Lesser Being Chapter 2

Since the previous Sunday was used to hold the meeting I was given a week of preparation. Gen drilled every single battle technique she'd ever learned into my vexed little head. It was torture. Gen was a brutal teacher, she worked me so hard I ended up sweating blood.

I should have just become a scholar Amazon! I thought to myself, all they do is sit and read. The worst pain they feel is from a paper-cut!

Before I knew it I had only three days left until battle. I could hardly eat, my stomach threatened to reject anything that filled it. Gen sat across from me, she never left my side that week. A few days prior some of the other Amazons from my tribe would come to my hut and congratulate me on becoming Chief. When I told them who I was fighting their congratulations turned in to good lucks. A smile on their faces but there eyes worried and disbelieving of my strength.

Gen was reluctant at first to show me any of her fighting techniques. She said that it could take years for me to master any of them. But I persisted and she eventually caved. Training was hard, a few times all I could see what little white dots – Gen said it was normal. I never mastered any of them, but I was able to properly fight. Maybe not against Lesser 227, but fight nonetheless.

On Friday night I went back to my old tent. Another Amazon was living in it but allowed me to gather anything I may have left. I explained that I was merely taking a stroll around the tribe and was feeling homesick. She looked at me puzzled and retreated back into the tent.

"ANA! ANA!"

Isabel screeched like a banshee as she ran and hugged my legs.

"Please don't do it! It's too strong, even for a big Amazon like you! Please, don't go!" cried the youth.

"Shhh," I soothed her as I hoisted her on my hip. "No need to cry. You'll see me on Sunday I'll be amazing. Make sure you help prepare a big feast for me once I've captured my very first Pet. Okay?"

I put my finger under her chin and made her look at me. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks resembled roses and her nose was slimy. She rubbed away her tears and nodded, sniffing.

"I like my meat well done, remember?"

She nodded a slight frown on her face. "You like it with that red sauce."

"That's right! Remember to add some herbs too, you know how I love herbs," I smiled.

She again nodded and I put her down. I started to walk back to my hut, but Isabel stayed. When I noticed she wasn't moving I asked her why.

We used to have two huts for the youths but one had caught fire a moon cycle ago. A few youths were caught in the blaze, even an Amazon perished. The Old Ones were determined that one of the pets started the fire. In fact it was Chief's pet. The one she used to create me. The Lesser was sent to the gallows the very next day. Isabel was in the other hut but since that day she became a lot more attached to me. She was scared of fire, she was scared of many things in fact.

"Can I sleep with you until you come back!?" she begged.

I smiled at her and held out my hand. Leaping, she clutched my hand with her tiny fingers.

The two of us walked to the hut. Gen was sleeping on the wicker chair. I told Isabel to go to bed while I woke up Gen.

Disorientated, Gen awoke at a slight touch from me. She always was somewhat of a light sleeper. I remember as youths waking up and seeing her sit at the step of our hut door, just looking. Like a lioness protecting her cubs.

I prepared herbal tea for the both of us. Lately the nights had been growing colder.

"Just remember everything I've taught you, hopefully you should be fine," she said cradling her mug.

"What if I'm not? I can barely fight," I said, disgusted with myself. "I'm weak. It's going to take a miracle for me to win."

Gen smirked at me. "You always do that. Stop pulling yourself down, why do you think Hundi picked you to be Chief? You were her favourite for a reason. You're not the strongest but you are one of the smartest."

She grabbed my forearm; I grabbed hers with the same hand. In our tribe it was a symbol of good luck. Lately the two of us did that sign more than ever. When we were youths I used to do it if Gen was going hunting.

The two of us sat and talked for hours. I felt so close to her, like I could tell her anything. So I did. I told her all my worries, my troubles. She'd give me some advice then tell me one of her problems. Eventually we started to run out of topics and it was my turn to speak.

"Have you ever seen the birth of a Lesser?" I asked, remembering that dreadful day.

"No why, I'm nothing to do with child labouring. I'm a hunter."

"I…" I stopped myself. "I was just wondering, that's all."

A flash back of the baby crying played in my mind. The knife held up then brought down with sudden force. No more crying. The mother Amazons screaming still haunts me. I haven't seen her since. I can't even remember her name. Lexi? Leah? Lisa?

"Come on, Anastasia, it's getting late. Tomorrow you should just rest. I'll take care of everything. Just you rest okay?" Gen said, her smile clearly for show.

That Saturday I stayed in bed. I only got up to eat or for a few quick lessons from Gen whenever I felt like it. My stomach was buzzing with both excitement and dread. As the sky turned black and the flickers showed themselves I decide to take a walk. Just a short one – it was only around the tribe once. I then retired to my hut. Isabel slept in my bed. Her jet black hair a mess, her cheeks and nose were red and the pillow she lay on had a wet patch. She'd been crying again.

I lay beside her and put my arm around her small body. She made a small whimper like noise but it was subtle. I scooped her closer beside me. It was then I felt truly afraid. How would this youth cope without me? I couldn't leave her. There was a weird feeling inside me. I once remember reading about it in one of the books recovered from the old world. Motherly love - or something like that is what the people who used to live in this world called it. I held the youth close to me. A tear bubbling in my eye, but I was unable to release it.

The next day was Sunday.

