam down on the table, and awakened, knowing the glass would shatter any minute and then, I'd really be in trouble. Eyes shot open; arms bracing for impact. I waited for it to come.

"Mafia?"

It was a concerned tone that greeted my ears. A familiar voice. A voice I could trust.

"You..." I could barely talk; I took a breath, lowering my arms. "You saved me from him, didn't you?"

"Of course I did. You don't think I'd sit there and let my best mate get killed, would you?"

I shook my head.

"Gimme some of that, will you?"

I pointed to a bottle on the table; green tinted, gold labelled; it smelled sickly sweet, yet bitter and tangy.

"I'm not sure you should have any after last night."

I threw the coldest glare I knew how in his direction; he smiled.

"Alright. Don't go overboard. And stay away from.." He hesitated and reached into my deep pockets, pulling out a small bag and a pipe. "Stay away from this stuff when you're
in this kind of condition, Mafia. I'll put it in your safe-keeping place."

I nodded, holding the mint colored bottle in my shaking hands. I lifted the rim to my lips, breathing in the sweet scent. Immedeately any trace of headache, any soreness, bitterness, all negativity.. It was all gone. I
took another deep breath, closing my eyes for a second. I sighed and put the bottle back down on the glass table. A crack appeared, edging its way across the glossy surface, almost as if it was trying to say 'You lose either way you put it.'

I breathed out, a heavy sigh, and let myself fall into the cloudy, cushiony mass beneath me.
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