I think my feet are just going on instinct now. I forcefully will them onward through the overworked, famished, blurred haze that has clouded my vision. The 'Real Bat' trails behind me, gripped in one hand. The clinking it makes as it bounces off the ground is the only thing I can hear. I've slowed my pace to a jog now, silently thankful for all the running I did during my hunt for the needles. I can still feel my fingers trembling with the leftover adrenaline that's pulsing through my body. There's only one thing on my mind right now: I need to get to that city. The only way I know I'm still conscious and haven't drifted off yet is the throbbing, gnawing pain that's continuously pounding my head – I really need some rest. I won't even be able to fight in this condition; I barely have enough mental energy for a Lifeup if I get hurt and exhaustion mixed with a lack of food has clearly out ruled any chance of fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

I still can't believe that the blood of an 'innocent' is on my hands, literally, even if she was being possessed by Porky that was hardly her fault – it was mine. I must have brought him here but I still don't understand why or how he even escaped the 'Absolutely Safe Capsule'. He said something about an "old friend", didn't he? I guess that Elmore was right; I am nothing but a bother and wherever I go misfortune ensues. But it's not like I can just rid the world of myself; I already vowed against doing that after Claus. On top of that I'm going to have to kill King Porky so as to limit the amount of harm he could do to civilians - I'm not exactly sure where to start there… I keep trying to make the world a better, safer place but so far it's only getting worse.

I rub my eyes; I must be delirious from exhaustion. My spirits are suddenly raised heavenward as, through my sleep glazed eyes, I see the blurred, flashy lights of the city. I smile and can't help but laugh in spite of myself as I slow my pace. Getting there has completely replenished my spirit and a sudden sense of energy flows through my veins, soon spreading throughout my entire body. I vigorously rub my eyes to rid them of the ever increasing urge to let them close; sleep has always been one of my favourite things to do – why couldn't King Porky decide to invade someone's body and attempt to kill me in the day time?

I stand out in front of the suspension bridge overlooking the city. It's mostly empty save for the few cars that run back and forth over it in an almost rhythmical pattern. This has to be the biggest bridge I've ever seen; a lot of things are like that when you come from a small village I guess. I hope that the darkness that comes from a mid-Autumn night covers my appearance – the less people who can identify me the better.

The passing light of cars guides my way across the lofty bridge as the swashing sound of the water below me and the unmistakable sound of engines corrupt the silence that comes hand-in-hand with nightfall. I raise my hands up to cover my ears in an attempt to prevent the incoming sensory overload. My gaze is diverted skyward to look at the array of stars laid out tonight in an attempt to free myself of the numbing boredom as well as the questions circling inside my head like sharks. I guess that staring at nothing in particular is a good way to pass the time because my feet reach the end of the bridge before my mind has a chance to catch up.

The city seems even bigger now that I'm in it; much bigger than New Pork anyway. To say that my experience with cities is lacking may be an understatement but I still don't like them – and bigger just means worse in my opinion. I despise most types of change but one as big as going from Tazmily to this is something that's hard to cope with. At least it seems a bit better than New Pork in the sense that it doesn't have an uncanny, child-like, fake feel to it and the buildings – at least the ones I'm near – all seem to be real rather then made out of paint and cardboard. But honestly I think the best part about it is that there are no chimeras or pigmasks; though I suppose I still have to be wary of the people living here. At least the streets seem empty right now, although I'm not sure what else I expect being out in the middle of the night.

I'm not really sure what to do now. My plan was just to get here it didn't involve what to do once I actually arrived. Darn it, my mind was too scattered to think ahead. I harshly scold myself accordingly and dig my fingernails deep into my arm in irritation. Regret hits me seconds later as I realise just how counterproductive this is and my jaw clenches as I forcefully rip my hand away. I've only drawn a little blood, I think. I'm glad I stopped myself before I had the chance to make it worse. It's odd. I'd expect to at least have seen some people by now. Where are all the drunks who've just woken up and are scrambling back off the streets to their houses? Or the early risers with unforgiving work hours?

I reach the heart of the city by chance – I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. It's starting to get light now. Must be around 6AM; that's usually when it gets light in October, right? At least I can clearly see where I'm going now. I hear a scream as the first flood of people enter the streets. I turn to face the perpetrator of the noise in an attempt to find out the cause so I could help only to discover it was me. Not only that but many people had stopped to stare at me with horror and bewilderment on their faces. Naturally, I give them a bemused look before glancing down to see that my favourite shirt was no longer a mixture of yellow and red but was now drenched in the latter of the two. My arms too had crimson splatters and drips on them like some morbid abstract artist had used them as a canvas… and I can't even think what my hair looks like.

