Chapter Ten: Cell Block

Dante gets acquainted with another new "ally" and then leads an escape from this mysterious place. How will he cope with the introverted personalities of his two new allies?

    " Riding this tiger, all day long. Riding this tiger while I sing this song." I sang out loud as we traversed this hallway. We could have gone to the right but I honestly wasn't complaining about her choice. I'm glad this morning was started off right. Not with me waking up to something freaky like yesterday. Then again waking up and finding Ia wasn't really a bad thing.Day one I get attacked by a lion and find out I have powers. Plus, I get assaulted by a fire wielding girl. Day two I wake up, find a female robot whom now refers to me as her master, meet some weird dude who runs around killing people,literally, and have an encounter with my other side. Day three, here I am. My life sure did take a turn for the unusual in such a short time. Anyway, enough about me.  She hasn't said a word ever since she transformed. Was she okay? " Hey!" I patted her sides. " Say something!" I could tell she didn't like that from the growl she was giving me. " Nice kitty." Scratching behind an animal's ear always soothed them right? Well, I was doing it and it stopped her growling. For now.  While going down this hallway there was a cell every now and then. Each cell was on the opposite wall of the last for easier surveying of the inmates I guess. Some of the people here looked like innocent people. Others looked like they hadn't eaten in days and have morphed because of it. Finally, we made it to the corner and she slid on her paws, effectively saving time as opposed to just stopping, adjusting yourself, and then running forward. She made herself turn slightly while sliding forward and then she was able to dash forward. Unfortunately for us both, we were encountered by a dead end. Well, not really. This so called dead end was actually another cell. This cell had, first of all, a pit in between us and the actual cell. From this angle it looked bottomless because of the fact it just turned black partway down. Second, the bars were electrified and the person imprisoned was sitting in the corner. A male I might add. 

    His legs were up to his chest and his head rested on his knees. This guy had, for some reason, no shirt on and was stuck in a pair of leather pants. His skin looked...real wrinkly. I could tell he was young but his skin looked almost...tight around his bones.His hair was in a simple buzz cut with an extremely light shade of brown. It's almost as if his hair has just been sitting in the water or something along those lines. No shoes either. Did they steal everyone's shoes here? I still had my dirty sneakers on. Somehow. I got off the female and she transformed back to her human form, dusting her hands off. She was of course the one to offer some helpful insight. " Looks dangerous." I chuckled and stepped forward, stopping at the edge where this seemingly bottomless pit began. " Which is why we're going to help him. This pit shouldn't be a problem but those electric bars are what I'm gonna have some trouble with." I shot a stare back to her as she stepped up next to me. " Well, carry us across then Mr Psychic." While she's still a talking human I should at least get her name. " Call me Dante. What's your name?" This female flipped her hair with a smile and batted her eyelashes. "They call me....Sylvia." Sylvia? Uncommon but a nice name. Without warning I held my hand out towards her and used my oh so awesome power to lift her, slowly carrying her across this endless pit and right in front of the electrified cell. She stumbled a little when I placed her down but she didn't touch the electrified bars. Then, I carried myself over and landed next to her, placing my feet down softly. 

    Now, our first order of business is seeing who we're rescuing. I'm sure that whomever sent Titus to capture me obviously does NOT have the best interest of the public in mind. So, since we've all been captured by the same, merciless entity, I think we're all on the same side. Maybe it would be good to wake this guy or get his attention gently. " Hey! Wake up, we're here to rescue you! WAKE UP!" I face palmed from Sylvia's sudden urge to yell. But, to her credit the boy looked up at us with angry blue eyes.His face Then, he emerged from his seated position and rushed over to the bars, stopping before any electricity had the chance to jump on him. His voice was light but hate filled his expression. " What do you want?" It's nice to meet such polite people isn't it? Me and Sylvia shared a gaze of bemusement before I looked back at this guy and addressed him. " We couldn't help but notice that you were stuck in this dangerously secured cell. Which must mean you're special." His response sort of didn't surprise me. " Why would you care? It's not like anyone else is a freak like me." Sylvia spoke up before I could. " Just because we don't have skin that hugs our bones doesn't mean we aren't different." She had a point. Sort of. This dude turned away from us and spoke in a low tone." You're not the one who has to walk around with it." A sigh escaped me as Sylvia cut me off again before I could get my two cents in." At least you don't get made fun of for being a red head!" He turned back to us and pointed at her 

    " Look at me! A human. Weak. Fragile. Our bodies are 70% water but anymore and out bodies are thrown out of whack?Then, at the same time, needing that same water for survival? That's hell! You can just dye your hair and walk around as if nothing happened. Me? I have to walk around, constantly being stared at for having skin that could fall apart at the touch!" Sylvia growled at him and brought up her own point. " Dye my hair? What if I like my hair?! What if you love being yourself but unfortunately that isn't enough to get you through the day. That's not enough to get yourself accepted. That's not enough to want to go on." This continuing argument began to irk me. We came here to rescue him yet they were arguing about who was the victim of society. Sylvia arguing with someone who was confined and this guy not appreciating us coming to save him. I opened my mouth to speak again but was once again cut off. " You could have still dyed it to avoid the looks and stares. My skin is meant to be this way. Without water I'm like a gasping fish. I'm surprised I managed to survive this long. You don't know what it's like. Skin is something you can't change, Hair is. You have an easy way out of discrimination but you chose to stay in it. You just want sympathy, don't you?" I'm sure I could top their stories anyway. But, we need to stay focused and it looks like I'm the only one who is going to make sure that happens. I even raised my hand to try and indicate I wanted to talk but Sylvia lunged forward and pushed her point further. " there's no easy way out once everyone knows who you are! I'm a Twenty-one year old woman, I don't need attention just to go through my day! Unlike you sitting here, skulking and turning down any help that arrives for you. You're the one who wants attention! You turn down the help because you want someone to beg you to let them help you!" 

