2008-12-23

Chapter 9 - It's All In The Mind

Khiem Janette and Ben

“What do you mean by he’s stuck?” Janette asked confused about what she had just heard.
“What I Mean by he’s stuck is that……could you shut up please. I’m trying to talk to her”
Janette moved her head back confused at what Khiem had just said unsure if she should ask.
“Ahhhhhh!!!  NNNOOOO!!! You can’t make me. I’m stuck. My life is so over and I’m not even eighteen yet. WHYYYYY!!” Ben yelled. He was starting to worry that his body may have been harmed. This was bad and he knew it.
Khiem focused his attention back to Janette “Janette we have to find everyone else. They may know what to do” Janette went around khiem and helped him up onto his feet.  As he started moving half he’s body jerked in the opposite direction. “Ben”. Khiem started “we are going this way”
“But they’re that way” Ben replied.
Khiem grinded his teeth “but I’m going to go this way” and he throw half his body in the direction he was intending to go.
Ben let out a moan and jerked the side he controlled the other way “but, but they’re that way” Janette turned around and jumped back a little at what she was witnessing. “Khiem it’s no time to be dancing”
“It’s not me. It’s the kid”


Henry and Allison

Henry walked up a flight of stairs thinking about what had just happened. The encounter with thinzar and Win’s snooping. She should be here soon. Henry walked around waiting for Allison to show up. He walked to the lobby and spun around. “Finally Allison, We have big trouble. He’s trying to escape again”
Allison signed “you would have thought the first ten times would put his hopes down a little” she let out small laugh  and returned to the conversation “I guess now we should forget that entrance to level six ever existed”
Henry smirked “I see. What entrance?” 
Tommy ran into the lobby “Allison! I put Him in level 5 like you said to and he’s still knocked out. You got him pretty good”
“Thank you Tommy. You’ve been a great help” 
Tommy smiled “I’ll go say hi to Win and properly get something to eat. Bye guys” Tommy walked to the elevator and Henry turned to Allison. “Ah! So you caught him. I’m impressed but we really have to forget the door ever existed so I think we should get going.”

Dylan Darcy and Aida

Aida let her hand fall “that’s me.” Darcy still kept her eyes in a glare as Aida moved next to Dylan. Everyone was gathering back. First Praful then Janette and Khiem who was cursing at thin air. Praful looked around very confused “Dylan. Where are Ben and Derek and what’s wrong with Khiem?”
“I Have no idea” Dylan’s eyes still focused on the cursing Khiem. Janette ran slowly over to them “Help me guys. This boy is stuck in Khiem’s body and they’ve been fighting for awhile. It’s really scary” They all turned around in unison and watched Khiem struggling to walk straight and talking rudely. Suddenly a loud police siren was heard coming in their direction and so everyone started running. Janette and Dylan assisted Khiem. Dylan turned to Praful and Darcy “You guys go on ahead and I’ll meet up with you guys later.” The group scattered away in opposite directions.

Luisa

“If I can’t get you Janette then I’ll just have to get the people you hold dear to your heart”

Win and Tommy

Tommy turned a corner and bumped into Win “Hi win.”
“Tommy, just the person I wanted to see. I need you to do something for me but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone about it, not even Allison and especially not Henry” Win looked over Tommy’s shoulders and looked back at him to hear his response
“Is this dangerous? Because I already had my life in danger today and once am enough for me”
“No, no, no it’s not that dangerous. You just have to be look out.”
“Is that all?”
“Yep, why would I put a close friend of mines in danger?”
“Okay. So what are we doing?”
Win smiled at Tommy’s answer “Follow me” They both walked down to level five and walked around three times before Tommy spoke up.
“What are you looking for?” He could see she was frustrated.
“Where is the door?”
“What door”
“The door I saw today that led to a…” 
“Tommy looked at her confused “Led to a what? Win? What did it lead to?”
“Hello Tommy” said a soft and calm voice.
“Hello Win” Said a suspicious demanding voice.
“Uh, Um hello Henry and Allison” Win said in a crooked off pitch voice.
Allison stared at them in a high power kind of way “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Yes we do and we best be on our way boss. Tommy lets go” Tommy and Win walked down to end of the corridor and as they hit the corner they rushed into a sprint.
Allison turned back to Henry “As if it never existed”
Henry smirked “As if what existed?”

Thandar

“Another day spent in a crappy motel. I really need to upgrade. But where to get the money?” (Looks across road at bank)

Luisa and Thinzar

“What the hell happened? I leave you for awhile and you blow up the darn place. Do you know how far this will set us back? Are you deliberately trying to ruin my plans?”
“Oh! And while I was babysitting what where you doing huh? My guess is trying to get a guy to do whatever the hell you want. Huh! So pathetic.”
“What did you say?” 
Just then a young woman with purple streaks through her hair walked in to the room and proceeded with interrupting the dispute. “Girls what’s with the screaming?”
Thinzar turned her head in the women’s direction and glared at her “Who are you?”
“The name’s Fong. A master assassin with a voice that could kill. I thought you could use some help.”

Khiem Janette and Dylan

They walked into a motel right across from a bank crowded with police officers. 
There was a young attractive lady at the reception with brown hair and fair skin that Dylan couldn’t keep his eyes off. The young lady looked up at the approaching customers and smiled politely “Can I help you?”
Dylan looked almost petrified “ah, ga, umm, I’m twenty one”
The girl turned to Janette with an eyebrow raised “Is he okay?”
Janette let out a small giggle “He’s just a little shy. By the way, what’s going on outside? It looks like somebody got shot or something” 
The women sat up a little in her chair “We’ll close enough. The bank was robbed and everyone in there was decapitated. Apparently clean cut.” The Women said the last part in a whisper as if the killer were in the room right this moment.
Janette let out a soft gasp “That’s horrible. Who could do such a thing like that?”
The receptionist widened her eyes “I Know. They think it’s like some kind of mental patient. Anyways I’m Elle” She put out a hand and Janette took it politely. “I’m Janette. Could we get a room please?” 
“Why yes you may. Room three just over there.” Elle pointed in the direction down the hall.” The group started walking and entered room three where Khiem dropped onto the bed with exhaustion and Dylan went to a corner off the room to stand and watch. Janette entered last and locked the door behind them. Janette opened her mouth to talk when Khiem sat up and interrupted. “Ben. Where’s Ben?”
Dylan and Janette stared at Khiem with confusion. He locked his eyes on Janette “Ben is not responding to me anymore. He’s not in my mind. He’s gone.”

(Meanwhile in Dylan’s head...) 

“Dylan, Dylan, Dylan. I can change minds.”
Dylan looked around the room “What the?” 
“Dylan it’s me Ben in your head.”
“What the hell are you doing in my head?”
“I thought about it and I still can’t get back to my body but I hadn’t tried changing to someone else’s body and you were the only person apart from Janette but she’s a girl and that’s weird”
“That’s really messed up.” Dylan looked up and saw Janette and Khiem with their mouth wide open. 

Back to Dylan (and Ben in Dylan’s head) Khiem and Janette

Janette decided to speak first “I thought Ben was stuck in Khiem’s head?”
“Well apparently he can change to another person’s body but he still can’t return to his body.” 
Khiem stood up and walked to the window “At least he’s not annoying me no more”
Dylan pouted “He never shuts up does he? I never knew he was so annoying”.

Thandar

“Well, well, well. This is more like it.”
“Madam can I help you?” she looked at the man with a ridiculous uniform.
“Get me your best room.” She gave a large amount of cash to the man.

Thinzar Luisa and Fong

“We don’t need your help. All we need is a new place.” 
Luisa twisted to face Thinzar “Oh! So everything is my fault.” 
Thinzar sat down on a chair and folded her leg “Maybe it is.”
“Girls, girls stop fighting. If you don’t want my help then you just have to say so.”
Thinzar and Luisa twisted their head towards Fong and Luisa spoke up first “Whatcha got to offer?”
Fong gave an evil giggle “I can get you information on the company. And properly get you a company agent.” 
Thinzar and Luisa faced each other and smiled a menacing smile.
Thinzar walked over to Fong “I think we can put you into some use.”

