Chapter 7- reaching the cottage

It was already dark and there was a surprising amount of people in the park all talking excitedly.

'Do you think they'll make an appearance tonight?' a girl clung to the arm of what seemed to be her date.

'Sure, they haven't let a night go past without kicking some ass.' he muttered leaning back to her. They were talking about the black birds. Really it was a stupid thing to do, waiting for hero's they just were asking for trouble. I walked past fist, they'd be disappointed anyway. I kept my eyes fixed on the volcano and moved swiftly through the brisk winds. I was shivering by the time I reached the volcano. I knocked on the door and instantly Brick answered.

'You took your time.' he muttered stepping back for me to enter.

'It's Saturday, it's cold and there are people all over the park, it's like they're expecting a festival.' I didn't look at him as I pulled off my coat folding it in my arms. 'How have you got on with your studying today then?' he was standing against the door staring at me. I looked away heading straight to his room. 'You should have read up on tectonic plates for geography. I think we'll move onto volcanoes, it's kinda ironic since you live in one.' I turned from his bedroom door. He was still just standing there. 'What's wrong? I'm not going to bite.'

'So you're just going to act like a teacher? All business? Have you forgotten our little convocation this morning?' I blinked a little taken aback.

'Yes, I'm being professional. It's taken a while but I'm used to you just shutting up in these times while you actually act like a student.' I smiled to myself nodded to myself. 'You know I quite like teaching.' he sighed approaching me and closing the door to his room. The study session had begun.

Looking back over the past month I do have to say I can't really think of anything better. I didn't have the Brick drama and I was some secret crime fighting legend. I was happy and I didn't want it to change. Maybe that's why I accepted to help Boomer with his Brick problem. I was getting to big headed for my own good. And that's what I was thinking of all the way through the tutor session. Brick was working and I just stud there with my head in the clouds. When the session was over I left almost too quickly. I left my bag because it had all the things he needed to study. As soon as he closed the door I flew up to the roof on a good old stake out. And there I waited.

Brick didn't move till an hour later. He left the house and headed straight to the old part of town. I silently floated behind him like a fully animated ghost. I made sure he didn't know I was there- there was no way he'd know, I masked my scent, went against the wind and was perfectly silent and still. There was that and I was beginning to read bricks moves, his expressions and his actions. He was at ease, well as much as he could ever be. The snooker club he went to was just a club. Neon lights and loud base music. I felt the head ache throbbing to the surface, why couldn't it be just a simple pub with a snooker table? There was a bouncer on the front door and a line. But Brick just slipped in unnoticed. Still hovering I used the toilet window. The smell- not pretty. A scent was a mixture of vomit and liquor hit my nose. I stud looking at rose of girls at a mirror unaware to how much of a state the room was in. half dressed girls were kneeling over toilet seats in an attempt to keep their dignity and friends laughed in comfort as they patted their backs. the girls lined in the were fixing their makeup as the dancing from in the club itself had sweated most of their face pain off leaving large black trails down their faces. took my coat off slipping it out the window, I was in a dress- not a clubbing dress but at least I could possibly pass as someone older. I stud in the mirror stealing the girl's makeup as they passed it form one another. I hoisted my dress up a little and soon I looked just like the average club goer. I nodded to myself in the mirror before holding my breath and slipping through the gaggle of girls and out into the main part of the club.

I could see snooker tables- they weren't being used as snooker tables, they looked more like beds from the about of people spoiled across them but I didn't have time to feel disgusted or awkward. I needed to find Brick.

'Never help a rowdyruff again after this.' I muttered searching the crowd for some sign of his red cap or eyes.

'Wow...red, you have a hell of a pair of legs on you.' I looked back to see a boy grinning at me. Just the common bar guy. He swayed resting on one of his friends shoulders. I turned away moving away fast as if I didn't notice. I couldn't get caught up and I wouldn't let them notice me. All it takes is one slip up. I weaved through the crowd trying to block out the noise as much as I could. My ears really couldn't take all the noise, I couldn't take the smell and so I felt too over powered by the people and just the environment I was thrown into.

