19 Return

I'm walking through the small streets of the neighborhood.

'I hope they take good care of Andrew, Alyse and Athena. I left so fast that I also left my bow there'

As I walk, I think about what I should do.

'I have no plan, I just wanted to leave to not get them in trouble. I could go back to... No, that doesn't make sense'

My head is pointing to the ground.

'Should I turn myself in? So all this would end... But what dad and mom did will be in vain'

I'm going to the city.

'I'll look for some work... Now that I think about it, I don't have studies, I wonder if-'

I slam against a wall.

'Ugh... I didn't realize where I was. It seems that this alley has no way out'

I turn around.

Two hooded people enter the alley.

'How strange... There's nothing here, why will they come-'

"Hey, you" I hear a woman's voice.

Still seeing the ground, I keep walking.

'Was there anyone behind me? I saw no one'

"We're talking to you!" now it's the voice of a man.

I pass by their side.

'Nobody respond-'

The woman holds my arm tightly and throws me against the wall.

"Hey! What are you..." I stop talking as I feel something pointy in my stomach.

I turn my head down and see a knife.

"Sorry, we don't want to do this, but we have no other option"

'She looks younger than me...'

"Hurry, we don't have much time"

'He too…'

"Why don't we all calm down? We can-"

"Shut up! Give us everything you have and we will not hurt you"

'She seems nervous... Her hand trembles a lot'

"You are very young, why are you doing this?"

"I told you to shut up!"

"Sorry! But I don't have anything"

"Don't lie, we saw you leave your house!"

'Have they been following me? I really was distracted...'

"Damn it... Give me that"

The guy approaches and grabs the knife.

"Last warning, give us what you have or you won't leave this alley"

"I already told you I don't have-"

"Hey! What's going on there?" someone shouts from outside the alley.

The knife inserts almost completely in my abdomen.

"Shit!"

"Why did you do that!"

"It was an accident! Quick, let's go-"

I hold him by the arm.

"Hey, let go!"

My arms begin to surround with electricity.

"What the fuck? Her arms... And her eyes..."

"Hey, let him go! It was an-" the girl approaches to separate me from him.

A great lightning comes out of my arms, throwing the girl to the ground.

But I'm still holding the guy.

"Let go! Agh!"

It begins to writhe.

The girl is still dazed.

My body doesn't stop burning.

"Alexandria! Alexandria, let him go!"

'That voice…'

I come back to reason.

The guy is on his knees.

I let go of his arm and he falls to the ground.

'Oh no…'

"Brother!"

The girl gets up and runs to the guy.

"Brother! Are you okay? Answer please…"

I approach them.

"Is he... is...?"

"Fuck you! You killed him!"

She throws herself at me, knocking me to the ground.

"Now I have nothing!"

While she is on top of me, she punches me.

I, perplexed, do nothing.

'I killed him?'

"Stop!"

'Asil?'

Asil approaches and takes the girl off me.

"Who do you think you are! Take your hands off me!"

"Calm down a moment and watch!"

Asil points towards the guy.

He is breathing.

"Brother!"

"He is unconscious, he will be for a while" Asil says.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Let's get out of here, you have a knife in your stomach, blows in the face and your arms are red"

"It's true, I had forgotten"

When I remember it, the pain goes into action.

"Agh, help me to-"

Asil puts his hand on my shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, we are in a small room.

I'm lying in a small bed.

"What the fuck? Where are we?"

"In my apartment. Give me a moment"

He goes to another room.

'How are we here so fast? Did I faint or something?'

Asil returns with a towel, bandages and a bottle.

"I'll take out the knife. I'll be pressing the wound while I heal it. Understood?"

"Wait, isn't that-"

He takes the knife out of an impulse and puts the towel on top.

"Agh!" I writhe in pain.

"Don't move, I won't take too long"

A green light comes out of his hand.

"Is that healing magic?"

"That's right, do you know it?"

"It has been already used twice in me, but it's the first time I've seen it"

A few seconds later, the pain is much weaker.

"Done. Now, stand up"

With a little pain, I get out of bed.

"Raise your shirt, I'll put ointment and bandage"

"Yes…"

I raise my shirt a little and he puts ointment on the wound.

