Cho's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Cho wanted into the underground tournament that crowned the strongest hidden power in Tasudu. He had a reason now. A week ago, red lightning had crackled up both his arms when his temper snapped. Nobody knew. He wanted to learn what he was before someone else decided for him. But a nobody who fixed bikes in his spare time had no idea where the fights happened or how to get in. He had asked around for three days and gotten nothing. So he went to the one place people warned him about. A gray stone compound sat behind severe walls, dark towers rising over iron gates. Rumor said the wolf people who lived there knew every fighter worth knowing. Cho checked his two necklaces, squared his shoulders, and knocked. The man who opened the gate had a wolf's face and large black wings folded tight. He wore black and red. He looked Cho over once and already seemed bored. "Wrong door," the wolf man said. He started to shut it. "I'm looking for the tournament," Cho said fast. "The underground one. For hidden powers." The gate stopped. "Marcus," the wolf man said, naming himself. "And you're a kid with jewelry." "I fix bikes," Cho said. "I'm not asking you to like me. Just tell me where it is." Marcus studied him. Then a second voice came from behind the gate. "He's got something." The speaker stepped into view. Another teenager, almond skin, long black and red dreadlocks like Cho's own. He kept his hands in his hoodie pockets and spoke flat. "Kai," he said. He did not offer more. His eyes stayed on Cho's arms. "Show me. Or leave." Cho felt the old familiar thing rise. People deciding who he was before he opened his mouth. His temper kicked. Red sparks snapped from his knuckles and ran up to his elbow. He hadn't meant to. He clamped his fists shut. Marcus went still. Kai did not. "Crimson," Kai said. "Haven't seen that." "So it's real," Cho said. His arms still buzzed. "Now where is it?" Kai pulled one hand from his pocket. He held a small folded square of paper, like he'd already been carrying it for someone. He flicked it. Cho caught it. "Three nights," Kai said. "That address. Say my name at the door." Marcus frowned at Kai. "You're vouching for him?" "I'm watching him," Kai said, and that was all. Cho unfolded the paper. An address, a time, nothing else. He had what he came for. He looked up to thank them, but Kai had already turned away. "One thing," Kai said over his shoulder. "Something's been hunting people close to me. If it followed you here, that lightning won't matter." The gate shut. Cho stood outside the dark walls with the paper in his fist. He was in. He just wasn't sure what he'd walked into.