The Barn

For anyone who has purchased a copy of "Mine", first off thank you, but you would have noticed at the end of "Mine" there is a bonus short story called, "The Barn" though the story gives away no spoilers for "Mine" it does lead into book two of the series, "Theirs" which will be coming out in the future. (I hope by 2026). Originally the story was a stand alone that I wrote when I wanted to write one of the characters from "Theirs" so the story can be read as a stand alone.

The Barn, is a fighting arena located in the District of Columbia. It advertises to both humans and supernaturals, so it's location is not a secret. Some of the options that they offer are though.

For example, The Barn, employs multiple species so that they can assist new learns how to use their powers and skills. (For Example: they have dragons on staff to help young dragons learn to fly). This of course is not advertised as loudly, but for the supernaturals that are aware of what to look for, it is easy to find. They have two buildings, their main fighting arena and a secondary where they practice magic and shifting.

One day, when I had little to do with my life (a rare day indeed), I made a website landing page for The Barn. (I have done this for a few of my bigger locations in the series).

If you have been unable to purchase "Mine" then you can read the short story, "The Barn" below.

Enjoy!

The Barn

If it wasn’t for me, our group would have been eaten alive by zombies a while ago. I adjust my headset as I glance at Matt. He’s sitting cross-legged on my couch, leaning back against the red upholstery. He doesn’t take the game seriously at all, which is why he’s lucky to have me with him. The whole team is lucky. I’m the best they have.

“Finn, behind you!” My buddy’s voice comes from the mic. I spin my character around just as four zombies slam into me. I chuck the controller on the ground as the word Death bleeds red down my screen.

“Dude! You were supposed to have my back!” I snap.

“I was fighting two myself.”

I look at his screen. “You’re just talking to Dan!”

“He was helping me.”

I roll my eyes and yank the headset off. “You know, it’d be a lot easier to win if you guys would stop working together to get me killed first.”

“Why would we do that?” Matt eyes me. “We’re on the same team.”

“Because I’m the best and you’re all jealous.” I pick up the controller and turn off the game. I wasn’t going to play with a bunch of cheaters. Honestly, I needed to find a better team, one that would appreciate my worth.

“It’s just a game.” Matt removes his headset and sets it aside. “For fun, man.”

“You’ve always been jealous that I’m better at fighting than you.” I get up and walk into the kitchen of the tiny one-bedroom apartment. Ever since we were kids, Matt’s been trying to play catch-up. While I excelled, Matt struggled.

“Better at fighting than you?” He gets to his feet and follows. The kitchen is barley big enough for one person and feels crowded with him standing in the entry. “It’s a game.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been playing for years.”

“The game. That doesn’t make you better at actual fighting.”

“It’s basically the same thing. They base the games off real moves, and I have such amazing reflexes.” I pull open the fridge and grab a soda. I pop the tab and take a drink before removing a second and passing it over to Matt.

“You push buttons in the game.” He takes the can. “It’s not the same.”

“You don’t have to be mad that I’m better at this than you are.” I take another swig. “You’ll find something you can do, eventually.”

He stares at me for several moments before setting the unopened soda on the counter. “Hey, we should go out.”

“Out where?” I finish my drink and toss the empty can into the trash.

“The Barn.” Matt grins. “You’ll love it.”

“A barn?” Going to a place with a lot of smelly animals and hay didn’t sound like my idea of fun, but I need to buy something for dinner and honestly, going out anywhere is better than having to watch my own back while my jealous friends let me die. “Yeah.” I shrug. “Why not?”

***

This isn’t what I expected. When he said barn, I assumed he meant a run-down old red shed that would smell like hay and horse manure. Instead, I find myself outside a large circular building that smells like smoke and cedar.

“This is the barn?” I raise my brow.

“Yeah.” Matt laughs and walks to a set of double doors. I glance around as I follow. The building sits in a valley. Even though I can’t see anything nearby, I can hear rushing water. A gentle breeze makes the cloying heat a little less unbearable. It’s even nicer once Matt pulls open the door and a gust of cold air rushes out, soothing the sweat on my face. The sound of striking metal follows. Maybe I’ll get to see them shoe a horse.

Matt steps in, holding the door so I can enter. The ringing sound echoes from the right, drawing my eye to the stalls that line the circumference of the barn. Unlike what I expected, these are clean. It doesn’t smell like animal shit. In one enclosure, two men are fighting with swords. The darker-haired man lunges at the other, who barely avoids being sliced in half. I snort, thinking I could have done so much better. I glance at the next stall where two people are doing karate. Then I see a flash of white and realize at least one is using magic.