    "Would you both just shut up!!" I yelled, both of them shooting glares to me. I returned the glares and began to soothe this argument. " It doesn't matter whose skin is tighter, whose hair is a different shade, or who had to fight for eight hours at school. All that matters is that we are in some type of prison because of one thing we have in common: we're different. Both of you, stop acting like five year olds and keep your heads together!" My scold resulted in them both turning away and crossing their arms, pouting.Sylvia spoke up to respond." He started it..." I shook my head." I don't care who started it!" He growled towards me and turned to point." Oh yeah? Where do you get off calling us five year olds, pretty boy? Not like you went through what we did." I threw my arm forward and he was raised in the air, holding his throat. That's right, I was choking him. Telekinetically of course. He began to gag and Sylvia jumped at the sight " Listen you overgrown prune, I went to school and had to fight for eight hours straight just to come ,no, limp home with multiple injuries and a bruised face. If I was lucky! I went home to an abusive mother who, regardless of what she saw me come home with, would send me to school anyway. If you think you're the only one who had it hard then you need to grow up!" I dropped him, watching him hit his bottom and gasp from his previous lack of air. Sylvia was quiet for the moment and I fixed my posture. Glad I got their attention. "Now, I have telekinesis, Sylvia here is a shapeshifter and logic would dictate that this special cell means you have some type of power. What power do you have...?" I paused as if I wanted him to fill in the blank where his name was supposed to go. He spoke up still as angry as before." Jett. And I have control over water. Plus, I can generate it if need be." It all made sense now.Electric bars to keep him from rusting and destroying the bars, and a bottomless pit to keep him from filling it even if he did make it out. Clever. I had to think if I wanted to destroy these bars. If I touched them then obviously I would get repelled by all of this electricity. I need to find a way to either stop it or overload it. 

    " Hmmm...Jett, ever thought about overloading these bars by splashing them?" Jett crossed his arms, some of the skin on his forearms peeling away from the contact. It made me and Sylvia cringe. " I did think about that. But, I shoot out water in a stream first of all and second, generating water requires I use some of the water from my own body. I don't want to end up dehydrated unless I know I'll make it." He had a point. I guess. So, I looked at Sylvia." Know anything you can transform into that might help us?" She tilted her head to the side and narrowed one eye as if I was crazy. " I can only transform into living things. So far. And besides even if I could turn into some inanimate object,wouldn't absorbing all of that electricity kill me?" I sighed, turning away from them both and bringing my hand up to my chin. Come on Dante think. You're the only one who can degrade those bars and you have to be touching them to do it. All of this electricity would indeed kill all three of us on touch. Even if Sylvia turned into an electric eel it wouldn't help! Then again, that does sound kind of stupid. A sigh escaped me as I turned back to them. For some reason Jett was rubbing his fingers together. Was he trying to filter off the weak skin off his hands or something? When I saw him do this my mind wandered. Just watching him rub his fingers together and now rubbing his hands together. I raised a brow at the falling skin and then my eyes returned to the electrical bars. Their surging electricity was obviously in a current for each and every bar. Wait.Current....Hands That's it! " Sylvia! I need you for a second." They both looked at me with their brows raised. Sylvia asked the obvious question. " Why would that be? I told you I can't do anything." I offered my hand out to her with a developing smile. I didn't mean to sound egotistical but I was amazing myself at how clever this plan was. " Take my hand. And, on three, we both grab a bar. If we do this, our bodies will form a current and the electricity will pass through us safely. While it passes through us, I will destroy the bar with my powers. When I let go of that bar you should only feel a tiny zap." Sylvia and Jett both shared a stare of astonishment with one another, before Sylvia smiled and nodded. She took my hand and we both barred our spare hands to grab at a bar. She then looked at me and I met her gaze.

     " I'm ready." She reassured me, before we got a little closer to the bars. " On three. One. Two. Three!" We both grabbed in sync, feeling only a tiny jolt of loose energy but we were both still alive. I had closed my eyes as did she. I peaked out of one eye and she opened both of hers, blinking. I opened both of my eyes and I couldn't help but laugh. If only someone else besides Jett could see her hair! Sylvia though stared at me for a second before laughing. " You should see your hair!" Sylvia continued to laugh after her comment but it wasn't enough to get me to stop. I would wipe the tear of laughter from my eye but I didn't want to die. "You look like a witch!" I retorted, finally clearing my throat and closing my eyes again to get focused. Jett's evil laughter filled the air while I worked on destroying this bar. Cell by cell I worked my way our, smiling as it only got thinner and thinner. I'm glad I was able to at least learn this part from Lecs before my headache plagued me. As soon as this bar was now drifting particles, it was as if time itself stopped. I opened my eyes and saw Sylvia's eyes filled with worry. She looked as if she was concerned about me not switching quickly enough. I used as much speed as I could muster up to smack my hand to the right, grasping the bar. As I predicted we both jumped from a tiny bit of electricity straying through us. I closed my eyes and focused on degrading this bar the same way I did the last one. I wanted to do it from the outside in so I could have some time to smash my hands through it and keep both of us from dying. I bet Jett was impressed. He better be. This bars outer layer faded. Then the second layer.Third layer, fourth layer. And I kept doing this until there was a prison bar the size of a twig left. I opened my eyes and watched the remaining bar now fade away into dust. The dust particles of the bar had electricity from my hand attracted to them. It was beautiful but I didn't want to fry. So I brought my hand over to the next bar and the second jolt of electricity made me and Sylvia jump. I began to work on this next bar.