Dylan’s head

“Eeeewwww!! Dylan, you have a really dirty mind.”
Dylan grinded his teeth “Well you shouldn’t be in there in the first place”
“Dylan likes Elle, Dylan wants to kiss Elle, He wants to hug her, He wants to marry her” Ben said in a sing-along voice.

Praful Darcy and Aida

Praful walked out of the convenience store and into the car. 
Darcy was sitting in the back seat still angry after Aida got the front seat “I can’t believe we stole a car. Couldn’t we walk?” Both Aida and Praful ignored her comment. Aida twisted in her chair and faced Praful. “I think we should call them again.”
Praful thought about it for awhile and flipped open a mobile phone. He punched in some numbers and put it to his ear. The phone rang awhile before a man picked up.
“Hello. Praful ?”
“Hey Dylan. Where are u?”
“Where at a motel, I’m not sure where but there’s like a bank surrounded by cops.”
Praful moved forward “Is there a convenience store right next door and is the receptionist in the motel a brunette hot chick?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll see you soon. Bye.” Praful snapped the phone shut and turned back to Aida. “Looks like we’re going to spend the night at a motel.”
 
Tommy

“Tommy waved his hand in front of Win’s blank face “Win? Win? Do you want fries with that?”
Win blinked her eyes “Huh? Yes Please.” 
“So what are you thinking about?” Tommy asked curiously.
Win smiled “The past.”

Derek and Allison

“Argh! He is really heavy.” Derek laid Ben’s lifeless body on the bed.
“Thank you Derek.” Allison went around to the other side of the bed and watched Ben’s motionless body. Derek sighed 
“Please. Allison, I just want to see her again. I have to see her again. You said she was here. I have to tell her what I couldn’t before.” Derek was near tears and he went to sit by a nearby chair. “She was my whole life you know.” Allison moved over to Derek and put her hand on his Shoulder.
“I know. And I promise you will get to see her again. But I need you to do some things for me before that.” Derek shrugged Allison’s hand off and stood up. 
Derek pointed a finger at Allison. 
“You said after I got you Ben’s body you would let me see her.” Derek started raising his voice “Are you going back on your words. To think Allison, going back on her words.”  Allison stood there still and calm. She waited until Derek had settled down before talking again. 
“Just one more assignment and you can see her again. But I can’t guarantee that she will be happy to see you again. Not after what you did to her.” Derek sat back on the chair and buried his face in his hands.
“I never meant to hurt her. I didn’t know she was there. I would take it all back if I could. I would have given up my life to take it all back. Just tell me what to do.” Allison propped herself against a wall.
“One more retrieval assignment. You have to collect a person by the name of Thandar. Go visit Henry. He’ll give you a briefing.” Allison walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
“Did he accept it?”
Allison started walking “I told you not to watch us Henry”.  Henry walked by her side with his hands in his pocket.
“So, did he agree?” Henry persisted 
“Yes he did, you put him up for a dangerous assignment. You know that don’t you.”
Henry halted and breathed out loudly “are we going to let him see her?” 
Allison pressed the button for the elevator and the turned back to Henry “I made a promise and it would be rude not to keep it.” The elevator door opened and they walked in.

Win and Tommy

“Tommy I really need to shop. Could you stay here while I go look around?”
“Yeah, sure go ahead.” Win got out oh her seat and walked down the escalators. She turned left and into a clothing store. She picked out a red above knee summer dress and went into the change room to try the dress on. She walked out into the walkway to look in the full sized mirror. She spun around to get a better look when a woman gave off a slight giggle.
 “You always looked good in dresses.” Win turned around to see a woman with purple streaks through her hair sitting on a waiting chair. Win gasped and the women stood up.
 “OMG Fong. I haven’t seen you in a long time” Fong moved to hug Win. As the girls parted both girls gave a warm smile. Fong took a deep breath in and started speaking 
“So are you free today?”

By: Win

2008-12-20

Chapter 8 - Encounters Part 2

Previously on Heroes

Dylan, Praful: 
Dylan tried to keep track on his mind - he gathered his thoughts and tried to remember where Aida was. He remembered and dug deep inside his pocket and reached for a note.
"Beaconsville," replied Dylan.

Aida: 
“Look I didn’t do anything bad so there’s nothing to worry about okay.” 
“Wrong. Janette and Khiem escaped.”
“That doesn’t matter they will come back soon I know it” she replied, walking out the door, Dylan following her, closing the door behind him.

Bovey, Allison, Tommy: 
Bovey's eyes turned black. "You shouldn't have done that."

Janette, Luisa:  
'You will do everything I say,' repeated Luisa.
Janette closed her eyes and pictured her brain and generated a force field around it.
"As I said, I don't need to."
Luisa cried out in frustration knowing that Janette was now invulnerable to her powers.

Henry: 
"Marco."
"Polo."
"Marco."
The voice said nothing. Henry turned around and saw a woman - fit and young - Thinzar.
"Polo."

Khiem: 
"Tsk tsk tsk. Don't you people ever learn? We only let you go, if we get something."
"What do you want?"
"Well... Khiem."


Aida…

Quietly, she crept around the side of Thinzar’s house. Looking in the windows, she could see Janette but no sign of Khiem. I’m the reason they got captured so I should be the one to get them out, she thought to herself. She was thinking of a plan when was interrupted by other voices. On the other side of the house was Dylan with four other people. What are THEY doing here?

Dylan, Praful, Derek, Ben, Darcy

“Okay Dylan. We’re here,” said Praful.
“This won’t take long, I promise. I’ll just walk in, go get her and then we’ll…” Dylan started. That was, until he saw Thinzar leaving the house. “Oh. No. This is bad.”
“What is it?” asked Derek.
“See that woman over there? Her names Thinzar and she’s very dangerous. She can get you to do anything she wants against your will. And if she’s here then that means Luisa would be too. Luisa can mess with your heads.”
“Then what happened to Aida?” asked Ben.
“I guess…she got captured… We have to save her!” said Dylan running towards the house.
“Slow down there, Dylan. Exactly how are you going to save her? You can’t run blindly into enemy territory,” said Praful.
“I guess you’re right…” Everyone fell silent for a moment.
“Umm…can I say something?” chimed in Ben. No one said anything so he went on. “I can possess people!”
“We know that.”
“Yeahhh so that means all I have to do is get in there, possess someone, and then open the door. Hey, I can even take out a couple of people,” he said, getting excited. Everyone thought about this plan.
“Hmm…that could work, except for the ‘take out a couple of people’ bit,” said Dylan. “Just open the door and then us grown ups will do the rest. Got it?”
“Fine…” said Ben reluctantly.

Tommy, Allison, Bovey

Despite Allison gaining a new ability, Bovey – as crazy as he was – still had the confidence of an entire army. What’s with this guy? Allison thought. His cockiness unnerved her and that made her cautious.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” Bovey repeated.
“It’s two against one, I don’t see why not,” said Tommy.
“Because I’m stronger,” said Bovey slowly and with such force that the two Company agents actually believed him for a second. At first they hesitated to come forward, but soon Tommy found his strength. Now he had to help Allison find hers.
“C’mon, we can beat him Allison,” he said. 
“But how?” 
“Just use your powers, you’ve got the strongest one!” Tommy’s words of encouragement gave Allison a confidence boost.
“Just as I thought. Talent is wasted on the weak.” Bovey said.
"You see... That's where you're wrong," she said as she raised her hands, controlling Bovey's movements, "I'm the stronger one." With a quick hand gesture, she aimed her hand at Bovey and shaped it as if it was grasping a ball. Bovey went rigid and his eyes went wide with fear.
“If you make the slightest move I can’t guarantee that one of your arteries won’t burst or that your veins won’t tear themselves from your skin. Only if you move, of course.” She taunted. “Tommy, freeze him.”
Tommy lifted his hand and stepped forward towards Bovey. He rested it on his shoulder saying, “Don’t worry mate. You’ll get what you deserve.” It was almost comforting. Then a thin layer of ice started forming on the end of Tommy’s hand, spreading to the rest of Bovey’s body. Pretty soon Bovey, no longer a threat, was frozen in ice.

