“Come on Jackson, I need this!”

“What are you getting mad at me for. There’s no way I can get it up with her on the other side of the door. It’s just weird.”

“I don’t care. I have had a hard week and need some loving.”

“Well, I still find this weird. Sorry, I don’t have weird fetish for this stuff.”

“Little girl I know you can hear me; the walls aren’t that thick. Either join us or leave!”

Angela opened the door, slightly red in the face. Jackson sat on the edge of the bed; his false leg had been removed along with his clothing. The mere sight of his scarred flesh stopped Angela in her tracks. Barbara laid on the bed next to him, dressed in a nightgown, fast asleep. Gypsy was red in the face, more out of anger than embarrassment. She was dressed in a nightgown as well, one that was designed to show off her body. It was even see through.

“Could you cover up a little?”

“Sure, let me cross my legs… oh, my bad, don’t have enough left to do that.”

“Don’t joke like that!”

“Why not? It was a little punny.”

Angela looked nervously between Jackson and Gypsy. The latter started to tap her foot on the floor as she gritted her teeth.

“I wasn’t asking you to come in, I meant either join in, or get lost!”

“I know that, just give me a sec.”

“And my life continues to be a rollercoaster of weirdness. Shouldn’t you be saving yourself for the oh so great Joseph?”

“I don’t have much of choice in this, do I. Leave or…”

Jackson couldn’t help but rub his head. This was just a strange event; one he’d rather not be a part of. Gypsy just had this smug look on her face, expecting Angela to chicken out and flee from the room. Angela’s face grew brighter red as she undid her armor.

“God this is weird.”

“It worked thought.”

“So, it did.”

“Could you two be serious, this is hard enough as it is.”

“Then leave!”

“Gypsy, Barbara trying to sleep.”

“Sorry, sorry. Wait. Could she, you know… um… wake up, and you know.”

“I have had that nightmare. However, it is yet to occur. She got really quiet.”

“I guess the hero title doesn’t boost bravery that much.”

“S-S-S-Shut up!”

“She’s nervous, how adorable. She reminds me of you two weeks ago. Are all people from your world so ashamed of such a simple act?”

“If only.”

“I hate you two!”

“Then leave! It not like we’re forcing you.”

Jackson found it strange to look at his classmate’s body. He never really seen Angela as anything more than a bully. She was the one who put him down the most, and the fastest. As he wasn’t a masochist, Jackson despised her while at school. To see her in such a state somehow felt like a victory for him.

“G-Get th-that smirk o-off your face. D-D-Don’t l-lick y-your lips! W-What have I-I agreed to.”

“You don’t have to; the door is right there! Making yourself out to be the victim here.”

“What has happened to my life?”

While Jackson suffered from his moral dilemma, the other heroes were having one of their own.

“I didn’t realize he felt that way. I feel so blind.”

“Just now realizing your ignorance. Don’t worry, the rest of the class already knew.”

“What, Kevin? What are you talking about?”

“Are you really that blind? I thought you came to an understanding that the world is different than how you see it?”

“What are you talking about? Where did this come from?”

“Never mind then. Continue in bliss.”

Joseph just held his mouth open, not knowing what to say. All he realized was how hard his friend had it back in school, and with the summoning. Kevin was of course referring to how Joseph tended to see things as he wished. For example, how he thought the three idols of the school followed him blindly because they believed in the same things he did. He also didn’t see how his actions could lead others into pain, like agreeing to fight in a war and dragging the entire class along with him.

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“Never the less, he didn’t have to be so rude. We were worried about him, and he acts all big and mighty. So what, he lost a limb or two, does that give him a right to turn a good invitation down?”

“Um Carley, did you see the rest of him?”

Alice looked to her friend wide eyed, wondering how anyone could miss the scars. Even under the garnet red leather armor, the scars leaked out as long white marks, or poorly healed holes from puncture wounds. How anyone could get so many injuries was beyond Alice’s comprehension.

“You guys think it’s true about the dragon?”

“Are you still on that?”

“It’s not something to take lightly. I heard stories that dragons were un-killable living magic. I feel it not something to take lightly, and not something to joke about.”

“Says the guy who claimed to have killed one a few nights ago.”

“That’s different. That was, you know, a moment of weakness.”

“Wait, when did he claim to kill a dragon?”

“At the Madame’s place.”

“Oh, I would like to hear more of this, what else happened that night?”

Carley looked dangerous. She hated the Madame, and everything she stood for. Anything that happened there, she felt a need to know as to use it later to help tear it down. Franklin and Kevin gulped while guilt built up in Joseph’s stomach. He remembered that night for other reasons. Reasons he hoped buried in his memory. Reasons, mistakes, the words seemed to mean the same thing to the young hero.

“Guys, can we be serious for five seconds.”

“Oh, right.”

Kevin gave Joseph a wink. The hero shook his head, hoping that didn’t lead to any unnecessary questions.

“Where’s Angela?”

Franklin finally asked the question. He’d been wondering about where she was for the past few hours but didn’t feel safe bringing it up.

“Stalking Jackson. She seemed so upset when she saw his wounds. Wait, didn’t you notice when her eyes went hollow, and started to follow him like a zombie?”

