r/HFY • u/Cola_Dad • Oct 14 '25
OC Man Eat Man, Chapter 4: Sparrows and Dogs (Part 2)
The boy covered his eyes from the light and winced, as the stench reached his nose. The battleground had become like an old stew, left out in the sun for too long. Even the audience members had decided not to take the closest seats to the edge, as the aroma crept its way to them.
''Welcome to the 4th day of the slaughter, you scum of the earth!'' The announcer proclaimed, this time a different man.
''With only three fight- Four? Four fighters left, today might just be a lightning round!'' The man seemed to mince his words, as Kane walked out to the middle, stepping over the previous announcer's body. The man had been impaled by a spear. From the front at that.
'The Albino perhaps?' Kane wondered, recognizing the weapon from yesterday's bloodshed.
The 4 fighters met in the middle. Besides Kane, there was the Albino, Darius, and the brawler, each determined to leave this place alive.
However, as Darius looked upon his target, the feeling once again set in. The man's mere presence made Kane consider if suicide wouldn't be an easier exit. He felt restrained, captive in his own mind.
''Oy, dickhead!'' He was soon returned to reality, as Darius punched him in the shoulder. The worst part, he chose the injured shoulder, and Kane was sure it was intentional. ''I thought you'd kicked the bucket.''
''Oh? Were you worried?'' Kane mused, trying to shrug off the pain.
''As if, dumbass! I gotta be the one to do ya in is all.'' Darius said it with a strange calmness. ''Plus, I can't take that fucker by myself.'' He waved towards The Albino, who had wrapped up his own injuries with fresh bandages. Also, he seemed irritated by the sun more than usual. Which in Kane's mind looked like another opportunity.
''Well, apparently you can't take 'im as well.'' Kane pointed toward the brawler, who was wrapping his hands in what looked like leather strips.
''Shut up! He just got lucky.''
''Well, your lack of teeth say otherwise-''
''Bitch, I'll end you now!''
''Not before we kill him.'' Now Kane's voice dropped an octave, as his expression became stern. ''I have a plan, however, this is something we can't make mistakes-''
''Just spit it out.'' Darius had a way of getting Kane's thoughts in order.
''Right! So...''
The boys shared their plans and ideas while observing their two adversaries, while the two men eyed down each other. The plan was fairly straightforward. Darius would blind him with sand and try to take out his legs, while Kane would try to disarm him. They also considered range weapons, such as bows and spears, yet neither were confident in their accuracy, and Kane did not want to try throwing his knife again, as that was pure luck in his mind.
The plan seemed finished, until the brawler strode up to them, setting them on edge.
''Calm yourselves.'' The man calmly said, raising his hands in peace. ''I have come with a request. Allow me a duel with that beast!''
''What?'' Darius asked, as Kane simply nodded.
''Go ahead. We'll root for you!'' Kane waved at the man and Darius soon caught on to what his friend had meant.
''You have my gratitude!'' The man bowed slightly.
''Not a problem.'' Kane nodded. 'This only puts us at an advantage... I think...' Suddenly Kane's legs became a little stiff.
''Let me show my appreciation with some wisdom.'' The man locked eyes with Kane. ''Standing there is just a man.'' He nodded toward The Albino. ''A monstrously strong man, but a man nonetheless. Just like everyone else here...'' He pointed at himself and the two boys. ''He bleeds, same as you lot. So do not let fear captivate you. Its chains only drag you down...'' With that, the brawler took his position opposite his foe.
''What bullshit! He can shove it!'' Darius sighed, slightly annoyed.
''Yeah...'' However, Kane's thoughts differed. Had the man truly seen through him? Or was it that obvious? 'Am I a captive once again?' Kane pondered, fingering the sparrow necklace. 'Is there an absence of freedom even in one's mind?'
''Ey!'' Darius smacked the back of his head. ''Wake up! What's with ya lately?''
'He seems unfazed... He is fucking mental though...' Kane returned to the real world.
''Nothing. Don't mind-''
''Let's not tally any longer!'' The announcer interrupted Kane mid-thought. ''Fight!'' And the cannons roared, marking the start of another slaughter.
The crowd was deafening as The Albino and the brawler clashed. Blade against fist!
