They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

I take a deep breath and calm myself. I think back on the first time Magnus told me about the Faeries. Telling me the Aufs are slaves of them.

Back then, I didn't reflect on how strange it was.

"Yeah, Faeries. Faeries." I said.

"Okay, Faeries. Faeries." He repeats. "Are you saying those tattooed cannon guys are Faeries?"

"Uh huh."

"So not a chick?"

"Yep."

"No sexy leaf costumes and big boobies?"

"What? No!"

"No small wings and pixie dusts like Tinkerbell?"

"What the -"

"No sexy leprechauns and hot goblins in two piece bikinis?"

I put a hand up. "Sorry to break it up to you but Faeries we're up against aren't sexy. They're too deceptive and cunning, doesn't have boobies like Tinkerbell - wait last time I check Tinkerbell is flat chested."

"No she's not -"

"They also don't wear sexy costumes. Anyway, forget about your fantasies about them and learn to accept the truth."

He groan mournfully and clutch his chest. Muttering senseless words like "How could this happen to me?"

"If you remember those zombie skeleton dudes you talk about, they are Faeries too. Magnus told me they're like the soldiers for them. Nickname Vocaji."

Number One's mouth drop. "You're not serious."

"I am always serious."

"No. No. I think you have a few loose crews in the head. How can you confuse zombies with Faeries? No, you must be crazy. You just want to ruin my - sexy - eight - hour - free - to - fulfill - fantasies with sexy hot Faery babes. Yeah, you must be."

I scratch my head. The narcissist Magnus is much better to talk than this one. I left him muttering to himself and shake Magnus's shoulders.

"Magnus. Magnus." I shake his head. It didn't work. "Magnus!" I hiss in both his ears. It didn't work. I rub my palms. "Don't hate me for this." I whispered.

I fling my palm in the air, doing the perfect arc for the hurtest slap I'm about to do. My palm made contact and PAAAKK! His head almost exceed the 180° turn.

Magnus sat up and touch his reddened cheek.

"Did you just slap me?"

I shrug. His messy blonde hair is tangled like vines, the bags under his eyes is much deeper than before. His cheeks a bit hollowed. His skin sagging a little, especially in the side of his nose.

He look like he just aged in a span of seven years in just one night. Is this the effect of the worms?

Number One zone on him and pull on Magnus's shirt.

"Is it true?!"

"The what?"

"That Faeries don't have boobies, don't wear bikinis and is super ugly?"

Magnus give me the 'What's wrong with this guy look'. I shrug. He turn to him.

"Yes, they don't." He admitted.

"How dare you ruin my fantasies!"

I almost flung myself to stop them. Number One tackled Magnus to the ground and raise his fist in the air. I really thought he'll punch him. He didn't. At least, Magnus got him first and one handedly shove his face to the side.

"Ugh. This is what I'll see when I wake up? A throbbing cheek and a virgin boy attacking me because of his nonsense fantasies?" Magnus groan and padded his pants. His shirt is a total mess because of blood.

"He might not make any sense." I tell him. I help Number One on his feet. "But he's the guy who save you from the death's door. And he's also an Eklektos like me."

Magnus laugh. "You're kidding."

"I am always serious." I repeated this line twice already. "Why don't you check it?"

Magnus make a grab for Number One's forearm. His face awestruck when he saw what I saw earlier.

"Oh."

Number One look so down. His shoulders sag and his eyes droop. Put that together with his small frame and everyone will mistake him as a grade school kid.

"By the way, I haven't heard what's your name yet. I introduce myself and Magnus to you earlier." I pat his shoulder.

He exhale and turn his grey eyes to me. "My name is Jesper. I'm fifteen. A loner and a nerd. I keep dreaming about Faeries in bikinis and goblin girls playing volleyballs at the beaches every night. I have my first wet dre - "

I slap my palm in his mouth. "Okay stop. We don't need to hear the rest."

At the center of the forest, a defeaning roar break out. My heart skip a beat. Realization struck me hard. Guilt slice through my heart.

"Seven." Magnus paled beside me. Together, we sprint back to where we came from. Leaving Jesper in his moping session.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. How could I forget? Why did I let my guard down? Just because I get relieved Magnus is now okay? What about Sam who separated his way from me?

And Seven... Oh mud freaking fudge Seven!

Hope I'm not too late.

Magnus and I are on both at our top speed. We leap through vines, sidestep roots and big trunks. I don't know which part we're we headed. I just know I need to get to her. Fast.

My instinct rule over me this time.

The trees tore in my eyes and the familiar mushy ground and the holed grounds came into view. This is where I was earlier. Where I eventually left Seven by herself, following Sam.

Right, where did Sam go?

A strong hand cut me off from my sprint. It appears out of nowhere and hold me by my throat. I was easily lifted off my feet. I struggle, I flail, I dig my nails on it's thick hands.

I'm struggling face to face with one of the tattoed guys. It didn't take me long to recognize he's the ringleader we saw in front of the Madel's inn.

His grin is disgusting. His black teeth is horrible. His breath is mortifying I almost pass out. He cock the cannon with one hand and pointed it at my head.

"Goodbye Number Five." He growl.. And fired.