    After breaking down this third bar, before I completed the process, I looked over at Sylvia whom was humming from her boredom. " On the count of three, we let go at the same time. If one of us doesn't let go in time then we will both be shocked." Sylvia nodded with her returning smile." Ready when you are." I looked back at the bar as it slowly got skinnier and skinnier." One..." I saw the bar let off a little bit of dust from my tightening grip." Two." The bar got even smaller, my fingers basically against the palm of my hand." Three!" Me and Sylvia both let go,the bar falling as dust. The electricity we both had built in our bodies reacted against each other from our touch. We were both blown away from one another and we hit the opposite walls to our sides. I hit my back, my sore sore back, and Sylvia hit her shoulder. I was trying to find it in me to get up but all I could do was grimace in pain and try to get myself together. The time I spent trying to get up, which had to have been at least two minutes, was the time Sylvia and Jett used to stand over me. I opened my eyes and looked up to see them both looking down at me, Jett's arms crossed and Sylvia's mouth scrunched to the side. " We flew six feet. Why so melodramatic?" A frown formed on my face as I pinned myself against the wall and slid up it to stand up. " You don't know what that monster did to capture me last night. I feel like he played jenga with my spine." Sylvia and Jett s stepped back from me, while I stood up straight and got off the wall. " Whatever....Both of you face that way. I'll get you across the pit." Sylvia reached out to me. " Are you sure, hun? You look kinda beat up now that I think about it." I swatted her hand away and my frown hardened. " I'll be fine! Nothing I haven't had to work through before." She brought her hand to her chest and then backed away from me. Jett also backed away then faced towards the opposite side of the pit. I fixed my posture and brought my knuckles to my lower back, pushing forward and cracking it so I could at least relax a bit more. Then, I threw both of my hands forward and I brought them both up, now moving them forward and across the pit. In no time they were across and safe. Mission accomplished. 

    Now for me. I took one step forward...then another. Then another. And another. I turned myself towards them and saw Jett's impatient expression and Sylvia's slightly worried expression. She even shouted something encouraging." Just over this pit! You can make it!" I feel as though I could collapse. I closed my eyes and my own powers embraced me. Slowly I floated into the air and began to traverse the pit. Slowly of course. I opened my eyes and lowered my gaze down to them, watching how Sylvia's mouth hung open ever so slightly to hope I would make it across. Jett's brow raised as if he was just waiting for whatever would go on. Then, at the worst possible time guess what happened? A headache. MY powers failed me and I fell. I threw both of my hands forward and my fingers grasped at the edge. I hung there uselessly with my eyes closed in pain. "Ugh...A....little help." I felt one pair of hands on my left hand, and another pair of smooth hands on my right. I was pulled up as my bare chest rubbed against the edge. Finally, I was on the other side. Once all the way up they let go of me and I laid there, face down for a second before bringing up my hand in an attempt to stand. Sylvia knelt down and cuffed her arms around my own left arm, giving me the support I needed to stand up. My eyes grew lethargic. Sylvia uncuffed her arms from my arm as Jett began to walk off. I spoke up. Weak but I still would consider my tone threatening. " Where do....you think you're going?" He turned his head back to me and Sylvia and huffed. " Hmph. I'm getting out of here." I shook my head, stepping forward towards him. " Ohhh no. We're all staying together. It's our best chance for survival." 

    Jett turned his entire body towards me and continued his attitude driven rant. " Maybe for you. Just because you have a bad back doesn't mean I should stay here to protect you." He better be lucky that I'm here with a headache or else I'd sling him against the wall in a heart beat. " Listen...You know as well as I do that if you go off on your own you're gonna get captured and put in a higher security cell. Same goes for us. Our best chance is to stay together. Three heads are better than one." My words weren't really passionate but they convinced him. He uncrossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at me. A finger was now right in front of my nose. He was still trying to play tough guy." If you get in my way, don't think I won't take you down." His threat seemed narrow. I fixed my posture once again and walked after him, hearing the pitter patter of Sylvia's bare feet.We all three turned the corner and, as if we were all in sync, we adjusted ourselves to walking side by side. Sylvia to my left and Jett to my right. This long hallway was filled with the mumbling of everyone in their cells. As we cruised by people began to talk to us. They began to speak with us. It was until we got back to our cell that I decided to think about everyone else here. I stopped in place, holding my back in pain once again but went on to share my thoughts. Sylvia and Jett stopped a few steps ahead of me. Their eyes met my own and Jett spoke up first. " Something wrong?" I shook my head. " Nothing at all. I just had another idea. Because of my previous idea to get Jett out of his cell they turned their full bodies to me and were all ears. " Does it have to do with getting us out of here?" Sylvia asked and I was glad she did. " Of course. I thought that instead of sneaking around, why don't we release all of these people? It may seem sort of heartless to use them in such a way but we could use the uproar to find a way out of here. I'm in no condition to fight, Jett can't take a hit right now, and I can't really say much about your condition Sylvia." 

