A LEAP OF FAITH

Chapter 36: Sugar Madness.

Kiren shrugged awkwardly, glancing from side to side. Jasper lifted his hand from his mouth to let him speak.

"Go on, answer the question," he said softly.

"Uh... how would I like to..." He swallowed the lump in his throat, "die-?" He asked. Jasper nodded. "I don't want to?" He frowned.

"That's not how it works, kid." Jasper rolled his eyes.

Kiren scoffed, "Why not?" He raised a brow.

"Because..." Jasper mumbled.

"Because why?"

He slapped his hand back over his mouth, "Just shut up, okay? Sit there and be quiet, I don't want to hear your blabber," he said through gritted teeth. Kiren rolled his eyes before biting down onto his hand. Hard. Jasper shrieked and pulled his hand back, staring at it. Blood dripped from it, he wiped his hand off on his shirt before bringing his hand to the back of his head, taking in a fistful of his hair.

"Let go of me, prick," Kiren said under his breath.

"Don't bite me again." He tightened his grip on his hair. Kiren whimpered quietly, squirming around under him. "And don't call me a prick either," Jasper hissed. Kiren nodded softly, he was growing weak from the amount of strength he was putting on his body. "You look like you're about to start crying. Go ahead, cry. You have no one to go to... especially not your mother," he said quietly.

Kiren's eyes shot open, "Don't talk about her," he said through clenched teeth.

"Why, what's wrong? Are you mad? It's true." Jasper scoffed.

"SHUT UP, JUST SHUT UP!" Kiren forced himself to sit up, slamming his forehead against Jasper's. He groaned, standing up.

He brought his hand up to his head, "God, your head is made out of fucking metal..." he muttered.

"Serves you right," Kiren said under his breath, frowning widely.

As a child, Kiren had always been bullied for being an element. He lived in a poor town with few families living around him, so he always saw the same kids wherever he went. The children thought it was hilarious to see him get mad, after all, he had severe anger issues. Though, every time he'd cry to his parents about it, his dad told him to toughen up and be a man. His mother was really the only one that understood. When his family got the news that his mother had a case of breast cancer, his dad simply left as he didn't want to pay the expenses of the medical bill. Kiren was left to care for his mother and himself on his own, dealing with the constant bullying from his peers, doing work around the town to maybe save up for medical treatment for his mother. That was when he got invited to Harmony Zeus Academy. He moved to the town in which the school resided, finally having access to a good doctor that would help him and his crippling mother. He worked hard to become a hall of elements member, because maybe just maybe, the school would pay for the medical bills if he tried hard enough. He was devastated when he got the news that he had to leave to find Sinclair, but he knew that his mother was in good hands. He made a promise to himself that he wouldn't die, he would beat Sinclair and make it back to his mother, alive and happy.

Sugar stared wide-eyed at Sharlet, neither of them knowing what to say. When Sugar finally let her dark magic come out of her, she felt her body being taken over. She clenched her teeth, bringing her hands up to her head.

"Sugar, what's going on-?" Sharlet asked, taking a step closer to her.

"Get away from me, Sharlet, I'm not letting you get hurt," she warned, stepping back.

"What are you talking about-?"

"I'm not going to ask you again. Get away."

Sharlet frowned widely, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. Sugar jolted away from her, staggering back. She cried out and held her head in her hands. The back of her head began forming something in it. Several red crystals emerged from her head, making her sob and shake in pain.