The Seventh Spirit

by Adam-Clay Webb

  What was she thinking going up against such an opponent without using magic? Lex, though having his hands full, saw Clover’s trouble, and it fuelled his will to defeat these bullies. His eyes didn’t blacken again, but he felt a rush of powerful energy in his blood. He effortlessly pushed off the boy who was tackling him, the boy who weighed nearly twice as much as Lex, and he slammed into the one who had pushed Clover. Lex ran up to the toppling boy who had touched the girl Lex was sure he would die to protect. There were three swift, hard blows. The tough-looking boy groaned, holding his belly and bending forward. Lex had quickly wedged three rock-hard punches into the boy’s guts with strength he knew wasn’t his own. Then, like some kind of close-combat specialist, he made a flawless jump-kick. The heavy fighter was blasted with hefty force. He was sent hurling toward some of his friends. They tried to catch him it seemed, but the force he was kicked with overwhelmed even them. The crowed railed. Betting had begun, and Lex had already earned at least a few fans.

  Kyle’s opponent sent another swift blow at him. He dodged again and kicked him where he was sure it was supposed to hurt. The boy barely stepped back, and showed no sign of pain. Another boy, the one Lex had stepped to, joined in with his long, slender stick, striking at Kyle. Quickly, the pressured boy reached for his sword. Remembering what the terms of the fight were, he used both hands, and drew the sheathed sword. With the cased sword, he blocked the attacker’s rod, then swung at the initial attacker, bashing him hard in the face. The boy cried out in agony, staggering back. He would soon realize he had just lost an incisor.

  Mike was battling three opponents, and as seconds passed, the challenge grew more and more intense. Mike was certainly stronger and more skilled a fighter than either of his opponents, but the three of them combined proved problematic. He would not be beaten easily, though. He wanted to draw for his secret weapon, but he feared Clover might have been watching. He had a plan nevertheless. One of his opponents was wearing a nice, convenient pair of leather gloves. As the gloved youth punched at Mike, he grabbed the incoming wrist with his left hand and quickly pulled off the glove with his right, putting it on speedily.

  “Thief!”

  There was a heavy hit. A blow to the face had Mike staggering back. Another of the enemies jumped and kicked him to the ground. The landing was bad, but the plan had succeeded. He folded his right fist tightly, and beneath the black glove, his fist had transformed.

  Like a raging bull, the largest of the boys sprinted toward Clover, who was just getting up. “Azanath!” she commanded defensively, flashing green mana. The boy stood dead in his tracks, like a sudden and severe paralysis had befallen him. Clover got up quickly and dashed up to him. Two fists up the guts and an unexpectedly powerful blast from her right foot floored the boy. He landed and curled into a ball, groaning. Clover flashed her hands with clenched teeth. It felt like she had rammed them into a brick wall. All eyes turned on her as her green mana quickly disappeared, and whispering and more excitement began. The circle of watchers grew much wider, as the spectators feared this strange power Clover had exposed.

  Mike struck another fast-approaching opponent with his right fist, smashing and displacing some facial bones no doubt. Like the others, he fell, agony disabling him from rising to continue fighting. With another mighty swing of the sheath, Kyle floored another of the opponents, dismantling his face. Accompanying the smash was a near fatal jab to the throat with the hard scabbard. The boy grabbed his throat with both hands, stumbling back in pain and fright, his eyes wide and wild. Before gravity could pull him down, Kyle jumped and kicked the staggering enemy, flooring him instantly.

  The powerful energy Lex felt rushing through him felt so thrilling, it seemed even to possess him. His eyes were wide, and he wore the face of a cruel killer. He chased the last of the standing bullies, who fear and adrenaline pushed to run at an athletic speed. On reaching close enough to the fleeing boy, Lex launched himself off the ground, grabbing on to the boy, clinging to him tightly. This sudden weight was more than enough to make the boy hit the ground, and hard. He cried out in pain. Lex got up quickly and turned the boy to lay on his back, ready to smash his head into the ground. Clover, realizing that the brawl had ended, and all the opponents were floored, rushed over to Lex, who was crouching over his enemy. Lex, though, with clenched teeth and the urge to kill the boy, rammed his fist into the boy’s face. The boy cried out. There was no escape for him. Lex had pinned his chest to the ground with his left hand. Lex slammed his fist heavily and rapidly into the boy’s pitiful face. Blood was all over the boy’s face, and his jaw bones were further cracked with each strike. Even the ground beneath his head seemed to crack a bit, and dust, stained with the boy’s blood was stirred up. His head was just over a patch of dirt where there was no grass.