Then I saw him. Brick was sitting in a booth with a group of boys who all looked like they'd drunk too much already. He didn't all together look like he was with them, it was more like that he was scanning the crowd himself. I knelt slightly trying to blend in more with the scenery. I focused on the edge of the dance floor opposite him. I wasn't sure what to do now, weather I should confront him or just keep watching. I mean at the moment it didn't look like he was doing anything. He was just sitting down looking at the people. Hopefully I didn't stand out too much like he did. It wasn't that he dressed any differently that anyone else but you just looked over the crowd and something was different, something you couldn't put your finger on but he shone out form the crown. There was something unnatural about him. I never noticed before but now that I was here looking at him with boys surrounding him so casually it didn't fit. He was too handsome, his skin glowing in the dull lights even though he was cast in the shadows of the club. He was taller than most of the boys and even if one was the same height he dwarfed them due to his wide masculine shoulders and his smouldering glare. His glare was where it all made sense, when you caught a glimpse of his face you just think that he'd be an extremely attractive boy but that wasn't the case. He longer you looked the more you were hooked on him till you finally sees those blood red eyes already filled with menace and anger. Those eyes were key- if you didn't know him you'd just have to look and understand that if you tried to take him on you were way over your head. Now in the club he was the one to watch, the one the girls giggled about just as he was in school but now, now in the shadow if a night club people openly feared him too.

'Look at her! Such long hair and what a body!' I turned my head noticing I was being watched by a group at the bar again. I groaned moving further into the crowd lowing myself further down to be able to keep my eyes on Brick. I didn't want this to go one for much longer.

'Come on; just meet with the people so I can tell you off then I can go.' I hissed dancing round a group of strange cheering girls. His eyes looked across the club and met someone's. I looked but couldn't see who. Brick was already on his feet and heading to the door. Needless to say I followed hastily. I wasn't about to let him escape that easily.

He was heading out the club, I floated up behind him and then I noticed the people that he was following. A small group of men in suits circling one man holding a case. I frowned wanted flying faster to catch up just to have a closer look, they looked too official and together. They weren't the run of the mill trouble makers. I looked back to Brick briefly – something was wrong here. It was clearly wrong, Brick never did anything that was too official, the whole image didn't suit him, and it didn't suit the Brick I knew. They didn't stop walking till they arrived at the forest, they moved in silence. Once entering the woods they went straight to the abandoned shack of Fuzzy Lumpkins.

Fuzzy was never a neat person, he was simple and now that I think of it nothing more than a man (or monster) that only wanted to be alone like many other people would have. His hut was a monument to that, he protected it viciously, now, and it was broken. The walls were either too warn away to be used or completely kicked in by vandals. The furniture had been torn up and scattered into wooden splinters across the hut. I watched as they all entered the hut. I crouched by a tree near the window to be able to see through to get the action. The men were all looking grimly over at Brick who just looked too composed, all apart from his eyes which blazed like fire over to them.

'Why did you want to talk here?' Brick didn't really ask, it was an order and an order you'd be foolish to ignore.

'It's away from all the noise, I can't stand clubs.' the man holding the case grinned. He was older than us- about early twenties with dark slicked back hair. There was nothing to distinguishing about him other than a scar running down his left eye. I made a mental note as he was clearly a dodgy character.

'We both agreed on the club. The deal was to be made is a public area.' Brick voice stayed cool yet I could hear the venom. The man with the scar laughed softly.

'Well I couldn't stop myself. You see I heard that this place used to be a home to one of the cities old villains...' the man looked around the shack. 'It doesn't seem too impressive.' he hummed walking around. 'I expected more.'

'The civilians don't care too much for villains.' Brick said just as calmly as before. He rested back against a wall watching the man with the cases every move.

'I noticed, the media tend to go rather wild for these super hero characters.' he grinned giving a little chuckle to himself. 'The villains have a habit of vanishing while new justice fighters rise into the sky and with the use of the foolish population and countless bias news articles they'll soon be elevated into the heavens.' the man sighed. 'And look at us.' he sighed opening his arms wide. 'Some how we're the cockroaches that refuses to be stomped out. You're a very good example for that.' he man grinned nodding to Brick.

'Oh I do try.' he replied folding his arms. 'But I think it's time you start talking about business. I don't really want to be here longer than I need to be.' the warning returned in his tone again. I leaned closer waiting for him to say more. There was actually a reason he avoided the forest- that was that I was actually interested in. maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to follow him after all.

'All business, aren't you? Why don't you ever want to have a bit of fun?' the man grinned. 'Look, we out in the forest, we all you and up to no good. Live it up a bit.'

'You're not the one I want to have fun with. Just get on with business or I'll lose my patience.' Brick hissed. The man looked back a little more worried.

'fine.' he sighed opening the case. 'The explosive you want. But for a boy with superpowers I can't see why you need any.' Brick grinned stepping forward hand outstretch for the case but the man pulled back closing it.

'The money.' he said in a more formal tone. Brick continued to grin. Something was defiantly wrong with his smile.

