Free To Be

by Adam Lynch

  What? She thinks that? There’s no way. “No, I could never—I could never think you’re weird. There’s nothing weird about you. And I certainly do not not like you…”

  “Well, you always look away when I look at you—even when I’m right next to you. You never say anything to me, and it looks like you keep your distance. Even when I’ve tried saying something to you, you’re really short like I’m annoying you or something.”

  Hearing this from her shocks me. I’m completely puzzled. This goes against everything I ever thought of her. “Wa-wait… this is what you think? Really?”

  “Yeah…”

  Oh my gosh. Yuuto was right, wasn’t he? I face him for a second, then lock my eyes on Kagami again. I had no idea. I can’t believe he was right.

  I study her, amazed by what she said. Then, I chuckle. “Ha ha, you know… all this time… that’s… that’s what I was thinking about you… I-I thought that you didn’t like me, and thought I was weird. That’s... why I avoided you. But I thought that’s what you wanted. I thought you wanted me to leave you alone. I thought you were annoyed by me… by trying so hard to always… to always try to talk… to you. To tell you the truth… I… I was scared to talk to you.”

  “You were scared to talk to me? But why? Was I doing something to scare you?”

  “N-no! It’s not you. It’s not you at all. There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s… it’s me. I’m the one with the issues…”

  “What do you mean? What issues?”

  “I…” What do I say? I face the ground, trying to collect my thoughts. “I… I’m not good at… talking to people…”

  “Me neither, honestly. I’m too shy and awkward. It’s why I’m always quiet and don’t have any friends. I only ever hang out with Katsu and his friends.”

  “I-I don’t have any friends…”

  “What about Yuuto?” she points to him.

  “Oh yeah! He’s my first one.” I face him and smile proudly. Then, I lock eyes with Kagami again, noticing she’s gazing at me intensely. I gulp nervously, while also feeling excited at the same time.

  “So… what made you… choose him?”

  Does she mean choose him as my friend? “Well I… I didn’t. He chose me I guess.”

  She looks away. “Right. I suppose that makes sense. I wish someone would choose me. I’m thankful for my brother, Katsu. I’d be so lonely without him.”

  “You wish someone would choose you?”

  She fixates on me. “Yes. I do.”

  Oh my… her eyes—her bubbly brown eyes... they’re so... captivating…

  I forget what I was going to say. I’m not just nervous… not like I how I usually am. There’s something else… something… good… I think. Excitement? Yes... I think that’s what this is... wow. This is… this is amazing. “Wh-what kind of person are you… looking for?”

  “Who are you looking for… Taiyo?”

  I gulp. My heart races. My body feels warm and is heating every second. “Me?” I pause, but keep my eyes on her. How can I look away after all? Her skin… her hair, her nose, her lips, her jaw, her ears, her eyebrows, her cheeks… her eyes… her bubbly brown eyes—everything about her. “There’s only one I’ve… ever wanted.” I scoot closer to her until we’re only a few feet apart. She gulps and scoots closer to me also, ending the gap between us. I gasp with wide eyes and feel a massive wave of adrenaline pour from my brain into my body. My heart skips a beat and races. Her pupils dilate as her lips part, breathing heavier. It’s then I notice that I’m breathing heavier as well.

  She leans towards me and whispers, “Who is it?”

  Her scent… I can smell it again. The scent that reminds me of every wonderful thing I’ve ever felt about her. I gulp, ecstatic by how close she is and how strongly I can smell her.

  “W-well… you.” I’m terrified for slipping this out so openly, but she grins. She doesn’t seem creeped out or anything. In fact, she giggles. She slides her hand to mine, touching it with two of her fingers. I feel another wave of adrenaline pour over my body—like a dam of a mighty waterfall shattering. My heart pounds and races. I’m breathing faster and deeper.

  I want to take her hand... is that okay? Well of course it is. She slid her hand towards mine. She wants me to take her hand. I gulp, then slowly wrap my fingers around hers. She does the same. Our fingers lock, establishing the connection. Oh my gosh… the feel of her hand. It’s… it’s incredible. It’s warm. It’s soft. It feels… so good. What is this I’m experiencing? What is this I’m feeling?