“Wow.” I blink, turning back to Matt. “What is this place?”

“The Barn.” He’s clearly taking great amusement in my confusion. There’s a smirk on his face as he leads me over to a desk in the center of the circle. “Hey, Sjade. This is Finn, he’s a virgin.”

“How did you—? Oh,” I trail off as I realize he means this is my first time here. I scowl.

“Welcome.” Sjade smiles. She can’t be much older than me. Her brown hair is tied back in a ponytail that rests on her shoulder. She’s not wearing a uniform or a nametag, just a pair of jeans and a black shirt. “Are you here for a lesson or to fight?”

“To fight,” I say immediately. Why would I need a lesson? I’m only nineteen and already the best on my team.

“Great.” She types a few things into her computer. “You need to fill out a couple of forms, then I’ll pair you with one of our employees.” She pulls a stack of papers from the desk and slides them over. “Once you’re in our files, the process will be easier. Next time, just bring your ID.”

I stare at the unfamiliar words. What the hell is an indemnity?

“It’s all standard,” Matt says. “Most of it is just verifying that you know you’re about to fight someone, you could get hurt, or break something, that they have healers on staff for after the match is complete, blah blah, potential death...” He shrugs. “You know, standard.”

“Potential death?” I read over the first form, which, as he says, is fairly standard. “How many people have died?”

“Since I’ve been here?” Sjade says. “Like, three."

“Three?” I raise a brow but begin signing, anyway. Surely hundreds of people come here. I pause midway into my signature. “How long have you been here?"

“About five years now,” Sjade replies.

“Oh.” I finish signing. That’s less than one a year. More people die walking down the street in that same timeframe. “How much does it cost?”

“Each session is fifty dollars. Sessions last however long the fight lasts. Most employees will ensure you get at least half an hour. But the first session is always free. We don’t want you to pay for something you might not like.”

“Awesome!” I complete the rest of the papers and pass them back.

Matt pats me on the shoulder. “You’re going to love this place!”

“Stall Five.” Sjade motions toward a section of numbered stalls. “Your partner will be over shortly. Have fun!”

I head toward my assigned spot, peering into the other stalls as I pass. Though enclosed, each has only a half door, which allows me to see the fights inside. The first is between two guys with swords.

They appear evenly matched. Their swords clash into each other, the loud clangs reverberating through the closest walls. The next two stalls are empty, but the one next to mine causes me to stop and gape in horror. 

Inside is a large black demon; its wings spread wide and its tail cracking against the ground. Fighting this almost seven-foot creature is a lean girl in her mid-teens. She moves like fluid, gliding past the demon, dodging its attacks. There’s a blur of motion as the demon lunges, snapping its wings toward her while simultaneously lashing its tail around her body. I suck in my breath, terrified this girl is going to get sliced in half by the blades on the demon’s tail. But no matter how fast the demon moves, the girl is quicker. One moment she’s in front of him; the next she’s at his side, landing a powerful hit against its ribs.

“Holy shit.” I’m afraid to breathe, afraid to draw the girl’s attention away from the fight and get her killed. “That thing’s twice her size,” I tell Matt, as if he can’t see that for himself.

“That’s Genesis,” Matt says. “She’s working her way through the staff.” He pauses before adding, “From weakest to their best.”

“Do they have someone better than the demon?”

“The owner, Shen. This one is Azzin, their second best.” Matt leans on their stall door. I slowly inch closer without taking my eyes away from the match.

Genesis moves like a swan. She dodges the demon’s attacks as if she is moving faster than the world around her. She pauses long enough for me to notice a bead of sweat sliding down her cheek and the dampness of her long brown hair. Several strands are free of the tight braid that falls mid-way down her back. The moment passes and Azzin lunges for her once more.

I suck in my breath, but Genesis ducks under his wings, landing a hit against his black armored skin. It sounds like it hurt her more than him. “Why doesn’t she have a weapon?” I whisper.

“Doesn’t want one.” Matt shrugs. “She’s fought all of them hand-to-hand.”

He doesn’t seem worried about distracting her, so I speak a little louder. “How many of them has she won against?” I ask. It’s not a big place, and there couldn’t be more than a handful of workers, especially if she is already facing their second best.

“Two hundred and thirteen, I think.” Matt tips his head a bit. “Maybe only two hundred and ten. Shen just hired a couple new ones.”

