Chapter 7: Injuries and Betrayal

That night at home Ned went to sleep very late. He was up past 12 looking into the details of Baldur and other related features. He had no school tomorrow because the higher ups had it shut down for several days it takes stabilize the city. His house was in a much better condition than the ones close to the Isle's center. There was a small radio announcement in the afternoon due to the TV cables being knocked out of order that the quake was not actually quake but rather something had gone wrong with the Isle's core thereby having it slowly sink into the ocean. It had been stabilized now and everything was going back to normal. His sister had turned up in a gruff mood that evening mainly due to the fact that she was on the Isle Core's maintenance team and they had to work overtime so after telling Ned this and having a very quick dinner she rushed back out. Ned's research on Baldur proved to be highly frustrating as nothing aside from the fact that Baldur had been killed by his brother Hodr had been mentioned in the webpages he had visited and he had just skimmed over them. He was hoping to find out more but the searches proved futile. All that information given by Tom about the Ragnaroks had him totally confused. Giving up on his searches he finally went to sleep before he did he did hear ambulance sirens and police sirens but it was something common around the housing district where for some reason people for the smallest things seemed to take an ambulance. Next morning, he woke up without the sound of an alarm ringing next to his ear at approximately nine. It was a nice day to sleep in anyhow so he turned around and tried to go back to sleep again. As he was about to drift off again the doorbell rang and his stupor was lifted. Annoyed and grumbling he got up and the doorbell rang again. He stretched a little and walked down in a groggy manner when the doorbell started ringing without interval and at that instant Ned had a clue of who it was. He rubbed his eyes and opened the door to find a very hyperactive boy waiting outside, his best friend Connor.

He seemed to be in a slight panic. "Ned you'll never guess what happened."

Ned was swinging back and forth in his groggy mood as he tried to process what Connor had just said and Connor noticed it too.

"Did you just get up?" asked Connor.

"No, I woke up a little while ago but then I went back to sleep again," said Ned as he shook his head and cleared his eyes.

He tried to focus to get his brain running again.

"Well, Ned I'm a little sorry but can I come in?" asked Connor as he looked over Ned's shoulder to inside Ned's house.

"Feel free," said Ned and he turned around to walk away from the door.

Connor jumped in and shut the door and Ned saw that he seemed very wary and slightly panicked as well. Ned walked over to the couch and collapsed on it whilst Connor came in and sat on one edge. He then looked around the room for a little and turned to Ned.

"What's going on?" asked Ned. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah, things did happen," said Connor. "You remember the Blastboarders?'

"Well yeah kind of hard to forget them," said Ned and suddenly his groggy eyes widened. "Wait… did, no, they didn't do something did they?"

"Oh yeah, they did something alright," said Connor. "So much for hoping they wouldn't try anything, a family's in hospital and their house was burned down last night around midnight."

"Oh, oh no, that was the siren I heard yesterday," said Ned remembering back to the time when he heard just before he went to sleep ambulance and police sirens. "They did this?"

"Well yeah they're like suspects in this, but I heard it during the morning news, though there was a fire the family seemed to have been struck unconscious with mini electrical charges according to the radio news anyhow, the TV's aren't working so I can't know anymore," said Connor. "But seriously you heard what Tom said right, they all host either gods of thunder or air and I do have my very strong suspicions."

"No seriously, they wouldn't hurt people would they, I mean I've seen them doing some wrong things but this…" said Ned as he found it hard to believe.

"I know I didn't think much of it either until the police mentioned that they caught someone there related to the Blastboarders and also that family being electrocuted," said Connor. "I might be trying too hard to fit a puzzle in to make the picture right but y'know I usually have a sixth sense about these kinds of things."

"What do we do?" asked Ned. "We can't go to the police; we can't tell anyone except Tom either unless Tom's already heard."

"Well that's the problem isn't it, we can't do anything," said Connor sighing.

"We can go see Kevin, maybe talk to him a little," said Ned looking hopefully and Connor instantly screwed up his face.

"There's no way I'm going to visit him," said Connor. "No way, absolutely not."

"He kind of used to be our friend," said Ned trying again.