  “Lex! Stop!” Clover cried, reaching up to him. Lex gave the unconscious boy another hefty, cruel blast, a merciless redness in his eyes. Two teeth fell from the boy’s mouth, and blood drained from it as his head was tossed to the left. Clover quickly grabbed Lex’s raised fist. Without putting thought to it, Lex flashed her off forcefully, and she staggered back and fell, frightened. As he was about to strike the boy again, Kyle and Mike grabbed his arms and pulled him off the unmoving boy, realizing Lex was about to kill him if he wasn’t already dead.

  Then, as he seemed to return to his senses, the look of vile rage vanished from his face, and he calmed. He panted for a few seconds, staring down at the bloody boy with wide eyes. Blood was all over his contorted face. As Lex came to grips with what he had done, and how he had felt doing it, his eyes became filled with tears, and they ran down his cheeks.

  Kyle tried to hide his slight smirk. He hardly felt any pity for the boy, for he was the one who had pushed his sister down. The crowd of awing children were silenced by the incredible feat this group of alien children had accomplished in only a few moments. This silence was quite awkward for Lex and his friends.

  “…Greetings…” Mike finally said. Then, there was a sudden roar of cheer as the children rushed to the four, hugging them, shaking their hands, bowing before them, lifting them up, praising them.

  “Alright, alright!” one girl quelled the crowd somewhat, “They must be weary from their battle. Let us welcome them with more than fanfare.”

  She bowed before the group of four. “Welcome to the Pinta Village,” she said. “We thank you for your intervention, for your bravery and nobleness.”

  Two boys ran toward the surrounded group. Clover quickly recognized them to be the two who were rescued from the beating not long ago. The boys fell prostrate before their saviours. Lex raised the boys from their faces quickly, just noticing that they were brothers.

  “Th--thank you!” they stammered, still bowing.

  “Who are you people?” one of the boys asked.

  “Do not harass the visitors!” the same girl who had given them the official welcome quickly snapped, pushing the boys out of her way.

  “Why were the older boys beating them?” Clover asked.

  “Margret! Hozea! Make sure Michael’s alright!” the same girl said, not looking away from the visitors. With that, a girl and a boy scurried to the one Lex had beaten badly.

  “I’m… Sorry…” Lex said, holding his head down.

  “Don’t be! Don’t think he’s dead! He’s tough as iron! Don’t know how a boy your size managed to beat him like that anyway!” the girl said. Lex knit his brows, somewhat in embarrassment.

  “I hope he learns his lesson now,” she said, “And by the way, my name is Emily!” She laughed a little. “Forgive me for just saying so.”

  “Lex,” he greeted, smiling slightly.

  “Clover,” the witch introduced, “and this is my brother, Kyle.” Kyle glanced over at Clover with a look of annoyance, tired of her habit of not letting him introduce himself.

  “And I am Mike.” He looked down at the leather glove in inspection, just remembering he was wearing it. He took it off and handed it to the
girl before them. He really thought of keeping it for a second, but he wouldn’t have the villagers thinking they were merely stronger thugs than those they had beaten up.

  “Welcome once more to Pinta Village,” the girl said, again bowing slightly in honour and gratitude. The guests smiled, feeling quite welcomed.

  “So where are your parents?” Clover finally asked, looking around, not seeing anyone she could safely think had passed their teens.

  “Once per month all the grownups journey from Pinta to Magma Town to sell a special crop that is grown only here. They make good business of that, and usually return with lots of food and presents. They won’t be back until tomorrow night.”

  “So while the parents are away, the bigger boys make it their duty to torment whoever they see fit?!” Kyle deduced, angered by the thought of it.