Ben

Ben wandered around the house, looking inside windows, trying to find the perfect candidate to possess. He saw two girls fighting – Eww girls have cooties. Then, in another room, he saw a soldier in some kind of trance. Perfect.
Ben closed his eyes and concentrated. He pictured his consciousness leaving his body, going through the window and into the soldier’s body. When he opened his eyes, he was inside the house. He could feel the soldier’s consciousness in his head struggling to wake up from its trance. The soldier’s name was Khiem.
“Sorry to do this Khiem, but I have to save somebody. It’s my chance to prove that I’m as good as ANY grown up.”
“Janette…” said Khiem weakly.
“Huh? We’ll save her later. Hmm…yeah…two birds in one stone. Then I’ll be the hero!”
Ben (we’ll call him Ben for now) stood up and walked towards the door. “Woah. Everything looks so different from up here.” First Ben checked that no one would see him outside. Then he sneaked around to the front of the house. He unlocked the door, just as planned, and waited. 

Dylan, Praful, Derek, Darcy

The four of them walked stealthily towards the house but what they saw made them stop mid-step. Ben’s lifeless body was lying on the grass in front of them. Gasping, Darcy ran towards Ben, falling to her knees.
“Ben? No! Ben! Wake up! BEN!!! He’s…” she cried, afraid to finish her sentence.
The others walked up beside her, solemn, taking one minute of silence for the short life their short friend had lived.

Inside the house

 Ben waited for as long as he could. But the gang were taking too long and he wanted to start fighting. Suddenly he heard his name being called. He looked outside and saw Darcy, Derek, Praful and Dylan beside his body. Did they think he was dead?
“Uh guys, I’m right here,” he said from behind them. One by one, they all turned their heads around slowly, speechless. “It’s me, Ben, in this guy, Khiem’s body.”
Shock turned to embarrassment as they all realised their mistake.
“Oh, right,” said Darcy, getting up. She cleared her throat. “Let’s get on with the plan then.”
“And the plan is?” asked Derek.
“I was thinking…” said Praful, turning towards Derek. “You can make up the bulk of our assault ‘team’ on the inside while Dylan and I attack from the outside. Make it chaotic. Oh. And take care of Ben.”
“Fine.” Derek created six clones of himself on both of his sides. “We won’t let you down,” they said, saluting Praful and Dylan before turning around and heading into the house. Darcy saw the clones split up and cover every path inside.
“What should I do?” she asked.
“Darcy. We’ve got a special assignment for you. You’re going to work with us,” said Praful.

Win

Win walked through the hallways of The Company, deeper than she had gone before. It was weird; she hadn’t known there were other levels to The Company. Otherwise Henry and Allison would’ve told her, they would’ve told everyone – wouldn’t they? Win continued down the corridor until it ended at a door. On the door there was a sign saying: 

Warning: Do not, under any circumstances, open, obstruct or break through this door.

But the door was slightly open already. Curiosity took over Win and she sneaked a peek inside. When she couldn’t see anything at all, she opened the door a little wider and stepped inside. Now she noticed that there was a dim lamp shining light on a dark shape. She saw chains and straps bound tightly across someone’s arms; sharp blades surrounded the figure – his head bent down, his dark hair covering his face. At first, she thought the man may be dead but then she heard him breathing in and out. The man lifted his head slowly to look at her. “Hello Win,” he said.
“Aaahh!!” Win looked around her. She was still at The Company but the man was gone. It was all a dream….just joking. Seriously, the vision felt so real; it was so vivid and detailed. She shivered. It’s probably nothing, she thought.

Praful, Dylan, Darcy

“Derek’s been in there for a while and nothing’s happened,” said Praful.
“Maybe he got delayed…”
“All six of him?”
“Good point.”
Praful sighed. “There’s no use waiting any longer. It’s time to attack.”
“How about the others?”
“We can’t wait anymore.” Slowly, Praful lifted a boulder-like piece of earth from Thinzar’s front lawn. Swinging his arms forward, he hurled the boulder towards the house. Dylan concentrated and shot at it with a powerful beam of UV radiation. One side of the boulder caught aflame, and then spread until the ball was a bright inferno.
“Fireball!” he yelled bracing himself for the impact. 

Meanwhile… 

“Ha! Your powers are useless!” Janette teased.
An amused expression formed on Luisa’s face. She said nothing.
“What are you so happy about? This is where you’re supposed to say ‘Oh no. I surrender…blah blah blah.’” Janette waited for her reaction.
“Not necessarily.” Luisa hands reached out and grabbed a broom from beside her. She swung at Janette, who was caught by surprise, and knocked her off balance. “Power should not be wasted,” she said, gripping the broom tighter. Luisa stood there poised, ready to deal another bone crushing blow. But whistling from outside distracted her. “What is that?” she said to herself. But before she could say anymore, something huge crashed through the roof.
“The roof?” 
“The roof!” gasped Janette.
“The roof is on fire!!” yelled Luisa. “OH, that’s it! No one wrecks my roof and gets away with it. No one.” Luisa took a step outside to confront Praful, Dylan and Darcy.
“Hi!” she smiled politely. “Do you lovely fellows happen to know anything about my roof?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Uhh..no” said Dylan an octave higher than normal.
“We don’t know anything,” said Praful, more composed. Darcy stood behind them saying nothing.
 “Oh really?” Luisa looked at them in the eye one by one but it was it was their minds that she was really taking a look at.

This is one scary chick…
This isn’t what I signed up for…
Oh no...where’s Aida?

Luisa smiled. She had got what she wanted – a weakness.
“Look,” said Praful. “We just came here to find our friend.”
“Your friend Aida?”
Dylan looked at her suspiciously. “…what’ve you done to her?”
“Nothing, really.” Luisa decided to use this to her advantage. “She came by then…she left.”
“Tell me the truth! Where is she?”
“Why do you need her?” Luisa dug into Dylan’s head. “Is this betrayal I’m hearing about!? We have more in common than I thought – our goals, for example.”
“Forget it. Just tell me where Aida is or I will shoot you down.”

Henry, Thinzar 

Henry froze on the spot. 
“Henry. I hear there’s been some trouble at The Company,” said Thinzar.
“Minor setbacks, that’s all.”
“I’ve been told your problems are more major than minor.”
“Who told you that?”
“C’mon. Join us and you’ll be safe when The Company falls apart. You know it’ll happen.”
“What kind of person do you think I am? I’m a company man and I’m staying that way.”
“Fine. But just in case, I’ll spare your delicate life and leave you to think about my offer.”
“No persuasion?”
Thinzar laughed softly. “There’s more to me than my powers you know. I don’t need them to do all of my bidding.” And then she started walking away. Henry didn’t try to stop her. She made a good point. What if The Company were to end soon, tomorrow, even today? What then?

Aida

The argument between Darcy, Praful, Dylan and Luisa had escalated into a full blown fight. Dylan was in danger!
“No!” yelled Aida, shape shifting into a rhino and running towards the brawl. No one expected a rhino to come running out into the open so they all stopped. And stared. But Aida kept running. She ran until the crowd noticed and started running to different directions. Then she shape shifted back into her original form. “Are you guys okay?” she asked them. Luisa was gone for now, but who knew when she would come back.
“Forget about us,” said Dylan. “What happened to you? We thought something bad had happened.”
“I’m fine.” It was then that Aida noticed Darcy for the first time. She turned to Dylan for answers.
“Oh. This is Darcy,” he said introducing her.
“Hi.” Aida said politely offering her hand. Darcy looked at it but didn’t take it.
“You must be Aida,” she answered. Her voice was ice cold.