    Sylvia stretched slightly before looking back to me with a half grin. " I can only shape shift three times in an hour so my last transformation should count. The plan is cause a riot, right?" I nodded and Jett crossed his arms, more of his skin peeling and falling to the floor. " I'm impressed." A smile crept onto my face." Thanks. This is the first time plans just popped in my head like that." Jett shook his head with a smirk. " No, I'm impressed you can think." A growl escaped me and I was able to ignore my pain for a moment to try and rush forward towards Jett. Sylvia got into between us and held her hand against my chest to keep me back. "C'mere! I'm gonna peel your skin off and feed it to the birds!" Jett only laughed, turning away from us both and continuing to walk. " I'll free this side of the hallway. You two work on that side." I stopped and everything wrong with my body became relevant. My headache, aching back, and fractured ribs from last night. I let my hands fall by my sides and stepped away from Sylvia's hand. " Fine! I hope you dry up into a pile of dust!" I turned away from Sylvia and crossed my arms. " I've only known him five minutes and I wanna toss him off a building." Sylvia's hand came onto my shoulder. Then, her calming words invaded my ears." Calm down. He's obviously feeding from your anger. Let him starve." I uncrossed my arms and my frown lightened up. " Yeah. You're right." Her hand slid off my shoulder and she walked past me, not missing the chance to poke my forehead when she was in range. Her gaze met mine while she spoke " Who's the five year old now?" She said with a smug grin, turning her gaze forward. It looked like she wanted to start at the end of the hallway with the first cell. A wise choice. Especially since my OCD might kick in. My headache is....well, it's unbearable but will I at least be able to work through it? 

    After a tiny walk we made it to the first cell. This cell was normal. Kind of like ours. The person inside looked like they were starving. They had a bed, a sink, and a toilet but no food. Through their shirt I could see they had lost a lot of weight from not eating. This male's hair was falling out, his pants were barely on around his waist and he just looked weak. I saw a panel next to the cell. It was a DNA scanner used to authorize guards I guess. But, we don't need authorization when we have Psychics like me! I grabbed two bars and closed my eyes, for some reason feeling as if the headache was clouding my precision. But, I tried to work through it. Until I heard the most alarming thing ever. " I know how to handle this!" My eyes popped open when Sylvia said this, and as if time stopped I stared at her as she raised her fist and forced it against the panel. Her fist completely obliterated the panel. The unlucky guy holding onto the bars, me, was slung to the side with them as they opened. I hit my shoulder and slid to the front of the next cell. A huff escaped me as I finally laid flat on my back, staring at the ceiling. I saw the weakened man walk past me, slowly I may add. Then, I heard Sylvia approaching me, her feet by my left side. She bent forward to get a closer look at me and grinned. " Napping on the job?" I of course looked as if I couldn't possibly care less. " Your breath smells like paint." She stood up straight again, her mouth scrunched to the side. " Whatever. It's better than having a bad back." I had another nonchalant response. " I can see up your skirt." Without hesitation she drive her foot into my side. It hurt but it was nothing compared to my back so I laughed it off. " Ah! I was kidding!" I excused myself, slowly making it back to my feet. Sylvia punched my shoulder, then crossing her arms. " You're cheeky, you know that?" I shrugged, making my way over to the security panel for the next cell. " Whatever you say." I shot a stare to her before quickly punching it, my fist driving into it and, as she did, shutting it down effectively and causing the bars to fly open.  This next guy was pretty large. He was taller than me, which, obviously meant he was taller than Sylvia. Sylvia came up to my neck so how tall did she feel right about now?

    This guy came out, sleeveless biker shirt, tight biker pants, and boots. He had some type of lesbian hair cut and he stared down at me with a menacing frown. Then, with no warning he hugged me. And my back was in enough pain without him doing this! After all of my spinal disks had been cracked, thank god not literally, he dropped me and rushed away after the guy who had nearly starved to death. I let out a huff of breath as Sylvia approached me. I adjusted my gaze to look at her and instead of standing over me to give me a view, she knelt down and patted my head. " Seems like you made a new friend." I once again began to stand up, struggling to stand this time. Sylvia patted my back, causing me to yelp in pain. " Ohhh, sorry, forgot you had a bad back." I stood up straight, wincing at the stress on my body and managing to push her. She hit the wall with a smirk, approaching me again and bumping her shoulder against mine. " A little rowdy aren't we?" I ignored this blow and turned away, now hunched over as I walked. " I'm not gonna let you get the better of me." Her feet could be heard behind me again, as this time she positioned herself next to me and raised a brow. " Hope that wasn't too much." I shook my head, punching the security panel to my left and watching as the inmate walked out." I'll live..." Me and Sylvia did this as the panels came up on our sides. I punched the left, she punched the right during our walk. " Are you sure? You're not even walking straight anymore." I forced myself to fix my posture, doing my best to hide any signs of struggle during it all. Slowly, this hallway began to fill with the inmates, some starving, some in good health, and others just miscellaneous. After a while this entire hallway began to stink with these dirty inmates as they rushed towards Jett's end of the hallway.Me and Sylvia navigated our way towards the right end of the hallway and guess who we saw leaning against the wall? Mr attitude himself, Jett! Jett leaned off the wall when he saw us and joined our line in walking as we followed this rioting crowd of people. " Mission accomplished." Jett said, shaking his head and letting his light tone of hair flop around. Sylvia spoke up. " How did you free yours?" Jett's arms remained crossed as we turned the corner. " I rusted the bars using the moisture in the air." Makes sense I guess. I wonder where all of these people were going. 

