《The Fairy-Tale Hero》 Shell never forget In my life, i¡¯ve lived, i¡¯ve learned, and i¡¯ve grew, but there is something that I will always regret. I didn¡¯t see it before, but after fighting those who try to bring me harm or harm to those I love, I finally realized¡­ what everything meant. Those cherished moments we shared, the good, the bad, and the ugly, it was never meant to be hidden away inside me. It was to be held and brought to life, like the wonderful soul you have. You have harmed me in ways you don¡¯t understand, but I cannot stay mad at you forever. In my darkest moments, in my brightest, you have always been by my side like a guardian angel. And in the one moment you needed me most, I left you to suffer alone. I don¡¯t deserve your love, but living the life I had if I had to spend my last moments with someone i¡¯m glad it was you. Leaving you behind to face this hardship is something I can¡¯t help but hope you¡¯ll get over it. But I know that as you step forward in your life, nothing will be able to hold you back. I was so upset at myself for ever loving you, I was upset at not knowing who I really am, but now that i¡¯ve figured it out, it is too late. The lessons we learned as we grew from children to adults, i¡¯ve only realized now, that tomorrow isn¡¯t always promised. Now as I take my last breath, the burden that is on my chest is washed away. I can happily say this with no other intentions, but i¡¯m happy to know you, to love you, to fall in your arms. Tomorrow may not be promised, but I promise that forever and always even in death, I will always love you.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. -C.S Those words he spoke to her were not the ones she wanted to hear. She wanted him to tell her that everything would be alright, it would be just fine. She wanted him to tell her, that he would live. Yet in that final moment he told her not what she wanted to hear, but what must be said. Praying at his grave was a young woman. She couldn¡¯t stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks as she wished he lived. She promised herself countless times that this would be the final moment, the last time she returned here. Yet every time she thought of him, she found herself here at his grave once more. It has already been over a year since then but she still could not get over him. Over the love they shared. If the story of their love was put into a novel, she was sure it would be a best seller. She ran her hand over his tombstone as she said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Before she took her fifth step away from the grave, she turned around once more. The tombstone read, Clayton Smart Jr. The memories they hold together, the love they shared, if told to another would be a tragic tale. Chapter One The Fairy-Tale Hero Chapter 1 Haven''t you always thought about being some kind of superhero? I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn''t because truth be told I have countless times. But let us think about it for a moment, what makes a superhero so superheroy? Is it their special powers? Secret identities? Villains they face? The image they show? Maybe it is all of these things or something else entirely. For me, being a hero is a title given to those who show their worth and are responsible for their actions. You don''t need any powers to be a hero, all you need to do is just be there. There for your loved ones, your children, for those who call you in a time of need. In this day and age, someone is always calling out for help, as long as you arrive and give a helping hand you''ll be their hero. However I never wanted this job, I surely am not the hero type that people see me as. But I want to ask you, what type of hero are you? - Clayton Smart Date: 10/13/2016 ?????????? Seated on a soft cushioned chair was a young man no more than seventeen years of age. Dressed in a white Adidas zip up jacket, with a black t-shirt underneath. A pair of ripped blue jeans and some wheat colored Timberlands. He was leaning in the chair sighing deeply as he rolled his eyes at the older man across the desk. No matter how many times he came here, nothing changed. The older white man dressed in a classic black and white suit was reading over a sheet of paper as he glanced at the young man every now and then. To be honest, he didn¡¯t even need to read what the sheet said, he has talked to this young man plenty of times so he had the gist of what was going on. On the top of his smooth black desk read, ¡®Counselor Hamilton¡¯, and in this small room with one window that was overlooking the parking lot beneath, were plenty of plain posters and awards. Counselor Hamilton laid the paper down and stood up, slowly walking over to the window. The young male just wanted to leave, as he glanced at his golden watch every few seconds. Counselor Hamilton: Clayton, why do we have to constantly keep coming back to this same point every single time? I know you don¡¯t like being here as much as the next guy, but I don¡¯t like being here either. So tell me, why are we here again? Clayton gazed over at Counselor Hamilton as his mind recalled what happened a few moments ago. Not knowing why his teacher sent him here, he could only say what happened. Clayton: Mr. Hamilton I don¡¯t know what you are talking about, Samantha sent me over here after class. Saying I could do better if I chose my friends more wisely, and my grades are slacking. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that she continued bickering at me coming here, we wouldn¡¯t even be here today. Hearing his response, Counselor Hamilton turned around and looked Clayton in his light blue eyes. Counselor Hamilton: And, what do you think? Clayton: About? Counselor Hamilton: Don¡¯t play dumb here, we both know you are a smart young man. Clayton: If you mean me picking better friends, I don¡¯t think that is possible. Counselor Hamilton: Why not? People in society choose who they hang out with based on plenty of things. People toss each other aside like a piece of chewed gum once they are finished with them. It is simply human nature, so tell me how hard is it for a senior to toss away his current group of friends? Clayton: It isn¡¯t that simple. I¡¯m not those people, I treat my friends as if they are my own brothers. How could one cut off all relations with their brother just because another wants them to? Would you do that Mr. Hamilton? Would you? Counselor Hamilton: This isn¡¯t about me, it is about you. Tell me, were those brothers there for you when your house was shot up and burned to the ground? Did those brothers ever visit your mother who was in the hospital for two months? Clayton: No¡­ but¡­ Counselor Hamilton sighed and shook his head. Counselor Hamilton: Then those aren¡¯t your brothers! Although you are a good kid Clayton, those friends who you call your brothers are not. Half of them already dropped out of school, a quarter of them are locked up or dead. Tell me, do you want to be like them too or be better? Clayton: Better of course. You think I want to live like this? Counselor Hamilton: Tell me then, how do you want to live? Clayton crossed his arms and hung his head back for a moment thinking about it. He didn¡¯t know how he wanted to live. Before he was in this game, he had a goal for his life, but being in it for so many years, he lost sight of that goal. Clayton: I can¡¯t answer you right now. Counselor Hamilton: Fine, let me ask something else then. If you had to choice to be happy, how would you accomplish that? Clayton: Easy, I would make money. Counselor Hamilton: Money? What could money buy you? Clayton: Mr. Hamilton, although you guys are here to tell us that money can¡¯t make us happy, we all know that is some bull- that is totally not true. With money I could buy a car, a house, pay my taxes, buy anything I wanted. Although it wouldn¡¯t be real, I could find a gold-digging wife and have children with her. A job? I could bribe my way into any corporation or with my own money make my own. Money is the way of life, if you aren¡¯t living to get rich, then what are you living for? Counselor Hamilton made his way back to his chair as he sat down and crossed his legs. Counselor Hamilton: Is that you saying this, or your gangs saying? Clayton furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced at his golden watch and slightly grinned. Clayton: Sorry Mr. Hamilton, I don¡¯t know what gang you are talking about, but i¡¯m not in one. As much as I would love to finish this, it seems our session is up. Clayton jumped out of his chair as he grabbed his batman backpack and slung it over his shoulders. Counselor Hamilton tried to stop him, but Clayton ignored him and left his office. Time went by slowly, it seemed like it would be forever before school ended. After his fifth period ended, Clayton left the building going to the student parking lot. Hopping on his black Honda Motorcycle, Clayton threw on his black helmet as he revved the engine a little bit. He flicked the kickstand back with his foot and pushed off the ground before twisting his wrist. Off he went as he left the school parking lot and went onto the road. Inside his head, He already knew that school wasn¡¯t meant for him. The only reason he was here was simply because he wanted to make his mother proud. She only graduated high school and that was already hard to do, because when she was sixteen years old she had him. If it wasn¡¯t for her parents helping her out then she even doubted she would have been able to graduate high school. As for Clayton¡¯s father he only knew his name nothing else. Naturally as a young male growing up in a single parent household he always wanted to know his other parent. Maybe he was different from the others who was in the same situation like him, because they all hated their other parent for leaving. On the other hand, Clayton didn¡¯t hate his father, he only wanted to know why he left. Every single day that went by since Clayton was thirteen, he always wanted to know what it meant to be a man. He felt that the only person who would truly be able to answer this question was his own father, but since he was never around, he never got an answer. Maybe it would be good for him to start new in a world where no one knows him. Deep inside, he knew that Counselor Hamilton was only looking out for him as much as his teachers were, but he could never fully commit to them. As Clayton finally reached his parking lot, he parked his motorcycle and got off it. Taking off his helmet, he carried it in his hand as he made his way upstairs towards his apartment. It wasn¡¯t the best looking place in the world, but it gave him and his mother a place to lay their head. A place to cook their meals, wash their clothes, and live another day. He could afford a better place with the money he saved up from selling drugs, but it isn¡¯t like he could say, ¡°Hey mom let¡¯s move out this dump and move into a better place with the money I made from selling drugs!¡± If he said that he knew his mother would have a heart attack. She didn¡¯t know what he did, and to be honest he would rather she never found out. The money they were living on was the hard earned money his mother made, it was only enough to let them get by. Growing up, he didn¡¯t have the luxurious things in life, nor did he want them. Maybe that was a lie considering he did love to sport some new clothes every now and again. All the money he got from his mother he saved and put away. