Lost Again [Revised]

~+~ Three ~+~

"On the sake of your life, you might want to. Cerise is after blood, your blood especially, and she won't stop until she gets it. I, however, can save you. Take it or leave it." He shrugged, showing how careless he was about the whole ordeal. His palm was outstretched towards her, ready to shake if she was up for it.

Tate pushed his hand away. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much." She crossed her arms while scooting farther away from the stranger that may or may not know her.

She was unsure as to why the stranger wanted to help her. He seemed the type to not care at all. So why care to pay attention to some low-life like her? She opened her mouth to kick him out of the room she was inhabiting at the time but he stopped her. "No, you can't. I know you're fading away, Tate and taking Cerise or anyone down is something you cannot do while you're this weak. You might think you can but Cerise is so much stronger than you might think she is. She was going easy on you out in the ring," he replied, his voice nearly on the brink of shouting.

Tate sighed loudly. So he does know me, but why don't I know him? Does he work for someone I knew? "I. Don't. Care," she enunciated slowly to get her point across. Through years of living without Ick and Olive and the experience of living by herself for three more years, she doesn't need others to aid her. Especially by egotistical boys who claim to know her. Olive and Kendrick already messed her up once, she doesn't need nor want the reminders of having someone actually caring. Those hopeful thoughts have long been gone.

"Look, you can go back to where you came from. I don't want your help. I'm a big girl, I'll talk to Cerise myself."

The boy scoffed at her, pointing a finger her direction. "You think she'll actually want to talk to you. All she will want to do is beat you to death. Nothing else. So, if you want to die today then go right ahead. Just remember, I tried to help you." Nonetheless, he left with another pitiful shrug and the remainders of loud footsteps echoing through the dusty room.

Tate scanned the room, searching for anything that could remove her thoughts from the man she just encountered. He felt so familiar, looked like someone she had met long before, but the visions were just hazy. She growled, pulling at her hair as if she were insane. Tate bit back a scream, wanting to punch something, or someone.

The temperature started getting colder and Tate fought to keep herself warm. A white, cloudy breath escaped her lips. What's going on? She thought, scanning the room while running her slightly purple hands against her arms. She stood up, dropping the ice bag from her chilled hand. Her gray shorts and tank-top weren't doing much in keeping her warmer.

A dark figure appeared to her right. Tate froze in her place as the figure leaned leaned against the dark corner comfortably. The shape of a woman formed before her. A hallow laugh escaped the intruders mouth. "It's funny how much control I have over the temperature in this place, don't you think?" She spat, a fierce venom lacing her every word.

Tate closed her eyes, the voice sounding faintly familiar. She heard the threat from the girl repeating in her head. "You're Cerise, aren't you? The one that beat me earlier?" She hated hearing those words leave her own mouth but it had to be said. It was the truth after all.

Another shrill laugh throatily escaped Cerise's mouth. It gave Tate the confirmation she needed. The girl moved from the darkness of the corner. Her shadow moved forward; Tate hadn't noticed she had her eyes still closed until she felt the girl wrapping an arm around her throat.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" The girl snapped, an angry chuckle leaving her bright red lips. They must have been either caked in red lipstick or still freshly wounded from Tate. The thought brought her a fraction of satisfaction. Tate gripped Cerise's arms as her breath was beginning to get stolen from her. Her eyes were wide and panicked as she clawed. Each and every second, Tate was slowly losing her breath, her life source and all the other girl could do was manage to laugh at her while she choked the life out of Tate.