LOGIN🦪 DORA 🦪I pull down my soaked shorts and underwear, before reaching for my tank top, then I turn off the shower and head straight into the room to get something on.My dress is just like my mood, something simple yet complicated. I didn’t bother brushing my hair; I just put it in a rough bun. It’s not a bad idea to look as miserable as I feel. Without glancing at the mirror, I already know I look terrible, even wounds from the last fight I didn't treat have turned purple and ugly. I reach for the door handle, and Dale’s voice echoes in the hall. “Dora… open up, we need to talk.”I twist the doorknob, and Dale’s anxious face slowly comes into view. “Dora…” he calls, and I give him the best fake smile I can to ease his worry.“I understand now, Dale,” I murmur, and he twists his head to the side.“Understand what?”“It had to happen, it was a fair fight, and one has to die; it was unfortunate it was my father, but I think I understand now,” I blurt out. “Actually, I’ve always underst
🦪 DORA 🦪I snap my eyes open, gawking at Vengeance, who is now covered in the pool of her own blood.“No, no, no, no,” I yell, facing the LED screen. “This is not right! Something is not right, I swear!”“How?” I scream even louder, forgetting every physical pain in my body, “She didn’t break any rules. Vengeance didn’t break any rule how come she is eliminated? Why was she shot? Everything was going fine, she was going to kill me, I should be the one dead, stabbed. How was she eliminated?”The LED screen draws two separate half hearts, and the digital voice announces, “Congratulations, you have finally completed all your fights and ready to fight our top one fighter… The Reaper.”“No!” I scream in denial.🦪I walk home absolutely oblivious to my surroundings. Dale is by the door as always when I walk in, but I just walk past him towards my room, and I slam the door shut.“Dora,” his voice is muffled by the door; he’s banging, but the door reduces the effect of his banging and scre
🦪 DORA 🦪 My eyes travel from the angry expression on Vengeance’s face to the knife in her right hand. She had a knife hidden all along; they didn’t say that was allowed. She must have taken 'any fighting method is allowed' too seriously. The fight is obviously just beginning, and it looks like it won’t be ending soon. Vengeance grips the knife firmly, the metal flashing in my face. She lunges at me, her face twisted in a snarl. The knife is aimed straight for my stomach. I don’t have time to move, I don’t have time to run. I reach out and grab the blade. Pain explodes in my hand. It is hot and sharp. I feel the cold steel bite through my skin and sink deep into my palm. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. My fingers lock around the edge of the knife, stopping the point just inches from stabbing into my stomach. She tries to push harder, but I’m steady. I look her in the eyes, then I rip the knife out of her grip. It tears through my flesh as it leaves. I let the weapon f
🦪 DORA 🦪Vengeance rushes towards me immediately the countdown begins, she throws a punch, I duck, rushing to her own end of the ring as she reaches mine.“Stop acting like a chicken and fight me,” she growls angrily.“Who says I wouldn’t?” I retort underneath my breath.She rushes towards me again, and this time I don’t chicken out. I wait for her to reach me, studying her moves. She surprises me with an upper cut, I swing my head backwards in a gymnastic way, avoiding her punch, then swinging my head back in the space of seconds when she least expects it, and headbutting her in the face.She stumbles backwards, her head in her hands, and I remain in the same spot, awaiting her next strike.9 minutes.I strike first, my fist a blur as it catches Vengeance across the jaw. Her head snaps back, but she doesn’t fall; she spits red on the ground, snarling at me.I lunge at her, driving my shoulders into her ribs, shoving her against the elastic tension of the ropes. Vengeance unleashes
🦪 DORA 🦪Mid-nights are reserved for good sleep and flying witches, but not in my case. Mine is reserved for a fight till death deal.I can’t believe I’m out in the dark, in the cold, walking towards a location where I’d be picked up and dropped in a place where I’d either walk out or be carried out of.Dale gave me a really tight hug when I was leaving. I could feel his own fears and his not wanting to let me go, and I honestly cannot blame him. I almost did not leave the house myself… but that would be asking for war from Umbra.I drag my feet on the ground, the soles of my sneakers grinding against the rocks. I’m dressed in all black, black jean pants that hug my skin, with a black hoodie that covers my entire body and face.My hands are in my pockets, my gaze on the ground, and my mind in the future. I’m walking towards the location on the black card like a ghost in my own body.I get to the location, and this time the van is already there waiting, which I don’t give a flying fu
🦪 DORA 🦪I’ve never been more anxious about anything in my life.“She’s here to kill you.”Thinking of those words became a part of my daily routine ever since I heard them. For the past few days, everything has been suspiciously calm. Well, aside from Dale drowning me.Yesterday was the toughest day of my life, after hours of getting drowned with Dale screaming, “Calm your heart rate, a lower heart rate consumes less oxygen. Breathe deeply into your belly, not your chest. Focus on relaxing your toes, then your calves, then your knees, rather than focusing on the clock.” I began to get the hang of it, and I made it two minutes underwater without seeing my ancestors.All attempts to make him see why I was created a human, not a fish, also failed woefully.I pull myself from bed finally, dragging my feet to the ground. I hope today will be a better day. I will avoid every drowning training because my life depends on it. It wouldn’t be hard for me to die in that bathtub.I throw on a r
🦪 DALE LAZARUS 🦪I had cleaned the whole house to keep my mind busy and off things, and now, I'm rewashing the dishes for the third time.I wash and dry the dishes all over again after doing it three times straight.I pause for a second, shake my head intensely, and continue.“Let's not think abo
🦪 DORA 🦪“You killed my father…”“I told you I had a daughter, yet you killed me… You killed me!!!”Taking a human’s life is the hardest shit to do, but what no one talks about is the guilt that comes after taking someone’s life. I see this person, covered in bruises, blood pouring from his eyes,
🦪 DORA 🦪Gathering the last strength flowing in my veins, I pop out my middle finger from the arm lying numb on the ground, raise it to his neck, stabbing him with it, so deeply. Not once, not twice, at least 10times with the same effect and speed.Another lesson learned, ‘Always fix your nails,
🦪 DALE LAZARUS 🦪Dora drags herself up, her figure moving towards me with agonizing slowness; each step is a declaration of defiance against a body that desperately wishes to fail.She is barely able to stand straight, leaning heavily into the air as if against an invisible wall. Her limbs seem t







