20 A way into the unknown

"A come on dude... Here your coffee. what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing bro…. ha just had an awful dream"

Shit, I don't have time to mess around with work right now. I need to focus on finding out who those three are. It's most likely that they're related to some kind of secret organization bent on killing qi users... Wait why didn't they.

"What the fuck… dude do how the hell are you so tall?"

"Tall what the hell is he talking about... Shit, he broke my train of thought. what was I thinking about?"

"I'm serious you're about a foot taller now it's weird as fuck"

"dude"

Oh, shit I forgot when I broke my qi ball the qi released caused me to change physically, oh no how much have I changed?

"what the hell it couldn't have been to such a noticeable extent right. Shit, how do I play this off?" I thought while staring at David who was now standing at the door. Gazing at me with eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Dude don't be weird its just a growth spurt either that or you're going crazy… huh, I think it's the latter" I said while putting my coffee cup in the sink.

"I'm going to get dress alright wait for me and don't touch anything"

When I got into the bathroom the first thing I did was check my body for any cuts or bruises, I still vividly remember having my back cut to shreds a few minutes ago, and my arm that was nearly cut off completely. Just thinking about it caused my heart to race uncontrollably, causing me to stumble. Remembering how helpless and scared I was caused an endless mic of emotions to swirl inside my head.

I never wanted to go through something like that again. But yet I wanted my fucking revenge, who the hell do they think they are bursting into my house and attacking me… also what the hell was that technique huh it must be some kind of alternate dimension. Or some mind fuckery that they pulled to fuck with me.

"Hey, David im going to take a shower" I yelled out while getting into the bathroom.

"What the hell man we don't have time for any of that" he yelled back.

"I don't care I need to clear my head. Just give me a few minutes ok?"

I rushed into the shower turning it on before he could respond.

"My heads spinning like crazy. I can't think straight. Holy shit holy shit did some guy just transform into a fucking bird" I said lightly under my breath. What does this mean shit all this does is fill my head with more theories, what form of qi is that?" I thought to myself while the cold water blessed me with a calm and cool head, to think straight. How the hell can qi do that he stood just about 5 meters tall fuck I need to do more research and I need to form a plan"

What do I know so far 1.) they're a group of three 2.) one of the team members is a loudmouth who doesn't like to take orders also can transform into a 5-meter golden-eyed tall bird they called him Riticus. another one is called Cerci she's most likely the one who created the strange space I was in seeing as the one called Riticus demanded she send him back in. and last the leader Johnathan… I just guessing but he probably has the ability to induce paralysis in whatever he's touching. 2.) they most likely let me live because they… aww shit, I can't think straight...

"Dude A let's go Hellooooo lets go"

"Shit, I have no interest in doing any of this bullshit today," I whispered

"Yeah I'm coming to give me a few minutes"

....

Where on the road. David's driving seeing as I'm still paranoid that someone's watching me, every time I turn my head, I see that pale golden-eyed bird stalking me eyeing my every movement, waiting for me to let my guard down.

"Hey, are you listening. I said Mercia called me asking about you. Said you were acting different... well she said "Distant" but same difference. She wanted me to find out why you suddenly change"

"oh, really don't worry about it just girls being paranoid"

Paranoid huh" I thought while looking for any signs of the pale golden-eyed bird. Shit, why the hell am I wasting time on such mundane things.

"People are worried about you. Mean for weeks you looked sickly and now proof your fine and the sudden growth dude don't tell me you've gotten superpowers ha-ha"

"Hell yeah, of course, that's the only explanation right superpowers ha-ha"

I don't why I don't tell him. Maybe I just don't want... no can't speak the words like I did when I was younger, I'm afraid of being that one outcast that everyone stares and laughs at.

"I'm sorry David this has to stay my secret... I won't lie and say its for your own good no that's not it. I just can't bring myself to tell you… sorry man" I thought while starring at the "Halfway" "we're here," I thought.

The red top of the Halfway store looked chipped and worn, the whole building looked like mashed together half liquor store the other half fast food I know it's weird but that's just how the halfway appeared at least to me.

"Alright A im getting a ride home so don't worry about getting me home."

"…"

I unlocked the doors of the halfway and went into the backroom, its dark like always. Id normally frantically reach for the light, wanting to escape the silencing dark. But today was different today I could see as though the light was still shining brightly, I could see the red couch that was pushed firmly against the wall hiding the cracked cement floor below. My desk was placed right in front of a plain white wall that seemingly drained every ounce of creativity from the room the moment you looked at it. If I wasn't outwardly depressed before now I certainly am.

Our days here were uneventful a slow burn laced across your back is how id describe working here, gone are the days of us having food fights. Yeah, George put an immediate end to that, ahah he even introduced us to our possible replacements, a kid named Mike, and another called Web.

