Bleed For The Banished King

Frothy waves rolled under the starlight, hammering against the coast. Their group walked along the road, close enough to admire the shimmering water but far enough to avoid its encroachment along the beachside. Most of the gym took the jeep back home — but for those who didn't live at or near the gym, they opted to walk. This included Pi Ketchup, Emma, Banyen, a few other gym goers, and of course, Finan. 

While the others talked benignly about their favorite drinks and whether to hit a bar before calling it a night, Finan was lost in the waves. He could imagine himself stripping down and swimming out. Drowning. It wasn't a horrible way to die. He often heard of this phenomenon, the "Call of the Void". That feeling you get when standing atop a large building or ledge. The want to commit, despite not really being depressed or showing signs of wanting to commit beforehand. Finan got that feeling often. 

Once, as young lad back in the US, he confessed this feeling to his mother. She immediately sent him to a child psychiatrist. Nothing came of that first session. 

The therapist wanted to conduct more sessions with him. Yet, they never came to fruition. 

"Finan? Finan! Earth to Finan?" Emma asked, waving a cigarette in front of his face. The smoke puffed up into his nostrils and he gave a cough, causing Emma to smile. "See? He's just daydreaming." 

"Perhaps he is concussed, no?" Banyen asked.

Emma shook her head. "No this is how he usually is. Nothing going on in that noggin," she said, pointing to Finan's head. He playfully swatted her hand away. 

"That's slander." 

"It isn't slander if it's true. Now, answer the question? You coming to the pub with us?" 

"'You coming to the pub with us?'" Finan mocked, imitating her accent. "You make everything sound posh." 

"I can't help it. It is simply a factor of my higher breeding." 

"Sure, colonizer." 

"Yeah fuck you too Finan. Answer the question. Coming?" 

"Uh…" Finan hesitated, looking out to the sea. He didn't want to be leaning on some counter, inhaling the smell of bitter Singha. His head was floaty enough already. "I think I'll pass this time. You guys go on ahead, I'll just take a walk 'round and then head on back home." 

"Alrighty then, I'll see you come morning yeah?" Emma asked, breaking off from the group along with the others. They trodded off to the nearest bar – probably Green Mango or Ark. 

He watched them go for a moment, and Pi Ketchup was nice enough to yell "good work today Monkey!" before they passed out of sight. He sighed afterwards, feeling the cool night breeze pass through him. It was nice, being alone after a fight. It gave him some time to think. 

A hand brushed against his. He flinched back, nearly jumping, only to find Banyen standing casually behind him. 

"I could've sworn you went with them," Finan said, rubbing his head in confusion. 

She chuckled. "I think your cousin was wrong: you are concussed." 

"Nothing I haven't dealt with before. Anyways, no bar?" 

"No bar," she said, shaking her head. "It's a nice night. Why muddle the memory of it with alcohol?" 

"Couldn't agree more." 

"Your home is down South?" 

"Yes. Yours?" 

"Same area. Shall we then?" They walked in silence for a bit, eyes fluttering around from the lake to the expansive night sky. There was something strange about this night — something that Finan couldn't quite place. A strangeness in the air. As if he was looking upon that nonexistent red cloud, like after yesterday's morning run. He tasted something bitter in his mouth. 

His phone buzzed. Finan fiddled with his pocket and tucked it out, finding a new message having been left for him. Thankfully it wasn't Raj, his ex, nor his father. It was his old boxing coach, Diego. 

'Yo. Watched the match live. Man, you put on a hell of a prelim. Probably the fight of the night. I'm glad you etched out the victory kid. I think you finally get the mantra: mind on fire, nose in the mud. Well kid, you trudged through the mud and doused the fire just in the nick of time. Good work. Look kid, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a little pissed at you for leaving me in the buildup to your pro debut like that, but I understand. Shits tough.' 

That uber long text was followed by a short 'I've run away before too kid. Don't forget that'. Then, Diego left one last message. 

'Seriously. Call me sometime. Duces.' 

Finan chuckled at that last line. He recalled a term that Emma had used to describe one of her ex-boyfriends. 

"Clingy twat," he said in an endearing manner before putting his phone away. 

"What do you find so funny?" Banyen asked. He had nearly forgotten where he was — so displaced did that text make him feel. 

"Nothing. Just an old friend's persistence I suppose." 

"I see, I see," she said, nodding solemnly as if he had said something of great import. 'Dumbass. She's doing her best to create a conversation with you. Give her something to work off of— reciprocate!' 

"Uh, you walk around like this often?" Finan asked. 

"Not really. Well, not on the beachside like this. I have a habit of walking through the woods of the hillsides," she answered, pointing towards the thicket of brush and wood covering the hinterlands. 

"I've run through there. It's nice."

"Yes but at night the woods of Koh Samui are truly magical." 

"Huh. Is that so?" he asked. She nodded fervently, adopting a dreamy sort of look that made her all the more attractive. This definitely wasn't the first time that Finan had fallen in love, but it certainly was the most intense of his loves. There was something so unnaturally alluring about Banyen. Something that made his skin crawl at night. 

"We should go. The Lat Ko View would be mesmerizing tonight!" 

"It's… a bit late isn't it?" 

"Oh? Is the big bad fighter now afraid of the dark?" Banyen laughed. Then, she grabbed onto Finan's hand and tugged him along. "Don't worry. I'll protect you tonight." 

Before Finan could protest, Banyen put a finger to his lips and gave him a devious little grin. "Trust me. It will be worth it." 

And well, Finan couldn't resist that smile for the life of him.