Phoenix

12. Let Me Tell You Something

I recognize that voice. But I can't remember who it is.

"Come on Jake. Get out here. I want to tell you, boys, something."

I see Jake's green heat source body walking in.

"Screw this." Jake sighs then with a rise of a hand the clouds disappear and light appear in the halls. There is still no hydropower.

I see a face. My principals face.

Another message appears on my screen.

At the right moment. Ashes.

Ashes is a code word. I know what I have to do.

"Thank you, Jake." I start backing away as he's talking. But before I can take a second step- "Seth! First, you take out 10 of my workers. Now you're trying to leave. I may be blind but I can still hear and smell you."

I underestimated him. Damn it.

A message pops up.

This is going to be the hardest mission yet. His hearing and smell have increased due to the loss of his vision. But we can do this Phoenix. We are kings of the city. I'll take the 4 other guys around the room.

Kings. I like it. Let's keep it that way.

I inhale and focus power on my lungs. With a sharp but extensive exhale I blow fire. This gives Jake the time to take out the 4 other guards.

Ashes mean distraction.

It was more of an attack then a distraction but if he comes out of this without at least a second-degree burn then at least it distracted him.

Suddenly my fire stops and its just air coming out of my mouth. I look at my principal to see what's going on. His hand is out in front of him. It looks burnt but as soon as he shakes his arm, what looks to be burnt, dead skin falls on the ground. It's black and crispy.

His arm goes back down and hangs beside his body.

I Underestimated him again. Good going. When Jake comes back to beside me after knocking out the 4 guys, he can't seem to stop looking at our principals chocolate brown arm without a burn anywhere.

"How... did you...?" Jake hesitates.

"I just focused all the energy I had on my hand which absorbed Seth's flame into myself and acted as a personal shield. Seth. You still burnt a bit of dead skin off of me and that is what just fell off of me. But it didn't actually hurt." He's being cocky. I hate cocky people.

"Why did you lure us here?" I demand.

"Oh. Seth. My boy. Don't be like that. I only need you here for one reason. I'm going to kill you."

"Why do you want us dead so badly?" Jake so wonders with much more self-control than I had.

" You took everything away from me."  His words are harsh. But I don't know what he's talking about.

What?

"Don't deny it. I know it was you. It was the last thing I saw. Jake." He points a finger at my brother's chest.

How does he know where Jake is standing?

"What are you talking about?" I demand to take a step closer to him but ending up with Jake's hand confront of my chest holding me back.

Jake has his eyes closed and seems to refuse to open them. He doesn't seem to want to look me in the eyes. 

"Your brother blinded me, Seth. He took my vision."

"So what do you want with me?"

"I really loved being able to see. He took my favorite thing from me. Now I'll take his favorite thing from him. You. And I want him dead to cause I can't get away with murder when there are witnesses... That reminds me. Thank you for knocking out my guards. Saves me time."

His attacks are sharp. But I can beat them.

Duck. Jump. Left hook. Dodge right and so, on. Then a sharp pain in my back. He got me. He kicked me. I hate steel toe boots.

Jake is right on him. Jake jumped on his back and is trying to make him fall over. But with his weight, I don't think that is happening.

Then I see it in Jakes' eyes. An idea.

Jake blocks off his hearing and sense of smell with his cloud power.

We have him where we need him.

Then. A sneeze breaks the power. I could tell it was a fake sneeze but it worked. Jake is upset now.

A lightning strike to the knee that misses. A strike to the other knee. That also misses. Then a strike for the stomach that misses again.

A loud grunt is exhaled by Jake in frustration. Then jake realizing he was backed into a corner from him walking towards him without Jake even noticing. He kicks the garbage can over.

How are these missing him? They are perfect shots. He's too fast.

My principal is just laughing. He has nothing to say other than, "Is that all you got?"

"Bring it on, Old Man," I shout from across the room. "Do you know who I am?"

"Your, Seth. Jakes little brother. Weaker than a piece of paper. What do you got for me?"

"You're wrong. I'm-"