Shauna

Standing at the bar, my nerves were fraying. Trevor, Kiser, and Siren's concerned stares were too much, so I sought refuge in the familiar dinginess of the club's bar. "Give me something, Lou," I muttered, and without a word, he slid a beer across to me. Age was just a number here; no one cared enough to check.

Three guys walked in, a presence about them I couldn't quite place. I focused on my drink, trying to drown the butterflies in my stomach. One of them, a man with striking tattoos and a build that screamed Bellicose, took the seat next to me.

"You're fighting tonight, right?" he asked casually.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, want an autograph or something?" I retorted, the beer halfway to my lips.

He shook his head. "No. Just wondering why you'd choose to fight a Bellicose."

I bristled at his tone. "I do what I want," I snapped, more to reassure myself than to answer him.

He extended his hand. "I'm Hawk."

I studied his hand, then up at his face. "You're Bellicose," I stated, more a realization than a question.

"Yeah. And you seem nervous," he observed.

His comment caught me off guard. Was I that transparent? "Are you my opponent tonight?" I asked, trying to mask my anxiety.

Hawk chuckled. "No, but if you beat him, I want the next round. I doubt you could take me down."

His arrogance irked me. "You have no idea what I'm capable of," I said, a mix of defiance and fear churning within me.

Hawk seemed amused. "Looking forward to seeing that," he said, his smile lingering as I walked away.

In the restroom, another stranger, well-dressed and enigmatic, stood by the door. "What are you?" he asked abruptly.

Taken aback, I replied defensively, "Excuse me?"

"I'm Cell," he said, ignoring my tone. "What are you, really?" He asked as if he needed confirmation. Maybe he couldn't believe a Hominin would be so stupid to do this.

"Hominin," I answered, my guard up.

"A beautiful Hominin," he remarked, kissing my hand. His behavior was odd, unsettling.

"What are you?" I shot back.

"An outcast," he said cryptically, stepping aside.

As I heard my name announced, a wave of fear mixed with determination washed over me. I glanced back at Cell, his mysterious words echoing in my mind, then headed to the cage.

Handing over the entrance fee, I tied my hair into a ponytail. Inside, my heart pounded against my ribs, fear and excitement battling for dominance. Despite the anxiety, a deep-seated confidence reminded me of my strength, my secret weapon. I could win this. I had to.

The Bellicose fighter in the ring, a towering mass of muscle and arrogance, jeered at me as the crowd roared. "I thought Troy promised a real challenge. Instead, he brought a little girl to be slaughtered," he taunted.

His words ignited something within me, a defiant fire that refused to be doused by fear. I laughed, not out of amusement, but as a prelude to the storm I was about to unleash.

He leaned in, sneering. "Scared, little girl?"

Without warning, I struck, my fist aiming for his jugular. Taken aback by my audacity, he staggered, fury igniting in his eyes. He lunged at me, but I was quicker, sidestepping and delivering a swift kick to his knee, sending him crashing to the mat.

I pounced, raining blows upon his face, but he was not down for long. With brute strength, he hurled me to the ground, his punches raining down like hammers. Each hit was a jolt of pain, more intense than any Interloper's strike I'd endured, but I refused to yield.

Seizing an opening, I delivered a fierce kick to his stomach and a knee to his groin, buying myself a moment's reprieve as he doubled over.

But he wasn't finished yet. Summoning his Bellicose power, he unleashed a bolt of lightning at me. It should have been my end, but instead, the electricity coursed through me, igniting my veins with its raw energy. My eyes blazed with the power of the storm he had unwittingly awakened.

Rising, I hoisted him into the air and slammed him down with such force that the building trembled. One final, decisive punch, and he was out cold.

Troy, wide-eyed and speechless, handed over the envelope containing my winnings – $20,000. My family rushed to my side, elation and disbelief on their faces.

But the victory was short-lived. Siren's sharp gaze caught the discontent stirring among some of the Fallen Bellicose. "We need to leave. Now," he urged, his voice laced with urgency.

As we made our hasty exit, the reality of what had just occurred began to sink in. I had faced a Bellicose and emerged victorious, a feat unheard of. But with this victory came new dangers, new uncertainties. My life, already a tapestry of secrets and hidden strengths, had just become infinitely more complicated.

We hurried out the back, but it wasn't long before they followed. Pain throbbed in my ribs, a dull reminder of the fight, but I was ready to defend myself again if necessary.

"Trevor, Kiser, head home now," I ordered, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.

But Trevor was adamant. "No way we're leaving you," he declared, his determination clear.

We were quickly surrounded, four of them blocking our path, three more closing in from behind. The leader, a towering figure, demanded, "How did a Hominin like you withstand that attack? What's your secret?"

I stood my ground, despite the growing tension. "Look, I don't want trouble. Just back off," I said, hoping to deescalate the situation.

Their response was to grab Trevor and Kiser. In a flash, the situation escalated into chaos. Siren lunged at two attackers, but more closed in on me. Blows rained down, overwhelming me. I braced myself, thinking this might be a fight I couldn't win.

Then, out of nowhere, reinforcements arrived. The guy from the bar, Hawk, along with another who resembled him, began to dispatch our attackers with brutal efficiency. I struggled to my feet, gratitude mixing with confusion at the sight of my unexpected saviors.

Blood blurred my vision, but a sudden surge of energy pulsed through me, rapidly healing some of my wounds. "Thanks for the help," I managed to say, noticing their intrigued looks as they observed my recovery.

