“You need to get up, Owen,” Sensei Dan said. “You’ve been in bed all week.”

  Was it a week already? Time was moving too slow and too fast all at once. He lied to Amber and Coach Wilson, telling them he had a nasty flu to avoid training. He was sick alright, but there wasn’t a hint of a stuffed nose. Amber sent him messages every chance she could get between filming her scenes, and Owen only responded with short reassurances that he was alright. He didn’t want to see her. He didn’t want to see anyone. The only joy he had during that week came from flirty pictures sent from Amber while she was on set and those moments were fleeting at best.

  Owen didn’t have the will to rise from his sweat soaked mattress.All he could do was roll over in bed and see the dead ninja. Who was he? Did he have a family? Owen didn’t even know his name. The raid wasn’t mentioned on the news network and peace keepers weren’t pounding on his door. He convinced himself he was safe. Murder didn’t carry a fine. Murder carried a life sentence, no chance of release. Did he deserve it?

  “This is pathetic.” Sensei Dan grabbed Owen by the wrists and dragged him out of the bed. Owen didn’t bother resisting. “You’re a Hardknuckle practitioner, act like it. Death happens when fighting is involved. The ninja knew that and he still wanted to fight.”

  Dan dragged Owen to the shower and made him turn the knobs. He was still dressed in his t-shirt and boxers. Warm water washed over him as he slid to the floor. He let his head rest against the cool tile and closed his eyes. He saw the knife sticking out of the ninja’s chest and heard his last gasp of air.

  “I can’t pull you out of this Owen. This is all you.” Dan worked Owen’s hands like a puppeteer, applying shampoo and soap. And then he dragged Owen to his bedroom and dressed him in fresh clothes. “There’s nothing a sensei won’t do for his disciple.” He sat Owen on the couch and made him turn on the screen. “Been quiet enough in here.”

  “Peacekeepers are still asking citizens to come forward with information on a theft at a hazardous materials facility,” Aimee Reynolds said to the camera. She stood in front of the Montez Holdings warehouse which now had solid steel fences to replace the chain link. She walked with a security agent who explained what happened during the raid. “A reward of two thousand credits is being offered to any citizen whose information leads to an arrest. Help protect City Seven from the criminals that threaten our safety.” She stared into Owen’s soul and smiled wide. “Back to you, Dave.”

  “Chief Peacekeeper Victor Knowles was not available for comment,” Dave Market said. Owen still hated his face. “In other news Jacob Callahan is scheduled to fight Marcus Grady for the City Seven Fighting League Championship on—,” Dave’s voice cut out as Owen changed the channel. He flipped mindlessly through the available stations. A Good Citizen, Mama Mulligan’s Kitchen, Peacekeeper Chronicles, High Speed Racing League.

  Owen flipped through the mind numbing entertainment, only stopping when he saw Amber on his screen. Not Amber exactly, but her character Captain Helena Wylde. She was in her skin tight space suit which was zipped down just enough to show off a bit of cleavage, and she wore a stylish red eye patch to complete the roguish look. Captain Wylde dueled with another woman, a space pirate with an energy cutlass matched by Wylde’s own energy rapier. He smiled for the first time in a week watching her work. Then Captain Wylde impaled her foe through the chest.

  “I didn’t see his face,” Owen said suddenly. He was in the tower again. He heard the wet squelch of a knife through the ninja’s back. It bounced around his skull like a ping-pong ball. “I don’t even know what he looks like.” Owen jumped when someone knocked on his door. He didn’t answer. He knew it wasn’t a peacekeeper. They didn’t knock. Whoever it was knocked again and Owen pretended not to hear.

  “Open this fucking door!” Vicky shouted.

  “What the hell?” Sensei and Owen said together. That got Owen on his feet.

  Why was Vicky at his door? How did she know where he lived? He checked the camera on his scratchpad and saw Vicky giving it the middle finger. She was holding a MOON PIZZA and banged on the door again. Owen reluctantly opened it. Before he could send her away she pushed past him and set the pizza on the counter.

  “You’re an asshole,” Vicky said. She took off her hat and jacket and hung them up. “You didn’t respond to me.”

  “What?”

