Free The Underground City by H. P. Mallory

head. “We gonna start with some skull crushers,” he abruptly announced in a getting-down-to-business tone.
    “Of course we are,” I said underneath my breath while following him to an unoccupied bench. Beside it stood multiple barbells, some with bent handles and others that were just straight across. Next to that was a large white bucket. Ael reached inside the bucket and grabbed two Handrels by the scruff of their necks before pulling them out. Addressing me, he said, “Grab one o’ them twenty pound bars,” and motioned to the bar rack.
    Never having held a barbell before, I wasn’t sure which one was a twenty-pounder; but luckily for me, they were labeled. I gripped the one he requested and lifted it up with both hands, carrying it to the bench. I rested one end of the bar against the bench seat while eyeing the Handrels with sincere concern. Ael dropped each of them onto the bench and they scurried toward the bar, one nipping at the other when it inadvertently cut him off. The other one growled a response, but dutifully got in line behind the first one. They both climbed up the barbell, their tiny rat-like claws making a scratching sound as they did. “Um, are you sure I need to use those on my very first workout?” I asked, frowning up at Ael.
    “Who’s the trainer? Me or you?” he growled back.
    “Um, you are,” I said with an equal amount of hesitation.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said with a nod while making his lips tight. “Now lay down with the back of your head on the end o’ the bench.” I did as I was instructed and Ael placed the bar in my hands. The Handrels clung to either end of it, curled around the metal in orange, furry balls. “Keep your elbows tucked in; an’ then you’re gonna lower the bar directly over your face by bendin’ only at the elbow,” Ael continued. “Keep the bar level, else you’re gonna end up with some sore ass fingers.” I figured he was referring to the bite of the Handrels. Fearing for my fingers, I gritted my teeth and lowered the bar, being extra careful to keep it perfectly balanced. But it wasn’t as easy as Ael made it sound, and consequently, the bar slumped to the right. In no time, the balled up little bastard rushed over and bit me right on the knuckle.
    “Ow!” I yelled.
    “Keep the bar straight, or else you’re gonna get it from the other one!” Ael warned me. I immediately righted the bar. “Now keep yer elbows tucked in!” he continued. I tucked in my elbows as far as they’d go. “Lower the bar over your face!” I lowered it and felt a burning pain in my triceps. But I figured that was where I was supposed to feel it. Better there than on my poor knuckles. “Now bring your arms back ta the front!” Ael demanded. I did so and finished the first exercise of my set, with my fingers all the worse for wear. I breathed out a sigh of relief … a sigh which was short-lived. “Now, you gotta do fourteen more!”
    “What?” I ground out, the bar starting to slope again. I immediately straightened it and resumed my set, promising myself that somehow, someway, I would get even with Tallis over this.
    “Number two, come on!” Ael yelled. “I ain’t got all day, woman!” I busted out my next skull crusher, glaring at the Handrels as I did so. I kept the bar straight. “Number three!” Taking a breath, I brought the bar back over my head again.
    “Dude!” Bill’s voice suddenly exclaimed as he appeared directly over me. Consequently, I lost control of the bar and not one, but both Handrels bit my index fingers at exactly the same time.
    “Son of a bitch!” I wailed, glaring at Bill as soon as I straightened the bar again. “Bill, can’t you see I’m busy?!”
    Bill nodded, giving a two-second glance to the Handrels before facing me again. “Sorry, Lils, but I totally just experienced peehicular manslaughter in the men’s room.”
    “What the hell you talkin’ ‘bout?” Ael asked, his voice as irritated as mine