Project NEON (Pt. 2, you can read it now!)

I walked through the trash-littered back alley to the Arena, my shoes splashing in small puddles along the rough concrete. Tonight was it. My first fight since meeting that boy who gave me the bracelet. He’d be waiting for me afterwards if what he said was true. But I had more reason to believe him now.

I walked through the main doors, watching as my Brace deactivated thanks to the electromagnetic pulsars that were placed around the door frame. I nodded to the thick-built guy in shades, the same one who always watched the door. He knew me and I knew him, but not on a name basis. All he knew was that I was a contestant called ‘Widow’. The name was based on the spider and because I had lost most of my family.

I opened the changing room door and was met with wary gazes before the girls went back to chatting and stretching. I went into the corner I often changed in and opened my locker, pulling out the lycra swimsuit-esque costume Charlie graciously provided the contestants with. Some of the girls I would be fighting had chosen some more…risque options. I quickly took my hoodie and cargo pants off, slipping into the silver and black outfit. I pulled out the mask covering my face's lower half and put it on, the silver hourglass symbol shining over the vents that let me breathe. I knew I would have another half an hour at least until it was my turn to fight, but I liked to be ready.

After what felt like an hour, one of the staff that Charlie recruited came to get me and another girl. Well, I say girl, but really I was the only one under 18 to fight on Girls’ night. There was a Kids’ night, but I rarely went. I was too advanced for some of the kids that competed and besides, you only had to pin someone to the ground to win. In the adult fights, you had to literally knock them out. She gave me a judgmental glance, and I kept my face blank. I could see an orange strip of hair peeking out from her high bun, and I knew what type of NEON I was up against. I preferred to keep my own purple strip of hair tucked into my tidy braid. 

We walked out and followed the lady to the door that led to the cage. The woman I was fighting glared at me right as they announced her. She walked into the bright spotlight to a round of cheers and applause, her coco-coloured skin glistening with what I assumed was some type of oil to make her skin more slippery. As if that would help her. Then, I was announced. I stepped forward and squinted at the bright lights pointing right at me, my heart starting to beat faster in anticipation. I was led to the cage, where my opponent was waiting, looking like she would gladly leave me unconscious on the floor, probably because I dared to be younger than her and still wanted to fight. 

The cage door closed and the lights dimmed, and then the lights attached to the top of the cage turned on, revealing the first colour of the match: Orange. Crap. Her strong colour. Orange was the colour for physical enhancement, meaning anything from better hearing to super-strength. I hoped for my sake it was the former. Unfortunately for me, my orange resulted in heightened senses. I could hear the guy with a sore throat in the back of the audience, rasping as he breathed in; I could see the sweat beading on my opponent’s forehead; I could feel the heat of the orange light on my skin, reacting with the chemicals the S.C.A.M. put in me to make me a NEON.

I blanched, however, when my opponent rolled her shoulders and shook out her arms, looking like she just had a steroid injection. I was going to regret stepping in here with her. She would make sure of that. She lunged at me, jumping farther than a normal person would be able to and almost flattened me, but thankfully I was able to dodge and roll away, landing in a crouch near one side of the cage. She jumped at me again and I launched myself upwards, clinging onto the cage’s metal.

She jumped again, her hand just shy of my ankle. I kept climbing, hoping that she wouldn’t be able to reach me, knowing that she wouldn’t stop until she grabbed me. While she was preparing for her next jump, I dropped, landing on her shoulders and stunning her. I locked my legs around her throat, half-choking her and half-using her neck as a pivot point. I let my body weight swing me down and I let go at the perfect moment, landing in a crouch while she loses her balance and falls to the ground. 

Then the colour of the light changes above us. It changes to red, and I can feel the change immediately. It’s like someone turned my emotion dial up to 100. I can feel everything. I feel angry that she tried to attack me so viciously while using her strongest colour, I was nervous and excited about what would happen after this, I was scared that I might find out something I didn’t want to know, and yes, I was a bit worried about what this woman might do to me. But mostly, I felt angry at her.

