Bringing the Prophecy back in a workable form was a challenge, but it had to be done, and I had to be the one to do it. I could not trust any simple helper to preserve it in such a state that it would still reproduce. I’m proud to say that it was and that I was able to cultivate my own crop of the plant in my very own house.

-From Professor Shokolov’s Journal, 2nd Entry

AxEl sat in BannIh’s house, waiting for the first of the trucks to arrive. Next to him, BannIh was enjoying a meal that he had prepared for both him and his assistants. It felt awkward to be around them, but they didn’t seem to mind his presence at the moment.

They were enjoying a flatbread with some kind of meat dish. AxEl didn’t recognize it, so he didn’t even bother grabbing a plate for himself.

“Master AxEl, pass the salt,” BannIh said. AxEl stared up at him while the man shoved another bite into his already filled mouth. He quirked up an eyebrow and then stared back. His assistants then stopped eating themselves to look over at the both of them. BannIh then swallowed his bite.

“Please?” he added, and AxEl relented. He grabbed the little shaker and passed it over to BannIh. He knew the old man was intentionally messing with him, he just couldn’t bring it up in such a public area.

As if to answer his calls, AxEl heard a vehicle pull up to the street and honk its horn. He stood up without waiting and opened the door to find the same man he’d secured a deal with. The man stood on the side of the street, looking around and keeping himself busy until he found AxEl.

AxEl eyed the vehicle that he had brought, a bit annoyed that it still had the same Dox Transport Vehicles logo on the side of the container.

“Can’t you remove that?” AxEl asked when he was close enough. The man followed his gaze towards the logo.

“It’ll take a few days. When I get my first cut,” he answered, the same glare on his face that he had carried a few days ago. BannIh strode into the doorway, looking cleaned up. AxEl was glad that he didn’t ruin the negotiations with his eccentricities.

BannIh twirled his mustache and turned to speak to the people in the house.

“Bring out the batch!” he shouted at them. AxEl waited near the man until the supplies were brought out. AxEl stood awkwardly as the boxes full of Prophecy were loaded into the back of the truck while he just waited.

He found himself copying the driver and looking around, feeling himself naked in the middle of the neighborhood. A kid on a tricycle stood uncomfortably close to the house, watching as AxEl’s workers continued their job.It seemed as though once a singular problem was solved, another would arise to take its place.

Once all the product was stored within the truck, the driver closed the door to it and sat back in his seat.

AxEl put a foot on top of the steps leading to the driver side.

“Don’t stay too long in one place. If no one shows up at the location to pick it up, leave. Don’t stay a minute longer than you need to. Try again tomorrow.”

The driver tipped his hat to AxEl and drove off, leaving him and his chemists to return to their duties.

“A word of advice, master AxEl. Perhaps a house on the scenic route through Barksight isn’t the best location to place a pivotal part of your little ‘business’,” BannIh said once the driver was well and truly gone.

“I’ll find a better location later, BannIh,” AxEl said. In the commotion, he’d forgotten that he needed to attend school for the day. His alarm set off, reminding him that he needed to be there sooner rather than later.

He barely gave a farewell to BannIh before taking off towards his school as fast as he could. His legs carried him far, while also jostling the remaining Firewire and Prophecy in the pockets of his coat.

He reached the gates of Barksight academy and jumped through the doors into the halls. There, he walked as fast as he could, reaching his classroom in the nick of time. Only a few minutes late, so hopefully he would-

The person standing on the dais was not his teacher. AxEl stopped in the doorway, mid-breath. He took a few heavy breaths but stopped when they seemed awfully loud. He swallowed and caught the gaze of the man, who had swirling ash gray eyes.

“Good morning,” he said in a hoarse voice. It seemed as though his every word had to scratch and claw its way out of the man’s throat. From behind his massive frame, AxEl saw a familiar face, professor EnnA.

She looked annoyed at AxEl for causing a commotion, gesturing him over to his seat at the back of the class.

