They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said. Voice controlled. Mouth immediately slap shut. Just to prevent my throat from bursting out this scream that's killing me.

I want to leave immediately, I want to raise my shadows and smash this ugly bastard to the ground. I try to wriggle my fingers, producing the blessings of death I've been itching to try on him.

It didn't work. I can't move. I'm utterly stuck to the ground. He have me right where he wanted.

"Don't you?" he asks, his skull face cocks to the side. If he has a mouth, which he certainly can't afford to wear without scorching it to charcoal, he would have smirk by now. Giving me one valid reason to smash his teeth, grind them until they became food powder.

"Lance," Someone around calls my name. I can't see anyone here with me. It was just the two of us in this imaginary space. I slid my eyes way past him. Seeing the other side right through the hole of his stomach.

Nothing.

He doesn't seem to notice, he continued playing with his bony fingers to torture my limbs in certain places where it's the most painful.

"What in the freaking hell are you? Let me go!" I spat. My voice sounds weak. Tired. The fire is blinding my eyes. Especially when he walks closer, and I feel I'm melting against his bounds.

"Oh, seems like you already forgot the three thousand years we spend in this paradise together," he mused again. The raspness in his voice makes it eerier to listen him speak.

"I can make you remember if you want." His finger trailed a figure in the air. A circle, with the number five mark and the scribbles all around it. It didn't strike me as odd when the air where his fingers pass through is on fire. Leaving a stark of red streak hanging in space where his finger slash.

I scowl. That's my Mark he's writing.

He give me a sideways glance. Kick off his feet in the ground and charge at me. His fingers crackling with fire found it's way on my throat. He squeezes. I gasp. I choke. I struggle. I let out a painful moan.

He raise me an inch higher. My feet is flapping and struggling against his hold. My lungs is constricting my chest. Searching for air. Demanding supply which my throat can't provide.

And I know there's nothing I can do to stop him from crushing my windpipe right here and then.

"Lance!" the voice screams again.

My eyes pluck open. Four hands trying to kill me in present moment. Two hands gripping my shoulders hard. Another two slapping my cheeks left and right.

My face is beating sweat. I'm panting. Out of breath. That wasn't some kind of vivid vision. I just had a nightmare with the ruler of netherworld again.

I focus on Magnus's face. His blonde hair is tangled, clearly hasn't visited the salon for a haircut or the bathroom for fresh water and a comb.

"I - I'm okay." I stutter.

One painful slap, I caught the owner of the hand to stop. It was Jesper. He's peering his eyes at me. Looking too tired and worn out. But I can't mistake the fear dancing in his face. Clamping his jaws shut. Trembling his hands nonstop.

"Damn, here I am thinking you're already dead." Magnus said. He offered a hand to help me up. I take it and plant my elbows to the ground for support. I'm up in an instant.

That's when I notice Sam, sitting in the ground, his one feet are tightly bandaged. But otherwise unharm.

"Yo," he greeted. His shaggy hair looks more scattered like a birds nest as ever.

"Thought you died." Jesper beside me said. It wasn't that obvious but he's chest is rising and falling in a rate above normal. His shoulders droop.

He keep flexing his fingers, his forehead beading in sweat like mine.

I look up above me. It didn't surprise me when I watch the Madel's inn engulf in flame. The windows that I was in was in much broken state than I thought.

"How did I get out?" I ask.

"There's this scream like bomb erupted inside. I was on my way after retrieving Sam when this scream blasted us both out of the inn. On the other side is Magnus and Seven. Spinning in the air. Good thing Sam caught them before they land and break bones. But you.... Well, I don't know what happened. You just roll in here after we attempt to come back and save you."

I force out a laugh. Pushing the visions I see at the back of my mind. No one must see them. No one must know them. Okay, maybe later.

I'll tell them the things I saw. But it would be at the right time. When Seven and Sam has recovered from their injuries.

"What happened to Alpha Beast?" Magnus asks.

I shrug. "At the middle of our fight, he transformed into this disgusting oversize fiery bird - like phoenix and started to cramp his body inside the room. Setting everything inside in flames." I pause. Searching my eyes for Seven. When I saw she's beside Sam, laying unconscious in the ground, I approach her. Touch her neck to see if there's some pulse.

I breath in relief. I turn to look at Magnus.

"You have any idea what was that Magnus? Alpha Beast said it's bad to transform or something. And when I tried to escape he produce this skull splitting scream. I could have sworn I died back there."

"You did." Jesper confirm. "Your heart stop beating. I tried to revert your time a day ago. To see if it works. If it could bring you back alive. It didn't. Looks like I don't need to. You came back alive on your own."

I chuckle. "Honestly, I don't feel any better hearing that from you. But hey, thanks. I don't know what I'll do without you guys."