Axel and 6 stood in front of the gym lockeroom door. Taking a deep breath Axel looked to his left looking to 6 for support. It was that tragic time again, gym locker room time, the time they had tried their best to avoid at all cost. The good old days of dodging class for the library were as good as done. Now that their secret was out, going to the library after school would be fruitless as they still had to run into PB during homeroom. The two boys stared at the gym door handle waiting to see who would motion to open it first. Axel’s stomach turned as his head began to fill with Pb’s wretched laugh.

“You little shit! There's no avoiding me now!” He envisioned PB saying in his mind.

Letting out a sigh he placed his hand on the door slowly pushing it open.

“Wait!” Yelled 6 standing beside him. He placed his hand on Axels shoulder gritting his teeth.

“Whatever happens here…? We face it together!” He said placing his hand beside Axles on the other side of the door...

Axel’s eyes began to water again. It had only been 2 weeks since he had met 6, but they seemed inseparable now. They had traversed through the thousands of kilometers Mr. Johnson had forced them to run, waded through the woes of detention, as well as survived the harsh agony of cleaning and categorizing 20 pound text books in the library for Sadira.

Looking back at this stranger who had literally appeared during a miraculous strike of lighting, he found comfort in the doom he was about to face.

“Thanks 6” Axel said dropping his head down. “Let’s just get this over with” He said...

Using the last of his energy he pushed open the door to the locker room. Changing directly in front of him was Lance. His shirt was off, exposing his skinny yet muscular physique as he gave Axel that same disgruntled look.

Ignoring Lance, in search of imminent danger, Axel made his way to his locker with 6 trailing behind him.

After taking a cautious look around the locker room, he found no trace of Pb or J anywhere in the vicinity.

“What’s going on here?” Thought Axel

Surely he had just seen Pb earlier that day in math? Axel closed his eyes as he slowly opened his locker, surely Pb had hid something there in his two week absence.

Again he found nothing. Turning to 6 he looked at him in total disbelief. “He's not here?” He asked 6

“Somethings not right! Be on your guard!” 6 said militantly.

Axel looked around the locker room perplexed.

What was going on? All the weeks trying to avoid Pb and now Pb was avoiding him? It didn’t make any sense. As they walked out of the locker room fully prepared for an ambush, they found no sign of him there either!

It wasn't until they had lined up for attendance that they finally spotted their latent aggressor. In the furthest spot away from them, all the way on the other side of the bleachers, he and Jerry stood on the outskirts of the attending class, sitting in total silence.

“Alright then class!” barked Mr. Johnson “We’ve only got 6 weeks until the SPA Exams show me what you can do!”

Throughout the entire gym class Pb made no attempt to bully Axel. Even during the 500 km run, all the smart remarks and intimidating pranks were absent from PB. He simply ran on the other side of the route maintaining the largest spacing between him and Axel he could possibly manage.

As gym class came to an end Axel and 6 returned to the locker room once again to a room, absent of their aggressor.

“This doesn’t make any sense...Somethings up” 6 said clenching his fist.

Axel and 6 headed over to the homeroom to check out of school. This would be their last and final confrontation with PB.

As they came into the room they saw a surprising face taking the place of their homeroom teacher.

“Alright Alright boys and girls, today I’ll be switching homerooms with my wife for the time being! Since the Exams are on the way I have a lot of preparations to do! I don’t have time to run detention! So I’ll leave everything to her!” He announced.

“Uhhh…. Mr. J...” Reggie said, squinting his eyes. “This isn’t gym class-”

“BOY! Didn't you JUST HERE ME! I already EXPLAINED MYSELF!” Mr. Johnson yelled back defensively.

“..... I… I know…..” Reggie said sighing, “I was trying to say this isn’t gym class man… you don't have to yell everything…. We’re standing like two feet in front of you” Reggie said face palming.

Mr. Johnson took a step back from his desk examining the class, taking in Regis’s words.

“Am I really that loud” he thought?

Hunching over like he was whispering into someone's ear Mr. Johnson placed his hands around his mouth and whispered to the class.

“Alright then class let’s begin attendance.” He whispered

After whispering for a few minutes and completing attendance Mr. Johnson Announced “Alrighty then you're free to go!” echoing his voice down the hall.

Reggie and the other students shook their heads as they grabbed their supplies and left the classroom.

As Axel made his way to the exit he was grabbed by Mr. Johnson on his way out. 6 stood in the doorway waiting for Axel to accompany him on his journey home.

“Sorry… is it 6? Axel calls you by? ”Mr. Johnson asked

“Yeh” 6 answered proudly.

“You’re going to have to head home without him, there are a couple of things I wanna run by Axel before he leaves.

“Alrighty then!” 6 answered “I’ll catch ya later Ax!” he said exiting the doorway.

