Hollow (Free the World)

]I ran through the thick darkness as voices hissed around me calling out Jaaaaaaaaaake! I had no control over my body as I ran forward into the abyss of night.
My head turned and I saw at my left a girl I’d never seen before, she had short brown hair and wore a red T-Shirt, black jeans and a necklace hung around her neck, attached to the end was a black crystal that gave off an eerie glow. To my right was my friend Seth, he wore a black T- Shirt, black jeans and his white runners.
Ahead a figure emerged before us in some black wavy pool that stood up straight, he was a black clad man that had scars surrounding his pale white face. He pulled a long jagged blade from his side and swung quickly. A hissing sound pierced through our ears.
I jumped up from my bed. Sweat ran down my forehead as I looked around my room. Nothing but a small blue room with several posters of my favorite bands, a TV and a computer at the far right corner could be seen. I fell back onto my pillow, which happened to be drenched in sweat, and shut my eyes. I immediately re-opened them and looked at the alarm clock beside my pillow, it read 8:14 am.
“Well, that’s one dream I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.”
I ran down stairs and snatched a sandwich from the kitchen table shoved it in my mouth and ran out the door.
Surprisingly the bus was still there, I ran over and hopped in. I heard a low giggle which turned into a deafening laughter.
“Good Morning, Jake. I think you forgot something, or is that the new fashion with you kids these days?” I looked down to see I was still wearing my black undershirt and sponge-bob boxers. I could feel my face turning a deep shade of red and I raced it out of the bus and back to my house.

2 years ago my old house caught fire and my mom was killed, my dad and I were forced to move to this quiet town, Leanen. Ever since mom died my dad has acted differently I once caught him carrying a gun. He told me he would use it to kill the man who killed mom and destroyed our house.
I’m 15 now and I’ve moved on about my mom and dad. Dad seems more normal but he still sneaks off to our shop, The Old Soul, a lot. He often works in the back area and leaves me in charge of the customers and cleaning. But who was to tell me that after today, my life would take a dramatic turn.

I jumped into the shower, changed into pants and went down stairs. I ran out the door as I had done before but this time I had jumped on my new bike and rode to school. By the time I arrived it was 9:29 I was 29 minutes late and into a period. I decided to wait in the halls watching as the more popular kids stride by hand in hand or face on face… I pulled out my MP3 and tuned out for a while until I heard a loud BEEP meaning next class.
I was waiting outside the entire time so I was the first to class, big mistake. Mr. Cavers, our English teacher, stood staring at me as if I were a ghost then he said, “Why, hello Jake! I’m surprised to see you here on time. Sit, sit.” I looked away and took a seat at my desk in the front.
It felt like hours before the second student arrived, though it was probably only 2 minutes or so. Soon afterwards students poured into the room and jumped into their seats as if they were eager to be lectured.
“Ok, students! Today we learn about the thrilling and marvelous tales of Shakespeare.” No one said a word. I dosed off as he read the boring story. In my head I thought of nothing but sleep. Until 2 words stung my ears,
“Test time!” Mr. Cavers shouted! Groans, moans sighs and hisses filled the air.
I guessed at the multiple choice questions and left the rest. Instead I just made little doodles of Mr. Cavers in a caveman costume hitting things will a large hammer. As he collected the papers he examined mine for a moment and snickered, “2 marks off, even though all the multiple choice questions are wrong and the others aren’t finished.” I threw my head onto my desk and groaned. My friend Seth poked my back and laughed,
“Hey, you might still get an arts credit for it.”
Never in my life had I gotten a negative 2 until today. I wonder what my mom would have said if she were still here.
The bell rang once more and I got up pushed in my seat, grabbed my books, and headed to the lunch room. I sat down and was soon joined by Seth, and Garet, a kid my age with long black hair he often wore shirts with strange captions on them, today it was, “To be or Not to be, I know the Answer!” I laughed in my head after reading it.
“Failed again Jake?” Garet snickered.
“Big time, negative 2 baby!” Seth laughed. I slashed at my gross cafeteria food with a plastic fork.
“Wow, you suck…” Garet snickered; under the table I kicked him as hard as I could. He barely flinched yet a tear came to his eye and he returned the kick.
“Can’t you play footsies another time?” Garet and I glared at Seth and he moved over a couple inches.
“Wow, tough crowd!” I sighed and continued to hack away at my food, “You aint’ talk’n too much bro. What’s up?”
“I can think of a million problems at the moment!’ I shouted. Heads turned to stare at me and Seth. I felt like punching him out I was so mad.

Later, I fell back and pulled out my MP3 plugged the headphones into my ears and drowned away in the world of music. Unfortunate it wouldn’t last. The kid who sat beside me pulled one headphone from my ear and started singing along to the song. Mind you this was in 4th period Math. Mr. Garnet our Math teacher looked at me and blamed me for it.
At the end of the period while I was tuned out the door opened and the principal entered the room fallowed by a girl that matched the one from my last dream; stepped into the room. Garnet introduced her as Crystal. As I left class I tried to catch up the new girl but she dived into the crowd and I lost her. I shrugged and started off to my last period, Science.
The day ended, in Science I had tripped and made a fool of myself yet again. I was right today was going to be a bad day. I went to get my bike but found it was missing, even worse!!! I kicked the wall and hurt my foot, I really felt like an idiot! I walked down the long streets and ended up at my dads shop. I opened the door, there was a bell that sounded and my dad turned. His face was covered in sweat. He wore a white shirt and blue jeans.
“Hey son!” His mustache seemed to have grown a bit since last night at dinner.
“Hey.” I replied in a low voice. He looked at me for a second and asked, “What’s wrong?” I jumped over the counter and sat in my little chair in the corner. I tilted my head to the side and stared out the window. My dad came over and poked me,
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s not wrong!?” I shouted, “I got a negative two on a test, made an embarrassment of myself TWICE today and my bike was stolen.”
“How did your bike get stolen, and how is it possible to get negative two on a test?” He seemed kinda calm about the bike, but the test seemed to have made him a tad bit mad.
“I missed the bus, sorta and I got all answers wrong on a test and drew a funny picture of my English teacher on my test. Anything else you want to talk about? No? GOOD!” With that I sunk down ready to doze off for another time today.
“Well I gotta go do some errands so your watching the shop for a bit.” I didn’t reply, “15 dollars?” I looked up and smiled for the first time today.
“Fine.” My dad took a ten and a five from his pocket and placed it on the counter in front of me. Not that it mattered this ol’ shop doesn’t get much business.
I sat at the counter reading some old book I found in the back, to my side was a bag of ‘Chips Ahoy’ cookies. I flipped the page and went to grab another cookie when the bell rang and a warm hand snatched a cookie before I could. I looked up and my eyes lit up. There stood Crystal, the new kid who arrived earlier during whatever period it was.
“Hey, didn’t I see you earlier? You were the one who tripped-”
“Don’t even say it.” I looked away and dozed off again.
“Hey can I have a cookie?”
“You already took one…”
“Oh yea, he-he!” I looked up and asked,
“What do you want, besides cookies?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” She turned on her heel and left. I laughed and went back to reading.
I woke up the next day after a nice rest. I put on a shirt and Blue Jeans and ran out to meet the bus. When everyone started laughing again I checked myself to see if I was missing anything.
“Looks like your wearing cloths this time Mr. Jake.” the bus driver said, trying to keep himself from laughing. I looked around, all the seats were taken but one. In that seat was Crystal. The bus engine roared and I stumbled over to the seat and sat down next to her.
“Hi!” I said.
“Oh, hey!” she held out her hand, in her palm was a cookie, “This is for the one I took the other day.” I took it and devoured it in one bite, it tasted funny…
“Do you like it? I made it myself!” She said cheerfully.
“Yes…” I said in a muffled voice, trying to keep myself from choking, “It’s actually kinda good.”
“Really?” She said, looking surprised, “You’re the only one who’s ever said that before, the rest just fall over gagging!” I quickly swallowed it.
“Well, it’s not all that bad, though it does have a funny taste to it.”
“Oh, that’s my secret ingredient. Want to know what it is?”
“Uhhh, sure.” I knew I was going to regret saying that.”
“It’s… bloooooooooood” my face twisted and I felt like I was going to vomit,
“Ooops! I was only joking.” I slipped down my seat so my knees were barely touching the floor.
“Hey, loser!” I sunk down more, it was Brad Ryley the class clown and school idiot/lunch money collector, “I thought you hung out with guys not girls!” I tightened my fist readying to punch, though it wouldn’t do much seeing as he was so large and I was a pathetically weak.
“Who’re you!?” Crystal growled.
“Name’s Brad, and you’d do best to stay away from the clutst beside you.”
“Pssst, Crystal. Give him one of your cookies.” I whispered.
“What’d you say!?” Brad roared. Crystal nodded and reached into her pocket.
“Hey, so you’re Brad.”
“The one and all.. erm however that goes…”
“Well here try this, I made it myself!” Crystal smiled and handed Brad a cookie. Brad returned an ugly smile and took the cookie. He stuffed into his over sized head and chewed. He grabbed his neck and started stumbling around, then the bus hit a bump and he fell backwards smashing his head against the window.
“Wow… are my cookies really THAT bad?” Crystal asked, I laughed and almost choked up the cookie.