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want it, but once he got into this game, he didn¡¯t need it anymore. Sure he had to lie to her about him working part-time at a parts shop, but that was the only thing he lied to her about. How else could he explain the motorcycle he had, or the clothes he was currently wearing? Whatever he thought as he shook his head and rolled his eyes. As he approached his room number, he stopped just a few feet away from the entrance. It was as if his mind went blank for a moment as all the information in his head went straight out the window. Clayton POV Not believing what was in front of me, I just had to blink my eyes a few more times. However the person in front of me didn¡¯t disappear so I just knew that this was real. My left eye twitched slightly as I stared her in the eye with contempt. Although many males would be held captive by her beauty, I was appalled by it. What gave her the right to be here, right here at my front door! Those hazel eyes that held a saddened emotion in it could drive any man crazy. If you needed proof, then look at me, i¡¯m going crazy just looking deep into her eyes. Sarah: Hey Clayton. Soft spoken, sweet enchanting voice, but I knew what was really inside her. A vile witch that would tear anyone to pieces. Clayton: What do you want? Sarah: I¡­ I just wanted to tell you i¡¯m sorry. Clayton: Sorry? Sorry? You came here to tell me that you are sorry? Please, tell me you are joking? Looking at her jerk back a little at my sudden outburst, I knew I should calm my emotions down. But like a small crack in a damn that slowly spreads, my emotions started to spray out. Sarah: I know what I did was wrong, but did I truly deserve that? Did my emotions mean nothing to you? Clayton: Don¡¯t talk to me about your emotions when you did that to me! I can¡¯t believe you are even standing here today, what right do you have? Didn¡¯t I make myself clear last time, stay the fuck away from me! The slight tremble of her lips, and the tightening of her jaw made me realize how resolute she was to stand before me today after all she had done to me. Her hazel eyes moistened a bit as she walked closer towards me. Sarah: You know I didn¡¯t mean it, if I could take it back I would! After you left, it felt like a piece of my soul was torn apart. You think you are the only one who suffered? You think I don¡¯t think about my actions all the time regretting, blaming myself? Standing with you, walking with you, talking, cuddling, kissing, those were the happiest moments of my life. I know you felt it too, that moment our lips touched and when we pulled apart we both couldn¡¯t help but smile at each other. We couldn¡¯t even describe the feeling we felt, it was like we were in our own world. Her words held much truth behind it, but I was the fool. Fool me once, shame on me, but i¡¯m not the kind of man who shall be fooled again. Clayton: Regret? Blaming yourself? Why would you do that, when I should be blaming myself for ever falling for you! Do you know how hard it was to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night contemplating suicide? What we had felt like a dream, it was the most beautiful thing i¡¯ve ever had. I never wanted to wake up from my dream, never! Then that happened, and the dream I thought I was living turned out to be reality. Do you know how hard it is to be here, looking at you right now? Even now I can¡¯t stand it! I can¡¯t stand the fact that you are real, that what we had wasn¡¯t a dream. At this point, I felt something flow down my cheek slowly. Clayton: I tried, I really did. I tried to get you out of my head, but the pain I felt was a lot worse. I tried loving someone else, but your image haunted me every time I was close. I tried committing suicide, but I could never force myself to pull the trigger. Why? Why couldn¡¯t I do it? Because you are here. You, my inner demon who taunts my heart and pulls its strings. But I am not going back, not to you, or that dream we had! Sarah reached out her hand only the grab a piece of my jacket. She cried, but never came in for a hug. Maybe she thought that it would be ok, if she finally came here today. Maybe she put her hopes too high, hoping for me to forgive her. Sarah: Sorry¡­ i¡¯m¡­ sorry! A flood of emotions surged through my body when I heard those words! Sorry! No, i¡¯m tired of hearing people tell me that they are sorry! You messed up, you did this! Forgiveness is something you earn, not cry for. I swiped her arm away from me, leaving her in utter shock. I¡¯m done, with this, and her! Sarah: C-layt- Clayton: Girl, if you don¡¯t get the fuck from me. Look, I know you thought we had something special, but you don¡¯t mean nothing to me. My words, came crashing down on her harder than the death of her father. I might have been the only person left in her life who ever loved her as much as her family. With me gone, the only person she has left in her life that will ever care for her is her child. The child that broke us apart, and ruined everything. If she hated that child because of this, then that was her fault. It isn¡¯t that child''s fault that the things she did when we were together came clean. In fact, I appreciate the child for showing me the way that even if you truly love someone, they can still hurt you in ways you will never understand. Opening the door to my apartment, I hurry and shut the door. Even inside, I can still hear her crying. She was not the only one, as all the strength in my body faded away making me collapse to the ground. Holding my voice back, tears streamed down my face. The only thing blocking us from seeing each other cry was this thick wooden door. I don¡¯t think, i¡¯ll ever find another girl who I truly love. With my head resting in the palms of my hands, I ask my father who i¡¯ve never met before; ¡°Is this the trial a boy needs to go through to change into a man?¡± Images like those of screenshots on smart phones, came into my head. The first day we met, first date I ever had, our first kiss, my first time. She was like a goddess who descended to earth just for me, if she only existed in my dream my heart wouldn¡¯t hurt so much. At least then I would know for a fact that I would never have to meet her again. Sadly, she really exists and holds the key to my heart. She''s beautiful, outgoing, smart and the way she plays her tune is one of a kind. As soon as you listen, you don¡¯t want it to end. What I didn¡¯t know, was at the end of that sweet melody was a tragic end. Holding both the good and bad memories close to my heart, I seal it away deep inside my soul. If loving you was right, then what made me feel like this was wrong? Am I a man who is destined to never know what love truly is? I ask myself once again, Is this the trial a boy needs to go through to change into a man? Clayton POV End Her past collided with his own as she held everything that belonged to him. You could say he was void of any emotion until she came into his life. She was the only person who he could ever feel this way for, and it hurt him to know that. If the so called God they preach about loves all his children dearly, then why was his life always filled with tragic moments? His body was weak as he struggled to get up off the ground, even if he was the strongest man on earth, his heart was still weak. His light blue eyes had a tint of red in it as he made his way to his bedroom. He tried to calm his heart as he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. It has been months since he last saw her, and just when he thought she was gone from his life. Like a trampled flower, it grew life once again. Clayton¡¯s mind was invaded by images of her. He could still remember that pure white shirt she wore at the cafe they were at when they met. She was with her two best friends, and he was with Philip. Although it was his first attempt at talking to her, he was full of confidence. The first date they had when the only thing they did was stroll through the neighborhood talking. His first kiss with her that day they both ran home in the rain. Soaking wet and full of cheer, they shared their first kiss. When his mom was first hospitalized and he needed someone''s shoulder to cry on, she was there for him. Not his first time shedding a tear in front of someone, but it was his first shedding it in front of someone he was dating. They slept together countless times without even having sex. Staying up late at night falling asleep over the phone. It all lead up to the day he lost his virginity to her. Those moments they shared together he will never forget it, nor did he want to. She was his everything, but he wanted nothing. Even now, he could still remember¡­ Clayton POV Laying in the same bed, I stroked her long dark brown hair playfully. Her head laid on my arm while she faced away from me. We always slept together in this position. That was all we did, sleep. Although I am young and feel the urge to do more, I know that I have to control myself. If she isn¡¯t ready, then i¡¯m not either. We have all the time in the world to do what needs to be done, for her, I can be patient. Sarah: Clay, am I attractive? Clayton: Babe, there is no one in the entire world whose beauty can come as close to yours. If I had to choose between you and Beyonce, I would still choose you. She rolled over and smiled a little. I know she loved hearing me say that, what girl didn¡¯t love her man telling her that she was beautiful? Seeing her like this, I couldn¡¯t help myself as I kissed her lovely nose. As I drew my face away, he arms wrapped around my neck and I was brought in towards a passionate kiss. Is it weird that her lips taste like cherries? I don¡¯t know if this is what others thought, but that is what her lips tasted like. Her small mouth opened a little as our tongues entwined a little. Our breath got rugged as we both gasped for air. She was being a little more aggressive tonight, I wondered why. While we kissed, my hands caressed her back as they made their way downwards until I squeezed her small butt. It was soft like a marshmallow, my hands felt like they were sinking in. She rolled over on top of me and took off her green t-shirt revealing a pink bra. My mind was in chaos, was this really happening? Looking at her hazel eyes that was revealing a seductive stare my lower half couldn¡¯t help but rise up. Clayton: Babe, are you sure? I just had to ask, she didn¡¯t need to do this. We could wait, she was worth it. Maybe one of her friends told her something that made her be like this, I couldn¡¯t do this if that was the case. Sarah didn¡¯t answer me as she lowered her head and kissed me once more. Sarah: I¡¯m sure. She kissed me on my neck, and her hands removed my dark blue sweater. I wasn¡¯t going to lie, her being this aggressive got me turned on. Usually she is more passive, but today she was going all in. It gave me a different feeling about her, one that I knew I would get drunk on if she did this all the time. I wondered if it was childish as we rolled around on the bed. One moment she was on top the next I was. If this was a dream, I didn¡¯t want to wake up. Soon we were both naked as she laid beneath me with her face flushed red. She turned her head shyly away from me. Sarah: Clay, i¡¯m sorry this isn¡¯t my first time. Although she said she had a boyfriend the first time we met, I never thought that they would have had sex already. I mean, me and her are both fifteen, when did they have sex? No, you shouldn¡¯t think like this. Although you can¡¯t be her first right now, you can be her first later. I smiled gently at her. Clayton: Babe, I don¡¯t care if i¡¯m not your first. However you will be my first, and my last. It might have sounded cheesy as we were both young and we had a long road ahead of us, but I meant what I said. I could see myself being with her for the rest of my life, nothing else mattered. In this moment, it seemed as if the world I knew belonged only to us two.