Dignified

Chapter seventeen

Clark turned, smirking a bit as he faced Estemus. "Do you just spend all your time in the clouds, or what?" He asked.

"No, but I have been following you."

"Yeah, I've heard. Stalker much?"

Estemus narrowed his eyes at Clark. "You think you're so smooth, don't you?" He said. "It's a shame Scott doesn't feel the same way."

Clark glared, but didn't let it get to him.

"What is Chronis?" He asked.

"Chronis is my home planet," Estemus responded. "On Chronis, everyone has a crystal within them. Some are stronger than others while others are more stupid." He said, cleaning his nails. "Point is, everyone, and I mean everyone, has a crystal and a power. It could be something incredible like the ability to shape shift, or it could be something idiotic and useless like being able to talk to animals."

Clark nodded, his eyebrows pressed together in thought. "Is there anyway to remove a person's crystal?"

"Well, of course there is," Estemus said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "But you have to kill 'em."

Clark's eyes widened. "You have to kill someone if you want to take their crystal?"

"That's what I said. By the way, the proper term is 'Chronic', not a crystal."

Clark nodded. He wanted to ask more questions and get information out of Estemus before he attacked. Clark wanted to be deemed smarter than Ryan.

"Ask as many questions as you'd like, Clark, but I do advise you not to attack me." Estemus said, reading his mind.

"Avalon, what if someone just dies of like, natural cause on Chronis? What happens to their cr-chronic? Is it just left there for anyone to take?"

Estemus grunted. "I wish it were that easy. Artivale would never allow that.." He said, trailing off. Clark raised an eyebrow. "Who..?"

He looked up, realizing he was thinking aloud. "Artivale. Artivale Erymund. He's the king of Chronis and I can't stand him," Estemus said.

"Wait...there's a king on Chronis?"

"Yes," Growled Estemus. "And a prince. The stupid white headed Fyden. I can't stand him, either. Anyways, when you die on Chronis, the Chronic security speed on by and take your Chronic. They do that to make sure no one is too powerful, or has too many Chronics."

Clark shook his head. "Wait, I'm confused. Why is there a king on Chronis?" He shivered slightly as the wind blew. He smirked slightly and held out a hand, causing it to stop. "Is he the most powerful or something?"

"Kind of. He has the most Chronics and is considered the wisest."

Clark gaped. "But...you said to have more than one Chronic, you have to kill someone and take it from them...did he kill people?"

"No. According to everyone, Artivale is too 'good' to kill anyone. On Chronis, you can request to pass on your chronic to someone else while on your deathbed. The Chronic Security will review your request and will either grant it or deny it." Estemus said, scowling. "Many of his relatives and friends left him their Chronics."

"Avalon, what are your Chronics? What do yours do?" Clark asked.

Estemus smirked. "I can teleport," he said, popping up behind Clark. "I can read minds, and I have super strength."

"Did someone leave you those, or did you kill someone to get them?"

"What do you think?" Estemus sneered, hitting Clark across the face. He flipped back, the anger quickly building up inside of him. He lunged at Estemus, sending sharp shards of air flying at his face. Estemus simply appeared behind Clark, kicking him hard in the lower back. Clark yelled, letting himself fall and trying to get away from him. He felt a sharp pain against the side of his head and realized he had been hit again, and then again when he felt his ankle snap. He couldn't think straight anymore. Everything was going by too fast. He couldn't see Estemus and he couldn't fight him back. It was everything Ryan said it was. He turned around and had just enough time to see Estemus's heavy fist collide with his jaw. Clark knew he had no chance. Estemus was too strong and quick for him. He focused his attention on the wind, willing it to push him down faster. He flew down, hurriedly searching for his building. His eyes were tearing up as he flew down to about a streetlight's height. He zoomed by, dodging and swerving around cars, buildings, and people. Clark turned and made a sharp right into an alley, glad that he had lost Estemus. He flew to a running stop, landing and picking the pace back up on the land. He was breathing hard and looked very ruffled. 'Great. I lost him. Now where the he-' Clark's thoughts were interrupted when he experienced a sharp pang across the side of his face. He screamed as he fell to the floor, looking around for the cause. He stood back up, nearly falling as he realized his ankle was broken. Clark held his breath, listening for any sign of his attacker. "Check behind you." Estemus said through gritted teeth. He kicked Clark hard in his upper back, sending him falling back onto the ground. "You think you're so good." Clark yelled as he was kicked in the rib cage with the heavy boot, making him curl up in pain. The kicking continued on his back, causing Clark to scream. He clenched his jaw and aimed his arm at Estemus. With one quick thought, Estemus was in the air, thudding hard against the brick wall. Clark took advantage, flying rapidly into the air and rushing to the penthouse. He soon found his way and came to a sudden halt as he crashed into the railing and fell onto the floor. He coughed up what he soon realized to be blood in front of him, gripping his stomach tightly and breathing hard. Clark forced his shaking legs up, limping his way inside.

Ryan was pouring himself a glass of cold water when he heard a large crashing noise on the patio. He froze, staring intently at the windows. He soon saw his injured brother limp inside, nearly falling as he made his way towards the nearest seat. "Clark? What the hell happened to you? Where've you been? I thought you were in your room!" Ryan rushed over to him and handed Clark his glass of water.

"E-Estem-mus," he stuttered, still gripping his abdomen.

"What was that noise?" Zach's asked, coming down the steps with Trace close behind. Their eyes widened as they rushed to their older brother. "Dude, what happened?"

"H-he...atta-attacked me...Avalon attack-ked me.." He mumbled, his breathing very uneven.

"C'mon. We'll help you." They picked him up together, slowly making their way to his room. They laid him across his bed, each of them forgetting the day's earlier events. "Clark, what did he do to you?" Trace asked, wiping the blood away from his mouth with a cloth. Clark's eyes were wide with fear.

"He's going to kill us.."