Chapter 29

Magnus

"Now freeze!," The goons sent by Flare froze on the stop, releasing Michelle and The hooded lady from their deadly situations.

"What a pain... At least I have my body back now," Lio grumbled, rubbing his temples.

"Kind of...," He added on. I struggled to stand, leaning on the wall for support.

"Lio I," He turned, his dark eyes flashing with rage.

"Dont even... You abandoned me when I needed you the most. Instead of helping me through my problems in the aftermath of my amnesia, you acted selfishly. You dont think I remember what you did? You acted like your old self again. Not very surprising considering how you acted last time. You were a ball baby bitch who couldnt handle who I am as myself... And for that... We're through," He said angrily. I stumbled, trying to grab his hand.

"Lio-," I collapsed. I waited for my fall, but it never came. I panted, a trickle of blood dripping down my face, and falling off my chin.

"I... I'm sorry... I-," I tried to finish the sentences but the words never came.

Lio

5 minutes earlier

"L-leave me alone!," I cried, struggling to put distance between myself and the man coming straight for me. Everyone around me is immobilized, even Magnus.. I cant fight! My heart drummed in my ears, getting louder and louder.

"How bout this... So we both dont Die, let's come to an agreement. I was just like you... I was you... I had a voice in my head telling me to do horrible things. But I'm not telling you to do anything... I know that pain. I just dont want to be forgotten.. Just like you... We are one and the same. And instead of acting like we're opposites or whatever.. Let's agree to be one... Let me have control... I can save us.... We'll be the same person... Please let me save my family!," The voice begged. I looked around, making eye contact with Magnus. Fine.

I took a deep breath and close my eyes. Surrounding me, are all my past ideals... They're my memories... Good and bad... I looked around, noticing the one straight across from me. A frail boy who looked terrified.. Just like me. In a split second, they all merged into one. A normal looking boy, who held his hand out to me, his eyes glowing a bright color, beckoning me in closer.

"Ok... Its a deal," I whispered, before shaking his hand. The second we made contactz it's like the darkness in my mind lit up like fireworks, all my memories, good and bad, playing around me on replay like a movie theater. I turn, looking around me in awe. On one screen, I see something that warms me to my core. My first kiss with Magnus... I remember... I remember it all!!!! I laughed with excitement.

I turned to see the man, but he was gone. My head was empty. I smiled... This is our life.

I snapped back to reality, a rush of energy striking me like a lightning bolt. Without an effort, my voice spoke for me.

"This is pathetic... If you want to claim my life and My body... You can't cower to men like these!," A voice inside me roaredcompletely altering my usual tone, to that of the boy whom I now share a body with. I Cocked my head, watching as a large icicle tore from the ground, slashing the mans side. He howled in pain, stumbling away from me with a look of complete and utter rage on his face I smirked,feeling a rise in confidence. This is my purpose.

To help those in need. I cracked a finger, raising my frosty palms in the air.

"What? Scared? Don't worry... I won't kill you... But I'll make you wish I did!," I roared before slamming both hands down into the ground, my eyes glowing silver. This is who we are... Together. No more me and them. No more worrying about loss of humanity. This is Lio... The person I've always been meant to be.

I thought back to thise early days, with my mother.

**********

Mommy... Whered daddy go?," I asked. My lips trembles, as the fear that My father didnt love me anymore bubbled up inside me. My mom looked up at me with tear stained eyes, her once luxurious hair falling around her head in ragged clumps. Even from a distance, the smell of alcohol on her scented the air more prominently than anything I'd ever smelled before.

"Lio... Go to your room... Mommy needs some alone time please... Go read those books mommy bought for you," she ordered, tension heavy on her voice. Her fists clenched even harder on her blonde locks, her tears spilling over like a flooding sewer drain. I looked down, my fists clenched. I could feel my cheeks burn with the embarrassment of the attitude I was displaying.

"But mommy, I already read them all... I want to watch the video again!" I whined. My fists clenched even tighter with fear, my bottom lip catching in my teeth. The second she looked up, I knew I shouldn't have talked back to her. Her beautiful green eyes now glowed with an intensity of which I'd never seen.

