NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

When Drako made that statement, everyone turned to face him, paying close attention.

Suddenly being the center of attention, May grabbed onto Drako's arm, looking up at him with some fear in her eyes. However, unlike before, it wasn't a deep fear of pain but rather, intense nervousness. Also, she was scared being the center of attention.

Drako gave her a gentle smile as he caressed her head, reassuring her. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling warm again. She settled down, though she did not let go of his arm.

Drako then faced everyone else as he said resolutely, "I do not want to be called Drako anymore, as Drako no longer exist. I have been reborn, thanks to Master Shifu."

"I would also like to thank you, Kyle, for sparing my life and was willing to give me a second chance. I owe this life to you," Drako said, giving a low bow.

Kyle nodded, though he was feeling slightly uncomfortable with such a display of gratitude. He didn't think he did anything extraordinary, and anyone would have done the same.

Drako held onto May's shoulder and gave another bow, saying, "I would also like to thank you, Kyle, Kay, and Nitocris, for rescuing May. For bringing her here. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have met my soulmate."

Nitocris held his tongue as his mother was there. He didn't do a thing and in fact, had ignored May completely. When he turned to look at his mother, she was giving him such a big smile and patted his arm, as if saying, 'that's my boy'.

Drako took a deep breath and reached down to take her hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it before he said, "My new name is Hawthorn."

Kyle blinked. Kay blinked. No one said a thing.

Hawthorn smiled, knowing the blank look on the people's faces was due to the very unusual name he had chosen.

"Hawthorn is the flower symbol for the month of May," he explained, "May is my life, and I, hers. Thus, it is only right my name should be associated with May."

May smiled widely, squeezing his hands even harder.

"Also, the Hawthorn is a tree of magical enchantment. It is associated with the ancient festival celebrating spring," Hawthorn continued, "In fact, in Celtic mythology, it is one of the most sacred trees. It symbolizes love and protection."

Hawthorn looked down at May again, a gentle smile on his face, "It's not just me that has a new lease on life. May does as well. After darkness, spring has come for both of us. I was born to love and protect May, I am her Hawthorn. A steady tree that symbolizes love and protection."

"It just fits. All of it. It's Fate," Hawthorn said as he then sat down.

"It's a really good name," Kay agreed, smiling.

Kyle nodded, and his face appeared to be thinking hard.

"But Hawthorn is so long. Can I call you Thor for short?" Kyle asked with a grin.

Hawthorn shrugged, "That's better than Haw or Thorn, I suppose," Hawthorn replied, sitting down. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stop Kyle from giving him a nickname and he would just have to deal with it.

Just like how Nitocris had to endure being called 'Big Bro Nick' by Kyle. One could tell how much it annoyed him, as his jaw would clench up. He never let any displeased expression show on his face, however. One could tell how much Rheia loved the brotherly banter of Kyle on 'big bro Nick'.

Hawthorn was so focused on May that he didn't notice Kyle laughing quietly at the table while Kay smacked him on the shoulder. Hawthorn was never interested in television, so he didn't know who Thor was.

Kyle was thinking how much fun it would be to call out 'THOR' and Hawthorn answered.

?? ?? ??

That night, as Kay and Kyle lay down on their beds at night, Kyle finally raised the question that had been on his mind for quite some time.

[Are you okay, Kay?]

He had asked the moment they had got back getting Kazuya, and she had merely smiled and him and nodded. He kept an eye out on her, simply waiting for the time when she would feel comfortable enough with what had happened to be able to talk about it.

Different people had different ways of handling things.

For Kyle, it was simple. Either talk it out or punch it out.

With Kay, it was slightly more complicated. She needed time to process what had happened, be it to adjust emotionally or mentally. Once she had things figured out, would she talk about it.

[Yes, I am. I know one thing for sure, though]

[What is it?] Kyle asked curiously.

[I'm never going into the field again. Not unless it's necessary, like it had been that day]

Kyle felt an immense sense of relief.