“Two hundred people work here? How long has she been coming? She can’t be over fifteen!”

“Seventeen I think.” Matt watches the pair dance around each other. “She needed rematches with a couple of them. This is her sixth time with Azzin, I believe.”

“She’s fought him…” I trail off and just watch. Now that I know what to look for, they do seem to know each other’s next moves. Genesis lands more hits, but they don’t seem to matter. Azzin doesn’t put the effort in to even dodge half the time. On the other hand, he can’t seem to touch her. Genesis’ speed and smaller size put her at an advantage, but his armored skin and size would tip the scales if he could reach her.

Which inevitably happens, but it’s so fast I can’t track the movement. One moment she slips past him and the next his tail is wrapped around her ankle and his hand against her neck. He slams her against the wall, sending a shower of dust from the ceiling as the entire barn shakes. She doesn’t seem to have given up the fight, though; her fingers swipe toward his face as her legs kick out.

Azzin tightens his grip, and his tail pulls on the leg it’s wrapped around. She lets out a low hiss, then goes still. Her eyes narrow into thin slits. Azzin holds her a moment longer before his tail unwinds and he sets her down. He steps back, giving her space to breathe.

“You did well,” he says.

I’ve never been this close to a demon before. His voice is deep and even though he doesn’t sound angry, I can feel the power in his words.

“I lost.” Her voice though is flat. Angry.

“You lasted longer this time,” he encourages.

“Longer isn’t a win.” She runs a hand over her neck, but the red skin already seems to heal.

“Longer is a step toward your goal,” Azzin consoles.

“Again.” She drops her hand and gets into a fighting stance.

“I’m not fighting you again today."

“Why?” Her gaze darkens. “I’ll win this time.”

“You’re tired,” he says as she wipes sweat from her brow. “You lost when you were fresh. You’ll lose again.”

She looks ready to protest.

“I’ll fight you,” I speak up. They both turn toward me.

“Finn,” Matt whispers. “That’s not a good idea.”

“I can take her.” I motion toward the girl. She’s already tired, and even if she wasn’t, I just watched her fight. I know what I need to do. I’m a great fighter, probably the best in my town. I’ve likely faced people stronger and faster than her. This should be a piece of cake.

The demon walks over, his gaze flicking toward Matt before landing on me. “This is your first time?” he asks.

“Yeah. But I’ve been fighting longer than she’s been out of diapers.”

“We don’t typically allow our guests to fight each other,” Azzin says.

“I’ll fight him.” Genesis walks over. Up close, I can see the outline of muscles under her red shirt – not those of a bodybuilder, but solid abs, the body of someone with muscles they use to move, not lift weights. The black workout pants hug her legs, from the curve of her hips down to a pair of flat black shoes that look like ballet slippers.

“See, she wants to.”

“When you get hurt—” Azzin starts.

“Mira’s here,” Genesis cuts him off. “She’ll bring him back from the dead for you.” She walks to the center of the stall and beckons to me. “Let’s go.”

I unlatch the door and step in, having to squeeze around the demon to get by. Azzin eyes us a moment before leaving and securing the door. He leans against it and whispers something to Matt, who gives a small nod.

“Do you use magic?” I ask. I didn’t see her use it with the demon, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the ability. Several creatures have access to it, even some humans, which I assume she is.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I use no weapons, no magic. You can use whatever you’d like.” She stretches out her leg and flexes her ankle. I notice the tears in her pants and the dried blood underneath. The spikes on Azzin’s tail must have wounded her.

“Are you sure you’re up for another fight?” This will be even simpler with her injury. Now I feel like I have a ninety-nine percent chance of winning.

“Yes.” She lowers her leg and beckons. “When you’re ready.”

I lunge, remembering how she dodged the demon and fake to one side at the last moment. A move that works all the time in the video game.

But she’s not there anymore. Before I can turn, pain shoots up my side. Something hard slams into my back. I hear a crack and my legs give out from under me. I fall forward, just as something connects with the back of my head and the world goes dark.

***

“You could have at least waited for me to get to the stall before you put him down.” I hear a woman’s voice… but it sounds like it’s underwater.

“I tried to tell him,” another voice, deeper in pitch but clear, says.

My head is pounding and my back feels like it’s on fire. I try to rub my head, but I can’t feel my arms and the rest of my body seems just as heavy. I open my eyes and wince, shutting them again against the harsh light.

