The Monster That Stole My Reflection

Chapter 4: Hero with 2 Faces

Jim's POV

The sudden splash of cold water woke me up from unconsciousness. I gasped for air and shook my head to get the excess water off my face. My eyes were slightly still covered in water, I tried to wipe the excess water with the back of my hand but I found that my arms were bound behind my back with rope. My legs were also bound. I tried to break out of the rope but as I struggled the ropes started to burn up. I cried out from the sudden burning sensation.

"Do try to struggle or the ropes will burn you," Someone warned a bit too late. I looked around and saw Avery leaning against the wall. The side of my head began to ache as I remembered what had happened. I glanced at my skin, I was still human, for now at least. I jumped a little as Zion burst through a door. He had a devious smile plastered on his face as he sat down in front of me. The room I was in was cold and cluttered with potions and books that I only assumed were magical. My amulet was sitting on a table behind Zion, it's blue glow reassuring me that it was there.

"So Jim, tell us how you survived. That must have been quite strange to have woken up after being attacked with poison." Zion stared at me, waiting for an answer.

"I don't know," I said truthfully. Flashes of when I woke up in that dumpster filled my mind, how it stank and how confused I was to have evaded death.

"How do you change forms then?" He questioned.

"I don't know, why don't you tell me." I spat back at him sarcastically.

"Oh being funny now are we," Zion stood up, "Well let's have a look then shall we?" He began to walk closer, it reminded me of when he did that before I passed out.

"What are you doing?" I gulped as he got closer to me.

"Oh don't worry I won't hurt," Zion paused, "much." He placed his two fingers on the side of my head this time instead of me passing out, I saw images, no memories, of turning into my troll form. The symptoms that I had first went through before my first transformation. Flashes of my nightmares. My fears of becoming something I'm not. All of this happened at the same time. It was too much to process, my head began to ache. Then suddenly it stopped, he took his fingers off my head.

"What did you see?" Avery asked.

"What the hell was that?" I retorted at the invasion of my mind.

"Well I simply looked into your mind. I have the ability to have a unique effect on the mind. So I was able to access your memories, dreams or nightmares." Zion explained with a smile, he was enjoying this.

"It seems like your changes are reliant on the time of day. So you only transform at night," He noted, I turned my attention to the potions that were on his shelf in the background. I noticed that one of them was labeled "Gravesand Experiment." Is that the same thing that they had used to poison me? What kind of coincidence is that?

"Yeah I already know that. But how can I make it stop!" I demanded as I felt my anger rising.

"But why would I ever do that? When I can just kill you or turn you against your friends?" Zion taunted, checked his pocket watch that was in his pocket.

"Looks like you're gonna transform any minute now," He smirked. Right on que I felt my bones pop and reform, I could hear my clothes stretch and rip at the rate I was turning. It was over as soon as it started. I broke free from the rope and quickly tried to grab the amulet and suited up.

Once I suited up I grabbed the potion and bolted for the door. Thankfully to my enhanced speed I was able to easily get away from them and into a long hallway. I was in the Janus Order, I unfortunately wasn't familiar with the area. So I had to think quickly to find a way out. I decided to use my enhanced senses to focus on the sounds around me to see if there were any elevators.