by LJ Andrews
Laura held her hands over her face defensively as Richard hit her. He shook his head, clenching his eyes shut, inwardly wishing for the screams to stop. This wasn’t real, he couldn’t face this again.
Richard’s wicked laugh echoed off the walls. “Looking to be a hero?” His contorted expression looked despicable in the dim lighting as he laughed at Killian’s shocked expression and wiped a thin trail of Laura’s blood on his pants.
The words stung him; it was the same disgusting scene he’d lived through during their last encounter. Laura’s sobs churned his stomach as he glanced down at her. Her nose was bleeding, her thin wire framed glasses rested bent on her nose and her eyes pleaded for help.
“Stop him, Killian, please help me.”
Richard’s swift hand flew across her cheek loudly, silencing her pleas. Killian jumped at the sound and without thinking he released both ends of his spear and stepped in front of Laura.
“Enough,” he seethed at Richard.
Throwing his head back, Richard laughed loudly. “You are really going to step in front of this disgusting whore? I thought you were smarter than that. Would she do the same for you, boy?” His brown eyes turned black as his gleeful smile twisted into a malicious sneer. “Remember what she did?”
Richard stepped directly in front of his face and shoved him hard. His skin burned from the blow; it seemed real and it unnerved every sense of him. He didn’t know what to make of it, this was supposed to be simulated; he didn’t expect to feel the touch. Richard’s words tore through him. Even if he was a despicable person, he was right about Laura. She had thrown him to the darkness of the world for trying to help her and protect her. She had sworn to defend him as a mother would her child, yet she failed. She chose to live in fear of Richard rather than stand for the truth and Killian’s life was forever changed because of it.
He began lowering his spear as he considered what Richard was saying. The man chuckled.
“That’s right boy, you don’t owe her anything. Just leave it alone.”
Killian glared up at the man he had hated for most of his life. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew Richard wasn’t with him—it wasn’t real. Yet, the man standing before him had the same ugly demeanor, the same rage pulsing through his veins as the Richard he had always known.
“No, Richard,” he shouted gripping his spear tighter than before, the anger and bitterness couldn’t be bridled. He was standing before a shadow from his past, and now was the time to face it. “No matter what happened before, you are done hurting her. You are nothing but a spineless, worthless man, and you have no control over me anymore.”
He pointed his spear at the man, and as he stood his ground the image of Laura faded. She was gone; Killian faltered for a moment and took his attention from Richard and immediately a strong hand met his jaw and sent him reeling to the floor. His spear flew across the sleek steel beyond his reach. Richard’s heavy footsteps walked toward his head and he heard the cock of a gun. Killian’s breath caught in his throat. What would happen if he was killed in the simulator, would it just end? Would he actually die?
“You should have stayed out of it, boy. I’ll never stop, you see. I’ll always have control over you. You’re weak.” Richard’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Killian breathed deeply, feeling the gun against his temple. His mind whirred trying to devise a way out of the situation. Racking his brain and his memories, he thought of Richard, he was weak and hid behind the threat of his words and weapon. Killian wanted to destroy the man; he wanted to wipe him from existence and never see him again. His mind drifted to memories as a small child of drunken Richard. He remembered wearing long sleeves to cover the deep bruises from his strong hands. He remembered the screaming, the missed school days while cuts and bruises healed, no one defended him or protected him. This man stole his childhood and it brought a fresh, emotional wave of fury over him.
In a split decision, Killian rolled away from Richard toward his spear. He heard the loud crack of the gun firing but kept running. Finally reaching the steel rod he held the spear in his hand angrily. Richard approached him laughing and pointing his gun at Killian’s face.
“You really think you stand a chance against me with your little toy?”
Killian took a step toward Richard and sneered as he thrust the sleek rod into his upper thigh, then he ripped it angrily out of the simulated Richard’s skin. The blow caused the man to stumble and cry out in pain as he covered his wound with his hand. The gun fell and quickly Killian kicked it away.
