Bittersweet

The sky rumbles, Ella sitting in front of the large, shattered window, bawling her eyes out, strong gust of wind taking and letting go of her curly brown hair.

"I just... Don't understand... You could've died..."

She hasn't stopped yet... This is the first time I have ever seen her cry... It's so odd, seeing the strongest person you know, this vulnerable.

I grab my neck, leaning over, puking on the carpet. -I guess I'm in shock... I was getting ready to hit the ground...

I stand up, hospital gown crumbled up, walking to Ella.

-"Wait! Stop it!" She grabs both my shoulders, stopping me in place, fearing I ,ight walk pass her and try to jump again.

Her intuition is spot on... I can't take this back now that she seen me. I was almost there. Almost able to touch mom's hand-

-A smack flies clean across my face, waking me out of darkness, looking to Ella face, teeth grit and eyes widen. She's angry...

"You... Can't die on me, you hear. I won't allow you." She tightens her grip, hospital gown gaining a tear from her pull. "I won't let you...."

She's serious, I can hear it in her voice, her eyes flash yellow too, glaring.

"At least," Letting go of me, Ella rests her arms to the side, looking at the carpet below us. "Tell me why..."

The storm outside rages, crashing rain heavier. I no longer here the voices, but a taste of satisfaction and disaffection feels my tongue.

"Juna... She's dead."

That look, I expected it. Your eyes widen, stepping back, face painted in guilt.

"Juna... Is dead? No... That..."

-"Where were you... I needed you, and you weren't there... Why did it take you so long to find me?"

Ella... It's written all over your face. Ready to zip away like you always do, avoid looking at me, the boy who resemble your father's killer. Why act like you care? Just leave, run away like Vile did, leave me here to join Juna.

"For how long... How long has she been dead?" Going through her head; Days, weeks, months. She was never told, in the dark just as the rest of us.

"I can't live without her Ella... You know this."

-"C-Calm down! It's not true. You and her, they said you were hospitalized, both of you, after training. If she's dead..."

I eye the pattern of white drawn butterflies above our heads. "I was there, for thirty-six days... The fact she never once came to check on me, means she's dead. There's nothing more to it, Ella..."

Her head falls to her hand, exhausted, no longer wanting to hear anything I have to say.

"Zen, just go back. Let me figure this all out."

She wants me to go back to that hell... If I return, it's over for me... I'll be held longer than they did before... I don't want to go back... I want die... Why want she let me-

-"Go home.... Not the hospital."

Home...?

"I'll cover everything.... You can rest."

Ella... This carpet underneath me, starts to itch my hand, the storm makes my breath damp, and her stare, cold, intimidating.

"Ella-

-"Whatever it is," She presses a button on the side of her neck, activating her mask, covering the whole bottom half of her face. "Save it. When I get back, we'll talk."

-She jumps out through the hole of the window, vanishing as a stream of electricity, leaving me here alone.

The rain heavies, blowing in chill air, taking my hair into the breeze. I sit here, unable to move from my spot.

Home... Instead of going back, she wants me to head home... -The gap through the window...

-It's not too late... -*"Fall..."* -*"Fall..."* -*"Fall..."* -*"Fall..."* -*"Fall..."*

-No! I can't... I promised Ella. -I lift myself off the floor, pushing up off the bed. behind me.

She wants us... She wants us to head home... Ha... Haha... Hahahahahaha....

-"This really sucks...."

July 19, 2046; Four months ago:

-"Darkromancer... Here alone?"

Holding hostage in his hand, spreading some sort of black, purple blight on the child's neck, the man cracks a grin, sure enough he has me corner.

-"Let go!

-"Not so quick now, " To the left of him, he shot out his hand, containing each officer that is here to capture him in the same blight, directly in his blind spot. "Do you want these people to die?"

Why is he doing this? What is his reason, there's nothing here for this man, no cash, no treasure... So why?

