5 Chapter 1 Page 5 - Power

"Power you say...That is not exciting. I have to say I am disappointed."

Akilah was confused by this response but stood her ground.

"Disappointed or not that's what I want. I want to be powerful enough to protect those close to me"

*Sigh*

Akilah furrowed her brows 'Did he just…sigh at me?'

"Okay then what type of power do you want?"

"Type of power...?" Akilah asked confused "Isn't power just power? I want to be powerful, that's it."

*SIGH* X let out another sigh, this one much louder, sounding more annoyed.

"Do you want power in the form of intelligence, speed, strength, fame, fortune? Power can be acquired in different ways. So, let me ask you again what type do you want?" X took a small pause "Or better yet, what type of power fits you?"

Quite honestly Akilah had not thought about that question. She had always associated power with strength. But does that fit her? Akilah is a small and slender seventeen-year-old girl, would strength really fit her? 'Isn't fortune much better I could just pay for the revenge...But would that be possible? Can I even pay to kill such a high ranking person?'

"I do not have all day, you know!"

X's words snapped Akilah out of her thoughts.

"So what is it?" X asked annoyed.

Akilah hesitated first but finally came up with an answer.

"Magic, I want to be the world's most powerful magician"

*Pfft*

'Is-Is he laughing at me?' Akilah thought, feeling somewhat offended by it.

"What's so funny?" She asked

"Oh nothing, that just sounded a bit childish." X replied amused.

"I don- "

"Powerful magical powers. That's interesting" X interrupted.

"So can you grant me my wish or not" Akilah asked impatiently.

"Well that depends on what you will use your magic powers for?"

Akilah answered straightforward "What I will use it for? I am going to kill that bastard!"

A small snicker could be heard 'Is he…laughing at me again?' Akilah thought.

"What's so funny?"

"You killing someone. That is funny. You quivered like a baby when you had to skin an animal. But now you want to KILL someone, ridiculous"

Akilah felt her cheeks heating up

"Who are you calling ridiculous? Are you going to grant me my wish, yes, or no?!?"

"No" X replied

The ground beneath Akilah's feet started shaking 'no no NO!! It can't end like this I refuse to just die like this!!'

"WAIT NO STOP, WHAT DID I DO WRONG??" Akilah desperately asked as the shaking became more violent.

"WAIT STOP PLEASE!" She begged. Her heart started beating faster and faster.

*CRACK*

Akilah heard a loud crack 'it couldn't be...no..'. She could feel the ground beneath her bare feet crack open.

*CRACK*

Another big crack opened up beneath her feet, this time one of her legs slipped through it. She fell on the ground and tried to grab on to anything as to not fall into the abyss beneath her. But she was surrounded by emptiness, there was nothing to grab.

"WAIT WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Akilah asked again.

'Why is he suddenly doing this??' Akilah thought frantically 'How do I make him stop?!?"

"I wasn't being ridiculous, I'm serious, I'LL PROVE IT! I'LL DO IT!"

Then everything went quiet, the ground had stopped shaking and Akilah was lifted up.

"Okay, but remember, you asked for this."

A thick fog surrounded her and she was suddenly in another place.

"What happened? Where am I?" Akilah asked confused.

"A dungeon" X replied.

'A DUNGEON?!?' Akilah thought 'Had X put her in confinement? Was he that mad at her?'

"Stab whomever enters through that door."

"What?" Akilah asked confused.

"You said that you could prove to me that you are capable of murder, prove it, use that knife in your hand and kill"

"What kni-" Akilah had not finished her sentence before she looked down and saw a knife in her hand.

"Wha-Um…Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I am joking?" X asked annoyed.

"I don't know!! I have never seen you," Akilah regretted those words as soon as they left her mouth 'wow really Akilah, are you a child? What type of reply was that?'.

*sigh* X let out another sigh "I have given you an opportunity to prove yourself, don't waste it."

She felt his presence disappearing and all of a sudden she heard steps coming. It sounded like they were far away but were coming closer 'wait are they coming in here? am I going to have to kill them?'.

Reality had finally settled in. This was serious, X was not messing around. If she wanted to get her wish granted, she had to prove herself. She had to push herself 'This is what you wanted with your whole heart right? You cannot back down now Akilah'.

"You can do this Akilah" She tried to prepare herself by repeating that phrase to herself.

'These might not even be real people this is a test after all, don't be scared, don't be scared.'

Akilah looked around the room that she was in, it was a small room made of stone and cement. There was a door in the middle of the wall that Akilah was now leaning against. In front of her she saw a small, barred window above a ragged bed in one corner, she assumed for sleep and rest. On the other corner there was a bucket, she did not want to assume what that was used for.

She had not noticed at first but the whole place had a putrid smell, almost making her gag. But now was not the time for puking, she needed to act quickly before whoever it was arrived.

Akilah had hurriedly thought out a plan, not a great plan but it was all that she had. 'I hope this works' she pleaded with her whole heart 'If this doesn't work...'. She felt chills running across her body.

"NO!" she said while shaking her head. "Success is my only option."