Mind Control- Episodes 8-13 Read online

  “You’re looking at Gemini’s number one Iyan gemstone test dummy,” I said.

  “Good,” she continued. “You’ve probably heard some silly rumors about us. The big bad Black Star, the people that travel city to city doing whatever conjures up in your worst nightmares.”

  “A group full of themselves,” I added. The collectively glared at me. Maybe I should learn to shut my mouth when I’m clearly outnumbered. There were three guys and two girls. Who knew what kind of powers or Iyan artifacts they hid in their pockets, jackets, or undergarments.

  “Forget the rumors, forget the bull crap you’ve been told, and open your mind.” She pulled her hair behind her ear. “At first, we were just a group of normies. Friends, treasure hunters, mystery lovers. Then we met a real sorceress and she told us a lot of things. She gave use the first Iyan gemstones.” I shot the blonde a skeptical look but she ignored me and continued. “Myra was her name. She claimed to see the red string fate and even led us to Gemini, someone she described as a lost daughter of the great goddess.”

  “I swear if you guys are trying to lock me into some bull crap nerdy game of dungeons and—”

  “No, you idiot,” Kinsley said, interrupting my rant. “That lady, the sorceress. We believe she is the real deal. She knows everything. She even told us to start this group, that it would be the key to stopping the awakening of an ancient dark deity from Iyan folklore. Something she called Ehruptus Del Gonto.”

  “Sounds like name of some Harry Potter spell,” I muttered under my breath.

  Kinsley acted as if she didn’t hear the comment, carrying on with her stupid tale, attempting to convince me to believe the nonsense. “Ehruptus Del Gonto, also known as the World Eraser wakes up every few thousand years to cause an extinction event that wipes away humanity. His last attempt was stopped by the Iyans who gave their lives so that—”

  I yawned loudly. “Get to the point please.”

  Kinsley glared. “You need to take this seriously. You’re housing a majority of the power that can put the monster back to sleep, maybe destroy it. We’ve traveled city to city, collecting artifacts that can contribute to stopping it. I can imagine your Gemini is too—even though she left us, she still can feel its awakening. I can image you can too.”

  “That makes no sense, how can you feel someone or something waking up,” I said. “And why couldn’t you idiots simply just talk to me in a civil manner. Hell, even meet me alone on school grounds. You didn’t have to freaking wreck our taxi.”

  “What are you talking about? We’re here because you called us.”

  “What about this talk about belonging to you, your power sources, freaking destroying our cab? I know it was you guys and your freaky Iyan magic,” I snarled. “This is no game. You nearly hurt my friends. You even said you could kill them with a thought.”

  They gave me confused looks. “You took that seriously?” Red-eyes said. “That was joke. We teleported to you, because you were ready to talk, right? We had nothing to do with whatever you’re blabbing on about.”

  I frowned. “You mean to tell me you weren’t the cause of that freaky invisible force destroying our cab? The force that pretty much tried to kill us?”

  “No,” Kinsley said. “We’re not murderers.”

  “Wait.” The other girl walked up. “Kinsley, remember the rumor about this forest?”

  Kinsley paled. “Tha—that’s just nonsense. There’s no such thing as wendigoes.”

  “So, you believe in sorceresses and make-believe deities but not wendigoes,” I said.

  “I see it’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Kinsley said.

  “Wendigoes don’t talk,” Red-eyes said. “They’re two rumors about this place.”

  “Enlighten us, oh great sensei,” Kinsley mocked.

  “Remember what that old geezer said the other day,” Red-eyes continued. “Something about enchanted creatures and tricksters sleeping in the forest, not awakening them and what not.”

  A dark realization struck me. I felt my face pale. “My friends—crap they’re out there fending for themselves.”

  “We can save them but you will have to join us,” one of the other boys said.

  “Screw you,” I said but before I could take off, Red-eyes grabbed my arm. “Let go, douchewad.”

  “You mentioned talking, right. That sounds like a trickster screwing with your head. If you run out there, you won’t be of any use. You’ll all die. Accept our help, to save them all, and we’ll give you a week to say your goodbyes. That is if you care about any of them. We aren’t joking about the world being in danger. If you want, we’ll let Gemini confirm everything.”

  I thought really hard but knew there was no choice. These guys knew what lurked out there, snapping its teeth at my friends. I’d only make myself a liability.