“TRISTAN!” Axel heard a voice say. His head began to ache as imagery from his dreams flashed through his mind

“Why do I feel like… something bad is about to happen…” He thought

Mr. Johnson walked over to a desk that was unoccupied pointing Axel to it.

“Take a seat there kiddo” He ordered

Axel sat down at the desk looking at Mr. Johnson with an annoyed expression.

“Haven't I spent enough quality time with this guy?” Axel thought, letting out a sigh.

“Listen up Axel, I know I have been hard on you as well as ignored you for the majority of your time here.” He said clearing his throat “But I was under the impression that you were a lazy good-for-nothing student wasting my time.”

“Thanks...” Axel said annoyed “Can I go now?”

“Just bear with me kid” Mr. Johnson said sighing.

“The thing is... after you went through detention with such focus and perseverance, where many others wouldn't have, I think I was wrong about you. In fact I think we were all wrong about you.”

“Since you've arrived here on the L.O.S.T scholarship that we give out, you’ve been ignored by everyone and everything because of your lack of attention in your schooling.”

“I’m here to apologize on behalf of myself and the rest of the organization for not stopping the bullying problem that PB possessed.”

Axel’s eyes grew large, “So this is what had happened the previous day” He thought. “PB’s weird behavior and Mr. Johnson running homeroom all makes sense now.”

“I cannot rectify the past nor can I awaken your powers. The SPA is very specific on the rules that we have here.”

“All I can do is apologize and hope that after your time here you can find yourself in the world. You won't be able to attend this school anymore but you might find another way into the SPA. There are many other schools that offer similar services and recommendation from an Academy like this from me would get you a long way.”

“Soo... you're saying you can't help me?” Axel said sighing

“No…. unfortunately I can't, I’m sorry kid” Mr. Johnson said getting up from his chair.

“But at least you won't be alone, you’ve found yourself a friend who's prepared to see this through to the very end.”

“That’s right Axel” said smiling. “Me and 6 can figure out everything together!”

“Alright alright no need to get teary eyed over this!” Mr. Johnson said wiping his eyes. “Grab your stuff and get out of here! I don't ever want to see you here again!” He barked

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“But Mr. J… We’re in homeroom…. I have to come here every day…”

“Oh yeah! That’s right!! I forgot, HAAHAH! Thought this was detention for a second!” He said scratching his bald head.

Axel walked out of the detention shaking his head, he couldn't tell if Mr. Johnson just liked yelling things, or if he truly did have a hearing problem.

Axel opened his locker to grab his belongings. As he was placing his fake physics book into his bag he heard a distressed voice coming from down the hallway.

The voice sounded terrified almost in agony as he closed his locker he peered down the hallway to try to figure out who it was.

“AXEL! AXEL!” The voice desperately yelled.

Quickly moving through the crowded hallway were a long pair of dreadlocks jumping up and down as the voice drew closer.

“AXEL!” Reggie said, finally catching up to him.

Immediately Axel felt the urgency of Reggie’s distress. It was a look Axel had ever seen him express before. Even in the face of danger, Reggie had not once seemed to appear frantic or anxious. It appeared that whatever was going on wasn't good even by Reggie standards or anyone for that matter.

“I'm sorry” he said, dropping his head. As he apologized the dreads covered his saddened expression.

“I'm so sorry, I’m such a bad friend…. I'm so sorry I'm I'm sorry man,” he said solemnly

“Wait… what are you talking about” Axel said confused

“It's…. its 6” Reggie barely squeaked out.

“I I think he's in danger”

“What!? Why? What's going on Reggie?”

“It’s PB…. he got a hold of me and I didn't know what else to do…. I'm sorry man, I really am sor…”

“BRO JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPEND!” Axel yelled

For a second Reggie and Axel sat in silence. Axel couldn't believe what he was doing. This was the first time he had ever yelled at someone…. At least in any serious capacity.

“I’m sorry man… just please tell me why 6 is in danger…” Axel said softly.

“Pb… came up to me and he asked me where the gates was. Of course I figured he was up to no good being all quiet and all all day o I asked why he needed to know. Before I know it he’s grabbing me by the neck and started threatening me so….. I went ahead and told him.”

And then it looked like he just took off. I didn't think much of it at the time but now that I realize he wasn't in homeroom I think he's going after 6 man! This is really bad I've never seen him like that before. Reggie said spooked.

“His eyes… they were completely black with no pupil at all…. It was terrifying man!”

Axel slammed his locker shut and made for the school's entrance.

“Wait… What are you doing?” Yelled Reggie trying to catch up to Axel.

“What are we doing chatting here? We have to go and stop him!”

“Woah Woah Woah What? Are you out of your mind! What the hell are we going to do we can't fight him?!

“I don't care! We're going to do something or at least…. I'm going to do something! I'm not going to let anything happen to 6!”