    As we followed this rioting crowd, we finally made it to a clearing. This clearing was, currently in some turmoil. This place looked as if it was another world. All three of us looked around, baffled we had been captured and brought to such a place. I stared around and saw this futuristic atmosphere. We stopped in place to witness everything going on. I saw the robots crashing, the guards trying to apprehend the prisoners we released. Of course this was like an uprising and a few people were dying in the mix. I saw a few guards with buttons like that guy I saw yesterday who tried to steal Ia from me. So we were at Malem!? I immediately had an idea. Again. " Guys....What should we do? We're at the heart of an evil cooperation right now. Should we investigate to see what we can find on their plans or get out while we're still alive?" Jett turned his gaze towards me and uncrossed his arms. " We need to leave. I need to recover and you know just as well as I do that you aren't in any condition to fight either." Sylvia had her own opinion. " We can't let these sacrifices be in vein. We need to help stop innocent people from getting captured like this again." Oh great. One was playing the angel and the other was playing the devil. Who should I listen to? I am, as Jett said, in no condition to fight. But, Sylvia was right. WE can't just abandon these people and allow their lives to be lost just because we need a way out. I reached up and grabbed my head, trying to pick. " Ahhh! Thanks for nothing! You two only made the decision harder!" They both stared at me as I took my hands from my head, deciding that even if we were going to do this we needed some help. Some Lecs kinda help. A smile came onto my face as I explained my thoughts to them. " All right. Here's what we'll do. We will leave and get Jett to safety. Then, Me, Sylvia, and a few friends of mine will come back to investigate the plans of Malem. Everybody wins. Now let's get going on solving problem number two." Jett raised a brow. " That would be....?" I looked around, before raising my hand to pan the room as if I wanted him to look. "Finding the exit you're yearning for!" Jett gained a mirthless expression and before he could say something to me to show how sensitive he was, Sylvia tapped both of our shoulders. We looked at her then she pointed. We looked in the direction she was pointing and I saw the man who put me in this place: Titus. He was tossing these inmates off him left and right, even stomping on the shorter ones to effectively bury them. 

    I knew we had to get out of here now. " We need to get out of here!" Sylvia stepped forward and cracked her knuckles. " Awww, why? I don't see what's so threatening abou-" I cut her off by wrapping my arms around her stomach and beginning to run to the right. " Take it from me you do not, I repeat, DO NOT want to pick a fight with Titus!" Jett followed us, which was obvious by his feet smacking against the ground behind me. " That's more like it. Listen to the smart guy of the group." While I carried Sylvia out of here, I pointed one finger back at Jett, as if I wasn't in the mood. " Not now, you wrinkled shopping bag!" That shut him up. Sylvia crossed her arms while I held her, now hunched over my shoulder. " You could've just told me." Running along this wall, it was inevitable that we found an exit, right? I came to an awkward stop in front of a door that said "Not an Exit". Jett crashed into me and I decided to let Sylvia down. She dusted herself off and looked towards the door. " Not an exit?" I nodded, reaching forward and grabbing the knob. " Reverse psychology I assume." I gripped the knob but then quickly let go, Jett glaring at me. " What's wrong!?" I shook my head. " I don't know. I just....I don't feel right opening this door." Jett grabbed the knob. " Then I'll open it!" I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand off the door, letting go of him and noticing that some of his skin got on my. I rubbed it on my shirt and then spoke. " No! I'm gonna open it when I'm ready!" I said, taking a deep breath and then grabbing the knob again. Then, I let go of it and turned away. "...That door is evil." I heard Sylvia step forward and speak. " Why don't I open it?" Through my headache I turned around and grabbed her with my power, yanking her back. When I did this, she didn't let go until she realized what was happening then when she landed back where she was originally standing and grabbed her shoulder. Plus, she decided to snap at me. " You almost dislocated my shoulder!" I stepped forward and grabbed the door knob again, taking another deep breath.

    This door was unnerving to me for some reason. I turned the door knob, pulled the door open and guess what were we encountered with?