  After locking hands, we fixate on each other. Her eyes are dilated, bubbly, and intense. She grins, and then her lips part. “Me?” she asks.

  “Yes… it-it’s always been y-you…”

  She exclaims. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  We gaze at each other silently. I admire her by smiling, and she grins. Then, she giggles and I’m encouraged to grin. Seconds pass and our grins turn to passionate, yearning stares. She tightens her grip on my hand, and I do the same. “Taiyo…”

  “Y-yes?”

  “Tell me… how do you feel about me, really?”

  “I… I think you’re amazing, Kagami… e-everything about you. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I… I get so excited when I’m around you… especially being this close. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this excited, actually… ever in my life. You make me feel… so good.”

  She exclaims. Then she leans closer to me, and I gulp. She’s so close to me, I can hear it. I can hear her breaths—her breaths that give her life, that make up all that she is. I can even almost feel it. “Taiyo,” she whispers. “Do you really mean this?”

  I nod, claiming her other hand. She exclaims, breathing heavier. I do the same. I gulp. “Y-yes.”

  . “What… wow... I… I can’t believe it.”

  “That’s… that’s what I think every time I see you.”

  She slides closer to me until our legs touch. Our arms touch. Our bodies are inches away. Our faces are inches away. I look at her lips. My, they’re… so lovely. I want to touch them… would that be okay? What must they feel like? What must they...

  I can hardly think at this point. I can only… I want to only… just… respond… to what my body is telling me to do...

  Kagami… I… I want you. I want you so badly. You’re… not far out of reach—though you’ve been for so long. I can see them—your lips. I can hear your breath. I can smell and taste your scent. I can feel your hands, and all the breath of life that makes up who you are.

  My desire for you has never been stronger… I… I can no longer resist you… I’m helpless… you’ve made me… helpless...

  Suddenly, someone rattles the cell door. We’re both startled, facing the commotion. “Kagami, Taiyo,” Katsu whispers to us as he turns the lock and opens the cell door. “Come on, quickly. We’re getting out of here.”

  “Katsu?! How did you-”

  He shushes her. She palms her mouth. He faces Yuuto, noticing him. “Kagami, help Taiyo carry his friend. I’ll make sure no more guards come through here.”

  “How did you guys get out of your cells?” she inquires as we lift Yuuto up.

  “No time to explain. We have to go.”

  Kagami and I carry Yuuto towards the cell exit when suddenly, I hear a voice. Taiyo. Taiyo. Taiyo. It repeats several times as if urgently trying catch my attention. I look out the window where it’s coming from. It’s the moon. But from here, she’s hard to hear, and I can barely see her from this far away.

  “What is it?” I ask out loud. Kagami and Katsu face me, puzzled.

  “I spotted a man heading your way. Look out behind you.”

  Bug-eyed, I spin my head in Katsu’s direction. She’s right! I think I spot something behind him. “Katsu!” I shout. “Behind you!”

  He spins around and finds Judan there. Surprised he was found a second too soon, Judan goes to grab him, but Katsu dodges and elbows his head.

 
; Katsu spreads the distance, but Judan pulls out his spear and sweeps him off his feet. “Go! Get out of here!” Katsu shouts to us.

  But before any of us can move, Judan slams the door shut, and locks it with the key he took back from Katsu. “No, I don’t think so.” He hits Katsu again before he can get back up. Then he shouts, “Guards, security breach. Sound the alarm. Wake everyone up.”

  Hearing this, all the soldiers fly out of their tents, hollering. “Over there. I see them over there.” In seconds, they sound the bells and shout communications at the top of their lungs. I hear so much commotion, but I can’t see what’s going on. Is Akio, Sadao, and Yumi in on this with Katsu? Are they okay? Have they been found out yet? Please, God, don’t let them get caught.

  Two soldiers rush in the hall to assist Judan. “Throw this one in the cell with these three,” he commands. They go to lift him, but he resists. Judan slams the nonlethal end of his spear on his back, weakening him enough to end his struggle.

  Judan faces Kagami at the cell door, pointing his spear at her. “You get back. Get back or I’ll kill him right now.”

