chapter fifty-nine:
❛ skeletons ❜

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Arizona's fingers trembled as she clenched them into fists at her sides. She stood outside the psychiatric facility, staring up at the dull gray building, her stomach twisted in knots. The air smelled like rain, heavy with the kind of tension that made her chest tighten. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, but she wasn't sure if it was from nerves or the sheer fury boiling inside her.

This was the last place she wanted to be.

For weeks, she had avoided thinking about her father. She had buried the memories, ignored the nightmares, forced herself to focus on Diego, on Mom, on moving forward. But the anger hadn't faded. It had only festered, clawing at her insides, demanding release.

And now, she was here.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed through the heavy glass doors, the artificial chill of the air conditioning making her skin prickle. The inside smelled sterile-too clean, too lifeless, like a place that had stripped away everything human. A nurse at the front desk looked up, offering her a polite but detached smile.

"I'm here to see Alexander Reyes," Arizona said, her voice sharp and unwavering.

The nurse nodded, checked something on her computer, and then gestured for Arizona to follow. Each step down the long, dimly lit hallway felt heavier, like her body was resisting, screaming at her to turn back. But she didn't. She couldn't.

Finally, they reached a door with a thick glass window. The nurse opened it, stepping aside.

And there he was.

Her father sat in a chair near the window, the weak morning light casting long shadows across his face. He looked different-thinner, paler, with dark circles under his eyes. His posture was slumped, his shoulders hunched, as if the weight of his sins had finally caught up to him.

For a split second, Arizona felt something stir in her chest. Not sympathy. Not pity. Just the ghost of a memory-of a time when he had been her father, when she had loved him. When she had trusted him.

But then he turned his head, his tired eyes meeting hers, and whatever flicker of warmth she might have felt was instantly extinguished.

"Arizona," Alexander said, his voice hoarse, almost hesitant. "I wasn't expecting you to come."

She stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her, sealing them in together. The air between them was suffocating.

"Don't say my name like that," she spat, her voice shaking with restrained rage. "Like you have any right to."

He opened his mouth, but she cut him off.

"You put me in a coma," she hissed, her nails digging into her palms. "You hit me. You-my own father-hurt me so badly that I woke up in a hospital bed with no memory of what happened. Do you even understand what that's like? To wake up and not know why your body is broken? To have your own brother too scared to look at you because of what you did?"

Alexander flinched, his hands gripping the arms of his chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. "I wasn't- I wasn't in my right mind, Arizona. I never meant to-"

"Don't you dare," she snapped, stepping closer, her body vibrating with fury. "Don't you dare make excuses. You were always like this. Controlling. Manipulative. Violent. You think blaming your 'state of mind' changes anything? It doesn't. You destroyed everything."

Her breathing was ragged, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.

"Do you even know what you did to Mom?" she demanded. "She was getting better. She was finally healing, and then you showed up and dragged her back down. And Diego? He's just a kid. He should be playing video games and complaining about homework, not worrying about whether his father is going to come back and hurt us again."

Alexander's expression twisted with pain, but she didn't care.

"You ruined us," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You don't get to be in our lives anymore. Not mine. Not Diego's. Not Mom's. We're done. Do you hear me?"

His hands trembled as he reached out, as if he thought he could still fix this. "Arizona, please," he said, his voice breaking. "I-I can get better. I can make this right."

She let out a bitter laugh, stepping back as if his words physically repulsed her.

"You can't fix what you broke," she said, her voice cold. "And I don't want you to."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. The air was thick with everything left unsaid, but Arizona had nothing more to give him. He had taken enough.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked toward the door.

"Arizona," he called after her, desperation laced in his voice. "Please."

She paused, her hand resting on the door handle. But she didn't turn around.

"I hope you do get better," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "But not for us. Not for me. Because we're never coming back."

And with that, she stepped out into the hallway, the door shutting behind her with a final, resounding click.

She didn't look back. Not this time. Not ever.

Arizona pushed open the glass doors of the facility, stepping out into the crisp afternoon air. The sun was bright, but it did nothing to warm the cold fury still simmering inside her. Her heart was still pounding, her hands shaking slightly from the confrontation with her father.

She had done it. She had finally told him everything she needed to say. But instead of relief, there was just a hollow, burning ache in her chest.