“I feel sorry for him…” Crystal said, as though she truly meant it.
“Don’t worry bout’ Brad, he’s got a reinforced skull.” I replied, “You should worry more about the window!” I burst out into a defiant laughter,
“Okay. But tell me the truth, are my cookies really that bad?!” I stopped laughing and took a deep breath in and said, “Yup.”
“Oh.” Her head sank down a bit.
“Hey! I am the King o’ Cookies, I’ll teach you how there made.”
“Ok then!” she said with a smile.
“But not now, I’m gonna late for 1st period! Stop by the shop after school again, Ok?”
“Ok! Bye!” I ran off with a wave and then hit me… MATH EXAM!! I froze and felt like going back to Crystal but I kept running.
“Hey YOU!!” A threatening voice roared, it was Brad… but he wasn’t here for me he charged by me and kept moving towards Crystal.
“Oh, Hi Brad!”
“You little-” He charged a punch and threw it directly at Crystal.
“Aaaaaaah!” she screamed,
“O-o-ow… that really hurt.” Crystal opened her eyes,
“J-Jake!?” There I was standing between the two, Brad and Crystal, with an oversized fist in my face.
“Get out of my way Loser! I’m here to punish this rotten little twig for that cookie stunt!”
“No.” I said, “You don’t hit girls, I figured even you’d know that.” Brad moved his fist and looked at it.
“Blood?” He looked up at my face, it was covered in blood I knew it was. I could feel it as well as I could feel the pain.
“Jake, your hurt!” Crystal cried
“It’s ok…” I fell to one knee and put my hand over the one side of my face.
“Idiot!? Why I otta crush you here and now!”
“Do it then.” I said, “Take it out on me, but you don’t hit a girl.”
”Oh! I’ll get you first then the girl! Bwahahaha!” He kicked me aside into a
locker and moved closer to Crystal. By now many people had gathered around us forming a human wall on each side. Once again Brad charged a heavy punch and threw it at Crystal but my body flung up and blocked it again.
“Ugh!” I fell back landing on Crystal, and everything started to get blurry…
“Bah!!” Brad turned and looked back down at me, “Your not one to give up, Eh?” I couldn’t answer all I knew was that I needed a doctor. Maybe two… and a cookie…
I woke up later that day in the infirmary. Three heads looked down on me, One was the nurse, Ms. Kaira, another was Brad and the last was Crystal.
“Oh, so your still breathing? It’s a shame!” Brad snickered.
“Hey, are you ok?” Crystal asked. I tried to move and speak but I couldn’t.
“Don’t try to talk or move ok, you took some bad hits and Brad is in a heck of a lot of trouble for this.” The nurse explained.
“See ya, I was suppose to stay here until you woke up-”
“Aaaaaand!” Ms. Kaira growled.
“Oh, and I-uh.. um. Sorry dude. I’m kinda glad you stopped me though. Or I’de be in even more trouble for attacking a girl.” My face twisted, this couldn’t have been Brad. The one who was a demonic gorilla earlier.
“Hey! I want a reply from you idiot! I just-”
“Yea, thanks for the apology Brad, coming from you it meant a lot.” I said in a low voice. The nurses eyes widened,
“You shouldn’t be talking yet!”
“It’s ok, I can take the pain.” I moved my arm and a jolt of pain over came my body, “Ugh!” I pushed myself out of the bed and stood before Brad.
“What the…” he muttered.
“I’m late for class Ms. Kaira, so can I go now?”
“This is strange. The injures you took you shouldn’t be out of bed for ATLEAST 2 days.”
“So that’s a no.”
“Of course it is!!”
“Yeesh..” I scratched my head and sat back down on the hospital bed.
“See you later Jake.” Crystal said as she left the room.
“Brad…” The nurse said in a quiet voice, “Jake needs his rest so please leave.”
“Yeah, I know.” Brad loudly left the room and slammed the door behind him.
“I need to run down to Mr. Uubis(The Principle) office. I’ll be back in 2 minutes, alright?”
“Yeah.” I looked up at the ceiling waiting for Ms.Kaira to leave. As I heard the door close,. I jumped out of bed re opened the door and looked out. The nurse lady was halfway down the hall already. So I ran out into the hallway and ran pass Brad,
“Hey dude, sneaking out are we? Nice!” I kept running until I caught up with Crystal.
“Hey!” I said as I stopped beside her.
“Jake!? Why aren’t you back at the infirmary.
“Snuck out. Anyway I’m head’n home. So see you later!” I continued running not knowing that a wound on my head had ripped open and I was leaving a small drip drop trail of blood behind me