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She turned her head back to me as she gazed into my light blue eyes and kissed me on the lips. With that, I gave a light thrust as we both became one. This moment I was living in now, I don¡¯t believe I would ever forget it. Clayton POV End ?????????? As time past, Clayton¡¯s face expression changed from happy to sad. Even now, she was still in his heart. Placing his hand over his head, he knew that he had a slight headache. Maybe it was from the dream he had, maybe it was due to the confrontation with Sarah earlier? Or maybe this was brought about because of what he did to her. His eyes wandered towards his phone that had a small blue light flickering on and off. The first thought that came towards his mind was that it was Sarah trying to contact him again, but he still wanted to check. Even after all this time he could still not find the courage to change his number. He knew that if he did that, she would have no way to contact him once more. Although they were not together, although that both caused each other deep wounds that would forever be on their hearts, he could never forget about her. Love is it? Maybe it is, maybe it isn¡¯t, one thing was certain, he was feeling pain. Pain that one only feels when they know their perfect world is being torn apart. It already happened once, he didn¡¯t want to let it happen again. Sighing as he grabbed it, he noticed there were three missed calls and a single text message. It wasn¡¯t from Sarah, but instead Cam. The one person who he didn¡¯t want to deal with right now wanted to deal with him instead. It wasn¡¯t like Cam was a bad person, so to say. It was just that when he wanted something from you, it never ends the way you want it to. And at this point, he didn¡¯t want to deal with anymore drama. Nevertheless, he still must contact him. Simply because if he doesn¡¯t, Cam gets angry. When Cam gets angry, all hell breaks loose, and no one wants to see that. Especially not Clayton. As he began dialing Cam¡¯s number, Cam called instead. Clayton: Hey man. Cam: What have you been doing? I¡¯ve called you and sent you a message, I expected you to pick up the phone. Clayton: I wa- Cam: I could care less what you were doing. I don¡¯t care if you are taking the biggest shit of your life, you still answer. Now look, I have a guy who needs something delivered. And guess who was the lucky one to get chosen? Oh, you can¡¯t figure it out, well it is you. Clayton: Who is it? That guy on baker street? Cam: Look, don¡¯t worry about who it is. Just make sure you bring back my money, i¡¯ve sent you the street address along with what he wants. Make sure, and I mean make sure this goes well. He knew from the tone in Cam¡¯s voice that he was hiding something. He didn¡¯t know what he was hiding, but it was something that he didn¡¯t tell him. Usually Cam would be straight up about who it was that way everyone in the crew knows. Unless this time¡­ he didn¡¯t know who it was. As he thought about this very question, he already knew that answer. Clayton: Hell no! I¡¯m not going. Cam: What? You- look, I don¡¯t know what has gotten into you, but trust me on this. We¡¯ve known each other for what? Two years now? Have I ever steered you wrong? Clayton: Trust you? You want me, to trust you? Do you even realize what you are asking me to do? My life is on the line here, and you want me to trust you. Remember the last person who put their trust in you? He didn¡¯t survive! Oh, but let me guess, he was just another person in the crew. A means to an end. You probably don¡¯t even remember his name, and yet you want me to put that same trust he had in you, in me? No, i¡¯m not going! Cam: You know Clayton, that''s what I like about you. You are one of the only ones who has the guts to talk back to me, but i¡¯m guessing you already know don¡¯t you? What happens to those who don¡¯t do what I say? Listen, I won¡¯t ask you again, this is not me asking you to go, it is me telling you to go. Either go, or well¡­ I don¡¯t think I have to tell you what happens. Clenching his teeth, he knew that he should have never gotten himself into this mess. This is what happens when you join one of the most vicious gangs known in Michigan. This is what happens when you are only an idiotic child who knows nothing of the real world. That is, until you finally see its cruelty. If he had a chance to go back, even if he had to force himself to live a life alone, he would never agree to what Philip asked him to do that day. Because of that day, because of that one time he did his brother a favour. His life changed, not for the better, but for the freaking worst! Cam: I¡¯m going to take your silence as a yes. If it makes you feel any better, you were always my favorite out of all my brothers. Clayton: I am not¡­ you brother! My blood does not run through your veins. Not once have you ever been their for me. Not once! So don¡¯t you dare say you are my brother! We aren¡¯t even friends. I always suspected that you didn¡¯t have any friends, but now I finally realized. You don¡¯t have any friends, all you have are enemies. Frankly i¡¯m surprised that anyone in the crew listens to you. And one day, one day you will get whatever is coming to you. And when that day comes, i¡¯ll be sitting back with all the others, watching¡­ laughing. So Cam, just you wait, because I fear that your end is very near. Cam: Funny, because if I recall correctly, you were the one who came to me for help. Me for a better life. I created you Clayton, me, and me alone. I formed your entire personality into what it is today. And if you want to speak of brothers, then if I were you I would choose yours more wisely. Because a certain brother of yours is hiding a very, very dark secret from you. Oh, but wait, none of your brothers hide anything from the good child Clayton. Life is full of lies Clayton, the only thing that isn¡¯t a lie is what I told you. But it seems you¡¯ve forgotten my words the day you met her, but fear not now that she is gone, you will go back to your old self. His blood was boiling, he knew that he should not be listening and yet his ears soaked in every word Cam told him. They were connected not by blood, but by a bond. A bond that would forever be with them for the rest of their lives. The only way to escape this bond was death. Cam: Now then, tell momma I said hi, and stay safe, brother. Rage took him over as the conversation ended. His grip around his phone tightened as he threw his phone against the wall. He wanted to yell out in anger, in pain, but real men don¡¯t cry out for help. A real man handles his own problems, and settles his own rage. Because he could do neither one of these yet, he knew that he wasn¡¯t classified as a ¡®real¡¯ man. Closing his eyes as he took deep breaths, he tried to calm his anger. When he felt that it was enough, he picked up his phone and went to the message that Cam sent him. There was an address along with the product the client wanted. He recalled what Mr. Hamilton told him earlier, that he should choose his friends more wisely. What he should have told him was that he didn¡¯t have any friends. He had a single friend, the rest of them weren¡¯t real friends. They were just people who associated with him. He always wondered if he was meant to have true happiness in his life. Simply because it seems that whatever he touches, does not turn to ash. It turns into a viel, sinister demon that stabs him in his back. Yet here he is, the fool for noticing this act, and yet, he will still do it. His eyes wandered towards the window looking at the night sky. It was a full moon tonight, and if he was being honest, it was beautiful. Clayton: A real man huh? Is that what you are? Is that what I am? Tell me father, what is a man? Shaking his head, he grabbed a black hoodie from his closet along with his glock 41 from a shoe box. Coming into the living room, he noticed that the television was on. Figuring that his mother left it on, he was tempted to turn it off, but a sentence stopped him. His eyes were glued towards the screen, a strange light could be seen in his blue eyes. Doctor Chad: Haven¡¯t you ever wondered about why people who can suddenly gain the strength to lift up a bus die afterwards? ???: Naturally, but in those cases they almost always save another. Doctor Chad: That is the case, but what if I told you that one doesn¡¯t have to die. I¡¯ve done research into this and figured out that those people who happened to be able to do such a phenomenon have actually surpassed their human limits. We¡¯ve always stated that people use less than ten percent of their brain, but what do we do with the other ninety percent? I believe that to unlock the other ninety percent we must first be in a state of extreme adrenaline. Only in such a state where our bodies are surpassing our limits every second can we unlock the other ninety percent of our brain. However this comes at a cost, and as we have seen before it most certainly leads to death. Now i¡¯m here to raise the question, what would happen if someone who unlocked the full capacity of their brain lived? Would they still be able to keep their awakened strength? ???: I couldn¡¯t even imagine if that was the case. Could you picture a human with strength that surpasses anything else? Doctor Chad: I believe it. Forget about superhuman strength, think larger. Humans with strange abilities, like walking on water or conquering flames. These all could happen as long as a human surpasses their limitations. ???: Insane, I don¡¯t believe it. Doctor Chad: I¡¯m sure of it, I would bet my career on such a matter. Humans have the capacity to overcome all limitations, we¡¯ve seen it done time and time again. So what makes this time different? Is it because we are talking about our own body having the power to do things we couldn¡¯t even think of? Or is it because we as a whole are afraid of what comes next. What comes after our evolution, our awakening. Doctor Chad: I¡¯m sure that there exist a human out there who has surpassed their limits. If you are one of those who have awakened, contact me. It is extremely important for the advancement of mankind. ???: Dr. Chad before we get int- Clayton shook his head as he threw on his hood and turned off the television. ¡®Surpassing human limits? Awakened? Only buffoons would believe such talk.¡¯ ?????????? A black motorcycle pulled up towards the curb, as the rider looked towards a house. The house had a porch light that was on, which showed the rider the address. He hopped off his motorcycle and placed his helmet on the seat as he strolled up towards the house. This street seemed dead, maybe it was because it was dark and it only had a single street light that actually worked. If you called flickering on and off working, then that lamp could take lamp of the year. Clayton wasn¡¯t worried however, he has been in worse neighborhoods, ones where the street lamps were bust out and houses boarded up. That however didn¡¯t stop the neighborhood gangsters from making them into their trap houses. Or stop the homeless from sleeping inside them. To him, this street was just another one. Not anything too special, not anything too irregular either. It wasn¡¯t like he was expecting a street filled with hookers, pimps, roses, and candy. Now if he saw that, then he would have to go see his doctor for a check up. In the dark his black hoodie went perfect with the surroundings. No one would be able to spot him unless they were vividly looking for him, and there should not be anyone looking for him. If they were, he was ready for them. He did have a small habit that every time he did a deal he would look over his shoulders as extra precaution. This was his first time in this neighborhood, and hopefully it was his last as well. It was as if all his senses were heightened, maybe it was due to him recalling what happened to the last person who trusted Cam. That guy took on one of Cam¡¯s routes for him for a month, yet he never returned after his tenth time visiting that place. Him and Clayton never talked much, but Clayton would always spot him after he returned from that route. He would have bruises on his body, and his eyes would show immense fear. It was as if he saw the devil himself. Clayton didn¡¯t want the same ending that he had, so he decided to never take any of Cams routes. There were a few reasons why he was doing this, one was because he feared Cam, the second was because he mentioned his mother. That was one thing Clayton did not enjoy coming out of Cam¡¯s mouth. His mother was taboo, and yet Cam was pushing his buttons. No harm shall befall his mother, if it did he didn¡¯t know what to do with himself. As he made his way towards the front door, he once again glanced over his shoulder. He couldn¡¯t shake this feeling as if someone was close by, watching him, waiting for him. But the fear he felt for Cam was more than the fear of him getting into a confrontation with some street thug. Knocking on the door a couple of times, he waited until it slowly cracked open and he saw a pair of eyes glance through the crack. The door swiftly closed as he could hear a clicking sound before the door swung open and a middle aged man was revealed. He was wearing a black shirt along with some blue jeans, yet from the look in his eyes, Clayton knew that he wasn¡¯t one of those