Guardians 1: Ashes

Chapter 48: Disappointment

Cory's POV

Ashlie looked at me pleased with herself as we exited the gates. Some people were unconscious, and those who were awake ran around aimlessly. We could see the illusions as well, but it wasn't affecting us in anyway.

"Tommy is a Guardian of Illusions." Ashlie spoke softly. "He is driving the people mad, we can see it, but it won't have any effect on us." She said as a building shifted and went right through us.

"Give me the potion." I said staring at Nick.

"Straight to buisness." She said and tossed me the potion.

I caught it and opened Nick's mouth. He groaned and I poured the vile in his mouth.

"Better not be poison." I muttered. "Or you will be dieing with him." I stared at Ashlie straight in the eyes.

"I'm a girl of my word, just keep your end of the deal." She said and we continued walking.

Nick's breath was no longer a raspy breathing, and was now quieter. The color regained in his face and I smiled slightly.

Maybe it was not fair forcing Nick to come with me, but it saved him so I was okay with it.

We walked in silence for a while then she stopped. She turned around and threw a pearl at the ground. It made a poping sound and a vortex popped up.

"This leads to our kingdom, Nick goes first, then me, then you." She said.

"Why Nick first?" I questioned.

"You can't leave him behind." She said and her clones took him through.

"Smart." I muttered as Ashlie herself walked in and I followed.

It was a massive change in scenery. Cold, dark, damp. It was cloudy outside and the inside was stone cold. The brick walls screamed run. In the middle of the room was a throne.

On either side there were dark red banners.
The king was on the throne and he smiled at my arrival.

"A long time ago, I sent people to take you from Kalá, but they failed... They brought a blue head artist, and a nicely well built child instead. It was not what I wanted, but I was pleased that one child turned out right." The man on the throne spoke.

I pushed my hair out of my face trying to get a better look at the man.

"It was suppose to be you and Rex who were taken, not Rex and Uni. When I was told they killed you instead, I thought our plans would never work. But, you lived and we finally brought death in our kingdom."

I looked around nervously at Nick who was still unconscious, but his shoulder had stopped bleeding, and was re-postioned the right way.

"You will now fight for us death, kill for us death, destroy them for us death." The man on the throne said." And in return, we will give your friends an opportunity of life our way, after we win the war. Then they all will be Guardians of Prodótis."

I just stared at the man before me, no words to describe him but sheer evil.

"Ashlie." He said. "Teach him the ropes. Show him were he will be staying, and don't forget to see what he is made of." The king said and sent us away.

Ashlie and I walked in silence until we came to a room. She pointed at the different doors.

"Tommy, Me, you, Nick, Ghetto, Jason." She said blankly pointing at six different doors.

"Ghetto?" I asked nervously.

"Yes, Ghetto." She said. " Now rest a bit, I will come back soon." She said and walked away.

Rex's POV

Everything was hazy and there was a massive pain in my ribs. Breathing hurt but most of all, there was Tommy, insane as ever laughing like a mad scientist.

I noticed people running around and started to see odd things like a pig with wings?

"When pigs fly!" Tommy yelled cackling.

Then I saw a little girl, covered in blood wearing a striped sweater. One of many kids that I had killed.

I swallowed hard, and stared at the child. She stepped closer with a faint smile. Then another kid with blood all over them appeared next to her. Then another and another and another.

"Talking to the dead I see." Tommy shouted to me.

I swallowed hard and stared at each and every victim. Every child I had killed stood before me.

"S-s-stop it!" I yelled at Tommy.

"No sir can do. Besides, I want to watch you suffer." Tommy said and sat down behind the children and they walked closer to me in unison.

I reached for my sword.

"What are you gonna do, kill us again." The striped girl spoke softly.

I let go of my sword and hung my head in shame. This was my punishment. I took their life, it was only right for them to take mine...

Each kid lifted there head up, and held out their arms ready to grab me. Some had slices on their stomach, others had cuts in the throat, and one had his head bashed in, another had many small stab wounds, to many.

Each one doused in red, red, their blood, red my blood. Broken frail kids, I had stopped being a bully after I met Uni, but he had no power there, I had a lot of power.

I didn't just bully at that point. I killed. For the excitement? For the glory? Or maybe, just because I liked the feeling? But what matters, is I finally regret it.

The children circled around me running, dancing, chanting.
"Kill the killer! Kill the killer! Kill the killer!" They said. Over and over again. My head was spinning as they ran, the world seemed to be spinning as well.

I grabbed at my head in frustration,  the kids then began to kick me or slap me every now and then. As the chanting got louder, more of my victims hit and punched me then. The circle got faster, tighter. I could barely breathe.

Cory is gone, Nick is gone, Uni was broken, I am broken. I thought as the kids began to close in on me, each one now holding a knife, they all grinned at me, and I caught a glimpse of Tommy smiling behind the circle, he was holding Uni down.

Uni was shouting something, but I did not know what, I tried to focus on his words, but it was hard to concentrate with the chanting.

"Killer, killer, killer!" was all I heard from the children.

"Stop." I pleaded. "Just stop, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" I yelled out and huddled into a ball as the children growled and kicked and swung at me.

I didn't want to fight back, not after what I had did to them, now they were back, their lifeless bodies full of wounds I caused still bleeding.

The striped girl stopped in front of me, as the others continued to circle around us chanting. She handed me my mask.

"Put this on, and you will have the power to stop us again... It will be just like old times." She whispered softly into my ears.

I shuddered and she stepped back. I stared at the mask and began to give into the temptation. I slowly brought the mask closer to me face, and the chanting died down. I could feel "control" coming back to me.

Then Uni body slammed a child causing him to fall, then threw himself on top me.

"I won't let you, not again at least." He said and snatched the mask from me. "I let Cory, I'm not letting you too."

"Let... Cory?" I questioned him. "I thought... that was an illusion, he... actually left?" I asked.

Uni couldn't look me in the eye, he just nodded at me. Then our attention was drawn to the children. They were all surrounding us, and had stopped chanting.

Tommy was staring at us, his grin not diminishing in the slightest.
"Show we have some fu-"