Through the occasional tremors that plagued the foundations of the ground, the screaming, the firing of guns, and powers going off I could still feel the ticking of the battered watch in my hand. With each tick that marked the passing of a second, it was a second that would go by with Andre buried six feet under.
But I wasn't going to lay down like a lil' bitch and cry, at least not right now, blinking away the tears in my eyes I slowly pulled my self up to a kneeling position. My body moved slower than before, like I just bathed myself in an ice-cold bath for an hour. As I looked up, adrenaline began to course through my body as I became aware of my surroundings and what just happened.
The man in the suit and tie that was shrouded in darkness was nowhere to be found, what lay in his wake though was still terrible. Four men, the Barrier Super from before, the man coated in bronze, and two others I didn't recognize were beginning to advance toward me and the others. The benefit from laying on the floor presumably dead is that the bad guys won't focus you. The bronze guy took notice of me personally and eyed me for a second before readying into a stance that was similar to the one earlier when he leaped toward me.
Knowing full well I had only a few seconds before I'd have my hands full, as fast as I could I spared a glance behind me as I stood up fully. Body's were strewn awry, blood stained the concrete around them, behind the horrific display of corpses were the rest of us, many were scrambling to the back looking for an exit while a few brave and/or stupid guys stepped forward.
In an instant, everything slowed down, through the years of fighting my instincts were honed to a point where my subconscious picked up clues of imminent danger, or just a punch or kick in the groin heading my way.
I spun on my heels to my left as the giant mass of bronze mass flew by me, although not before clipping me in the shoulder with his shoulder. The bronze man landed with a crash to my left as I stumbled back clenching my shoulder. I began to expect the soul-crushing pain that came from a hit like that, but I remembered my no-pain thing. Gripping my fists in new-found vigor I positioned my body to face him, his bronze legs created small divots into the concrete below as he stood up, not a single dent in his body.
Well shit, if he could land into concrete and not break himself but a substance that foundations were built on what could I do to him? Flexing my muscles from head to toe, I dived inwardly to grasp the power that flowed through me, oddly enough it was harder to do this time. Bronzie sauntered toward me in obvious cockiness, a look that I learned to read as I've been faced many a look such as that one in the last few years.
"Good dodge kid, I'm sorry I have to do this," He grunted, his actual metallic sounding voice sounded almost sorry.
He sounded sympathetic as if he'd rather be anywhere but here, only more than a few yards away he dashed towards me.
"Me too," I muttered.
In a single half a second calculation sprung into my head, not the mathematical ones but the practical kind that came with years of fighting experience. From the speed of his body, his limbs, how much he weighed, his distance away from me, my body's position in relation to him, how fast I could react and move to dodge, reflect, or counter and what I knew about his style led me to my decision. For those exceedingly bigger and stronger they become cocky, believing they can power through with strength and take any hit their opponent could dish out leading them to expect their opponent to dodge.
With only a couple of yards between us, the noise dimmed around me till all my focus was centered on one unwavering foe. I lunged forward to meet him head-on, all the while pulling upon my power to materialize pillars into Bronzy's torso. But just as my feet shifted forward they got locked into position like they were handcuffed together which lead Bronzie to slam into my abdomen forcefully football style, as if I'd collided with a semi, and not in a good way either.
I must've lost consciousness for a few seconds because when I came too I was being held in the air like a trophy for the world to see, a humiliating scene. His bloody fist, still smeared with the gore of the women from before that held me up by the suit trembled ever so slightly. His bated breath that he slowly exhaled seemed to catch in his throat as his other hand gripped my throat.
I stared him the eyes, I may be broken and bloodied but my last sight of life won't be of the crumbling ceiling, it would be of the one who took it. His eyes were straight bronze, no pupil, just a metallic sheet of copper that somehow conveyed sadness despite being devoid of emotion. His grip began to tighten as the pressure increased, there was no pain but that only made me feel more hollow, as if I was cheating by not really feeling Death's everlasting grip on my throat.
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People always speculated what you would see before you die, the scientists said it would be peaceful because of the endorphins flooding into your brain, the priests said you will see Jesus welcoming you to heaven, and grandparents said they will see their children and loved ones.