With a frustrated sigh, she pulled her phone from her pocket, ready to distract herself from the emotions clawing at her. The second she unlocked the screen, a notification popped up.

Miguel: Arizona, call me ASAP.

Her brows furrowed. Miguel never texted like that. A small knot of worry formed in her stomach as she quickly typed back.

Arizona: What's going on?

Three dots appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again. The wait made her chest tighten.

Finally, Miguel's reply came.

Miguel: It's Robby.

Her stomach dropped. Her fingers were already moving before she even processed what she was doing.

Arizona: What about Robby?

Miguel: He broke his leg.

The world seemed to tilt for a second. Arizona stopped dead in her tracks, the parking lot around her blurring.

Arizona: WHAT?? HOW??

There was a pause. Then another message.

Miguel: It was Axel.

The moment she read those words, everything inside her snapped.

Axel.

That son of a bitch.

Arizona felt a sharp rush of rage unlike anything she had felt in a long time. Her grip on her phone tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.

Arizona: Explain. Now.

Miguel responded quickly.

Miguel: It was during the match. Robby was winning, but Axel got desperate. He did some illegal move, took Robby down hard. His leg-

Arizona could barely read the rest. Her vision was clouded with red-hot fury. Her blood roared in her ears, drowning out every other sound.

Axel had broken Robby's leg.

That piece of shit.

Her breathing grew ragged as she clenched her free hand into a fist. She should've known. She should've known Axel wouldn't fight fair. He was always looking for ways to hurt people-ways to prove he was stronger, no matter what it took.

And now Robby was paying the price.

She turned on her heel, marching toward her car with a singular purpose.

Axel was going to regret this.

Arizona's hands were still trembling with rage as she stormed down the dimly lit hallway of Axel's hotel. The cheap patterned carpet muted the sound of her steps, but the fire burning inside her was loud-deafening. The moment she had read Miguel's text, she hadn't hesitated. She had gotten in her car and driven here without a second thought.

Axel had broken Robby's leg.

That bastard had taken things too far this time.

Her usual calm, collected demeanor-the one she had spent so much time trying to maintain-was gone. There was no room for patience, no room for Zen. There was only fury, sharp and seething, coursing through her veins like gasoline waiting to ignite.

She had nearly reached Axel's room, her fist raised to pound on the door, when a slow, mocking voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miyagi-Do's little golden girl."

Arizona exhaled sharply, her fists clenching at her sides. She already knew who it was before she turned.

Zara.

The smirking girl leaned casually against the hallway wall, arms crossed over her chest, eyes gleaming with amusement. She was always there-always lingering around Axel like a parasite, always ready to run her mouth.

Arizona let out a slow breath, trying to push down the anger surging through her. She wasn't here for Zara. She was here for Axel.

But Zara wasn't done.

"What, you here to cry about Robby? Gonna beg Axel to say sorry?" Zara taunted, pushing off the wall and sauntering closer. "Face it, Arizona. Your little 'peace and love' karate didn't do shit for him. Maybe if he actually learned how to fight like us, he wouldn't be in a hospital bed."

Arizona stilled.

Her jaw tightened. Her breath came slow and measured, her fingers curling so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

She had been trying to stay calm. Trying to remind herself that Zara wasn't worth it.

But that?

That was it.

Before she even thought about it, her body moved on instinct.

In a flash, she grabbed Zara by the collar and slammed her against the wall, hard enough to make the nearby picture frames rattle.

Zara's cocky smirk faltered for just a second, her eyes widening slightly before she recovered, rolling her eyes. "Oh, wow. Look at you. Finally growing a backbone?" she sneered, though Arizona could hear the slight unease in her voice.

Arizona leaned in, her face inches from Zara's, voice dangerously low. "I've been patient. I've been calm," she muttered, her grip tightening. "But you? You're really pushing it."

Zara scoffed, trying to act unbothered. "Oh, please. What, you gonna start fighting like a real karateka now? Finally ditching that pathetic defense crap?"

Arizona's eyes flashed. She had been insulted before. She had been mocked before. But insulting her dojo? Insulting the very foundation of everything she stood for?

That was a step too far.

"You're gonna regret insulting my dojos," Arizona growled.

And then, without another word, she shoved Zara to the side, sending her stumbling.