[I'm more suited to be in the background, and help you from there. Mind you, this does not mean I have changed my mind about learning self-defence]

[Yes, I know] Kyle replied [Your Wing Chun instructor will come next month. I have already obtained Principal Godric's approval to have Wing Chun as a new activity in school, so you won't be the only one benefitting]

[That's good] Kay said, a smile forming on her face.

She still remembered that day like it was yesterday. When she had awoken from the gas, she had been extremely nervous and scared over what could possibly happen. Seeing how calm and collected Kyle was, however, made her calm as well.

When he had told her to close her eyes, she did. At first. Uknown to him, she had peeked a few times. She knew Kyle was skilled but to see him in action was beyond anything she could have imagined.

He was like a lethal killer. No, not like. He is a lethal killer.

Instead of being scared seeing how decisive Kyle's strikes were, or how he seemed unfazed whenever he took a life, she felt awe and pride. His moves were fluid and smooth, like the movement of water. It was poetry in motion.

She did close her eyes when Kyle threw the knives at the last two guys, as well as when Kyle was busy crushing the hands of another. She didn't think he was cruel but felt that he was meting out justice.

Although she wasn't scared, it was all due to Kyle being there. She knew then, without a doubt, that this was not something that she could do. She wouldn't be a burden if she had to be there, but she would not be of much help. Kay knew that her forte was her hacking and gathering intelligence. So she would devote her time and skills there instead.

[Excited about going back to school?] Kyle asked.

[Of course. We're second years now!]

?? Hidden Basement ??

A lone, naked man lay huddled on the cold ground. He doesn't know how long it has been anymore. It feels like it has been years. The room was always dark, but not too dark that he can't see his surroundings. All he knows is the constant routine that he is subjected to all the time.

He just wished he could die, but he can't. He had a blanket but he didn't want it. He had taken off his clothes long ago, and it lay in one puddle beside him. He was trying all methods to either fall sick, or just die.

The man wailed.

He wanted to fall sick but they'd always heal him. They'd force these weird concoction into his mouth and he gets better. They'd force feed him so he can't starve himself. They'd tend to his wounds so that it wouldn't fester. They'd even bathe and clothe him so that the risk of him falling sick was lowered.

He didn't have any more fingers or toes, for it had all been cut off bit by bit - but that was after his fingernails had been pulled out. His entire body was full of black-and-blue bruises, scabs from slashes of whips and knives.

His manhood was still intact but that was only so that his tormentor could kick him and punch him there all the time. Sometimes his tormentor would shove things into his a**, not stopping even though he would bleed profusely from the invasion.

Slowly, surely, Kazuya's mind was deteriorating and he was descending into madness. Every time he hears the footsteps approach, he would be so scared that he sometimes peed himself or his mind just went blank. Every time the cell door creaked open, he would be screaming or huddled in one corner.

The day his brain finally snapped, was when the torment ended.

Kyle came when Hawthorn called him, letting him know of Kazuya's condition. Hawthorn stood quietly behind Kyle, as Kyle crouched down and poked the body-that-used-to-be-a-man.

"Have you attained peace now, Thor?" Kyle asked quietly.

Hawthorn took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with lingering feelings. Finally, after a minute or two, he answered clearly, "Yes."

"You have a new life, a new name," Kyle continued, as he took out his knife, its blade glistening even in that darkened room, "You've released all your hatred and anger on the one that stole your old life. So with the end of this life, let your past finally be at rest."

As Kyle slid the knife deep into the man's heart, watching him gurgle and twitch from the pain. Kyle didn't even break eye contact as he saw the light of life slowly fade from Kazuya's eyes.

Kyle sighed.

He remembered the first time he had killed a man. It was at a distance and even then, he had been affected. Now, he could do it without blinking an eye - and even watch as they died without feeling a thing. He hoped this meant that when the time for revenge came ... he could do it, if required, even if it meant it was someone he had known and trusted.

He looked again at the dead body and thought, 'How easy it is to snuff out a life.'