“Good morning,” AxEl let out weakly as a response. He tried making himself scarce and took his seat. The man spoke in familiar tones, though AxEl could detect the hardiness behind it.

“We’ve been lucky that this new drug hasn’t spread to other cities, which is why they saw it fit to send me personally to Barksight to investigate the matter,” the Questor continued. He held up a single pill in his hand and showed it around the class, catching their eyes. AxEl recognized the work of him and his chemists all too well.

“This. Is extremely dangerous when put into the wrong hands. This,” he lifted it above his head, “needs to be contained and properly utilized.” Finally he removed his hat and opened his eyes wide for everyone to notice.

“Unless you want to end up like me,” he chuckled darkly. None of the students followed, however.

AxEl looked around the class to distract himself. He passed his eyes over Finn, HinEn, Nook, and there! He found one of his earliest dealers, another student who AxEl had managed to convince to peddle the drugs for him. AxEl saw the boy stare back at him from his seat, his eyes wide open and looking for instruction.

The boy had quit long before AxEl’s operation had expanded to such heights. He was prime for exposing the business, and AxEl knew it. He just stared back and shook his head slowly before facing the Questor once more so as to not draw suspicion.

The Questor held his hat in his hands and looked over at professor EnnA. “That would be all, ma’am. I thank you for the opportunity to speak,” and then turned to face the crowd. Through his ashy grey eyes, AxEl thought that the man was staring directly at him. “And thank you for listening, children. Stay safe.”

He then put his hat on and exited through the door as the class sat in silence. You cannot fight against the government, AxEl, someone said from inside his mind, perhaps it was doubt manifest. Whatever it was, it didn’t get time to formulate another thought as professor EnnA stood up from her chair.

“I hope you learned something from all of that. This whole…business, whatever it is, isn’t something you kids should be involving yourselves with, understood?”

“Yes Ma’am,” replied the whole class in unison, though AxEl stayed quiet. Another student didn’t seem to speak up, and when EnnA dismissed them, he almost leapt from his seat and exited the room.

AxEl followed suit, slamming open the door to the classroom and leaving an annoyed professor behind who was reprimanding him.

He stomped across the tiled floors, finding it filled with more and more students as he crossed. He bumped into a student, who glowered at him as he passed. AxEl returned the expression, causing the boy to turn away.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He brushed past the rest of the crowd, pushing his way forward despite the numerous protests. Then, at a corner, he turned and saw the same boy walking nervously. AxEl turned up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, turning his face towards him.

“HenUd,” AxEl said.

“L-let go of me, AxEl,” the boy replied, trying to shake off AxEl’s grip. The commotion made some of the other students stop in their tracks.

“Stop it!” AxEl whispered, “I just want to talk!” but the boy seemed to be growing in hysteria. AxEl took his hand off but didn’t move from in front of HenUd.

“Look, I let you go. Now will you just listen?” AxEl said. HenUd cowered before him and looked away, while the crowd gathered around them increased in size.

“I-I’m not in that whole business anymore, AxEl. I don’t want any trouble with you.”

“I’m not offering anything, I swear. Just a few minutes. That’s all,” AxEl replied.

“Then you’ll let me be?” HenUd asked with hope in his voice.

“Then I’ll let you be.”

HenUd nodded. “Okay, then.”

****

The side of the school perhaps wasn’t the best place for a discussion like this but taking HenUd anywhere else would have just frightened him. AxEl stood near the doors to the school, watching a steady stream of other students leave and go enjoy their day.

HenUd still looked as worried as before, and distracted himself by gazing at the scenery.

“I…I didn’t tell anyone, I swear,” he said. AxEl let out a deep breath.

“Thank you for that, HenUd,” AxEl replied. His worries seemed a bit lessened after hearing that.

“AxEl, you should get out while you can,” HenUd continued, “I don’t know who you’re working for, but this has gotten way out of hand.”

AxEl bit back his response. Working for?

