Chapter Forty-Eight - A Room of Corpses

Sebastian Vassinari

I looked down at my shaking hands, finding myself questioning my lack of action. Why didn't I try to stop him ? I could've at least tried, Jacob moved before I did, then why? I looked up at the corpses that were littered about the room. I held no attachment to them but the sight made me sick, but the realisation that the sickness came from my own uselessness, made me feel all the worse. I looked to Isaac who had moved to Valerie's side, kneeling in front of her slumped body and looked to be praying.

"Isaac, what the hell have you done!" Jacob shouted, his hand landing on Isaac's shoulder and I saw the man wince.

"I don't know," Isaac muttered, not taking his eyes off of the woman.

"I don't know," Jacob mocked, scoffing in disgust, "aren't you supposed to be the one who knows everything."

"Jacob, please stop," I found myself saying.

"Why ? Every time we are around this man, people die. The people in the first trial, Jason, Levin, Harley-" he breathed out, and with utter solemnity spoke another name, "Henry." Isaac stood then, wiping phantom tears that never fell.

"I know how you feel, she, she was a close friend in the past. But, these deaths will become commonplace. More people will die, that is why I am trying to change things and like it or not, you and Sebastian are the only ones that can feel this weight. While Sebastian hides his power from the world, you will need to become his shield and at other times the sword at his side." A shrill scream of panic echoed throughout the room as the woman, Ashlea stood. She seemed to be shaking and didn't seem to care about her crumpled dress that had risen up her legs. "Ashlea, it's fine, it's over," Isaac stated, walking slowly towards her. Panic was evident in her eyes as she didn't seem to focus on any one specific thing. Isaac then embraced the woman in an embrace that she reciprocated, tears fell down her face and landed on Isaac's shoulder but he didn't seem to notice. They stood for a time and I just waited, I didn't want to sit, I found myself not wanting to disturb the bloodshed around us.

"Isaac?" I stated aloud, he broke from the embrace, looking at me. "I want you to train me to be better, I want to ensure this doesn't happen again," I gestured to the bodies.

"Don't get me wrong, I will train you the best I can, but your abilities will need to stay hidden, for this plan of mine to work, I need you to keep your true capability hidden from the world." he turned to Jacob then, but I spoke up first.

"Jacob, I need you to do what he asks," I saw him about to retort but I held up a hand, "only when it comes to training, I know you feel it also, this uselessness. We need to become powerful enough to stop these senseless killings and deaths from occurring." My friend nodded in agreement, but his expression showed that he wasn't happy about it.

Isaac Woodman

T2 2025 - I tried it hard to withhold my smile at the irony of the present situation. This 'Present' was not intended, but the outcome of the occurrence was great. Looking at Sebastian now, seeing that his mind was made up, gave me a feeling that I had longed for, a sense of purpose.

"We need to find some people first," I stated, "we need to find others with abilities and get them to give them to you." I'm sorry sister for dragging you into this, "and I have the perfect first candidate."