Rising War

Chapter 2: Control

(Narrated by Aven)

"Kusinagi, now is a good opportunity to freeze time." Wynter hisses. In front of us, the cardboard boxes are being rearranged into a fortress, held together by the green aura of Blaise's powers. It looks reminiscent of something a couple of kids would build, like a clubhouse.

"I would have already if I could!" Kusinagi says. She tries to kick the boxes down, but they won't budge. "We'll get disqualified if I try."

"I'd rather be disqualified than lose to a duck, honestly." Wynter says. This is followed by an angry protest from Drake, still in Spanish. Umbra snickers at whatever he said.

"Both of you, shut it." I whisper, sounding more harsh than I had intended. I try to think of the best way inside, but strategizing has never been my strong suit- it just gives me a headache. What would Ebony do in this situation...?

Before I can finish my thought, Wynter leaps and begins to climb up the boxes. She reaches the top, grins at the two boys below her, then gets shot in the arm by what I'm assuming is the purple water gun. She falls back to the ground with a thud.

Kusinagi offers Wynter a helping hand, but she refuses, sitting up on her own. "Well, that didn't go as well as I thought it would."

She stands up and goes to climb the boxes again, but her hands phase right through. Frowning, she tries again, with the same result.

"Huh. That's not good."

On the other side, Blaise's eyes widen as he sees what we've discovered. Drake tries to push Wynter away, only to phase through her. This makes Wynter laugh. "Dude, am I a ghost now?!"

With Wynter as our new entrance, Kusinagi and I walk right into the fort. I aim my wand at Blaise. "Hand over the duck. Final warning."

Would I really shoot him? Not with anything major. We've gotten ourselves into prank battles before, so he knows what to expect from me. I'm not going any easier on him since he's my boyfriend, and I know he won't go easier on me.

Blaise stares at Drake Jr, then back at me, as if considering his options. His grasp tightens around the duck. "I'm not giving it up without a fight." He narrows his eyes at me.

The ground shakes beneath my feet. I stumble, trying to catch my balance. The boxes sway back at forth, but never seem like they're going to collapse. Kusinagi grabs onto my shoulder to keep herself from falling over. The sudden shift in weight nearly takes us both down.

"Dude, que are you doing?" Drake shouts. The potion is starting to wear off, bringing back bits of English.

"Yea, uh, I think this is considered fowl play." Kusinagi says. She looks at me as if I'd know what to do. News flash: I'm just as confused as she is. The ground continues to shake, and I'm beginning to get lightheaded. Staying upright is requiring most of my focus and energy.

His eyes stay locked on me, then it hits me. The glitch marks on his arms, no longer hidden from his sleeves, are glowing brightly. His Corruption.

"Blaise, listen to me. You've got to get your powers under control." I try to sound calm and reassuring, but I'm not sure he can hear me. "We're not here to fight- we're your friends. Right?"

The ground seems to tilt to the right, knocking me to my feet. Wynter phases right through the boxes and lands outside the fort, unable to stop her fall. Even Drake looks confused and concerned.

I lift myself up from the ground, my elbows sore. "Listen to my voice. It's okay."

The blaze (pun not intended) in his green eyes seems to fade. His muscles relax and his breathing returns to normal. Drake Jr. drops from his grasp. It seems to take him a moment to realize what just happened. The boxes all tumble to the ground.