Short Stories

S.S.1

[AN: This story is part of the Stitches Series (reasoning toward the whole S.S. thing). This is part of the book called Intertwine. It was a fun little part to write and a little difficult, but I really enjoyed it. This doesn't spoil anything if you're reading the book. And if you haven't read Stitches, I suggest you read it.

But, anyways, enjoy this little insert. Ta ta for now.]

Crow walked out of the temple and through the dark tunnel. Once out, he looked around at the green lush of the jungle. This place seemed so full of life compared to the poor city he use to live in. He started walking into it, not really following any path.

Then he stopped and glanced back, "You know, not many people can sneak upon me," He turned to see Matilda. She's the fire girl. I hear that she's the true leader of the pack.

She scoffed, "That's what most people say."

Crow just rolled his eyes.

"So," She started to walk around, "I hear that you were part of a circus. A freak show, in fact."

"Yeah, and?"

"Oh, I don't know, just wondering if it's true."

He watched her walk around the trees, "What are you getting at?"

She shrugged.

Crow sighed, "You wouldn't understand what it was like. No one would. Those people, those freaks, are just like every day people. They have feelings, they have hobbies. They like and dislike things. They're just like you and me."

"You and me?" Matilda forced a laugh, "They're not like us. We have powers given to us. They were born with human deformations."

"What?! Why would you say that?! These people were my family!" He was starting to get fired up.

She stopped to lean against a tree. She crossed her arms, "You know what I meant and you know it's true."

"Doesn't mean you have to insult them."

Matilda laughed, "That wasn't an insult. My kind of insult is a punch to the face."

It was Crow's turn to laugh, "Yeah right."

"Is that challenge I hear?" He looked over to see Matilda's orange eyes staring back. They looked creepy compared to her normal hazel ones.

He shrugged his shoulders, "If you're up to it."

She started to grin. She pushed herself off the tree and started to walk around again. He was surprised she didn't burst into flames. While she walked between all the trees, he kept a watchful eye on her. But she didn't do anything, just watched him with her glowing orange eyes.

This made Crow confused, "Are you going to fight me or what?"

She laughed, "All boys are the same. They never like to wait," And with that, she disappeared from his sight.

He turned around in circles, trying to figure out where she went. He felt a coolness come over himself as he knew his eye color changed to the milky cream color. As he clutched his fists, bone gloves covered his hands so he wouldn't break anything.

After not finding her, he decided to walk toward the direction he last saw her. Not even a few steps in, an arm quickly wrapped around his neck, holding him in a chock hold.

"You really need to get better at knowing when someone is behind you," Matilda playfully said.

Before he could second guess himself, he elbowed her in the gut. She loosen her grip on him. Crow shoved her arm away. He turned and pushed her away.

She tripped over a root and fell to the ground. She didn't looked surprised or scared. Only the grin grew more. She jumped up with her fists ready to fight.

She punched for his head. He moved out of the way. She went for his shoulder but he dodged it. Matilda kicked at his feet. He jumped over her leg. She took another punch at him but he easily blocked it with his bone covered hand.

Crack!

They both knew what happened. Her grin faulted as his eyes widened. Looks like I hit a breaking point. Literally.

The hand in Crow's started to heat up rapidly. Her eyes looking deadly orange.

He started to smile, "You know fire can't melt bone," With his other hand, he threw a punch at her head.

But she easily caught it, "Who says?" She said with a dark bitterness.

He pushed her back, making her stumble a few steps. As two bone wings ripped out of his back and shirt, he felt all off his bones go light. His wings started to move. Gust of wind came down to the ground as he began to rise.

He didn't even make it 10 feet in the air before something landed on his ankle. It burned like hell, "Ahh!" His wings disappeared and he fell to the ground.

Matilda stood over him with a devil's look in her eyes. He quickly made a shield of bone to protect him. She started hitting it and saying, "Come on! Stand up and fight!"

Her fists were then engulfed in flames. It started to get hot under the shield. So Crow decided to do what she told him to. While standing up, he pushed her off of him. She tumbled back and landed on her stomach.

Once on his feet, the shield wrapped itself onto his left forarm. She pushed herself up as her hands turn back into flames. She threw fireballs at him while taking steps toward him. He kept his shield up, ready for anything she got.

She threw punches with everything she had. But he defended himself with his bone shield. She tried to use fire but it didn't change anything. After some more punches from both sides, Crow had enough. He used all of his weight and power to shove Matilda to the ground. Unable to stop the fall, she fell hard on her back.

He walked up to her. He clenched his right hand as a long thin sword came out. Once he was up to her, he put a foot on her stomach and the sword up against her neck. It was close enough to make her bleed.

"Are we done?" He asked.

She carefully nodded her head.

He removed the blade from her neck, "Good," and he stepped off of her.

She slowly stood up, "That was good," Matilda said as she twisted her back. He could hear it pop. She rolled her shoulders then her neck, "Good job," She stuck out her hand.

All of his bone material decomposed back into his body. He took a hold of her hand and shook it hard, "Thanks. You too."

He looked up to see her lips pressed together and her eyes shut closed. He quickly let her hand go, "Sorry, I kinda forgot about that."

She looked up and nervously laughed, "It's cool. You weren't the one who decided to punch bone over and over."

"True," Crow chuckled, "Here, let me see your hands."

She put her hands out in front of herself, her palms facing the sky. He put his hands under hers and put them together. He closed his eyes.

He could feel the broken bones start to mend themselves slowly, as if they were pulling themselves together. Once they were done, he couldn't even tell if they were broken in the first place. He opened his eyes and let go of Matilda's hands.

She examined them. She moved and wiggled her fingers. Then she examined them some more, "Wow."

He laughed, "Now you know not to hit bone."

She rolled her hazel eyes and started to the temple, "Thanks for the fight! You're good but not the best."

Crow just chuckled.

That was definitely some fight.