The Eden Projects (Book I)

Chapter 12. Complicated.

-Present Day-

Zak froze. He was a deer staring down the front of something like an exotic car. Something fast and flashy. That was Ace. That was any situation that involved Ace. Fast, and flashy. "Archer, talk to me- are you alright?!?" He moved to take a step closer. Kasper was motionless, panting a few feet from where Archer sat slumped. Move- you have to move. He lowered his gun. Zak wondered why he even carried the thing in the first place, he never shot it. It was useless in his hands. 

Ace was finicking with his blade, and by now, at least half the people he travelled with were all watching.

Zak knew there was nothing he could do. "Arch. Can you move?" He tried again, taking another step. 

Ace had triggered something in Kasper, it was the very thing they couldn't control. One of his "moments." He was stuck somewhere in his own head, he was as dangerous as a flicker. Maybe even worse. There was no reaching him.

"Zak don't-" Archer slid away. Covering the bleeding wound on his side with a shaking hand. "Don't move. Just stay there. It's just a graze."

Kaspers breathing changed, quickening before snapping off at the end as his body pitched to the side. He rolled over onto his stomach in the direction of Archer. "Urrghh- no-" Kasper jolted awake, he scrambled to get to his knees, pushing himself up. 

Archer had slid a good distance away and sat quietly, trying to stop the bleeding. "Ace-" Archer winced, "Do something you piece of shit-" shoving cloth into the wound.

"Wake up- you have to wake up." Zak did his best "commanding" tone, it did nothing. Small spines and spikes had begun pushing their way through Kaspers skin. Popping through his shirt along his spine where holes from the times before sat in rows. He was changing. "KAS." His own blood poured from the cuts in his skin and gathered around them. An ungodly popping came from his entire body, It was happening, and his bones began to readjust, cracking with each breath he took.

Ace only laughed.

"ACE." Zak checked his gun and backpedalled. Bullets won't kill him, but they'll slow this down. "Kasper! Snap out of it!" He looked to Ace, who folded his arms.

"Shut it pretty boy, It's too bright for Adam to make a full appearance anyway. I'm trying to help him." Ace gripped his knife as he approached Kasper. "Can you hear me you ungrateful brat? I'm helping."

Zak grimaced. He hated Ace. He hated everything he had done and would ever do in the name of "help."

Kasper's head was down and his face had gone a ghostly white, laced with delicate black veins that streamed up his cheeks. Ace knelt down in front of him. His wings fanning out to keep his balance. "Still hanging in there- ahhh there you are, hidden under all that hair, so stubborn." He brushed the hair from Kaspers face. "You need a haircut."

"Get- Away-" Kasper strained, speaking through gritted teeth.

Zak sighed with relief. He's still here.

"Well then, I'm surprised you can still talk." His shock spun into a smile. "I bet- you can sense his pain. You like it don't you." With a sardonic grin Ace looked to Archer. "Huh, nothing to say big guy?" 

"Leave him alone." Archer spoke. It was gentle, a pained understanding of their situation. He knew they had no pull on what Ace would do. He said it anyway.