He puts the bandage around my waist.

"Done. Take this, put ointment on your face " he gives me the bottle.

"Thank you"

"Now, what the fuck were you thinking! Using magic to kill someone because a knife? " he starts yelling at me.

"I had to defend myself! But, being honest... I don't know..."

'It's true, what was I thinking?'

"What do you mean?"

"I wasn't thinking... It's weird, but I never decided to do that..."

"Well, you're lucky I came quickly to revive him. In these moments I'm alone, if someone else was with me, you would already be in Xenon"

"Speaking of which... Why don't you take me? It would solve everything..."

"Because I'm not sure what's happening. Your father was very obsessed with the idea that the government is hiding something. I don't want them to do... something with you"

"I have a question. My father is Mark... Right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"In Xenon, the government says that the president... is my father..."

"How do you know?"

"If you're sure Mark is my father, why do you doubt that the government is hiding something?"

"..."

"Why don't you do something about it?"

"It isn't that simple…"

"It isn't? You are helping the government, you are doing what they ask you, knowing that they are lying. You killed dad for a damn lie!"

"I know that the government lies about you. But... Mark and Alyse killed hundreds of people... That can't be denied. Although I loved them, they earned that destiny"

We are silent.

"Now what?" I ask.

"I will not take you. But if you use your magic again, it's very likely that I will have to do it"

"Why?"

"I have a family to take care of, I can't become a rebel and abandon them"

"I get it"

"Even though it hurts, you can't stay here, someone could discover us. You will have to find somewhere. Wait here"

He goes to another room and comes back.

"Take this"

He gives me money.

"It's not much, but it will be good for a month. When we meet again, I will give you more"

"Thank you. By the way, how will you know where I am?"

"Come here"

I approach him.

He puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Done"

"You did something?"

"I used Remote Location to know your location all the time. It will last one month. Now do it in me"

"Sure"

I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Open Sesame!"

"..."

"How do you want me to do it if I've never used magic!"

"Oops, I forgot. Give me a second"

He goes to another room.

He returns with a backpack in his hand.

"Take it. Inside there are many books that will serve you to study the basics of Xenon"

"Thank you!"

"Well, you better go. I hope you find a place to stay. And don't worry, I'll think of something to get you out of all this, I owe it to Mark too"

"Okay, don't worry about me. And... where are we?"

"We are on the limits of the city, not far from the alley where you were"

"Understood. Thank you very much for the help, I don't know what would have happened if you had not appeared"

"No problem, just be more careful"

"I will. See you!"

I leave the apartment and Asil closes the door.

'Knowing that I have Asil on my side calms me down a bit. Now I can go back- Oh, an elevator! Every time I see one in a manga I want to use it'

I approach the elevator.

'Wow... There are many buttons... I better use-'

*ding*

The doors open.

An old woman is inside the elevator.

"Are you going to enter?"

"Yes"

'Why did I say that?'

I enter the elevator.

I stand still, looking at the panel of buttons.

"What floor are you going to?" the old woman asks.

"I'm going... out"

"Then press the button that is up to the bottom"

"Yes, thanks…"

I press the button.

'I wonder how-'

The elevator starts to go down and I lose a little balance.

'Wow! It feels a little strange'

"Is it the first time you use an elevator?" The old woman asks.

"Yes... Is it obvious?" I'm a little embarrassed.

"No need to be ashamed dear, there is always a first time for everything"

"Yes, I think you're right"

"And when it's like that, enjoy it. When you get used to it, it's not the same anymore"

"Yes…"

The elevator stops and the door opens.

I leave the elevator.

"Have a nice day"

"Yes, you too"

The doors close.

I leave the building.

'Wow! How many buildings, they are all very close to each other'

I observe the surroundings.

The street is narrow and there is no garbage anywhere.

There are quite a few trees on the sidewalks and few people in sight.

'Now, how do I get back to the house? I could go to the alley, but... Wait, that building...'

I turn to see the building.

'It's the same one I saw from the house. I could use it as guide, I just have to walk in the opposite direction'

I start walking, hoping to get to the neighborhood where I was.