The Broken Myth

Chapter Twelve

                                                                Collin     

Two days have passed so far and there still isn't any sign of finding Max. Axel keeps telling me it will be fine. That staying back and helping around defending the pack will be better for her. 

However, I don't think the west pack is giving it their all.  My patience is wearing thin and every day knowing she's in danger is a stab in the heart. It's almost dusk and another day is about to slip away. 

I'm in the basement with  the weapons and gear surrounding me. The flashes of long and short swords hanging on the walls. Crossbows, bow and arrows, daggers and spears too. There are multiple chests full of gear ready to go. My mind pounds with the thought that with the gear and some weapons, I can make way more progress than the west pack ever has so far. 

I take my swords off the wall. The words carved into it shimmer at me. 

'We are the metal built from the blood, sweat and tears of victory'  Victory is the meaning of my name. I intend to live up to it. 

I walk over to the robot in the corner. When you hit the red button it lets you choose a mode. I always chose hard. It glows and then you fight it until it's out of life or it beats you up to the point that you have to say 'I surrender' and then it stops. I remember when I was younger I'd always have bruises by the end of it. Now I barley ever leave with a scratch. 

I hit the red button and it asks me for my name. I say Collin and it replies saying " Master Collin. The undefeated. Are you ready?" The robot is always so dramatic with master and stuff. I say yes and I watch the machine light up red. 

It swings at me and I dodge. I slice and jab using all the agility I can muster. I take all my anger and guilt out to the point where I can feel the hot blood coursing through my veins.  It makes me think of a memory. About Max and I when we were little kids. 

Axel had walked into the pack store with a small figure behind him. At the time I didn't know why he brought someone back after he was sent out for a small mission. He had only been around 8. Max at the time was 5. She was small but still had that fire that still burns today. I remember Axel asking me to show her to the weapons room and show her around. 

At the time, when I'd brought her down to the basement, she was amazed by all the weapons. I remember her having  pointy ears which didn't make sense at the time. Now it does.  She had sat up against the wall and watched me practice against the machine with my swords. I remember her laughter and her voice. All of that is gone now because of my failure. 

I snap out of my memories suddenly and realize my knuckles are gashed open dripping with blood. I stare at my hands in astonishment. I realize my swords are across the floor were Max used to sit. I looked over at the machines head and noticed it isn't even there anymore. However there was broken wires sticking out of the mechanical body. The head was across the room. Adding up the scene, I think I accidentally used to much werewolf strength and punched the robots head off. 

I hear a whistling noise coming from somewheres and look over to the stairwell. Axel is leaning against the wall whistling with a grin on his face. "Nice shot but I think your hands are a little...scratched up." He says while smiling. 

I roll my eyes "Thanks for the observation caption obvious." He just chuckles. Before I know it my wound has already healed. Perks of being a werewolf I guess. 

"Need something?" I ask. 

"Nah just wanted to come check up on you. You know, making sure you're okay and not breaking robots." 

"Yeah- sorry about the robot but I'm fine so-"

"You don't sound fine."

"Trust me, I am." 

"All right, I trust you." Is the last thing he says before walking up the stairs and closing the door behind him. 

I turn my attention back over to the broken robot and my sword. The word Victory rings through my ears repeatedly. I can't keep living like this. I need to do something to fix it. At the same time the thing I need to do to fix it is the one thing I've been told not to do. Well...I guess sometimes you have to break the rules to fix your problems. 

I walk over, pick up my swords, unlock a chest and change into some gear. The west pack had their time. I've given them patience, but at this point I don't have anymore patience to give. I sheath my swords and made sure my gear is on tight and ready to go. 

I consider leaving a note for Axel but that would only add to his problems so I decide not to. Plus if he figured it out then I would be in the biggest load of trouble possible. At least I know where to start looking. North. 

I walk over to the staircase and stare across the room. I start to second guess myself. What if I can't come back? What if there's no way to get her back? What if there's no way for me to get to the other dimension?  What if I'm too weak? What if the fairies are prepared with an army? What if I die and all of this will be for nothing? 

There's also the issue of getting past the guards here and getting past Axel. It will be tricky but at the same time worth it if I can find Max and bring her back home. That is what my name stands for after all. Victory.