junkies. Clayton watched his eyes as they peered over in both directions. ???: Got the stuff? Clayton: Yeah man. ???: Let me see it. Clayton took off his backpack setting it on the ground while he unzipped it and pulled out a brick like object wrapped in saran wrap. There was an unspoken rule when dealing, when a trade is made you don¡¯t speak many words. Clayton could care less for what he would do with the drugs, all he cared about was living through his night. There was a feeling, it was a strange one at that. This man seemed so familiar, Clayton was sure that he saw him someone before. Yet he couldn¡¯t connect the dots yet. As Clayton handed him the white brick the man pulled out a small pocket knife and cut it open. Using his pinky finger he dug it in the hole he made and tasted the white stuff inside. ???: There¡¯s more where this came from right? Clayton nodded his head. ???: Give me a minute I need to grab the money. His stomach was telling him that he should hurry and run away, but he was resolute on finishing this deal. They said that your gut feeling is always right, but he chose to not listen. Surely that gut of his could be wrong, at least this once. He felt a slight chill run down his spine as he glanced over his shoulder only to find a person was standing behind him. His first reaction was to twist his body as he pulled out his glock 41 and pointed it at the person. However, the other guy reacted faster than he could. As Clayton was in the process of turning his body around, he found himself with a knife embedded in his stomach. Pain was all he felt as if the pain sensors in his body was turned up to the max. His breathing started to fall apart, from this calm wave to this stormy ocean. His jaw tightened as he feared to look down at the sight. They always said curiosity killed the cat, thus he didn¡¯t want to be curious at this moment. Besides, he already knew that a knife was in him, he just didn¡¯t want to believe it. A bitter substance emerged from his mouth as he coughed. This could not be his last moments, he refused to die here. Strength emerged as he reached for his glock at his side, but found that something stopped him. Slowly he turned only to find his worst thought come to life. The client who he was doing business with had his hand around his forearm. Clayton couldn¡¯t believe it, but he could not deny the facts that were in front of his face. The man reached towards Clayton¡¯s glock and Clayton could do nothing to stop him. He tried to fight back, but he was powerless. Yes, powerless. Maybe he was always powerless but now he just realized it. Hiding behind a gun does not make one a man. If that was what being a man meant, Clayton wanted nothing to do with it. He would rather stay a boy forever. To think that in his last moments, he would die alone on this cold night in the dark. At least the moon was beautiful¡­ right? Clayton: Why? ???: Why? Why? I¡¯m not doing this because of you, i¡¯m not doing this because I want to. If you want to blame someone, blame the person who sent you here. Clayton: C-cam? The man nodded his head as he placed his hand over Clayton¡¯s head. ???: Yes, it was because of him that we¡¯ve come to this. It wasn¡¯t meant to be this way, it wasn¡¯t meant to be you. But, that doesn¡¯t mean you are innocent either. For my brothers sake, for my family, you must all go. The man had a tight grip on Clayton¡¯s hair as he threw him to the ground. Clayton was like a cub going against a tiger, there was no chance of winning. ???: What was it he told me? Ah, that was it, you want me to bring your brother back to life? You want me to give you money? You should be grateful that he died while he was under me, that was his greatest, his only accomplishment in life. Don¡¯t you dare come to me, giving me orders! I don¡¯t owe you anything. Besides, it was only business. ???: Can you even fathom the pain I went through? A brotherhood sworn to protect each others? You bunch are nothing but the devil''s reincarnation. You all deserve to die, no, you deserve a fate worse than death itself. My brother died because of you damn brotherhood! But he doesn¡¯t have to worry, because each and every last one of you will follow him. What was your saying? Even in death, nothing can tear us apart? Well, tell him that the next time you see him in hell! Clayton could only hear the sound of white. The muzzle flash, and sound were both white. The bullet seemed like it was traveling in slow motion, and he felt that he could easily dodge it. Yet, his body was frozen in place like a sculpture. They always said that your life flashes before your eyes in the final moments between your death. Yet what he was saw was not his life flashing before his eyes, it was a single bullet. He had many regrets, but the one that had fallen heavily on him right now was that he didn¡¯t get the chance to say goodbye. His promise, his hope that he would get his mother away from all of this was now gone. This may have been the second time he has ever broken one of his promises. The first promise brought him pain, and now the second one brings him towards his death. Yet, in this moment he didn¡¯t want to break his second one. He wanted to fix the first one. He wanted to live! However, it was too late as the bullet pierced his chest and all the strength faded from his body. His sight landed on the single street light that constantly flickered on and off. At this moment, in the wake of his death, it seemed that the street lamp also died out. When one dies, they tell you that you¡¯ll see darkness until a white light comes to take you away. In his death, all Clayton could see was darkness, there was no light. It was cold and depressing. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he was lonely. ¡®Because of you, because of this so called brotherhood we have, I have no one. Maybe I was always alone but I just couldn¡¯t see it. You want me to die alone? You want me to suffer alone? You want me to face this pain alone? Fine. Fine, i¡¯ll face your trials, i¡¯ll face this death as it is. But mark my words, mark them for as they are spoken you shall forever lose all you have worked for. I might die alone, I might face the world alone. But I shall forever and always have at least one person who loves me. Yet, you, you will have no one. If I¡­ if I get the slightest chance of revenge, of life¡­ know that I will¡­ come for you.¡¯ As he vowed, as he made his final promise. He saw it, the glimmer of a white light. It started small but it slowly grew and the coldness he faced turned into warmth. That light took him over, as his eyes opened and he found himself staring at a white ceiling. He didn¡¯t even have to turn his head to look, he could hear the sounds of those waves going up and down. He could feel his heart beating. He embraced every breath with joy. Because at this moment, he knew that he lived. ???: Finally awake are we? Clayton¡¯s eyes swept across the room until it landed on an older man dressed in a black trenchcoat seated in the chair across from him. Clayton searched his mind, but he could not recall ever seeing this man before. The only thing that came to his mind was that this man must be his savior. Clayton: Thank you. ???: For what? I didn¡¯t save you Clayton, you saved yourself. Clayton: What are you talking about? I could not save myself, I was dead. Maybe we have two different definitions of the word dead, but my meaning is when one can¡¯t move themselves and can¡¯t escape their fate. When your body turns cold and all you see is endless darkness. Now that we have my definition of what it means to be dead, please tell, what is yours? ???: I assure you, you were not dead. If you were dead, we wouldn¡¯t be here, now would we? Clayton: I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t catch your name. What was it again? Because if i¡¯m not mistaken, you knew my name yet I didn¡¯t know yours. Care to explain. Vortex: My name huh? I could give it to you, but that would be too much of a privilege. I will tell you this however, many call me Vortex. Clayton: Vortex? Vortex¡­? You seriously expect me to believe that? That people, real people who aren¡¯t insane or mentally deranged call you¡­ Vortex? Funny, then please call me Abyss. Vortex: I¡¯m not here to joke with you Clayton, but you surely have a fine way to tell jokes. Clayton: Oh, i¡¯m sorry. Is that what you want me to say? What do you really expect when you die, wake up in a hospital and someone you don¡¯t know who knows you tells you people call them Vortex. Please forgive me for not being in the right state of mind right now. But¡­ I feel that I am in the right state, it is just you who isn¡¯t. Now, should you re-introduce yourself, or should I? Wait a minute, I forgot, you already know who I am. So please, do tell me your real name Vortex. Clayton watched as the man in the trenchcoat who claimed to be called Vortex crossed his arms. If Clayton believed him, he knew that he would really have to go get a check up from his doctor. If not he might end up in a mental hospital, which he really didn¡¯t want to attend. However, since Clayton knew that someone had to save him and this mysterious man was the only person in the room. He gave him the benefit of the doubt and believed that he actually saved him. Because in his head, he knew that there was no way he could drive himself here. Vortex: You¡¯re enjoying this aren¡¯t you? Clayton: Quite. Vortex: Well then, let me tell you something else. Clayton: Please do tell. Vortex: I¡¯ve seen you die many times before, and i¡¯ve seen many others die numerous times. But out of all the ones i¡¯ve seen die, no matter in what world, you Clayton, always survive. Clayton took a deep breath as he scratched his head. Now the guy was telling him that he saw him die in multiple worlds, which was just too much for him to believe. If he believed anything, it was that this person needed some serious counseling. He was thinking about letting Counselor Hamilton handle this one, he could do wonders on this man in front of him. Clayton: Ok, I think i¡¯ve heard enough. Seriously though, enough games. I thank you for saving my life, you don¡¯t know how much it means to me, but this¡­ what¡¯s going on now, is uncalled for. The chance to live again you don¡¯t know how much it means to me. Now, I would like to take this chance to part ways. Vortex: Only in the face of death can one really surpass all their limitations. If one doesn¡¯t survive through death, how can one evolve to even greater heights? Clayton, i¡¯m here to tell you that you have awakened. Those words that he spoke sounded oddly familiar to Clayton, and slowly he recalled what he saw on the television before he left. That doctor said almost exactly the same thing. Clayton didn¡¯t want to hear anymore of this nonsense, but he felt himself being tempted to listen to the man''s next words. He knew it was foolish, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself. Maybe it was in his blood, or maybe his fate, but he knew that this man and him had some sort of connection. Vortex: I know that look, i¡¯ve seen it many times before. You think i¡¯m lying, but what do I honestly have to gain from telling you a lie. Clayton you may sell dope, but under your facade you are nothing. And to be honest I think you know that as well, underneath all this that you put up you are nothing. But let me tell you this, there is an even greater community out there where you belong. Where you are not just another face, you are somebody. As you may have heard, no i¡¯m sure you have heard, but the only way to awaken is to be in a extreme state. This state can only be accessed while adrenaline is pumping through your body, but that isn¡¯t it. For it to work, one has to die to be reborn anew. One simply does not gain the strength to survive being hit by a car just on pure willpower, it takes more than that. Sure, you may run faster, gain more strength while you are under the influence, but that strength fades and so does your life. However, if you die while that exact strength is being transferred into your body you will enter an entirely new state. One that transcends all others and offers a lot of possibilities. Take me for instance, I may not have what we call super strength, but