Once Again

Chapter Fifty-One - I Can't

Picture: The Fighter by TheUFOSareKawaii

And now to shatter everyone's hopes and dreams ...

I Can't

The air was hot and hazy, and the sky was brown. Fourteen year-old Braken stared up at the sky, fear filling his chest. Something - he didn't know what - told him that these next moments would change his life forever.

"We rebel today," Monster said. "Tristam's abuse of power ends now. Who's with me?"

He got a cheer in response and smiled, flashing his fangs. Braken was glad to have the strange anthropomorphic cat beside him. He was a good fighter and a loyal friend. Braken wanted to be as loyal as him one day, when he found someone worthy of his trust, someone willing to have his back, just like Monster.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tristam's voice rang out loud and clear. He wasn't afraid of the rebellion. He was only angry.

"We're here to stop you," Monster said boldly. "We'll only survive if we all work together - everyone's equally as important, and no one - and I mean no one is better than anyone else. You don't believe that, do you, Tristam? What happened to Danyka? Where is she?"

"She won't be causing anymore trouble, don't worry." Tristam smiled and his eyes glowed with the same fire he held in his hand. The fire illuminated the gleaming sword in Rogue's hand and Noise's determined face. There were others behind him, lost in the shadow of his rule.

"What did you do to her?" Braken cried, ignoring Monster's soft warning. 

Rogue shifted uncomfortably behind the leader, gripping his sword tightly. No one else seemed to notice but Braken. He suddenly wished that Rogue didn't have a jammer so he could hear what he was thinking. 

"Tell her I said hello," Tristam said ominously, giving a quick hand signal. "Rogue, Noisestorm - get him and bring him back to me." Braken watched in terror as the leader pointed directly at him. They wanted him.

"Don't touch him," Monster warned. 

"Oh, so you're making the orders now, are you?" Tristam said coldly, still as calm as ever as he watched Noise and Rogue rush forward. 

The rebels moved to intercept them, but now that the shadow of followers behind them and moved up to attack, they were hesitant. They were afraid. Braken knew they didn't like him, anyway. They thought he was annoying, weak, and useless. Why would they risk their lives for a kid nobody needed anyway?

Noise reached him quickly and seized his arm, dragging him away from the rebel group. "Don't touch him!" Monster shouted, breaking away from Rogue and charging him. 

Tristam waved his hand and a wall of burning fire encased the rebels and his followers, the purple nearly white hot. The heat, even from outside, was nearly unbearable, and Braken felt his pale skin start to burn. 

"I don't think so," the leader said, smiling grimly as Noise brought Braken over to him, ignoring the boy's screaming and fighting. "Hello, Braken," Tristam said softly. "What are you doing over there? Don't you know I need you? You're very useful."

Braken started to cry, terrified out of his mind. "You called me a waste of resources a few days ago," he stuttered, ducking his head.

"But that's in the past, isn't it?" Tristam shook his head. "That was before I knew your full potential. Come on, if you're not going to join me willingly, we'll have to do this the hard way."

"Please leave me alone," Braken begged, tears streaming down his face.

"Hold him still," Tristam ordered. "Fij, Direct, come here."