'What money?' as he said that the other men moved forward pulling out guns forms the inner lining of their jackets. Brick moved fast, as soon as the first trigger was pulled his hands were already covered in the blood of the shooter. I stared as the men realised what had happened. There was no way that brick was that fast and the ruthless. But before my own eyes I could barely see it. In one swift move he had pushed his fist into the skull of the shooter and the skull caved in over his hand. The body now lay motionless at his feet.

'Oh my.' the man muttered as more shots fired. This time Brick just grinned moving from one man to another his hands a red blur. I ran forward diving through the window; I couldn't just let him kill. Brick was rounding on the man with the case who was backed up against the far all. I ran forward between them.

'Stop.' I said sharply facing Brick. His smile grew, I felt disgusted. How could he smile? There were men lying dead by his hand and he was smiling? I looked over my shoulder at the man with the case. 'Leave.' I said and he nodded slipping past. I kept my eyes on Brick as he smirked.

'Well isn't it the little pixie, in the forest again?' I didn't reply, not even a disgusted expression. This couldn't be Brick. A few hours ago I was with him studying. He was improving; he was trying to be good. I honestly believed that. He leant forward the smirk still on his face. 'I told you to keep out the forest.'

'If this is what happens you should follow your own advice.' I muttered looking round at the bodies. 'Brick, you killed these men.' I felt the tremble in my voice.

'I know.' he lowered his voice taking another step closer. 'And you've been following me since I left the house. You know I thought I did lose you in the club for a moment but when you hid behind the tree I saw you.' he grinned. 'I'm too good now, you can't beat me even with the training as some cheesy new up and coming super hero.' his hands started glowing redder, was he burning?

'You're getting a head of yourself.' I muttered moving towards the door. 'I'm taking you to the police. You've slipped up big time.' he let out a low chuckle.

'Bloss, you think I'll just go?' he moved back. 'I supposed you'd hope for that. You're still a good girl I guess.' he turned looking round at the bodies. 'Well I guess I'll just have to dispose of the evidence.' he raised his hands, they were holding fire. I stared a little dumbstruck. His powers really had grown. They'd grown far more than mine. He looked over at me. 'And you'll have to keep quiet.'

'As if.' I muttered ready breathing ice. 'I told you, I'm taking you down.' his hands started spewing fire out onto the bodies, the fire began liking up the wood of the hut easily.

'It's a good job we here after all, I can't imagine burning a club full of people. I bet your sisters would have interfered then.' he walked back to me. 'And then the fun would be over.' he pushed a hand over my mouth. 'Just to stop that breath.' he wrapped his other hand round my waist and burst from the ceiling as we flew straight up into the air. I just watched as the hut quickie went up in flames.

He didn't take me back to the city, instead it seemed like he was flying further into the forest but he just got faster and faster. Soon we passed the forest completely. I forced his hand away from my mouth.

'Put me down.' I said calmly. He didn't look back at me or slow down. He carried on speeding till we reached the ocean. 'Put me down.' I said again louder. He stopped, landing on a cliff. I stumbled away from him as soon as he realised his grip from my waist.

'Blossom, stay.' he said as I just thought of flying straight back to Townsville. I looked back at him, he wasn't smiling anymore. I stud still a moment wondering why on earth I should stay, why I should stay with the killer.

'Fine.' I huffed sitting on the ground. 'Then kill me to.' he looked back at me. 'It's it what you want? You're made to destroy me. You've already killed, you have it in you. Finish this.' I felt the tears pour down my checks. He had killed people. It seemed too unreal.

'Bloss-'

'Do it.' I interrupted as he approached me. He stud above me for a moment before resting down on the ground beside me.

'I didn't bring you here to kill you. I have no intention of doing so.' he sighed.'so just shut up for a moment.' he lay down nest to me staring up at the stairs. 'Stop crying too. Its annoying.' frowned quickly wiping my eyes.

'I thought I was getting to know you, you were getting better. You weren't really doing anything wrong. Sure I don't like you but you weren't a criminal.' I looked down at him. He was staring up at the stars looking completely at ease. 'Then Boomer came and told me you were up to something. he asked if I could do something...in the end I guess I couldn't. You're still the same as you were then. No worse.' I stud up heading towards the cliff. 'You fucking killed someone.' I balled my hands into fists. 'And you looked like you enjoyed it. It was disgusting.'

'I did enjoy it.' he replied matter of factly 'it was easy and I just the little buzz you got hearing the bones crush-'

'Stop.' I growled. 'I get it, you really are evil, and you kill and enjoy it. I don't need to hear why.' I felt tears creep down my face again. 'Why did you bring me here? You're not planning on killing the witness? Because I swear to god I'll run straight to the police.'