  Terrified and infuriated with tears running down her eyes, she lets go of the bars and backs away slowly. Judan opens the cell door, the soldiers throw him in, and then he shuts it and locks it. “Watch these two. I’ll apprehend the others.”

  They salute, and he runs out of the hallway.

  Kagami rushes to Katsu. I follow her. “Katsu! Katsu! Are you okay?” she asks.

  “What’s going on?” Everyone faces the voice at the other end of the cell. It’s Yuuto. He’s come to. Kagami aims her attention back on Katsu.

  “It’s alright,” says Katsu, sitting up. “If Judan was busy with me, then we still have a chance. None of us could find him or detect his presence, so he was the one we were most concerned about. We have a plan on how to avoid the other officers, so as long as they keep their distance, we’ll be fine. I opened all the cell doors already and freed everyone. Akio and the others should have freed the kitsune and escaped by now.” The kitsune? So they did capture her and bring her back to the fort.

  “But how can they keep their distance from lightning?” Yuuto asks, attracting everyone’s attention—but facing me. “Upon sight, Fraisha will immobilize them no matter how far away they are.”

  “Lightning?” Katsu asks. “What are you talking about?”

  Oh no… It’s as I’ve feared…

  They don’t know about Fraisha’s new powers…

  Freedom

  “O

  n your knees,” commands a soldier, pushing me down next to Kagami, Yuuto, and the rest of the Leferians. The Darkane have gathered us in the courtyard. They sit us in three horizontal lines facing the four officers and Akio, Sadao, Yumi, and Katsu. The soldiers encircle us, ensuring we keep on our knees and remain compliant. Tears run down Kagami’s face as she looks around. I do the same. Yuuto reads my mind and gets caught up to speed. Is this it? Are we all going to die? Have they gathered us here to slaughter us? Only Yuuto knows… and he looks as terrified as I feel.

  I have to do something. I can’t let things end like this. There are no animals around that I can see, and there are probably not any for several miles—the Starlights have scared them all away. I notice the dirt, the grass, and the flowers. Could I ask the earth to quake? No way. I might accidentally kill everyone or even destroy the world. What about the sky? No clouds in sight. Just the moon and the stars. Could I ask for their help? No. Too dangerous. Wait. What about the...

  I look behind me and sight the kitsune chained against the fort’s wall near the entrance gate. All four of her limbs are chained to the wall. She appears to be.. wait, is she? Sleeping? No. She must still be unconscious after what happened today in the forest...

  Fraisha steps forward from where the other officers stand. He examines all of us in the three rows and then Akio, Yumi, Sadao, and Katsu. His face shows no emotion—he’s hiding it. “I’m disappointed... I’m not surprised, but I’m disappointed. I understand why you four did what you did. We were slaves once. Unfortunately, we know what we have to do now, but we don’t want to do it. That’s why I’m disappointed—because you’re forcing us to do this… like we’re the slaves, even though we are masters.”

  Akio scoffs, laughing. Fraisha glares at him, then continues. “Make no mistake, we have to do this. Because if we don’t, you won’t recognize us as masters, will you?”

  Having said this, Talden steps forward behind Katsu, snapping his whip. “You might want to arch your back,” he tells him. Unresponsive at first, he complies. Hair covers his face.

  Kagami covers her face and shakes her head. “No, no, no…”

  “50 lashes,” says Fraisha as Talden nods, winding the whip behind his shoulder.

  “Wait!” shouts Valida suddenly, gesturing Talden to freeze. “You’re not going to whip the girl are you?”

  “What would you have done?” Talden asks.

  She pauses, thinking nervously. “Uh… no food tomorrow.”

  Talden scoffs and shakes his head. “If you can’t handle this, you don’t have to watch.”

  “I can handle it… just not her.”

  “Sister. She must be punished. She has betrayed her masters.”

  “Two weeks. No food.”

  He glares at her, thinking about it. “Fine.” She moves towards her as if to collect her. “But she will remain where she is and watch her friends. Got it?” Valida steps back with Judan. She looks at Talden anxiously.

  “If that is all, let’s begin,” says Fraisha.