Win

Win tip toed to the main lobby of The Company and listened intently. No one else was there; no one she could hear of. Odd, but it was an excellent opportunity for some snooping. She studied the map of the entire building next to the elevator. ‘In case of emergency, use evacuation routes shown’ was printed above the diagram. It showed every single room in The Company’s structure – except one. According to the map there were only 5 levels below the main building.
“Hmm… what’s this?” There was an unmarked passage from level 5. “That must be it.” She followed the map until she reached the place on the map. Now there was just a door separating her and the room in her dreams.
With some slight hesitation she opened the door and saw a staircase going down. I knew it - Level 6.
“What are you doing here?” The voice startled Win who nearly jumped out of her skin. It was Henry, back from wherever he came from.
“Oh. I’m just looking around. But there’s nothing here so I think I’ll… leave now.” Win laughed nervously. “I was hoping to find something cool, but nope. Nothing...bye.” Turning around quickly, she took the stairs two steps at a time to get away from Henry as fast as possible.
“Win, wait,” called out Henry. Win stopped and looked back. Henry looked into Win’s eyes, trying to stare out the truth for a long moment. Then he gave up and sighed. “Don’t come down here ever again. Okay? And don’t tell other people about it either. I’ll know if you do.” 
“Sure thing boss,” she answered smiling then running to the door.
Henry made sure she left then he pulled out his phone and dialled a number. “Allison? We’ve got a situation. He’s trying to escape again.”

Khiem, Ben

“Hey kid, the fighting’s over you can go back to wherever you came from,” said Khiem to Ben.
“I’m trying.”
“Trying? What do you mean trying?”
“As in, it hasn’t been working.”
“You mean, you can’t get yourself out.”
“No, I’ve just been enjoying your intelligence so much I didn’t want to leave,” said Ben sarcastically.
“Seriously, get out.” 
“I can’t!
“I’m not going to be stuck with you okay? I have a life. Get out!”
“I’m stuck!”
Janette came running over from the wreckage of the house. “Khiem, all these people came into the house and saved us. There were a few of them, but they all merged into the same person. He ran away as soon as the house was destroyed though. Khiem?” he was looking frustrated.
“Janette, I have something to tell you. Err…you might want to sit down.” She did. “While you were with Luisa, there was this kid that came and helped me out.”
“That’s great!”
“Well, not really. He helped out by possessing me – that’s his power – and now…now he’s stuck.”

By: Allison

2008-12-04

Chapter 8 - Encounters Part 1

Bovey raised his hand and directed his hand to Allison.
"No. Don't. Stop!" she shrieked.
The veins on her face were almost visible, discolouring the natural tone of her skin.
"The process is almost complete!" he smirked.
'What are you doing? Stop!' his conscious said, 'wha-wha-what have you become?'
The voice in his head echoed. "Arghh! What's happening to me?". He clenched onto his head with both hands, fell on his knees and screamed in agony. "ARGHH!"
He looked up towards Allison. His eyes changed colour and tone. "Help me" he pleaded with sincereity.
Allison stared at him with concern. 'He's too strong,' she thought 'nobody can defeat him.' She turned to her side and glanced at the body that lay beside her. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I can't do it."
She dragged the body at ease to the side of the warehouse and reached deep into her side pocket to retrieve her cellphone. She punched in numbers and waited for the dial tone.
"Urgh... he's gone," Bovey said, "for now."
Allison turned to search for Bovey in the distance and realised his eyes had changed colour - again. It was him again. The softness and pure light in his eyes were gone. It transformed into black pupils.
"Not so fast," he said with a menacing smile. He raised his arms and pointed his finger at Allison's face and the veins were visible once again. The blood rushing upstream her head had caused a massive tension to her brain.
"Stop!" Allison screamed. She glanced at Tommy. 'I failed,' she thought.

4 hours ago ...

Allison paced in light and quick steps in her high heels to Level 3. She walked to a cell that contained Tommy and swiped her ID card on the machine.
"Let me guess. Another assignment?" asked Tommy.
She threw the file on his bed. He opened and scanned the file. Bovey. "Blood manipulation. Cool!"
"Not so cool when he's a threat to the Company," Allison said in despise.
"So I guess I better get Win," he said.
"No need. I'm afraid Win won't be your partner for this assignment." Allison said.
"Then, who's my partner?" Tommy asked.
"Me," Allison replied.
"You?"
"Me."
"But you? You-you can't do anythi-"
"I know my power's limits. Enough!" Allison spat.
'I wish I was stronger,' she thought.

At Henry's Office

Henry closed the laptop and stared at Dylan. "We're going to have to discuss a situation with Aida."
"A discussion?"
"Yes, a discussion."
"I'm afraid she's a traitor to the Company."
Dylan paused. "I-I-I know..."
"You what?!"
"I know..."
Henry ignored Dylan, got off his seat and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Dylan.
"To eliminate her, myself."
"But you... you... you can't. You can't just kill people - especially not one of your own. You-you-you have to go through me first." His hands glowed yellow. He positioned himself in a karate stance.
"Do you remember what happened when we first fought?" Henry asked.
Dylan paused and raised his hands to his mouth and blew onto his hands and the radiation disappeared. "Yeah."
"Good. So you don't mind if I do this then!" Henry shouted. He raised his hands and pushed his hands towards Dylan. Dylan flung back and he stayed upright on the wall.
"You gotta be kidding. Is that all you can do?" threatened Dylan. He closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. The radiation atoms that was released from his breath melted the force that held him back on the wall slowly disappeared. He dropped on to the ground.
"Look. Either you're with me, or you're against me," Henry said.
"Well I guess I'm going to have to be against you."
"Well then..." Henry reached for the taser on his belt, "I'm sorry, it's for the best," and aimed it at Dylan and fired.

Dylan woke up in the corner of Henry's office.
'It must have been a dream' he thought.
He raised himself off the ground and observed the dart prints on his shirt.
"I guess not," he said.
 He saw a sticky note on the ground. Thinzar Aung - 83 Leonard Street, Beaconsville. He placed the note inside his pocket.
He walked quickly to the door and started running.

At Thinzar's Home

The sun rose and the bright lights shon through the window, illuminating the room that held Janette captive.
"Help!" Janette shrieked as she struggled to undo herself from the ropes.
"Arghh. I can't take any more of your screaming. It's killing me," said Luisa taking a bite on her apple.
"Let me go!"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Don't you people ever learn? We only let you go, if we get something."
"What do you want?"
"Well... Khiem."
"You can't have him!"
"Well, honey, that's where you're wrong. We already have him. My mistake," Luisa chuckled "Thinzar has him."
Janette thrusted her body to the air towards Luisa. "Argh!" An invisible force knocked Luisa back to the wall.
"That's the best you got?" teased Luisa.
Janette sniggered. "Nope... this is."
She squinted her eyes at Luisa and lifted her up towards the operating fan using her mind.
"Ahhhh... I'm so scared." said Luisa dully, "you just don't know who I am, do you?"
"I don't need to."
"Are you sure about that?"
Luisa sent a command to Janette via thought connection.
'You will do everything I say.'
"N-n-no! I can't! I won't!"
'You will do everything I say,' repeated Luisa.
Janette closed her eyes and pictured her brain and generated a forcefield around it.
"As I said, I don't need to."
Luisa cried out in frustration knowing that Janette was now invulnerable to her powers.

Thinzar grabbed a box of matches, opened it and swiped a match making it alight. She walked to the other side of the room and lit the candles. It released an aroma that was irresistable -  sensastional. She raised the match to her lips and blew it out.
Thinzar stared at Khiem who was tied up at four corners of the bed. "Are you ready, now?" asked Thinzar as she started to unbutton a single button of her cardigan.
"Never!" screamed Khiem.
"What about a little persuasion aye?"
"Are you ready, now?" she said slowly. Thinzar's voice echoed in Khiem's head causing multiple vibrations and soundwaves towards his brain.
Khiem's eyes lowered and he eyed Thinzar. "Yes."

