The Purge
Chapter 6: Bri

“All things truly wicked comes from innocence.”

~Ernest Hemingway

My father was rushing towards our ship. He has his arms wrapped around my younger brother as he carried him on his shoulders. Then a bullet flew and it landed on his back. He fell on his knees. Just like my mother did. My heart raced and it ached as every beat sent knives into my wake. I watched the next scenes as clearly they made a grim reminder inside my head. They will never stop until they annihilate humanity.

I woke up in the training room with Conleth’s eyes on me. I found myself lying on the stocked mats of the second floor. I rubbed my eyes as I adjusted my vision on him. Carefully, he reached out to me and I felt his hand caress my cheek. His touch sent tiny tendrils of fire on my skin. I closed my eyes to the warmth capsuling me.

“It’s okay.” He assured me. “Everything’s gonna be okay.” I leaned in to his touch.

I opened my eyes and I watched him bleed in front of me. His skin was peeling off and the smell of burning skin filled my nostrils. I tried to scream but no words came out of my mouth. I reached out to him and he engulfed in flames.

I realized I was in my room when I finally woke up. It took me enough doubtful time to believe I was truly awake. My father’s body sinking on the docks. Con’s burning body. I covered my face with my hands as I tried to shake off the memory of the nightmares. I decided to move out and to take a walk. I bumped into Con along the way and a rush of relief bumped into my chest. It was just a dream. He’s all right. My soldiers are all right. I made myself believe.

Con’s eyes told me I have done something to upset him. He’s not in the mood to be cocky around me anymore.

“I know,” I said when I realized where his hot temperature head came from.

He scoffed at me. “I thought we had an agreement. It seems you don’t trust me at all.” His jaw tightened. “You should have been frank with me.”

“Watch your mouth, soldier.” I snapped. “Remember that I’m still your commander and I know what’s best for my army.”

He snorted as he looked away from me. “Yeah, I bet you do.”

I reached out to him and I pulled his chin down so that he’s looking at me. His eyes shot daggers at me. I sighed in exhaustion. Arguing with Con would always make me tired.

“Con, I gave Athren the authority to teach not because I don’t trust you.” I said. But still his mood wouldn’t soften on me. I let go of him. “I’ve read Sigourney and Halley’s files. Athren would be a good teacher to Sigourney when it comes to stigma. Halley lacks combat skills which I know you are an expert in.”

He sneered at me. “So you left me to babysit Halley.”

I felt a deep pull inside my heart. “You seem fond of her.” I said as I remembered how he guided her with the gun. I saw them training when I checked up on her.

He shrugged off but I could see he’s trying to pull back a smile. “Halley’s very easy to train, if that’s what you want to know.”

I nodded into space. I’ve read that little girl’s file. And base to what I’ve read, the thought of Conleth’s burning body surfaced back into memory. She’s a dangerous one, I could tell. I should have placed her with Athren so that he could harness her powers and teach her to control it.

“Are you jealous?” I looked up to meet his taunting face. He wore his signature smirk over his mask of disappointment. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Excuse me?”

He shrugged again. “Just asking.”

“Well, from now on I will only answer to legitimate questions. Inappropriate ones will be discarded.” I retorted. His smirk deepened and so as my frown.

“What’s so funny?” I demanded.

He snorted. “You.”

I bumped his shoulder as I started towards the canteen.

“Don’t worry, chief. It’s called falling. I’m feeling it too.” He joked but I kept on walking towards unknown territory but in my head, I could only think of the canteen. I should be heading that way. Stupid Con.

The canteen was already half full when I arrived. I took my lunch and proceeded to the Commander’s Table along the others of my rank. Usually I’d take my lunch back to my room to spare myself from the bragging of the other commanders. They thought of these trainings as games and we’re all in competition. It made me think less of them.

But today was different. I found myself getting involved in a fight.

It started when Halley tripped over Tyron Vitalis and threw the contents of her food at him. Tyron was one of Zenith’s prodigies apart from me. He’s the one they call “The Nasty One”. Like Conleth, he’s a Firewielder. He burned down his village into ashes at age seven. From then on, to control his powers, the Zenith took him in. As the ill-mannered that I knew he is, he won’t let this situation out of his hand. Halley just got herself in Hell’s territory.

“I’m s-sorry.” The poor girl stuttered. Fear was visible in her eyes. The blonde boy stood in front of her with fists turning red at his sides. “I-I didn’t mean to—” she gasped as he pulled her up by the collar.

“You threw soup at me and all you say is sorry?” a snarl rose from his throat.

Halley squeezed her eyes shut. I suddenly had a thought that she might display her true colors right in front of everyone to see.

“I’ll burn you for this.” Tyron said through gritted teeth. He watched her with predator eyes.

“Not if I burn you first.”

Conleth.

I set my tray down on a nearby table as I made my way to the feud.

Tyron’s eyes flicked towards Conleth who stood firmly behind him. A smirk formed his lips.

“I see you got yourself a hero, little girl.” Tyron told Halley as he tightened his grip on her. Con’s frown deepened.