Richard lay on his back, panting in exertion and holding his bleeding leg, chuckling maniacally. Killian tried to resist the urge but swiftly kicked Richard hard in the ribs. He felt a sick crushing of bone against the sole of his boot. Richard laughed harder.
“Are you going to kill me, boy? Do it, maybe you can finally be worth something!” Richard spat.
Killian squeezed his eyes shut trying to block him out. Remember it’s a test, don’t listen to him.
“Come on…do it! You believe I deserve it. I probably do,” he said nonchalantly.
Killian wanted to silence him with his spear but the man was defenseless against him. He did deserve it, Killian truly believed that, but the glint of joy in his eye caused him to waiver. What kind of person would he become if he gave in to the frightening urge to harm Richard? The shadow of Richard was a lunatic and taunted him—trying to get him to lower himself to his level.
Killian looked down at his spear, then back at Richard. His black eyes had lost the wild joy and now they stared at Killian with intrigue and wonder on how he would act. Killian pursed his lips and pushed the button on his spear, returning the points to the hollow rod.
“No, Richard. I’m not like you. You aren’t worth it.”
Immediately the image of Richard’s sneering face faded. His twisted face screamed curses and shouts at Killian. He spewed horrid names that made his stomach twist from painful memories. After a few moments the shouts and chaos stopped. The room was empty again. Killian kneeled in the center of the room as emotion came over him. His body trembled as he struggled to keep Richard’s voice and words from his mind. He felt angry, not at Richard and Laura, but at the simulation and Ponderi. He couldn’t understand why it would be necessary to bring up such difficult memories he’d desperately wished to push away.
Behind him a wall rose, revealing a large doorway. Nathaniel’s silhouette stood before him.
“Well done my boy,” he said clapping his hands together. “Well done.”
Killian glared up at Nathaniel. He respected the man, but he couldn’t help but feel angry he’d allowed such a simulation to take place. He wiped a stray tear from his face, embarrassed the older man may see his emotion.
“Is the simulation over? Or are you part of it?” he asked.
Nathaniel chuckled. “No, I’m not a simulation. It’s over, and you passed with flying colors. Killian my boy, you demonstrated such restraint, such control in a perilous, emotional situation. You are the first to successfully complete the simulation, but the judges are still deliberating on the final scores for the entire competition. I’ve come to take you to a waiting room while they score the remaining competitors.” Nathaniel paused and smiled kindly at Killian. “Killian, never in my years have I witnessed such strength. I am very impressed my boy, very impressed.” Nathaniel placed his hand on his shoulder and looked at him with sincerity in his twinkling gray eyes.
Nathaniel directed Killian out the large door and into the hallway. Through the walls, he could hear the rumble of the crowd. His hands were shaking and he suddenly felt exhausted. Nathaniel grabbed tight to his elbow, sensing his weakness as they walked in front of a plain, steel door.
“Step inside, Killian,” Nathaniel directed. “I’ll get you something to drink, you must be exhausted.”
Killian just nodded and obeyed. Inside the room, there were no windows, only tall lamps standing in each corner casting white light around th
e cool room. The furniture was sharp, angled and modern with no cushions on the chairs, only cool steel. Nathaniel opened up a large steel cabinet door and took out a glass pitcher of water with a small mug. He handed Killian the drink, which he gulped down. The water soothed his scratchy, dry throat; he hadn’t realized how thirsty he was. Killian wasn’t even aware of the time, but by the way his body was aching and fading he was sure the Peridus had taken several hours.
“Feel better?” Nathaniel asked.
He nodded. “Yes, thank you, sir.”
“Good.” Nathaniel walked around and sat in the chair alongside him.
Killian’s eyes scanned the dull room then drifted back to Nathaniel, who was looking at him with a slight smile painted on his face. Killian shrunk under his gaze.
“Sir, aren’t you one of the judges? You said they were deliberating.”
“After seeing the rigorous course, I felt I may be needed to assist the finalists after the simulation, so I opted out of the judge’s seat this year.”