  “Hold on,” says Judan suddenly, stepping in front of the officers, Akio, and the others. “Might I propose a compromise?” He addresses the crowd. “If you give us the mind-reader right now, I dare say that nobody will be punished. In fact, we’ll even let all of you go.” Talden scoffs, and then laughs. Judan ignores him. “The mind-reader is the one we’ve wanted all along. He’s the reason you’ve all been enslaved. We know you desire freedom. You can have it… if… you give us the mind-reader.”

  “He’s lying,” Yuuto mutters. I don’t face him, afraid if I do, one of the Darkane will notice. “He’ll kill us all before letting us walk.”

  Akio scoffs again. “Seriously?! You guys are still on about that fantasy? There is no such thing! When are you loons gonna realize that? Reading minds? Are you kidding me? It’s not possible! Wake up!”

  “Did you think this was possible?!” Suddenly, Fraisha’s body surges with explosive lightning so powerful it was like he was covered in gas and set on fire. The Darkane soldiers, his siblings, and Yumi are taken aback by this violent surprise. Many soldiers even gasp. The Leferians gasp and whimper.

  “What?!” Kagami asks herself, pulling my attention. “How is this possible? Is this the end of the world?” She trembles. Her eyes are wide with tears running down them. I’m reminded that almost everyone here is witnessing Fraisha’s power for the first time. And perhaps any supernatural power ever.

  “I suppose not,” Fraisha continues, ignoring everyone’s reaction and keeping his attention on Akio. “Because otherwise you would have prepared for it, wouldn’t have you?”

  Sighing and shaking his head, Talden raises the whip over his shoulder. “All of you are wasting your time. Let’s just get on with it.”

  He casts the first whip to Katsu’s back. He grunts loudly, not expecting it. He casts a second whip, and then a third. Then a fourth, and then a fifth. Each time is harder. Each time Katsu shouts louder. Each time is bloodier.

  I look around, spotting mirrors of my own horrified emotions. No one is exception. Yumi, Sadao, and Akio appear the most emotional. Yumi is terrified. Sadao and Akio are blindingly furious, ready to explode.

  “Stop it!” Akio shouts. Talden ignores and whips again, and then again. “Stop it!” He shouts louder.

  “Shut up.” He whips again.

  “I said stop it!”

  Before Talden lands another lash, Akio suddenly rushes in to punch him
in the face.

  Wham! Akio’s hit lands, but he dares go for another.

  Talden deflects, and kicks him back.

  Akio skids through the dirt face-down, spitting it out as he recovers. His eyes bulging, his teeth grinding, Akio locks on his enemy.

  Everyone’s flabbergasted, especially Yumi, Sadao, and Katsu. The officers are almost equally stunned. The soldiers draw their weapons.

  Talden wipes his face, and smirks. “Ha ha, come on then...”

  Shouting at the top of his lungs, Akio charges him. He jumps on him to elbow his head, but Talden grabs him, and swings him back into the dirt.

  Akio recovers back to his feet. But suddenly, Talden strips his weapons and armor.

  “Talden, what are you doing?!” Valida asks.

  “I’m accepting his challenge. Bare skin, man to man.”

  “Are you gonna kill him?”

  “Not if he kills me.”

  “But what if he’s the mind-reader?”

  He groans. “Are you gonna defend every slave in the fort?! If this fool was the mind-reader, he wouldn’t have challenged me.”

  Akio scoffs and smirks. “When I win, I want Valida as my wife.”

  “You stupid fool…” she says to him.

  “Stop this madness, Akio!” cries Yumi. “Just take the lashings so we can get through this together!”

  “It’s not too late for you,” says Judan to Akio. “You could give up now, get on your knees, and take the lashings. Though you will have to endure 70 if you can survive them.”

  “Take the offer, Akio,” shouts Sadao. “Swallow your pride and absorb the 70 lashes. We will have our day, but we have to survive to get to it.”

  “No! I’m done groveling. Sorry guys, but I haven’t tasted freedom this good since before this began. It’s been too long since I remembered who I am and what I deserve. I will never allow myself to forget again, not as long as I live. If they’re going to force me back into submission, they’ll have to use my corpse. I am a free man now, and I will die a free man.”