to an ordinary human I am like their superman. But my strength pales in comparison with those who have actually awakened to power of super strength. My power lies else where, I can simply jump from one location to another. Clayton: So¡­ you have the power of teleportation? Vortex: I can tell from the look in your eyes that you think i¡¯m some deranged maniac spouting a bunch of bull, but let me tell you the words I speak are the truth. And no, I don¡¯t have the power of teleportation. I can only jump from one destination to another. Although they both seem the same, they are different. See, we all awaken with special powers that may seem the same, but as we advance our powers to even greater lengths, we see differences in them. A person who has the power of teleportation can travel through time, but me i¡¯m able to only travel in the present time. However, I am allowed to jump to different parallel worlds. Although it won¡¯t be any different from this place, but there are many slight differences. Like a person who likes the color blue here may like the color green in another parallel world. When I travel to those different worlds, I see things. And one thing I saw was your death, well around ten of your deaths to be exact. However every time I see you die, you always awaken Clayton. Always, this has never happened before in history. Other people can¡¯t do what you do, not everyone awakens. Only the chosen can awaken from death, those who aren¡¯t¡­ well they die. Clayton: So¡­ from what i¡¯ve gathered i¡¯m a ¡®super¡¯ human with special powers. You have the ability to jump to different parallel worlds. Oh, and i¡¯m a special person who always awakens from his own death. Let''s see¡­ did I leave anything out? I don¡¯t think so. Now that we have cleared that up, I feel a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders. I always knew I was special, I always knew I was different. Now I know why. I¡¯m losing my mind. Vortex: You aren¡¯t losing your mind, but the chance i¡¯m giving you doesn¡¯t come easy. There is a place that is calling your name, you have to go Clayton. This place needs you now more than ever. With you, everything changes. Clayton: A lab rat huh? I need a moment to think about this. Vortex: I don¡¯t think you understand the endless possibilities i¡¯m giving you here Clayton. The chance to have a fresh start, a place where your name will mean something. You don¡¯t have to be this powerful person you pretend to be, instead you can be actually be that person. No more hiding behind a gun, no more contemplating suicide, no more. Clayton, you need to join us. He was tired of people telling him truths mixed with lies. He was tired of all the fake. What he wanted more than anything was to live his life the way he wanted. He didn¡¯t want to be bound by the shackles that held him down. No! He wanted to break free. Break free from those who tried to harm him. Those who tried to hold him down. He knew that now was the time, the time for a fresh start. A time that he would never be held down again. It may have been disrespectful to talk back to your elders, but he didn¡¯t care. Especially not for this elder who was in front of him. Awakened? People surpassing their human limitations? No, he could care less, much less. He was tired of people trying to drag him down with sweet lies. Vortex: So, grab my hand and I shall lead you to even greater heights. The kind of heights that you¡¯ve never known before. Clayton: No. Vortex: No? Did you just say no¡­ to me? Clayton: No, i¡¯m not going anywhere! I¡¯m not grabbing your damn hand, and I am not listening to you. Now if you would kindly, get the fuck out! He watched as the man dressed in the black trenchcoat smiled wryly. Clayton didn¡¯t care anymore. He was not planning on going back to that forsaken brotherhood, nor did he want to join this new ¡®brotherhood¡¯. He would rather die alone than be with them, because he knows what those ¡®brotherhoods¡¯ do to their members. Vortex: I think you are mistaken here Clayton. I¡¯m not asking you to go! I¡¯m telling you to go! I came here to try to convince you out of your own free will to join, but it seems I was mistaken. You don¡¯t want to join that is fine, you don¡¯t have to join, but you cannot stay here. However, I know you will join because that is what they all do. Only we can help you, only we have the means to take you to the heavens. Clayton: I don¡¯t want to go to the heavens! If going to heaven means going with you, I would rather rot in hell. Vortex: That my friend¡­ can be arranged. Clayton could see from the look in his eyes that the man before him wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill him. This time, he would make sure that Clayton would never wake. Vortex: That look in your eyes, your helplessness. I can see it. You know it, just like everyone else. You are weak! The only way to get strong, is for you to join us. I¡¯ve given you a chance, i¡¯ve given you a choice, i¡¯ve given you my hand. Yet you dare to defy me? No, you will not defy me. You will go, even if you think of this place as hell itself. You will go Clayton! As the words left his lips, he disappeared and the surroundings in front of Clayton¡¯s eyes changed. He knew, that it was over. Chapter Two The Fairy-Tale Hero Chapter 2 The greatest strength that you have is not being physically strong. You can have strong friends which means you will never have to travel alone. Yet here I stand at a fork wondering which path I should take. The left leads down a bright path, and the right is nothing but dark. If you had to choose, which one would you take? - Clayton Smart Date: 10/14/2016 ?????????? It took him a moment before his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun. His mind was in shambles. One moment he was laying down in the hospital bed, and now the he was standing on lush green grass. This was just too much for him to take in, this was completely insane. He felt that his mind must be out of order because what happened should not have happened. It was impossible, and he knew that. Yet, he was standing here way away from the hospital. He didn¡¯t even know where he was. Clayton turned around as his eyes absorbed in his surroundings. On one side there was a dense forest that he couldn¡¯t see through, and on the other side he could make out buildings in the distance. He found his saliva hard to swallow at this moment. The one thing that he didn¡¯t see was the mysterious man named Vortex. Clayton could feel his heart beat steadily rising. Clayton: Where is this? What happened? Why me? He asked questions that he didn¡¯t know the answers to. Was he in a different world or was this a different state from before? If he found out where he was on the map maybe he could find a way home. But he still didn¡¯t know how he got here, he refused to believe that Vortex could teleport or jump or whatever he wanted to call it. There was no scientific explanation for what happened. Gritting his teeth he started walking towards the town in the distance. As long as he went to town he could find the answers he seeked. If Vortex could bring him here, then there was someone who could take him home. Clayton needed to go home, he needed to be there for his mother. If he didn¡¯t go home soon she would put out a search warrant for him. He would be happy if that happened, but the more he walked towards the town the more he realized that they might not be able to find him. This landscape was normal, but the buildings off in the distance seemed medieval. He feared that he was not on earth anymore. If he wasn¡¯t, then it didn¡¯t matter if his mother had the president search for him they would never find him. If his mother couldn¡¯t find Clayton, if she never got her little boy back, he couldn¡¯t even complete that thought as he shivered thinking about it. He remembered that he wished he could start over in a place no one knew who he was, but that was only him joking around. He never actually wanted it to happen. Vortex made him come here, he forced him to come to a place he didn¡¯t want to be. Clayton didn¡¯t know how, but he would make Vortex pay. As long as he found a way, Clayton would sentence him to a life of living hell. Maybe then Vortex would learn that it was not kind to send people to places away from earth. Maybe then he would learn a little bit of the pain Clayton felt. The town seemed to get closer, but as Clayton continued to walk it felt as if he wasn¡¯t going anywhere. How long did it take him? How far did he walk? He couldn¡¯t answer these simple questions. He lost track of time, it felt that he walked for one hour but he was sure it was more. As he reached the edge of the town he came to realize one important fact that he overlooked. He was naked, not completely naked because he had a hospital robe on but that was it. He wasn¡¯t wearing any underwear, nor shoes, he was bare. How could he explain this to the townsfolk? What would they think of him? ¡®To hell with opinions!¡¯ Clayton told himself as he gained the courage to go into town. The entrance to the town was surrounded by a stone wall with soldiers posted. There was no incoming traffic nor outgoing, so why were they posted here. Clayton¡¯s courage that he gained started to shatter as he took steps towards the entrance. Saying you wouldn¡¯t mind people looking at you naked and actually doing it in flesh and blood were two different things. Guard: Halt, state your purpose for entrance. Clayton looked at the male covered in leather with silver shoulder pauldron. At his side Clayton could make out a sword that was sheathed. The air this man was giving Clayton made him shiver. If he had his gun he wouldn¡¯t be afraid, at least he would have some sort of protection. This guard thought he was so tough, lets see how tough he really is when a glock is pointed at his forehead. Clayton thought that this guard would be shaking like a stripper if a gun was pointed at him. However in the current circumstances Clayton was not going to be arrogant, or cause trouble. He was not the one in control here, he was not the one with the power. Clayton: I¡¯m looking for a way home. Guard: Home? Where are you from? Clayton: Michigan, you heard of it? The guard¡¯s hand moved to the hilt of his sword causing Clayton to take a step back. What was so wrong with him answering the guards question? Why was the guard turning hostile towards him. It made no sense. Clayton: Wait, wait wait. Look, i¡¯m really from Michigan, it is one of the fifty states of the United States. I don¡¯t know if you heard of it or not, but i¡¯m from a planet called earth. Guard; Oh, I know of earth and I know of Michigan, but I just want to know how you arrived here. This place should not be accessible from the outside and no one on the outside should know about this place. Clayton: This place? What do you mean? Isn¡¯t this another world? Clayton could see the guards eyebrows furrow a bit as dark lines appeared. Maybe he was wrong and this wasn¡¯t a different world. He cursed himself for coming to conclusions so soon. Guard: This place is earth. And I mean that it is impossible for someone to just end up here. This place is protected by a barrier that makes it impossible for humans to pass through. Not only that, but this place is not located on any maps. So, you still want to say you are from Michigan? Clayton: I¡¯m telling you, i¡¯m from Michigan. I don¡¯t know how I ended up here either. I was in the hospital where this guy named Vortex wa- Guard: Vortex you say? I see, no need to explain the rest. Clayton: You know that bastard? Call him here right now, I need to go home. The guard put up his hand at Clayton and shook his head. Guard; Sorry boy can¡¯t do that. See this place is special, there is only one way to enter but if you want to find an exit I suggest you turn around and head towards that forest back there. Maybe if you survive can you leave this place, but other than that I highly doubt you will find a way to exit here. Clayton: I refuse to believe that crap! He brought me here, he can take me out! Besides, who are you? I don¡¯t care, let me speak to your superior maybe he¡¯ll understand me. Guard: You¡­ freaking brat! ?????????? ???: Stop, you are hurting a very important guest. The guard and