J.ade, A.ir D.efying E.lementalist

XXVI:Best to Worst

Chapter 26 - Best to Worst

“H-how?” I stutter.

En is on the door looking straight at the eye of the En beside me. One expression registered on his face: Anger.

I scramble out of the white bed.

“No need to run,” the En nearer me says. “I just paid a small visit,” then he laughs. Slowly he became transparent and turned into a wisp of smoke.

“Oh my God,” I say after what I think is hours of deafening silence.

“I’ve been out for not more than three minutes.” En speaks then goes nears me.

I back away. And then En chuckles sarcastically.

“You know, If I wanted you dead, I could have zapped you seconds ago. Comparing your condition to mine. Your hopeless againstme.” He says smiling slightly then turned serious.

I razz. “Okay. Fine. I’m sorry. It’s just that one more of this sick happening and I’m sure I’ll go crazy.” I say, sitting down on the bed where I lay awhile ago.

“What happened?” he asks.

“I woke up because of a dream. And then it turns out my dream is real because your impostor is actually strangling me, I don’t know how he moved so fast but when I woke up I found him across the room, arms crossed.” I explain briefly.

"This is not the first time that happened.” En opens.

“What?! You mean you know that thing?” I blurt

“Technically, yes. He is me, didn’t you see? But not really me. I’ve asked Julia and she said I didn’t have a twin.” There are dark bags under his eyes and he looks dead tired.

“How?” was all I can ask.

“He tried killing Julia,” he replies simply then continued.

"Err, but he failed?" A dumb question.

"Obviously." En gives me a funny look. As if contemplating if I'm still on some kind of trance. I don't blame him.

"What I meant was; he failed but then why is he still alive? If you're against Julia, I believe there is no escape," I defend my pointless remark.

He sighs. "Julia is not invincible." he tells me then says no more. Typical En, never answers the important questions. 

We are silent for a long while before I decided to talk.

"Should we tell Julia that he came back?"

"Yes." His answer surprised me, I was expectin a 'No'. Especially because En is the kind of guy who wants to take on problems on his own. Maybe he does know his limitations. And this matter is beyond ours to solve.

"What do we do now?" I ask.

"You're asking the wrong questions," En replies with a humorless chuckle.

"And you're not answering my question," I retort, annoyed.

"Just because. You should know the reason."

"Right. You have no answer."

He remains quiet and I follow his lead.  

"You won the duel," En speaks up.

"I know. But how did that happen? I was sure we were going to lose," I reply.

"The last attack you released hit Ernesto."

"I'm not surprised. I tend to get lucky at my shots sometimes," I say then continue, "But I doubt my luck would stretch out to the point that my attack is 11,000 worth."