La Recoleto

4

14,999.

Purple is becoming way too strong. It is even harder to beat him this time. I think he remembers last time because even if I am flung to the ground, he stays standing, and he keeps his guard up.

As if reading my thoughts, he says, "Going to stare up at the sky again, Briseño?"

"Not today," I say as I stand up, wiping away a trail of blood that had started pouring from a cut on my lip. "I just need to beat you one more time." He raises his arms like he did a couple of days ago.

"One more? Have I missed something? Did the Earth tell you something and not me? We are here for eternity!" He scrutinizes my face carefully and then, his eyes widen in realization. "You're giving up?!" It is more a statement than a question. Our eyes lock, and after a bit, I lower my gaze.

"I can't do this anymore. They don't deserve this."

"They chose this!" He growls.

"No, they didn't. I did." I whisper more quietly.

"And now, you are taking the faults they should be carrying. Isn't it just peachy that they can just die in the beginning while you always have to carry them and their burdens on your shoulders?" He shakes his head. "Pathetic." He turns around and starts to walk away.

"Hey! Where are you going? We're not done!"

"I am! What's the point if you're just going to give up later?"

"Why are you angry? Didn't you want this?!"

"Two words for you, Briseño." At this, he raises his hand up in the air and holds up two fingers as he says, "TOO. EASY."

"Too easy?! Come say that to my face!" Stopping, he looks over his shoulder and grins.

"And there she is!" He closes his eyes for a moment. "I will give you a free shot." Opening his eyes again, he continues, "Since this is your last time, you may have one free hit. No more, no less." Pausing, I inspect his demeanor. His eyes are shut once more, he has a lazy smile on his face, and his hands are in his pockets. It almost reminded of....I shake my head. No. Focus. This may be the only chance you get. Reluctantly, I walk over to him. Cautiously, I sidle up to him. He still doesn't move. I slowly take out a blade.

"See you on the other side, my friend." I aim my blade at his heart and swing. The blade flew in the air and landed on the ground. Confused, I look from the blade to Purple. But how? Purple is still in the same exact spot. I swing my fist at him next. Quickly, he grabs my fist with one hand and with his other one, he takes me by the throat and he slams me to the ground. My spine groans as pain rushes to my back. I hold in a scream. I would not give him the satisfaction. "You...liar!" I breath out, trying to suppress the pain in my voice.

"Nuh, uh, uh, uh." He replies, waving a finger in the air. "I said I would give you a free shot and I did, but-" He opens his eyes, revealing flashing dark pink-colored eyes. "It's not my fault you took so damn long!"

"I was timed?!" I choke out.

"Not at first, but it was too good to resist after the light bulb came on."

"You son of a-" I bite my tongue.

"Of a?" He cups his ear. "I can't hear you."

Clenching my teeth, I say, "Just do it. Just kill me." I start to reorganize my plans. I will have to wait until next time to finish this. My eyes flutter shut, waiting for the sting of death.

"Kill you? Why would I want to do that?"

"To reset the timeline."

"See," he crouches down on his knees, "That is not exactly in the cards either. The timeline will never be reset ever again." My eyes fly open and lock onto where Purple is now casually sitting cross-legged.

"What?!"

"I have decided on a new alternative. You are going to become my apprentice."

"It will never work. I. Will. Stop. You." He shakes his head.

"If you wanted to stop me, you should have done so when they first summoned me. Instead, you drew out the battle. Poor choice on your part."

"You will never win."

"Says the one lying on the ground. The best part is you still haven't heard the juiciest bit." It was getting difficult to look at him, so I refocus my attention on the sky.

"What is it?"

"I have energy from the other timelines. That is, every time we started a new realm, I saved a little bit of energy so it could build up and, my, has it built up!"

"That is...not so bad."

He leans down and softly whispers, "Remind me, Gabri, how many realms has there been?"

"This would be one million and two, I believe?" Silence follows. Then, it clicks. My eyes widen and I look over to see a smirking Purple. He applauds.

"You figured it out. Good job." I bolt upright, wincing in pain. I turn towards him.

"That's not possible."

"Isn't it though? I mean, it is clearly happening right now." I slowly get back up, my muscles protesting as I did. I make my way to my blade that still waited patiently on the earth's floor. Purple shrugs, gets up, and slowly follows behind me. "And just think, if you would have stopped and thought about it, you could have realized why I was weak all those times. I have been hiding my strength all this time! Of course, yesterday, it started to seep out." I pick up the blade and turn towards him.

"Sorry, that's not going to work." He takes the blade out of my hand and tosses it over his shoulder like it's nothing more than a pencil. It might as well be at this point. I look at my empty hand, dumbfounded. He peers down at my hand too. "I could be wrong, but I think that's a hand."

Still staring at my hand, I finally speak up, "What now?"

"Well, I think we should probably release some of that pent-up anger. But first, pain."

"Pain?" He tilts his head to the side.

"You are taking this awfully well. Yes, your pain endurance needs work. I just slammed you to the ground, and you are already gasping in pain."

"I have a better idea," I remark, flexing my wrist.

"What?"

"Let's test your speed!" I run past Purple and head straight for the blade. I reach down to claim it, but before I could, a force stops me. I find myself on the ground, sputtering for air.

"I fucking swear, Briseño! If you go for that damn blade again, I will not be held responsible for my actions."

"Again?" I inquire hoarsely.

"Yes, there may have been a few deaths on your part."

"How many?"

"Of course, you do not remember."

"PURPLE, HOW MANY?!"

"Let's see." He taps his finger on his bottom lip, acting like he is thinking. "This would be your fifteen time trying this. So, I guess this realm is actually one million and seventeen." I rest my forehead on the ground.

"How can't I remember?" I mumble. Dirt and blood mix together in my mouth. I couldn't see him, but I sense Purple shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know. I guess the winner gets to remember." He adds quickly, "I honestly thought that if I won, things would be different." I raise my head and push myself up on my knees, pain screeching in my ears as I slowly try to stand up again.

Wiping my mouth once more, I slyly reply, "Sorry to disappoint." He looks at me and smiles a cat-like grin.

"I already told you in a past timeline that you don't. Although-" He sighs in annoyance, "If you keep going for that fucking blade, I may have to reconsider." Purple seems to get lost in thought. Keeping my eyes on him, I take advantage of the relaxed moment and begin to formulate a plan.

He is too strong. I don't think I can fight him in this state. As much as I may not like being in this realm too long, it is better to live and fight another day. I will need to run. If what he says is correct, then Purple is already fifteen times stronger. I could try to distract him, but how? My eyes wander around the battlefield. A shiny object catches my eye. The blade! Purple had flung me about 100 yards away from the weapon. Towards the right of it, a forest beckons me to hide in the shelter of its trees. I could lose him in there. More than likely, Purple would already be at the blade before I could reach it and turn right, but he was expecting me to get the knife. He wasn't expecting me to run. Therefore, he was going to try to block me from getting the knife, not from running away. I have to go now! At that moment, Purple's glowing dark pink eyes flick to mine. It's like he already knows what I am about to do.

"I wouldn't do it, Briseño."

"Do what?" My voice comes out a little bit shaky.

"Whatever you're about to do."

"I guess that's the beauty of it. I'm not you!" I sprint forward.