Duncan’s POV
I had him and now I could harness his powers. I was going to see what he could do and see if I can use it at all. He had been in the cage for a few hours now and I regret hitting Zoey. I will see her tomorrow and apologise. I had more important matters at the moment; I had a mage to get to. I walked into my room and saw him, curled up on the floor and facing the wall.
“Rythian, it’s time.” He turned to me, his skin glowing.
“Why am I here?” I didn’t know how to respond. He got up and faced me, his face right behind the bars. “Why?”
“I want to do experiments on you. No. I’m going to.” A growl came from his mouth as backed into the cage. He wasn’t making this easy. “I’m going to have to shock you.”
“Do it then.” He was testing my patience. I pulled out the taser and shocked him; he convulsed on the floor. I dragged him out of the cage and strapped him to the bed. There was no way he could escape. I heard my dad in the hallway, well my foster dad.
“Duncan? Duncan? Are you ok? I heard something weird.” I panicked and walked over to the door, grabbing it before he could open it.
“Yes dad. I’m fine.” I locked the door and went back over to the groaning Rythian. “You be quiet!” He glared at me, his brow furrowed.
“You better be careful, I’m more powerful than you think.”
“Ok! Try it.” I laughed and walked over to my chemicals table and began to search along the row of glasses to see if I’d left the scalpel in one. “You are going to have to wait; I have a scalpel to find.” I walked out of the room, locking the door behind me.
“Duncan, there’s someone at the door for you.” I walked to the door and found Zoey, with a bust lip, stood angrily at the door.
“Where is he?” She barged past me and into my room. “Rythian!” She undid all the straps and punched me in the stomach, making me curl up onto the floor. “Don’t you ever take my... I mean Rythian again! Ever!” I watched as Zoey dragged Rythian from the room.
“Zoey please don’t do this. I need Rythian, I need his powers.” She came back and kicked me. The pain stung in my back. “Zoey... Please.” She walked out, Rythian swiftly following. I heard their laughter outside and it gave me a pain in my chest. I clambered onto my bed and fell asleep, I hated them both now. I woke up in a blurry haze of grey light and tears. I got up and walked to school, not caring what I looked like. I met Lewis halfway, as I usually do.
“Duncan, you look rough. You ok?” I nodded, clearly lying and he knew this. “Seriously Duncan, what’s wrong?” I looked him in the eyes.
“Rythian and Zoey, I think I’ve made some enemies.” Lewis laughed.
“Sjin and Sips, they’re already your enemy. What does it matter that Rythian and Zoey are too?”
“I have feelings for Zoey. You know this.” I walked ahead, ignoring him.
“Duncan, I’m sorry.” Lewis shouted behind me.
“Forget it.” I walked to first lesson, Music with Sparkles. I liked Sparkles, he was in a band. I walked into the classroom and went over to the keyboard.
“Hey Duncan!” He came over and sat on the chair next to me. “What do you want to learn today?”
“Euphemia, if you have it.” He handed me a sheet that had the notes needed to play Euphemia. I began to learn it as everyone else filed in. Lewis came over.
“Duncan, I’m sorry about before.” I ignored him and continued playing. “Duncan.”
“Ok. I’m trying to learn this.” He sat next to me. I started the song again. He started to sing.
“As I looked into the burning sky; A tear forming in my eye.” His voice was amazing. “Memories of fallen dreams and others that have died. Demons are possessing me, robbed of my eternity. A cloud of ash that pierced the night, I feel my hate take flight. Choking on my own words and I’m scared of backing down. Because the hope within us all is up in flames. Twisted by my warring conscience, situations pushing onwards. Genocide forever taints your name. What’s this mean? Was this me? I think I’ve lost control. I caused this, I forced this. Can I continue on? I have caused this, I have forced this. I caused this. I forced this. I caused this.” I continued to play, while he stopped singing.
“Why did you stop?” He points and I look. Sparkles and the class were stunned. I went bright red, as did Lewis. “Erm...”
“Well done boys!” Sparkles clapped. “You can perform at the show.”
“Wait, what? I don’t do shows.” I blurted out. Lewis laughed lightly.
“Yeah, me neither.” Sparkles frowned.
“I can do it Sparkles!” Sjin shouted. “Listen.” He began to sing out of tune. “Oh say can you see! By the dawns early light!”
“Stop, stop, Sjin it is ok. I’ll find someone else. Martyn could you sing your song?” Martyn nodded. “Let me hear it.”
“The chorus?” Sparkles nodded. “Ok. Feels like hell the things I’ve just been through, won’t believe a word when I tell you. You know what screw the nether, you know what screw the nether, you know what screw the nether. Can’t believe I lost my new gear too, think I’d better come and rejoin you. You know what screw the nether, you know what screw the nether, you know what screw the nether.”
“Ok Martyn you can do it.” Martyn and Toby high-fived. I looked at Lewis.
“Thank god!” He smiled at me, I still had one friend.
