the game

Luke

Terrence is with me waiting with the power depleter next to us. I told him to go, but he wouldn't listen. It's not the only contraption either. There is a electric dome here as well, sprawling in the middle of the room. It's massive, meant to keep something inside. Another body rushes in and turns it off, the floor outlined with a white line, a large box like generator positioned behind it. All powers that are not generated from a body need some kind of generator to power them, infused with whatever ability that person has.

my heart is thrumming inside my ears, terrence hiding behind me. more bodies appear. but none of them are the ones we are waiting for. I recognize one of them, specifically the man with the long scar that lacerates his entire face. The odd part is that scars do not last in Alasia, so I don't understand how something so big is actually still visible after such a long period of time. I know he's one of Veronica's henchmen and I wait with baited breath for the moment she arrives. But she doesn't. I guess she's doing damage control.

The leader of the nation cannot be seen breaking the laws. She can only orchestrate it. Terrence is behind me still, a chill beginning to grow in the room. We keep waiting, and waiting. Until I see them, Kally, Kassie and Katie walk into the room. Katie isn't even being apprehended until the door. This is when they grab her. She tries to get away, electrocute them, but they're wearing power suits. They drag her kicking and screaming into the circle where the large dome rises and fully encapsulates her.

She looks out at us all, treachery painted on her face.

"How could you?" She whispers, and then shoots a ball of electricity at the dome. It comes back and hits inches away from her.

"It's a one way force field Katie," it's Kally who responds. She's not saying it in anger, she's stating a fact.

Kassie nears her.

"We can hurt you, but you can't touch us," Kassie towers over Katie's frame, cowering inside the dome.

"It's time your mother paid for her crimes, and what better way than eliminating her daughter," scar face smiles.

"Although there's one thing I need to take care of first, you," and he points at me. "Bring him to me will you, the one hiding behind you," I blink.

"Who?"

He smiles, and it makes him look ghastly, like a half chiseled monster.

"Where is he?" I ask, feigning ignorance.

"That shelf behind you, I noticed the temperature dropping earlier, and then of course, he reeks," the man steps towards us. I step out of the way still acting as if I'm a part of their game.

"I vote we make sure the power depleter works," he creeps towards Terrence as the room frosts over. He stands up ready to fight.

"Come now, let's not be stupid, if you don't come quietly it will only mean more harm to you. Why don't you just give it a rest," a ball of ice heads at the man's face. He dodges it and takes a stride closer.

Terrence shoots another ball of ice at him.

"Quite persistent aren't you?" He chuckles taking another step closer. I gulp. I don't like the way he's looking at Terrence. He looks like he wants to eat him.

Terrence shoots another ball of ice at him, this time not aimed at an alasian frame. The man has taken on the form of a menta, towering over the small room. The creature grabs the ice ball and crushes it in his hand.

"You can't honestly think you can defeat me?" The man laughs.

Terrence ices the floor. The menta walks closer, like it doesn't affect him in the slightest.

"You're young, naive, and stupid," He's right in front of Terrence now.

"Now come," and suddenly he's not a menta but a griffy, large tentacles wrapped around him like a shell. Terrence screams and wriggles but it's no use. The man carries him in his tentacles towards the power depleter. Terrence attempts to freeze his arm, it does nothing. Finally in a horrible struggle of limbs he straps him down and turns on the machine.

"Tell me one thing, Mr. Persistent. What's your name?"

"Terrence Knightingale," Terrence spits through his teeth.

A shrill high pitched merciless laugh pierces the air.

"Well what a coincidence, I'm the one that killed your father. Put up as much fight as you did, I was wondering but at least now i know," he laughs even louder. Terrence struggles harder against the restraints, but as he does I want the percentage gradually grow on the display next to him. It won't kill him, I made it so it won't.

But it doesn't matter. The numbers keep climbing. Terrence screams are blood curdling, wrapped in wrath. 

"Might want to watch closely Katie, since this is how you're going to die too," there is a smile twisted on his lips, strong and menacing. Begging her to beg for Terrence's life. To do anything. Katie sits frozen watching Terrence. His frame writhes but much less now. The percentage is up to 150. This means that he doesn't have any powers left. What is being drained now is his human strength. I notice it too late. I'm too late. They must have switched out the machine. And Terrence, surrounded by the people he thought were his friends dies in front of us. He flails weaker and weaker.

"Katie," Terrence screams, "Avenge me," and then he goes silent. His body dissolves in grey ash, nothing like the black ash that usually happens and it sits there, rotting on the table.

Katie's face is contorted in pain and rage.