Haunting Darkness by Jordan Wadley (best mobile ebook reader txt) 📕

"What?" She asked, stepping into step between Gale and Striker.

"Did you hear what she said? She was fucking kidnapped at five! We nearly broke completely when we were taken at twelve; just imagine the pain she's feeling." He mumbled the last part to himself, even though the words still left his lips.

"She doesn't exactly look like she cares if you ask me. She seemed more annoyed by our appearance than our questions. Think about it guys, she's great at fighting and doesn't show any emotions! Who the hell does that?" Gale practically yelled gaining unwanted attention from by-passers.

"I don't know man; honestly if I had an answer for that I'd tell you. I guess we'll see what she's capable of in the ring. I know she was pretty good in the ring in the cells but I know I'm pretty anxious to see what she can do in an advanced ring." Striker smiled.

"Holy shit, Striker she's going to meet Derek! Now that I think about it they're a lot alike." Ash laughed. "Derek's all moody and angry all the time, not to mention a good fighter. Viper's nothing but angry and bored, also a good fighter. Don't you see the resemblance? What I'd pay to see them fight." Ash sighed with a spark in her eyes. Striker knew of his sister's silent crush on Derek but he didn't trust the guy.

Everyone went silent when they noticed Viper stalking down the halls with a slightly pissed off expression on her face. Ash was surprised at the sudden silence. Even when Viper was literally beating her as she didn't look even the slightest of angry.

"Razel! Get your ass in here!" She growled, the warning bells went off in Ash's head like a large cattle farm. Viper stalked slowly up to the middle of the hall with her fists clenched and eyes set dead on the camera above everyone's head.

Not even a minute went by when the sound of the hallway's medal door opening surrounded them. Everyone turned to notice Razel's tall lanky form walking down the hall with confidence and annoyance. Ash only stared with complete and utter shock, after all her years of living in the compound he's never come when called upon.

"Yes Viper?" He asked with a warning to his tone.

"Don't you 'yes Viper' me Razel. What the hell is this?" She growled dangerously low as she held up the picture of her parents.

Viper felt nothing but raw fury as she looked into Razel's calm hazel eyes. He planted this in her room to make her soft, to make her feel some regret for killing them with a bomb she made.

"It's a picture, nothing more and nothing less." He spoke with finality. Viper moved so fast and so graceful not even God could keep up with her movements. One minute she's standing within a yard's distance, the next she has her hands wrapped tightly around Razel's throat.

Viper felt large wrapped around her arms like a vice grip but she refused to let go.

"Are you accusing me of going soft Razel? Do you need me to kill one of your best to prove to you I will never let you control me?" The message left in her words silenced everything and everyone. "I fight for you without trying to run; even out of my years here you have the audacity to accuse me of going soft?"

Viper spat the word like a bitter taste on her tongue. She felt strong fingers dig dangerously low into her lower back effectively loosening her hold on Razel's neck.

She went to grip tighter when suddenly strong arms wrapped around her arms. It was a male from what she could identify; the strength he possessed didn't belong to just any girl. She didn't even think about what she did next, to some it was rage but to her it was pure instinct.

Viper threw her head back, effectively feeling the crush of bone beneath her head, and jerked her elbow back. A large hand wrapped around her elbow surprising Viper for the first time.

She felt a hand wrap around her neck to immobilize her, but she'd done this before, she knew how to get out.

Viper swiped the large male's foot out from underneath him and once again swung her elbow back. This time nothing stopped her forearm from connecting with bones.

"Derek, stop!" Razel shouted over the shouts in the hallway. Viper suddenly noticed a small crowd gathering around her with excitement and curiosity. She noticed a large male on the ground with anger elite in his eyes but he wasn't staring at her, but Razel standing behind her like a shadow.

"No need to cause such a disturbance frosty angel, it's just a picture." Razel spoke calmly but the finality in his tone gave none of his intentions away.

"Don't tempt me Razel." Viper spoke calmly. She looked at Derek now standing next to Razel and nodded. "Next time, stay the fuck out of my way."

She didn't spare the two another glance and spun on her heel, going back to her room to prepare for the Ring.

Derek watching with burning rage as the small girl walked further down the hall until she was effectively out of sight. He never had someone end out on top, especially a girl, in a hustle.