“Hey Dad!” I shouted as I opened the front door.
“Your back early, what happened you play’n hooky?” a voice boomed through the halls of my house.
“Nope, home sick.” My dad stepped into the room and just stared.
“Sick!?” My dad shouted, “You look as if you were flattened by a Sumo Wrestler!” I scratched my head and made a low giggle.
“I’m fine-ish..” I started my way up to my room when my leg gave out of me and I toppled down the stairs, “OW, OW, OW, OW!! THIS is NOT my day!!” My dad laughed and went back to whatever it was he was doing. After sitting there for six minutes waiting to see if my dad would actually help me up I pulled my body up and made my way up the stairs, Limping.
I lay on my bed staring at my ceiling when I finally decided, I was bored. My dad probably wouldn’t have let me leave and I had a craving for Pizza, Pop and maybe a cookie or two. I tried to go out through the front door when my dad came in and said, “Where are you going?” I turned and replied,
“Umm, lunch…?”
“Eat here. If it’s pizza your after then we have some in the fridge.” Darn- he knew me alittle too well.
“Actually-”
“Your not going out in your current state.” He looked somewhat serious then his face cracked and he burst out laughing.
“Was that supposed to be what Mom would say?” I asked, sounding quite serious myself. My dad stopped laughing but didn’t reply.(Me: Hey I think my moms baking Pizza right now ^^)
“What?” I asked.
“Hmph, am I not good enough. Or do you need mom?”
“Huh…?”
“Nevermind. Just- your not going ok!” I turned and ran back up to my room. But my dad knew what I was gonna do before I did.
“And Ill be watching for if you try to go out the window.”
“Crap!”
My dad sat on the lawn with his little laptop and his funny looking shirt with all the colours on it typing. Then it came to me…
“Hehehe… HEHEHEEEEE!” I sounded kinda funny with the laugh but I immediately ran down stairs almost tripped along the way and I smashed into the door, I reached for the lock and I ran to the window, I opened it and shouted, “Hey Dad, phone!” He got up and headed for the door, “Umm- its in the back ok.” He nodded and went through the gate- by the time he had opened the gate I had rushed to the back door and locked it as well. I climbed out the window and ran over to my neighbors and called my number on my cell phone.
“Hello” my dad boomed over the phone.
“Hey dad, Thanks for leaving the front. I’ll see you later ok. I’m Hungry.” With that I hung up and ran down the street As I passed the 5th house I heard my dad shout out, “JAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!”

I sat at alittle round table throwing slices of pizza in my mouth and drinking Pepsi, then someone put their hand on my shoulder- I hoped so very dearly that it was not dad. I turned my head and saw a tall man in a bright blue uniform. I had short brown hair and a swirly mustache and a long tip pointed beard.
“Are you Mr. Jake?” he asked looking into my eyes.
“Umm… no.” The man took his hand off my shoulder and folded his arms, “I’m serious- he ran that way!” I pointed to where the bathrooms where the bathrooms were located and he looked, he actually looked! I slipped out from behind him and ran out the door. My body was starting to not ache when I moved anymore so I sprinted as fast as I could down the street when I ran into another funny looking officer then another appeared and the one from the pizza place caught up, I was surrounded!!

I sat in my living room on the sofa drinking the last bit of my Pepsi, while watching TV… this was my dad’s punishment. Kinda lame but whatever. It was the news channel pretty boring, guess that’s why. But for once I was actually paying attention to what they were saying. It was actually interesting.
A man, Mr. Incognito is what the news lady called him. He stole a car and drove around with a family of a mother and daughter still inside. He later ejected from the car sending it into a solid brick wall causing a great deal of damage and the Mother and Daughter inside were both killed. During the explosion he somehow got away undetected and is still at large. This is the fourth incident I had heard about him. Police are saying he’s a… genius, something I’d like to be someday.
“Hey, Jake!” my dad shouted from another room.
“Yes..” I replied.
“If your well enough to run away then your now my errand boy.” I sunk into the couch without replying.
“You can start with the shop. The storage area in the back is pretty dirty. Go on up there and be there in 5 minutes time.”
“5 MINUTES!! The shop’s on the other side of town!”
“So was the pizza place” Ugh there’s no point in trying to fight with my dad. The outcome is almost always, he wins.
I got up and headed for the door.
“Hey, your running late, I started counting 27 seconds ago!” My eyes widened and I bolted it out the door.
As I opened the shop door I heard the phone ringing I ran over and picked it up,
“Hello?” I said, sounding out of breath.
“Hey! So you made it there on time did ya. Ok, now there’s a key to the storage room hidden in a flower pot on the floor, bellow the phone.” I looked down and glanced at the large pot sitting on the ground. I noticed there was a bright silver glitter in the dark soil. I reached down and pulled out a silver key and placed it in a keyhole on the door knob. It didn’t fit!
“I’m guessing you went for the door knob keyhole correct?” my dads voice said over the phone sitting on my shoulder.
“Huh?”
“Try the keyhole to your left. It’s on the wooden frame.
“I see it” I poked the key into the small hole and turned. There was a loud click, then another and another.
“Hey dad, why is the storage room so important to hide the key and have a secret lock?”
“You’ll see.” Then the phone went silent and there was a loud Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, noise. I put the phone back on the holder thing and opened the door. There were box’s EVRYWHERE!! There were stacks of them bigger then me, then there was one of those porny posters in the corner of the room hanging above a table. On the table there was a bunch of papers with the amount of money we had made at the shop and newspapers from maybe 2 years ago.
“What the heck does dad do in here?” I asked myself. I heard the bell ring in the other room meaning someone entered the shop. I stepped out of the storage room and entered the main part of the shop. There was a guy standing in front of the counter, he was massive!! He wore all black and had his hand in his pocket, but what was really strange about him was that he was wearing a mask that looked like the face of a fox. I had a bad feeling about this guy, I could tell he was probably going to rob the shop so I had to think of a plan.
“Oh, hello sir, can you excuse me for a second.” I turned and looked at the phone, I quickly dialed 3 numbers then a bunch of random ones.
“Hello! What’s the emergency?” a voice boomed on the other side.
“Hey, dad I’m at the Shop, you know The Old Soul?” I said.
“huh?” the person on the other side of the phone muttered.
“Oh, don’t you get it?” The guy behind me, at the counter was getting inpatient.
“Oh- ok, we’ll be there right away.” The phone hung up and I turned to the guy.
“Hello, how may I help you?” I asked, trying not to get on his bad side.
“Hello…” he said. He quickly pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at me, “Give me all you got in that thing… the cash register!” I bit my lip and yanked at the cash register, there was a click and I was able to pick it up.
“What are you doing!?” the man roared.
“Here, you……GOOO!!!” I threw the cash register and the man and hit him in the face. He fell onto the floor with the cash register on his face. He was unconscious, or so I hoped. I ran over and grabbed his gun and pointed it down to the man. incase he woke up, I searched his coat and found his wallet, I opened it and saw his ID, it read Jamie Walker. I closed it and threw back on him.
The front door burst open and several police officers including the one from the pizza place swarmed in.
“You!!? Get him!” he commanded and the officers all came grabbed me and took thee gun.
“Wait!! It wasn’t me! It was that dude on the floor!”
“Save it for the judge kid!”
“Judge….?”
“Help that man, take him to a hospital or something.”