Reggie was stunned, he had never seen Axel so, determined. Calming himself down he tried to make himself more supportive.

“Alright Ax we’ll go! But let's at least get some help first! Let's go asked Lance and B and see if they can-”

“You go ahead and do that,'' he answered I'm going after him.”

“Wait dude you’re gonna get yourself killed!” Reggie screamed after him.

But it was too late Axel had already ran out of the hallway and off the school grounds. Seemingly instinctively he headed off for 6s direction.

Axel ran past the sign that said Nautica Valley entering its deep forestation. As he ran down the trail a feeling of Deja vu started to erect in him.

“Wait….. Wait a minute wait just one minute” he said stopping.

Axel looked around his surroundings and felt the trembling in his hand.

“This feeling I've felt it before.”

“That must mean… 6… 6 is”

The voice that was screaming in agony, the person he needed to save.

Was 6 Tristan?

His pulse began to rapidly accelerate, his eyes and veins began to crunch as the blood pulsed through his muscles.

He realized the horror of the situation. This time it was reality and not a dream and if he didn't get to Tristan in time it would mean his death.

“6!” He screamed

Axel jumped through the trees of the thick forest coming to the edge of a quiet shore, with 6 nowhere in sight.

“GODDAMNIT!” He screamed

He gnawed his fingers into the side of his face stretching and tearing his skin in frustration.

“Ok, Calm down, He has to be somewhere around here…” He said, trying to catch his breath. He took a deep breath in and jumped back into the forest trail in Nautica Valley.

He was sprinting at full speed now like he had never before. His stride had extended over 6 times its normal length making his feet feel like feathers for the brief period they were on the ground. The outlines of the trees and plants became blurred as he brisked past them in his pursuit. Why he was calling out 6’s name and not Tristan he did not know. The only thing clear through this experience was the feeling that he needed to find him, and the feeling that if he didn’t his life would depend on it.

He jumped through the trees again only to find himself at a different section of the shore with no trace of footprints.

“6!!” Axel screamed falling to his knees. As he collapsed to the ground he felt his heart bounce around in his chest like a rattle at the end of a whistle. With each breath it jumped around in a more roundabout way then before, as thoughts of never finding his friend clouded his mind.

As he grabbed his chest holding in the pain, he began to wonder how long he could hold out before it finally burst open leaving him dead on the shoreline.

“Axel!” Came a voice in the distance.

Axel sprang to his feet surveilling the surrounding area for even the smallest detection of movement.

“Axel” said the voice again.

Spinning around Axel looked up at the edge of a peak, Fleetwood Memorial.

Axel began sprinting towards the cliff’s peak hearing out the calling of the soft voice.

“Axel” it cried

“6 I'm on my way!”

“Axel!”

“I’m almost there!” He said reaching the top of the peak

“AXEL!!!!!”

“Hahaha, keep screaming you little bugger, I already told you that Losers not gonna-”

PB stopped mid-sentence coming face to face with the loser he had just spoke ill off.

Axel had arrived on the scene.

Axel’s stomach dropped after approaching the graphic scene he had come upon. 6 was helplessly wrapped up in licorice bands against a tree in tattered clothes while PB was pummeling him with his metallic fist.

“Aaaa Axel… “He let out.

“Trist……” Axel said in a high-pitched voice.

Axel’s head began to gyrate and started to become heavy.

“It must be some kind of dream” he thought “It can't be reality.... it just can't be!” He said comforting himself

“Wait a minute!! Pull yourself together! Dream or reality I can't be out of it! Right now 6 is the one in danger!” he said smashing his hands into his head.

“What are you doing here loser?” Pb said grimacing.

“I'm the one you want…” Axel said throwing his arms open “Take it out on me 6 has nothing to do with this!”

“Oh please I know you all too well. I've been kicking your ass for years! Never heard a peep, all of a sudden I start bullying this guy and now my dad knows about it?” He said scratching his chin.

Axel took a step forward yelling at PB with animosity. “You’re wrong! I told Mr. Johnson myself! If anything he warned me this would happen!”

“Even so… Just looking at this kid pisses me off! Ill deal with you later!” Pub said shooing Axel away

Wham!

PB landed another blow to 6's face sending blood seeping out of his temple.

“Please stop this!” Axel pleaded

“Be a good boy and run along, take the rest of the day off on me! I've got a bone to pick with this abomination.” PB said, grabbing 6’s throat.

“No…. Axel squeaked out. “Let him go”

PB turned around not believing what he was hearing, was he trying to make fun of him?

“And what if I don't?” he answered “Exactly what the hell are you going to do about it?” He said eyeing Axel.

As his face turned fully towards Axel, he could now see the crazed look Reggie’s had described. PB’s veins and eyes were completely black showing almost no signs of pupils as his body pulsed back and forth between his metallic forms.