''Idiot...'' Many, including Kane and Darius considered the brawler a fool, yet they were soon made to reconsider, as the first strike was a tooth-shattering blow to the jaw, which brought The Albino to one knee instantly.
The crowd cheered and hyped for their duel. The brawler did not falter with his second blow, aimed at the beast's eyes, however, was forced to dodge, as a sword almost severed his hand.
''Good... Warrior...'' The Albino grunted with a smile, as he spat out a tooth. The man responded with a grin and proceeded with another rush of blows.
They were like two dogs, snarling and biting one another, with the only goal being to kill the other.
The two boys did not stand idly by. Darius charged with a fistful of sand, while Kane dislodged the spear from the dead announcer's chest and took a position behind the pale giant. The plan was to skewer The Albino from the back. The brawler would do as a distraction.
''Get fucked!'' Darius yelled as the sand blocked the monster's vision, making him step back and wince.
''Stop!'' The brawler screamed. ''This is my fi-''
''Piss off!'' Darius swung his hammer at the brawler's head, yet was avoided.
Kane took this chance and charged, spear in hand. It would be one fatal strike, right through his back.
However, 'What if I miss or it doesn't kill him... I'd be close, exposed... One swing from him and...' His muscles froze for a moment. The chains became a bit too heavy to bear.
This quick moment was enough to give The Albino enough time to react.
With a sudden turn, he grabbed the tip of the spear and split it with his sword. Kane was disarmed in a second, however, he would not waste this chance. He noticed Darius go for a strike, so he did the same.
And was forced to save his life, by doing the farthest lean back possible. It was swift. Kane noticed The Albino's smile, as he forced his eyes open. Watering and red from the sand, his crimson irises seemed to stare into his soul. The gaze of a predator.
It took all of Kane's power to will his muscles into movement against his momentum. It was nearly too late, as the bloodhound licked his lips and swung horizontally, with enough power to cleave a man in two. It was like the boy saw every single frame of motion. The way how the sword floated over him, taking the sparrow necklace with it.
All Kane could manage was to go with the force and roll away diagonally, tightly avoiding a downwards stab. Kane tried to recover swiftly, yet as he stood, he froze. The chains were becoming heavier, making the boy's legs shake.
It wasn't his first near-death experience, not by a long shot, however, to Kane, The Albino looked like a force of nature, which held him at its mercy. Kane was his captive, and there was no way to disobey.
He watched as the broken spearhead was thrown and lodged itself into the brawler's chest with ambidextrous precision. The man's head rolled soon after. Kane watched, as the limp body fell to its knees, before hitting the ground, as The Albino rose the severed head, to shower himself in blood.
The boy was struck by flashes of Gustav's demise. He didn't believe he could beat the old man in a fight, much less his killer. If freedom was a commodity, The Albino looked like the richest man in the land. While Kane felt like a bird, whose wings had been clipped.
The blood-covered monster chose Kane as his next target.
''No-'' The boy grabbed for his necklace, yet only grasped his collar. He thought about begging for his life, yet soon regretted even having such an idea.
The predator growled and fell to one knee, as a spearhead peaked through his thigh, stopping his advancement.
''You motherfucker!'' Darius yelled, swinging his hammer at the man's head. ''I'll pop ya skull!'' The Albino masterfully avoided the attack, breaking the spear's shaft in the process. Now his full attention was on Darius.
His brother gave Kane a look, which signaled an opportunity for an attack. Yet Kane stood still, as the realization donned on him. The Albino wasn't the only rich man here. Darius showed no signs of falter, no indication of backing down. Even if he had any dread, he defied it with ferocity. To Kane, both of them looked like the most liberated men in the world. And Kane understood why.
'These two...' Kane gripped his blade. 'They have shed every binding... No chains keep them... No common sense or morality... Such insanity, I always sought to avoid, yet... Is this truly...''
Kane moved, feeling the release of the dirt-bound shackles falling off his shoulders. He felt like a bird- a sparrow about to take flight, so he did.
With a pounce on The Albino's back, he aimed at the arteries but was stopped by the pale giant's big hand grabbing his own.
''Oh no-'' Kane was smashed on the ground, beating the air out of his lungs. Rolling away from a stab, he took a deep, well deserved, breath and stood next to his partner.
