Running From Time

Chapter 27

"What?!" I exclaimed, my breathing hitching in my throat. "Like...blood brothers?" He nodded and I almost felt as if I was going to pass out.

"Yes. It pains me to say it, but we are indeed related."

"N - no, I can't be related to you! You're evil!" I exclaimed, trying to deny it as I looked into his eyes. Those dark orbs, which closely resembled mine. The nose, the lips, everything about him was so similar to my own features that I had to believe him.

"Well, you are. You met my father, who is, of course, your father also." I frowned and shook my head. How could Serpius, this despicable person, be my brother? But it all made sense, in a way. We were both part Siomean, and the only ones of our kind. There was a big chance that we would be related in some way.

"But if we're brothers, then why do you hate me?" I asked in confusion and he laughed.

"You betrayed me, Chris. We were as close as any two people could be. You were there for me when I discovered my power, and I was there as you discovered yours. But you were always more powerful than me."

I watched as Chris got angrier and angrier. We stood in the middle of the woods, away from the world. People kept trying to chase us, hunt us down. Especially those at the PeaceMaker facility. I put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him but he moved away, breathing heavily. Chris was only eleven at the time, and I had just turned sixteen. One of the PeaceMakers had tried to take Chris just moments ago, but he had outrun them. I had created a wall of fire between him and the person trying to capture him, which had helped him considerably.

"Sam, I don't understand...why are they chasing us?" I looked at him with worry and shook my head.

"They don't understand us. They want to experiment on us. If we work together, we can defeat them and live in peace." He nodded but I could see that he was still shaking.

"I just want them to leave us alone!" He shouted suddenly and fire erupted in his palms. Jumping back, he stared at them in horror and looked at me for an explanation.

"You're like me. We're both aliens, Chris. From Sio." Chris shook his head in disbelief and the fire extinguished. I had learnt that from my father, years ago. Although he had gone when I wasn't very old, he had visited me and tried to stop me from killing people.

"They'll kill me!" He exclaimed in fear and I put a hand on his shoulder.

"No they won't. You're my brother and I won't let them. We can be a great team." He nodded, relaxing slightly and I hugged him tightly.

"...and that's how you got your powers. We were a great team for a couple of years, killing those who tried to chase us and any other Siomeans that got in our way. We were unstoppable." I was gaping at him, completely mesmerised by his story.

"But if your name was Sam, then why did the PeaceMakers and everyone else think you were called Serpius?" I asked in confusion and he chuckled. I had changed the subject slightly, but I was only trying to stall.

"It was so that none of them could track me down if I escaped or tried to kill someone. Our father gave it to me, just in case. He was trying to protect me." Something clicked in my brain as he said that and I realised that the name Serpius sounded a little like the word 'serpent'. And the people from Sio looked a bit serpent-like, with the scales and the glowing yellow eyes.

"Okay. But what happened to make you hate me?" I questioned and he sighed, going into deep thought for a moment. It was obviously a very bad memory for him. Not that I cared if it made him sad, considering the fact that I hated him.