"I said no, no way, there's no way and besides would he even talk to us, I'd bet he doesn't even know us," said Connor.

"Come on, he was good, remember when he used to hang out with us," said Ned.

"Yeah but that was before he hit puberty and turned into a frickin' giant, he looks like he's on steroids now," said Connor. "Besides we just sort of fell apart, there's no way he'd listen to us, we'd just be embarrassing ourself."

"Yes but we don't have to tell him all about the other stuff," said Ned. "Just talk to him a little and maybe he can calm down that other guy and the Blastboarders a little, I mean this is going to get serious in a little."

"Why do you even care about this?" asked Connor. "It's not like this is something we should be dealing with anyway, the police, I'm sure've got it all handled."

"Yes but Connor, he can use powers just like us," said Ned. "We know that fact and if we don't do something about it then I don't know, it just doesn't feel right, I'm not talking about fighting the guys, maybe a peaceful talk."

"Yeah right, if those guys were so sane as to sit for a peaceful talk up then they wouldn't burn down a damn house," said Connor. "We move into this and we're all gonna be in danger, and that leader guy, he looks absolutely and positively insane."

"Well we don't have to talk with him, we can talk with Kevin," said Ned and Connor seemed to be in thought for a moment. "What do you think?"

"…Fine, but you're gonna be talking, I'll just be standing back and watching and if he pisses me off then I'm gonna leave like that second," said Connor obstinately.

"Well fine," said Ned. "That's fine, we just need to talk a little that's all, I'll do it."

"Well good, then we'd better get this out of the way as soon as possible," said Connor.

"Fine just wait here, I just need to go shower and all," said Ned sighing.

He went upstairs to finish his daily morning grooming, showering and brushing and then around past half an hour he came down again to see Connor leaning back on the couch and looking blankly at a turned off TV. It wouldn't have seemed strange if the TV was actually but Connor was just as much attention to the blank TV screen as one would pay to active TV screen.

"What are you looking at?" asked Ned sneaking up behind Connor unintentionally and he jumped nearly a foot into the air.

"Holy hell!" gasped Connor as he clutched his chest, he felt like he nearly had a heart attack.

"You seem to be watching something interesting," said Ned. "What are you watching?"

"Screw you Ned, really," said Connor still gasping a little. "You could've just walked up like a normal person and come in front of me, bloody sneaking up behind…"

"Well yeah but then I wouldn't have seen your current expression, and it's priceless by the way, a pity I didn't take a snap," said a chuckling Ned to a scowling Connor.

"Why don't we go now." Connor was annoyed, he had been in deep thought and that was taken advantage and he was frightened.

"Well yes, let's go," said Ned as he adjusted his shirt and combed his hair sideways.

"Fine, do you remember where his house is?" asked Connor.

"It hasn't changed has it?" asked Ned, he couldn't be sure, it had been a long time since he had been to Kevin's house, a very long time, approximately two or three years.

"I don't think so, but how would I know?" said Connor annoyed, he was still pissed at going to Kevin's.

"Well we can just go to his house and then if it isn't errr… his house then we'll his proceed from there," said Ned and Connor shrugged.

"Sure, whatever you say."

Since the house was a fair way away and was closer to the school and since Ned didn't feel like walking he decided to take his bike and Connor climbed on behind him.

"Do go carefully and I'm saying this because I know your reckless nature, if you decide to pedal fast down a hill then this time we'll both be screwed," said Connor remembering yesterday when Ned bolted down.

"Don't worry, I won't pedal that fast but just in case, if something happens you're free to jump off," said Ned. "You've been warned."

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Ned pedaled out of his house's driveway and surprisingly, or not so surprisingly now, it didn't take that much effort for him to pedal two people's worth especially up a hill, he had no doubt it was because of his powers. He was physically fit no doubt but there was no way he'd be able to pedal himself and Connor up a hill as steep as the one that came up a few meters from his house, the hill on which Connor's house resided in with his normal effort. Even though at first he had found this almost freakish he was starting to like the benefits his powers gave him.

As they pedaled up the hill Ned asked Connor a question. "Did you use your powers again after that time at the school?"

