Chapter 7: Decision

Part 1

I have a decision to make.

To fight to fulfill “my” wish or to live comfortably and more securely, as I have been doing so far.

I don't know what to do.

Actually, I don't even know what I want to do.

So far, I was gathering information to make decisions, but I feel like I've stepped into a very dangerous place.

One door is opening for me to fulfill any wish, and another to avoid my very probable death.

There are also people I know involved that I will have to overcome.

I no longer have James or Andrea to advise me or hold me back.

"Fight? Run away?"

No.

I think it would be better to ask myself:

If I decide to fight, will it be worth it? Will I die in vain? Will I make it through all the challenges and fulfill that wish?

For now, I will go ahead and see my options along the way.

Part 2

2 July 2011 at 23:42

George, exhausted, sat down on the pavement at one of the corners of the intersection where the fight with Brotherhood RG took place, leaned his back against a lamp post and sighed heavily.

Philip stood beside him, his expression dark.

—Phew. That's it. They're pretty good, those mercenaries, aren't they? —said George, grimacing.

—Yeah…

—Are you all right? Your voice sounds a bit funny.

—Huh? Ah. It's nothing.

Philip had changed his voice a little so that George wouldn't recognize him, but being in a rather deteriorated state of mind, his voice sounded very unnatural.

He took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on his pending conversation with George.

—What can I call you?

—Oh right, my name is George White.

He said his name without hesitation.

—Emmm? Ok. George, let me thank you for saving my life earlier.

—It's nothing, I couldn't let the hope of this city die.

—You think so? You're so much more amazing than I am.

—Being a hero isn't just about power, it's about willpower. You are the hope of the city because you were the only one who wanted to be one.

—…

—I'm going to tell you a bit about myself. I am part of a large hidden network of psychis fighting for the common good of our people. We want to ask for your cooperation, are you willing to listen to me?

—No problem, I owe you one.

—Ok. We want you to help us to make humans aware of psychis and the fact that they do not represent a real danger to humanity.

—I have no problem cooperating, but it's not just that, is it?

—This world will never understand that the average psychi poses no threat and the events of the last month have worsened the reputation of our kind, not just in Australia, but all over the world. We have gone back approximately 100 years. Strong measures must be taken to achieve our goal.

Philip looked down.

—Something like dark reform?

—That's right. In a few months' time there will be a plebiscite to ask the people of this country, and in particular the people of this city, whether they are in favor of dark reform. We need you to join us as a voice to convey a message to society. Psychi will never live in peace without such measures.

Philip bit down hard on his lower lip.

—I…

—I can imagine that you, as a human and a hero, don't want to get involved in something that would harm psychis in principle, but… There are a lot of people who are seriously considering following the British model.

—No, it's not that —said Philip, shaking his head from side to side. It's more about my ideals. There's something I'm after, helping them do something like this will go against what I'm after.

George closed his eyes and nodded.

—I see. In that case, I won't bother you anymore. Can we just agree on a non-aggression agreement?

—I don't mind, but I have a question.

—Go ahead.

—The Eyre stones… No, forget it.

George tilted his head curiously, but then nodded slightly.

—It's not what you think, we won't force dark reform or anything like that through wishful thinking, that can have negative consequences we don't seek. We want the stones because we want something back. Something that is very important to us and that was taken from us in an instant. That's all it is.

—I see.

George got up and walked past Philip. He stopped as soon as he passed him.

—Well, since we couldn't come to an agreement, I'll leave you for the day. Seeing you, I can feel that for the first time I have met a real hero. I know you will help the city and the psychis a lot.

—You expect a lot from me.

—I suppose, but in times like these, it's good to believe in some messiah.

—…

—I hope to see you soon, Zero.

George started walking in the opposite direction to Philip's gaze.

Part 3

"Seeing you, I can feel that for the first time I've met a real hero."

You are deeply mistaken.

I am not a hero or anything even minutely resembling one.

A hero doesn't hesitate about his ideals, doesn't consider stepping over others for a selfish goal.

A hero does not take shortcuts or engage in unnecessary battles.

In reality, all this talk of freedom is a cover. I don't know if I really believe in it.

I'm just someone trying to achieve the title of local hero to fill a void that haunts him.

I never had a deep heroic feeling.

I was never close enough to people to give my life for theirs.

I am cowardly, indecisive, ambitious, envious and shameless.

I live in a profound contradiction.

While you were talking, George, I made a decision. One that a hero would never choose.