  “Well, since last year, Michael and his brothers and cousins became this group of bullies. They make us do anything they want while the adults are away, and they make a sport of it! If we should ever defy them, they beat us half to death! Even us girls!”

  “Are you kidding?! So why haven’t you told your parents?” Clover asked.

  “We talk, we die,” one of the rescued boys put in.

  “That’s right,” the other boy said in a low, nervous tone, looking about to see of any of the beaten boys were listening, “we have to tell our parents that we were only playing.”

  “And what the hell kinda playing gets you bruised up like that?!” Clover blasted, wondering just how stupid these parents were.

  “So what will you tell the grownups when they return tomorrow?” Lex asked.

  Emily looked even more serious. The children about wondered what she would say. “The truth.”

  Clover smiled a little, then the smile quickly vanished from her face, being replaced by a pale look of worry. “Where’s Michael? Is he alright?” she questioned.

  “He should be in a while,” Emily answered, seeming almost indifferent. “My brother and sister are fixing him up.”

  Before Emily finished talking, a loud smash caught everyone’s attention. Some turned quickly enough to see a boy hurling out of a window having smashed through it, landing and rolling meters away from the house, broken glass scattered about him. The boy uttered a painful cry. Immediately after, Michael, looking all cleaned up and well revived, burst through the door, glaring at Lex. “I’ll kill you!” he raged, and stormed toward Lex. Kyle stepped in front of Lex and pulled out his sword from its sheath quickly. Michael stopped suddenly, staring down at the tip of the outstretched blade. It was just an inch from his neck. Michael stepped back slowly, his teeth still clenched in anger.

  “My sword is thirsty,” Kyle threatened, a grim, serious tone in his voice and look on his face. Some of the watchers, on Emily’s command, rushed to the aid of the boy who was thrown through the window. He seemed to be alright. By this time, Michael’s gang was standing together again, facing the group like before, but this time, fear was in their eyes.

  You’re wasting time, Lex Leo… a faint, familiar voice reminded. Suddenly, he remembered the urgency and sense of purpose he left out with that same morning.

  “We must hurry off!” Lex announced.

  “Oh, but you just got here!” Emily whined. She walked up to him. “Won’t you give me the chance to thank you properly?” she whispered, a highly suggestive tone in her voice, making Lex’s eyes widen.

  “Yes, we must hurry on!” Clover quickly agreed, imagining what Emily had said to Lex by the look on her face.

  “Today’s your lucky day, Michael!” Kyle said, recasing his sword somewhat hesitantly. “Be glad we have bigger fishes to fry… You best make today the last of your trouble here. We’ll be passing back real soon… and if we get one bad report… there will be no mercy.”

  Chapter 15: No Prize for Runner-ups

  According to Kyle’s readings, Ghost Town was a mere five or so miles north. Lex constantly hurried them, and there was no stopping to rest. As they reached closer and closer to the destination, Lex’s anxiety grew stronger and more pronounced.

  “Come on! Let’s just take a minute’s rest, brother!” Clover begged

  “Hey, Lex’s the boss here.”

  “After I get the vessel, you can rest all you want!” Lex assured, sounding quite annoyed with Clover’s complaining. And that was it; they had to continue.

  “Hey, I’m no fan of thievery,” Kyle said, “but we have to get some horses real soon so we can travel like real travellers.”

  “You’re right!” Clover agreed, having put much thought to it, “Travelling by foot is so slow and exhausting! I feel like a slave!”

  Lex ignored them and kept his speed up. Even Mike found it tedious to keep up. They walked for what seemed like a few years.

  Yes… Yes… I can feel it… the voice in Lex’s head breathed, sounding, even under the ever-present eerie tone, excited. They almost didn’t notice the transition from forest to abandoned town.

  “We’re finally here,” Clover sighed, sounding ready to roll out her blankets. The place certainly did justice to its name, and more than the travellers knew. An eerie mist moved through the silence. It gave Clover shivers. Dilapidated buildings were scattered everywhere. It seemed no one had lived there for at least a century. Slowly, clinging together, the group walked along, looking around. Fast moving, unclear figures rushed past their eyesight, like fearsome figments of their imaginations were making themselves real.