Zara let out an annoyed huff, straightening her jacket and rolling her shoulders like it was no big deal. But Arizona saw it-the flicker of unease in her eyes. The way she took a small step back.

"Whatever," Zara muttered. "Go ahead, go cry to Axel. See how that works out for you."

Arizona didn't respond.

She cracked her knuckles.

Zara was nothing more than an annoying fly buzzing in her ear.

But Axel?

He was about to find out just how badly he had messed up.

Arizona barely spared Zara another glance as she turned and stormed toward Axel's hotel room. Her blood was still boiling, her muscles tense with barely restrained fury. She had come here for one reason, and she wasn't leaving until Axel knew exactly what kind of hell he had unleashed.

Without hesitation, she pounded on the door, the sound echoing through the quiet hallway.

Nothing.

She pounded again, harder this time. "Open the damn door, Axel!"

A few seconds passed before the door finally swung open, revealing Axel standing there, looking like he had just woken up. His hair was messy, and he wore a loose hoodie and sweats, but Arizona didn't care. The second she saw his face, the anger inside her flared even hotter.

"Arizona?" Axel muttered, rubbing his eyes. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, I don't know," Arizona snapped, stepping into the doorway. "Maybe because you broke Robby's damn leg in the middle of the tournament?"

Axel's expression faltered. His usual smug, cocky demeanor faded as his lips pressed into a thin line. He shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable.

Arizona scoffed. "What? No smartass comeback? No pathetic excuse?" She took a step closer, eyes burning with intensity. "I don't know how you weren't eliminated after that, but best believe karma is coming your way, Axel." She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "I'm done playing nice girl."

Axel looked away for a second, his jaw tightening. He exhaled slowly before muttering something under his breath. It was so quiet that Arizona almost missed it.

But she didn't.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. She recognized that tone. It wasn't cocky, it wasn't aggressive-it was almost... regretful.

Still, she wasn't about to let that distract her.

She let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Oh, come on, Axel. I know you have a crush on me or whatever." She waved a hand dismissively. "But that doesn't mean you get to go after my teammates just because you're jealous I have a boyfriend."

Axel's head snapped up at that, his brows furrowing slightly. "That's not-"

Arizona rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Don't even try to deny it."

Axel pressed his lips together, his shoulders tensing. He didn't confirm it, but he didn't deny it either.

Arizona sighed, shaking her head. "Grow up, Axel," she muttered. "Because the next time you pull something like this? You will regret it."

She didn't wait for him to respond.

With one final glare, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Axel standing in the doorway, frowning after her.

The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the neighborhood as Sam pulled up to Dylan's house. The familiar sight of his porch, the place where they had spent so many late nights talking, should have brought her comfort. But tonight, her chest felt heavy with the weight of her decision.

She stepped out of the car, her footsteps light against the wooden porch steps. Dylan was already outside, completely absorbed in tinkering with one of his robots. Small tools were scattered around him, and the quiet whir of tiny mechanical gears filled the space between them. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he adjusted a piece, but the second he sensed her presence, he glanced up.

"Hey, you." He smiled, his usual warmth present-but as soon as he caught the look on her face, his smile faded slightly. "What's up?"

Sam hesitated before sinking onto the porch beside him, pulling her knees up to her chest. She stared at the half-built robot in his hands, watching as its tiny arms twitched.

"I'm dropping out of the tournament," she said finally, her voice even but firm.

Dylan's hands paused mid-adjustment. He turned to face her fully, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Wait... what? Why?"

Sam exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I'm not the one who should be fighting Zara," she admitted. "Robby's out, which means I'm the only one left representing Miyagi-Do. If I stay in, I'd have to fight both Zara and Tory."

Dylan gave a slow nod, processing her words. "Yeah... and?"

"I talked to Tory," Sam continued, looking at him now. "And we came up with something."

Dylan arched a brow. "Something?"

Sam inhaled deeply before explaining. "Cobra Kai is still in the tournament, which means if I forfeit, Tory would go up against Zara in the finals."

Dylan's jaw tensed slightly. "So, what? You're just giving her the win?"

"No," Sam shook her head quickly. "Tory already won a tournament. She doesn't need another title. And... she knows that last time? The refs cheated for her." Sam's gaze flickered downward. "The truth is, Arizona won that match. She just never got the credit for it."