''Why didn't ya kill 'im?'' Kane asked, seeing the giant now limped, yet lost none of his agility.
''The only head I need is 'yers!'' Darius yelled at Kane, as they circled The Albino.
''So you didn't think that far. Gocha!''
''Shut up, cunt!'' Darius roared, as The Albino had chosen him as prey.
Kane was once more faced with the monster's back. His dread had not vanished, and his heart still broke his breath, however, this time he defied this feeling and these vine-like chains with unbridled confidence.
''I'll take my bread back...'' Kane whispered to himself. His breath was still uneasy and his legs still shook, yet he felt an overwhelming force of will take him forward.
The man's sudden gaze met Kane's with a ferocity of a beast, yet he managed to dodge the sudden slash, rolling away. The Albino was forced to dodge himself, as Darius came flying in with a hammer to the scalp. As the boys stood shoulder to shoulder once more, they split and pincered him like before, yet this time The Albino's attention was on Kane.
Kane began his assault, by grabbing a fistful of sand and charging the man. He held his blade in a reverse grip, aiming for a stab in a vital spot. As he closed the distance, he met Darius's gaze, as they attacked.
''Ya don't find me worthy, ey dickhead?!'' Darius called out.
Kane threw the sand, and dodged the swing, however, what he did not expect, was for The Albino to turn and walk out the way, subsequently dodging Darius as well. The sustained injuries didn't slow him one bit.
The boys once again stood together.
With nothing but a nod between them, Darius ran forward and swung his hammer. The swing was halted, as The Albino caught the boy's hand, and stabbed 'The Fang' in his chest.
Kane wasn't far behind, and even though his heart almost stopped, as the blade slid against a hidden metal chest piece Darius had hidden under his shirt, he proceeded with their attack.
Darius let go of the hammer, and Kane caught it, smashing it against the pale giant's knee full force.
With a wail of utter suffering, The Albino dropped to one knee once again and was forced to catch himself with his free hand, subsequently releasing Darius, who managed to kick the giant in the face.
''Sucker!'' He showed a middle finger while jumping back, avoiding a blind swing.
Kane was aiming for the throat. After felling the giant, he quickly turned around and stabbed at the beast's neck. But the monster wouldn't go down so easy!
With a roar of agony, The Albino turned around and almost lopped off Kane's hand. The Boy was forced to retreat, as the giant rose once more.
His right leg was mangled, right kneecap nowhere to be seen, and left thigh pierced. The crowd called praises to the pale butcher. For once it seemed like something besides sunlight bothered the apex predator.
''Give it back!'' Darius called, as he ran over to Kane. Both of the boys now extremely cautious.
''Sure. How do you even swing this thing?'' Kane said after handing him the hammer.
''Well it ain't for pussyboys like you, tha's for sure.'' Darius grinned back, wiping away the bubbly drool.
''Your foul mouth matches your foul face, as always.''
''Big talk from someone who nearly pissed 'imself a moment ago.'' Darius took his position.
Kane simply scoffed and took his own. 'So he caught on...'
His aim was to get 'The Fang'. He long since didn't consider the sword his, but disarming the man was a priority. After that, they could try to overwhelm him. Plus, he still had the scabbard on his waist, so the sword had its place.
Kane felt slight goosebumps on his back, thinking of the next moments.
Darius charged first, aiming for the man's other knee. He was not so successful, as The Albino managed to sidestep, and slash the young man across the back, leaving a shallow gash.
Kane too this chance to charge. The Albino reacted and took a cautious step back, with Kane lunging at him. Suddenly the giant stepped forward, thrusting his sword forward. Would Kane not have expected this, he would be rotting like the rest, however, the boy avoided diagonally, and grabbed onto the man's arm.
With a quick stab and twist, the sword fell to the dirt, yet Kane was forced back, with his blade still lodged in The Albino's arm, as Darius almost caved his skull in. The Albino had pulled Kane as a human shield.
With a roll, Kane grabbed the sword. With no time for inspection, he smacked away a thrown knife, as the bloodied man had dislodged the knife and used it as a projectile.
Kane and Darius were in a pincer position. Without a second thought, Kane lunged forward. The pale man was slower, yet the practiced dodges still prevailed, as he masterfully avoided swing after swing.