  “I sent you a message after the thing, you know. And you didn’t say anything.” She shoved him. “So, what the fuck?”

  “I thought I did.” He couldn’t remember. Maybe he did, maybe he couldn’t find the energy. “What’s on your cheek?”

  “This?” She tapped the large bandage. “One of those assholes cut me. Needed twelve stitches.” She opened up the pizza box and took a slice. “I got all the meats. Dig in.” She pointed at his arms. “Looks like they got you too.”

  “Yeah,” Owen said. He touched his bandages. Ed took him to a veterinarian who patched him up that night and Fred drove him home. It was the last time he saw another person before Vicky barged in. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m checking on you.” She shrugged. “We’re friends.”

  “Right.” Owen sighed.

  “This place is pretty swanky.” She gave herself a tour of the apartment. “You got it all to yourself?”

  “Yep.” Owen needed her to go. “Look, I should be alone right now. Can we talk later?”

  “Nope.” Vicky peeked into his bedroom. “It reeks in here.”

  “Told you,” Sensei Dan said.

  “Have you heard from Tuck?” Owen asked her.

  “Not from him. Naomi said he’s going to be radio silent for a little while. They’re fucking.”

  “Who?”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Tuck and Naomi. I imagine they’re squirreled up somewhere fucking and working on Tuck’s master plan.”

  “This is getting too crazy,” Owen said.

  “What is?”

  “This whole thing we’re doing. This resistance movement.”

  “I know.” Vicky grabbed another slice and sat at the dinner table. “It’s getting worse. We used to just wire tap phones and extort some rich assholes. But this is insane. I’m almost glad Brad isn’t here to see it. You know I was worried you didn’t make it out.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” Vicky’s smile fell when the doorbell chimed. She hopped to her feet when the door slid open and Amber was standing there holding four plastic bags filled with bottles and boxes.

  “What the fuck?” Amber and Vicky said together.

  “Look out, Owen,” Sensei Dan said. He took up a defensive stance. “Girlfriend just met the work wife.”

  “Owen?” Amber stepped inside and glared at him. “Who the fuck is she? I thought you were too sick to see me!”

  “No, no, no,” Owen stammered. He knew what she was implying. He raised his hands defensively. “She’s a friend. Just a friend.” That didn’t sound convincing. “She showed up a minute ago. What are you doing here?” He swallowed. Every word that tumbled out of his mouth sounded more suspicious than the last.

  “I went to the pharmacy to get you some medicine!” She slammed the bags on the table. “But you don’t even look sick. Not even a sniffle. Are you fucking this…this whore?”

  “Are you Amber Callahan?” Vicky asked. She gave Owen a look of pure confusion.

  “I am, you slut!” She balled her fists at her sides as she screamed. Owen thought Amber was going to rush Vicky.

  “Just wait. No one is fucking anyone here. Well, except me and you.” He wasn’t going to mention Vicky taking his virginity. And while it was a nice night together, neither of them wanted a repeat. Owen stood between Amber and Vicky. “This is Vicky. She’s not a slut.” Owen regretted the words as they left his mouth. “I promise.”

  “Are you fucking my boyfriend?” Amber asked Vicky directly.

  “Boyfriend?” Vicky’s eyes went dinner plate wide. She cocked her head and Owen could see the hamsters running on her mind wheel. “Boyfriend?” She blinked. “Boyfriend!” She shook her head and Owen saw something click. “No. Gross. He’s not my type.”

  “Why do people keep saying gross?” Owen asked the room. He didn’t think he was gross. Was he ugly?

  “Really?” Amber glared at Owen, and then she relaxed. “Then why are you lying to me, Owen?” Her eyes were getting red and she sniffled. “Are you mad at me? I thought we were okay after the zoo. I’m not mad at you. Are you mad at me?”

  “I’m not mad. It’s just not a good time.” Images of the impaled ninja flashed in Owen’s mind.

  “Tell her the truth,” Vicky said. “We got mugged.” Vicky nodded at Owen.

  “Right,” he said. Another cover story to add to the others. Another lie for Amber. “We got robbed.”

  “Owen was helping me move out of my ex’s cube. We got mugged before we reached the transit station. I might’ve got hurt bad if he wasn’t there. Owen got hurt.” She pointed at his bandaged arms.