Dylan's eyes softened slightly. "And Tory's okay with that?"

"She's the one who brought it up," Sam admitted. "She wants Arizona to have this shot. So, I told Johnny and Miguel, and they're going to talk to her. Arizona and Miguel are going to take Kwon and Tory's spots for Cobra Kai."

Dylan let out a slow breath, shaking his head slightly. "Arizona fighting for Cobra Kai?" He let out a short, incredulous laugh, setting his robot down. "That's insane."

Sam smirked faintly. "Yeah, technically."

Dylan leaned back against the porch railing, crossing his arms. "Are we even sure she's gonna go for this? I mean..." He hesitated. "Cobra Kai really messed her up before. It's why she's so zen now."

Sam held his gaze, her expression unwavering. "She'll want to," she said with certainty. "Trust me."

Miguel and Johnny exchanged a look as they stood outside Arizona's apartment. Johnny had his arms crossed, looking slightly uncomfortable, while Miguel tapped his foot anxiously. They weren't sure how this conversation was going to go-Arizona had distanced herself from Cobra Kai ever since she left, and now they were about to ask her to put on that gi again.

Miguel exhaled, running a hand through his hair before knocking on the door. A moment later, Arizona opened it, dressed in workout clothes, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of them.

"Hey," she greeted. "Didn't expect you guys to show up."

Miguel hesitated, glancing at Johnny before clearing his throat. "Can we come in? We need to talk."

Arizona stepped aside, letting them in. The apartment was neat, with a few candles burning on the counter, filling the space with the scent of vanilla and something earthy. She leaned against the arm of the couch, arms crossed, waiting for them to speak.

Johnny was the first to break the silence. "Alright, I'm just gonna say it-Sam's dropping out of the tournament."

Arizona's brows lifted slightly, but she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Miguel took over. "She doesn't think she's the one who should be fighting Zara. Since Robby's out, she's the only one left from Miyagi-Do... but if she forfeits, that means Tory would end up fighting Zara in the finals."

Arizona nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. "Okay... and?"

Miguel inhaled deeply. "Tory already won a tournament. She doesn't need to prove herself again. But you-" He met Arizona's gaze. "You should have won against her back then. The refs cheated you out of it."

Arizona scoffed lightly. "Yeah, no kidding."

Miguel stepped closer. "Tory wants you to take her spot. You and I would be fighting for Cobra Kai."

For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed Arizona's face. "Wait... you want me to fight under Cobra Kai?"

Johnny, who had been standing with his arms crossed the whole time, finally spoke up. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but this is bigger than dojo names now. It's about taking down the Iron Dragons before they spread their bullshit any further."

Miguel nodded. "We need someone strong enough to take them down. And you are that person."

Arizona was quiet for a moment, processing. Then, to their shock, she let out a small, amused exhale and shrugged. "Alright."

Miguel blinked. "Wait... what?"

Johnny frowned. "That's it? No arguing? No hesitation?"

Arizona tilted her head. "Well, Iron Dragons need to be taken down," she said simply. "No way I'm gonna let them win after what they did to Robby." Her tone darkened slightly. "Both Zara and Axel treated him like shit. No way I'm letting that slide."

Miguel stared at her for a second before breaking into a grin. There was that fire he loved about her. Without thinking, he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

Arizona stiffened at first, surprised, but then relaxed, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"You're amazing," Miguel murmured against her hair.

Arizona smirked as she pulled back. "I know."

Johnny rolled his eyes. "Alright, lovebirds, let's focus here."

Arizona just grinned. "Oh, don't worry. I'm focused. Iron Dragons are done."

The bright lights of the arena glared down on the massive mat, and the hum of the crowd filled the air with an electric energy. Gunther, the announcer, stood confidently at the center of the mat, holding a microphone. His voice boomed through the speakers, amplified by the sheer intensity of the moment.

"The Sekai Taikai has always been unpredictable," Gunther began, his tone dramatic, capturing the attention of every person in the arena. "But this year... this year has been like no other!" He paused, allowing the tension to build. The crowd grew silent, awaiting the next announcement.

Gunther's smile widened as he continued, "Samantha LaRusso has elected not to fight, officially ending Miyagi-Do Karate's impressive underdog run. Let's give them a round of applause!" He gestured to the side of the mat where Sam had been earlier, but now was absent, her decision final. A ripple of applause filled the air, but the mood was mixed-some cheered for Sam's bravery, while others were uncertain about the new direction.