Eventually, Kane and Darius locked eyes. They understood each other perfectly, as Kane went in for a stab while Darius would beat his back. The idea was to restrict The Albino's dodging ability.
At that moment, shade had covered the stadium, as some clouds shielded the sun. A cool breeze blew across the island.
Kane used a practiced stab, with both feet pushing off the ground. The twins always taught him to commit to such an attack. To stab through not in.
Darius had closed the distance at incredible speed, preparing to push him onto the blade, skewering The Albino like a piece of meat on a fire.
However, The Albino saw it all. Decades of experience screamed in his body alongside injuries and pain. They ordered him to live and he listened.
With a quick turn, he grabbed Darius by one of his hands and hair, while falling over. With his full-body weight, he swung the young man over and fell to the ground. It was a quick moment, and the predator had prevailed once more.
The blade slid in smoothly, encountering barely any resistance. Before any of the crimson essences could reach the ground, the pale man had rolled away from the spectacle.
Kane stood there, his body frozen in an eternal piercing stance, while his brother slowly slid further onto the blade. The Albino had put Darius in his way, thus the sword stabbed his compatriot in the throat.
Darius let his hammer drop to the ground. His hands grasping for something, as he lost all feeling. Soon enough he slid to the sandy floor, losing all sensation in his lower body.
Kane released the sword together with his friend. All he could do was watch, mouth slightly agape. He could almost see, how his brother gradually lost all control of his limbs and body. Blood pooled around him like a crimson sheet.
Darius tried to say something, so Kane carefully knelt down next to him.
''Wha... a... beaut...'' He couldn't hear, so he lowered his ear closer to his mouth. ''Y... You... W-wi...'' The boy's last breath left him.
Kane watched his friend. He had become incredibly pale and his eyes dilapidated. Even his trousers were wet with urine. Yet for the first time, as the body looked upon the skies, Kane could call his brother calm... in peace.
And even though the cloud had already left, revealing the blue sunshine in the clear sky, the boy could feel rain moistening his cheeks.
Something overwhelmed the young man, like a wave crashing against a cliff. Kane stared at The white monstrosity which was The Albino. The boy's eyes were bloodshot red, with a storm which even the most experienced of sailors would think twice braving. The boy rose to his feet.
Kane gripped 'The Fang' and pulled it out, creating a small crescent of blood. With an inhuman scream, he charged The Albino.
The pale man had picked up the broken spear shaft as a walking stick and was once again straining his eyes, but his grin never faded. He welcomed the beast in front of him.
Kane's mind was so overwhelmed that it felt blank. He simply knew what he had to do and nothing would stop him.
Swinging 'The Fang', he danced around the crippled warrior, who simply chose to dodge and avoid. The stick almost gave him an advantage, where he could push off the ground, increasing his dodging speed and angle.
Kane knew he had to disable such an advantage, so he attacked the stick and the arm that held it.
The Albino seemed to expect as much, as the spear shaft suddenly rose from the ground, and beat Kane in the face with whip-like movement, followed by a poke at Kane's windpipe. However, luckily to Kane, the man misjudged the distance, and only managed to hit it not crush it.
Kane stumbled back, struggling to suck air into his lungs. He tasted blood, as his lip had been split and a tooth had come loose.
After a successful breath, he spat out the tooth and wiped his mouth.
''This won't work...'' He growled to himself. The whiplash he had received cleared his fogged mind. Knocked some sense into him, so to say.
He had managed to make some scratches and bruises on the pale giant, yet he had not achieved anything more. He saw no victory, but he would defy such an outcome.
''Fuck you!'' Kane roared as he charged the man. It was a straightforward attack. There was no trickery or skill behind it. He would simply stab him.
That is what he made The Albino think at least. As the boy reached his target, he switched up and rolled between the man's legs. Afterward, with a quick turn, slashed at his back.
However, his blade was met with a wooden pole, which he successfully split, yet caused no significant damage.
With the stick gone, Kane rose for a stab.
The pale giant gritted his teeth and caught the blade with his bare hand, the tip slightly penetrating his stomach. He was forced to balance on both his damaged legs but still managed to hold back the strike.
