The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

B2 Chapter 6

EMBERS RAIN DOWN as I burn each dummy. The blast coming from my palms are as warm as a pre-heated oven, and yet I might have as well had erupted a volcano from my hands. Warmth surrounds me, licking my fireproof suit. I wince, stepping back, covering my head. The embers don't even touch the floor. At first, I thought I was imagining it, but I see that they're curving and getting extinguished on the spot. How the hell...Does this mean if they'd decided one day that I needed to be trapped here forever, there's no way for me to escape? My fire won't even burn a floor, let alone this whole building.

Even if I killed them all, who's to say I'd find a way out here?

No, no, Jaxon. Don't do that. Don't think like a psychopath. People are not black-and-white. Surely, someone out there would help me. I know I'm thinking way ahead, but can you blame me?

'Don't worry, Jaxon. It's OK. As I've said, everything here is fireproof. Now, if anything happens, I'm right here.' My head snaps in his direction, and I see him nodding and smiling at me like a proud father.

Don't worry. Everything here is fireproof. Bullshit. That's what I'm worried about. 'You're doing great.' He's been taught to do this. Or he might have trained himself. Adults know what to say when they want to get something from young people like me. I know I'm not doing great, but it's nice to hear some encouragement. Even if I'm aware they're empty words.

'Try to visualise a blade. It doesn't matter if it's a small or a big one. You have to be creative with your gift. Sometimes, blasting and shooting aren't possible.'

'Sometimes? Have you seen a pyrokinetic slashing their...enemies?' I've almost said 'victims', and I guess he caught that because he winced for a second.

'Not a pyrokinetic. But a hydrokinetic. Declan, to be exact. Fire and water are different elements, but when it comes to fighting and protecting, they can be pretty...similar.'

'Declan? What happened to him?'

He curves his lips, close to a smile. 'It's not my place to say so. Why don't you ask him later? I'm sure he'll open up to you.'

Crossing my arms over my chest, I notice that there are no more traces of my activity in here, not even a scorched mark. 'Why do you sound so sure?'

'Because Declan is a good kid. Sometimes he acts indifferent, or happy-go-lucky. His attitude is complicated. But as I've said, he's a good kid. He's pretty open if you ask him the right questions.'

Declan is another mystery. A mystery that is easy to solve. He isn't like Eien who deliberately tries to be secretive (which I respect) I simply am intimidated whenever I feel the need to probe answers from him. It's not only because he's taller and bigger than me. It's the knowledge that he's far more powerful than any of us. But at least, I know I can count on him.

'All right, I'll do that,' I say.

'Good. Being friends with a gift wielder like you, I mean. Now, are you tired? It's been an hour since you've started.'

My eyebrows crease. 'Already? Holy shit.' I look around and remember that there's no telling what time it is. There's no light from the outside, no clock, no nothing.

'Are you hungry?'

I chew my lower lip as I picture steak and mashed potato. 'Yeah, I am. What do we got?'

Dr Matsuda allows himself to smile fully this time. 'Anything you want.'

'Sweet. I've been craving steak and mashed potato. You know, with gravy and everything. Don't get me wrong, I like Zone 1 delicacy, but I miss bad food.' Even though it hasn't been that long since the last time I'd had a fry-up.

'You got it.'

* * * * *

'You asked for that?' Declan points at my meal with the tines of his fork.

It's kinda weird to be in a cafeteria since we don't have it in our school. You would think a prestigious school would have one, but yeah, we don't. We can eat anywhere though, especially in the garden.

The cafeteria is on the second floor. I wonder if anyone had heard us training above them. Oh, who am I kidding? If they can easily and quickly remove my tracks, thinking that the simulation rooms are soundproofed isn't far-fetched at all.

Whilst we were in the lift, I noticed a huge naked statue—it reaches the top floor, that's how big it is!— it looks down at the cafeteria. Who designed and built that? Sure, it's nice to eat whilst there's a man with a small dong watching you. He's also holding a bowl filled with stars. I wonder what it does mean.

'Yeah. I deserve this! I went here without protesting, I trained without complaining, now lemme have this. I deserve this.' I cut a big piece and shove it into my mouth, chewing without any care.

Declan shrugs. 'Yeah, ya kinda do. You were, you know, kinda better at accepting this,' he waves his hands, gesturing around us, 'than how I did.'

Dr Matsuda's words echo in my head. I just need to ask Declan the right questions, and he'll open up. I don't think he'll do that here though, not with the scientists, doctors, and coaches walking back and forth around us.

'I'm not that hungry, so I only asked for noodles and bread,' Noritaka says across from us. He said he's not that hungry, but his bowl is twice as big as my plate and deeper than any toilet bowl. Oh, jeez...why did I imagine that? That's disgusting!

'How was your training?' I ask.

'It was fine. They said I've improved a lot. And I think so too. Ever since my mind's become clear, I started...focusing more. I love my newfound strength.'

I can't help but smile and congratulate him even though he has yet to apologise for what he'd done to me. It's somehow funny that there are times I forget how he had slightly wounded me and thrown me near a pond. I guess there is no need to. We both understand he hadn't meant to do that. He was simply scared, lonely, and confused.

'Good work, Noritaka,' Alasdair commends. He's not eating anything, said he only needs caffeine. Two cups. What a pretentious fish cow. 'We're leaving soon. I hope you didn't get too shocked by everything, Jaxon.'

'To be honest, I wasn't pleased. Had you had asked me first, perhaps I would've done better. A confused mind makes too many mistakes.'

He bobs his head once. 'I understand. I've completely misjudged.

Anyway, if you want to, we can all study at my place, just like what I've promised.'

Being reminded that we have upcoming tests elevates my stress level again. I'm never good at them. That's why I had decided to never step into an academic building after graduating from secondary school. But of course, my own mum had to betray me and enrol me in a school with these weird kids.

I'm only staying because I know she wants me to stay. Hey, she may be a secretive person, but she's still my mum and wants the best for me. Even though the "best" is being provided by a sociopath billionaire guy. I don't trust her decision a hundred per cent. But I'm gonna hold on until I find out what she wants.

'Yeah, sure. Let's do that. But don't expect me to get it in one day. I'm kinda stupid when it comes to academic things.' I don't mind admitting it. Everyone can see I'm just a dumb blond with good looks and nothing else.

I'm too busy musing that I haven't noticed Declan taking a big piece from my plate. 'Hey!'

'What? It was getting cold.' He chews faster than any chipmunk I've ever encountered.

'You!'

He shrugs and takes more. I let him this time. Something is bothering him, and I'm gonna find out later. We're kinda friends. So in that retrospect, I should be there for him, as he's been for me. Yeah, it was Eien who'd told him to take care of me, but I felt Declan's sincerity.