"Not really man," said Connor. "But it does feel like I've become a lot more hyperactive, my uncle noticed it yesterday when I was acting up a lot more yesterday than usual days."

"Well, I don't think that's your powers or anything Connor but still…" Ned had reached the crest of the hill and he looked down.

"No, Ned, don't," warned Connor warily but he hadn't even closed his mouth after speaking that sentence when they went over the crest at speed.

Ned didn't bother applying any breaks and behind him he could hear Connor screaming as he whistled down the slope with a highly exhilarating feeling.

"NED YOU ASS!" screamed out Connor as bike picked up further speed on the slope.

"It's all about the thrill," said Ned laughing out loud.

This time they luckily reached the bottom without any mishaps and Connor's heart rate was beating twice as fast and he tried to calm down. No accidents had happened and he was eternally grateful for that.

"Ned, your super strength doesn't come with super invulnerability does it?" asked Connor leaving Ned to chuckle.

"I don't know but we could try if you want," said Ned and Connor could sense he was gearing for something further reckless.

"No, no, don't worry about it," cried out Connor abruptly stopping Ned. "Just, let's go to Kevin's,"

"Yeah sure," said Ned and he pedaled this time at a normal pace forwards.

As they pedaled past Grey Tom Antiquary they could still see its destruction, the rubble pieces, it hadn't shifted much from yesterday. Ned stopped the bike to look around for Tom, if Tom was here then he could tell the news unless he had already heard it. Unfortunately, it seemed there was not even the remotest movement of people around the crumbled area of the shop, it was all quiet. Ned hadn't expected Tom to be here anyhow, his shop was destroyed and his shop was also his house so naturally he would go in search of temporary shelter.

"Lucky for us the damage didn't extend into the housing district," said Ned sighing and continued pedaling with Connor behind.

"Well yes it is, a devastated house does not make good living quarters," said Connor as he still looked at the destroyed Grey Tom Antiquary.

"What are they doing for the repairs?" asked Ned. "Do you know?"

"Well just bits of information I got from my uncle, they've dispatched teams out to separate districts to assess the damage and all," said Connor. "So far they've only done reparation to the school, my uncle says it's in a real bad state."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Well that makes it no more school for a couple more days, at least until the surrounding area around the school's fixed they wouldn't dare open it," said Ned.

They rode on towards Kevin's house. Despite Kevin being a juvenile gang member his family was rich and mildly influential on Hailing Isle, they had seen his house back when they were still friends and it equivocated to a small estate rather than a house. The central district's outer ring fast approached as they rode past a semi-devastated H.I.P.S and the house was spotted from a fair distance away. A large whitewashed house that sat in the center of a very grassy garden which surrounded it. It was maintained throughout the years by a gardener the Ericksons hired, strangely the gardener was also an excellent cook. They pedaled up to the gates of the house and paused.

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"Wondering now if this was a bad idea," said Ned nervously as he looked at the gated estate.

"Well I did tell you," said Connor and he slid off the bike.

"We came here, we have to go in," said Ned his voice still tinged with layers of nervousness.

"No we don't, we can just ride back, we don't have to do anything," snorted Connor.

"Here just hold this bike," said Ned as he got of it and pushed it onto his friend.

Connor grabbed the bike and stabilized whilst Ned walked up to the gates. As he expected an old man came out, he wore a frayed white t-shirt, well the t-shirt was supposed to be white but it looked more brown in color. He wore slightly ripped pants and was around maybe half a head taller than Ned. He had a face with wrinkles from always smiling, indeed whenever Ned used to see him in the past this gardener always had this light smile on his face. His name was Fen, well that was what Kevin told him and Ned never knew his real full name and he had gotten used to Fen too much by then to even ask what his real name was. Fen looked over Ned with curiosity and then smiled, he seemed to have recognized who Ned was despite the long two-year gap.

"Mr. Caesar, a pleasant surprise," said Fen as he smiled. "It has been a long time."

"Things changed," said Ned still edgy, it felt so unfamiliar to talk to Fen like this again.