  “Fine, but let’s stop wasting time,” I said. The group nodded and sped with me back to the direction my friends ran. A shrill scream—Rachael’s scream pierced the air. My heart pounded as horrible non-existent images of my hurt friends appeared in my head. I shook the thoughts away. We’ve got to make it on time. I pretty much sold my soul to the Black Star just to save them. The volume of the scream spiked. I picked up my speed as much as I could, wheezing though. I was fit and with all the crap I’ve been through, nearly athletic. Yet no matter how fast we ran, the endless black forest just wouldn’t break. It looked around to confirm that we weren’t simply running in place like one of those creepy hallways in the movies. Crap—I didn’t run that far from the guys—but minutes of sprinting and high-pace jogging got us nowhere. Even the Black Star looked winded. When I heard Gemini’s scream, the scream of that normally fearless girl in sheer terror, possibly agony, something within me broke. My hand moved by itself, raising to the air. A giant geyser of bright white light burst from the warming ring on my finger and briefly covered the entire area. When it cleared, we were standing in front of Gemini and the others. Rachael lied on the ground, unconscious. Gemini was crouching down, cowering with her hands on her head, tears falling from her face. I felt bitter cold, like absolute zero at the sight of Brandon. He lied on his back, eyes wide open, shirtless, blood oozing from his mouth. Inky blackness—an unnatural blackness knelt by him. Then I saw shadowy teeth take a bite into his arm. The horrific sound of crunchy, lips smacking, and slurping filled the air as that thing ate my friend.

  “Do something!” I snarled at the Black Star as I ran toward the scene. The inky blackness, the monster, paused its feast and looked at us. When I got to Brandon, nothing was there, but his arm clearly looked like a bear took a large bite out of it. The way the blood gashed, he’d bleed out. I saw his torn shirt a few inches at his side, grabbed it, and wrapped around the wound as tight as possible. To make sure what I didn’t wasn’t in vain, I watched him until I saw the rise and fall of his chest. Faint but Brandon was still alive. My friend clung to his life.

  “Can you save him?” I told Red-eyes as he knelt beside me, inspecting Brandon. “Please. I swear I’ll cooperate with you guys, no trouble.”

  Red-eyes placed a hand on my hack-job of a shirt tourniquet then spoke. “Do you believe us now?”

  “Of course,” I said. “I saw and felt it.”

  “That thing is just one of many—a follower of Ehruptus Del Gonto. Monsters like that appearing is a clear sign that within a few years, the dark deity will awaken. Attacks like these will be common.” He looked at Gemini, who managed to regain control of herself as she walked over to us. “You’ve become soft.” Red-eyes pulled out what I assumed was an Iyan artifact. It looked like a small slap of wood with gems etched into it. He placed it on Brandon’s forehead. A white light oozed from the artifact, around every inch of my friend’s body. His eyes shut, the blood vanished from his mouth. His skin tone looked better too. I unwrapped the shirt from his arm and to my amazement, saw it fully healed.

  “So, have you,” Gemini told Red-eyes. “The bark of healing takes nearly three years of sunlight to c
harge, yet you used it on a stranger.”

  “His loyalty is worth it,” he replied, pointing at me.

  “What are you talking abou—”

  “We’ll discuss that later,” I interrupted. “That thing is still out there and if we don’t do something about it, it will kill us all.”

  Just then, whispers echoed everywhere from nowhere. I couldn’t make out any words, but it sounded like millions of people sharing secrets at the same time.

  “We’ve got to get out of here,” Gemini said. “Whatever that thing is, it’s not something we can fight.”

  “I originally thought it was a trickster, but I think it’s one of Ehruptus Del Gonto’s spirits,” Red-eyes said to Gemini.

  The Black Star group gathered up in a formation that I made out to be a star. Too bad they didn’t get the chance do whatever hibbity jibbity they were about to do. Something unseen knocked us all to our backs. An unearthly growl rumbled through the air. Then I saw the inky blackness, a shadow darker than darkness against the moonlight. It had a vaguely large humanoid shape with jagged spiked points at the corners of its body. It landed on top of one of the Black Star boys. He screamed in agony as it tore him apart, slurping, crunching on bone, devouring him right in front of us. I vomited as we stood up, enlightened to the scent of freshly ripped open human. The chill and numb feeling returned as the realization of someone dying right before my eyes sunk in. That boy would never return to his family, would never graduate any schools, get a job, get married, and enjoy what life has to offer. Moments ago, that thing almost did the same to Brandon. It turned to us.

  “Ru—” the words couldn’t get out because when we turned, the monster was already there, waiting, creeping closer, its movements like oil.

  Red-eyes frantically dug for some kind of Iyan object. The shadow lunged at him with…nothing—but it still knocked the ginger to the ground. Instead of finishing the job, it turned its gaze to Gemini. Well, I guess the douche wanted to finish its first job, huh? Not good. I saw her tremble, petrified with enough fear to paralyze every bone in her body. Whatever broke inside me earlier, shattered this time. This thing intended to eat my girlfriend right in front of me. My childhood friend, my best friend, my dark half.