At the Warehouse

"I'm sorry for what I said before Allison. I didn't mean it," apologised Tommy.
"It's alright. Doesn't matter. You were right anyways. I'm just a tag-a-long," said Allison.
Tommy paused and pondered off.
"I'd do anything to have you power," said Allison.
"My power?" laughed Tommy, "you gotta be kidding."
"Nup. I'm serious." Allison grinned.
Allison steered the wheel to the corner of an abandoned warehouse. "We're here."
They both exited the vehicle and walked to the rusty building.
"Should we knock?" asked Tommy.
Allison stared blankly at Tommy.
"I guess not," answered Tommy at his own question.
Allison placed her hand on the handle and turned it slowly. The door started creaking and Allison knew that Bovey was well aware that they were there.
"Who's there?" a voice asked.
"It's Bovey," Allison assumed.
"Are you sure?" Tommy asked.
Allison didn't answer. She scurried to a pole and blended herself behind the thickness of the large segment of the warehouse and Tommy followed.
"Why don't I handle this one?" asked Tommy.
Tommy stepped out from behind the pole and revealed himself to everything and everyone in the building. "Come and get me," teased Tommy.
"Tommy! No! Come back here this instant!" commanded Allison.
"Why, hello. Glad to see you here. Come to try and kill me, I see," a voice said.
Allison followed the voice while Tommy created a distraction.
"Come on. I'm right here for your taking," said Tommy.
Allison saw a dark, shadowy figure and crept up to it. With one large hand movement, she turned the figure so that she could see who she was dealing with.
'It's not Bovey,' thought Allison.
The figure was one of Bovey's victims. The insects crawled up the face and released it's hunger and started feeding on the blood. The blood vessels hung from the face and rats started to nibble on the victim's eyes.
"I see that you've met my sister," the voice said, "she was getting a little bit... how do I put it? Boring."
Allison turned around and she was facing the murderer. The murderer that had killed one of her best agents.
"Boo!"
Allison didn't flinch.

At Central Park

Dylan dashed to the park and observed a cloaked figure on the seat. He relaxed on the seat. "Zeodust, I assume?"
"Why did you call me, Nova?"
"I need help."
"What kind of help?"
"I..." Dylan paused, "We need to bring down the Company," he continued.
"I see you've come to your senses," Zeodust said "but two men aren't capable to destroy the Company."
"What do you suggest?" Dylan asked.
"My men."
"What men?"
People - short, tall, fat, skinny, young, old - started walking towards Dylan and Zeodust.
"These men," answered Zeodust.
Zeodust introduced the tubby woman. "This is Darcy. She can create toxic acids."
Dylan shook hands with Darcy.
He introduced the tall man. "This is Derek. He can clone himself."
Dylan shook hands with Derek.
He introduced the young boy. "This is Ben. He can possess other people."
Dylan shook hands with Ben and suddenly Ben entered Dylan's body and stepped out.
"Nice trick you got there, kid," said Dylan as he rubbed the boy's hair.
"I'm not a kid!" Ben cried.
"Now, now. We got a mission do, and we gotta do it right? You hear me?" Zeodust stared at Ben.
"Yes, sir," Ben replied with sorrow.
"Nova..." Zeodust paused, "Dylan..."
"How did you know my name?!" asked Dylan.
"We know everybody in the Company," replied Zeodust, "I was once in the Company. I was a mere agent in the Company until they took my sister. They killed her."
Zeodust pulled down his hooded cloak. His face was revealed and the complexion of his face was brighter than usual. It was tan-brown. "My name's Praful," he confessed.

Back at the Warehouse

"What do you want?" Allison asked.
"Your misery, your pain and most of all... your blood," Bovey replied. He dipped his finger on his sister's blood, raised it to his lips and licked it. "Mmmm..."
Tommy shivered. "Use your power!" Tommy screamed.
Allison shook her head vigorously. Allison's face was filled with horror. She was petrified.
Bovey turned his back to Allison and faced Tommy. "So, you must be One of Them - so that would make you powerless. You're gonna be easy." Bovey grabbed Allison's taser, aimed at Tommy and fired. The darts rapidly flew to the direction of Tommy and it missed. Bovey laughed. "That was just a test on how good you are."
He stood there helpless and before Tommy was going to use his ability, Allison screamed. "Don't."
"Don't wha-?" Bovey asked mid-way cluelessly. "Doesn't matter anymore. You won't live to see the light of day anymore." He snapped his fingers and Tommy fell to the ground - knocking himself unconcious. "I wouldn't worry about him. He's just out cold. But for you, not so much."
Bovey faced Allison. "You're scared aren't you?" Bovey sniffed Allison, "I can feel it. I can smell it. I can sense it."
"I'm not scared!" Allison shouted. Before thinking to raise her hand to control Bovey's ability, Bovey raised his arm first to control her.
"I control you now," Bovey sniggered.


Back to the present...

"Stop!" Allison screamed. She glanced at Tommy. 'I failed,' she thought.
Tommy woke up from his deep sleep and saw the scene - Bovey was torturing Allison. He grabbed a chair and pressed his hands hard upon the object. The wood had turned into ice. He raised the cold object and smashed it onto Bovey.
Allison was free and gasped for air as the veins travelled deeper through her skin returning to its original location. "Thanks, Tommy."
"Al-Allison..." Tommy stammered "look at your hands."
She eyed her hands. Her hands were glowing blue - like Tommy when he freezes an object. "What's happening to me?" she asked.
Tommy placed his glowing-blue hands onto the floor and the ground started turning into ice. "My power still works, so that means you're not controlling it. I think you're powers are... growing."
She raised her hand and attempted to release a cloud of ice.
"I can't make ice. I can only convert objects into ice... or heat."
She paced to the frozen ground and placed her hand onto the ground. Her hand glowed red, heating the ground. She focused her attention on Bovey.
"Urghh," he moaned, "what the hell?" He stood up and faced Tommy. "YOU! You have POWERS?!"
"Uh-huh," he assured Bovey, "two against one. Think you can handle the heat?"
"Speaking of heat..." Allison said, "why don't we flame things up?" Allison raised her arm to control Bovey's ability. She walked up to him and stared directly at his pupils. The transformation occurred again - Bovey's eyes was filled with innocence. Allison lowered her arm.
"Help me!" the voice pleaded.
Bovey's eyes turned black. "You shouldn't have done that."

Outside the Company

"Here we are," Dylan said.
Dylan was staring at the place - the Company. He's been conned, tricked and fooled.
"Why can't we just burn the whole place down?" Darcy asked Praful.
"Yeah!" Ben agreed.
"Because... I need revenge."
"On who, exactly?" asked Dylan.
"Henry."
"That makes two of us," muttered Dylan under his breath. "Oh no! I must have hit my head really hard. I just remembered! We need to save Aida!"
"Whose Aida? Your girlfriend?" teased Ben.
"No! She's like a sister to me!" Dylan said.
"Where is this Aida?" asked Derek.
Dylan tried to keep track on his mind - he gathered his thoughts and tried to remember where Aida was. He remembered and dug deep inside his pocket and reached for a note.
"Beaconsville," replied Dylan.

At Beaconsville

Henry exited his car and entered the abandoned house without any hesitation.
"I know you're here," Henry said.
He walked around the home and searched for Aida.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are."
"You must be looking for me," said a voice.
Henry grabbed for his gun and raised it.
"Marco," Henry said.
"Polo."
"Marco."
"Polo."
"Marco."
The voice said nothing. Henry turned around and saw a woman - fit and young - Thinzar.
"Polo."

By: Tommy

Chapter 7 - Two Villains and a Funeral

“We are gathered here today to commemorate the lives of Allison and Henry…” the priest spoke, interrupted by lightning and howling winds, witnesses raising their black umbrellas to fight back the pouring rain. “They were good people, great leaders and possessed amazing powers. They will not be forgotten and will stay in our hearts and minds until we join them in heaven-or hell.” As the coffins were lowered into the ground, the crowd bowed their heads, tears seen among some off them, others expressionless. 