    A brick wall. A brick wall with " Not an exit" spray painted on it. We all three shared a face palm as Sylvia pushed me. " Reverse psychology huh?" I closed the door and continued to walk along the wall, crossing my arms almost like Jett. " Next door." I said, trying to pretend like this never happened. The pitter patter of their feet was actually starting to annoy me. Maybe I was just mad about that freaking door being a dud. Finally, an alarm went off. Well, it was about time! I saw Titus drive a man who wasn't much shorter then him into the wall, causing a dent in it. Then, luckily for us, Titus let go of him and rushed back into the chaos of this riot. The three of us rushed over to this man sitting in the wall, watching as he tried to emerge from it but it was no use. Finally, stepped forward and took his hand, easily pulling him out of the cracked wall. He fell limply on the ground when I did this,face down. I guess I could relate to him. If I ever step with Titus again, which I feel is highly likely, I will have to stay out of his range. He mostly grabs from what I see. Anyway, I'll think about all this later. I knelt down and shook this injured man lightly. " Hey. Hey. Are you all right?" The guy weakly turned his head towards me and his eyes were flushed with pain. His tone was low. " That guy is...invincible." I, once again, can relate. " Yeah, I know. Will you be able to manage through your pain?" He weakly nodded and then slowly raised his right hand to point. " The.....exit. Two doors...down to my right." Since he was nice enough to tell us where the exit was I decided to beckon him to come with us. " We can take you with us if you want." His head weakly shook." No....I would only slow you.....d...down. Leave this place."Jett had a snide remark to go with it. " Finally! Someone with sense!" I turned my head to shoot him a glare, while he chuckled. Then, I returned to my feet and turned to the left, beginning to walk. I heard their feet pitter-pattering... again. They aligned by my sides once again. 

    Just when we saw the first door, Jett had something else to say. " Wait, does he mean two doors down as in we count the first two doors and then we open the next door or do we count one door and open the second one we see?" Me and Sylvia face-palmed. Then, I took my hand from my face to explain." He means....Wait, you're right. Wait, No you aren't! I had it in my head until you confused me!" Sylvia had something to say as well. " Maybe he meant third door down. There are three doors here." I held my head, trying to think this through. Then, the obvious solution came. " Okay. To avoid anymore confusion, why don't we all take one door? We'll open them at the same time." They both shrugged." I get the middle door." I called immediately, Jett standing in front of the door closest to us. " I'll get this one." And Sylvia knew that meant only one door was left so she walked over towards it as I approached my own. We all grabbed the door knobs and I counted. " One." Sylvia jumped in. " Two." Jett finished. " Three!" We all opened our doors. I heard Jett groaning from what he found." Aww! Another dud!" Sylvia yelled over at him. " Just like your brain!" Jett growled and then yelled back to her. " What did you find!?" She spoke with confidence. " The exit, thank you very much! Dante, what about you?" I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A production plant for androids. They were being mass-produced and put in line for some type of army. Some male, some female. The male's were to one side while the females were on the other. And, I decided to step in. I heard their steps rushing toward the door to join me. They both gasped at the sight but Jett had to be negative as usual. " What's so special about a bunch of androids? We should be leaving." I shook my head, a frown forming on my face. " I found an android. I'm...trying to convince myself she wasn't made here." My eyes wandered and my heart beat faster and faster. All of these android's had distinctive qualities, differing body types and even facial features like a human. None looked like Ia. I decided to go to the female side. I noticed an empty slot out there. But, how was I going to get there? 

    I feared that if I touched any of them I would activate them. I still had my headache so floating over them was out of the question. Standing in front of them I was wondering what purpose they would serve? That was when I heard a voice. "Amazing aren't they?" I turned my head looking for the source of the voice, before feeling a tap on my shoulder. I turned my head and once again Sylvia was there to point for me. I followed her finger up to a small balcony. I noticed a man. Not just any man, half his face was replaced by metal and cybernetics. And he had a yellow eye on that side of his face. The human eye was black. The rest of his body I was unsure since his legs were covered by the stone of the balcony and his body was in a suit. His arms were crossed and his voice cocky. " My creations. I took the time to personally mold each one. And they all are going to help us take this world. This world will belong to Disperdere. Whether you foolhardy children follow him or not." This guy and that Disperdere stuff again. I shook my head " Whatever. I left home to make a better life for myself and look at me now. Caught up in this stupid war between good and evil. I'm just a boy who happens to be the son of the man who intendeds to destroy mankind. And this boy is going to see to it that his father goes down." My words surprised this man. I was indeed tired of the good side or in other words, Genesis, claiming that I will see the light one day in this battle. If you're going to oppose someone, do it definitively. This man laughed at me. " You think you can stop him? You're just a kid! But, I won't underestimate you. Titus brought in pretty beat up yesterday. So, my guardian should be enough to finish you off!" He said this as a large heavy set robot stepped from behind the army of robots. It was the usual intimidating robot. Guns on his back, launchers for hands, thrusters on his body for transportation, etc. I crossed my arms and heard Jett running off. Sylvia placed her hand on my shoulder and pulled on it as if she wanted me to come with them. " Dante, I know you're all confident and everything but we need to leave! That thing is too big." I let my gaze drift to meet her own. The robot approached us slowly through the aisle created between the male and female androids. I turned back to it with a frown. " You obviously don't have faith in me. Watch this. " I said as it finally stopped in front of us. A red eye ignited in the middle of it and then multiple lasers aimed on us both. The guns cocked and missile launchers prepared to shoot. " Target acquired." Sylvia began to panic." Now would be a good time to do whatever you're going to do!" 

