Chapter 4. Spicy little thing, aren't you

Damien mentally prepared himself to attend his Systema class. Prepod Antonov had another gruesome yet effective training planned for him. He had to be in a strong mental state, and that encounter with Adeline made him feel restless again.

"Good, you're here. I hope you're ready for some pain," Antonov grinned.

"Aren't I always?" Damien barked.

"We'll see about that," Antonov said. "You there! Get your asses over here," he called out, and three guys walked in and crowded Damien.

"What's going on?" Damien asked. He had a bad feeling about this.

"What's going on is that these guys are gonna punch the shit out of you, and you will take it all," Antonov declared.

"Why the fuck would I do that?" Damien barked.

"I'm teaching you how to take punches without flinching by taking in pain and turning it into a rage. It will convert your rage into energy and help you win fights," Antonov said.

"You're kidding me!" Damien exclaimed.

"I don't kid, boy. Now, don't you guys standing there. Beat him!" Antonov ordered the other two. They jumped on Damien like a pack of wild wolves.

Damien tried not to fight back as the guys threw punches after punches. He felt rage building inside him but bears the pain with gritted teeth.

"Is that all you got, you little pussies?" he barked.

The two guys didn't hold back. They beat him until he heard his rib crack. He fell on the floor like a sack of potatoes and just laid there. How is this for pain tolerance?

Prepod Antonov picked him up and dragged him into his office so he could tend to his wounds. Antonov taped his ribs and chuckled. "Good job out there. You got the resilience and fire in ya, just like your grandfather."

"My grandfather?" Damien looked at Antonov questioningly.

"Our commanding officer, he was just like you. Hot-headed and stubborn. He didn't take shit from anyone, just like you. Every time I expect you to give up, you just keep coming back," Antonov looked at him fondly.

Damien didn't say anything and just stared into space. He wasn't sure if being compared to his grandfather or his father was a compliment.

He waited till his pain subsided then headed back home.

His father wasn't home. Damien released a sigh of relief as he didn't want to deal with him today. He can finally have a nice, quiet time.

"Damien! Where have you been?"

He halted as his stepmother Nadine's mousy voice echoed through the walls.

"I'm just gonna go in my room," he said gruffly.

"Wait, hold on. You're hurt!" Nadine pouted and strode toward him.

"I'm fine," Damien tried to brush her off, but she grabbed his arm.

"Aww, you don't have to act like a stranger to me. We are family. Please think of me as your friend. Who don't you come into my room, and we can figure out how to make you feel better," she said in a hoarse whisper and grazed her fingers on his face.

Damien cringed. The last thing he needed was to get preyed on by Natasha's mom.

"No, thank you. You should go find dad and blow him or something. Since he is, you know, your husband?" Damien walked off without waiting for her reply.

He went to his room and remembered Keira, who must be waiting for him.

Fuck that...he could hardly lift a leg after the beating he had. Damien thought and dozed off after taking his daily dose of painkillers.

---

"Addie!"

Adeline stopped in front of her bedroom door and turned around. Her mom was standing in front of her with hands on her waists.

"Hi, mom," Adeline said. She wished her mom would smile at her for once.

"I need to talk to you," her mom was frowning. Oh great...what did she do wrong this time?

"What am I hearing about you being a bitch to your brother?" her mom barked.

"He's not my brother," Adeline snapped.

Her mother's face twisted into a frown. She brought her hand back then swung at Adeline's cheek.

Adeline yelped and held her cheek in disbelief, stinging pain spread through her face from the slap. "What the hell, mom!"

"You ungrateful little brat! You sit at home, eat all our food while I work my ass off! You're useless!" her mom shouted.

She was useless? Adeline thought. Her stepfather was the one who sat around and collected disability checks. Jimmy didn't even bother to get a job after graduating high school, but her mom thinks she is not contributing enough? What a life, Adeline thought bitterly. She couldn't wait to turn eighteen soon so she can get a job and leave this house.

Morning came, and it was another day of school. She left home before her stepfather or Jimmy woke up so she could avoid another unpleasant encounter with them. She stood outside and waited for the bus. She couldn't help but be disappointed when she didn't see Damien and Robbie waiting for her this time. That's stupid. She didn't want to see Damien's stupid face anyway.

At school, Adeline smiled as she saw Noriko approaching her. She had been hanging out with Noriko and Mandy a lot as they became her two best friends. Kids at her school think they are too nerdy, but Adeline didn't care. She was kind of a nerd herself.

"Hey Addie, wanna come over and hang out after school?" Noriko asked.

Adeline hesitated. She was expected to go straight home and cook dinner for the jerks at home, but she'd rather spend time with Noriko.

"I'm not sure. Can I tell you later?" Adeline smiled. She stopped smiling when she saw a sleazy-looking guy walking towards them. What now?

"Hey, sexy. I have some free time after school, and my parents are out of town. Wanna come over and hang out?" he flashed her a toothy grin.

"I'd rather slam a door on my hand," Adeline replied nonchalantly.

"What are you acting all high and mighty for, you cold bitch? You think you're special because you're one of Damien's sluts?" he barked.

"Beat it, Kevin!" Noriko chimed in.

"Shut up, nerd. I wasn't talking to you," Kevin walked off.

"Don't mind him. He is an idiot," Noriko said.

"I don't doubt that," Adeline giggled. She tried not to feel bothered by it but being called Damien's slut was pissing her off.

At lunch, she went to the outside table to eat lunch with Mandy and Noriko.

"Look who just got a new girl," Mandy whispered.

Adeline looked where Mandy motioned toward and saw Damien sitting under a tree. A girl she didn't recognize was sitting on his lap. He leaned down and kissed the girl, completely oblivious to the world.

"He is disgusting. God, I really hate him!" Adeline scoffed. "Let's go back inside. Looking at that will make me lose my appetite," she declared.

She hated this town and this school. She wished she could go back and live with her father. She had screamed and cried when her mother decided to remarry and change job then move, but her father had already gotten a new family at that point, so he didn't fight for her to stay. Adeline had no choice but to come to this shitty town with her mother. And now she was stuck in this school full of morons.