“A-and I know that you’re doing it for your mom, but it can’t be worth this. I could help if you would just ask!” HenUd said, though it seemed he just let the words spew from his mouth.

“I’m sorry, HenUd, but I can’t just quit right now,” he replied, looking towards the last little groups exit the school doors.

“But don’t you know how dangerous it is? You’ve had to have heard about all those attacks! A-all those ambushes, what state they leave the dealers in?”

“I do! And I still can’t quit, not now. HenUd, I’m glad that you didn’t tell anyone, but I need you to continue keeping quiet,” AxEl said as he pulled something out of his back pockets. He turned HenUd around to face away from the school and slipped the stack of bills that he had in his hand into HenUd’s coat pocket.

“Take that as my appreciation. Don’t worry about the money, and keep yourself as far away from this as you can, forever,” AxEl said and then left. HenUd stood in the open with his hands clenched and eyes unfocused. If AxEl asked, it was the least that he could do.

And, though he would never admit it to himself, he was much too afraid of what was going to happen.

****

Nook waited beside their usual spot. AxEl had left HenUd with only his thoughts and hoped that he would take his advice on the matter. Nook swung on the swings and looked bored out of his mind. He noticed AxEl far away and jumped off to greet the man.

“What’s up?” He asked AxEl. AxEl realized that he still was tensed up from the previous encounter and relaxed his entire body.

“You didn’t see?” AxEl replied.

“That Questor who went around lecturing the classes? Oh I saw him, him and his creepy eyes.”

Nook and AxEl began to walk towards the house as the sun set behind them. “Honestly, maybe they shouldn’t be using Magic Bullets either if they want to warn us against them.”

“Why did he even take Magic Bullets before attending a class?” AxEl asked, curious.

“Scare us, maybe?”

“Hmm, as if that would work,” AxEl replied. They followed the sidewalk, glancing around them to gauge whether they were being followed or not. No one seemed to appear, no one sent by DoxEn at least.

Soon after, they ended up a corner of Barksight where the people thinned. They walked in silence for a few minutes, their feet tapping the only sound. AxEl stopped abruptly, eliciting a look from Nook.

“Wait, let me try-“ AxEl said as he ruffled around his pockets for a pill of Prophecy.

“You brought those along with you to class?!” Nook said in a low voice.

“Not just class. When I’m eating, if I’m asleep. You don’t?” AxEl replied, beginning to shuffle around more aggressively.

“Aha, there it is!”

Nook stopped his hand from coming out his pockets, however. “What are you doing?” AxEl asked.

“Not now, AxEl. Think of what would happen if someone saw us!” Nook explained.

“Don’t you think this place is too quiet? Something feels off,” AxEl reasoned.

“You’re paranoid,” Nook replied before ungrasping his hand. AxEl let it drop, but out of the corner of his eye he caught a hint of movement.

Unconsciously, he raised a hand and pointed. Out of the alley, a man jumped out with a knife in his hand.

He lunged towards Nook, but AxEl pushed him away. He heard something and glanced back, seeing more men come out. No!

Nook kicked the man near them, sending him sprawling. AxEl snatched the Prophecy pills out of his pocket and threw some at Nook. They both swallowed a pill, and their vision expanded.

AxEl saw figures running towards them for a moment, but then the images distorted. What? He barely dodged out of the path of the thugs, all except one whose image didn’t seem to be distorted. AxEl punched the visible thug in his vision, but when he went to do it, the vision distorted and another thug came in his path.

“How did you?” AxEl stumbled over his words once he saw the ashy grey eyes of the thug holding his arm. He punched AxEl in the face, making him painfully aware of his normal strength as blood came out of his nose.

AxEl kicked the other man away from him.

“They’re using Prophecy!” AxEl shouted at Nook. He grabbed some Firewire as well and began chewing on it. It was less effective than the alternative, but it would still provide his body with the strength it needed for this fight.