Clayton both looked to see where that voice came from. He spotted a young male with curly brown hair dressed in a preppy uniform and a backpack. It gave him the feeling that this guy attended some school only for the rich. Once the guard spotted him he put Clayton down. Guard: Important? Important people know manners, this guy lacks it in every aspect. He is lucky that I don¡¯t throw him in jail.. Clayton say the young male glare at the guard, his hazel eyes told the guard all he needed to hear. The guard took a step back, it seemed like the real person in charge had finally come. Now he could leave this place. Clayton dusted himself off as got up off the ground. Clayton: Thanks¡­ I guess. Are you in charge of these people? ???: No Clayton i¡¯m not. I could put in a word to their superior if you wanted me to. Clayton¡¯s forehead had black lines drawn across it when he heard this young man speak his name. Once again someone knew who he was. He didn¡¯t know if this guy would tell him his name was something crazy like Black Hole or Lightbringer. Clayton: Since you know my name already I don¡¯t have the pleasure to introduce myself. Chad: Don¡¯t make it seem all bad Clayton, i¡¯ve heard about you. The name is Chad by the way. Chad Cunningham. Clayton: Well then Chad, where did you hear about me from? I¡¯ve only been here less than a day, I don¡¯t think my name could spread that far considering i¡¯ve been stuck at this gate. Chad: From your friend Vortex. He told me about you, and he also told me where you would be. Clayton: Oh that bastard, where is he? Tell him i¡¯m ready to go home. Chad: How do I say this¡­ well¡­ yes, he has already left. Clayton didn¡¯t know if this guy was being serious or not, but he felt his blood boil. How could someone do this? Leave someone stranded at some random location that isn¡¯t even on a map with no way to get home! This was insane! Chad handed Clayton a book bag. Clayton snatched it from his hands, it might have important information. This might be a test or something. He only needed to pass it so that he could go home. As he opened the bag up, he found clothes inside. It was the same clothes that Chad was currently wearing. That damned preppy uniform. Clayton: What is this? Chad: Clothes. Clayton: I know that, but why? Chad: What? Do you expect to go into town naked? Do you have no shame? Clayton was about to say something but decided not to. It was better if he didn¡¯t tick any of these people off. He told himself that now was not the time, it was not the place. He was lucky enough that he had these clothes so he shouldn¡¯t do anything to get them taken away. It truly would be embarrassing for him to go into town naked. As Clayton was getting dressed he couldn¡¯t help but think of his home. ¡®I¡¯ll be home soon mom, just you wait for me.¡¯ Chad: Now that you are dressed shall we go? Clayton knew that he was talking about going into town. He had to enter town anyways, so why not use this guy as a guide? Hopefully he could find some answers as well as a way home. Together they both walked past the guards who stood posted. It was his first step towards a new life, a new start, and he didn¡¯t even realize it yet. Chad: Sorry about what happened at the gate, it usually isn¡¯t like that. And by usual I mean we usually don¡¯t get an abnormality like you. Most of us that are awakened are born here and not out there. As for the ones who awakened out there, we usually don¡¯t bother them and they know nothing about us. Therefore it is hard for us to accept the fact that someone was able to come here. Clayton: Don¡¯t blame me, it''s not like I wanted to be here. More like I was dragged here against my will. Chad: I don¡¯t know what to tell you, not like I can send you home. But I have to say there are stories about you Clayton, stories that you wouldn¡¯t hear unless you were born here. They say you are the chosen one, the one who shall lead us all to our salvation. Maybe that was why Vortex put so much pressure on you and forced you to come here. Let me tell you though, once you get a taste of this place you would never want to leave. Clayton: Oh really? So if I don¡¯t like this place then I can leave? Chad: It isn¡¯t that simple Clayton. It is not like you can just take a boat to go back home, it takes time which is something we don¡¯t have. Clayton: I refuse to believe such talk. If I came here in a flash, I should be able to leave just as fast. So tell me, what is stopping me from leaving here? Chad: The barrier. The guardians. The unknown. These things and much more Clayton. Being an awakened here means more than just having abilities that surpasses what normal humans can even imagine. It means you have to protect what you love. Clayton: And yet I love none of you, so why should I protect you? Clayton watched as Chad smiled and walked further into the town. Chad: Follow me, maybe there is something in this town that you will want to protect if you see it for yourself. Clayton was lead into the town and they approached a section that was different from the rest. The buildings were worn down, and he could no longer see the lush green grass or the vitality he saw at the beginning of the town. It was like this place was cursed with spirits. The few trees that surrounded the buildings were dark and seemed like they were falling apart. Clayton felt that if he touched the tree it would fall over with ease. The buildings seemed like they had seen hard times, which could be proven by the dents, holes, and blood splattered across them. Clayton knew that Chad was trying to turn him over with empathy, but he wouldn¡¯t fall for it. He would just play along. Clayton: Where is this place? Chad: It was our home once before, but now it is abandoned. We call it Alice City. The place they were currently in didn¡¯t seem like a city to Clayton, he would call it a town instead. Just by looking at his surroundings he could feel some sort of connection with this place. Clayton: Doesn¡¯t seem much like a city to me. Chad: It wasn¡¯t at first. Can¡¯t you feel it Clayton, the feelings of our ancestors pouring out of this place. The feelings of the people who died here. That died fighting to protect what they thought was important? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t, I know you do. Clayton: You keep saying fighting to protect, yet what are you fighting? Why are you fighting? If you know that fighting will only lead to destruction, why continue doing it? Chad: The same reason you fought to survive Clayton. You have things you must do, things that you can¡¯t see yet because they won¡¯t happen until the future. We have things that are calling towards us, things that we can¡¯t help but want to protect. Even if we know that we can¡¯t win, even if we know we are going to die, we will continue to fight. Clayton: But what are you fighting against? Chad: Do you remember the forest outside of the gate? That forest holds our greatest enemies Clayton. People who we thought were our friends, our allies betrayed us and fled into the forest. We are fighting against them. Clayton: If that is the case why not take the fight to them? Why not burn down the forest and drown them in smoke? Chad: It isn¡¯t the simple. If we burn the forest we lose our biggest oxygen supply. If we run blindly into the forest we are backed against a wall with many disadvantages. Clayton: Yet you sit here idly waiting for the day when your enemies attack you once more. If you ask me, it doesn¡¯t seem like you are trying to protect anything, more like you are patiently waiting for your own demise. Chad: What do you expect us to do when they have centuries of knowledge about that forest, while also knowing about us? We are limited to do so much Clayton. Clayton: And yet you think I can change that? You believe that I am the hope that can carry you out of your own grave? Sorry, I think you have the wrong person. I am not the hero you think I am. Chad: I never said you were a hero, and I don¡¯t have the wrong person Clayton. Come, I have one more place to show you. Clayton didn¡¯t feel good about what was happening here, but he wouldn¡¯t be fooled into fighting with them. This was not a fight he started, so why should he help them finish it? It was suicide. Who knows how long they have been fighting against each other, yet they think one person would be able to stop this whole thing? Think again! He didn¡¯t know who gave them false hope, but they never should have lied to these people. Him a hero? He couldn¡¯t even save himself, so how could he save others? Clayton felt his shoulders drop a little as if a burden was being placed on it. He silently followed behind Chad as they went on towards the next location. Now this place could be considered a city in his eyes. The kids running around playing, the adults doing work. Stores at every corner, homes on every street, and a giant fountain in the middle. He could really see how this city thrived. It gave him a sense of hope. Hope that they could continue to survive whatever was coming their way. The way these people acted, it seemed like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world. As if the moment they were in right now would continue on forever. Clayton wasn¡¯t new to that feeling, he felt it before. He has shared that moment with the love of his life so he knew exactly how it felt. And it was because he felt it before that he didn¡¯t want them to feel the aftereffects of what happens when that beautiful moment comes to an end. If he had the power he would stop time to let them enjoy this moment forever. At least then they would have something he didn¡¯t. Chad: This is Norris City. After Alice was destroyed many citizens moved here causing the population to spike. At first it was rough finding places for everyone to live, but that is not the case anymore. Clayton: Why do they act as if nothing can harm them? Why do they act as if a threat is not right around the corner ready to attack at any moment?Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Chad: Because they have faith Clayton. Clayton: In what? Chad: You. They have faith in you Clayton. Faith that you will stop the pain, stop the destruction. If all they can do is believe in you, they will do it until they die. Even if the stories told about you were a lie, they will continue to believe simply because it is the only thing that drives them on. Clayton: Aren¡¯t you all awakened? Why don¡¯t you draft the males to create a force to be reckoned with? Chad: Not everyone is an awakened Clayton. Do you know the percentage of awakened beings in the world? It is less the one percent, less than one percent of the population is an awakened being. And if you were to count the percent of people that awaken outside of this place, it is less than that. A normal person has a hard time awakening, but if two awakened beings get together and create a new life¡­ Clayton: Their child will have a greater chance at awakening. Chad: Right, but that isn¡¯t all. There is a possibility that the child will be born already awakened. Clayton: A naturally awakened child? I thought the only way to awaken was to die. Chad: That only applies to normal humans, for an awakened¡¯s child that is not the case. In reality there are two ways to become an awakened. You are either born one, or you are made into one. Clayton: And you? Which are you? Chad: Clayton think about it. How many people do you think are willing to die just for a slim chance to awaken. You would have to be extremely brave, or just plain stupid. Everyone of us here who are awakened were born this way, except for one girl. I still don¡¯t know which she is, but I think you¡¯ll have a pleasant surprise when you meet her. Because she was the only one who dared to test the gods, and bet her own life. As the two were talking a little girl with pig-tails came up towards them. She had two flowers in her hand as she gave each of them one. Little Girl: Here. Her voice was so pure and innocent, she probably didn¡¯t even know what was going on. This little girl reminded Clayton of the child he failed, his daughter Emilia. Clayton knelt down and patted the little girl on her head as he gave her a smile. She gave him a feeling of happiness. Something he thought he lost a long time