New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

After enjoying their morning, Alex and Kary prepared for their long day ahead. Leaving for the gym shortly after, Alex decided to go by the bank that had been robbed to see how things had re-established over there.

Reaching the front of the bank, he noticed additional guards were now standing on the outside of it, on the watch out for robbers, contrary to before. The window that the flying vault door had blown out the last time was already replaced, looking like nothing had ever happened.

Inside, where the guard had been splattered on a wall, everything was clean and like new, any sign of the robbery erased from existence. It was like nothing ever happened.

The people inside went about their business, uncaring that people, innocent people, had died barely a few weeks ago on the very floor they walked. Uncaring that a teenager, with reddened skin and horns sprouting out of his forehead, had tried ransacking the place before someone interjected.

‘People really are quick to forget things that don’t concern them. It’s not a good habit, considering what is coming.’ 𝚍ｏ𝚟𝚕.ｏｒｇ

He and Kary kept walking toward the gym, which wasn’t far from there, and discussed in low voices what they could do to raise the awareness of people to the coming unnatural events.

Sadly, apart from being upfront with the truth, and maybe ending up in the loony bin, there wasn’t much they could do yet. People would only listen when there was proof to back any quirky claim.

They would have to keep their eyes and ears peeled for any strange event happening near them, and try to resolve them before they became catastrophic. But they also knew David was on that task, as often as he could, keeping a hidden eye on the world.

They would have to go with what little information he gave them whenever he deigned to keep them in the loop. When they reached their destination, both of them silenced their conversation, not wanting to attract unneeded attention.

But not thirty seconds went by after entering the gym, and Alexander was already attracting plenty of attention.

“You! It’s about time I see you again, you lazy dumbass! Where have you been for the past week?!”

Alexander took the scolding with his head down, realizing he could have called Clark at any moment, to tell him he would be too busy to come train, but didn’t.

Kary watched from the sidelines, savouring the moment as Alex was being torn a new asshole. Once Clark had piped down, Alex apologized to him, and promised to give his two hundred percent today, and in the few days to come, as penance.

“Good! Then get changed! I have one hell of a workout plan for you today, you bum!”

The young man left with his head still hung low, already thinking about how he would get abused in the following hours. He would not be having fun, that much was certain.

And the training did indeed proceed the way he had envisioned, with Clark drilling him like a staff sergeant on a military base, and draining every ounce of energy and strength he had in him. In contrast, Kary’s training was smooth and constant, making a few stragglers eye her lasciviously as they passed her.

Alex wanted to hover over her, so they didn’t get any fancy ideas, but he couldn’t get away a single second from Clark. Not that it mattered, as the only one that dared approach the curvaceous woman was sent packing faster than they got there, with one of her icy glares.

Alex didn’t blame them, though. He was also having lapses of lost focus, looking at her curvy, sweaty form, getting many unholy thoughts.

‘She’s rubbing off on me. I don’t remember being so horny…’

“Hey! Eyes on me, Ted Bundy! Keep your mind out of the gutter!”

The derogatory nickname took Alex aback, but focused his mind back on Clark. Losing focus for too long meant stretching this hell even more.

After three hours of excruciatingly painful and tiring workout session, Alex was drenched in sweat, breathing so heavily he was practically grunting, and his body felt like it weighed a ton and a half. He looked at the grinning trainer, his eyes supplicative.

“Alright, man. I get it. I won’t miss workouts without telling you again. Please, just spare me.”

Panting as he said this, Clark looked at him and scoffed.

“I’m not even close to being done with you. Next time will be just as worse. And if you miss, then I’ll accumulate the punishment! Now go home, and rest well. I will see you again in two days.”

Clark didn’t let him plead any longer, and walked away, going into the staff locker room, his clothes also drenched. Clark was in much better shape than Alex and was still feeling alright, but he had followed Alex through the pain, to at least motivate him.

Dragging his feet to the men’s locker room, Alex looked at Kary, who was already waiting by the door, an enormous smile on her face.

He went to change and dragged his sore body to the exit, where his girlfriend awaited him.

“So. How was training?” she asked, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Urgh… Let’s just go home. I feel dead, inside and outside. I need to shower and eat before I possibly crash into bed and die.”

Kary giggled at his response, but his day wasn’t done.

“You can’t sleep just yet. I contacted Alfred. You told me you would go speak with Violette’s dad today. So I got him to come pick you up.”

“Aww, man!” Alex whined, his shoulders slumping.

“Couldn’t that have waited until tomorrow? I feel like my body was put in a cage with Mike Tyson. Now is not the time to go there, and most likely have my ass handed to me by Alfred…”

*Tsk tsk tsk*

Kary clicked her tongue at him, disapproving of his lack of commitment.

“You said you would go, and you will. I doubt Alfred will beat you to a pulp, given the state you are already in. He might take pity on you. But you need to get this done.”

Alex sighed loudly as they kept walking home.

“Alright… I’ll go. But at least tell me I’ll have time to clean up and eat. I’m starving…”

Kary giggled at him.

She grabbed his slippery arm, uncaring of his smell, and replied, “Of course. I called him for the afternoon.”

And so they reached home, and he settled down for the remainder of the morning, eating a hearty lunch, trying to regain some energy before he had to confront Richard.

‘I just hope he’s calmed down since the last time.’