  “You saw that?” Kyle half-whispered, sounding scared. He grabbed his sword and slowly withdrew it. Again, they saw something move swiftly. They all quickly turned and looked into the direction of the movement, through the cracked, smeared window of a doorless, broken-down brick house.

  “Wh-what was that?” Clover stuttered, shivering with wide, watching eyes, afraid she would see what she was looking for.

  Distractions… Hurry, Lex Leo… the voice warned, sounding impatient.

  “Let’s split up and search the area,” Lex said, not sounding like he was merely making a suggestion.

  “Are you insane?” Clover whispered.

  Straight ahead, the whispering voice said.

  “No. Straight ahead. We move together,” Lex instructed. The other three exchanged glances, then followed Lex, who was walking quite vigorously, not seeming even slightly affected by the unnerving environs.

  They quickly covered dusty, misty road, passing building after building, each house and old temple and old school building and park and cemetery looking like it had a million ghost stories behind it, and was housing the vilest of spirits and demons. An ancient-looking rocking chair on a veranda caught Clover’s attention. It was rocking vigorously. She tried really hard to convince herself that it was merely a strong breeze that had triggered the rocking. She wondered if she wanted it to be a stray cat instead, but such a creature would only add more creepiness to the already spooky place.

  A weird sensation overtook Lex. He felt that familiar energy, but more than ever, flowing through him. His heart raced. His head felt like it was growing. We are here. Take it!

  “Finally! I found you! I will now prove to my father that he is the foolish one! With this new power…there will be no limit to what I can do!” a distant, yet clear voice sounded from afar off. Lex’s eyes widened. Then, in a fast blink, his eyes became black as dread. The others could only watch as Lex suddenly sped off through the mist with inhuman speed. They had never seen anyone move so swiftly. The mist parted as he moved through it.

  “Come on!” Kyle shouted, and ran off, gripping his sword tightly. Clover and Mike followed.

  Finally, Lex came to a sudden halt. The darkness in his eyes faded, and the familiar weakness took him, but this time, it just wasn’t enough to take his consciousness. Maybe his will, or the will of the thing he hosted, was enough to overpower the heavy sleep that tried to overcome him. He stood and watched a young man hold the vessel in his hands. He was grinning with a sparkle in his eyes. He was dres
sed in royal apparel, beautiful and highly expensive red and black and white garments.

  Kill him. Take the vessel! the voice of the demon demanded. Finally, Kyle, Mike and Clover, breathing heavily, reached up to Lex. The man with the vessel in his hands looked up at them. He inspected each of them with his eyes for a moment. At first, he looked concerned, then he laughed.

  “Who are you scoundrels? What do you want?”

  “You hand over that vessel right now!” Lex demanded, as if that would possibly work.

  A look of ire rode upon the man’s face, then he laughed again, wearing a proud and confident smirk. “For you to risk your lives for this thing, for you to affront the Magmalian Prince for this sacred vessel… you must then know how valuable it is. You must too have some unusual strengths that have fooled you into thinking that you stand even a chance against me.”

  “The Magmalian Prince…” Mike mused. Clover just stared at him, admiring his handsomeness and his fine clothes and jewels. Kyle, well he couldn’t really care less whether his enemy was a slave or a king.

  “The vessel, I need it!” Lex demanded once more, not wanting to fight the prince unless it was absolutely necessary… but it was.

  “Poor little lad,” the prince said in a condescending tone of superiority, “so ignorant… yet so brave.”

  In annoyance and impatience, and a touch of anger, Lex clenched his fists and focused his energy. Icy mist encircled and enveloped his hands, and as he opened them, iceballs appeared in them. “I suppose I’ll be getting it the hard way, then!” With this, Clover summoned up some mana, ready to fight. With the contraction of the muscles in his right arm, Mike’s strangely hard and powerful coating appeared on his right fist. This time, the iron coating spread down about an inch or two past his wrist. He looked down at his hand, looking at the bit of extra armour. He grinned, realizing that his power was growing.