  “Are you okay?” Amber’s voice softened and she grabbed his hand. “Do you need to see a doctor? I know a bunch of good ones and a couple great ones. We can get you pain meds and have those scars removed.”

  “No. I’m fine. I was just feeling a little sorry for myself. I’ll get back to training tomorrow.”

  “Are you okay up here?” She touched the side of Owen’s head. “Are you sure?”

  “Should I go?” Vicky asked.

  “I’m sorry I called you a slut,” Amber said sincerely. “You should stay.”

  “Don’t worry about it. So, you two. You’re dating. For real? Owen and Amber. Amber Callahan.”

  “Don’t tell anyone.” Amber winked at Vicky. “It’s a secret right now.”

  “Yeah,” Owen said. “Please don’t tell anyone.” He didn’t need to say what he was thinking.

  “I won’t.” Vicky said. Owen believed her. “But you two know this won’t stay hidden forever.” Her comment was aimed at Owen.

  “I know,” Amber said with a smile. “But it’ll be nice while it lasts.”

  “Okay.” Vicky went for the door. “I’ll head out. Never liked being a third wheel. Don’t get into too much trouble.” She waved goodbye and left Owen and Amber.

  “I think I like her,” Amber said. She took a slice of pizza. “Any other secret friends?”

  “I don’t think so,” Owen said. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”

  “I’ll forgive you. Just don’t do it again.” Amber frowned. “And open a window. I didn’t want to say anything before, but it really stinks in here.”

  Amber refused to leave Owen for the rest of the day. He wanted to wallow in his suffering alone but she wouldn’t allow it. She wouldn’t sleep on dirty sheets so he was forced to change them, and she wouldn’t eat in twice in a day so they had to go out for dinner at a nearby restaurant.

  Owen wished he could tell her the truth. He wanted more than anything to be honest with her when she was always honest with him. Luther used to talk about the city’s elite like they were a different species, but they weren’t. At least Amber wasn’t. She might’ve been biocrafted to perfection, but she still had doubts and fears. And she cared about Owen. He had an entire table full of cold medicine to prove it.

  “You’ll come back to the gym tomorrow, right?” Amber asked while they sat on his couch together.

  “I don’t know,” Owen said. He wasn’t sure he was ready to punch anything after watching the ninja die. It was his fault someone in the world stopped existing. One kick ended a life. It happened in a fight. “I hurt someone, bad.”

  “The mugger? He hurt you too.”

  “I hurt him worse. I didn’t think it was, I don’t know.” Owen couldn’t find the right words. “Up until now it didn’t feel real. Do you know what I mean?” Amber didn’t answer him. “I knew in my head that fighting could get someone hurt, but I didn’t really get it until it happened. It happened so fast.”

  “Did you mean to hurt him?”

  “Not like that. I was just trying to survive.” It was more than that. Hardknuckle gave him the confidence to fight and he turned it into a game. Lives weren’t on the line until he’d taken one. “I really didn’t mean to hurt him like that.”

  “That’s important too. You didn’t intend to hurt him. I know you’re not like that. My brother’s like that. I know you’re a good person. I knew it the day I met you.” She cuddled up to him. “Someone was trying to hurt you and you protected yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that.” That’s not what the law said. That’s not what they drilled into him since was old enough to have memories. Hardknuckle was directly opposed to the life he was living before and citizen Owen battled with freedom fighter Owen.

  “Listen to her, Owen,” Sensei Dan said. “She’s speaking the truth. A man that raises his hand against you should be prepared for the consequences. The same goes for you. Every fight can lead to death. Don’t fight recklessly, but when you fight it can’t be half hearted.”

  “I know,” Owen said. They were both right. He needed to stop feeling sorry for himself and be a man about it. He killed someone and he’d live with it for the rest of his life. But he was still alive. If not for Ed it would’ve been him lying dead on the office floor. “I’ll be at the gym tomorrow.”

  And he was. After a night with Amber he was up at first light to start training. He ran to the gym and did stairs for an hour before Coach Wilson showed up. He got right back into the swing of things, putting everything he had into getting better. He knew the ninja had him outmatched and he was determined not to let it happen again. He had to be better for the team, Amber, and himself.