That was the last time I posted in this story:
http://agora.rpgclassics.com/showthread.php?t=11132
But, my new job has a lot of hold times… and since I wake up early in the morning, I had to do something along with the saturation of caffiene to stay up, so I resumed this to keep focused. And now, after… a hell of a long wait, I continue. Though, it is obvious I haven’t been working at this for a while.
And, comments are welcome, though lamer talk will be dealt with X style.
Oh, I have about four more chapters already made, but just posting them one at a time, for now
Chapter 26: Some Kind of Peace
Every step I took from that maze of humiliation Charlong called a training room grew heavier, like my body was slowly turning to lead. I could hear the hollow pounding of each step as I neared the bunks of the other Triad members. I didn’t care if I woke them with my steps. Hell, I didn’t even know their names. Despite the eight long months I was here.
Not that it was boring, just very excruciating on the cerebrum and the body… hell, if being a thief meant having your brain and muscles crammed to the point where even crawling could become a chore, I might have tried a more honest line of work. Well, if it wasn’t for the amnesia, the dark voice, and the fact I technically didn’t exist
For all of my lessons, I was cast into total blackness, with only the minimal light needed… from when I woke up at three in the morning, to when I was finally aloud to rest around eleven in the night. Twenty hours of lessons, four hours sleep. Amazing what a man can get used to.
And what I learned wasn’t all sneaking. I started off being forced to learn acting, then salsa. Charlong said it was to help with the two basics of his whole little school… mobility, and deception.
“To exceed, you need more then brains and muscles. You need charm, the ability to make others think you are innocent, no harm. You need to divert their attention with either lies, body language… even a nod or a smile can be the most powerful weapons, the best way to reach your target.”
After two months of such lessons, compacted with limbo, yoga, basic electronics. Each day something new thrown in with the old… a kaleidoscope of knowledge. The funny thing was, while I caught a few facts here and there, it seemed like the whole point wasn’t learning, but molding. Shaping my thoughts and body into something else… changing it, if such a thing was possible
But, after those two months being swept in a whirlwind of mental headaches, the training turned more physical. Sneaking into simulation offices, regular and electronic lock picking, working on how I walked… the works. I was amazed by it all. It seemed like everything I did in the past, in LA, was like a gorilla trying to imitate a skilled artist. There was a certain sophistication to this… job. Everything from how to stand in the shadows, so it looked like you disappeared, to how to handle even the hardest lock, without a sound. Charlong emphasized the silence. “Anyone can steal, but most who steal, get caught. Getting caught is the worse kind of failure, because if you can at least escape, you can try again. No such luxury in prison.” And the best way to not get caught… was to not be seen in the first place. A simple approach… but, like most simple things, harder to put into practice.
Up to my “death” at the hands of a paintball gun, I was still doing those lessons. For 20 hours straight, and only four hours to sleep, and 45 minutes for meals. I didn’t mind the work… better then living a thieving bum’s life off the streets. I actually had something decent to wear as well, though simple, and blah… black cotton shirt, and black pants. The only distinguishing figure was a dragon climbing over a sunset, its claws grasping on greedily, like it was declaring to the world “I own it, and I dare you to take it from me.” Appropriate for the Sunrise Dragon Triad.
I past by a bathroom mirror, catching a glimpse of my now clean-shaven face. When I entered the compound, the lower half of my face was covered in matted, dirty hair, like a dog that was frolicking in filth. I never had time to realize how much of a mutt I looked like, until I took my first shower and shave in ages. Hell, Charlon even had a barber touch my locks.
I looked much cleaner now. Hair slicked close to my face, my profile back to its original square, tense features. I felt close to my old self… even though my “old self” has only been around for little over a year.
I approached the bunks, the sounds of sleep from the other Triad members the only things breaking the silence of the night. This was as close as I get to the other Triad members, outside Charlong. I always ate alone, under my trainer’s eye. When going to the bathroom, alone… like I was isolated from the rest for some reason. Well, considering the awkward topics that could pop up, I suppose it was for the best. At least my sleep was dream free, for once.
I crawled into the bunk I always slept in, and closed my eyes. And, with blessed ease, simply fell asleep, to prepare for tomorrows lessons, like I did every night.