ago. He was only planning on going along with this whole thing, yet he found himself being drawn into it the more Chad talked to him. The more he saw, the more he felt that he wanted to help them. Here he was a bystander about to put in nose in someone else¡¯s business. They were holding a hand out asking for help, he didn¡¯t have the nerve to turn them down. If his mother was asking for help from a stranger, he too would want someone to jump in and help her. Good things come to those who do good. He has wronged many people, maybe it was finally time for him to do something good in his life. He started to think, that being an awakened might not be so bad after all. He watched as the little girl ran away going back to play with her friends. He knew it would haunt him in his dreams if he didn¡¯t help them. Not because he had to help them, but because he had the power to help but he stood by and watched their destruction. Clayton: What do I have to do? He didn¡¯t know what the future held in store for him, but if he didn¡¯t do this he knew that he would regret. He has failed himself, his mother, his lover, and his child, he will not fail another. Chad: For starters we need to head towards the academy. There you will find out your awakened ability, and you will join a faction. Clayton: Wait, a faction? I have to choose a side? Aren¡¯t you all fighting against the same thing? Chad: Clayton we might be fighting against the same thing, but that doesn¡¯t mean we all mesh well together. Think of it like a giant family, we all can¡¯t get along now can we? Clayton: Tell me before we go, what are the factions. Chad: There are three main factions, the Attack, Defense, and Support. You will join a main faction based on your awakened ability, and after that you will join a sub faction. There is team Mystic, Vanguard, Requiem, Galactic, Templars, and Undying Faith. Clayton: Let me guess, each one has their own motives. Each different from the other. Chad: Smart, but not exactly. You can find that out when you join one of them, until then just keep thinking about it. Clayton: Right¡­ and these awakened abilities. Vortex said that he had the ability to jump from one location to another. So i¡¯m just going to take it that each awakened has their own ability and are divided into categories. Chad: That is right, you have the awakened beings who have attack abilities, defensive abilities, and those who are support types. Each ability can be classified into one of these types. Clayton: And¡­ which are you? Clayton saw Chad snap his fingers before he heard a buzz and blue light flashed between his fingers. Chad: I guess you can say I give people a bit of a shock. ?????????? It isn¡¯t everyday that you find yourself in secluded location away from the rest of the world. This place that he was in was anything but empty. The townsfolk along with the people in the academy all seemed so full of life. They didn¡¯t have the same problems that the other people of earth had. In fact, it seemed that they didn¡¯t have any problems of their own. As Clayton followed Chad around the academy he couldn¡¯t help but give it praise. This place seemed like something from a fairy-tale, something straight out of the books. Arriving in an open room filled with students passing by, sitting at the tables studying, or lounging around it gave Clayton a different feeling. This place might seem ancient, but it was still a school. The place he disliked the most, the place it all began. School for most people was a changing point in one''s life, for him it was a change but not for the better. It was suppose to be a place that would help define you into the person you wanted to be in the future, yet it didn¡¯t do that for him at all. A spot where you would encounter and experience the countless wonders of the world. Many things were spoken about that place, but for Clayton he would rather not speak about it. ???: Well if it isn¡¯t Clayton. Clayton turned around to find out who that lovely voice belonged to. Standing a few feet away from him wearing the classic school uniform was a young woman. Short blond hair with green eyes, given a different opportunity Clayton would have loved the meet her before this occurred. Clayton: I¡¯m sorry, do I know you? I find it strange how everyone knows my name yet I know nothing of you. ???: Everyone knows who you are Clayton, you''re quite famous around here. The prodigy, the genius, the hero, the saviour. They gave you all these titles yet they failed to give you one. The fool. Clayton could feel his eyebrow twitch when he heard her say that. It hit him in a spot that anyone has barely touched before. What did she know about him? Nothing, she knew nothing but she could say all these things like she knew him for ages. What sort of nonsense was this? Clayton: Look girl, I don¡¯t care what others say about me, but I know for a fact that I am not a fool. And frankly if I have all these titles what does that have to do with you? Don¡¯t tell me you are upset that they didn¡¯t call you these things, or are you? Chad: Alicia you always find the perfect opportunities to cause trouble don¡¯t you? What''s gotten under your skin this time? Don¡¯t tell me it is Isabel? Clayton: Chad you know this girl? Chad: She is Alicia Camp- Alicia put her hand out to stop Chad from talking. Alicia: I don¡¯t need others to introduce me. I am Alicia Campbell, the third daughter of Michael Campbell and I am the one person you don¡¯t want to cross Clayton. Clayton did not enjoy this girl''s attitude towards him, she kept attacking him like he had done something to her. Yet he could not remember this girl from anywhere. Maybe that was due to him just now coming to this place and not knowing any of these people. Or maybe it was the fact that they just met like a few minutes ago. Whatever the case may be she was already being placed on Clayton¡¯s ¡®Deal with Later¡¯ list. Clayton stepped forward placing himself only a foot away from her. He looked down at her with eyes that could freeze the ocean. Since this place was filled with awakened humans he wouldn¡¯t be considered a bully, would he? Considering that if this was regular earth as a male stepping up towards a female like this he would garnish hate from everybody. Clayton: Look, a person can only take so much and you keep pushing my buttons. I could care less if you are from some well-off family, or if you are extremely powerful. You can have all of that, but what you can¡¯t have is control over me. You say I don¡¯t want to cross you, but you are mistaken, it is you that does not want to cross paths with me! Chad placed his hand on Claytons shoulder as he pulled him back a bit. Alicia wasn¡¯t scared of Claytons proclamation, she only snorted at him. Chad: Calm down Clayton she is not an enemy. Clayton: You say she isn¡¯t an enemy yet she continued to attack me, I ask you then, what is she? Chad could only scratch his head at Claytons question. While it might be true that she wasn¡¯t his enemy that could be said the same for her not being his friend either. Chad: A neutral existence¡­ maybe? Clayton: Neutral existence¡­ really? So you are telling me that she treats everyone like this? She was born with this absurd attitude of hers, and that look in her eyes that makes one want to slap her across the face. You are saying she was just born like this? Chad: You¡­ could say that. Alicia: Chad let the boy think what he wants to think, but we both know what he really is. A child trying to imitate a man. Clayton couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he was done with her. Clayton: You don¡¯t know anything about me! Alicia grinned at him, it was like she was waiting on him to say that one line. Alicia: On the contrary Clayton, I know all about you. Clayton could see Chad frowned at her words. The look on his face told Clayton he knew exactly what she was going to do next. He has seen it done before, and that it was even done to him. His expression told him that this was her speciality, her awakened ability. Alicia: You may seem big and bad Clayton, but behind this image you put up for others to see we both know what lies behind it is a fragile little boy. A little boy who has strayed off from his path and looking for a way home. A little boy that is not loved by neither his father nor his mother. When that little boy is backed into a corner instead of facing his enemies up front, he turns tails and runs only to let others do his battle for him. This child knows nothing of the world and hopes that someday he shall be free from its torment. Yet what that child does not know is that the only way to escape is if you press forward by his own will and courage. Deep down inside Clayton you know this all too well but you deny all the facts. You have no friends because you do not open up and trust others. You are not the nicest being because you are angry at your father and angry at your mother. And what hurts you the most is knowing that you are tearing apart the person you love most in the world. Even though you know this, you continue to do it, pushing the blame on her, when in fact it was your own doing that hurt you both. So yes Clayton, I do know about you and your ¡®misfortunes¡¯. Clayton stood their in silence as he listened to her speak. He could only clench his hands in anger, but he would not react. He knew that what she spoke may have been right about him. No, it was right about him and he couldn¡¯t accept that. He could not accept that he was this fragile being that ran from everything. This being that was hurting on the inside while causing others to suffer his same pain. Yet what he was upset the most about was that he agreed with her on one thing. That he was hurting the person he loved the most, all because he couldn¡¯t accept his own faults. If he was being honest here, it also hurt him that someone else had to tell him these things. Someone else who might have known his story better than he himself. Alicia: Now that introductions are over, welcome to Linkin Park Clayton. Just as she came, she left. Chad nor Clayton tried to stop her. A hand grabbed onto Clayton¡¯s shoulder and a voice followed suit. Chad: Don¡¯t get upset over it man, she is just like that. Clayton: I¡¯m not upset, just disappointed in myself. Clayton did not know anything about the people here, but he was starting to think that Vortex was right. Maybe this was the place he belonged. The spot where he could be accepted for who he really was and didn¡¯t have to put up an act. This was where it would all start, where he would forge himself into the person he wanted to be. The person his father failed to be. Memories started to resurface. A time where he was at his peak, a time where their love was ripe. The time he made his first promise, that promise that he broke along with the love they shared. ?????????? Clayton Pov She started throwing up. It was random considering that she wasn¡¯t sick, which made me question if she was hiding something from me. Did she not trust me enough to tell me that she was ill? Clayton: Are you alright? Do you need anything a vernors maybe? Pills¡­? She seemed tired as she wiped her mouth clean and got up from the floor. She looked at me with moistened eyes that seemed like she would cry at any moment now. I felt sad in the inside knowing that I couldn¡¯t do anything for her. Sarah: I¡­ I think i¡¯m pregnant. Her words hit me harder than a truck would hit a person. It threw me off balance, if I was expecting a straight ball she surely threw me a curve. I wasn¡¯t ready for this, we weren¡¯t ready for this. It was too soon for us to have a child when we were still children ourselves. I¡¯m not fond of abortion, but it might be the only way for us to keep our youthful lives without the need to care for another. Because let¡¯s face it, all teens are selfish. I know for a fact that I am, and I don¡¯t have time to care for a child at this moment. Clayton: Are you sure? Did you take the test? Maybe you came down with something, or it could be that virus that is going around. I tried to think positive, positive that this was not happening and that we were not having a child. They always said look on the bright side of things and to me this was a bright side. I watched her as she wiped the