I stalked over and put my foot on her throat, my anger getting the better of me. Her eyes flew wide and she struggled against me, managing to push my foot to the slide and get up quickly while I was regaining my balance. Her eyes gleamed with anger as well, and I knew I was about to get the full force of that. Now my fear was the strongest thing I was feeling. I quickly backed up as she got to her feet, and then she started to circle me. I had no choice but to move as well, letting myself be pushed in a circle. 

Eventually, she lunged forward, aiming to punch my face. I blocked it, sending her arm off to the side and off-balancing her. This gave me an advantage and I quickly shoved her to the side, letting her fall to the floor. I was ready for this fight to be over so I straddled her back and quickly hit that funky spot on her neck, making her go limp beneath me. The crowd cheered and I was ushered out of the cage, two members of staff going in to collect my opponent. I was led to the changing rooms and then left alone, my opponent taken down the hallway to the infirmary to recover. 

I quickly got out of my costume and put my hoodie and trousers back on, sitting on the bench and waiting for the boy to show up. I was fiddling with the bracelet when the changing room door opened and a tall figure entered, quickly turning around to close the door. When it turned back around, I could see it was the boy from the other day.

“Lilly?” He asked his eyes searching my face. My expression was blank as usual.

“Daniel?” I responded, my voice was quiet and almost disbelieving. The relief was evident on his face.

“Oh my God, thank you!” He said, looking like he might hug me or sink to the floor and cry. I frown a bit, not entirely sure how to handle his reaction. He rushed over to the bench I was sitting on and sat next to me, definitely looking like he was about to cry.

“Lilly, you have no idea how long we’ve been looking for you! We thought maybe you were dead or had been recaptured… Oh my God, I’m so glad you’re still alive.” He said in a rush and I moved away from him a bit, not used to the amount of emotions being shown at once. He was looking at me, his two-toned eyes sparkling with excitement and relief.

“Mmm.” I said, still not entirely sure how to handle him. He could probably tell by my expression because he took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Sorry, it’s just… we were all worried about the worst that could’ve happened to you… and honestly, I’m really glad you’re alive.” He said and gave me a smile that made his dimple pop out.

“When you say ‘we’, what exactly do you mean?” I asked, my voice a bit sceptical. He frowned for a moment, then spoke.

“Your sister and I, obviously.” My heart literally stopped when he said that. I stuttered a bit, overwhelmed by the emotions that simple sentence stirred in me. Daniel noticed my shocked expression and gently put his hand on my knee.

“Are you ok?” He asked, his voice quiet, a small frown on his face. I nodded mutely, still trying to process.

“I- I just- I can’t believe…. After all this time… I thought she…” I trailed off, not really knowing what to say or how to say it. Daniel gets up and holds out his hand to me.

“I know it might be a lot to take in, and I know you probably have some questions, but if you come with me, I can take you to her so you can talk to her on your own.” He said, giving me a lop-sided smile. I nodded, still in a daze, and I let him lead me out of the changing room, down the various corridors and out through the only entrance or exit, where the guy with shades on gave a hard look to Daniel. Dan led me out through the alleys and back streets, our shoes splashing and squelching in the puddles that never seem to leave. 

Dan led me to a side of the city I hardly ever go to, known for its harsh environment and plenteous crime. A run-down-looking warehouse came into view, next to what looked like some sort of apartment building. Or what used to be an apartment building. 

As we approached the warehouse, I realised there was a nasty-looking barbed-wire fence around it. Dan stopped before we got close enough to touch it.

“This is electrical, but I know where the hold button is. When we get in, I need you to remember this: when I say ‘Are we in the right place?’ you need to say ‘Yes, isn’t this where it rained last?’” Daniel said before lifting a piece of rubble to reveal its hollow centre and a button on the ground below it. Dan pressed it and the slight buzz that I had been hearing from the fence stopped, letting Dan unhook part of the fence to create an opening. I followed him through the makeshift door and into the yard surrounding the warehouse. We walked towards a small door to the side, and Dan stood directly by it.

“Are we in the right place?” He asked, nodding for me to say my part.

“Uh, yes, isn’t this where it last rained?” I responded, watching Dan mouth the words with me, making sure I didn’t mess up. The door opened and there stood Charlie’s sister, Aubrey.