The Moonlight Hero

Chapter Ten: The Top Fifty

I looked around the room that I'd been in. It was slightly different in layout than the one that I'd been put in after my fight with Aishido. I was once again wearing a white undershirt with a blue tunic and shorts. I threw the covers of the bed off of me and stepped out of the room.

Outside were several people, sitting and chatting. I saw Hako at the end of the hall. He and I locked eyes for a split second, but the stare was broken by him turning away and walking down another hall. I looked around. I saw some people chatting and quickly glancing in my direction. They noticed that I'd noticed and scurried off. 

All of a sudden, a hand clasped my shoulder. I whipped my head around to see a slightly taller boy with wavy brown hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing a schoolboy uniform, similar to what I had to wear before coming here, and round rimmed glasses. He grinned.

"Walk with me," he said in a hushed voice. My clothing turned from the hospital's standard blue tunic into a black shirt and blue jeans. He began to walk, and so did I. 

We walked for about a half hour, completely silent. He led me through the hospital, to the commons area, to a small staircase hidden behind one of the staircases to the upper floors of the apartment complex. We stopped walking at the bottom of the stairs, where the passage separated into two different paths, each met with a door. My back was up against the wall, the only way out blocked by the boy who'd brought me here. He looked no older than a Junior. His grin was gone. His eyes narrowed.

He slammed his fist against the wall right next to my head. "Who the hell are you?" he said in a menacing tone. I stared back into his eyes, completely silent. He sneered and made the motion to slap me. I caught his wrist and sent a small jolt of electricity throughout his body. He jumped, his messy curly hair now even messier. He glared at me. All of a sudden, a thud resonated from behind him. The boy was in a state of shock as he fell to the ground. His attacker was none other than himself. An exact clone of my attacker.

I sunk into a defensive stance. My right side began to spark with small, blue flames. The boy held his hand out, and water formed around me, constricting my movement and dousing my flames. The water rotated around me, folding in and out, constricting me under even more pressure. I tried to gasp for air, but I instead got a mouthful of water. I opened my palm and froze the water surrounding me, and then set my body on fire to melt the water. The water completely disintegrated. The boy grabbed my arm.

"You're coming with me," he said. This one was much more blunt. As he help my arm, he picked up the imposter and slung him over his shoulder. I followed as he pushed in the same stone that Subaru had when I'd first came here. The bricks folded in to reveal the staircase into Subaru's office. The boy disappeared into the shadows, and I was left alone to walk up the dark stairs. 

I could hear voices at the top of the stairs. I slowed my pace, not sure if I was meant to hear this conversation or not. I recognized a few voices, but the two that stood out to me were Subaru and the boy who had led me here.

"He was targeting Artemis. Do you think that they know?" the boy said in a low voice. "No, they couldn't. That would be impossible. Unless... Unless someone here is supplying them with information," Subaru said. The room went silent as I reached the top of the stairs. 

"Oh good, you're here," Subaru said, his tone a little lighter. I looked around the room. There were fifty people surrounding the room, James in the center. "What's going on here?" I asked slowly, taking a second look around the room. I recognized a few more faces; Niko, Aishido, Teo, Hako, and Hakone. "Artemis, these are the top fifty fighters, known as the Fifty. They are the only students allowed outside of this safe haven without my permission," Subaru replied, "And, if you do everything perfectly, you might be joining them."

I looked at Subaru, confused. "Today, you will learn what it takes to be in this elite class of fighters, and what their purpose really is. And then, you will take the test to join them." I looked around, and James stepped forward. "Our job is to protect this place, even if it costs our lives, and protect the balance of the outside world. You will take a test, in the form of a battle between yourself and five of us. If you last thirty minutes, then you will be allowed to join the ranks of the Fifty. Aishido, please explain what it takes to be in the Fifty."

Aishido stepped forward, his eyes burning into me. "The Fifty have all gone through their outside studies, a program used to prepare us power users for life outside of this place. It's a month long course where you will act as the sidekick of a vigilante. After that, you have to go through rigorous routines of working out and getting in shape. Only after those things are done will you have a chance of taking the test of the Fifty. This is no gym test back where you came from, this is a test of mentality, vitality, and sheer determination and skill."

Aishido stepped back into line with the Fifty. Subaru rolled to the side, grabbing a piece of paper. "Since this is short notice, only one person was available for your outside study. Please sign here," Subaru said. I signed my name on the dotted line, and Subaru placed it on a pedestal behind him. The paper disappeared. "Let me make things clear; you are not to use your power in any situation, unless your supervisor allows it or you are in a life or death situation. Do I make myself clear?" Subaru asked. I nodded, and Subaru stood. "That's it, go back to your daily lives. Artemis, you are to leave as soon as possible, I'll give you three hours to pack." I nodded again, and we all left.

I could hear some of the Fifty talking. "He's too young; He looks so fragile!" I looked ahead, determined to prove them wrong.