Psycho Gem

Chapter 2: Tracks

We appeared in my study. The kid immediately collapsed due to the sensation of multiversal travel. For newcomers it feels like pins and needles all over your body times three. It takes time, but you get used to it.

"Bloody hell! What just happened?!? Where are we?" the kid shouted out, confused.

"Like I said, we're at my place. I'm going to need you to sit here." I said, ignoring his pain and sliding a chair over.

He took a second to compose himself, then made his way to the chair as I tried to find my tool kit.

"This place is pretty messy." the kid said as he looked around, seeing the clustered environment.

It was a fairly large room, for it wasn't just my study, it was also the library. I kept all of my magic books and texts, as well as the numerous artefacts, gadgets and other knick knacks I had accumulated over the years. Everything was cluttered around a hardwood floor.

"Everything is in its proper place, kid." I said as I finally found it behind a stack of books.

"My name is Tracks." he snapped back at me.

I turned to look at him. "Tracks?"

"Yeah, that's my name. You got a problem with that?"

I started to get the impression that the kid was a bit of a tough guy. Great.

"Whatever. I need you to stay still." I said aligning a scanner to his head.

The scanner didn't show any abnormalities in Tracks' DNA. I had Rohnson check if the readings were accurate and they were. I knew that there was something wrong with that little cockney.

I decided to do things the old fashioned way.

"I need you to stay perfectly calm." I said as I put my hand against his head.

"Why? What's going on here?" he asked, clearly frustrated.

I once again used my magic to calm his mind so that I could read it. I stood in a manifestation of his mindscape and began searching his mind for anything unusual, until I was bombarded with graphic images. Brutal genocide, the world in ruins, complete anarchy. I saw what looked like a man around my height in a red suit, black cape, red glasses, and the same kind of raven hair that Tracks had. He stood over the ruins with a huge smile on his face. He slowly turned his head to look in my direction, the darkness in the eyes behind his glasses shook me to my core. What happened next was really freaky.

He spoke. "I know you're there." he said as his deep, demonic voice sent shivers down my spine.

I was completely petrified. Could he see me? How could he feel my presence if I was just looking into this kid's mind? Something like This had never happened before, It wasn't supposed to. I was only observing his thoughts. They had no way of perceiving me. Suddenly he appeared in front of me and grabbed at my throat.

"Nobody likes a stalker, Magus." he said in a smug tone as he began to strangle me.

I almost pissed myself as I immediately broke the spell, waking up in front of Tracks again. I still felt the hand marks around my throat as I fell to my knees. Tracks was hyperventilating as if he saw a ghost.

"What was that? Who was that guy?" he asked in between breaths.

"Wait, you saw him too?"

"Tall, red specs, and a red and black tailcoat and cape? He's the guy I see in my dreams. But when you did that magic thing I saw him again, but he looked at me. It's like he could see me."

"Yeah, me too." I said, rubbing my sore neck.

I had no clue what just happened. This was obviously way bigger than I had thought. No way some demon could invade a person's mind like that. I'd better be getting a bonus for this.