"Of course, I assumed as much, a pity young master's current company isn't as pleasant as you were, where's Mr. James?" asked Fen.

"Connor's here with me as well," said Ned and he hurriedly motioned for a disgruntled Connor to rush forth.

Despite his unwillingness he came forth and he found it hard to keep his disgruntled look in front of Fen the kind gardener.

"Speaking of it all, where's Kevin?" asked Ned curiously as he peered inside the gates.

Fen's smile disappeared all of a sudden to be replaced with a grave look. "I'm afraid young master nor his family are here today, they're at the emergency hospital set up after the recent incidents."

"They got injured?" said Ned surprised, he had seen Kevin clearly skateboarding past him during his talk with Tom and so he assumed it was maybe a family member.

"Not they Mr. Caesar, he did, young master Kevin got injured yesterday," said Fen and this time Connor revealed his surprise as well.

"But Kevin was nowhere near the main events of the quake after the core malfunctioned," said Connor. "How could he get injured in the quake."

"Yeah, we saw him riding away from the school as well," said Ned chiming in.

"It would be slightly more bearable if the quake was the cause of his injuries," said Fen sighing. "I'm afraid this is a different case; young master Kevin was stabbed."

"Stabbed…" trailed off Connor. "Holy hell, how, I mean where, when?"

"I do not know," said Fen. "I only heard the vaguest of details, his family in its entirety rushed out immediately upon receiving the news last evening."

"Oh my god… stabbed of all thing in the quake," said Ned frowning and he turned Connor.

"Yeah it could be them, Blastboarders, they also have a mean streak even to their own members," whispered back Connor and Fen seemed to have caught several words for he looked curiously at both of them while asking them a question.

"Do you know who hurt young master Kevin?"

"Errr, no Fen, I'm afraid not," said Ned. "You said he was at the emergency hospital?"

"Yes Mr. Caesar."

"Thanks," said Ned smiling back.

"Yeah thanks," Connor repeated nodding.

"It's no problem at all Mr. Caesar, Mr. James," said Fen.

"We should probably get going then," said Ned. "We need to go visit Kevin."

"Well then I'll hopefully see both of you later," said Fen and both Ned and Connor nodded their thanks again.

Connor handed a thoughtful Ned back his bike which he unconsciously grabbed. Kevin had been stabbed, there was no doubt this had to have something to do with the Blastboarders, if his family received news last evening then that midnight Kevin was not at the scene of the latest suspected Blastboarders crime.

"Well what do you think happened?" asked Connor.

"I'm thinking internal struggles," said Ned. "In fact there's a high chance of it."

"Same here, though what caused it?" asked Connor.

"We'll ask him when we get to the hospital," said Ned and sure enough Connor nodded, he seemed a lot more interested in visiting Kevin now.

Connor climbed on the back of Ned's bike again as Ned pedaled to the emergency hospital. It was a vacant spot near the Hailing Isle Public Hospital, a space commissioned for emergency uses on the off chance a disaster such as this struck the Isle. Tents would be set up there in which the doctors would operate until the hospital building was safe again. The hospital was set in the central district along with other major businesses and after the central district was the core area where Ned's sister Kathleen worked.

"It's been a real long time since we've talked," said Ned and when Connor didn't say anything Ned continued. "It's going to be very awkward."

"Why're we going to chat with him?" asked Connor. "We'll just ask what we need and then get out."

"Anyone ever tell you that you hold your grudges too seriously?" asked Ned sighing, he had seen many a times when Connor held deep resentment for the littlest of things, he was very sensitive that way.

"Everyone holds grudges, I just hold them a little better," muttered Connor. "Besides I'm right in hating him a little, even after he split from us he could've gotten better friends."

"You were the one harping on about how cool the Blastboarders were," said Ned.

"True but that's only as an observer, I wouldn't want to join them," retorted Connor.

"Ok, but still I can't believe that he'd actually get stabbed, Blastboarders have up till now held themselves back to hurting people outside their gangs but now they're even fighting amongst themselves."

"They're all crazies, it's been some time coming but that tall guy needs to be locked up," said Connor. "In fact all of them needs to be locked in a mental institution, they've gotten away with too much."