The warming strength provided him with confidence. AxEl’s future vision still appeared distorted, a million images changes in a few moments. When he focused on his enemies, he noticed that they were similarly distracted. Maybe even more so, AxEl thought to himself.

AxEl glanced towards Nook and saw him struggling with a single thug, so he instead focused his efforts on the three in front of him. The man who had rushed them earlier was beginning to stand up.

AxEl kicked him down onto the ground. His breathed out and deflated under AxEl’s foot. Then he turned towards another thug and threw a punch at him. The thug struggled to dodge, getting caught in the side.

AxEl was pushed forward when another thug grabbed him from behind. He fell onto the ground, struggling to move. AxEl slammed his elbows into the man’s back, but he didn’t bulge. Another thug came up and tried restraining his arms.

AxEl refused to stay idle and brought his knee up into chest of the man who was grappling him. The man let go and AxEl threw him into the man coming towards him. He chewed on the Firewire more, feeling the strength well up inside him.

AxEl stood up and reached into his pocket for a refill. He contemplated not taking another Prophecy pill but deemed it too dangerous. Perhaps his vision could still work, he just needed more.

The thugs uncurled from each other and one of them picked up the knife laying on the ground. AxEl raised his arms in a defensive position. One of the thugs brought out a Firewire blunt and began smoking. AxEl rushed towards him, but the knife wielder obstructed him.

He slashed at AxEl over and over. AxEl faked left then landed a fist straight into the thug’s gut as hard as he could. The man coughed up his lunch onto AxEl’s shoulder, then crumpled onto the ground.

“Ugh,” AxEl said to himself as he pushed forward towards the last thug. He tried plucking the cigarette out of his mouth, but the man moved faster than AxEl could. The man swooped a kick horizontally, which AxEl tried to dodge.

He moved low, but the thug adjusted the angle and send AxEl crashing into the brick wall next to him. He raised his hands and withstood the assault that followed. Hit after hit, his arms grew bruised. AxEl went down and curled up, waiting for the last punch.

The thug paused and a second later was thrown against the ground. AxEl looked over and saw that Nook had tackled the man. AxEl stood up and felt at his bruised arms, then joined Nook in pummeling the man.

Finally, he went down and blood sprayed from his nose onto the pavement. AxEl and Nook both took heavy breaths for a few moments.

Eventaully, the future visions faded and AxEl had nothing but his own breath as a distraction. “N….Nook, you okay?” AxEl asked, taking a pause to catch his breath.

“Y-yeah,” Nook replied, but clutched his sides. AxEl held on similarly to his arms, then looked around at the carnage on the streets. He saw a Prophecy pill in the open hand of one of the thugs. AxEl walked over to the man and kicked the pill, seeing it roll across the pavement and fall into a drain set into the sidewalk.

He rubbed his arms and sighed softly. Is this what I’ve come to? He thought to himself. Before long, he heard police sirens sounding out from far away. He and Nook were about to walk away when they heard a whine from one of the men on the ground. AxEl turned around and saw one of the thugs rolling onto his side and trying to get up.

His adrenaline, his anger, it resurfaced for a moment in that instance. “AxEl, we need to go,” Nook advised. It was true, he knew, but something in his mind refused to believe it. When AxEl took another step forward, Nook continued.

“Come on, he’s not worth it. If we don’t leave now, they might catch us!” Nook said.

“They won’t.”

“And what about DoxEn then? If we’d let them follow us all the way to the professor’s house, our whole operation goes down,” Nook said, he kept his voice low enough so that the writhing men on the ground didn’t catch anything.

AxEl stopped for a second and looked around himself.

“They won’t. We’re too far out into the city,” AxEl replied, then began moving again before Nook could raise any more objections. He walked towards the thug who was trying to stand up, pulled him upwards by the collar and then looked him straight in the eyes.

“Bring DoxEn to me.” AxEl then threw the man violently onto the ground. The man heard footsteps receding into the night as his consciousness faded once more.