The applause died down, and Gunther took a deep breath. "This now concludes our semifinal matches." He glanced down at his notes and looked back at the audience, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Cobra Kai not naming a replacement for their fallen captain means that Axel Kovacevic automatically becomes our new male champion."

The crowd reacted with a mix of cheers and polite claps. Axel stood tall in the corner of the mat, his posture rigid, but a sense of smug satisfaction on his face. His gaze remained fixed on the floor, but it was clear that the applause was more for the fact that no one could take his place, rather than any true admiration.

Gunther held up a hand, signaling for quiet. "However, Cobra Kai has named, not just one, but two replacements for this match." The atmosphere in the arena shifted, the anticipation building even further. "Tory Nichols has elected not to fight," Gunther continued, and there was a noticeable stir in the crowd. Some whispers spread like wildfire, the news of Tory's decision sinking in. The announcer took a moment to let the shock settle. "Joining on Team Cobra Kai will be Miguel Diaz and Arizona Alvarez!"

The announcement hung in the air like a charged cloud, and the crowd's reaction was instant-surprise, disbelief, and a few scattered cheers. The buzz of excitement and confusion spread, but all eyes were now trained on the entrance. The lights dimmed momentarily, and a puff of smoke swirled from the side of the stage.

From within the mist, two figures emerged side by side-Miguel Diaz and Arizona Alvarez, both donned in black Cobra Kai gis. Their eyes gleamed with determination, their stances strong and confident as they stepped forward onto the mat. A burst of applause followed, though it was far from unanimous. Some were excited to see fresh faces; others were cautious, unsure of what to expect.

Arizona's face was cool, collected, a subtle smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she surveyed the crowd, but it was her look that caught the attention of the audience. Her eyes locked on Axel as she took a slow step forward. The moment their gazes met, Arizona's smirk widened, a challenge in her eyes. Axel stood on the opposite side of the mat, his jaw clenched, and though he tried to hide it, his face betrayed a flicker of frustration. He looked down, avoiding her stare as if unable to fully comprehend what had just happened.

Then, Gunther spoke again, his voice filling the arena with excitement. "And joining them on the mat... coached by the two-time All Valley champion and their new sensei... Johnny Lawrence!"

The crowd's energy shifted again, a wave of eager applause building as Johnny emerged from the same puff of smoke that had revealed Miguel and Arizona. The familiar blue gi hung loosely on his frame, his eyes glinting with confidence as he strode across the mat. Johnny looked every bit the part of the mentor, moving with purpose and a sense of control, adding another layer to the drama unfolding before the crowd.

As he joined Arizona and Miguel, standing proudly beside them on the mat, the tension in the air was palpable. Arizona gave him a quick nod, acknowledging his presence without saying a word. Miguel, ever the supportive teammate, patted Johnny on the back before turning his attention back to the crowd.

Meanwhile, Arizona's gaze shifted back to Axel, who was still standing a few feet away, his posture a little less sure. Arizona's smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the way the situation had unfolded. She took another step forward, her confidence radiating. Axel's frown deepened as he noticed her smirk. It was almost as if he was trying to mask the feeling of being outmatched, though the pride in his stance made it clear he wasn't going down without a fight.

"You're going to regret underestimating us, Axel," Arizona thought to herself. She didn't say it out loud, but the fire in her eyes and the way she stood at the center of the mat sent a clear message. Whatever the outcome, she wasn't backing down from this fight. Not now. Not ever.

Gunther glanced at the two teams, the tension thick between them. "And there you have it! The match has been set!" he announced, his voice rising with the finality of it all. The crowd roared in response, fully engaged and ready for the drama that was about to unfold.

ASH SPEAKS!!

OUR QUEEN COBRA IS BACK BABY!

bro writing that last part i was giggling because arizona is gonna kick ZARA'S ASSSSS!!!!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! PLEASE!!!! PLEASE JUST VOTE AND COMMENT!! ITS NOT HARD

STOP BEING A FREAKIN GHOST READER!!! VOTE PLEASE!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! i dont how many times i have to say this. i am so sorry for the notifications but this is really annoying to see views go up when the votes aren't.