What… the… hell!! I’m being sent into court cause of some guy trying to rob my dads shop and I’m being framed for it!? I sat in a little chair in a small square room. In front of me was a desk and behind it sat 2 men. There was no light at all so I couldn’t make out their faces but I could tell that they were both wearing black suits… I think.

“Jake Agari. Do you know why you’re here?’ one of the men asked.
“Man, your dim. Of course I do. But I’m not the one who tried to rob my own dad’s store…”
“Hmm?”
“Damnit!! The store belongs to my dad, why in the world would I try to rob my own dad’s shop?”
“I’m sorry, Jake. I think we may have made a tad bit of an error, but-“
“Wow! You people aren’t very smart… you should collect a bit of information before you start accusing me for something I hadn’t done.”
“Yes, yes. Were sorry, its just the chief saw you and apparently you were involved in some kind of incidents this morning.” The man pulled out a walkie talky and mumbled something into it.
“So can I go now…?” I asked.
“Yes. I’ll call off the court meeting and your free to go.” I got up and looked around for the door, “Oh, its to your left in that corner over there.”
“Ok, thanks.” I went over and pushed open the door. There was a tall scary looking man standing there with coffee all over his bright blue uniform and on the floor.
“Oh, s-sorry about that sir.” I said.
“Move it kid!” he pushed me aside and ran into the room.
“Hey!” I shouted as I watched him run up to the two men behind the table.
“The man from the store robbery-“
“Yes, yes. What about him?”
“He escaped from the hospital!”
“What, how?!”
“When the nurse came in he grabbed her and through her out a window, she was killed but he then jumped out his self and somehow managed to live.”
“I see. What was the name and address of this man?”
“The name was Jamie Walker., but as for an address… he didn’t seem to have one.”
“I see.” I shivered and turned around, started walking down the hall when another police dude ran by me into the room. Seconds later I heard the 2 men from earlier shout, “WHAT!!!?” Then all 4 came charging out the hall and rushed by me

Chapter 4


For the next two days I didn’t go to school, chat with friends or well do anything. Then I heard a knock on my door. I ran downstairs and looked through the little hole thingy, It was Crystal. She was crying… I quickly opened the door and asked, “What, what’s wrong?” She looked up and me and didn’t answer, “Come on, tell me!” She wiped away tears from her face and said, “Its my mom!”
“What about your mom?” I replied.
“She, was shot, coming out of the market. She’s in the hospital now and my dad he’s been missing since yesterday. I had no one else to go to in the town.” I didn’t answer.
“Can I come in a for a bit?” she asked.
“Umm, yea, sure.” I pulled open the door further and let her in. I looked out into the street thinking someone or something was about to jump out at me. And well, something did.
“BOOO!!!!” Seth flew out from under the front porch and startled me half to death.
“Howly crap, dude!! You scared me! I almost had a heart attack!”
“Ahaha! So who is that chick? She came up to me crying and asked where your house was. I took her here and she just bolted it up to your door.”
“A friend.”
“Oooowh, is she your girlfriend!?” Seth said in a retarded voice.
“Ugh…. No, I just met her umm I think it was last week.”
“I see… well, are you going to invite me and keep your new chick waiting or we gonna stand here for another 3 and half minutes?”
“Oh my god, your SOOOO, ANNOYING!!” I screamed pulling my hair.
”Eh, I don’t see anything annoying about what I just said dude.” He snickered and ran by me into my house, he flung himself onto my living room couch and stuck his arm around Crystals shoulders/
“Hey you said she wasn’t your girlfriend, so I might as well try, haha! Just joking” Crystal punched Seth in the face and moved over.
“Ouch! I said I was just joking babe…” I rolled my eyes and joined them.
For a minute or so it was just silence. Then of course it was Seth who broke it.
“Yo, Jake! Dude, can I make some popcorn? That would be awesome!” Ugh, I felt like punching him out now too.
“Fine, it’s in the kitchen in a cupboard beside the fridge.”
“Oh yea! Were gonna have an awesome party!”
“NO!! No parties! Just get your popcorn and sit down…”
“Wow, what’s up with you dude?”
“Sorry, it’s just-”
“Never mind, I’ll just go make my popcorn.” Seth got up and walked casually into the next room, which was the kitchen.
“Is he always this weird?” Crystal asked.
“Ya… Anyway, so, what do you need from me?”
“I don’t know, I just needed company. My house is pretty much abandoned with my dad missing and my mom in the hospital. All I got left over there is my cat.”
“Why aren’t you with your mom at the hospital then-“
“HEY JAKE, DUDE! HOW DO YOU USE YOUR MICROWAVE?!” Seth shouted from the Kitchen.
“Oh my god… you put the popcorn into the microwave, press the popcorn button then press start…”
“OH! Right, I knew that!!”
“Well anyway, the people at the hospital wont let me in to see her until tomorrow.” Crystal said softly.
“WHERES THE START BUTTON!?” Seth shouted,
“BESIDE THE POPCORN BUTTON!” I shouted back.
“OH!”
For two minutes there was a rapid sound of popping then it stopped so I started to speak again, “Ouch, that’s kinda lame.”
“DUDES AND DETTES! THE POPCORN IS READY!” Seth came into the room with 3 glasses pilled to the rim with a somewhat chunky looking drink in it.
“Ewww!! That’s popcorn?” Crystal gasped.
“Yea, I was watching some video called, Will it Blend? And I decided to try blending popcorn. You need to watch that dudes videos! They are HELLARIOUS!! Like one time the dude blends Glow Sticks, you know those little stick things that glow when you snap them-”
“We know what Glow Sticks are, Einstein. And I ain’t drinking that… whatever that is.” I said.
“Fine, more for me. Anyway, he puts the glow sticks in his little or big, kinda. Blender then turns off the lights then turns on the blender and and then they start like exploding and and it looks awsome! Do have a computer? Lemme show ya.”
“My mom’s in the hospital and all you can talk about is Popcorn… blended, and glow sticks… blended?” Crystal cried.
“Umm, ya?” Seth replied.