It's going to be the most dastardly thing I've ever done, but this is the path I've decided on.

Bill, Ethan, Willo, The Redhead, Clara, you, James and most of all Andrea, all have blazed this path.

Will there be regrets? Maybe. It won't change what I'm about to do.

I can't breathe.

I take off the scarf that covers my identity. Something like that doesn't matter anymore.

The glasses these won't let me see, I've dropped them.

Wearing this costume, which everyone in this city holds as a symbol of heroism, bravery, and justice; it irritates my skin.

It is not for me to wear it.

To soothe my burdened soul, I remembered certain words spoken to me by someone important on a beautiful summer evening.

"Never hesitate to fight for what you want, Philip".

Here I go.

Part 4

Philip and George, walking away back to back. As if it was a western movie.

This wasn't a duel, though. One trusted the other completely, and that's why he left his back uncovered.

Betraying such an act made Philip's choice more difficult.

But it was too late.

He turned his body, grabbed something from his belt and…

A loud bang rattled both their ears.

George, who until that moment had been walking slowly and quietly almost a hundred yards away from Philip, stopped his feet with a thud.

It was not only the deafening noise that made him stop his steps, a sharp pain shot through his back.

—What…?

His serene expression disappeared and gave way to one of complete terror. He turned around and saw Zero, stripped of the elements that covered his identity, pointing a gun at him. The design of it was something special, it glowed. He predicted that the bullets it fires are recharged with energy, so the damage they generate would be very considerable.

—Phi...?

He quickly pulled a piece of bread from his right sleeve and put it in his mouth. Philip fired again, this time into his shoulder.

—GAAAH.

Seven shadows covered George, black smoke rising from them and taking human form.

George White's high-ranking skill: Copies of himself.

But Philip had already thought of a countermeasure. The grey glove on his right hand lit up, he swept his arm through the air and the light blue-coloured light shot out, hitting the seven copies.

Energy and dark energy do not get along. When they come into contact they produce a reaction that triggers a small explosion.

—AH? —George recoiled as Philip reduced his numerical advantage in mere seconds.

Philip ran with all his might and passed through the fire left by the explosions. George covered his body with a barrier of dark energy. It had completely stopped the missile explosion but....

—THAT WON'T WORK!

Philip charged his right arm and struck hard at the barrier, which in that instant was completely destroyed.

His gauntlet, which was no longer illuminated, is element 347, this simple barrier was nothing to him, it was too small and had no internal and constant flow of power that the one he witnessed on June 21st had.

George prepared himself for the worst. Playing on his confidence, Philip defeated him utterly.

Philip cut the distance between them, and with a bottom-up blow to his jaw with his left hand, staggered him until he fell backwards a few feet away.

Philip slowly approached George as he gasped. The fire had burnt some of his clothes. He could hear the priest say a few words in a very soft voice.

—Why... why? Phi... lip

—I'm sorry, George. I'm no hero, I can't wait to meet you again either. I need to move on, I have a wish to fulfill. I don't hold any grudges for our relationship at school, don't think that's what it is.

A cold stare pierced Philip's body. I could feel him being filled with curses in silence, George could barely breathe.

—Let's get this over with. —Philip stood beside George, pointed his gun at him and fired.

The bullet went through the heart. George's body jerked hard, then stopped moving, his breathing stopped.

Philip sighed.

It was a mixture of relief and remorse. It seemed like it was all over, but he knew that in reality, it had just begun.

George's body glowed brightly and purple particles shot out of him, gathering in the air in front of Philip.

Those particles coalesced into a stone.

—Wow...

Philip stretched out his right arm and gently picked up the stone, being careful not to break it.

The Eyre stone hovered above his grey glove.

At that moment the light intensified.

Philip was a little startled.

But this time it wasn't just the stone, his wrist was glowing even brighter than the stone. The sleeve of his jacket and the bandage covering it were tearing until it fell off.

—The stamp!

The Eyre stone shattered again into particles that encircled Philip's forearm to merge with the stamp.

He couldn't believe what had just happened, right now the Eyre stone was inside his body.

—Eh... Well, he had nowhere to hide it anyway.

He grimaced wryly as he ignored the cold sweat running down his back.

When it was all over, he started walking.

—Phew. Things are going to get dangerous from now on.

A sensation invaded his body.

—Huh?

He looked back to where he had felt a presence, but there was absolutely nothing. Just an empty street.

A little uneasy, he returned to his flat.