Dignified

Chapter twenty four

"I told you." Zach looked up, his face still tear stained, and saw Estemus leaning against the window frame on his balcony. He wore a slight smirk, his arms crossed and his eyes dark. "Is this really how you want to keep living? Life would be so much better for you on Chronis." He taunted.

"Shut up. Leave me alone." said Zach, wiping his eyes.

"You could become the new king, you know. All you have to do is help me get your brothers."

"I'm not doing that, okay? Now, get out."

"Why not, Zach? Hmm? What's holding you back?"

"I said get out!"

"They don't love you, Zach."

"Yes, they do." he said firmly.

"We'll see about that." Estemus said, stepping out and hanging onto the edge of the railing as he read Clark's mind coming around the corner.

"Zach, are you in- what the hell!" Clark's eyes widened as he saw his brother sitting on the bed with bleeding arms and a pair of scissors in his hand. "What the hell are you doing? What the hell is WRONG with you, Zach?!" He asked, ripping the scissors out of Zach's hand. He stuttered, looking up at his older brother. "I-I-.." Zach began, but stopped, looking down at his arms. Clark hadn't even asked him why he was hurting himself. He didn't even seem to care. Zach looked back up and glared at Clark, getting up and clenching his wrists. "What does it matter?"

"Why the hell are you cutting yourself? What the fuck is wrong with you, Zach?"

A smirking Estemus stepped back inside, laughing lowly and crossing his arms. "Now do you see what I mean, Zach?"

Clark gasped slightly, stepping back. "E-Estemus. What are you doing here?"

He ignored him and walked over to Zach. "He doesn't care about you. Just join me and he'll regret being bad to you for the rest of his life." Estemus said lowly.

"Have you been TALKING with him??" Clark asked angrily. "What the fuck, Zach?!"

Zach clenched his jaw, glaring at his older brother. He lost it and raised his hand, sending flames flying at Clark. He was hit in the chest, falling back and gasping as the air was knocked out of him. He flicked his wrist putting out the flames on his chest and looking up with a scared expression at his younger brother. "Z-Zach, stop." Clark said, his voice shaky.

"Screw you, Clark. Screw you." Zach looked down and over Clark, his expression angry, resentful, and pained. He turned to face Estemus, walking to his side.

"Let's go." He said lowly.

Estemus grinned deviously, giving Clark a dark look. "Don't worry. This won't be the last time you see him." He put a hand on Zach's shoulder, laughing as he disappeared from the room.

"Wait! No, Zach!" Clark yelled, getting up and trying to stop him, but it was too late. His brother had already disappeared with one of the most threatening guys Clark had ever met.

"No...what did I do?" He said, grabbing at the spot where his brother had been moments before.

Zach's feet touched the ground as they landed, gasping for air as he could not breathe before. He frowned slightly, observing the ground a little closer. The grass he had landed on was a beautiful, bright green and was very well trimmed. It looked like something only Trace could do. Zach glanced up and felt his jaw drop. In the distance he could see giant, chrome colored buildings with beautiful designs and amazing structures. "Woah..." He whispered, looking up and around. The sky was a pure, light blue color with clouds white as can be. Everything around him looked beautifully perfect. There was just the right amount of technology and buildings around combined with just the right amount of nature and wilderness. He walked towards the tip of the hill he was standing on, looking down at the dangerous drop beneath him. "Estemus?"

"Mm?"

"Where are we?" Zach asked, turning slightly to see Estemus.

"We, Zach, are in Chronis." Estemus grabbed Zach's shoulder and they disappeared again. Zach gasped again as they landed, gripping his chest.

"Okay, you've seriously got to give me a heads up whenever you do that." He said, looking around. He gaped, looking up at the large building before him. It was grand, sleek, and a beautiful chrome colored silver. "Now, Zach. You agreed to help me take over Chronis and take in your brothers, so this is your first task." He said, pointing at the building. "This is the headquarters of the Chronic Security. Your job? Burn the place to smithereens."

Zach's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, what? I never agreed to this!" He complained.

Estemus turned and grabbed Zach by his shirt, pulling him onto his toes. His eyes were dark and his expression threatening. "You agreed. If you try to deny it or you don't do what I ask, I'll kill you and your brothers." Said Estemus, his voice low and even. He pushed Zach back, pointing to the headquarters. "Do it."

Zach looked up at the HQ with a scared expression. His hands were shaking and his breathing was uneven. "But...but aren't there people in there?" He asked, his voice shaky.

"So? That doesn't change anything."

"Are you just expecting me to end a bunch of innocent lives??" Said Zach, his eyes wide at Estemus.

"That's what YOU agreed to."

"I never agreed to anything! I just said let's go!"

Estemus grabbed Zach again, this time running him into a tree. "Look. I'm not going to tell you again. Either you destroy that stupid building and kill everyone inside of it or I kill you. Got it?" Estemus said lowly through gritted teeth.

"Alright, fine!" He yelled, pushing him back. He walked up to face the HQ, gulping slightly as he held his shaking hand up. "But won't someone with a water Chronic just come by and put out the fire?" He asked, hoping to delay his task.

"No." Estemus replied. "Water is an element. There is only one Chronic for the four elements. Nobody else has them. You and your brothers are the only people alive who possess the abilities of the four elements. Now do it. It better be ash and dust by the time I come back."

"Wait! Where are you going?" He asked.

"I have to go distract Erymund while you do this. I can't have him know about it until it's too late. Don't let anyone see you, Zach, or you will suffer the consequences." Estemus disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving Zach to face the inevitable. Zach slowly held his hand up to the building again, sighing slightly. "I'm sorry." He whispered in advance to all the people inside. He willed the fire out of his hands, cringing slightly at how fast the building caught ablaze. The fire continued to shoot out of his hands, spreading quickly and surrounding the headquarters. Zach stepped back, hiding in the darkness of the trees, shaking his head as he began to hear the screams from inside. He concentrated, forcing the fire to spread inside. Windows shattered as the smoke began to build up inside, the headquarters being eaten inside out by flames. The yells grew louder and the chaos became larger, people gathering around to try and help. Zach watched in horror at all the devastation he had just caused, watching the smoke in the air paint a depressing smudge in the perfect picture of Chronis. "What have I done?" He said quietly, his eyes filling with tears.

-I'm sorry it took so long to update, guys! I've been really busy with all AP classes and debate. I promise the next one won't take as long. Please comment and vote :) -