The Tanian Legends

CHAPTER 6 - I MEET THE THING THAT FOLLOWS ME

"Now, what were you thinking?!" Beatriz scolded
"You sound so much like my mother" I replied
"Lets go!" she said while tugging me outside

The shadows returned, who made a circle around us and then a gate materialized at the entrance of the building.
"What now?" I asked "Any ideas?"
"idea" She said
"Yes, an idea. I think we may need one" I said, obviously annoyed
"I just gave you one!" She replied

The shadows now materialized a blue blame above their heads, if you can even call it a head. In a few seconds I quickly made a comparison to SoulKnight, one of those mobile games I saw them playing.

"Seems like SoulKnight" I said sarcastically
"Thats it!" she said, her head looking like she thought of an actual way to help us rather than just joking around, like their lives didn't matter.
"Whats it?" I asked
"Distract them! I'll roam the building!"
"Why?" I asked again
"We need a weapon, I left mine at Benedict's house"
"Why do you get all the good stuff? and why do I have to distract them?!" I demanded
"Because you're more annoying" She said

I tried to not strangle her for that. She was way worse than Lynn and all those other bullies in Xilos. Why was Benedict, my best friend and the only person that could theoretically replace my brother. Make this girl, this bully who is a pretend-to-be nerd, his sidekick. My head was spinning, literally.

"Im not annoying!" I yelled back
"Well, what do you have?!" She asked

A smaller ego, I thought. I didn't tell her that though. As much as I wanted her to be part of the groups of families that disappeared out of nowhere, I needed her help. I cant rely on Mikey or Ean, they would just endlessly scold me for running away.

"Nothing" I remarked
"See? Now move!" she said, as she bolted away to the nearest room.

I was now all alone, with blue flame throwing ghosts encircling me like I was the red X in a pirate map, 'X marks the spot'. I then scanned the room for anything either unusual or of importance. Yeah, I know that was Beatriz's job, but I could not trust her one single bit. My eyes locked on a small cabinet next to the large gate blocking the entrance. I had trouble focusing on what or why it was important. Then I saw it, a large javelin, with a ice tip. Beatriz, my supposed to be partner and or ally, was absolutely no where to be found. So I thought, why not?

I ran across the room, completely forgetting about the ice floor. I almost tripped, but I didn't. A flame pushed me back to a position that was, normal? I forgot what normal is anymore. My back was burning, my shirt was about to engulf with flames.

The next things I did, I tell you, I did not like.

I took off my shirt in rage as I took the Javelin, I hated to have to go that far. I was really private about my body, but I knew if I had let my emotions control me, I would have no body. I saw my skin turning the same red as my scarf, I felt I was more powerful. I knew the scarf was helping me, I knew Ean was helping me.

With all my force, I threw the javelin and hit one of the ghosts, it split and merged with the bodies of the other ghosts. I realized that they could only die if they were alone. I mean, I wasn't even 1% sure if that was how it works. However, seeing as my new buddy was gone and had absolutely zero information, I had to believe that was the solution.

I was thinking this all through, but I realized that the javelin was broken. I couldn't throw it with any accuracy, even if I did, I could end up hurting myself. "Any time now!" I yelled "Beatriz?"

"Coming!" she yelled.

As I was searching for something to wear, I saw a dark blue jacket with a white rope, or maybe shoelace, I dont know whats it called. I took the jacket, and happily wore it, I was about to zip the jacket shut until I saw... nothing. I was invisible... It came to me that, these ghosts.. were not ghosts.. they were... shadows.. Shadows of the people who have died.. I recognized some of them even... Travis.... and even as much as I hated Lynn... I wanted to beat her up alive, not as this dead shadow/ghost thingy. Its just... wrong

After the silence, my partner Beatriz finally found something useful, or at least I think it was useful, she yelled "Leo!"

"Im not in a position to, come to you!" I yelled back "I need something called, erm... HELP!"

"Screw the ghosts!" she said
"Shadows" I corrected
"Screw the shadows! Just run to me!"

I ran to where I thought Beatriz was, when I found her, my first instinct was to punch her in the face and never to her again, but I stayed cool. "What?"

"I found the original copy" she whispered
"What copy?" I asked "Your birth certificate?"
"No, you cheepo deepo!"
"whats a cheepo deepo?" I asked
"Whatever" she said, ignoring my question "The Tanian Prophecy"

I was intrigued, but also nervous. If there was a prophecy for our world, it probably means trouble. There wouldn't be
a prophecy without a problem, I thought. "What does it say?"

She started reading the scroll.. "A certain five are destined to darkness.. In a void of nothing... Three succeed in their quest.. while two are trapped trying"
"What?" I asked
Ignoring me, she continued "A single choice will make a group weak.. to return the world to how it should be.."
"Forget I asked anything"
"Can you please shut up?" Beatriz demanded
"Thats part of the prophecy?" I asked
She continued reading the scroll "Travel to the east, to wherever the piece lands, The quest ends just how it first began"
"Thats it?" I asked
"Yeah. That also means YOU NEED to be part of the quest"

I knew her logic was flawed, I mean, just because a five will quest, doesn't mean im part of the five, let alone Beatriz or Benedict. I was also very tired, I couldn't think straight.

I came to realize that.. I was already being attacked, if I was alone, I would have died. It was either I died with my friends, or I die myself.
"Fine" I said "But dont take credit for convincing me join you guys"
"Only guys?" She asked innocently "Where is the equality?!"
"You seem like a guy"

She slapped me in the face, all I could was how Benedict will react to his sidekick slapping his best friend in the face.
"Ouch" I said "You are totally helping your case"
"Can we please leave?" She asked
"That I can agree to"
"Lets finally leave Valak, shall we?"

I got a lump in my throat, Valak..? This cant be... She is probably joking, I stared at her, trying to read her expression.
"Whats the matter?" She asked
"Valak? We are in Valak?" I asked
"Yeah. I thought you were here to find your father.. alone"

I explained to her why I even went here in the first place, surprisingly, she bought it.
"Ok cool, lets get out of here before you meet the same fate" She said

I didn't want to, I wanted to keep looking for my father.. but the way she said same fate. I felt like she knew something I didn't, I think she knew that... my father was... gone. Sweat kept coming out of my head, I knew I had to leave, if not, I knew that I would keep weeping here until I died too

"Ok" I said "Can we please leave now?"
"Not gonna lie, I didn't expect that answer, but as you wish!" She said enthusiastically.
"Where are we going to go?" I asked
"Our camp, our meeting place." she answered
"What?" I asked, but no response.

And after all of that fiasco, I thought my day could only get better. Looking back, I was so-so wrong.