“You’re awake? Don’t move. I haven’t healed your spine yet.”

“My spine?” More aware, I try to assess my pain and realize I can’t feel anything besides my back and head. “What’s going on? Am I dying?” Panic seizes me.

“Calm down. You’ll be on your way in no time.”

“Mira,” the deeper voice warns. I refocus and realize I know this voice, it belongs to that demon.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” Mira answers.

I try to process what’s going on. I went with Matt to The Barn. There was a demon and that girl there. I fought the girl. “Did I win?” I open my eyes again, wincing at the brightness but blink rapidly to force them to stay open. “I won right?”

“Sure, man.” Matt’s voice comes from the other side of me, but I can’t turn my head to see him. “You totally won.”

“He did not.” Genesis’s voice comes from further away, but I can’t see her either.

“I call it a win. You didn’t kill him,” Azzin points out. Him, I can see. He doesn’t look mad, more… amused? Why does it seem like he’s laughing?

I move my head around as best as I can and see the girl closest to me, Mira, I’d guess, running her hand along my chest. I can’t feel it. “Wait, what are you doing? Why can’t I feel that? Why can’t I feel my legs?”

“Easy.” The girl brushes a pale finger against my cheek. That, I can feel, and some of the panic subsides. “Your spine is broken. I’m going to heal it, and you’ll be as good as new.”

“I’m paralyzed?”

“Only for a couple more minutes.”

“I told you it was a bad idea,” Matt says.

“She cheated,” I huff, sure that was the case. I’m the best in my town.

“I don’t cheat,” Genesis said placidly.

“You must have. No other way you would have won.”

“Genesis has been coming here for some time,” Azzin says. I glance at him and notice the smile still playing on his lips. Why is he finding all of this so funny? “I didn’t see this going any other way, honestly.”

“I want a rematch.” I try to turn my head to find the girl, but I can’t get my neck to comply with the order.

“You want me to break your back again?” Genesis asks.

“No, this time I’m going to break yours.”

“He still has damage to his brain, Mira,” Genesis says. “I thought you were fixing him.”

“Must have missed some.” Mira smiles at me and pats my shoulder, which I can feel… sort of. “Don’t worry, I’ll double check before I let you leave.”

They all find this so funny, but I know Genesis must have done something, or perhaps the demon was the one who attacked me. I turn my gaze back toward him. That could be it. He came up behind me and knocked me out; that’s why he is finding all this amusing.

As if hearing my thoughts, Azzin’s grin widens. “I think you just underestimated her. It’s a common error. I made it too during my first fight with her.”

I stare at him, trying to decide if he read my mind, or if the comment was in line with the conversation. The longer I try to puzzle it out, the more I can feel the rest of my body. At first, I’m excited that I’m no longer paralyzed, then a sharp pain shoots through my side. I cry out.

“That’s a good sign,” Mira says. “I’ll fix your ribs once I finish on your spine.”

I try not to cry like a baby, but now that I can feel my body, it hurts more than it ever has before. My pants are damp and I hope it’s just dampness from sweat but I have a horrible feeling it’s not.

I wonder if people are watching, besides the four in the stall. I wonder if I’m still going to get my free match since I didn’t use it. Fuck, I wonder if Matt’s ever going to let me live this down.

The seconds tick by, and it feels like hours before the pain finally subsides. A few moments later, Mira touches my shoulder. “Sit up slowly.”

I do as instructed, my limbs feeling heavy. At least I can feel them again.

“Good.” She sits back and digs a small bottle out of a bag by her and holds it out. “Drink.”

How stupid is it to trust a complete stranger? I take the bottle, unscrew the cap, and sniff at the red liquid inside. This could be anything: Poison. Love potion. Bubble Bath. I swallow the contents in one swig. Definitely not bubble bath. “What was that?”

“Isn’t that a question one asks before drinking?” Mira raises a brow. I wonder if it really was poison. Seems a waste. She put all this time in fixing me up just to kill me. She laughs. “It’s just a healing potion. It’ll help with the aches.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I look over at Matt. “Can we go?”

“Yeah.” Matt walks over and helps me up. It still feels like I’m laden with weights. The walk to the front door is slow, but no one seems to take notice. I’m glad they all seemed preoccupied with the other fights to have even known what happened to me.

“How bad was it?” I ask once outside.

“I took a video.” A smile spreads across Matt’s face. “I’m so glad I did.”

And now I know… he’s never going to let me live this down.

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