That's when Cell, another one of their group, appeared. He moved with a lethal precision that was almost unnerving.

But there was no time to ponder. One of the attackers still held Kiser. Without a second thought, I lunged, snapping his neck in a swift, decisive movement. As his body fell, Cell mirrored my actions, taking down another with equal ferocity.

Siren, watching the scene unfold, looked at me with a mix of awe and fear. The realization of what I had done, what I was capable of, hung heavy in the air. The night had spiraled into a realm far beyond what I had ever imagined, revealing allies and strengths I never knew I had.

As the dust settled, Viper's astonishment was evident. "How in the hell did you do that?" he asked.

Hawk, equally intrigued, added, "Who are you?"

I squared my shoulders, facing them. "I'm Shauna. You helped my family, so I'll only ask once. What do you want?"

"Nothing," Hawk replied, a hint of sincerity in his voice. "This is my brother Viper, and our friends Torell and Cell. We thought you might need some help."

Torell, his presence unmistakable, caught my attention. There was something familiar about him, but he remained silent, his gaze locked on me.

"You're not locals. Why are you here?" I pressed, curious about their true intentions.

Viper chimed in. "We're here on Palace business, but our ship's having issues. We could use a place to crash. Is that okay with you?"

I hesitated, but Trevor jumped in. "We don't have a palace, but you're welcome to stay at our place."

They agreed, and we led them back to our makeshift home. The building, dilapidated yet cherished, was a haven for us.

As Kiser cranked up some music to celebrate my win, neighbors and friends from the area joined in, turning the evening into an impromptu street party. Laughter and music filled the air, an oasis of joy in our often harsh lives.

Cell, however, kept to himself, observing the festivities from a corner with a withdrawn air. Kiser seemed drawn to the silent Torell, while Viper was the life of the party, mingling with anyone and everyone. Even Siren, usually so stoic, found himself the center of attention among a group of Interloper women.

Needing a moment to myself, I climbed to the roof with a beer in hand. The night sky stretched above, a vast canvas of stars and possibilities. As I took a sip, lost in thought, I pondered the bizarre turn of events. The presence of these strangers, their connection to the Palace, and the night's revelations about my own abilities – it all felt like pieces of a puzzle slowly coming together.

From my rooftop perch, I watched the celebration below, a mix of emotions swirling within me. This night marked a turning point, a collision of worlds and destinies that would undoubtedly change the course of my life.

The roof had always been my sanctuary, a place where I felt a connection to the vast universe above. Lost in the music and the stars, I was startled when Hawk's voice broke the silence.

"What are you doing up here?" he asked, his tone curious.

"Just stargazing," I replied, my gaze still fixed on the night sky.

"The stars where I'm from are brighter," he said, a note of nostalgia in his voice.

"That must be peaceful," I mused, imagining a sky ablaze with light.

He sighed. "Sometimes. But other times, it's nothing but war."

His words struck a chord. "Why does it have to be war? Look at Siren, an Interloper, yet he's family. I'm human, and here I am, sitting with a Bellicose. I bet I could even befriend a Sentinel. It's all about seeing beyond power and seeking change."

Hawk considered this. "Maybe you're right."

Curiosity got the better of me. "Who taught you to fight?"

"My father," he answered. "Combat is in our blood."

I nodded, looking back at the party below. "Viper's your brother, right? You two are like twins. And Torell... he seems so familiar to me. And Cell, he's so mysterious."

Hawk just smiled. "Maybe one day you'll remember where you've seen Torell before."

"Maybe," I said, half to myself. "So, you're like a god, then? Should I be asking for an autograph?"

He laughed, a sound that seemed to lighten the air. "I think you're the one who should be giving autographs, especially after tonight."

Just then, Kiser's voice floated up to us. "Get down here, Shauna! The party's for you, after all!"

I smiled, the warmth of the celebration calling me back. "Guess it's time to join the party," I said, standing up.

As I followed Hawk back to the festivities, a sense of belonging washed over me. In this strange, new world of gods, Interlopers, and Bellicose, I was finding connections I never thought possible. And up there, under the stars, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, change was within reach.

Descending from my rooftop retreat, I found myself drawn into the dance with Hawk. His arms encircled my waist gently, a stark contrast to the seriousness I had sensed in him earlier. The rhythm of the music and the warmth of his embrace made the moment feel almost magical, a rare reprieve from the harsh realities of my life.

Amidst the celebration, I noticed Cell sitting alone, an island in a sea of merriment. Feeling a kinship with his solitude, I approached him. "Why are you by yourself?" I asked, curious.

He shrugged, a hint of discomfort in his eyes. "Parties aren't really my scene," he admitted.

I wasn't about to let him wallow in his isolation. "Well, time to change that, outcast," I said, half-teasing. "Come on, dance with us."

Hesitantly, he allowed me to pull him to his feet. As we joined the others, Cell's initial reluctance gave way to a tentative enjoyment. It seemed my attention coaxed a rare smile from him, a glimpse of someone who might just be longing for connection, despite his aloof demeanor.

The night unfolded with laughter, dance, and a sense of camaraderie. It was as if, for a few precious hours, we could all forget our burdens and just be – free from titles, roles, and expectations.

Looking around at my newfound companions, I felt a sense of wonder. In just one night, my world had expanded in ways I never imagined. Dancing there, with Cell gradually easing into the moment, Hawk's warmth, and the joy of the party around us, I realized that life could hold surprises at every turn.