    I yawned and uncrossed my arms. " The next statement is true. The previous statement is false." The robot just stood there. Slowly, the lasers died down and then, the robot spoke. " Paradox. Paradox. Paradox." The man leaned over the balcony. " No!" His robot began to melt down. The guns dropped, the launchers fell, and, finally it faltered. It was now considered a hunk of junk. " I told them to put a paradox inhibitor on the guardians! But would they listen? " I shook my head, uncrossing my arms. " Anything else?" I raised a brow towards him. " Grrr! I'm calling another one!" I decided that we should at least leave. I don't feel like nor can I fight at the moment. I turned away and passed up Sylvia. " We'll be back. Trust me." I said and once again heard the pitter patter of Sylvia's feet following me. We took a left outside the door and before we hit the exit, she punched my shoulder. "You sure do know how to hold your own." I didn't say anything to pet my own ego. I instead tried to increase hers. " Just like you do. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you let yourself get captured didn't you?" We made our way out the exit and we were in some sort of town. No, a city. It's been a while since I've been in the city." I guess you could say that. I could have easily played hide-and-go seek with them. If I knew what they were going to do. But they gave me an offer on one of my paintings I couldn't refuse." I was about to let her know I couldn't blame her but, something caught my attention about this place. Everyone was running because of everything going on. This city was in turmoil. And Jett was no where to be seen. " I don't think it'll be hard to hide in all of this chaos." Sylvia said something that actually made me laugh. " I should get some shoes while everyone is confused." After my crippling laughter I saw police cars rushing by. Should I? Well, maybe I should get some aspirin before I assist. Or see if it's fine if Sylvia could come along. We both came to a stop. " I think we should steal some supplies instead. Like medical supplies. I need to cure this headache." She crossed her arms. " I'm not gonna let you lead me around like a stray puppy. If you need to fix your headache, do it on your own terms." My resolve was swift. " I'll get you some shoes if you help me." She turned her face to me so that only one side was facing me. As if she was trying to negotiate. " Any pair?" I nodded with a blank expression. " Any kind." She smiled " Well maybe I could meet these friends you spoke of earlier. Anyone abnormal must associate with others who are abnormal." Shoes and she wants to meet Lecs? Fine. As long as I can get rid of this headache. 

    I used my hand to shade my eyes, panning the environment for a pharmacy. Just then, from behind, a hand fell onto my head. I stiffened from this and slowly I felt my headache easing. Then, the hand removed itself and I heard sandals impacting the floor. " Speak of the devil." Lecs now stood before me and Sylvia. " I'm surprised you survived an attack from Titus." I had my own marvels to awe at. " I'm surprised you found me." He shrugged. " Your aura wasn't one that was too difficult to lock onto." Sylvia cut in rather quickly. " Dante,...who's this?" I felt sort of stupid for not introducing them but just before I could, I heard that same question repeated. In a robotic voice. " Dante, if I may inquire, whom might this be?" I noticed Ia floating down towards us from behind Lecs. She landed and the jets in her feet cut off instantly, while she stood straight. Almost like a human some may say. After that I went on to scold him. " You let her fly here on her own!?" Lecs shrugged again, placing his sleeves together. " She's like a child. She'll never learn unless you give her the opportunity." I guess he's right. But wait, Lecs, Ia, where's Iris? I sighed. " And where's the flaming psychopath?" Lecs seemed a bit reluctant to answer. " She's um..." He pointed to the right. Ia, Sylvia, and I all looked and we saw something I still can't believe. Blue flames were being emitted from her hands as she healed a man against the wall. For some reason this man was bleeding from his side and she had laid him against the wall. She was now crouched over him, healing him. And with a smile. Almost like the one when we were visiting Genesis. I raised a brow. " Why is she....being nice." Lecs' expression remained blank. But, even he didn't have an answer this time. " She offered to make me coffee and sew up my robe this morning. I declined because I only let one woman sew my robe." I wonder... " Who would that be?" He shook his head. " My business. My point is she's been acting weird all day." I took one more look over to her and Sylvia, almost like Ia, broke the moment. " Wait, why are we surprised again?" I sighed, decided to move on. With my headache gone I technically don't owe Sylvia those shoes. Off I go to investigate why the police are rushing off. 

    " Sylvia, you get acquainted with Lecs while I go help the police. Ia, follow me." I brushed past Lecs as Ia jetted after me. For some reason I feel like this was sort of cliche but whatever. I rushed in the direction the police went and I turned the corner of this...large building for Malem. When I turned the corner, I saw the police lined up....in front of Malem. Well that was a bummer. But, I might as well go over anyway. As I got closer I could hear the police yelling at the front of the building from behind their cars. " Son, we will give you one last chance, drop the girl and put your hands up!" Drop the girl? I turned my head to look my closely at the front doors and guess who I saw? Just guess? His name starts with a Je and ends with a tt! He was holding a girl who looked no older than ten was being held by him. His arm was around her neck, her feet were off the ground and her dress was wet. There was an unconscious cop at his feet and a gun in his hand. Jett objected to their demands. " I'm tired of being made fun of! Unfortunately for her, that last stare was enough to push me over the edge!" With my headache gone I could end this scene right now. As I approached no one noticed, lucky for me. Even the girl's mom spoke up. " Please, don't kill my baby!" Closer and closer I drew until I heard voices of worry being aimed towards me. " Kid, step away form the man, he is highly unpredictable!" Jett turned towards me but it was too late. I raised my hand but before I could act I heard a bullet fly by my head and hit Jett's hand.His hand began bleeding but also the gun went flying over his shoulder and out of his reach.  He then placed his hand onto her head to try and do some harm but, I brought my spare hand up and both of his arms were taken from the girl. He dropped her and when she hit the ground she fell to her knees, grabbing at her aching neck. Then, with Jett, I took one hand down and with my other hand still up, I let go of his arm. I used a little bit more of my power this time to flick him back. He flew back and landed on his back, sliding against the pavement. 

