Guardians 1: Ashes

Chapter 53: Manipulation

Tommy's POV

I trotted down the path looking along the redish brown stone. I looked past the red burning air and continued in side the base. I pulled a switch which was hidden near a lava bed. And heard a click of a door open. I then went inside the newly opened door.

The world was still dull and red. Now at least, there was more color. I walked past a couple rooms then entered one down a hall.

I walked in the corridor for a bit then pulled open a key. I went to a massive door at the end of the corridor and pulled it open. It made a giant creaking noise as I opened it.

I was fully equipped with weapons and armor which clanked as I walked. I looked inside and saw the many children in their cells desperate for light, affection, and attention. None of which they were gonna get. I looked at the kids one by one any they looked at me bug eyed. I giggle at their stares then snapped. A guard came in with Nick and threw him to the ground.

Nick groaned as he was tossed on the hard rugged stone stained with blood. I then looked at the children again. One caught my eye.

He seemed to suit Nick the best. He was tall pale and had dark black hair. He had a mischievous grin on his face as well. He was older then most of the kids so I thought it would be perfect and I pulled him out the cage. I tossed him I front of Nick.

"Fight and I promise the winner mercy. Kill the other and you will be taken out of this place." The Savage child rose up and looked at Nick like an amimal.

"Hey sir... I'm sure we can talk this out." Nick said as the Savage got closer.

Then the Savage threw himself at Nick, and Nick kicked him off on reflex.

"I-I don't want to fight." Nick whined.

"Uni would say the same thing." I snickered.

"I just wanna go home." Nick said, his voice cracking.

"We all do." I said with less emotion. Then I handed the Savage a knife and he grinned and charged at Nick.

Nick huddled into a ball and started screaming he yelled," Stop!" And surprisingly the Savage stopped dead in his tracks... Literally.

The kid collapsed and Ashlie was behind him.
"Enough." Ashlie said and got Nick to his feet. "They would be very mad if he died." Ashlie said glaring at me.

Nick wiped tears from his eyes and stayed silent, "I only wanted to play a game." I whined.

"Your games are dangerous and will cost both our heads." Ashlie said sternly.

"But he wanted to learn to fight." I countered.

"Next time, tell me. I would train him." Ashlie said calmly. I nodded knowing if I argued it would not lead anywhere.

I looked at Nick who was staring at the limp corpse on the ground. I giggled and escorted Ashlie out.

I looked at Nick up and down," Okay, let's do it Ashlie's way then." I said then sat down. I closed my eyes and began to think, images flooded my head and the faces of many people did as well, until they formed a hole body, then... they were there in the real world.

Nick looked surprised, before him was Uni... an old friend of mine. It spoke like him, looked like him, but was not him.

Uni had a sword in his hand and was test swinging it, something I had rarely seen him do. He stepped closer to Nick, and Nick became tense.

Uni then swung the sword down at Nick barely missing. Nick yelled in protest, but the game had already began.

Nick had to move fast as Uni swung his sword back and forth. During the dodging, Nick tripped like a klutz and fell flat on his face. Uni then swung his sword and it scraped Nick's arm, after that, I made the image become even more aggressive.

It stomped and shouted at Nick as he desperately tried to dodge and talk sense into Uni. Uni eventually pinned Nick to the ground and started laughing Nick kicked him off, causing Uni to stumble backwards and dropping his sword.

I made it split to two, so it would be a more even match, and Nick did not even seem to notice. He swung at Uni as warning swings though, not even coming close to contact. Then Uni began to advance on him blocking all of Nick's hits.

He stepped closer and closer laughing, backing Nick to a wall.

"Stop. S-s-stop! STOP!" Nick yelled, but was answered by the clanking of blades.

"U-U-Uni s-stop p-p-please." Nick cried out desperately.
Nick was back against the wall now and Uni held up his sword ready to rain down terror on Nick.

Nick shut his eyes tight and yelled,"Stop!"
Uni stopped, frozen... I no longer had control. He stood there, then his sword dropped out of his hands making a clanking sound. I looked at Nick curiously and he held out his hand, it was vibrating in the same spot.

Uni seemed to be having trouble breathing, then Nick dropped his hand and Uni fell to the floor. I looked at Nick impressed, he may have been manipulating the water inside of Uni... after all, humans have a huge percentage of water.

Nick was scared and confused, I could tell. He definantly did not know what he did, or know what he is capable of doing... and I will keep it that way.

Uni rose back up, grabbing his sword. He looked at Nick and charged, Nick didn't expect that and slammed into the wall behind him with a thud. He fell to the ground, then scrambled back up, but Uni kicked him in the chest while trying to get back up.

"Please Uni, leave me alone." Nick begged but I didn't stop. Uni hurled Nick back to his feet and shoved him against the wall putting his sword against Nick's throat.

Nick tried to speak, but choked on his words, then a loud tearing noise was heard and Uni turned to dust.

Nick had stabbed Uni with his sword, and now had fallen like most of my illusions have. Nick stared at the dust on the ground with grief.

"Suck it up. That was an illusion, the real deal would be much bloodier." I said with a crazy cackle and Nick looked at me as if I was insane.

"Now time for some real fun." I said cheerfully and brought out a child for Nick to fight. Nick had to get over Uni's death quickly, which was great on a real field because you would have to get over lost comrades' death quickly and stay focused on the battle.

Rex was good at that, I felt chills run down my back at the thought of his name. Rex was a good leader and soldier, to bad he is on the other side now I muttered to myself as Nick and the child fought. They swung at one another, Nick getting gradually closer until he hit the child, striking him down with a swipe.

Nick looked at his hands which were now streaked with blood. His eyes got wide, then I sent for another victim, and this time... both of them charged.

Nick swung ferociously and sliced at the kid's chest, soon cutting it open then stabbing him while he was down already. I was proud, I thought Ashlie might be a little freaked out, of how I could manipulate people so fast... but she won't know what I am doing here either.

I got another kid and threw him towards Nick, Nick immediately swung while the child was still stumbling over the force at which I pushed him from. Making Nick cut him down way before he needed to.

I sighed," You have to have at least a little fun." I then took out another kid and this time let him go properly rather then shoving it. This one lasted way longer, but Nick with his powers was able to make icicles and lodge them into the child's chest. After that... I decided we had enough and we went back up to the surface.

Nick was dead silent the hole time, making the walk awkward. I escorted him to his room and left him there. Training was a success and the king would be proud seeing I was able to make another killer.

Once you pin them against a friend or loved one, and they kill them in cold blood, you know they will easily take out a random soldier. Which is why I started with Uni. I thought to myself. Although... maybe I should have started with Cory, nah I think Nick killing Uni was good enough.

I went back to Ghetto to tell him the progress I made.

Ghetto was pleased,"Nick is very easy to influence." Ghetto said.

"I know, I bet he would sell out his own friends in a heart beat, if it was to save his own skin." I said jokingly, but Ghetto seemed to take that literally and nodded me off.