ANTIOCH

Chapter 6

                                                                                            3 Years Ago

It was fall. Young Bryce was outside laying out in the grass, soaking up the sun. It was peaceful. The clouds moved at a turtle pace and the birds made a symphony for mother nature. Bryce's eyes were closed and he held a piece of grain in his mouth, his hands behind his head.

"BRYCE!", a voice called to him.

He opened his eyes halfway and tuned his body around. His mother stood at the doorway of their home. She waved to him, signaling him to come in.

---

"What is it?", Bryce asked.

His mother looked at him with kind eyes.

"Bryce,", she started. "You're thirteen years old now."

He nodded in agreeing with her, but also trying to see where she was going with this conversation. She paused for awhile, smiling at him.

"You're getting older.", she finally spoke. "And as you know, the older you get, the more responsibilities you have."

"Yeah...", he replied.

"But this is no ordinary responsibility."

"What do you mean?"

She turned from him for a moment to grab a black, hardcover book. It was plain and had nothing on the front or back cover. She turned and handed it to Bryce.

"A book?", he said, with a puzzled expression.

"This isn't just any book.", she said, realizing how cliché she sounded. "As you know, our family specializes in magic. We use the abilities we learn to protect others."

"Yeah, I know.", he agreed.

His mother kept her eyes on the book.

"This book is something special. It's not one to be put in anyone's possession. Especially if it's for bad intentions."

"I don't get it? What does it do?"

She took a deep breath before she continued to speak.

"I had a friend who owned this book. She's gone now. And she left me in care of it. Now, I'm putting it in your care. Guard it with your life."

Bryce, now fully engaged in what she was telling him, nodded in full understanding.

"There's also a dark secret about this particular book.", she said.

Bryce's eyes gradually opened up more and more. Excitement rushing in.

"What is it?", he asked, eyes full of elation.

She giggled and said, "I'll tell you when you're a little older."

Bryce's expression dramatically changed. His arms dropped down in disappointment.

"Awww, c'mon!", he whined.

His mother laughed some more and left him with the book. Bryce looked down at it. The expression of excitement rushed back to his face.

"I wonder what this is all about?", he questioned.

---

Present Day

"Alright you scumbag.", Bryce said. His fingers dug into the ground as his aura continued to rage, and his voice was raspy and deep.

"It ends here!"