Well that explains it. I'd probably find it a bit odd if someone walked into Tazmily looking like they're straight outta a murder scene too. Of course two on-duty cops come out of one of the groups as soon as this happens. Why the hell are cops even on duty right now? And why did seemingly the only two have to be right where I am right now? Does Dark Dragon just hate me or something? That would explain a lot...

I wish I could be annoyed by my current predicament but I really don't have anyone to blame but myself. What was even going through my mind? Yeah, smashing a bat into someone a few dozen times isn't going to get a speck of blood on you… I feel guilty for forcing the citizens into this. Ordinary people should never be forced into my affairs no matter how disgusting each and every one of them is; I wish I could just die and let them all be safe but unfortunately that isn't possible yet.

I instinctively step backward as the two officers charge to tackle me before regaining focus and ducking out the way. It would be foolish to fight right now; it would just cause even more of a stir. I quickly scan the area and use a PK Flash on the officers before I begin to run into the gathering crowd using psychokinesis to send the people blocking my path flying and out of my way; I really need to stop using PSI my head hurts like fuck. Without exactly thinking my actions through I run into another street in an attempt to rid myself of my pursuers.

It's at times like this I really wish I knew Teleport; I hear some other powerful psychics can do it but it's never really clicked with me… Same with magnokinesis. I gotta work on that. Urghh, this isn't the time to be thinking about things like this! I need to find a way to restore my psychic energy- other than sleeping that is.

It's a shame I'm so exhausted right now or I'd just finish these cops off with a quick PK Thunder, at least they're pretty slow. I mean I can't even see them behind me anymore and I'm, like, half asleep. I half-subconsciously snicker smugly before the shrill screams of sirens pierce my ears. I'm not surprised. I expected them to send backup but I find it hilarious that it took so long; just proves that if you really want to walk through a city drenched in blood then you should probably do it in the early morning when everyone's still asleep – clearly a lesson I should pass on when I have kids to become father of the year.

The sounds violating my ears seem to be coming from all directions and have begun to crescendo. Heh, crescendo. I guess all of Nana's musical terms are starting to rub off on me. I guess that's what I get for spending all my time with someone who gets mad at people for calling a yanopi a piano. I stop running and think. Maybe if I can just get some coffee or something? I've seen a surplus of store just from the short time I've been running and it usually has the same effect as a nights rest. I can't exactly just stroll into one and nonchalantly ask for a good ol' regular cappuccino with cream though so I'll just have to take one off someone, I suppose, preferably one that hasn't been drunken out of already but I can step out of my comfort zone at this point I don't really give a shit. It shouldn't be too difficult in the few minutes I have to find someone; coffee seems to be the unspoken addiction of every single Goddam person here – at least that makes things easier for me.

Indeed, I only have to turn into a new street to see a whole herd of caffeine addicts as they peacefully graze on their fodder unbeknownst that a predator is watching their every move. I pick out my target and wait for him to walk closer to me so as to not arouse as much suspicion. When I was sure no one would notice I psychokinetically pull the businessman toward me. He gasps as he sees my face almost dropping the precious liquid as he does.

"Y-You're the boy from the news!" He stumbles out.

Great. Now everyone's gonna be runnin' from me.

Before he could continue to voice his protests I punch him in the face so as to knock him out and gulp down the remainder of his coffee. I finally feel the familiar burning of energy as it spreads throughout my body. "Uh… sorry." I offer a quick, unheard apology to the man I'd just knocked out as I glance back at him and I place the empty coffee cup beside him. They'll… probably just think he passed out drunk or something. Is it normal for the greater good to go around punching people in the face?

I now welcome the police to try and stop me and walk into the crowded street. 4 police cars soon surround me but I hold the doors shut with my newly replenished psychic energy and, still expressionless, I lift the cars up and slam them back down. That may have not been the nicest of me but it was really just their fault for challenging me. They had to be stopped and, hey, at least I've silenced the sirens – I'm sure everyone in the city can be thankful for that.

Now that that's out of the way I'm going to have to change clothes and get out of the main streets. I light an impressive pryokinetic fire on my bare arms in an attempt to prevent anyone coming close to me. My sharp, dead eyes scan the crowd as I take a few steps back before I turn to run out of the city square.

I think the fire worked; at least I can't see anyone following me. It's really fucking great to be a mutant sometimes.


