They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

Break out?

"Yeah, let's do that. Question is, how? We need a plan." I said. 

"Mmm hmm, I've been waiting you know. It was easy to break out of here. But we need to locate where they hid the real Seven. Hey, imposter, don't you know where she is?"

"Dunno. Could be dead somewhere." Seven said. (maybe I shouldn't refer to her with that name, since she's fake.)

I squirm under my seat. It was weird having conversation in my head when I can't see the person I'm talking. But…something is weighing on me. That night back in Opra, that moment I blasted Magnus off because of my foolishness… I couldn't just… 

"Say that 'dead' word one more time and I'll skin that fake skin of yours, ugly maggot."

"I'm not ugly you prick! I'm cute!"

"Who cares?!"

"Hey, Magnus?" I interrupted their bickering.

"Yeah?"

"Umm…" My butt suddenly itch. "There's something I need to tell you. About that night, when you try to kill my father – I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you. I was being stupid. You were right back then. I should have let you. My Dad is a traitor. He and his friend are the reason why were captured, tortured, why you need to endure the pain of having your limbs cut off. Why Seven has to die –"

"She's not dead!" Magnus said in defiance. 

"She's not," I corrected myself. "What I'm trying to say is… I'm sorry."

"You…you won't blast me off with your menacing death wave again?" he asked, his voice raised in suspicious tone.

"No, I would never again –"

"Promise?" 

"Promise," I affirmed.

"Swear by your Mark." 

"Huh?"

"Your Mark. Swear by your Mark you won't use your blessing to hurt me in any way."

"I swear."

"Are you repenting for what you've done?" 

"Yes,"

"Do you also swear you will listen to whatever I say, do whatever I told you to do, give up half of your blessing to me, offer your life in order to protect me and willing be punished if you break your word?"

"Yes," 

"Say 'By my Mark of Five, I solemnly swear'." 

"By my Mark of Five, I solemnly swear." I repeated. He burst out laughing. 

"Okay! Now I have fifty percent share of your power! Thank you Lance!" He exclaimed. I frown in confusion.

"Uh-oh. You shouldn't have said that. He'll kill all the Faeries in this rec center with it. You're powerful you know, giving him access just like that is like telling a lion to not eat the deer he bit on his mouth." Fake Seven said. 

I laid back on my make shift bed. "That's okay. Magnus can use it however he likes." I said.

"Hmm…" Fake Seven make a sound as if she doesn't like the agreement I put up with Magnus. 

"It's okay." I assured her. "In fact, I think it's great if he knew how to yield my power. He can teach me. And I won't accidentally kill plants or anyone with it anymore."

"About that, Lance listen." Magnus paused. "Your blessing is not exactly the happy yippie kind that people say 'oh cool!' or 'awesome! I want to have that power too.' It's something more sinister and unhappy. I'm sure you have noticed the changes around you –"

"What changes?" I interrupted.

"Oh right," I heard a smack sound, like a palm smack in the forehead. "Of course you can't see yourself. Yeah, obvious enough, stupid Magnus." He chided himself.

"Stupid Magnus." Fake Seven emphasized.

"It's your aura Lance. The air around you can suffocate any small insects who attempted to fly within range. Any grass will immediately die in your feet, trees wither, animals choke, people's strength will weaken. I know you might say 'No' or 'You don't know that' but wait till we get out of here. Have a look of yourself. Try coming out in public." Magnus explained.

"They'll scream 'Grim reaper!' and run in opposite direction." Fake Seven said. I sighed.

"I have a feeling it's like that. Once, when a skully warrior attempted to rip off my torso in two with a chainsaw, I was so tired and weakened and badly wanted to end the thing. I scream for him to stop. He didn't listen. He proceeded despite my protests. So I got angry. And I… blew off. Next thing I know, all thirty skully warriors are lying dead on my feet. I was lucky at that time. The camera they set up was broken, I covered what happened by setting the lab on fire. The exit can only be open by the control room, so I was burned along with it." I confessed.

My hands started to shake. The fear I felt back then is coming back to cripple me. 

"How did you set the lab on fire?" Magnus asked. 

"There's a poison gas stationed on the upper right corner of the room. I smash it open, the gas was a mix of chlorine trifluoride and some other deadly substance. I fired a bullet. The room explodes. I thought I was gonna die. I got burned alive. But after a few hours, I wake up back in this cell as if nothing has happened. Lista came in to interrogate me after but I said nothing."

"When did this happened?" 

"Five days right after I was brought here." I said. 

"What about now Lance? What can you do? I'm sure there's something more right? This torture they've been doing to us, is ten times more effective than training. It speeds up the development of blessing. Did they tell you about the bracelet I received from the Deities?" 

"Yeah,"

"Actually, you weren't part of the protection magic it does that keeps each one of us undead while we're together."

Ouch. I can't understand why I'm feeling hurt. Maybe because it completely separates me from the connection that binds us three together.

"Why am I not included?" I asked, glad that I managed to sound not so affected. 

"Because there was no reason to. Because it was you all along that's been keeping me alive and the others. Death became unavailable to all of us for what you did."

"I – I don't understand." 

"Remember in Opra? Back in your house? When you blasted that deadly wave, I don't understand how it happened but the bracelet I hid in my pouch absorbs the impact, saving my life. Then it did this shadow ringing to all the thirteen gems. My Mark as a Ranker lit up and changed in shape.  There's a new number on it. Number thirteen. That's when I knew… You revive its power. Somehow, you brought back the immortality effect of my Mark here on human realm. Not only me but to all the Twelve Eklektos as well."