They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Sam, it's okay. Breathe." I told him. He's shaking really hard. Convulsing. I place both of my palms on his wrist to stop him from flunging himself off the bed.

Magnus shake his head, slap his cheek, brush his fingers to Sam's shaggy hair.

We tried consoling, talking, nothings working. I'm scared this might be the basement over again. I glance at Magnus.

He look back.. Seems he had the same idea as me. I spin around and grab Jesper to kneeling beside Sam.

"Can you rewind his day? Like make it yesterday so he'll be alright?"

Jesper vigorously shake his head. " I can't do that. It will only worsen his injuries. Feeling the same intense pain again might kill him."

"I don't understand!"

"I just can't!" Jesper said. His eyes are wide, frantic, he keep shaking his head and stepping three steps back, away from us.

"I just can't." His tone falls back into monotone. Like he's talking only to himself. At that moment, I can tell.

By his reaction. By the glazed rattled eyes he's wearing. There's a side effect of rewinding a person's time too often. I know that look.

It's the same look I wear when I accidentally killed an Auf without meaning to. I have no control back then.

And because I want to take control my blessings almost left me.

Jesper must have experience it too. The feeling , the thing to see if our blessings are misused, wield against its original purpose.

"Jesper?" Magnus tried to stand up and come after Jesper. Jesper flinch.

"No, don't come near me." He squeak.

"What? why? I don't understand. Jesper please...save Sam..."

It took one glance at Sam before Jesper stumbled on his feet. Crawling to the side. Shivering.

He place his hands over his ears and repeated the same words over and over again.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean too. I'm so sorry."

Absentminded eyes shed big tears. Streaming down his face. Sam started to stop shaking at my hands. His peaceful face came out. And I make him sleep comfortable in his bed.

Magnus and I exchange glances. Inquiring what to do. My eyes slid to Seven's figure. If she's awake I bet she know what to do.

But it was only me and Magnus now... And I ain't sure what the hell should I do.

"Hey, Jesper." I whispered. I take a step forward. He flinch and scream. Shouting who are you, what do you want, leave me alone!

"It's okay. Don't you recognize me?" I slowly kneel and stretch my finger at him.

"I'm Lance. You save me at the forest. You're one with us. What? You cant even remember that? I'm sure you're Mark will disagree and protest to you how unfair you'd be. If you deny him."

He growled at me. Soft canine teeth protruding at his lips.

Now I'm starting to get worried. This is way past seeing the possible bad effects of our blessings. This is a post traumatic impulse to a trauma he recently experience.

What exactly happened Jesper? Who did this to you? Did you see something that awakens you're trau....ma.

I shuddered. I whip around at Sam's limp figure in the bed. It can't be.... Sam's convulsing figure? Does this mean he had watch numerous people convulsing after he use his blessing to them?

"Jesper, please listen to me." I said. I shape my voice as low and soothing as I could.

He's still shivering. His shoes are constantly drumming at the floor. He's pulling at his hair. I see some strands come off.

Strands he chug off from his scalp.

"Jesper let's talk this -" Magnus stands up and walk over so casually to him.

I tried to stop him. I tried to voice out my protest. But it was too late. Jesper had snap.

It was like Magnus is a trigger for his time bomb. Jesper produce another of his circle faint orbs in his hands and send it whirling to Magnus.

"Don't come near me!" He screeched.

Magnus, instead of avoiding it, he tried to deflect it back. He can't risk hurting the already injured Sam and Seven.

But Jesper's orb sink in to his skin. Digging to his bones. He went still. He gasp. And then I watch Magnus shrink right before my eyes.

While I'm occupied, Jesper took the chance to leap out of his corner, whisk the chains and lock he put at the entrance trapdoor, blow the chains on the other side and leap out of the windy evening.

"Oh, crap."

Despair shake my knees, I wobbled, collapsed to the ground and sigh. I'm supposed to go after Jesper.

But I can't.

I can't leave two unconscious injured persons to a grown up who shrunk into a 3 year old kid with baggy clothes.

"Jeeesspeeeer!!! Where is heeee?" Magnus muffled at the bottom of his too big for his current size clothes. His head peek at the collar part of his shirt, an adorable young version of Magnus met my eyes.

I laugh.

I laugh too hard. My stomach ache. And it wasn't just because I get to see Junior Magnus, it was the anxiety pouring out of me.

Looks like another situation has befallen upon us. One after another they keep piling up like dead rats blocking the canal.

We haven't resolved the aftermath issue of Seven and Sam yet. We haven't discuss about the plan of killing this Mr Jones the deity of time want me to kill yet... Now here comes another one.

"What the hell?! Why am I small?!" Magnus's pudgy arms patted his soft, bumpy belly, pinch his soft skin.

And slowly step out of his clothes. I realize he will complain to me.

I'm willing to listen. If it wasnt for the chilly wind whistling at the open trapdoor Jesper open.

I climb up the stairs. Fetch a block of metal rod from one of the shelves of tools ransacked at the corner.

The trapdoor is made of african mahogany wood. Strong. Sturdy. Won't break easily. Unless a bulky bouncer pounce on it headstrong.

Maybe it will break by then.

Let's just hope not.

I think back on Jesper's petrified expression. Tomorrow, I swear. I'll look for him.