His exact words were "Listen here young men working here is an honor that I've bestowed upon the two of you please treat it with respect and sincerity or you could lose it". I don't know how I maintained a straight face.

"I can't do it anymore" I nearly shouted jumping off the couch and locking the door. After that, I sat down in a meditating pose, "I need to form a counter for that bird" I thought while thinking back on how the fight went, I tried to remove the effects of that weird golden space from the equation. Because I don't think its part of his ability and I wouldn't know where to start with that.

First things first I need to remove his ability to fly, I could either pin his wings down or cut them off is what I'm thinking about. Or I doubt this could be an option, but I could beat him up before he transforms.

Wait shit I don't know the first thing about fighting. Why the hell didn't I think about the fact that I don't know the first things about even throwing a punch let alone fight to what I'm guessing is to the death.

"I need to learn how to fight as soon as possible," I thought being broken out of my thoughts with a loud knock at the door. "Aww fuckkk" I said lightly

"A get out here now" yelled David

"What dude it's still your turn to watch the store," I said walking up to him staring out of the window.

Mercia and Ahmya, both dressed in all black military looking clothing. Mercia held a bat in her hand while Ahmya had a crowbar. "This is going to be a fucking headache I just know it" I said obviously startling David who gave me his signature cold stare as though looking at a complete stranger.

"Hey Alexander, you fucking brat come out here and receive this holy ass beating. From these two goddesses" yelled Ahmya with a crooked smile on her face, pointing a crowbar at me.

"Dude its still your turn how about you handle this," I said while starring at David who was oddly still staring at me.

"…. I'm not paid enough to handle two angry ladies. Sorry you're on your own"

"yeah thanks for nothing"

"Do you want me to come in there? Huh huh little Alexander"

"Oh, Alexander the great graces us with his presence huh welcome. Now explain yourself"

"Sorry I'm not that Alexander just Alexander the average... but enough with the jokes what do you two want?"

"Call him again Mercia"

(Ring ring ring)

"Are you still on about that. I told you I was busy"

"Check your phone dumbie look how many times she called you"

"Fine"

When I looked, I saw that she called me just about 7 times... each time leaving a voice message. Honestly, I don't remember us having such a close relationship.

"Alright but like I said I've been busy"

Mercia didn't talk at all she stood behind Ahmya and took peaks at me every now and then.

"Look you insensitive prick. She just cares about you and wants to talk, don't be such a dick about it."

"look I'll try harder to answer my phone but I'm not making any promises"

(swish)

"what the fuck. Why'd you take a swing at me"

I yelled starting at Ahmya, this girl is absolutely crazy, I couldn't tell if she just pretending or really intended to bash my head in with a fucking crowbar. but her eyes were ice-cold almost as though she didn't have a heart.

"AWW Ahmya don't please don't it's not that important, I'm sorr..y Alex"

My eyes were unfeeling and filled with rage. I don't know what it was in me, but a flame was light again. like when I was fighting the pale golden-eyed bird. All I wanted to do was bash her head in… this fucking lunatic really tried to take my head off. And the murderous energy coming off her was something to be alarmed of. but I wouldn't back down.

"Hey A do you need any help"

"No, they were just leaving"

"Be careful you little shit. You have no clue who you're fucking with. Another snarky remark and ill end you"

"….."

It's as if everything clicked the moment, I saw the look in her eyes, she looks like one of those knights protecting… a princess. I gazed emptily headedly at the scene unfolding in front of me. And 1 thing became crystal clear for me.

"Ahmya's is a qi user and a dangerous one at that. The way she protects Mercia… holy shit she's like a bodyguard" I thought. Is that it does it all lead back to Mercia. Fuck how could I not see it, I mean she does have that strange energy around her, and her dad and mom are absolutely qi users, it all centers around Mercia. If I'm to get to the bottom of all the mysteries of this town I need to stick to Mercia, I felt an inner coldness take over me, a pure unfeeling desire to devour the thing in front of me.

I reached out with a hand that didn't feel as though it were mine and pulled Mercia closer to me... "I know she likes me all I have to do is be what she wants me to be" I thought while placing a hand on her cheek and kissing her ever so gently

"I'm sorry for being distant. I won't do it again."

She just stared at me. A face tomato red. She kissed me again this time for longer, I placed my hand on her waist moving slowly towards her butt. Only to feel the cold gaze of Ahmya.

But it didn't matter anymore. I had already decided that Mercia would be my ticket into whatever is going on in this town. And Id do anything to further my understanding of qi and its users.

"Don't worry little knight I won't hurt your princess?" I thought while placing a soft hand on Mercia's ass

"Alexander there are people here" Mercia whispered into my ear.

"Sorry it's just I hate seeing you sad"

I belive this was the moment it all changed for me, the moment i was no longer just Alexander a quiet outcast from Longshore, but something much much worse....