Joan stared at the parcel in his hand, wondering if he should rather drop it than carry it home. But then, he knew the girl's school and may be, he could return it to her, whatever it was. He was half-minded to leave the place without informing Noah but then, he sighed. He would have to meet him at school anyways. All he wanted to do now was walk straight to his room and curl himself around his bedsheet. Humph, he thought for a hundredth time, I should have said a no to Noah. How stupid I am !  He stormed into the cafe, his hands tightly clenching the parcel.

Noah and Liam were giggling and when he heard his name in the conversation, he became very furious. He was surprised at himself. He never felt this angry anytime. It was unlike himself, very bizarre. He went forward to take his bag and said dryly, " We'll have this another time, Noah, I am not in mood." He kept the parcel safely in his bag so that he wouldn't have to answer his dad about it.

They were still sniggering and Liam looked a bit disappointed. He stood up and looked towards the door, his eyes went back and forth curiously from Joan to the door and back to him. He asked, "Are you going home alone ?" Noah made a high-pitched laugh. 

"Of course, I am. Do you think I have got a dog to walk with or are you so immature that you can't walk alone to home in the dark?," he asked violently.

"No, no, I was rather hoping that you would take that girl home," he said coolly.

Joan glared at Liam for a second and noticed his hands slipping into his packet, took his money and gave it to Noah. "Here's your money." He looked at Joan again and said, "I am very disappointed, you have upset my confidence on you and you have lost me my savings."

Noah's face turned a frightened as he watched Joan anxiously. Joan turned and started walking to the door while Noah shouted, "Joan, Joan, listen. Liam said that the pretty girl would come back and I betted against it. Nothing else. Come back," His squeaky voice went unheard when Liam's laughter filled the room. Joan walked faster and stopped only after his mind was on the parcel and not about his stupid friends anymore.

                                                                  *****

Joan entered his house with his own key, and walked on his toes so as to not disturb his dad. For one thing, he wasn't in any mood to talk and for another, he was curious about the parcel, his mind still debating if he should break anyone else's privacy. As he started to the stairs, he heard a soft and calm voice, "Joan, you are here!" 

Cursing himself in a weird language, he started towards the hall, " Uh oh! What did I miss now ?"

His father replied, "You forgot to turn off your heart, young man. You aren't very good in lying and hiding, are you ?"

"I wonder whose heredity I am holding," he replied sarcastically.

He went and sat in the lilah comfortably and looked at his father. Joan studied his face. It was the same, kind and without wrinkles even at his age. Though he had had the most terrible happenings in his life, he never left his smile nor his noble heart. Joan admired him a great deal.

"So, what's been happening ?" he asked, his voice trying to suppress his curiosity.

"Nothing's been happening. All are being so perfect that I feel so depressed." he replied casually.

His father frowned and said, "Is it not extraordinary enough to beat Zaid on a regular basis?"

Joan stared at his father and asked reluctantly, "Are you following my records again, dad?"

"That isn't the point child," he said, embarrassed, "I know you won't hurt anyone wantedly. But this is your age and don't get carried away." Joan simply nodded, too tired to talk. But his father wasn't. He asked after a thought, "Haven't you gone on a date yet?"

"Ughh dad, please, not that again. I have had that enough for a day. And yes, I know where to draw a line, so ask your men to stop poking around their nose in my school. I am tired. Will talk to you tomorrow," he got up, bade him good night and went to his bedroom.

On entering his room, he watched the portrait that hung before his bed. His mother, the one he had never met. She died the moment he got out of her womb. She was so beautiful, he thought, if only I could have met her, everything would have been good. He heard the door close gently and the lock clicking gently downstairs. He was sorry, he shouldn't have been like that. He should've talked with his dad. He promised himself that he would make up with his father the first thing in the morning. 

He slept in his bed, thinking irrationally if dating and relationship advices should be made illegal. Minutes passed by, the boy was still awake, brooding his time. Why is it damn so boring now, he thought roughly and his eyes caught his bag.

He went and got his bag, his mind racing over his promise to his father that he wouldn't cross the line but his boredom took over his heart. He started to open the parcel and tried not to think. As the wrapper fell to the floor, he had two papers and a spectacle box. He was so disappointed. He was expecting something big, like a route for distraction. He took the box to his bed, leaving the two papers on the table. 

As he sat, he realized that there won't be a danger symbol for a glass. His hopes went up again, his spirit danced. He opened the box, took the glass and wore it.

"Welcome," came a female voice, the very moment the glasses fit his eyes. It made his heart beat faster that he could almost hear it. But the shock wasn't from the voice. He was suddenly standing in an unknown place and it was very dark. Neither his hands nor his legs moved. He stood there for a longer time, his face sweating. He had been teleported without his knowing. Don't be stupid, a tiny voice creeped within his mind, Teleporting isn't even possible. But he couldn't think of any possible explanation other than dreaming. Yes, he confirmed, I am in sleep and would wake up any moment soon. He smiled feebly and started to take a step ahead, proud of himself that his imagination and creativity was growing rapidly.

As his foot touched the ground, a beam of light came from no where, shrinking his iris. As he rubbed his eyes and opened, his jaw dropped. He was standing in a boxing field, a very small one. But it had a pillar which was very funnily placed in the center. Before his brain could take in any picture, the same voice spoke again, faster this time, "As was mentioned in the rules, this is a trial session. You would know if you have read, and I very much doubt it," she made a little laugh that sounded more like a cough. But was interrupted by a rough male voice, "AHEM, COME TO THE POINT, YOU STUPID GIRL WITH WINGS." Joan searched for the place from where the voices came from.

"Yes," she coughed again, "That is your opponent, break his knuckles, shut his greedy mouth, twist his hands and neck and..."

"THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU SHUT UP,"  the male voice shouted again. "FIGHT ME AND ENTER THE GAME, BOY,"  

And then Joan saw it, the pillar he had seen was a man, four times his height, thrice wider, his face nothing like a human, more like a monster, showing hints of breaking other's bones and muscles and playing with it.

"LET'S PLAY ?" he asked, as the giant flexed its muscles and moved forward to gulp its prey. 

Hope you liked it. Don't forget to vote and comment ! Also, give your views about what is going to happen next, I would love to know your theories. Till then, bye !