“Ugh, that’s just Seth for ya…” I said.
“Hey! Was that a compliment or an insult? Or an Incompliment?” I rolled my eyes and leaned back into the couch. There was low creaking sound and the front door burst open. My dad stepped in and threw down a bag. In the process a couple papers flew out. He looked into the room and stared at us.
“Hey, who said you could invite over girls while I was gone?” he growled.
“Oh, this is Crystal, she’s one of my new friends.”
“I wasn’t talking about her alone I meant Seth too! Ahaha!”
“Hey! Im guessing that WAS an incompliment…” Seth groaned.
“What’s an incompliment?” my dad asked.
“It’s a compliment and an insult… I think.” I replied.
“Yea, that’s it!” Seth said with a big smile, “That was correct… for once.” Seth trailed off into a low giggle.
“I see… well hello Crystal.”
“Hi…” Crystal replied.
“Shy, are you?”
“No. It’s just my dad’s missing and my mom’s in the hospital.”
“Oh! I heard about your dad on the news, but what happened to your mother?”
“Shot, by a man wearing a Fox imaged mask” My eyes widened, might that have been the guy from earlier?
“Hey, the guy who attacked the shop was also wearing a fox faced mask!” I blurted out.
“Guy that attacked the shop?” Seth, Crystal and my dad all said at the same time.
“Oh, uhh…. Didn’t someone call you yet dad?”
“No! What happened?!” my dad roared.
“Some guy tried robbing our shop…”
“What happened afterwards?”
“The police showed up and they framed me of robbing the shop because of the running away thing. I eventually convinced them it wasn’t me and then the guy escaped from the hospital he was taken to cause I threw a cash register at him then I suppose while he was making his grand get away he shot Crystals mom!” I began gasping for breath then my dads face twisted.
“You threw a cash register at this man and he escaped from the hospital?” my dad said with a puzzled look on his face.
“No! While we were still in the shop I threw the cash register at him, then he was taken to the hospital to be taken care of.”
“Oh.”
Later that day my dad drove Crystal home and I came too, as for Seth… well we just let him walk home cause he only lived 2 streets away.
“See ya later, Crystal.” My dad said as he opened the door for her. I didn’t bother saying anything we waited a minute before leaving then Crystal ran back up to the car, my dad rolled down the windows and asked, “What’s up?”
“My door is locked and my mom has the key.”
“Oh! In the case why not just stay over at our place for the night?” my dad said.
“Really?” She asked.
“Yea, of course.”
“Thank you, Mr. Agari.”
“My name’s Jerry.”
“No its not!” I shouted, laughing.
“Oh whatever, I just like the name Jerry.”
“Ahaha! Ok, Mr. Ogar- I mean… Jerry.” I rolled my eyes and re opened the back door to let Crystal in.
We drove back to my place and on the way we noticed Seth, standing on the sidewalk infront of a man wearing a fox mask.
“Dad, pull over!” he did and we all jumped out of the car and chased the guy off.
“Wow, thanks dudes and uhh dette…”
“What happened?!” I shouted.
“Umm, nothing really. He just said, fear the Hidden Army, then he took my money…” my dad kept silent but me and Crystal were helping him over to the car.
“I’m fine, ya know’ I can do this by my self!” Seth pushed us away and jumped in the car.
“What’s with him?” Crystal asked.
“Dunno.” I replied.
We drove Seth home and his parents appeared too not be at home either. And his door was locked.
“Hmph, you kids really need your own house keys.” My dad snorted, “Well I guess another one staying over couldn’t hurt… much.” We all laughed except Seth who didn’t get it… well I didn’t get it either but I laughed anyway.

“Yo! Jake, dude! Get me a glass of water! And some popcorn and-”
“I’m not your servant dude” I said, interrupting Seth.
“Well ya wanna know what!?”
“Not really.” I replied with a low laugh.
“Well you should be a servant! There, that can be your future career.”
“Na… I wanna be a writer one day.”
“Wow! Really, that’s lame, really lame dude!” I rolled my eyes and fell back leaning against the couch.
“Hey, kids!” my dad shouted from the next room, “Somebody call for popcorn?” he stepped in carrying the biggest bowl I’ve ever seen filled to the rim with popcorn. The thing was the size of those sombrero things!
“WOW!!!!” Seth shouted, “I’m getting fat tonight baby!” Seth yelled eagerly.
“You already are!” I said, I burst out into a loud laughter.
“Yea, kinda…” Seth admitted.
“Hey Crystal, your pretty quiet over there.” My dad said.
“Yea…” she replied.
“Why?” I asked.
“Well I’m trying to watch the movie for one!” I turned around and noticed that the movie had started. It was, “ “
“Oh yea, haha, sorry about that.” I said.
“Dude, why are you always sooo sorry? Like I mean this must be the.. umm 5th time you’ve said sorry today!!”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay, I’m heading out to bed. See tomorrow, rats!” my dad said as he exited the room.
We sat there for about an hour watching the movie.
ZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZz!!!!
“Ugh, figures it’s Seth to be first to fall asleep.” Crystal groaned.
“Hah! Yea… well I’m gonna go to bed now too.” I said, getting up.
“Where are you going?” Crystal asked.
“Umm to bed…” I said.
“What, you aren’t sleeping out here with us?”
“Umm, do I have to?”
“No…”
“Ok, good. See you tomorrow morning..” I waved goodbye and headed to my room.
“Hmph, jerk.” Crystal said quietly. I came back out 2 minutes later carrying my blanket and pillow, ”Jerk am I?” I said, with a laugh.
“You didn’t have too….”
“Whatever. Just go to bed! I’m tired.”
The next morning when I woke up and headed to the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal, Crystal was sitting at the table drinking a cop of coffee, eating MY cereal and reading my dads new paper.
“Good morning.” She said with a smile,
“Hah! You’re a pretty good morning person, unlike a lot of other girls I know…” I replied. She didn’t say anything she just looked back down at the paper.
“What are you reading?” I asked.
“An article, on my mom.”
“Oh!” I grabbed a bowl from a nearby cupboard and a box of Froot Loops from another. I reached into the fridge and grabbed the milk, poured it into my cereal and into a glass. I went over to the table and began eating. There was a silence for a few seconds and then Seth started snoring almost as loud as my dad, who I could also hear even though he was in his room upstairs. It was like they were having a snoring contest.
I ate my breakfast then went into the living room where Seth was still sleeping. I turned on the TV and flickered through the channels when I heard Crystal cry, “STOP!!” Seth jumped up and screamed, “I’m sorry it was an accident- I didn’t mean to go into the girls change room!”
“What….?” I said
“Huh, oh hehe… just umm uh never mind.” I rolled my eyes and looked at the TV. There was some news lady on the screen and in the top right corner of the screen there was a picture of a Fox Masked man.
“Hey! That’s the guy from the shop. He was so tall and… big.” I blurted out.
“Apparently there are a lot of people with those masks, look.” Crystal said pointing to the TV.
“Another robbery has occurred earlier today by this man. Reports are saying that this massive man is one of many who has been spotted wearing this mask. Authorities are asking that everyone within the town stays inside their homes. There men are dangerous and have killed a total of 11 people since they have been discovered. That is all, for now”
“Wow…” I said in a low voice.
“That’s pretty intense…” Seth said.
“Guys, I’m going to check on my mom now.”
“You can’t walk there!” I replied
“If I have to I will.”
“Well, just wait. My dad can take you up.”
“No! I need to go now.”
“Then wait here, ill go wake him up.” I ran upstairs into my dads room and told him to get up. He would wake up then I heard the front door slam. I bolted it downstairs and Seth was on the floor.
“Crap, man. She’s one power house chick…” Seth groaned. I opened the door and looked around. I saw her at the far end of my street running. I put on my shoes and bolted it out after her.
By the time I had gotten to where I had seen her she was already around the corner. I sprinted to the corner and she was on the ground, in front of her stood a Fox Masked Man.
“Jake… he’s the one.”
“I know.” It was him, the guy from the store. His bulky mass looming above me. His shadow stretched 6 concrete sidewalk blocks away making it seem as though the sun had been blocked out.
“You, you’re the brat who threw the cash register at me!!” he roared.
“Maybe.” I replied. He pulled back his massive arm and swung at me. I jumped back and he smashed it into the sidewalk. Dust and tiny rocks flew everywhere leaving a crater where he had hit the ground.
“Crap, if I’m hit by that I could go flying a couple feet back!” Crystal coughed and spat out a drop of blood.
“Run!” She screamed.
“No.” The man pulled out a pistol, but instead of aiming it at me he aimed it at Crystal.
“Hehe! I believe I killed your mommy correct?” the man snickered.
“You didn’t kill her! She’s in the hospital!”
“That’s what you think…” Mine and Crystals eyes lit up and hers filled up with tears.
“Your lying!!” She screamed.
“Why the hell would I lie?”
“Shut up!” I shouted.
“Fine, I’ll shut up. But my gun won’t!” He pulled the trigger of the gun and I closed my eyes, BAM…! I heard Crystal scream then there was silence. I re opened my eyes and a smaller looking man with a slightly different fox mask was had pushed the gun away at the last moment.
“Incognito, you rat! Why the hell did you do that!?” The man didn’t answer instead he just suddenly disappeared along with the bulky man. My face was white I could tell then I looked down at Crystal. She wasn’t saying anything and she was motionless.
“Hey, you ok?” I asked.
“Yea…” she said in a shaky voice, “I’m sorry, for running off.”
“Can you get up?”
“I think so…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Its nothing, I’m just afraid. Maybe my mom is dead.”
“No, don’t worry, she’s ok” I said as I put out my hand. Crystal smiled and grabbed my hand,
“I hope so.”