    I stooped next to the girl and helped her to her feet, speaking to her kindly. " Are you all right?" This earned a hug from her. Ia stopped behind me. The police placed their weapons away and I saw them vaulting over their cars to apprehend Jett. But, I raised my hand to stop them. I didn't use my powers but I only raised my hand to get their attention. " Don't. I know of a suitable way to punish him." The police stopped in front of him and then looked at one another. The girl quit hugging me and rushed over to her mother. Her mother had been approaching me while I tried to help her little girl. She expressed her gratitude in me while I turned towards her and stood up straight. " Thank you...Glad to see someone using their powers for good around here." I had a question obviously. " Someone? You mean there have been many more crimes committed by people with powers?" She nodded her head. " There was a guy who people refer to as 'Living Light.' He's been committing crimes and people have only caught glimpses of him." Living Light? I want a cool nick name. But, I decided not to question them further and I turned to see the police cuffing up Jett. I quickly approached them. " Wait!" One officer stood to stop me. " We're under orders kid. You're a hero but we can't grant any favors." I wasn't going to cause a scene. I simply decided to leave them alone and let them take him. Besides, Jett wasn't exactly the most nice guy to risk your life for. As they took him Ia's circuits were winding behind me. Her metallic hand landed on my shoulder. The cops walked off with him when this happened. " He will be fine. A quick scan of him revealed he possessed Hydrokinesis." I turned towards her and decided to have a normal, regular conversation with her instead of teaching her what this and that meant. " I knew that but question is, should we bust him out of jail or not?" She was full of surprises. She shrugged and turned away. " I suggest we go back with Lecs. He might be getting antsy about our sudden retreat." I decided to take her advice this time. 

    " Fine." We both turned and headed back to our original position. " Do you think we should at least run that idea by Lecs? Getting someone out of jail can't be too hard can it?" Ia sure did know how to kill someone's buzz."Because of the girl's dress being wet there is evidence he used his powers. If we are lucky they will take him to a standard security prison. But, if they have a special place for such super humans then we might have to let him serve his time." A sigh escaped me after that speech. Maybe he will have to rot in jail. Again. Just when I was ready to drop the subject she spoke up again. " Dante?" Not another question..." Yes,Ia?" What she said mystified me. " This place seems familiar. Almost like I have been here at a past time of my life. Should I be worried about this sudden sensation?" I shook my head and placed a hand on her shoulder. " No Ia. That's just Deja vu. Unless you've been here before." I raised a brow. I wanted to see if she did remember or if I had to tell her. " I don't know. It feels as though I belong there. What's in that building Dante?" A sigh escaped me. " That place is Malem Ia. They serve Disperdere." I feel as if I'm treading on light ground right now. Ia's head straightened up. " Malem....Disperdere." We made it to the corner and I watched Ia trying to figure all of this out.  We made it back to Lecs and Sylvia whom were arguing for some reason. Their yells were passionate. Lecs' face was flat as usual and his side of the argument still didn't give me any clue as to what was going on. " You are one of hers, you must know what she intended to do." Sylvia crossed her arms with a frown. " One of hers? Just because I have shape shifting doesn't mean I belong to someone." Lecs shook his head as we drew closer. " She created you to counter what Disperdere is trying to do. Disperdere's children have powers that have to do with manipulation. Meaning their powers all fit under one broad category that ends in kinesis. Shape shifting is an ability. Not control over anything." Sylvia wagged her finger. " It's control over my shape." He face-palmed, while me and Ia finally stopped by them. Iris? Well, I couldn't see her at the moment. Why were we still here anyway? Lecs spoke through his hand. " She created you and several others to counter Disperdere. From what I heard not all of them are.....angels sent from Heaven." Sylvia shook her head. " You know just as well as I do that I have nooooo idea what you're talking about." Lecs' hand fell from his face as I finally stepped in. " What are you talking about?" Lecs filled me in. " There are children of Disperdere but there are also those who are supposed to rival you. Some,like her." I shot a stare over to Sylvia s her arms crossed. " Whatever he's on about, I don't know." My back is killing me... " I don't know. I can trust Sylvia. She seems okay to me." Vouching for her was sort of instant for me. Lecs had something to stop my argument from settling. Of course. " She's a pupil of Genesis. But, instead of just allowing you to be born with your power, she gives it to you when she thinks you are ready. You are picked from birth by her." 

    Sylvia cut in. " This Genesis wouldn't happen to be a girl would she?" I nodded. Didn't Genesis sound feminine? And did we say she multiple times?" Yes. Why?" Sylvia said something mystifying to us all. " The voice I heard before I got my powers was a man,not a woman." 

Author's Note

I want to know, for all reviewers, how do you think this type of writing is as opposed to the way I did in earlier chapters (any chapter before Nine, which is where I employed this type of spastic and spontaneous style.) since I have fun writing it like this and I still want people to have fun reading it. I'm also open to new writing styles if there are any suggested.