“Don’t worry guys everything is going to alright. Trust me,” whispered the priest, standing at the back of the group staring at the ground.
“You can shift back now Aida” said Win, wiping away a tear with her hand. “Well we should probably all head back anyway. Come on guys.”
The group huddled together and walked back to the waiting cars, soil being thrown over the coffins until all that was left was a dirt mount and gravestones. 

Aida watched the others drive off then before heading of to the top of the hill to join two figures “Well that was a boring funeral!” said Thinzar, yawning. 
“Two of my friends just died, don’t you have a heart?” Aida replied, moving forward a few steps, her fists clenching as she spoke.
“How DARE you talk to her like that” Luisa screamed, placing images of Allison’s and Henry’s death, the blood, the fear in their eyes, their bodies going numb…
“Stop it NOW!” she shrieked, Luisa stopping only to laugh and sit down on Henry’s grave. 
“Now, now Aida. This new mission is simple. Become Allison , trick the others to believe you’re her ghost ,and bring down the company. Do this and you will be left alone ok,” Thinzar said staring at Aida’s eyes, her pupils dilating, and becoming pitch black. “Now go!” Aida walked off, taking off into the sky as a vulture.


“Allison?” Janette looked at the doorframe, sure it was Allison that she saw staring at her a second ago. “Is that you?” The figure returned, Allison staring at Janette, a single tear running down her cheek, her hair wild, blood on her shirt, her body cut in several places. “Why do you look so messy Allison?” 
“I guess its because I died like this but that’s not important, I need you to leave. You and Khiem need to get out of here now.”
“But why Allison? I want to stay here.” Janette replied, cringing into the corner of the cell, images of the outside world scaring her. “Please don’t make me go, please.”
“ENOUGH! You and Khiem are to be gone in 30 minutes you got that? Now go and tell him!” she barked at Janette, terror in Janette’s eyes and sorrow in Allison’s. Janette ran out of the room, tears flowing down her cheeks, vanishing when she got to the door. 
Allison sighed and sat in the corner of the room, constantly staring at the door, waiting for Janette but she never returned.


“Khiem, we have to go” Janette pronounced, Khiem looking around the cell, Janette nowhere to be seen.
“Ummm where are you Janette?” Khiem asked scratching his head as he turned around trying to find her.
“Allison came to me as her ghost. She told me we must leave now. Come on lets go” she appeared in front of him and started running around his cell, putting his things in a bag. 
“Slow down Janette, what do you mean she came to you as a ghost?” wondered Khiem, holding on to Janette by her hand. 
“SHE JUST DID! Please trust me, we have to leave now Khiem. Please…” she embraced Khiem in a tight hug, soaking his shirt with her tears. “Ai missh Allishon “ she blubbered.
“Please don’t cry Janette. Come on then, let’s go.” Khiem placed the bag on his back then picked Janette up in his arms and walked out the cell.


“What the?” Dylan walked past Janette’s cell, seeing a figure sitting in the corner, “Allison? Great I’m going mental now. I‘m a seeing ghost. Aida’s gonna find this so funny.” Dylan spoke, walking closer to Allison then sitting down opposite her waiting for her to reply.
“She doesn’t think this is funny. She hates every single second of this.” She replied through clenched teeth, staring at Dylan in hatred.
“Okay then, so ghost of Allison, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here on a mission. Dylan please help me” Allison spoke, her voice cracking at the end, wiping away tears with her shirt.
“How can I help?” he asked bewildered by this new side of Allison, a weak more sensitive side he’d never saw before.
“You can help by getting out of here. Pack up your bags and leave. Get everyone else out too. When they’re gone set this horrid place on fire. Burn it to the ground you got that.” She replied, standing up, taking his hand in hers. “Please, I will only be free when this place is gone.”
Pulling his hands free he walked out the room, turning when he got to the doorway, “I’ll do my best Allison.”

“We’re free. I can’t believe it, we’re free!” Khiem shouted, coming down the highway in a stolen car. “Thank you Allison’s ghost” he added with a laugh. Janette however didn’t share his joy. She just sat there, staring out the window thinking about her home and her last happy memories with Tommy, Win and Allison. Especially those with Allison. 
“Yeah, I guess we are free aye. So where too?” she responded, staring at Khiem as he grinned in excitement. 
“We’re going on a vacation. Come on it will be fun, just you and me and the sea.” He answered, oblivious to her misery. 
“Great” she said, already missing her home at the company.


“Has anyone seen Aida?” Dylan asked, running around the company, no sign of her to be seen. After searching every level he realized something. “Of course, Dylan you idiot!”
Running back to Janette’s room where Allison still sat in the corner he stopped in front of her and waited.
 “Yes?” she asked, staring at Dylan through blotchy eyes.
“Allison, everyone’s outside. I’ll burn the place now. You ready?” he said, things in the cell already melting as he heated up.”
“Sure. Burn ahead.” She replied standing up, ready to walk out the door.
“Hold up one second. I want to do a practise run, but I want you to stop my power when I say so.”
“I don’t think I can do that Dylan.” She replied concern in her eyes.
“Why not?” his eyes squinting as he starred at her.
“Because I’m a ghost. I don’t have my power when I’m dead” she replied, thinking of another way out of this.
“Give it up Aida, I know its you, ghosts don’t sweat, and you are sweating heaps cause of my heat” he replied, getting warmer as he spoke, Allison perspiring as she stood there” 
“Dylan you don’t understand, Thinzar forced me to with her power. I had no choice” she said, shifting back into her own body, tears flowing down her cheek again.
“You could have told me! I trusted you.” He yelled back, grabbing her body and burning it in several places, Aida screaming in pain.
“STOP IT!” she screamed, turning into metal, “I didn’t have a choice, I can’t fight her power!” 
“I guess your right” he replied letting go off her hand.
“Look I didn’t do anything bad so there’s nothing to worry about okay.” 
“Wrong. Janette and Khiem escaped.”
“That doesn’t matter they will come back soon I know it” she replied, walking out the door, Dylan following her, closing the door behind him.

As Janette’s screams Khiem wakes from his sleep, getting out of his bed to embrace her, her screams muffled by his shirt.
“What is it Janette?” he asked but another voice replied.
“Its only me, Thinzar. I’m sure you’ve heard of me” she replied, looking around the dingy motel room, Luisa going through their minds, finding their weak spots.
“No I haven’t but what do you want?” he replied, summoning a knife from the floorboards.
“Careful Thinzar this one could be dangerous,” Luisa said “though he is weak at heart and mind due to the death of a loved one so I don’t think he would pose as much of a problem” she added, a sinister smile on her face.
“Perfect, we need to talk Khiem. You too Janette” Thinzar said, walking closer to them, seating herself on the bed, “and I’m afraid you don’t have much of a choice in this” she added, laughing as she saw Janette cringe into Khiem, his hands holding hers tightly.

By: Aida

2008-11-10

Chapter 5 - The Utter Discomfort of Blood

Downtown LA

A shadowy figure wandered downtown in the comfort of darkness. Behind him, a lone streetlight revealed his destruction- a body count that would be classified as mass murder. The scene was painted with red. Blood streaked bodies, some just limbs, decorated the street in pools of blood; like a wild animal with its prey.
Looking back, the figure grinned saying “I couldn’t help it.”

On a train

Bovey. Yes, that was his name once wasn’t it? Bovey sat on a train watching the blood flow through his veins. To him, it was an art form. The way the blood followed pathways leading into different places, getting faster when more is needed and slowing down again. Only he could truly understand the beauty of blood.

The train stopped and Bovey got off. Silently, he walked out of the station and into the light of the city.
“Hey, you!” someone shouted. Bovey turned around. “Hand over all your money or else…” a man said, pointing a gun towards him.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Bovey said, a smirk on his face, almost daring the man to pull the trigger. The man said nothing. Slowly, Bovey raised his arm in front of him, reaching out to the man with his hand. The man tensed, his hand shaking, making the gun shake with it.
“Hey man. What are you doing?! Stop it!” he yelled. His face was turning red now and going a shade darker by the second.
“Stop!”
Bovey’s smile grew bigger and the man’s eyes widened.
“Stop it!
Bovey started laughing, loud, mocking laughs. The man clutched at his ears, holding his head in his hands.
“STO-!” A sickening squelch cut off the man’s pleas. Satisfied, Bovey held his index finger out, drawing something out on the ground. First an ‘s’ shape, then three lines, his erratic behaviour distorting the shape and direction of the lines. It was his calling card.