We went back to my place where Seth was still on the floor. The house was quiet, quieter then it had been in a while. I looked at a standard circular clock hanging on the wall and I noticed the time. It was already 12:19. I was too be at the shop almost an hour ago.
`“Hey Crystal, I gotta go! I have work at the shop.”
“You cant leave me here alone, with Seth!!”
“You want to come? I’ll split todays pay with you.”
“Ok, sure.”
“What about me!?” Seth said from the floor.
“Oh! Your conscious? Sorry about earlier.”
“I’m fine… I think.” Seth pushed himself to his knees then fell back.
“Ah! Is he ok? Does he need a doctor?”
“He’s fine listen…” Seth began snoring quietly then it burst out into loud noises.
“Ahh! It’s already annoying me!” I laughed and re opened my door. There standing in the door frame was my dad. His face was going red.
“Dad!? I thought you were still in bed.
“I got up, and went to start the car. But you guys were gone. So I was just coming in. Heading back out?”
“Yea, to the shop.”
“Need a ride?”
“Uhh.. sure.”
“Good, come on.”
“That was strange…” Crystal whispered.
“What’s strange about it?” My dad replied.
“Oh nothing sir.”
“Good to hear.” My dad smiled and kept walking.
“He has good hearing.”
“Heard that too!” My dad shouted from the end of the driveway.
“Hey umm Mr. Agari I mean Jerry…”
“Yeaup, what can I do for yea.”
“Can you, drive us to the hospital first. I want to see my mom.”
“Sure thing.” My dad made a U-Turn and sped down the road.
20 minutes after, we arrived at the hospital on the edge of town.
“Can… you guys come with me?” Crystal asked.
“Yea, I guess.” I said.
“Might as well.” We all stepped out of the car and entered the hospital.
“Hello, sirs and miss. Looking for someone?” The lady at a counter asked.
“Oh, yes. For my mom.”
“Name?”
“Aislynne Kairi.”
“2nd floor, room 231.”
“Thank you.” She turned on her heel and ran for the stairs.
“Hah, little eager to see her mom again, ay?” my dad asked
“Yea, I guess.” she replied.
Dad and I headed for room 231. We saw Crystal outside the door waiting to be let in. As we stepped next to her the door swung open and it hit me sending into the wall.
“OWW!!” I yelled.
“Oops, sorry.” The doctor said, as my dad and Crystal stepped into the room.
Crystal sat on the bed clinging to her mom, with tears in their eyes…
“Who are these two gentlemen?” Crystal’s mom asked.
“Oh, that’s my friend, Jake and his dad, Jerry…”
“Jerry? Oh my! Is that you Robert!?”
“Hmm…? Ahh! Aislynne, your last name was changed. Long time no see.”
”Mom, you know him?”
“Yes, he was your uncle’s best friend in High School.”
“What ever happened to Steve?” Aislynne’s head sunk down,
“He died 4 years ago.” She replied.
“Oh…”
“Now, Crystal. You must promise not to cry and keep your chin held high for what I’m about to tell you.” My dad turned and closed his eyes. I already knew what she was about to say but Crystal…
“What…? What happened!?”
“Your dad was found dead. 29 holes in his body…” Crystal paused, motionless.
“No” Crystal shook her head and began to cry harder.
Tears showered from Crystals eyes as she cried over and over “Noo… NOO!!” even her mom was developing tears in her eyes and was silently whimpering. I stood there shocked… I somewhat expected it, with her father missing and these fox mask wearing killers on the loose you’d most likely think him dead by this point. But a death like that would be a painful and gruisome one to be assured.
We sat in the silence for another few minutes the only sound to be heard was Crystals silent crying.
“Umm… Crystal, maybe I should be going now?”
“No, please don’t leave Jake.” She said quietly.
“Ok.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” I replied, “But I’m going to go get a drink ok?”
“Sure.” I got up and headed for the door as I walked down the hall it had an eerie feeling to it. I kneeled down infront of a water fountain and took a drink, I got up and wiped my lip off with my sleeve. “Maybe I should go back in there,”
“Gonna run out on the poor girl?” a voice boomed from the end of the hall. I umped and turned to see my dad, he was walking towards me with a big smile on his face.
“Uh… no”I replied, “but why are you smiling? Her dad was found dead and your smiling.”
“I never liked that guy, he had it coming to him. Maybe one of those fox guys will kill the mother too. Or the girl.”
“Dad… what are you saying?” I said nimbly.
“I just didn’t like the guy, so I killed him.”