Amazons are to follow the rules set by the arena when a battle is prepared. The Old Ones tell the Amazon fighting to be at the arena at dawn. I did so. I was to prepare my own battle uniform, Gen took care of it instead. I held my armour in a satchel Isabel had taken the time to make it that week.

I had never seen the arena so empty. When I entered the room reserved for Amazons taking park in the battle, I was greeted by an Old One. She told me to quickly get dressed at meet her and the pit.

I reached the very bottom of the arena and towards my side. There was a huge gate blocking my passage towards the pit. I took in a deep breath and took a look through the metal bars. People were crowding trying their best to get a seat at the front. I clutched the bars tightly as I saw people of my tribe. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.

"Amazon Anastasia," I was startled by the Old One. "You have five minutes until battle."

She handed me a syringe. Looking at the needle with the clear blue liquid inside the glass, it seemed harmless to me. I strapped the syringe inside my boot and thanked her. She smiled and wished me good luck before leaving. The doors made a clacking sound as they bolted shut. I took in another deep breath before sitting on the dark cold bench.

The syringe given to me is to sedate the Lesser and determine me the winner of this battle. If I get close enough that is.

Those five minutes were the longest I had ever had to sit through. I tried to remember everything Gen and told me and played, in my head, the battles Lesser 277 had already been in. Suddenly a dark wave of doubt washed over me. This is where I die, I thought. As soon as I become Chief I die, what a way to go.

I tried replacing the thought with a happy one. One of Isabel, her laughing face as she came running to me screaming, "Ana! Ana!"

I hated people shortening my name. An exception was made for Isabel though. She was young, and didn't understand the importance of a name. Amazon Anastasia. That was me, that is who I am and there will never be another one of me.

There was a loud horn playing. My signal.

I stood at the gate. My legs slightly apart, my head high, shoulders back – just like Gen told me.

The gate opened and I stepped out, a grin painted on my face as I waved to the audience looking down at me for entertainment.

A few seconds later the gate opposite me opened. Two Amazons held Lesser 277 by his arms. His hands and feet shackled. Quickly they untied him and threw him to the ground with a thud.

I had never seen Lesser 277 up so close. He had the most unusual hair colour I had ever seen. Silver. Like the moon that shows up with the flickers.

A little disorientated he stood up and looked at me, emptiness in his eyes. I put up my fists waiting for him to make the first move.

277, ran towards me. He was fast, faster than I had anticipated. Blows to the side cause me to stagger a little. I saw him pull back his fist for another hit. Quickly, I grabbed the fist and twisted him so my back was in front of him. I pulled him over my shoulder. Well, tried to anyway. I only got him half way before he tripped me up. I found myself face up on the ground, he stood above me.

"Nothing personal."

They speak.

It spoke to me.

A Lesser?

As he pulled up his fist I rolled away quickly. I got up on my feet and could hear the crowd roaring for my victory. Now it was my turn to make the first move. Swiftly, I moved towards him, my first pulled far back. A small cracking feeling came to my knuckles as the collided with his chest. He was winded and staggered back slightly. For a long time the two of us just tried punching each other. He'd pull back and I'd quickly duck or counter. He mirrored my moves too. I had never fought someone like this before. I was so excused after a good ten minutes of this, my body felt like metal and my vision blurred from the sweat in my eyes.

The crowed cheered for me but I noticed some shaking heads and worried faces. They didn't believe I'd win.

A moment of distraction came and I felt 277's fist collide with my face. I was knocked back to the floor and was greeted with a mouthful of dust. I just lay there for a second. The arena was dead silent.

I moved my arms and tried to push myself up. I was shaking. My hands bruised and bloodied, my face felt swollen and I was missing a back tooth.

277 grabbed my hair and pulled me up. I let out a small yelp which was stopped when 277 put his arm around my throat. I couldn't breath. Desperately, I gulped for air. I clawed for something to grab in front of me. My vision started to blacken and I felt light headed.

"I didn't ask for this…"

A voice. Was it 277's? I felt his grip slightly loosen and his hands reach for my chin. He's going to snap your neck! I screamed to myself. Do something! You promised Isabel you'd win!

I mustered up every last piece of strength I had to dive away threw his arms. My legs were jelly and my breathing was heavy.

Pant…pant…pant.

A smirk was carved into the Lesser's face. Anger swelled up inside me.

"You bastard!" I screamed, running towards him using up the rest of my stamina.

In the split second I reached him I hoisted up my leg and reached inside my boot. A quick motion later and the syringe was in my hand. We collided with such a force the dust at our feet made a cloud shielding us from the audience – who had been quiet all through this.

The dust settled but my eyes were still closed. I didn't want to know. I wanted to stay in the dark, unaware if I had plunged the needle into him.

There was murmuring in the crowed, it then got louder, and louder, and louder, until each Amazon was up on their feet cheering and yelling pushing the limits of their lungs.

I looked down, the Lesser was already knocked out, he rested on my shoulders, peacefully. So unlike the man I had just faced. He looked at ease, tranquil. I used what little strength remained in my body to drag 277 out of the pit and back to my holding area.

The Old Ones took him from me and told me to wait in the grand hall.

I took one last look at my Pet. His silver hair was still just as bright - even though our battle was a messy one – his skin pale like sand.

What was the word?

I remember seeing it in a book.

Handsome.

That was it.