“No, I just saw a zombie of a classmate show off he was missing a few limbs. Then laugh like it was nothing.”

“Why are you even a hero?”

“At least I look the part you little bug!”

“What was that?”

“Boys calm down. This has been a stressful day; let’s all retire for the evening.”

Angela rested on the edge of the bed. Jackson was half asleep in the center, with one of the few real smiles across his face. Gypsy liked looking at his actual happy face, as it was a rare sight. Angela of course wasn’t happy. She was shaking slightly, slightly disgusted with her own body.

“You two are monsters. I can’t believe you made me join in. I can’t believe you stole my innocence. No, threw it away and spat on it!”

“No missy, you don’t get to say that! We told you to leave repeatedly. You’re the one who agreed. We didn’t make you. Besides, I thought you were enjoying it?”

“Of course not, it hurt.”

“Oh, it only this time. But next time we say leave, maybe you should leave! Look at him sleep, ain’t he adorable? He looks so peaceful.”

“Why does he get a peaceful sleep while I sit here?”

“He’s been through a lot.”

“So have I. We heroes haven’t just been sitting around doing nothing. Taking jobs, fighting dangerous beasts, saving and helping people. So what, he had a few touch scrapes, doesn’t make him special.”

“If he’s not special, why did you sleep with him? Just to stay by his side. Scared of losing him again? You’re pathetic. Do you know how many people have survived the Berserker, on record to this day?”

“No, I’m guessing a couple dozen.”

“Nope. The correct number is: one.”

“Please, there has to be more.”

“Maybe, but how many of them die a few days later from their injuries, or turn into a ball and never move again? How many fight that thing a second time willingly?”

“The Berserker can’t be that horrible if someone like him can survive.”

“It is. I’ve seen it in action. He was fighting some Wurms, five at once while we tried to escape. Then the Berserker appeared. All five Wurms dead in a matter of seconds.”

“Only a few seconds?”

“Yep. But, want a laugh. By his belief your now… Good morning Barbara!”

Gypsy stopped short of her joke as Barbara swung her massive sword to an inch before her neck. It was resting on the floor next to her, in arm’s reach if she ever needed it at a moment’s notice. In this case, to stop Gypsy from marrying off Jackson to Angela.

“Why do we allow you to sleep with those? I’m done dear, please removed the blade.”

Barbara slowly removed the blade, placing it back on the floor. Gypsy felt her neck, taking a deep breath.

“What’s her story anyway?”

“Later.”

Gypsy didn’t feel safe talking about Barbara in that moment. It had been a while since she felt fear for her, but in that moment, she could see the red glow of its eye.

Gypsy failed to see Jackson expression grow dark as he began to dream. He was standing on a battlefield. An army was dead, horses, men, women, mages, golem and other such things littered the place. Banners hung in several colors, with crests Jackson didn’t recognize yet still felt Déjà vu. Scream came from the distance, towards the center of the battlefield were a small pile of bodies had formed. Jackson steadied his resolve and moved to investigate. As he approached the pile, he could see large stone walls in the distance. His mind called it home, but he’d never seen it before.

Jackson had an idea of what he was about to find and took a deep breath. His hands twitched slightly as it came into few. The black armor, smoking in an aura of darkness. Its bright red eye focused on him. Jackson dived for a blade impaled into the ground but was too slow. Once more he felt the pain of losing his left arm. Jackson screamed; his breathing heavy as he turned to face the monster. He now had the blade, and the Berserker clicked it metallic teeth. There blades clashed, breaking the silence. A second echo as they swung once more against each other. Jackson’s blade already started to crack, while the Berserker’s blood weapons glowed brighter. On the third clash Jackson’s weapon shattered. The Berserker charged forwards, tackling him to the ground. It then lifted Jackson by the neck, looking him square in the eyes.

“SAME!”

“No, we’re not!”

Jackson spit on Berserker’s helmet.

“But we are.”

The helmet began to open, and the darkness showed it was hollow. It began to bring him closer, armor splitting down the middle.

“CUT!”

On his order, the left arm of the Berserker that had gripped him was cleanly cut, and Jackson fell to the floor. Jackson struck the floor hard, landing next to the body of a soldier with a phoenix banner impaled through him. Jackson started to get to his feet when the familiar pain of the chains stabbed him in the back. They began to heat up, and Jackson readied his resolve. He brought his fingers together and snapped them. He felt the heat of the explosion singe his back. He didn’t have time to care and rolled to his feet. The Berserker had disappeared from view.

“Come on, come on, where are you?”

“Here!”

Jackson grabbed his stomach as a black blade with red veins impaled him from behind. The blade cleanly swept through the center of his back and came out in the middle of his rib cage. It was painless, but the sight was mortifying. He touched the warm blade several times, and felt its aura grow stronger.

Jackson sat bolt up from his sleep. The others were asleep, Gypsy on his left, Barbara on his right and Angela at the foot of the bed. He hadn’t woken them. Jackson couldn’t stop his shaking, and he wondered if that monster was waiting in the darkness. He could almost see the red eye, slowly growing closer. He knew that the true Berserker was on his right, sleeping peacefully, yet Jackson believed that there was another stalking him. Waiting for him to let down his guard.