  Not happening.

  I held up my hand again, wishing for miracle. Then….The ring responded with glee, dishing out a light so bright, I had to fight the urge to shield my eyes. The monster howled in what sounded like agony. Flames erupted from nowhere, turning the inky blackness into smoke in a matter of seconds. Then silence engulfed the area as we stood. And thank God it was natural silence. Not that eerie silence that occurred when something that didn’t belong was coming. You know how it goes in the movies.

  Gemini stared at me for a few seconds before regaining her composure. “I uh… guess the ring really works.”

  “No kidding,” I said then turned to Red-eyes who also gazed at me with wonder. “Please tell me you can teleport us all.”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  I turned to Gemini. “What happened to the driver?”

  Her silence was the only answer I needed.

  When we were safely back in the school, the Black Star group left. Red-eyes would reappear in a week. I’d have to come clean with everyone—this wasn’t something I could hide. I did plan to see them again.

  But it all makes sense now. The feeling of something big approaching—it was neither the Blackstar group nor the Iyan gemstones. Ehruptus Del Gonto, the World Eraser, was probably among the reasons, if not, THE REASON, why the Iyan artifacts were created in the first place. That night, though it was three in the morning, we all vowed to speak of these events to no one outside of the mystery club. We’d make sure our members stayed away from that asylum.

  The next day, I gathered them all: Brandon the fully-recovered badass, Gemini, Rachael—pretty much my group and told them my deal with the Black Star group and the story they told me. The objections were strong and it took nearly fifteen, maybe twenty minutes to get them to calm down and listen. Well, there was an extra five to get Gemini’s objections under manageable volumes. There was no doubt that she knew maybe as much as the Black Star, being their former leader. The name Ehruptus Del Gonto seemed to make her flinch. That name is too long. I’m calling him Gonto from here out…

  “You know I’m coming with you,” Gemini said.

  “Matt, Gemini—this is crazy, you guys can’t seriously quit school and leave us,” Rachael said.

  “Seriously,” Brandon said. “What if this is all bull crap? No offense Gemini, but you left them. Isn’t that some sort of red flag?”

  “I left them because….” She paused, gazing at me for a few seconds before continuing. “Back then we were operating here. They wanted to leave town but I refused to leave behind my family and friends.”

  They all looked at me with hope in their eyes but I shook my head. A deal was a deal. I’d have to ditch my old life for a new one among the Black Star. Either that or allow the world to get smothered and man-eating shadow monsters.

  Just then, Red-eyes approached us with a purposeful step, earlier than the agreed upon time. If he wanted to recall me, I’d have to go. He saved the life of my close friend and lost one of his own. I intended to repay that debt.

  “No need to be alarmed,” he said. “I have some news you’d like to hear.”

  “Go on,” I said.

  “We’re going to hold temporary operations here in this city until you graduate.”

  I blinked. “You’re willing to toss out two years to wait for me to finish school.”

  “We’re not waiting—you’ll need training,” he said. “Training that just happens to take two years. And besides, there is a girl here by the name of Amy, who would make a great addition to our numbers. We’re preparing ourselves too—ditching the treasure hunting mindset for combat with these creatures. Can’t have our guys dying, freezing up out there.” He looked down at the floor. “We owe you our lives. And it would be an honor to see this thing through with you. The Black Star don’t give out words like this easily. Remember that. You’re one of us now.” He turned and sped off, leaving us there in awe. I turned to the guys.

  “Well it looks like I’m here to stay,” I said seconds before I was caught up in a group hug. Gemini pushed them aside, taking me for herself, and before I knew it, we were kissing. Good thing we were in after-school hours. I still find myself embarrassed or letting my ego inflate in front of jealous passerby boys.

  It seems like a new chapter of my life is beginning. There were tons of secrets left to unfold, including the mystery of Gonto, the douce-nugget. I owe the deity my unhappy thanks for being the cause of my misery when it came to Iyan objects. Oh well. The deity will have just desserts. At least I hoped.

  Well at least Gemini will be at my side to stand up against it. I couldn’t ask for anything better.

  Something bothered me a lot. I felt ice run through my blood when I thought about the words of the creature. Words that weren’t from the Black Star.

  “You….you….belong to us. You belong to our kind. You will be our power source. You will be one of us. One of us.”

  I was in something way over my head. Great. I could be enjoying my life right now, chowing on pizza, and teaching test failures. But nope, I get to be a paranoid freak. Yippee. Sigh.

  END.

  “Foolish child. Foolish son. You belong to us, to me. You will learn the truth when the time comes. Until, I will let them train you…”

  To be continued in Mind Control Novella 3: Club Wars…

 

 

 
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