Dying Powerful

Chapter 10- Phoenix

Hey guys! Sarah here! Yay finally time to update Phoenix, who you know almost just died and stuff. Just a normal day! Also I'm going to place and actor for Asher  so you guys can get an Idea of him :) His name is Alfie Deyes and he is PointlessBlog on youtube. Go check him out cause he is amazing  :* Also introducing another character named Sam this chapter. She's on the side.

~Sarahxx

Phoenix's POV

Is it normal to want to kill your best friend's girlfriend?

If they are Joyce, then YES.

I had to quickly interject when she offered to get the bullet it out. I really am not up to quality time with Posh Girl. Yes, we got to learn about her lovely life before the Virus. Joyce's dad created some stupid invention (I'm getting references to Panda Fur Phone Cases). Joyce had left their quarantine to meet her EX Brad who had infected her with Moriens and her parents to let her back into their mansion. She complains that she doesn't get to have her Chi Lattes and Lavender-Vanilla Bath Bombs. Needless to say I want to strangle her by the time we pull up to an abandoned Office Building in Oregon.

I can see Asher's ears turn pink. I'm picking up some weird vibes from him. Layton gets out the first aid-kit and carefully picks out a pair of tweezers and a magnifier glass. My eyes widen as he moves the makeshift splint that Asher constructed and started looking through the glass. As much as I don't like him, he has a lot of First-Aid experience. I hold tightly to the car seat as Layton removes the bullet with the tweezers.

"She's fine for now." Layton tells Asher and Joyce as he reapplies bandages. 'But we need to get to the Underground soon before she loses more blood.

"How are you feeling, Phoenix?' Asher questions.

"Tired." I murmur before I close my eyes.

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When I wake up, I am in an unfamiliar setting. Sunlight is peaking through the cracks of the shutters. I am a lying on a worn couch, a blanket wrapped around me. My backpack is at my feet as well as another figure. Layton is fast asleep, breathing softly. Not wasting anytime, I maneuver out of the blanket and around Layton. Before I make my way to the door, I notice Layton's rucksack next to his feet. Curious, I reach down and rummage through the contents. Nothing really except for some food and first aid supplies as well as an old locket.

At the bottom is a folded photograph. I spread out the crease and see a picture of a family at Walt Disney World. A young Layton with close cropped blonde hair, maybe eight or nine, has a wide smile showing off his missing teeth. The two figures next to him have their arms around him. A pretty blonde woman shares his smile and a tall dark-haired man with smile crinkles around his eyes. The family is standing happily in front of Cinderella's castle.

Even someone as emotionless as Layton is attempting to hold onto the past.

I purse my lips together and replace the picture in his bag. I glance over at his sleeping form. Layton is peaceful when he sleeps, his guard is down. Maybe he is really just a kid looking for help. His tattoo has changed again, a bold 29 replaced yesterday’s 30. I cross over to the door, stepping out quickly. There is a circular brick-covered room. Surrounding the room is about ten tunnels. Each has plaques with information about where each leads. The tunnel I had emerged from was labelled "Guest". I read the rest quickly.

"Offices"

"Earth Sector"

"Fire Sector"

"Water Sector"

"Air Sector"

"Main Hall"

"Training"

"Staff Only"

"Storage"

I decide to enter the "Earth Sector" tunnel. I notice that a hole is in the roof of the room, a thick rope hanging down from it. I follow through the metallic tunnels until I come across a hallway painted a pastel green. A directory of rooms stood on the side. The electronic names change a few, some vacant and being cleaned; whatever that means. I find Asher's name and make my way down the corridor. It is strangely silent.

When I get to Asher's door, it slides open automatically. Asher's room is a toffee colour. Plants are growing through the room, bursting through the cracks in the ceiling and growing grass from the floor. Asher has some photos pasted to the wall. A dark-haired couple that I assume must have been his parents. There is one of two little girls with large smiles; his little sisters. The last photo is of him and a brunette who he has his arm around. Funny, she doesn't look like Joyce.

"Phoenix! I was just about to come and get you! Training is beginning in about an hour and you should get some breakfast." Asher smiles as he emerges from a second doorway. Probably his bedroom.

"I love your room, Ash." I murmur staring, fondly at the photos. It really has been a while since I have seen some plants in full bloom.

"Thanks, I've been practicing my powers in here. My mom decorated it."

I feel a twinge of empathy for Asher when he mentions his mother. It no doubt must be terrible to live in a place created by his dead mother. Ash and I exit his room and I follow him down the hall. We continue until we reach the opposite end of the hallway. Instead of it ending, there is an empty door frame. It is filled with a dark murkiness, like space. Asher walks straight into the darkness, without hesitation or explanation. I move my hand forward into the abyss to check the safety. It makes my hand tingle a bit but nothing other than that so I guess it is fine. I breathe deeply as I move forward. When I open my eyes, Asher is waiting on the other side with a huge grin plastered to his face.

"You did amazing, I am so proud! Most people freak out and take forever or need help to get through. You just trusted me and went through in record time with new recruits! You passed with flying colours, Nix! Can I call you Nix? I just thought it would sound cool." He yells as he encases me in a crushing hug. For someone so scrawny, he is pretty strong. I don't really process it all because he yelled faster than an over-caffeinated chipmunk.

"That was a test?" I reply incredulously when Ash releases me.

He nods in response. "Trust. The trainers are required to test different character traits as well as physical ability before you are placed into a position. The rest will take place with your trainer."

A short girl, maybe Asher's age, walks up to us with a bounce in the step. She has brown hair that is collected into a long side braid. Her tattoo number matches Asher's (27) but has gleaming red swirls like mine. Her tattoo wraps around up to her fore arm. I look at her closely and realise she was the same girl from Asher's photo. She gives me a warm smile before looking over to Asher. Her eyes glint in happiness when she sees him. Somebody is in love.

"Hey, Phoenix right? I'm Samantha but you can call me Sam. Your Fire-Element trainer." She explains to be.

"Sam, I didn't know you volunteered to train Nix?" Asher's smile widens as he wraps his arm around Sam. Looks like the feelings are mutual. Aw and they both don't realise it. I have some excellent leverage already! (Insert Evil Laugh here)

We wave to Asher as we walk down the hall. I wonder why Asher is dating Joyce. He seems severely uncomfortable around her. But with Sam he just seemed natural. He looks at her with so much love you know that he wants to be with her. We arrive at the door labelled main hall. A hundred or so people are seated in the hall at tables, eating breakfast. I follow Sam to an empty table and we get some food.

"So did you know Asher, before the virus?" I question as we begin to eat the food. The toast and bacon with some orange juice.

"Yeah, since we were thee. We have been best friends all of our lives." She responds, happily.

"And how long have you been in love with him?" I ask non-chalantly, taking a bite of toast.

"What? How did you-?" She flushes a deep shade of scarlet.

"I know things." I say in all seriousness. Sam raises an eyebrow. "I can just tell okay."

*Insert eviler laugh here*