Once I'm out of sight I levitate to the top of the closest building for a bit of breathing space. I peer down at the streets below me; there are police officers everywhere asking witnesses what they saw. Great, all my recent decisions have turned out beautifully… I should just have a lifetime ban from making decisions – they never turn out well. Kind of ironic for a someone who's supposed to be clairvoyant. Oh well, I do what I must. I haven't died yet, have I?

I suppose I'd better move onto the second task in my mental checklist already: find some clothes. Preferably nice clothes. They have to at least be borderline wearable. Also I should probably wash myself; nice clothes won't really change the fact that I look like I've massacred a small village.


My breath freezes into an icy vapour before my eyes as I manoeuvre my way around the dark alleyways of the city (Obviously the best way to get around for a boy my age; completely riskless.) like I've become some mythical cloud breathing dragon. I think I'd like to be a dragon. Out of all the mythical creatures if I was given the chance I would definitely want to be a dragon. Maybe not a cloud breathing one though, a fire breathing one would be nice seeing as how pyrokinesis is my favourite ability. Dragons aside – as awesome as they are – I have to focus on the task at hand.

I peer out at the street ahead of me – it's pretty empty save for a few people. Not perfect but I don't think I'm ever going to find some lone sole wandering about in a city like this.

I scope the area for any possible targets. My eyes lock onto a boy wearing a simple red t-shirt, a blue zip up hoodie and grey jeans; he looks about 16, basically the same age as me. He'll do I suppose.

I don't really have anything to lose so I simply run out at him and pin him to the ground. His thoughts are those of confusion and fear. Not that I would need to be a mind reader to know that; his eyes say it all.

What a coward.

A breath of whispering broke out amongst the small crowd but I really didn't have time to care. I held them back through psychokinsesis – I can't really have them trying to intervene I'd have to hurt them - I'd already done far too much of that.

"Give me your clothes." I order with a toneless voice. I stare unflinchingly into his quivering brown eyes with my piercing ice blue ones. That's one defining feature of a psychic; our eyes hold a luminous quality that makes them seem to glow. I saw it in Claus, I saw it in Kumatora and I should have been able to see it in Ness. I can't believe I forgot about this until now. His eyes were a phosphorescent purple I should have known he was psychic from the start.

These thoughts run through my mind as I stare back at my own eyes which I can clearly see through the muddy pools reflecting them. Yes, they glow and share the same qualities as other psychics eyes but over the years mine have taken on a dead appearance and are hardly beautiful like Kumatora's and Claus' are… uh, were. Instead they look more akin to Claus' eyes after he was turned into a chimera; the eyes of one who has died inside.

"N-No! Get away from me!"

Maybe I should take it back – he must have some guts if he's arguing with someone drenched in blood. Maybe it's my calm demeanour? Time to step it up a bit I guess.

"I said give me your clothes!" I snarl forcefully. I've always hated being feared but I suppose it just comes with being able to create fire, ice and electricity out of nothing. I'm not gonna lie. It's pretty dangerous to the people around me and I have to use it daily or it becomes unstable – even more so then it already is. And I can't even count all the furniture and objects I've accidentally destroyed thanks to them – especially pyrokinesis and terrakinesis. But that doesn't mean I deserve to be called a witch and burned at a stake, does it? Maybe that's why Flint doesn't like my mutations. It doesn't matter what I do I will always spread fear like an infectious disease.

I raise one fire-covered fist up menacingly in warning and the boy gives in.

"Ok, ok! Please don't hurt me!" He hurriedly throws off his shirt, hoodie and jeans before he shoves them at me as I let him up before running off in his underwear… He's gonna look pretty stupid. Uh, sorry again.

I decide to run off too. There's no doubt that someone here has called the cops and I really don't wanna hurt anyone unnecessarily.


I rub off the blood on my body on the grass in a closed off area of the city's park. I ensure that my hoods up and hiding most of my face in shadow before I get up.

I can hear the birds talking about me in the trees above. I couldn't really care at this point. I, unfortunately, burn my old clothes to get rid of them.

I grip the 'Real Bat' in one hand and fall back against a wall. I decide that I'm gonna get some new clothes today – food would be a good idea too, my stomach's so empty I can no longer feel it - but for now I think a quick rest is in order.


I hope that was ok I had a lot of trouble writing this chapter for whatever reason. I'm also thinking of adding Ninten in? Yes? No? Does anyone care? Does anyone even read this anymore?

Anyway, please review if you want as it's very helpful for me and really just makes me want to write.