In the middle of the desert ...
(Luisa & Thinzar VS. Tommy & Win)

Win started breathing deeply, trying to calm her down but Tommy noticed not even that could stop her.
“I. Said. Stop” she said through clenched teeth.
“And I heard you. But that’s not gonna make me, isn’t that right Thinzar?” Luisa replied. Thinzar laughed.
“Aaarrghhh!!” Win screamed, furiously running towards Luisa. At the same time she started forming blades that ran down her forearms. Lifting one in front of her, she took a leap towards her target, ready to bring the blade down on her.
“What is that? Your battle cry?” a voice interrupted them. Win looked up towards the source of the sound but she realised too late that it was Thinzar. For a split second their eyes connected. “I want YOU to stop.” Thinzar’s voice echoed in Win’s head and suddenly she found that she couldn’t move, she was frozen in mid air, Luisa inches away from her death.
“What? This isn’t possible!” Tommy whispered.
“You don’t think it’s possible? How about US? No one thought people like us, with ABILITIES could even EXIST.” Thinzar’s voice brimmed with anger and purpose. “In this era, anything is possible.”

At Bovey's apartment

He wasn’t always like this. Bovey was once a normal person. He was sane, he was calm, and he had feelings. Then the insanity took over, spreading through his body like a disease. And now, he shared his body with another conscious mind.
“What are we going to do now?” said Bovey.
“I’m craving …hmmm…what’s it called? The taste of blood.” Uhhh … Bovey again.
“You sicko! What’s wrong with you?” Bovey said to Bovey
“What’s wrong with you?”
Bovey contemplated with himself. He didn’t know and it didn’t really matter to him anyway. All he knew was that he had a sudden urge to kill.

In the middle of the desert ...
(Luisa & Thinzar VS. Tommy & Win)

“Let Win go!” Tommy yelled.
“Sorry. But we can’t do that,” said Thinzar. Outside, the beginnings of a shower could be heard.
“Hmmm…finish this soon Thinzar. We don’t want to get caught up in the rain” Luisa told her.
“Gladly.”
Tommy clenched his fists and looked towards the ground, trying to avoid Thinzar’s glare. From the corner of his eye he saw Win’s fingers starting to move.
She’s breaking free, he thought C’mon Tommy, think of something else. You can’t let Luisa know. Tommy glanced at Luisa – she hadn’t seemed to notice. It looked like she was still fighting with Win. Was it all in their heads?

In their heads…

“So how does it feel?” Luisa sent a thought into Win’s head.
“What?”
“Not being able to do a single thing.”
“I CAN do something. Soon…”
“Oh… like with Agent Damien? Soon is too late.”
“Don’t!” Win thought of all the things she’d to her once she could move again “…just wait. You’re all going to get defeated.”
Luisa chuckled at the thought.

Tommy vs. Thinzar

The rain was getting stronger, crashing loudly onto the roof and getting louder by the moment - unnaturally loud…
“What the-?” Thinzar said looking up. She looked over to Tommy and saw that his palms were facing upwards by his sides. By this time Luisa and Win had noticed too. Win smiled, starting to move her legs now.
“That’s not rain…” started Luisa. Small objects were breaking through the roof.
“It’s ice!” Tommy yelled sending sharp solidified droplets of water down to Luisa and Thinzar. Thinzar’s power over Win faded as the shock and panic took over her.
It was like everything moved in slow motion. Luisa looked left and right for an escape; Thinzar desperately tried using her power one last time, “If I’m going down, you’re coming with me” she said; Win ran towards Tommy creating a barrier. Then the shower of ice came. The icicles fell to the ground shattering into a million pieces that scattered everywhere, piercing everything. All that remained was a thick mass of steam.
Win and Tommy came out of their cover surveying the damage of the area. “This’ll cost us.” Tommy said hoping to lighten the atmosphere. It didn’t work. Win was searching the hallway; there was no sign of Luisa or Thinzar.
“They got away? How?” she screamed. “They should have been obliterated.”
“Luisa must have picked up on my plan earlier than I thought.”
“Yeah. Let’s report back to The Company.”

At a bus stop
Bovey

Bovey looked around for his next victim. A professor-scientist type man, alone, stood at a bus stop. Perfect, thought Bovey. Quietly he walked up to the man until he was directly behind him.
“You know, it’s not a good idea to be alone at this hour of the night” he said in a low voice.
The professor turned around swiftly and saw the dark figure, wearing a dark cloak, the light casting freaky shadows on his face.
“Boo” said Bovey. He got ready for the kill, lifting one hand in front of him, two fingers out.
“Wait!” The professor cried. Bovey decided to humour the man, stopping but not lowering his hand. The professor stared anxiously at the hand “I know who you are.”
Bovey thought about this for a second. “Nobody knows who I am.”
“W-we do. At The Company.”
“The Company?” The man nodded frantically. Bovey had never heard of The Company before. “Thanks for the warning,” he said. Then, before the man could say any more, Bovey brought down his hand, making the professor’s blood exit through the holes in his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. He was instantly killed. As always, Bovey drew the sign in blood.
Better leave something for The Company too, he thought. Next to his calling card, he wrote:
‘You’ll be seeing me soon.’

At The Company…

“Thinzar and Luisa have gotten away,” said Win.
“That’s fine. They’re very strong when they work together. Leave them for now…” Allison reassured her.
“But we’ll have to keep an eye out for them. They’re a danger to The Company… and to the public,” said Henry.

Hours later…

The Company was in total darkness. Nothing could be seen except for the red lights of the alarm. Every hallway was deserted. Down below, prisoners pounded on their cells screaming for help.
Henry, Allison, Tommy, Win, Dylan, Aida, Janette, Khiem. All of them stuck in the depths of the company. All of them trapped.

To be continued…

By: Allison

Chapter 4 - The Misuse of Powers

Thandar

It was a dark room with only a lamp as a source of light. There were two people inside the room a doctor and a young girl. The doctor spoke first in an amazed whisper “I’ve never seen anything like it you seem to be able to control shadows….. do you no how many people you could help with this ability?”
“Can you help me?” she said staring at the ground
“Well, I-I-I’ll try to help you but there’s no guarantee that it will work”
“No guarantee?” she replied still looking down
“Well no, but imagine how you could use your talent” he said slightly excited
“Talent?…..USE?” the girl said raising her voice “Do you really think this is a talent that I can USE when told like a slave?” she said lifting her head and stood up, now looking directly into his eyes. The spoilt girl glared at the doctor with frustration.
“There’s no need to get agitated, calm down and please sit” he indicated towards the chair
“I think I’ll get a second opinion” as she walked out she slid a pair of scissors off his desk and just as she was about to leave the room she threw the scissor directly at his shadow on the wall behind him. The man's pupils suddenly shrunk to the size of a grain of rice then a thin trickle of blood slid down his face, he fell to the ground dead.

At The Company

“Aida, we have an assignment for you” said Allison in a calm voice “You will capture a young lady by the name of Thandar.”
“Here’s her file and location.” said Henry passing Aida a folder.
“Where’s Dylan?” Allison said with a small frown.
“Don’t know, probably still hiding from Win.” replied Aida standing up “I’ll go tell him.”
“No one will be here when you get back, so be careful.” said Henry
“Everyone is gonna be out?”
“Yep”
Aida found Dylan on Level 3 looking inside an empty cell “Did they release her?” he said
“No, you idiot! She’s invisible, remember!”
“Oh.”