"I agree on that point," said Ned.

As the pedaled past further they saw the utter devastation of some buildings whilst others were left completely intact, a surprising fact to anyone who didn't know how this island was set out but the buildings that were devastated lay above the caverns that extended from the core of the island. These caverns were used to contain and redirect residual energy which was used to keep this island afloat. Ned had learned all of this from his sister an engineer at the core. It was just plain unlucky that the hospital sat on top of one of those caverns and also very lucky that the school was on top of a cavern as well. Ned and Connor pedaled to what was once a glorious ten storey hospital split into three separate divisions. The main division had a crack running through the center. One of the divisions, the one to the left stood but it looked to crumble any moment and the other was all a mess. The area was cordoned off and men in orange jackets circled the scene along with the police. Several police cars had their sirens on. Just a little past that area, actually a fair few meters past that area where the place was considered safe was the emergency hospital set up to treat patients temporarily until the main hospital was fixed which could take several months. Connor saw his uncle standing there next to a policeman. He himself was a member of Hailing Isle's Winged Order, a private police force recruited from real policemen on mainland, it co-existed with the main police force on this island but acted on the whims of the board of Hailing Isle which contained all the people that ruled over this island. Mr. James was wearing a very formal suit and tie as he chatted with the policeman and he looked seriously professional. Ned turned to Connor who seemed more unwilling to see Kevin now. Mr. James as he slowly turned from his chat to the policeman spotted them and he was naturally curious. He said a few words to the policeman he was chatting to and then ran over to Ned and Connor.

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"Boys… what are you doing?" asked Mr. James.

"Hello Mr. James, we were just here to see a friend," said Ned smiling politely.

Connor snorted. "Ex-friend, he's not our friend anymore though he might need re-consider his current friendship."

"Connor, please…" said Ned pleading.

"I see, well then, what is this friend's name?" asked Mr. James, for some reason he seemed unconvinced.

"His name's Kevin," said Ned. "We uh heard, he's been brought in, he was stabbed."

"He deserved it by the way but yeah he did get stabbed," said Connor. "Where is he uncle?"

"Oh, that boy," said Mr. James his unconvinced look replaced with a look of realization. "Talk to the receptionist, but I'm surprised, a stabbing of all thing during the quake, not that it's an alone case but it's still more surprising when it happens you fourteen-year-old."

"I'm not surprised at all, with his personality it's a wonder he only got stabbed," said Connor annoyed.

Mr. James frowned as he looked back at me and then at Connor again, he seemed unconvinced again.

"Don't worry Mr. James," said Ned laughing nervously. "Connor's just slightly pissed, that's all so, so we just need to talk to the receptionist right …?"

"Yes, that's right, you can talk with the receptionist," said Mr. James pointing to a temporary building set up as the supposed reception.

"You've got a reception in an emergency hospital?" asked Connor surprised. "Talk about priorities."

"Well after the quake the visitors just flooded in, all here greet people near and dear, so we needed to make reception to process them properly, it's not about priorities, we were in desperate need of one," said Mr. James slightly defensive.

"Well yes, we'll be going now Mr. James," said Ned and he pedaled away with Connor on the back of his bike.

"You could be more sensitive to stabbed people," said Ned as he pedaled towards the temporary reception building.

"I'm very sensitive to stabbed people, stabbings make me want to puke, along with a majority of other things that involve human blood but in his case he so thoroughly deserved it," said Connor.

"It feels like you're just holding vengeances these days, first it was Alexia and now it's Kevin," said Ned sighing.

"And you don't hold anything against anyone, that's not good," retorted Connor.

They stopped outside the reception and were about to walk in when they saw that tall lanky person and Ned parked his bike next to the reception building platform. The leader of the Blastboarders, the tall lanky guy, he was coming out of the reception as Ned put his bike on its stand and then used the chain to lock it into place and as he saw them he seemed to break out into a mad smile which sent shivers down both Ned's and Connor's spines. Ned focused in on the boy's eyes and he saw it the madness and a hue of bright blue as lightning passed through them and it seemed Connor noticed it too as they both took a step back.