Killian nodded slowly. “Do you need to go get the others now?”
Nathaniel cleared his throat and then sat down next to him on a small steel stool, ignoring the question.
“I’m curious, Killian…why did you let that despicable man in your simulation live? You had a chance to take out your fury on a simulated version of your enemy. Yet, you didn’t take it.”
Killian was surprised by the question. He took another gulp of the water and set the mug down on the steel table in front of him. “I…I don’t know what you mean sir? Why would I kill Richard?”
Nathaniel smirked, his gray eyes twinkling again. “Why? Killian, the man nearly murdered you and his wife, then allowed you to go to jail for a crime you never committed. And the woman,” Nathaniel threw his hands in the air dramatically, “she sat by while he did it, and you defended her simulation still. I am curious as to why you would protect such a person. Not many people would show that type of restraint, or submission depending on how you look at it.” Nathaniel stood and began pacing in front of Killian.
“Is there anything wrong with what I did in my simulation?”
“No, Killian,” Nathaniel said, his face showed disappointment. “There was nothing extraordinary about the simulation whatsoever, except for one thing. Your simulations were solid, most are just holograms, but your images were physically there with you, making it more lifelike and more intense. I can only assume it was a side effect of Infinium.”
Nathaniel said the words with a surprising bitterness. Killian wasn’t sure if he was disappointed the simulator had acted differently for him, or upset that it had been the only strange aspect to his simulation. It did solve his question as to why Richard had been able to physically touch him. He glanced at Nathaniel, who was scowling at the ground, not paying him any attention.
“Is everything alright sir?” His heart was beating faster again. Something seemed off about the older man. Nathaniel pursed his lips and smirked at Killian.
“I was hoping to witness the full potential of Infinium, but you allowed your inferior weaknesses to dull the power.”
Killian gulped and stood from his chair, slowly he backed away from his mentor and friend. “Weakness? I don’t understand.”
“You’re weak, my boy. Instead of destroying —no, obliterating your abusers when you had a chance, you allowed them to manipulate you and use you again. You have more power in your veins than any living being in the Hemisphere, yet you cowered like a frightened child when Richard raised his voice to you. Since the simulation produced physical manifestations, I truly wasn’t sure if the simulation would be able to terminate you or not. I thought for a moment you would allow him to kill you. But you backed away and somehow it ended your simulation, which helped me since I didn't want you to die in that room, my boy. Even still, it was disappointing you did not accept the fight.”
“Nathaniel I…think we should be getting back. I think Sophia and Mercedes may have been injured during the Peridus, I’d like to see them.”
“No Killian. I think we shall stay right here,” Nathaniel said hungrily as he unsheathed a vicious dagger Killian hadn’t noticed before from behind his back. “I’m sorry my boy. I didn’t want it to be this way, but after discovering what Infinium is capable of and witnessing the tedious display of your simulation…I believe you truly don’t have what it takes to use the power and in these perilous times Infinium needs to be harnessed by someone with more strength. I’m doing you a favor my boy, the odds are against you. You wouldn’t be strong enough to withstand Infinium mentally.”
“Nathaniel stop, you don’t know everything about Infinium…you can’t—”
“Shut up!” he shouted. “I know everything. Your little friend, Dalia, spilled it all to me.”
Killian breathed harder. Dalia wouldn’t betray him would she?
“Of course she didn’t do it willingly,” Nathaniel continued.
Killian gulped with the realization that Nathaniel must have done something to her. Nathaniel laughed and lunged toward him. Killian felt as if his feet had stones tied to them; he couldn’t move. The dagger cleanly swiped along the side of his neck as he tried to dodge the attack at the last minute. Killian cried out in pain and fear and fell to his knees. Immediately he saw dark red blood pouring over his shoulder and down his arm from the large wound on his neck.
“You might as well stop resisting, my boy.”
