Guardians 1: Ashes

Chapter 50: Fake

Jin's POV

I woke up in a room. It was a familiar room, the medical room. I looked at a hanging calender. The date was past the festival, a week past the festival. I looked around, there were some soldiers but no Aphmua or Adam so I left. Outside, the walls were broken and the street tattered. I walked quietly and the people seemed sad.

Adam noticed me walking," Glad you are finally up." He said with a smile.

"How long have I been out for?" I asked.

"A week, a lot has happened." Adam said.

"Like?" I questioned.

"Red is dead... Kalá has basically fallen sense the attack in the festival, we got word that Mitch is ill... Poisoned in battle. They are barely keeping him alive." Adam said glumly.

"How are the others holding up?" I asked.

Adam sighed, " They... Are holding onto a thread." Adam said with a loss off so much passion.

"Ever sense Cory and Nick left, Uni and Rex have been completely out of it. Especially Uni... he is taking it much worse... he won't eat." Adam said

"Cory and Nick are gone!?" I said surprised.

"Cory left to save Nick, we... we killed Cory. I held Cory down as Rex stabbed him in the chest, hearing Uni and Cory scream... that was painful." Adam said breaking down.

I looked at him completely puzzled. "Did, did you burry him?" I asked.

"No." Adam responded." He turned to dust.

" I let out a deep sigh of relief. Y-you didn't kill him... It was an illusion." I said.

Adam looked at me hope returning to his eyes.

"The illusions, if 'killed' turn to dust, it would not even make sense for Cory to turn to dust, luckily I spent years studying these types of things. Can't you recall any other illusions that turned to dust?" I asked.

"Wow I am dumb! I knew he was an illusion but... Uni made it seem so real. That is after all, why me and Rex did it, we knew but... it just felt so real after. I-I killed a bunch of the um... kids from the kidnapping. They were from the dead file, they were illusions each one did turned to dust." Adam said.

I patted his back to reassure him that he did the right thing.

He sighed and looked up at me, "Uni still hasn't spoken to me."

"Who even caused the illusions?" I asked.

"Tommy." Adam responded.

"Kid with smiley mask? Kid from Cory's dream?" I questioned in surprise.

"Yup another reason why Cory left, I should have paid more attention to it, as leader... I should have. But, I didn't."

"Where is Tommy now?" I asked gently.

"He tormented us for a couple more days, then everything went black and he was gone." Adam said angrily," When we killed the illusion, even Tommy looked at us like we were savages.That made me scared because Rex was the one with the knife, he was the one that... he killed his friend. Rex, is a wild card, and we know he is capable of being trigger happy."

"I see, it is good to be cautious." I said with my hand on my chin.

"Can, you talk to Uni for me?" Adam asked.

"Of course I can." I said and walked away.

I saw Ross and Shelby on my way to Uni's room. They were signing some documents.

"What are you two doing?" I asked politely.

"Signing papers for new buildings. The king really needs the extra hands." Shelby said, and Ross scooted behind her.

"Trust me, I will be taking over that assignment soon, I'm more qualified anyways." I said.

"Where are you headed?" Ross asked nervously.

"Uni." Was the only thing I said.

"Be quite and be careful, you don't want to disturb Rex." Ross said and shut his mouth quick.

I then left and understood what Ross was talking about. Rex was sitting outside Uni's door.

I looked at him, he was sleeping leaned back against the door and had his hat covering his face. His mask was beside him.

"Rex." I said loudly and tapped him with my foot. He woke up.

"Hi Jin." He said with a grin and put his hat on. "Finally up I see, what are you doing over here?" He asked.

"Making sure everyone is still alive." Then I flinched at my poor word choice.

Rex smacked the back of his head against the door and gave out a small scream.

"Sorry." I said then tried to change the subject," Why are you outside Uni's door?"

"I've been trying to get him to talk to me, but have gotten no progress in a week, so I decided to tell knock-knock jokes instead. Uni laughs at them sometimes, I can barely hear, but it's a start." Rex said glumly.
(Do you understand the reference)

I nodded and sat down beside him.

"Guessing Adam told you what me and him did then." Rex said.

"Yes." I said with a sigh. "You do know it was an illusion, right?" I asked.

"Yea, but after... it became so real. I murdered my friend in cold blood Jin!"Rex yelled stomping the ground.

"But you didn't, Tommy made the illusion, he wanted to see what you would do. He wants you to-"

Rex cut me off," He wanted to see what I would do you say, well I killed him! Killed him just like he was one of those kids at-"
He cut himself off, lost in the thoughts.

"Rex, he wants you to turn on them, for nobody to trust you, so he can pick up the pieces." I said, the situation was clear now, maybe for me, but not for the rest.

Seeing the way Shelby and Ross react to hearing Rex's name made it clear that they were scared of him, and Rex doesn't want that. It is clear that Rex has been debating if he was good or bad, I glanced at the mask next to him.

I had to make him believe he was good, or we would have another loss. I had to make him understand it wasn't real, that if he gives in, he will leave.

But isn't it easier to just run? If he did leave, he gets recognization by the savages at the Prodótis kingdom, he gets Cory and Nick back.     
If he stays, everyone will fear him, everyone will be scared of him, and he will be alone. That decsion is up to him, and him alone. It was a very difficult one, I knew, I would probaly choose wrong my self, but Rex could handle the pain better then me. So I believed he would make the right choice.

I got up with a sigh," You can stay or go Rex, choose wisely." I then got up with a sigh leaving Rex to think about what I said alone.