"You've grown."
I said to the man who had called my name.
"I'm surprised you still remember me old man." he responded, looking at the blood that had flowed out of my neck wound. I couldn't see behind his mask, but I could tell that he was smirking.
"You better heal that wound quick. I don't want you dying before I kill you."
I place my palm on the wound. Then hovered it directly in front my face, observing the blood I had lost.
"I think I'm fine." I said.
"Don't act so cool old man."
I ignored his comments, and glanced at his partner in the background.
"Who are you?"
I asked him the question out of curiosity, assuming he was someone I knew.
Then the first guy, flashed by in an instant. He was now standing behind me, hovering a dagger dangerously close to my neck. He was angry that I had ignored him the first time. I ignored him again, awaiting his partner's response.
"Focus on your opponent. He's not a man to be trifled with, so I suggest you don't turn your back on him." his partner responded with a warning.
It was a shame, he wasn't who I thought it was, by the sound of his voice. I quickly shook off the thought. From the looks of it, he didn't seem like he was tagging in, but I decided to ask him anyways.
"Does that mean you're not getting involved?"
He nodded.
"That's what my partner wishes. Apparently he has something to settle. If you do manage to defeat him though, which I highly doubt, then I'm your next opponent."
He stayed silent afterwards, observing from the door.
I turned to face my opponent.
"I prefer that we settle this dispute quickly and silently, in order to avoid public attention." I said.
"Your daughter's actions might have attracted the attention of your local troopers, so I agree with you."
I'm glad that he was cooperating, I didn't want things to escalate badly.
Then without warning, he drew the blade closer to my neck.
His movements appeared slow to me, so I grabbed his wrist, twisting it, making him drop the blade.
He backed away afterwards, face full of resentment. Even though I had twisted his wrist hard, he stood there unfazed, before charging toward me.
By the time he was close, he let out a series of swift calculated attacks. Since his movements were slow, I managed to dodge and block.
Kick, punch... Kick, punch.
Each move formed unique, fast-paced heavy attacks.
The impact of his strikes were lethal enough to keep forcing me back.
Then, unusually, he paused for a moment, giving me an opening. I took the opportunity to end it quick, but as I neared I could feel a sudden gust of wind slowly lift me up and pull me away.
I couldn't move... I couldn't react.
I couldn't help watching as he took a kicking position. Then the gust forced me to move towards him, quick. I saw him spin and then I felt the pain of a mean round house kick on my gut.
It caused me to spit blood on him as I flew away, crashing into a rows of seats.
"I know that you're underestimating me in your thoughts. It's pathetic that you think you have a chance." he said, tauntingly.
I couldn't waste a second lying on the ground, so I stood up slowly, trying to shake the pain off. But as I did that, I felt a sharp painful sting on my left foot.
It refused to move.
I looked at it, noticing that the muscles responsible for mobility had sustained cuts by the seats.
My opponent faced me, and let out another mocking laughter.
"That's just a free sample of the actual main course."
I ignored him once again.
He charged toward me once again, infuriated. But before he could attack me, I used my lightning-quick speeds to go dash away to safety.
In the end he ended up punching the air, where I once stood.
"I'm surprised that you can move that quickly, in your state old man. I should be applauding you."
Because I didn't want to waste time, I used my speed to rush him.
Then, something unexpectedly happened.
He caught my punch. But how? Wasn't he supposed to be slower than me?
He looked at me, clearly grinning behind that mask.
"You're wondering how I'm suddenly catching up you, aren't you?"
He read me like a book.
"Let me be quick about before I kill you."
He took off his mask slowly, slowly showing me his face.
His eyes.
That was the first thing that drawed my attention to him. They glowed, bright red.
"No." I said, in denial. "How?"
He began laughter, low and controlled. Then without warn he struck me with a wind blade on the chest, making me cough out blood.
"Understand this. You and your family could've gotten away today, and moved to who knows where. But I was going to find you at some point. Your death was inevitable. Thank me for making it happen sooner."
I could already feel my body quitting. I was about collapse but I held onto him tight with my remaining strength, so that I could talk to him one last time.
"Are you..."
It was getting harder to breath.
"Are you going after my family next?"
"They are apart of my mission, but I don't give a damn about them."
His response made me smile, for the first time in a while.
"What about my brother, is he dead?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He was claiming that they didn't take him, but it was pretty strange. Who took him?
That question hit harder than anything.
I can't believe I was about to die thinking of my brother, Derek. I haven't used his given name in a long time, so it just felt right.
There was also one more thing I wanted to say to my opponent.
"I'm sorry... about her."
He released me, a bit frustrated. Then he wore his mask and turned to his partner.
"Let's get out of here."
Then, without hesitation, they left, leaving me alone on the ground, close to death.
I wish I could see Derek, and my kids one last time.
More importantly, I wanted to see my wife, Sasha. I hadn't seen her since that one time.
The image of her faced flashed before my eyes.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The day she decided to pay me a visit... The day we had Tasha.
"Dad!"
Someone was calling me, snapping me out of my last fantasy.
Who?