Somewhere in the Company

“Do you think it’s safe sending Tommy and Win after Thinzar and having everyone on assignments at the same time?” Henry asked Allison
“Yes because Thinzar still hasn’t got complete control of her powers yet and we don’t have enough time to spread these assignments out over a few days, it will all work out.”
“I hope so, any word from Damien yet?”
Before Allison could reply, Win and Tommy entered the room.
“Ah Win and Tommy. We need you to go and bring someone back for us.” said Henry
“Who?” asked Tommy
“Her name is Thinzar. Her power is persuasion so try not to look her in the eye, it helps” continued Allison handing over a file. “And we need to ask a favour”
“Sure” replied Win
“If she doesn’t come quietly, you’ll have to eliminate her” Tommy looked shocked at this idea but Win looked perfectly fine. “Why? What did she do?” Tommy questioned Allison with a look of horror on his face. “She killed many people, including an agent, Damien” Win and Tommy exit.
“Win took the news well. He was like a brother to her.” said Allison
“Are you ready to leave?” said Henry ignoring Allison
“Yes, Fong shouldn’t give us too much trouble.”

In search of finding Thandar

“Will you stop!” yelled Aida as Dylan burnt holes on the dashboard “You’ll break my concentration!”
“God, you’re a nervous driver” Dylan said stoping at once. A few minutes silence went by when Aida spoke in a distant tone “Has anyone noticed that you’re missing?”
“Well, my mum. She brings dinner over every Monday, and I guess my online- computer gaming partner Tim… I hope”
“What did you tell them?”
“That I was going on a vacation, what about you. Would anyone have noticed?”
“No.”

In search of finding Fong

“Well, we’re here” said Allison in a cheerful tone as she and Henry got outside the car.
“Why can’t these people hide in normal places, like a movie theatre or something” Henry mumbled to himself. As the pair walked towards a green-house Allison saw something
“There she is Henry” Allison said pointing at the green-house where an outline of a woman was visible. “I’ll go round the back” whispered Henry. Allison approached the door and opened it. As she entered she could hear Henry entering from behind the greenhouse.
“Hello Fong we have come to help you” the woman looked up. “I don’t want help” she said “Well, at least hear us out” said Henry
“I’m sorry but I’ve already had a job offer so NOOOOOO!” at this a deafening screech caused a huge sonic-boom shattering all the glass of the green-house. Henry created a barrier around himself but Allison was too far him to help. After the glass had settled Henry found that Allison only suffered a small cut on her cheek. “Where did she go?”
“Don’t know, check outside.”

At Thandar's Home

Aida and Dylan entered a large empty room; light from the afternoon sun was flaring through the window. “What do you think they meant by shadow manipulation?” Dylan said in a hushed voice, his hands a bright red colour.
“No idea” replied Aida “, maybe you should’ve asked?”
“Let me show you” Thandar said in a loud whisper, appeared out of a corner. Aida started running towards her, her body shaking. A bull taking her place a few metres from Thandar. Before she could deliver a deadly blow with her horns, Thandar grasped Aida’s shadow as if it were a solid object and motioned towards Dylan. The bull flew towards Dylan and slammed to the ground. Aida shifted back to herself, a bruise on her side from the landing.
Thandar grasped the shadow again and flinged it to the ceiling. At that moment Dylan realised that the only way to help Aida would be to change the positioning of the shadows. Changing the lighting in the room Thandar lost grip of Aida’s shadow.
Suddenly Dylan realised was that now his shadow was in her range. But Thandar was preoccupied with Aida. With one blow she slammed her foot to the ground on top of Aida’s shadow and there was a loud crack followed by an ear-piercing scream.
Dylan knew one of Aida’s bones had been broken and took his eyes of Thandar not realizing that Thandar was reached out for his shadow. She grabbed the shadow by the neck and started to constrict it. Suddenly everything went pitch-black, his eyes were wide open.

Then white light consumed the room. It reminded Dylan of how he feels when he releases a repulse - but 10 times stronger. While falling to the ground Dylan saw a shadow, a silhouette running away. With all the strength he could muster, he tried one more time to attack, a desperate attempt to stop her from escaping their clutches. But it was too late. All that was left was Aida’s screams for help. Dylan thought to himself ‘Did Thandar do this?’

In the middle of the desert

“She should be somewhere around here” said Tommy looking at a file as he and Win travelled down a dimly lit hallway.
“You wouldn’t be talking about me would you?” Thinzar said as she turned around the corner holding a pistol. Tommy and Win prepared themselves for a fight.
“I think they were” said a voice from behind them. Win and Tommy spun on the spot to see another woman who was unarmed.
“Tell us who you are!” said Thinzar, her voice echoed inside Win’s and Tommy’s head neither of them was looking directly at her eyes.
“NO!” yelled Win
“Their names are Tommy and Win, his power is to control the state of matter and hers is to create any objects with her mind” said the other woman coolly as if she just read their minds.
“How rude of me!” exclaimed the woman “I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Luisa, and you already know Thinzar” Thinzar gave a small wave “How about we sit down and have a talk”
“What do we do?” asked Tommy in a whisper.
“Attack when I say so...”
“Come on we won’t hurt you.” exclaimed Thinzar with a mocking smile.
“Now Tommy!” Win created two objects a katana and a knife, which she passed to Tommy. Tommy froze the knife and threw the knife at Thinzar who dodged with ease; Thinzar retaliated by firing three shots at Tommy who dissolved them.
Win charged at Luisa, she gave a small smirk as Win ran at her. Win’s mind was suddenly clouded. A voice was in her head, she could no longer hear Tommy. The voice was looking for something… memories flashed in her mind ; she was sitting with her dad, then she was chasing a boy on a bike, and she was talking to her best friend, ‘the fire man’ “Get out of my head!” Win screamed with her hands over her face
“Are you sure it’s your head I’m in?” replied the voice. Win knew it was her mind because all of these memories were hers, they flooded her mind. She was laughing at a neighbour in his underwear, she was crying at her father’s funeral. “STOP IT!”

Back at Thandar's home

Henry’s phone started to ring “Hello?” he said answering the phone
“It’s Dylan, Aida’s really hurt!”
“Are you back at the company?”
“Yes”
“Did Thandar get away?”
“Yes” Henry replied after a moment’s silence
“How badly is she hurt?” he asked in a disappointed tone
“Her leg is all messed-up, bones are sticking out”
“We’re on our way we’ll be about an hour” Henry hung up without another word. “What did he say?” asked Aida
“Said they’re on their way, be here in an hour, he sounded kinda angry”
“It’s not my fault a psycho-lady ripped my leg apart!” Dylan walked towards the door. “Where are you going?” asked Aida
“Out……not against the law is it? Dylan said closing the door behind him. Aida waited for a moment then pulled Henry’s laptop off his desk. She picked up her phone and dialled a number then said “What file did you want again?”

At the park

It was dawn and the sun was almost gone. Dylan kept wondering about what happened with Thandar as he was walking through a park when suddenly a hooded man appeared out of nowhere. They stared at each other for a moment when the man spoke. “I know who you are” in an almost casual voice.
“What did you say?”
“I know who you’re working for” at this Dylan shot beams directly at the hooded figure who raised his hands smoothly into the air and a large wall of rock blocked the attack, then he pushed his hands down and created a small shockwave. Dylan lost his balance he fell with his back towards the man, as Dylan got to his knees he lifted his head to see a huge rock spear millimetres from his face.
“Now I have your attention I wanted to have a word with you” the man said
“Who are you?”
“That’s not important right now, but you can call me Zeodust…… yours?”
Dylan thought for a moment “Nova”
“Well Nova, I know what kind of person you are you don’t seem to want to kill innocent people”
“It was an accident I didn’t mean to...
“Not that, I mean Henry and Allison……. How well do you trust them?” Dylan didn’t answer. “Cause I wouldn’t trust anyone who locked me up” Still no answer.
“I thought I would come and meet you myself”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“No, if you get in my way”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see, and watch your back”
“Is that a threat?”
“No, what did I just say about the Company? …see you soon”
“When?”
But there was no reply. Dylan slowly turned and got to his feet, no one was there.

By: Dylan