Moonlight Guardian

Chapter 23

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Chapter 23:

Another two weeks passed by, and things were going good. Sam was able to leave the infirmary and was mostly healed back to normal. Sam, upset that he had been thrown around like a rag doll during the fight at Landar’s, demanded that he come to the training sessions to pick up on some tactics as well. At first, no one wanted him to tag along, considering what we were covering sometimes involved shifting and wouldn’t benefit him at all, but after awhile Paul finally agreed. I never realized it, but Sam had some pretty good muscle on him. He was strong, and Paul and some of the other coaches started teaching him how he could use that to his advantage against a shifter. I was glad to see him learning how to defend himself, because I knew that this whole thing was not even close to being over and I didn’t want anything happening to my best friend. 

While Sam trained, mostly with weapons and the sort, Paul usually spent most of his time with me. He would teach me how to flip, dodge, and maneuver around my opponent. I had a hard time at first, but eventually I got the hang of it. After teaching me some defensive strategies, he moved onto offensive tactics. These were a bit harder, but if I pushed myself hard enough, I knew I could master them. 

I was having a lot of fun training with the others and meeting new shifters, but then there was Elliot. The entire time since we had arrived at the Institute, he had been avoiding me at all costs. I barely saw him, and when I did, he would look the other way and stride past me, not even sparing me glance. But, sometimes at the hall where we ate, I would catch him looking my way, only to leave when he saw that I caught him staring at me. He was acting strange, and I didn’t know why. But, I figured that was his problem, and he would confront me about it if he wanted to. Until then, I would just ignore him. 

Today, Paul, Tristan, Annabelle, her friend Santi, Jay, Sam, myself, and some of the other shifters I had become close with decided to skip the training to day and instead play some games outside. We decided to play capture the flag, shape-shifter style. They explained the rules to me, which were basically the same as the regular capture the flag. The field was divided into two parts, and two teams defending each side. At the end of each area, there was a small safe zone where thirty to fifty pound sandbag weights were lying around. That may be a lot for a human, but for shifters it was nothing. To score points, one had to run across the other side and get to the safety zone, pick up a sandbag, and run back with it to your own side. And boy, was it on.

The game started and soon everyone was running, getting tackled or being the tackler. At first I helped defend my side of the field and laughed as I saw people get tackled down to the ground. Sam, in particular, was hilarious. By human standards, Sam was fast and strong, but he didn’t compare with the rest of us shifters. I could tell he was really trying to outrun them, but he hardly was able to make it back to his side. When he tried picking up the weights, he looked over at me and pointed to the heavy weight on the ground.

“Are you kidding me! Who the hell can pick this up- HEY!” he yelled at the shifter who stole his weight by swiping it with one hand out from under Sam. I started laughing out loud as I watched Sam yell after the shifter, but it was too late.

He scowled at me as he walked back over. “You guys are a bunch of cheaters.”

I laughed even harder and patted him on the back. “It’s not cheating if we can’t help being stronger than you are.” I grinned at him playfully. “And by the way, I just tagged you, so you’re down.” 

Towards the end of the game, I finally made my move to cross into the enemy section. I was running as fast as I could, and I was almost there when Paul, being apart of the other team, came out of nowhere and nearly tagged me. He grinned as he came hurling at me, but I able to use his speed to boost me upward as I flipped over him and landed on my feet before taking off. I heard him laugh and hoot as he came running for me again, but I pushed my legs harder and willed myself to go faster. As I ran, I saw everyone turn and chant my name, hoping for me to reach the safe zone. I was almost there, I could nearly taste victory, when I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist and lift me up. I yelped as they lifted me before putting me back down on the ground, and I growled in frustration as I heard Paul’s smug laughter.

“Damn it! You jerk, I was almost there!” I yelled, punching him in the arm as he continued to howl.

“Exactly why it’s so hilarious. Plus, you look cute when you’re mad.” He teased, pinching my cheeks quickly before I could slap his hand away.

“You’re such a kid. A cheating kid.” I added a bit sourly. I could hear Sam and Tristan’s laughter from across the field and I gave them the bird, which just set them off even more, unfortunately. 

“Cheating?!” He laughed as he reached out for me again, “you’re such a liar! You can’t just face that I’m faster than you so you make up lies? Come on now, Kay, I thought you were better than that.” He taunted as he poked my sides. He knew damn well that I was ticklish on my sides and I couldn’t help the laughter bubbling up inside me as his fingers attacked my sides. I was crying from laughing but angry at him at the same time. It was frustrating but somehow I couldn’t help but find this whole thing funny. I knew I was just being a sore-loser, but he knew I was only messing with him too. I was finally able to break free from his grasp and I ran far away from him before I turned around.

“You asshole.” I laughed/wheezed. My stomach ached from laughing so much, and I watched as everyone else around me giggled and cracked up as well. “You all are, traitors.” I laughed, smacking Sam as he came up next to me with a grin.

“Are all of you really acting like everything’s okay?” Came an angry voice, and we all turned around. “Like nothing’s wrong? We’re sitting here doing nothing as Landar plans God only knows what to take back Kayla!” he yelled, clearly frustrated. I stared at Elliot, shocked, as he glared at every one of us. Yet I couldn’t help but notice that his eyes seemed to always return back to me.

“Woah Elliot, calm down-” I began, taking a couple steps toward him. This was the first time in weeks that he actually acknowledged me or anyone else.

“Do not tell me to calm down, Kayla.” He glared even harder at me. “We’re all here like sitting ducks just waiting for Landar to attack, and I can’t stand it anymore. We need to take him down- he needs to pay.” He was breathing hard as he stared, but everyone was too shocked to respond. Where was this aggression suddenly coming from? This anger? It was so different from Elliot’s usual calmer, snarky, attitude. 

He looked around again and seemed to realize what he had just said and done in front of us, and he suddenly looked away. “Never mind, sorry to have interrupted your guys’ game.” And with that he walked away.

I watched as he walked towards the main hall right across from the field and slammed the door behind him. The loud sound from the door set me into motion and I started running after him, determined to get to the bottom of this. After weeks of ignoring me, he thinks he can just yell at my friends and I and then mysteriously walk away after? No, he was going to tell me what the hell happened, whether he wanted to or not. 

I opened to door and looked around, hoping to catch where he had gone off to. I looked to the right down the long corridor and say his figure disappear around the bend. I set off in that direction and soon was able to catch up to him. I slowed down and called out to him as I approached.

“Elliot, wait!” I called, and he stopped, but didn’t turn around. I came to a stop and stared at his back as I continued. “What the hell was that back there? And why have you been ignoring me since we got here, huh? Are you mad?” I yelled, growing frustrated as he still refused to face me. “Is that it? Did your feelings get hurt when a girl finally turned you down with your player moves didn’t work, is that-” 

Elliot lost it and suddenly he turned around and grabbed me before pushing me against the wall as his lips crashed onto mine. 

** okay, sorry, i know that was short. I actually had this written for like a week, hoping I would get back to it and add some more. Obviously, that didn't happen so I just decided to post what I had as of now. Sorry it took forever again :/ Hope you enjoyed it. Comment and vote if you liked it please!**