"Told you she was something else." Razel spoke with awe and glee. Razel and Derek planted the picture in the room waiting for her reaction for a chance to show Derek what she was capable of. Derek, however, didn't think he'd end up fighting her. She moved almost as quickly as he did, if not quicker, and left without saying another word. Neither Derek nor Razel expected Viper to insinuate something about escaping from the compound, but the reaction was exactly what Razel was searching for.

"How old is she?" Derek asked walking along side with Razel.

"Nineteen, in about four months to be precise. From what I've heard, she doesn't have a single clue as to how old she is. She's trained since she was five years old and I honestly think she could beat you if it came down to it. She doesn't feel any hatred or happiness, not once have I seen anything other than a small spark of anger. That, a few seconds ago my friend was a small spark of her fire. She was on a mission to kill her brother last night, the one and only thing she has left in this world." Razel couldn't help but smile at her naive eyes.

"Did she do it?" Derek asked, suddenly curious. The only time he seen such an angry and calm female was when he witness his mother fight for his freedom. She fought for years until the entire squad closed in and ended her life, taking Derek away for their own needs.

"Yes, didn't even bat an eyelash. I have it all on tape if you'd like to see what she's like on a mission." From the first day of Viper's arrival, Derek heard nothing but amazing things about Razel's new toy. He spoke continuously about her skills, control, and agility. Any weapon that was handed to her, she perfected, much like Derek.

Even though Razel trusted Viper, he still had his doubts. Razel knew how good Viper is at her best moments and if she really wanted to, she could escape without a second thought. Everything about her nerved Razel, just as much as she did Derek. Razel knew Derek was just as good as Viper, resulting in the perfect team but he needed to get his money back from Jerico. He's new to town but his business hits the roof by tons, the money he makes from the drugs and underground fights puts him at the top of Razel's list.

"Sure." Derek shrugged as they walked through the large medal doors.

"Derek," Razel spoke seriously. Derek suddenly stopped noticing the usual playful tone was completely gone, replaced with a serious business man. "She’s stronger than you think. She doesn't even realize her potential, much less what she is. I can't afford anyone in the compounds finding out she doesn't know or they'll use that against her. I need you to stay in the compound as one of the other recruits for a while to make sure everything goes as planned."

Derek nodded and continues walking through the empty halls by Razel's side in silence.

He inhaled deeply before stepping into Razel's office and sitting down next to his desk.

"This is the demon that will raise our compound from the ground Derek; this is our weapon of choice. And we're winning by so much." Razel spoke as Derek watched Viper move around like a sly fox in the shadows, going for the kill. He witness every move she made as if it was natural, he noticed the emotionless mask on her face as she killed her blood. Derek noticed Razel was telling the truth when he said she was truly a monster. "And you, my friend, are going to bring her to me."

Derek stared into Razel's deep hazel eyes just as everything went blurry.

Everybody was escorted to the lower elements of the compound, where the fighters were prepared.

"You seem pretty upset." Ash spoke softly. Her crystal clear eyes met her brothers for only a moment before finishing the wrapping of her hands.

She couldn't help but notice the slight frown on Striker's face since they were escorted down the halls. Everything about his tense form worried her; he was normally so calm and collected.

"Do you ever wonder," he spoke softly. "If we might end up like Viper” I mean she doesn't laugh, or joke, she doesn't even show any sadness for being held in this prison! Do you think she's like that because she's been here for so long? Maybe she took so many lives that the guilt just crushed her spirit to be happy. She doesn't even seem to want to get out of here Ash. She has everything she needs to get out of here, but she hasn't even attempted. I mean, look at us! We haven’t even been here half the time she has and we’ve murdered enough people to last a life time."

Striker finished the wrapping of his hands and threw on a dirt stained T-shirt before turning to face his sister. She paused for a moment, taking in his serious statement.

"I don't know. Maybe she doesn’t want to escape. Word has it; she's killed everyone she use to care about so even if she did escape, where would she go? Who would help her out there?" Ash met Striker's light eyes and frowned.

"Maybe she has tried before and had faced her consequences. If Razel dealt with her, maybe she learned her lesson." Ash turned her back to her brother and pondered over her words.

She remembered clearly the small stare off Viper had with Razel. She said she couldn't feel pain anymore. Maybe she's lying?

"I don't think so. If Razel tortured her enough, she wouldn't be as defiant as she was earlier. When she spoke up to him,