They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

I didn't know what I was doing. Or what pushed me to do it. Magnus screamed at me to stop. Alpha Beast screeched thirty foul words synonym of 'Are you crazy?!' as I bring him with me.

It was his fault for sitting on my shoulder. No one told him to stay with me. Definitely not my fault I dragged him to my stupidity. I reached Sam safely. Two wooden sticks ready to slash whatever the thing is attacking him.

Above us, I heard a low shrilling sound, like a crow grumbling. "Kekekkeke"

"An....*shuurp*... Eklektos? Why....no *shluurp* blessings?"

It was both disgusting and straining to my ear, listening to him slurp his tongue. His swerving body, as if being one with the air rippled at every corner. This thing is fast. I noted. He can jump and stick through walls like Spiderman. 

Say things in the most disgusting way too. 

"Yeah, I'm an Eklektos too." I confirmed. I replayed Magnus moves. The way he jump like his body is a feather, light and agile. I remembered the senses I possess when Lista and Dad trained me against the Red Beast. According to Seven, those trainings were useless. 

I second the motion. But my senses were sharpen, my body improved, my moves became sharp and level out because of their trainings. My grip on the wooden stick tighten. Yes, both Magnus's father and I are traitors. 

They gave us away, abandoning us, all because of unclear reasons like revenge and duties to their life back at magical realm. Based on Magnus' stories, I tried to imagine what its lke in magical realm. 

What was in it, that two men are willing to give away their children to the bad guys…just to obtain what they want? 

"What..*shluurp*…number?" The thing transferred directly above me. A single drop of green slimy liquid drip in my forehead. Believe me when I say it smell horrible than a stray dog's breath.

Stray dog..?

I squint at the figure, remembering how Sam describe the chick his pops fell for. I think back on what reason why Sam never wanted to leave this room. This is where his father die. 

Sam watch him get killed by a 'blood hog', as Magnus referred it.. I wracked my head for the reasons why.. I definitely heard that name before. Back in my cell, when my hearing has improved ten times because of the development of my blessings…

'Blood hog' those skully warriors talked about them. I dig deeper to my brain…Stirring up the information and words scrambled in my brain. Looking for blood hogs.

"Blood hogs are nasty" a rasp voice said at my cell outside. Two skully warriors guards are chattering.

"How many body does that summed up now?" 

"Thirty-one body counts. In just one day. Imagine that?"

"Talk about ruthless." 

"Bloody enslavers trying to manipulate humans without absorbing their souls. Their blood magic is terrifying. Good thing I wasn't borne human." One snickered.

"Yeah, by some sheer luck we're lucky. Imagine having a blood hog ate your blood brother in front of you, controlling you to hate them, slowly feeding on your humanity, tying you to the place where they died. And then carefully, as if broiling a stew in medium heat, they wait for your blood to overcook your brain and kill you in the spot. Internal killing. Ugh." He shuddered. 

"How are blood hogs doing that by the way? The blood cooking brain thing?" 

"They mark their victims. Mostly they crept in homes and kill the parents in front of children. That's when the marking happen. Then it all comes down to insanity. The fear, the panic instilled by that murder would haunt the children, making them unable to leave their houses. The most important aspect is to not let the blood hogs and the children 'marked' meet."

"Why?"

"It hasten the brain cooking process. The lesser the distance, the stronger the brain cooking impulse. It could kill them instantly." 

A loud screech from the creature shock me back to reality. I see. If that's the case then this is really bad. Sam is in danger. I push away the urge to think back and formulate a plan. I've never been the brainy type. 

I am reckless. As long as priorities are set, then being reckless isn't bad. I grab Sam from sprawling on his butt and hauled him on his feet. He collapsed the second he step on his ankles. No choice, I carried him like a sack in my shoulders.

He's lighter than I expected. I turn to where Seven and Magnus is. I dare not scream for their name. I let my thoughts traveled to my brain circuits, searching for a connection I have with Seven and Magnus. 

I keep calling their names. Hoping they'll hear me telepathically. Magnus responded first. He's screwing his face at me, I almost lost my balance and flinch. As I thought, this guy is scary. 

"Magnus, Seven, I need your help." I said, I diverted my eyes and deflect the talons trying to make a grab on Sam's back. He's limp against my shoulders. Did he past out? My right hand slid in his back, felt the pulse doubling it's pace.

I gritted my teeth. I have no time to stall. I ran right to where Seven is. Alpha Beast followed behind me. He transform into someone's face and grab the duffel bag lying in the ground. The red line zigzag around me. 

The Childe has multiplied. No matter how many Magnus beheaded, he's doing it alone. They just keep on coming. I take one long leaped and landed squarely on my feet. Sam tumbled on my shoulder. 

Alpha Beast followed soot. Magnus came in next. 

"We need to get out of here." I said. I thought they'll protest and say 'Are you crazy?' or 'Have you been listening to what we're saying? There's dozen of them outside! We can't survive.' 

Yet, they didn't. Magnus smirked at me, as if he anticipated I will say this. Seven nods blankly and started to count in our heads. Magnus took it upon himself to carry Sam in his shoulders. 

"It's okay I can –"

"Brace yourself." Alpha Beast warned. 

Next thing I know, the ground beneath us open and we plunge right to our deaths.