-*Zen,* Through the communication device in my ear, I hear Vile's voice break out. *There's only one way to stop him. I need you to-

-Ignoring Vile, I rush out, consuming my hand in black energy, shadows off the floor, taking every hostage of his in their shadow, returning them to a safer place.

-"Amazing...!" The man, smile widens, putting his hand out in front of him.

-*Zen!* Vile's voice screams out to me. I know he's upset. But my plan worked way better than whatever he planned on doing.

I can do this. We can finally take Enigma down.

-"Pitiful..." -The man steps forward open arms, taking the hit in the chest from my hit, strong enough to blow a hole through him.

-My hand... -Stuck in his chest. -He's smiling back at me, fall onto my shoulder.

- He chuckles in my ear, "I'm dead."

-"Eh... Ehhh!" I take my hand out of chest, splash of red smacking the ground. Blood... So much blood...

-"Look at that face of yours. What's wrong Crowmancer, never killed someone before?"

-He's still walking, How?

*Dam it, Zen! Get out of there! Step away from him!*

-This fear I feel... I haven't felt like this since...

-"Milo Norway...."

My heart drops on hearing that name from his mouth. My father's name... How does he know his name?

"You're that man's son, I'm here for you, and only you..."

-What the hell? Here for me?

-Son... -All of that pent up fear... -New world... -Together.... -Don't you dare listen to him... -Get away -Something's wrong... -All you have to do is.... -Grab my hand.

No... Not again... I thought we solved this problem. -Shut up! -Shut up! -Shut up -Shut up!

-Out of my control, shadows rise, swirling a cyclone around me. -I'm losing control again... i shouldn't... But the whooshing sounds in this dome of speeding energy, it blocks out that day, those screams, his voice that constantly calls out to me.

Peace... I feel at peace... Destroy everything all I care; I want to stay here... Stay in silence.

*Juna! Head out there! We need you now!*

Juna... I'm sorry. I'm leaving... Without you...

-Through the storm I created, I single white figure steps in. As always....

"Zenith..." You're my symbol of hope through all this chaos. The only person, that can calm me.

-Her eyes gleam white, and I fall over, dropping on her shoulder. My powers vanish in thin air.

"You can't... leave without me." Juna holds my head tightly in her arms.

Her touch, who knows why, but I feel more at ease in her comfort. Don't leave me behind... Ever.

-Pulled off of her, thrown to the ground, Vile twist my body, pulling me off my ass by my hoodie.

"I was giving you orders, why didn't you listen! This is the eighteenth time Zenith, we lost Enigma. How am I supposed to explain this tantrum?"

Juna steps up. "He saved everyone... Show him some slack..."

-"Don't give me that! You, I'm sick and tires of you too!" Vile let go of me. "Ever since that day you made it your mission to corrupt him. He isn't getting any better, because of you!"

-"Vile." Zipping into the conversation, appearing out of nowhere, Ella come up to us. "Really, show the kids some slack. There still, heroes in training." She glances at me turning her mask off for a quick breather.

"Ella... You don't make this any easier." Vile eyes fall to his shoe, intimidated by her, speaking more softly to her than he would to us.

"Big dummy," She taps his face twice, forcing him to look her in the eye. "It's not like you to have such a strong look on your face. You'll get wrinkles." She laughs, walking up to me, pulling me up by the hand.

The big sister to all of us, able to turn a room from awkward to settling. Her smile screams a hero to us all. Something I inspired to be as a kid... But now, I'm conflicted by her smile.

"Hey, how about we go out to eat..."

October 24, 2046; Yellowstone, Byway Street 6414:

My room... Why does it feel like I haven't touch it in years. Dust collects on a picture frame of my mother on my dresser, and my mask lays on top of my tightly fixed bed.

It was a mess when I left, grandma must have cleaned it up herself. That woman, she stays working. Wish she could take a break for my mental sake.

-Picking up the mask, I take the spot it laid in.

Mom, Zel... I will fight, for a little longer.