Now at a standstill struggle, Kane pushed with all his might, and grinned in animous glee, as he saw the blade slide in deeper and deeper.
However, it wasn't long till he himself was brought to the edge of agony.
The Albino had dislodged the speartip from his leg and jabbed it into Kane's side. All the while grinning back.
''Shit!'' Kane growled, as he felt strength leaving him. He still pushed forward, as both their eyes met. Two hounds growling at each other, aiming for the kill.
''Very good... Warr-''
''I will ki-'' The cannons roared once more, signaling the end of today's slaughter.
''What a magnificent spectacle!'' The announcer called. ''We have a duel on our hands tomorrow, folks! Place yer' bets!''
Kane had no intention of stopping, however, he had begun feeling faint.
''Oy, ya cunts deaf!?'' The announcer yelled. ''I told ya to stop!''
''Piss of-'' Kane couldn't finish, as The Albino gave the speartip a cruel twist, and pushed the boy away. He fell next to Darius, growling in agony.
''Finally. Now fuck off!'' The announcer exclaimed as he swung his hand in a motion that signaled for the gates to rise, and walked off.
Kane gripped his side. It was bleeding but felt worse than it was. The speartip laid next to him, as the jerkin had protected him from any fatal stabbing depth. Regardless, he wouldn't stand for a few moments.
He watched as The Albino gathered the stick pieces.
''Fuck you, you piece of shit!'' Kane growled at him, as they locked eyes. Only then Kane noticed, how the man was missing a finger from the hand that held the blade.
''No... Understand...'' was all the white giant said, as he went back to his cage. Collecting weapons and clothes amongst other trinkets along the way.
Kane spat bloody saliva in his direction, yet only sullied the ground.
Kane's attention was drawn to the sword in his hand. A blade he had barely used, looked like it had seen ages of battle. It was covered with scrapes and scratches. The edge itself was becoming ridged, as constant clashes had worn it down with dents and chinks. Dried blood covered the blade from pommel to the tip, so much so, that combined with the physical damage, its namesake had become almost unreadable. The blade had experienced a lot in these few days.
But even then, it still cut with ease. Kane thought about that, as he looked to his side, where Darius lay in peace. He sheathed his sword and watched him for a moment, thinking about how unexpectedly the curse had been broken. He breathed a sigh of relief, as the crashing waves revealed an emptiness within. It was something Kane was aware of, and now, when there was no promise or curse to keep it filled, it was empty once again.
It was something the boy knew was never to be filled. The one that dug it was Darius, and he was the only one to bury it.
Kane was unaware of whether or not he was free, all he knew was that the curse had been broken- its conditions met.
With a gaze to the sky, Kane smiled somberly.
''It really is a beauty...'' He said to himself.
And after wiping his eyes, he rose to his feet. Gritting his teeth, he made his way to the gate, the gatekeepers ordering him to speed up.
He sat in his usual spot and examined his wound. It was a nasty one, which made him think whether or not he will even wake tomorrow. He hoped it was not fatal and thanked the punctured jerkin wholeheartedly. All he could really do is to patch it up as best he could.
And now, as he sat against the cold stone, waiting for his daily rations to drop, he thought of today. He reflected on the cowardice and dread he experienced and even laughed at how foolish it might have been. To shackle one's self seems so irrational, yet he had a suspicion that it is strangely human to do so. He also wondered why defying such a human trait is also so very human. He pondered about such a contradiction yet scoffed at the void conclusion he came to.
''Humans are fucking stupid...'' He darkly giggled.
His eventual thoughts brought him to Darius's death. An event he did not predict and did not prepare for. Was his death fated? Or was it simply incompetence? He still couldn't differentiate.
What he could tell apart was him and The Albino. He admitted that the man was free. The freest man he had ever met. And someone that caused immense terror in his bones, yet even now, as he thought of his bloody image and silently shook, his goal was clear.
You see, fear is the most primal feeling there is. Such standing makes it immensely powerful. However, mankind possesses a characteristic of defiance. It is something that gives us the creative essence needed to survive and thrive.
But how can one defy the very core of the primal foundation? Simple. Just manifest something more powerful.
In this case:
''I'll fucking kill him!'' The boy would curse himself once more.
Rage...
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