"THEN READ THEM AGAIN LIONEL!!", She cried, throwing her hands down to the ground with a loud bang, whatever the force she used, the sound resembled that of a thunderstorm, and her tears that of the rain that pour from the night sky. I flinched, looking down. Tears filled my eyes swiftly. I missed my dad. Why wasnt he there for me.

"But mom!!!" I tried again. That's when something in her snapped. I saw it. Later the authorities would see it too. The anger boiling in her beautiful green eyes. And deeper than that. Her insanity. Is this why daddy left me? Did I remind him to much of her?

Next thing I know her palms struck me into my cheek full force, sending me sprawling on the tiled floor. I could feel the pain stinging through my entire face, and my blonde hair spilled into my eyes due to being ripped out in the impact. I could feel my eyes widening with shock, and all my body wanted to do was recoil from the woman who hit me.

"M-mommy?," I whispered, clenching my fists as I choked back a sob, looking up at her. Before I could say another word, I got up and sped to my room sobbing the whole way. She hit me. Mommy doesn't love me anymore.

Now that I think about it... Maybe she was just hurting... Maybe I made things too hard on her.

**********************

Hey little guy... Are you ok?," the older boy asked, kneeling down to my level with an outstretched hand. I clench my teary eyes shut and slap his hand away sobbing.

     "They took her away from me... I'm all alone now... Whyd they take her away from me?," I whispered, clenching my fists shut. I look up at the beautiful sky, and I can remember the hatred I felt towards its beauty in that moment.

    "DAMMIT WHY DID EVERYONE LEAVE ME!!," I roared to the unknown above me, before sobbing once more into my tiny arms. I must've  been about 8 at that time. I didnt understand any of it. Mother was always hitting me. She never told me why, and I never asked. Eventually it became normal.

     "Hey... Its ok. I saw what she was doing to you. It was for the better kid," He tried to say to me in reassurance. I stood angrily, pushing him away from me in Hope's to create distance. I could feel my heart breaking in that moment. Is that what they all think?

     "No! She wasnt doing anything wrong!! Whatever she was doing that was so bad i probably deserved it," I cried, attempting to wipe my tears away. I just want this pain gone. It's like a constant knife in my throat, preventing me from breathing.

    "That's not true... My name is Magnus... What's yours?," I stop, looking at him, truly looking at him. And in that moment i saw someone I could look up to.

     "I-Im Lionel... You can call me Lio if you want.... " I reply earnestly, avoiding eye contact. I twiddle my fingers, embarrassed that this guy caught me crying. I wiped my eyes, and look down.

      "Well Lio... If it makes you feel better, My father wasnt the best either.. He did some bad things... I coped with this.., "he turns and grabs a ball from the ground and kicks it to me. I leap backwards, watching it sail past me with awe and fear. What was that?

     "Its a soccer ball. You've never really been out much, have you?," he asks. I shake my head, looking back at him in awe, my eyes wide with admiration.

      "Here, I'll teach you to play,"

I imagined his amazing smile, and the admiration I felt for him... I loved that smile growing up.

***************

Whatever comes next, I'll make it through it... WITHOUT MURDERING ANOTHER HUMAN!

" Meet my new trick.... WINTER EXECUTION!," I roared, a wave of spiky shards of ice ripping from the ground and shooting through the roof, slicing through limbs, sides, cheeks, anything to knock them off balance. As soon as they fell, I let out a deep breath, holding up my frosty palm a little higher.

" Now freeze,"

Now- Present time

"Magnus!! HEY WAKE UP!!," I cried, setting him down on the couch. I tilted his head, freezing the entirety of his wound. Oh god...

"Tsk Tsk.... I really thought he'd hold up better," A dark voice growled, almost like razors cutting stone. I turned, seeing Flare in the hole in the wall, a maniac glare slapped onto his face. I turned, putting Magnus behind my back.

"Stay back!," I seethed. Michelle remained frozen on the ground, and the hooded girl remained frozen to her spot, too terrified to move.