I saw myself ripping this man's heart out, I saw myself watching him bleed, I saw him begging for mercy as I crushed his throat as he did I. Black spots began to spot my vision as I grabbed hold of my power once again, when I would look back at this moment I would try to convince myself it was once last huzzah to at least make it easier for my friends to escape, one last stand for my brother.
The power that surged through me was different, like the jagged edges of a broken beer bottle. It was like a tree that struggled for sunlight only to be stunted growth by a parasite feeding off it and a dark poison being splashed at its roots. Fresh pain rocked my mind, an almost euphoric feeling amidst the dull throbbing as my fingertips brushed the touch the spot just above his heart.
My fingertips trembled not from the de-oxidation of my body, or from the fear of intentionally ending a human life, but from the eagerness. The power poured into my hand, and through my fingertips as I planted the seed. Even though I couldn't breathe new vitality began to flow into me, my eyes never wavered from his eyes as they changed from confidence to fear. Faint whispers in my head urged me on. The seed began to grow, almost translucent but still foggy crystal-like roots began to spread from my fingertip, deeper they ingrained as they spread out from the point of origin. The pressure against my neck lessened as my heart beat like a drum in my chest.
But before I could finish off what I was doing something out of the peripheral of my eyes flew to my side and grabbed me from the now weak grasp of Bronzie. No, no, no, nonononono I was so close! I stared in disbelief and frusteration at Bronzie who was now on his knees began to shrink as I carried in the air away. I turned my head to the side to glance at the person who was carrying me and again to my utter surprise it was Julian. He had milky wings, with frosted white tips in contrast with the light gray wings, each flap of his wings that had a wingspan longer than Julian was tall carried us to the back with the rest of the Greensdale participants in the back.
As we landed I struggled out of his steel-like grip and stared daggers at him before yelling "What the hell Julian? I had him right there!"
His face twisted into confusion before answering "He had his hand around your th-throat for a bit and you weren't even moving,"
I took a step forward, ignoring the people pushing past me into exit in the back of the wall, my eyesight began to turn red as I stepped forward. Voices inside me whispered me on, pushing me to do it, for revenge for Julian stopping me. Julian stepped back, his new-found wings folded upon itself slightly in fear. Before I could act I caught Ashley's eyes to the right in my peripherals. They were wide, her dark pupils in her ice-blue eyes dilated in fear, in fear of me.
The realization struck me harder than any blow, glancing at my right hand in shame I saw my fingertips crystalized with whatever mineral I created fined to a point like claws. The whispering inside me ceased as I stepped back and said "I'm... I'm sorry, I-" But I stopped my stuttering as I saw Ashley look away and scamper out the door.
Julian stepped forward and put a hand on shoulder in acceptance of my apology "It's okay, you can apologize after,"
Sweat, or tears, or a combination of the two poured down my face, I reached up and dried it with the back of my hand. I stared at it in shock for a few seconds as I understood why my vision was red. It was not because of anger but because of blood. Before I could contemplate the implications a weird fact struck me.
I nodded than hesitated as I noticed the lack of present danger near us, "Wait, why aren't we like, running for our lives?"
He turned me around and pointed at the scene going on "While, you were... fighting that brown metal guy, a uh... hero appeared and started teleporting around." Julian said in awe.
Indeed it was, other than Bronzie who was still on his knees staring blankly in front of him two other Supers were attacking a man clad in a jet-black costume who was simultaneously kicking their asses. It seemed like with every nanosecond the hero in black would appear in behind, to the side, or in front of an attacker hit them and disappear, only to do it again a second later.
One of the Supers seemed to be a strongman based on the cracks that formed whenever he stepped and the other was alight with flames that didn't seem to burn anything around him. I watched in shock as again and again, the two Supers began to crumble beneath the strength of the teleporter.
Jayden's voice behind us withdrew us from our stupor "We should head out soon, there are more dangerous men out there that can attack us at any time, not mentioning whether the building will collapse upon us," Jayden cautioned.
I tore my eyes from the scene as I laid them on Jayden, he had a cut on his cheek but other than that he seemed as calm and calculating as ever.
"O-" his eyes widened and locked onto something behind me before I could respond, Jayden let out an inhuman scream as a translucent blue blade buried itself in his chest.