They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Thank you. I'll open a path for you." I said.

Sam nods. He scoop Magnus in his arms and lifted him off his feet. I scuttle to the corner. Have them take a step backward, away from the cannibals who's been eyeing and licking their lower lips at Magnus's direction.

My hand with the sledgehammer moved on it's own. Memories from Dad's training wash over me. The beatings, the relentless sparring, the unstoppable knockouts.

My ribs suddenly aches at my side.. As if the bruises and cuts he inflict on me is still there. I'm tempted to close my eyes. Savor the moments I spent with Dad. But I couldn't. I need to face these cannibals.

If I need to sacrifice another rib or leg just to send Magnus and Sam at the second floor I will. That man is no father of mine.

He never had any drop of parental feelings for me. And he's already dead. No need to remember those who passed on. They are all expendables. We all are.

My senses heighten when Gregorio came up suddenly behind me to land a surprise attack. He let me have his sledge hammer and resorted to choking me with the thin white rope instead.

I gagged. I flail, my fingers squirming to stretch the thin rope from choking my throat. It did not work. It's painful to breath. It's painful to swallow. Sam at my side flinch seeing me on death's bed.

I smirk. I don't die idiot.

"Go." I mouthed to him. Magnus tug on his sleeves. Sam gave me one last lingering look before he turn away and started running up the stairs.

Jesper's older brother, Jessie, stand in his way with the axe. I watch in choked breath. Of couse I do, some cannibal has my throat at his mercy after all.

Jessie's mad eyes are trailing Magnus's small figure. Magnus did not flinch. He keeps on tugging at Sam's sleeves. As if urging him to do something.

Jessie comes racing towards them. I want to shout Sam to watch out but can't. Jessie swings the axe. It's directed to Magnus's neck. Trying to chop his head off.

"Sa...mmmm!"

The axe freezes before it touch Magnus. Jessie literally got stuck in an invisble wall where every fiber of his bones freeze. Sam put down Magnus.

The choking rope in my neck freeze in spot too. I spin around to face Gregorio. His face muscle and eyeballs are darting around. Don't know what exactly is going on. He's terrified. I put my hand up to his chest and push.

Instead of him stepping backwards, he collapsed. His hands on choking position is still the same.

I'm feeling deja vu. This is Deity of Time all over again. The stopping of time. I look around. Expecting Jesper. But he wasn't on the site.

I peek upstairs. Not a shadow or a sound creaks.

At the stairs, Sam raise his hands. One facing Jessie the other facing Gregorio. And then slowly, he lift Jessie off his feet. His feet are flailing, kicking on useless air. His hands are clutching at his throat. As if there's an invisible hands choking him.

I gasp. Space. Telekenisis. This is Sam's doing. Gregorio on the floor got hauled in the air and force to stay adrift in space with his son. I came up behind them. Taking Magnus to my arms.

"Did you tell him to do this?" I whisper, trying to keep it low so Sam won't hear.

"Yep. Cool right?"

"Cool is an understatement. It's awesome!" Because of my enthusiasm, my voice was raised a little higher and am sure Sam heard what I said. He looked over his shoulder.

And then lift the two to the top of stairs.

"Where's Jesper?" Sam inquired. We peered at every room the second floor has. Each as stinky as the next. Full of dried blood and traces of murders.

Jessie was the first to talk.

"You think we'll tell you?" He smirks. "Go on. Kill us. Jesper will rewind the time anyway. Force back the essence of life before it completely left the bodies."

"You really think you're his real friends? That he won't betray you?" Gregorio butted in.

"Foolish kids. Blood is thicker than any petty relationship between humans. How do you think we made him use his powers for our activities then? We're not merely talks."

"We'll see about that." Sam said through gritted teeth.

His knuckles are turning white from the sheer strength of clenching his fist. His hands started shaking.

He threw the two inside the room where it stinks the most. I covered my nose with my sleeves. But it's totally useless against the smell of rotting flesh.

Sam is covering his nose either. Trying really hard to not choke. Jessie and Gregorio scoots away from us and hastily stands up.

For a second, Sam looks surprised. He looked down at his hands. Inhaled a deep breath and scream a high pitch cry, thrusting his arms towards the two.

They immediately got slammed to the wall, craking the wood panel in half. They crash towards the next room.

Opposite us, the room is totally dark. But I sense someone is moving. A dark shadow of a boy.

I immediately run towards the shadow. Leaving Sam in charge for torturing Jesper's family.

There's no lights, so I make use of what little light Magnus's glowing bracelet could shed for us. At the center of the dark room, tied and chained to the chair...is Jesper.

I put my hands around his arms. Took a piece of wood and started to nuck the rope tying him in place.

Jesper stirred. His neck twist, painful groan escape from his lips. Even without seeing his face, I can feel his eyelashes fluttering to my figure. Squinting to see who I am.

"Jesper, it's me. Lance. Can you recognize me?"

He move his arms weakly. "Lance...? I'm..So....sorry for what I've done to you...last..." I rush to stop him from speaking when he started to cough out blood.