toilet seat clean and flush the toilet. As she gazed in my eyes I could tell she was being serious here. Why would she lie to me about this when it also affected her own future? Sarah: Clay does it look like i¡¯m joking here? Can¡¯t you be serious at this moment? This is our future we are talking about here. Clayton: I know, I know, i¡¯m just trying to think of the good and bads about this. Sarah: And? Clayton: And what? Sarah: And what are the goods? Clayton: There are none. I can only see us being doomed. I think it is time to abort the ship considering how fast it is sinking. As I said that the look in her eyes changed, and the expression on her face told me that she wasn¡¯t in the mood for jokes. I could only sigh and brace myself to face the trials that were waiting for us ahead. Clayton: Ok, I won¡¯t jump ship. You know that I wouldn¡¯t leave you to face this alone. We are in this together. She gave me a smile that told me how happy she was. I was glad actually, this could be good for us. It would make us more mature, and maybe I could finally be the father my dad was never to me. Sarah: Aren¡¯t you scared? I mean¡­ we are only kids Clay, kids. I don¡¯t even know how to face my mother. She barely talks to me now, and when I tell her i¡¯m pregnant I couldn¡¯t even imagine what she would say. Clayton: It¡¯ll be fine, you don¡¯t have to tell her alone. We can tell her together. She nodded her head at my reply as I smiled lightly. What in the world would I do without her? While she was scared to tell her mother, I was frightened to tell my own. She might think I was going down the same path as her. I¡¯m about to be sixteen and yet already have a child on the way, while she was sixteen and already had a child. It is funny how things turn out, I was hoping to go down another path from my parents. Yet it seems like no matter how far I wanted to stray away from their direction, something was pulling me towards it. Maybe this was fate? In my head I was already thinking of baby names for the child. Naming it either Brandon, Damion or Elijah if it was a male. For female names I was thinking of Emilia, I couldn¡¯t think of any other female names because Emilia sounded perfect. I definitely would not leave this child alone in the world. This child would know its father. I wouldn¡¯t be like those other petty fathers who leave before their child is even born. I would be different. ?????????? As I sat on the couch watching tv it dawned on me. How could this be my child when we¡¯ve only been together for a few months and only slept together a few weeks ago. If that was the case, this was not my child but the child of her last partner. I wanted to ask her, but something inside me stopped myself from doing that. She was delighted at the current trend of events, I didn¡¯t want to mess that up. I knew that she was not with him now so it didn¡¯t matter. Yet it was hard for me to accept the fact that I would be the father of a child that isn¡¯t my own. Could I truly love that child? I guess only time would tell. Sarah walked into the living room with a small object in her hand. She was smiling, but I couldn¡¯t tell if it was true or not. Was she smiling because she was truly happy, or was it a front for me? I eyed the small object she had, it was a pregnancy test. She showed it to me and I spotted the plus symbol. It was at that moment that I found myself crying. Sarah: Clay¡­ are you having regrets? W-we don¡¯t have to go through with this. I shook my head as the tears streamed down my face. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t want to go through with this, it was the fact that this really happening. Fatherhood. It was something I thought would happen in the future, but it happened faster than I expected. I wasn¡¯t ready for this. I didn¡¯t know what it meant to be a father, heck, I didn¡¯t even know what it meant to be a man. I asked my father, ¡®Did your father leave you without knowing these answers? Is that why you left me and my mother alone? Was it due to the fact that you yourself was scared you would not be a good father, so it was better for you not to accept the fact that you weren¡¯t one?¡¯ As I thought and asked this of him it gave me another point of view. Maybe this was the reason he was never in my life and my mother was so upset at him. Because he left her all alone. Because he broke a promise that was silently made between the two. It was because he broke her trust that she had in him. I grasped her hand as tears continued to flow. Clayton: I¡¯m not regretting anything. You and this child that we share, gives me the most joy. Now and in the future, nothing will tear us apart. I promise to love you both until my last breath. This child might not be mines, but I knew that she was. She accepted my faults, so I would accept hers as well. Whatever the future may hold, we¡¯ll face it together. Me, her, and our unborn child. Clayton POV End ?????????? Chad: Clayton¡­ earth to Clayton. You mind coming back to earth? Clayton who was in a daze realized that Chad was calling out towards him. He was so drawn back into memory lane that he nearly forgot where he was. Clayton: I hear you. Chad: Sure you did¡­ I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you wouldn¡¯t be able to have her even if you wanted to. She is already taken. Clayton: What are you talking about? Chad: Don¡¯t play dumb here, we both know that you were blinded by her beauty. C¡¯mon it is just us males here, tell me, you like her don¡¯t you? Clayton: No, she isn¡¯t my type. Chad: Honestly Clayton it is alright, you don¡¯t have to lie to yourself. You are still in the prime of your youth so it is only naturally that you would be captivated by such a beautiful girl. Clayton: Seriously, she isn¡¯t my type. Also, that girl you were talking about before was her right? Chad: Girl? Clayton: On our tour around town you said that there was a girl who tested the gods and bet her own life. That was her right? Chad grinned at Clayton¡¯s question. Chad: Smart man, how did you know? Clayton: I don¡¯t, I just get this weird feeling. She reminds me of someone who risked her life to save me once before, and I got the same feeling I felt when that girl saved me. Neither one of them were afraid of death. Chad: You are right, she is the one. Although she isn¡¯t physically strong, she still isn¡¯t someone you want to cross Clayton. You don¡¯t see it because you aren¡¯t looking at things how I am, but she might be your greatest ally. Clayton: You say that, but I don¡¯t think i¡¯ll be able to help you much. Chad: Don¡¯t doubt yourself. If you believe you can¡¯t do it, your body will also react making you unable to do the task at hand. Believing is everything Clayton. Clayton: And it was that same belief that got you guys in the position you are in now. Chad: That may be so, or it may just be fate. We can only play the hand we are dealt, and you may just be our trump card. Clayton: Don¡¯t put too much trust in me. The last person who trusted me got hurt pretty badly. Chad: It won¡¯t happen here. They were both silent for a bit. This might have been good for Clayton, to put his open his heart again and let others in. For him to trust others and let them trust him. Chad: Enough of that, it is about time for you to meet the headmaster. He has been looking forward to meet you the most. Clayton walked with Chad down the hallways of Linkin Park, until they arrived at a giant door. It was at least eight feet tall, and six feet wide. Chad was about to knock on the door, but a voice called out and told him to just come inside. As he opened the door, a cold chill blew past them both causing Claytons teeth to chatter. Inside the room were tables filled with tubes, tables filled with books, and book shelves all around. There was not one window in this room, it made it seem more like a prison of knowledge instead of the headmaster''s room. ¡®Who would stay in a room like this? They must be a living encyclopedia if they read all of these books.¡¯ As they entered the room, Clayton saw an old man dressed in a gray robe. His golden beard reached his chest, and his long hair fell down to his shoulders. That wasn¡¯t the best thing about this man, the best thing had to be his height. Because that man was huge. ???: Chad, leave us. Chad: Cya around Clayton. ???: Clayton Smart, we¡¯ve been waiting for you to arrive. Clayton: You know, I am amazed at how everyone knows my name, yet every time you fail to introduce yourself. Chad gave me the run down, you guys are facing a threat that you can¡¯t win against and i¡¯m this suppose to be this super powerful person that can save you all. He lead me around town trying to twist my feelings, but he failed you. I still feel the same way, I just want to go home. ???: Vortex said you were different from what he hoped for, it seems he was right. No worries, you are exactly who I thought you would be. As for Chad, he wasn¡¯t trying to twist your feelings, he was just telling you a little bit of our history. And I think you have something wrong here Clayton, we are not afraid of that threat. What we are afraid of is something else. Clayton walked over to a table and moved some of the books as he sat down. Crossing his legs he gave off a different aura than what he gave Chad. Clayton: Let''s cut the bull, I want to go home, and you want to use me. Maybe we can help each other out here. ???: And, what do you propose? Clayton: You let me go to talk to my mother and let her know everything is fine, and i¡¯ll help you for a year. I¡¯m not that heartless that I would let you suffer against this foe alone. If I can help, i¡¯ll help you. ???: Is that all you ask? I can tell that you are hiding something, but it won¡¯t work here. Sorry to tell you this, but there is no leaving here. Once you are here, you are here. Unless you yourself have the strength to leave, then you can¡¯t leave. Clayton: So you are telling me there is no compromise here? Then I think we are done here Mr. If you can¡¯t help me, then what makes you think i¡¯ll help you out? ???: You aren¡¯t understanding the bigger picture here. You think that what happens in here only effects us, you are mistaken Clayton. Everything that happens in here has an effect on the outside world. The moment you set foot in this place was the moment you chose your path. Those you care for, those who care for you, they are all in danger now. You are no longer living just for yourself, you are living for them. So I highly suggest you change your mind. Clayton: You would dare hold them hostage! You dare use them as leverage against me? You are making a big mistake here. The line you are treading on is a dangerous one, so I highly suggest you change your tactics before you make another enemy. ???: You act doesn¡¯t scare anyone, especially not me. I¡¯ll let you in on a secret Clayton, there are some of us who are special among the awakened community. And you Clayton are standing right before one. Clayton: Yeah, and you are standing before someone who has stood toe to toe against foes stronger than himself. So try me. Dropped So this has to be 500 characters long, but I have no idea what to say. You can tell from the title that I am dropping this story. Lack of motivation for it, but might pick it up again.... (probably not, just saying). I dislike being disconnected from internet, but it happens to the best of us. Which is why I didn''t write anything so far, and also lack of motivation for writing. But excuses are excuses so.... yeah. I really do want to finish a series, but after a while you get all these new ideas while writing one story thinking you can do both at the same time. Ideas get mixed together and it just doesn''t mesh well. Therefore it is best if I focus on one series instead of multiple. Also long drawn out stories do not suit me much, as the longer you write, the more content you will need to have and plot. Best to start out with short stories instead and see if it is meant for you. Makes things a lot easier when writing for a crowd of people.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. There is an idea I have for a VR novel, but don''t feel like doing all the blue boxes etc. so that won''t be happening. Think i''ll finish up DWOPS and maybe go on to something else.