Chapter 7

I couldn’t move,
“Yea, that’s right. I killed him, I killed your little friends dad.”
“But… why?!”
“Like I said, I don’t like him.” My dad pulled and object from under his sweater and placed it on his face. My eyes widened and the world felt like it was spinning. He had removed a fox shaped mask from under his sweater and placed it on his face.
“Your still my son and I wont try to hurt you or your friend but the next time, I wont be there if another member does. Goodbye, be a good boy!” He suddenly disappeared leaving me alone in the hall, then I remembered earlier that day when Crystal and I were attacked and a man who was also wearing a mask came to our aid. It had just came to me that, that man was my father. The brown shade of the mask that my dad had just put on was the same as earlier. I fell to my knees, then to my stomach. A doctor came around the corner and noticed me laying on the ground, “Oh my,” he said. “Someone, help this boy.” He rushed over to my side and knelt down.
“Are you ok?” he asked. I stared up into his eyes but I didn’t reply. Crystal came out of her mothers room and noticed me laying on the floor, she rushed over and knelt down beside the doctor.
“Jake! What wrong?” she cried.
“My dad, he’s Mr…” everything began to fade and I couldn’t see or speak.
Later I woke up in a hospital room with Crystal and the doctor from earlier looking down at me.
“Ah, he’s awake.” The3 doctor said.
“You okay, Jake?” Crystal asked in a trembling voice. I pulled Crystals head to my face and whispered,
“My dad… he’s Mr. Incognito.” Crystal flew up and covered her mouth with her hands.
“You can’t serious.”
“The man who has been reeking havoc and is the leader of the fox faced gang.” Crystal didn’t reply, “And, he… killed your dad.” Crystals face went pale and she began to cry.
“I’ll leave you kids alone.” The doctor said as he turned and put away his equipment. Crystals head sank into the edge of my bed and I fell back and looked at the ceiling without saying a word.
“Jake…” Crystal whimpered, “Why would your dad do this?’
“I don’t know.” I replied, still trying to get over the fact myself.
I stayed with Crystal and her mom for the next month. Everything was quiet and the men with the Fox Mask’s seemed to stop attacking people and committing crimes for a time. Crystal had recovered from the fact of losing her dad and her mom was still in bed for most of the day while we watched TV and played games. The doorbell rung and Crystal jumped off the couch and went to answer the door.
“It’s Seth.” Crystal groaned, “Should we let him in?”
“Yea, sure.” I replied. Crystal grabbed the door knob and twisted it, Seth came tumbling into the front room.
“Guys!” He shouted, “I need help!”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“It’s Brad.” Seth answered.
“Why would we help Brad?” Crystal asked, “He nearly killed Jake/”
“Just come!” Seth got up and ran out of the house, Crystal looked at me and I got up off the couch and groaned. We fallowed Seth to the next street when we saw Brad standing in the center of the street.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Brad growled dramatically.
“What do you want, Brad?” Crystal asked. Brads over sized figure stepped towards us and as he grew closer he seemed like he actually grew.
“Jake, if it’s ok with you…” Brad stopped and stared at the ground for a few seconds then he looked up and our eyes met, “I’d like to be your friend.” I put on a funny face and stared at Brad for a minute.
“Sure,” I replied, “I’d like that.” I smiled and he returned a big ugly smile back.
Crystal, Seth and I began to head back to Crystals house.
“Hah, didn’t see that coming, especially from Brad.” Crystal said with a low giggle. A man emerged from a house carrying another on over his shoulder. He closed the door and turned. His face revealed a Fox Mask. He looked down at us and laughed.
“Fear the Hidden Army.” He hissed, “Be good, kiddies.” He stepped down one stair and leaped over the yard, street and landed on the house on the other side of the street.
“They’re back?” Crystal cried.
“Hey, that’s the guy who took my wallet!” Seth shouted. I didn’t say anything I just watched the man and thought about how he was able to jump from the door step and make it to the roof of a building on the other side of the street. He turned and looked down at me then suddenly disappeared along with the man on his shoulder.
“Who are these people, and why was he carrying my neighbor.” Crystal asked. Neither Seth nor I answered.
After school the next day I walked down to the store which was a mess because nor Dad or I had been around to clean it and if dad had come he might have been caught. I took out my key and opened the glass door. I walked in a headed for the back, I looked into the flower pot and removed the small key and placed into the hole in the frame. There was a click and the door flew open.
I noticed the lamp on the table in the back was on and I went over. I cleaned up the newspapers and beneath the musty papers was a piece of paper that had the fox symbol at the corner of the page. I picked up and sat down on the desk and began reading.

Hidden Army- Doc. 5
The 3 Shards

The Amity Shard. Connecting emotion, being and partnership between everything that exists. The shard being a magnificent sapphire texture and colour.
The Fusion Shard. Connecting the balance and fusion of alchemy. Smooth texture and opal colour.
The Spirit Shard. Draws spirits into the human world. Jagged, ebony and crystallized.
Together the Amity, Fusion, and Spirit Shards allow perfect Alchemy to be created. But after Alchemy almost destroyed the world the shards were thrown to different area’s of the earth. After 28 years the Fusion shard was found and the ancient keepers of the Spirit Shard were found. But a member of the family was given the shard and disappeared. The Churchill family holds the shard which is a shame because now I have to kill a couple of my old friends.
Once the 3 are re-united The Hidden Army can summon the Ruin King from the dead using the forbidden alchemy. This is our ultimate goal.