Axel took a step back completely frozen. He knew what he had to do but he was too afraid to do it, PB was almost a foot taller than him, so much bigger and a metal frame to boot. One punch from PB in that form and he was probably dead.

“What Am I doing here? I’ve got no business being here maybe I should go back and get some help maybe Mr. Johnson can-

“Axel…” 6 mumbled. He was barely conscious from the beating he was receiving. Lifting one of his swollen eyes he was able to slightly raise his head and get a message out.

“Get…. away from here, now is not the time for you to fight…. you have to awaken your powers…. only then will you stand a chance…. please….. Forget about me I'll survive this just keep on-

Wham!

PB landed another devastating blow to 6's stomach.

“Uhghhhh” he belched coughing up some blood.

“Remember my son, the light of the father Watches over You”

“SIIIIXXXXX!” Axel screamed

Axel began to clench his hand into a fist as rage pulsed through his veins. As tears flooded down his face He felt a strange energy flowing through his veins.

“PB you bastard! Let him go right now or I'll kill you” He declared

“Hahahah” Pb laughed.

PB let go off 6 dropping his fists.

“Oh really now? You kill me? Hahahaha, ok give me your best shot I won't even stop ya!”

Jeff Sensing the strange energy now pulsing through Axel became weary and alerted PB.

“PB... something's up man, he’s acting all…. Strange... go into your metal form just to be safe”, Jeff warned.

“Shut up!” PB scowled “You were the one complaining that we would never catch him on his way to the Gates! And it was “too risky” and that “a teacher was going to find him” and blah blah blah!”

“These outsiders aren’t going to get away with what they did! And I don't want to hear another word you're not stopping me this time… “Pb said grimly

“No… This time I'm going all the way!” He said as his eyes turned black again

PB leaned back with a smug grin anticipating Axel’s strike.

“Come on loser! Take your shot anywhere you like!” He said leaning his chin toward Axel

Axel began to walk towards Pb encapsulating the energy inside of his body. As the energy whirled around he tried to focus it towards PB’s general direction. He began walking faster and faster until his walk became a run, and then a sprint until he was accelerating at speeds he had never reached before. As the rush of energy pulsed through his body he collected it in his fist gracefully in a bit of rage.

“Axel….” 6 groaned.

“Wait for me 6! I won't let anybody hurt you! I'm going to destroy this guy!” He yelled to 6.

PB leaned forward sticking his chin out at Axel.

“ Hehehe GO ahead” He said smiling.

As Axel came within a few feet of Pb he planted his feet. Using the momentum his sprint had generated he began sliding on the floor a short distance. He built up all the elastic energy in his right hand, clenching it all with all his might, ready to explode. He buckled down and pivoted on his back foot readying the energy within his fist to smash into PB’s ugly face.

“This one is for 6! He cried launching his hand into Pb’s jaw.

WHAAAM!

The sound of the punch echoed through the valley.

Releasing all his might he let out a right hook connecting with the side of Pb’s face causing him to be blown back by the force. Stumbling he lost balance and fell to the ground.

“PB!!!” Jeff cried

Axel looked down at his hands admiring them. He had done it… He had finally knocked out that son of a bitch. Looking down at Pb he let out a sigh of relief before turning around and heading towards 6.

“Hehehe HAHAHAHAHHA”

Axel turned around witnessing PB stand back on his feet without a scratch on his body. Pb broke out in laughter as he saw Axel’s expression return back into the fear and apprehension that had recently held him.

“Hahahaha what did you think was going to happen? You were going to beat me with one punch out of nowhere hahahah come on man you must be dreaming!”

Axel started to take steps backward.

“How could I have been so stupid…? WHAT WAS I THINKING?” He said backpedaling

“ Awe don’t be a poor sport… trying to retreat after coming so far… where you going buddy Hehehe it's my turn now!

Before Axel could turn to run, Pb was in front of him clenching his fist ready to deliver a crushing blow. Using all of his might he unleashed a crushing punch in the side of Axles face smashing Axel's teeth against each other and sending him flying across the forest. Axel smashed into a tree penetrating right through it and rolled on the ground for several yards before landing flat on his back utterly destroyed by the blow.

As he tried to raise his head he noticed his surroundings starting to blur.

He was losing consciousness.

“Well now…. where were we?” PB said as he returned to 6 who was pinned against the tree.

“Please” 6 begged, “Whatever you do just don't hurt him.”

“Heheheh it’s not him you need to worry about”. Pb laughed

PB leaned back preparing to land another devastating blow against 6

“Trist...” Axel mumbled before collapsing on the ground

“Six….” He squeaked out

As his eyes began to close he saw PB slowly unwind a punch an inch from reaching 6’s face.

[https://i.imgur.com/UWHnrIE.jpg]