“Let her go, Ty. She didn’t mean any harm to you.”

Tyron snorted. “Didn’t mean any harm? Are you kidding me? She threw her soup at me!”

“Don’t be such a wuss puss. She tripped. It was an accident. Try to be reasonable and grow up, Ty.”

Tyron’s anger shifted to Con’s direction. He threw Halley on the ground unceremoniously and he advanced on Con. My soldier was able to predict his opponent’s attack. Con made a side sweep at him and Tyron fell on the ground.

Athren and Sigourney pulled Halley out of harm’s way and I made my way to them.

“You want to play fire, Con?” Tyron said through gritted teeth as he forced himself up from his fall. My heart pounded tightly inside my chest. This reminded me of Con’s burning body. Chills ran up my spine.

Tyron grinned at him. “Then let’s play.”

He charges at Con with a burning fist. Con waves his hand and flames start to make a wall up in front of him, blocking Tyron from his view. But the fiery wall wasn’t a hindrance to Tyron who practiced the art of wielding his element since he was a little boy. He steps into the pit like a demon raging into battle. His skin starts to heal as he approaches Conleth. He strikes at him once again and the flame makes contact with his skin knocking him off the ground.

With a scream, Con unleashed a big ball of flame right at Tyron’s face. The blonde boy backed away holding his burned face. Con was able to stand despite the damage he has taken from Tyron. In rage, Tyron lunged at him with his flaming hands. But Con raised his open fist in the air as if he’s trying to reach for an invisible thread.

The flames suddenly leave Tyron’s body. He stops abruptly and his knees kneel on the ground. He wears a tormented expression on his face as he stares back at Con. Sweat breaks out of Tyron’s face as he places his hands on his head.

“What are you doing to me?” he turned his fury at Con who kept his grasped on an invisible thread.

He sneered down at him. “Burning you from within.”

Tyron started to writhe in agony, silencing the chants that surrounded us. I saw the monster awakening in Con’s eyes. He was enjoying this kind of torment. This was a familiar feeling. It was the same darkness that overwhelmed Con.

I took a step forward to stop Con from killing Tyron.

“That’s enough.” came a voice that wasn’t mine. I turned to face Chivas Cantemir standing in eye level with Con.

Chivas Cantemir, the commander of Manticore Army. Another Zenith Prodigy. He’s a Temblor who uses sandstorms to create chaos among people for his mischiefs. The Zenith took him in because of his combat skills and also to clear the jeopardy he has made in the streets. Now as a commander of an army he uses his powers at free will to make himself intimidating.

“This is a Battle Camp not a cock pit.” He stared Conleth down but my soldier refused to be intimidated. Of course Con knew him. He wouldn’t forget that face who almost got him kicked out of Battle Camp because he was blamed for burning the kitchen. That was a lie of course. Conleth’s not a reckless soldier.

“Then teach your soldier some manners.” Conleth spat at him.

Chivas simpered. “Have you forgotten who I am?”

Con sneered at him. “Idiot.”

Chivas raised a fist at Con. But he was able to block it the way I have taught him to.

“Make another move and I’ll break you arm.” Con warned him. In response, he grinned at him and he disappeared through sand. Startled, Con whirled around to find him. But he was met by Chivas fist first. Con dove on the ground, face first. He looked back at him with blood on his temple.

Conleth released snake-like flames out of his hand. Chivas saw it coming and he counter-attacked by forming sand dunes on his wake. Once he succeeded in blocking Con, he trapped his feet on the ground and he pulled a knife out of his belt. He brought it down to Con’s chest.

But the knife never arrived to its destination.

I threw Chivas back to his sick and twisted soldier on the ground before he could deliver the blow to Con. He stood up only to find me staring down at him. The rage in his eyes was directed at me. He raised his hand and a sand storm made its way to me. I built an invisible wall to block his attack. The sand storm disappeared into air like it never came. He gritted his teeth out of irritation.

I made my way to him and I grasped the collar of his shirt. “We are training for war.” I exaggerated. “Not against each other.”

He glared at me. “They will come for you.” He said. “And when they do, my army’s gonna laugh at you.” His eyes flared with defiance. “We’ll be watching as they tear you into pieces.”

I threw him back on the ground and he guffawed.

“Set Conleth free.” I commanded. He shook his head as he grinned mischievously at me. The sand started to cover Con’s body. I gripped the air by force, seizing the air flowing through his neck. I could feel the bones cracking. The sand continued to make its way up to Con’s face. I wielded the space to summon him up to his feet and it was a pleasure to hear him struggle from breathing.

“Let. Him. Go.” I said through gritted teeth.

Bending his pride, slowly the sand resided from Con’s body. He fell on the ground and I nod at Athren to take him away from the feud. I turned my attention back to Chivas before he could regain his strength.

“Hurt my soldiers again and I’ll kill you.” I let go of him and he struggled to retain his breathing.

My hands never touched him. But still I hurt people even without touching them. I can bend pain at will if I wanted to. I can control anything without even trying. And so, as my soul darkens one more time, I left the canteen without looking back at the havoc I’ve made.

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