-Mr. Incognito.
“The Churchill Family? Isn’t that Crystals… Crap! That necklace she wears and that Crystal, might it be the Spirit Shard?”
“Heh. That it might.” A voice said with a laugh. I turned and my dad was standing at the door.
“I didn’t expect you to come back here. And hey why haven’t you been coming home?” He smiled and I just glared.
“How could you do this?” I asked.
“That’s a boring question. The one purpose of The Hidden Army is to revive The Lost King, using the 3 shards. Amity, Spirit and Fusion.”
“Who is this Ruin King?”
“The Ruin King of the dead, Malice Kaiser. Then again, you don’t pay attention in school so of course you wouldn’t know who he might be, so I’ll just tell you.” He took a deep breath, “Kaiser was once a man of a high position, he took advantage of his power and killed the King who once ruled this world. This was 531 years ago. Kaiser became king and took the lives of those who disobeyed him and those he just wished to kill. He laid ruin and death to anything he touched. One man who was close to Kaiser had enough of following his rules, his name was Ryland. He and his wife were alchemist’s and they killed Kaiser as he slept, after they sealed his body beneath the earth and summoned hundreds of tree’s concealing his body forever.”
“If he put ruin and death to everything, then why would you want to bring him back?” I shouted.
“Shush, you don’t want to attract any attention.” He said with a big smile, “None of us expect to be spared at 100%. But we do plan on destroying this world from all sin. Kaiser plays a big part in our plan, but he will only place judgment upon those who have sinned and once he has done that we will just re-seal him and re create a perfect world.”
“What part do you play?”
“I play that of the Leading Man. I do hope to live and witness my perfect world grow and nourish.” He turned and walked out of the room I ran and caught up from behind, “Oh, and thanks for telling me which one of those Churchill’s has the Spirit Shard, you saved me from killing them all.” My eyes widened and my knee’s felt weak, “But what’s the fun in killing just the girl, when I can kill them all…” He turned and walked towards me, he stopped and looked down as he towered over me.
“Don’t kill them…” he mumbled.
“Don’t get in my way, or else I’ll kill you as well.” He pressed the palm of his hand against my forehead and I fell back hitting the wall and fell unconscious.
Darkness flooded my head and I spun around dizzily. I couldn’t control my body as it tumbled lazily around the dark. A tall black clad man emerged from the darkness in the distance. My body ran aimlessly towards him. Wind hissed through my ears and a man flew in front of me. A long jagged blade ripped through his body and a piercing noise stung my body and sent me to my knee’s. The noise burnt my ears as I watched the man fall to the ground. He turned and a brown fox mask fell from his face. It was my dad, blood ran down his body like a rushing river. He smiled and laughed.
“This is the end of my performance I am afraid.” He said gently, he coughed and spit blood from his mouth then closed his eyes never to open them again.
My chest jumped and Crystal’s face became clear. I was covered in sweat and my head was throbbing.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Was I asleep?”
“Unconscious.” She corrected. My mind flashed and I remembered what my dad had said earlier.
“Crystal, where’s your mom?” I shouted.
“She’s back at the hospital for a check up, I think.” I pulled myself up,
“My dad’s going to kill her if we don’t get there soon enough!”
“What…” her eyes began to water.
“Don’t cry. We have to hurry.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the shop.
We were running though the parking lot of the hospital when several people began to pour out of the front door.
“Wait.” I said, stopping.
“What is it?” she said, out of breath.
“Hand me your necklace.”
“Why?”
“That’s what he wants. It’s an ancient shard used for alchemy. He wants to use it to bring back someone named Malice Kaiser.” Crystal didn’t understand but she reached into her shirt and pulled the necklace out and handed it to me.
“Thanks. He’ll kill you if you had it.” I put it into my pocket and ran on ahead, “Please stay out her or you might get hurt!” I shouted back at her. She nodded and turned.
I pushed through the people pouring out of the hospital and saw my dad wearing his mask. Beside him was Crystal’s mom.
“Jake.” He growled, “Stay away!”
“No. Leave her alone.” I replied. He grabbed a gun from his pocket and put it to her head.
“Hah! Don’t meddle in adult affairs son.”
“Robert… how could you do this?” Aislynne asked.
“Shut up. In order to make my perfect world sacrifices must be made.”
“You killed my husband, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did.” He laughed, “Do you want to hear what he did to me?” she didn’t answer, “He loved my wife, he tried to steal her from me.” Aislynne didn’t move and neither did I, “He was rejected, he had a wife. You. But still he tried, he… set flame to our home. Jake and I managed to escape but she didn’t.”
“I don’t believe you.” Aislynne cried.
“Ha-ha, thanks to your husband, I am the man I am now. Did you know, he was also a member of The Hidden Army? He used you to obtain the Spirit Shard. He didn’t love you. He loved Dawn, my wife.” Aislynne’s eyes closed and she passed out. I stared at dad, he turned and looked back at me.
“She didn’t have the shard. Do you know who might have it?” I shook my head, “Maybe your little friend?” I shook my head, “Fine, I’ll just ask her myself.” I turned and she was standing behind me.
“What’re you doing?” I asked.
“Mr. Incognito. That story, it can’t be true. He did love me and my mom. He wouldn’t do that, he couldn’t have been apart of your organization…”
“Oh, but it is true Crystal.” He snickered, “Now, hand over that necklace please.”
“I don’t have it.” She said. My dad put his head down and sighed.
“Shame.” He lifted his gun and pulled the trigger. Crystal screamed. I grabbed her body and pulled her to the ground as the bullet flew past smashing the window of a car parked outside.
“Jake, stop trying to play the hero. It doesn’t suit the letdown, the failure, a loser like you.”
“I don’t care. I wont let you hurt Crystal.”
“Great, you’re just going to make this hard for me.”
“You want the shard, I have it.”
“Hmm?” I pulled the necklace from my pocket and held my arm out.
“I’ll just destroy it, that’ll crush all your plans.”
“Hah, oh is that so? But it is a surprise that you have it.” Dad dropped his gun and reached into his shirt and pulled out an opal stone and held it out, “This, this is the Fusion Shard. You can destroy your crystal if you want. But…” The stone began to give off an eerie blue light and the Spirit Shard reacted by sending off a black glow. The color slowly faded from the Spirit Shard.
“Allow me to drain its power first.” The crystals colour had been sucked dry and the Fusion Shard glowed brightly, “The Fusion Shard steals the power of the other shards making them useless if be needed. Then fuses their powers to its own. Now, witness the power of the Spirit Shard.”
“Shut up!” Crystal growled, he stood next to my dad holding his gun.
“Go ahead, shoot.” Crystal closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. My heart jumped and I ran over but bullet stopped in mid air.
“Reveal.” My dad said laughing. A man in ragged clothing and pale skin emerged holding the bullet, along with 12 other men in the room, all old men. “The Spirit Shard allows me to summon the spirits who wander in the area I stand. Combined with the amity and fusion shards I can summon all spirits who walk earth. And each will protect whoever carries the fusion or spirit shard. Now, girl. Would you mind handing me back my gun, or will we need to take it from you by force?” Crystal pulled the trigger and the ghost flew over and caught the bullet.
“Fool.” He said, he lifted his arm and flicked his finger. The spirits flew over and threw Crystal against the wall, another grabbed the gun and placed in the hand of my dad.
“Jake.” My dad said as he looked at me, “The next time you interfere, I will kill you.” He adjusted his mask and pushed me away and left the hospital. The spirits faded away back into the walls of the hospital. I ran over to Crystal and helped her up.
“I don’t believe my father would have killed anyone for pleasure or have betrayed me and my mom.” She walked over and sat beside her mom. I looked around and left the hospital. I needed to go somewhere.
I walked through the ash and destroyed wood and past belongings. It was my old house. Ahead I saw my dad standing in the ash. I walked over to his side. There in front of us stood mom. She wore a torn blue dress and her body was ghostly pale her blonde hair fell messily around her face. In her and dads faces were tears.
“I knew you’d come here dad. You said that the shard could bring upon those who died. I knew you wanted to see mom.”
“Yes.”
“Robert.” She said slowly and shakily, “What you are doing is wrong, I can’t forgive you for it.”
“I know.” Dad replied, “I don’t care if you forgive me or not, what I am doing is for you. To release the world of sin and hatred. So no one else will die like you have. Some innocent lives will be taken but it is for a good cause.”
“Fine, but if Jake is hurt in your attempt then I’ll bring you to a place far worse then hell.” I laughed.
“I can’t promise that. If he fallows me around and tries to prevent this then he will get hurt.”
“I;m sorry I can’t stay any longer. It tires me to be revealed.” Mom said weakly.
“I love you…” Dad said with a tear in his eye.
“I love you too.” Mom replied as she faded.