"I can't.. I'm sorry. But you have someone I want.. Give me Sarah and you'll live through the night... Otherwise... I'll be happy to kill you myself..," He warned, cracking his fists. I steadily rose, turning to Michelle... I need to get her out of the way.

"Get lost!," I screamed making a spear of ice and throwing at him with all the might in my body. He caught it easily, melting it as soon as all fingers touched it. I cant use my move.

"Now DIE!," flare went to raise his fist, but was flung aside like a ragdoll. Kneeling on the floor, a young man panted, his bright blue eyes glowing almost like Magnus's, with a baby blue tone to them. His blonde hair was pulled up into a wacky small pony tail. His outfit of choice was also surprising. Shorts and a muscle top. Is he lost.

"Alexander!," The voice laughed. Flare tensed, looking up at the boy with shock. I scratched my neck... This kid just stole my show.

What the hell.

"Erem " Flare gasped. Without hesitation, Eren stomped on Flares chest, a smirk flashing across his lips.

"You've been so naughty without me havent you... Still the pathetic little boy with daddy issues...," He growled. Flare screamed and grabbed his foot, throwing him off to the side. He rolled over, standing and walking towards the boy. Lava dripped from his palms.

"Its the same story for all of us... Our parents wanted us gone... They left us at a hospital, where a dickheaded doctor took us as lab rats and tortured us for years straight... You left me... Sarah left me... I made that escape plan for us and you two took it and ran!," Flare cried. He reached down for the kids face, lava dripping even faster now.

He's pissed. The kids eyes widened with surprise. He didnt think it through.

Without think I flung myself forward, splitting the two apart. I covered his body with mine.

Almost instantly, my back burst into pain. I screamed, throwing my head back with agony. Tears burned my eyes, and I could even smell my flesh burning.

"What-... Why!," Eren demanded. I rubbed his head, givibg him a sad smile.

"I let this man kill another young boy.... Who didnt deserve to die... I won't let it happen again... GOT ME!-" I cried, turning and glaring at Flare. a sharp pain forms in my back as four large spikes rip out my back, made of ice. They lifted me into the air. I grinned, feeling a rush of anger and madness at once.

"I had a lot of time to think about what I was going to do with this useless power when I was in my coma... Now I know!," I cried. Two of my ice legs shot out from behind me, slicing Flare's arms. He lunged backwards with a scowl.

"Stay back.... Lio," Michelle whispered. She rose, stumbling around. Flare smirked, his eyes glowing with glee.

"MICHELLE NO!," I went to long for her, my ice legs shattering, but it was too late. Flare grabbed my foster mother by the throat, lifting her up into the air. He turned to me with a maniac smile.

"Eye for an eye... Tooth for a tooth...," He growled. I sprinted forward, tears burning my eyes. I'm too slow!

"NO!," I went to stop time, but it didnt work. WHY ISNT IT WORKING!

"Too bad... Lionel Valdez," He grinned up at my mother, before his finger tips turned to lava. I watched as his lava slowly engulfed my mother, pouring into her body at every pour, suffocating her.

"STOP IT!," I shot a wave of ice at him, but it was no use. He dropped her body and leapt over my wall, disappearing out to the streets outside.

"Michelle!," I cried, dropping to my knees and touching her boiling hit cheek. I froze. Shes not moving. One by one, tears slowly fell from my eyes.

"Mom... Mom... MOM!," I sobbed, shaking her body. No response.

"Mom wake up... This isnt funny!," I felt the tears fall faster now. I pulled her lifeless body into my arms, sobbing audibly.

"No! DAMMIT!," I buried my head into her hair, her familiar scent just barely fading. I cupped her cheek, a sob choming my throat. I couldnt breath, the air around me is suffocating me. I pressed my forehead to her forehead, sobbing heavily.

"Thank you.... For everything!," I screamed. And as if one last cruel joke to be played, her body started to crumble to ash.

Right there in my arms.

Within minutes, she was nothing but dust, in the wind.