“It was you,” Killian gasped, fruitlessly covering the gushing cut with his palm. “You stole the relic, didn’t you? You’re a member of the Trinity.”
Killian reached for his spear, but Nathaniel’s hand reached the rod first. The older man plucked his weapon from his leather strap and threw it across the room.
“Do you think if I had stolen the relic you would still be alive? The bond would have killed you. No, I sent the Malumians so you would be brought here. I needed you here so you would find the relic; the bond would lead you right to it eventually. I had no idea I would receive the added bonus of Infinium. I should have followed my instinct and killed you when we discovered your grandmother’s hideaway. You would’ve been much easier to kill as a child before you absorbed it. I had always planned on killing you later on, Ignisia was my best opportunity, but it too failed.”
“I don't understand,” Killian panted. His heart beat against his chest like a wild drum.
“I created the rumor a Trinity spy was jumping to Ignisia, hoping to alert the Deshuits. Then of course, I had Eva arrange her own plan on how to kill you if the Deshuits didn't. It was a little theatrical with the poison juice, but no matter it failed and here we are.”
Killian's mind was swimming, either from blood loss or shock he wasn't sure.
“Can you imagine how frustrated I was for delaying your death after learning the Relic was missing?” Nathaniel hissed. “Especially after I had told the Architect of the Trinity we should've acted years ago. Now it's lost.” Nathaniel’s tone came out as if Killian should feel sorry for the man for missing his window of opportunity.
Skillfully he swung the dagger again, this time across Killian’s stomach. The man moved so quickly with his weapon, Killian had no time to defend himself. He held his hand over his bleeding abdomen. Fear crippled him. Nathaniel had been the one person he thought he would always be able to trust, and he was trying to kill him. The man had skills Killian was sure he couldn’t even imagine, there was a reason he was the Ponderi director, and he didn't know how he could out fight him.
“It will be less painful if you just let me drain Infinium from you.”
“It’s too hard to do…you won’t be able to…get it all,” Killian gasped as his open wounds seared against one another with every movement.
“My dear boy, you really believe I haven’t done my homework,” Nathaniel chuckled and lunged again. This time, Killian moved swift enough and missed the dagger. He darted for the door they’d entered but found no handle on the inside. “It’s no use, my boy. It only
opens with my touch.”
Killian turned around. Fear combined with fierce betrayal filled his body. He was angry and wanted to fight back, but he knew Nathaniel was intentionally draining him slowly, with every minute his blood was seeping out. He wanted as many openings as possible to drain his blood to obtain Infinium. He decided the best way to fight back would be to stall him, until he could find a way out of the room.
“You took me from my grandmother…did you kill my parents?” Killian panted trying to keep the man focused elsewhere.
Nathaniel scowled at him and repositioned his long dagger in his other hand. “I wish I could say I had. If I had killed them, I would have the Relic. Your parents were our finest relic hunters. When they discovered the relic, Rhetta had Dalia inspected it after it was found. Your grandmother told me Dalia believed there was something more powerful inside the relic. After that, I knew I had to get it. Originally I had intended to only kill your father since he was the guardian. Your parents were faster than me and transferred the guardianship to you before I had a chance.” Nathaniel swiped the dagger again, slicing open Killian’s shoulder; he'd dodged too slow again. He cried out in pain and frustration. He was losing blood and feeling the effects. Soon he wouldn’t be able to move at all—he would be too weak.
“Then your parents went and blew themselves up and your wretched grandmother ran with you and the relic.”
“Well…then…it’s your fault you don’t have it. You…let me and my grandmother live.”
“Killian,” he said wildly swinging the dagger, nicking Killian’s wrist as he held it up to protect his face. “When you are trying to covertly steal something, you can’t just go around killing women and children. Miller was far too close to you…watching you and making sure you were protected. Trust me I tried to have Rhetta executed, but Miller and other council members in the Praetorium overturned my vote and banished her instead. I should never have let your family be involved in your protection, Miller only got in the way.” Nathaniel glared in anger at the memory. .