'No you won't.' he flipped himself upright. He smiled softly floating closer to me. I frowned stepping back slightly.

'And why's that?' I spat. He still approached me.

'Because with nothing to back you up further you word means nothing. You're no powerpuff anymore. Besides, to the world, those men didn't exist.' he stopped in front of me. 'Stop backing away.' I shook my head backing away still. 'There's a cliff, you're being childish.'

'I can fly.' I glared at him. And as long as I can carry one moving away from you, I will.' he growled grabbing my waist again.

'I brought you with me because I don't care. I just gave up caring. You hate me, I'm not too fond of you either but I don't care. About the city, people, anything. Can't you see? We're so much more than normal people. We're better. I've proved that.' I looked at him; he really believed what he was saying.

'We're not better. Having powers doesn't more anything.' I put my hands over his trying to fight them away from my waist.

'You're not strong enough to help yourself now. That's what happens when you don't live to your fullest. You become weak.' he hissed pulling me closer. 'I'm offering you a spot on my side. You could be a problem for me if you run around doing what you want.' I stared into his red eyes; they weren't changing, they weren't showing me that this was all just a joke. He was being completely serious.

'You're being stupid, what on earth are you talking about?' he grinned realising me. I stud there just watching him. So this was the real Brick? This sinister, crazy murder? 'What happened to you when you went away? What are you planning?'

'I'm not going to lie. It'll be pretty brutal.' he smirked. 'But once the event it should get easier- for us I mean.' his eyes lit up at the last of his sentences.

'What happened to you?' I asked again. This time he just stud silently the smile faded from his face. A shadow fell over his features, he looked more pained. 'You got taken away? With the other villains?'

'Something like that anyway.' he snorted looking away gritting his teeth. 'Do you know why monsters and the villains round Townsville appeared? How they came to be so strong? So strange? Most were too strong to be mere humans. Haven't you ever wondered why?' I shook my head but I got the feeling it wouldn't have mattered either way, he was going to talk and I wasn't about to interrupt. 'It's the same thing that made you and me, chemical X.' he spat. 'It isn't meant to be touched, even we don't know what it is, that's why it got "X" in the title. It's to symbolise the unknown. It's a chemical only found here. Some creatures happen to stumble on it and it changes them- makes them different. Normally the government picks them up and locks them away before they get a chance to discover what they can do. But for people like you and me, we're made from the stuff- no one can be more powerful than my brother and your sisters. Our powers are limitless- it's unknown how strong we can get.' it clicked, it all made sense now. They were all taken away. Anyone that was to cause harm because of chemical X.

'Are you saying you've been locked up all this time?' I caught his eyes. He clenched his fists shaking slightly.

'I was surprised you didn't know. Your dear old creator was the one who sold us all out.' he almost shouted. His hands started glowed red again.

'The professor wouldn't do that.' I muttered. 'He's a good man.'

'The government said that too. It took years to convince them that my brother and I had changed; they thought we'd go after him. But he's got the best body guards in the world.' he smiled again, an unnatural smile that shook me to my core.

'You're not going to hurt my Dad.' I said calmly slowly moving round, I had to get the chance to run away now. This felt too dangerous handle alone. 'He doesn't even work with the government.'

'Then how does he fund his little experiments? Who does he report to? Everyone has a boss Blossom.' I bit my lip trying to think. What he was saying made sense. I didn't want it to, every word he said was filled with a bitterness that made me want to retch or scream.

'So, you're mad. I see that. I've seen that for a month. But I don't get what you're doing.' I now stud against the trees watching him. He smiled again.

'I told you. I'm going to make our lives easier.'

'Our lives are easy. You have a home, I have a home. We eat and go to school. We are just like everyone.'

'Can you really say that?' he muttered. 'Teachers threaten me all the time. And I see them treat you differently too. Not as much because of course, you're the hero after all, but they're scared of you as they are to me. My house gets trashed every day, the other students resent me. They're just too cowardly to do anything. Besides this has only been a month, my whole life has been much more...gruesome I guess you could say.' he clenched his fists. 'I've been working too hard now to give in so I'm telling you to choose your side. Before this all kicks off.'

'Because it's going to happen soon? This event?' I tensed up as a rumble echoed through the trees. He smiled. 'I'm not going to let it happen.'

'You have no choice. You can't get strong enough to stop it now. Think of all your wasted years.' I clenched my teeth together feeling my anger build. 'All this time you've been playing human. You've been pretending to be the perfect normal student. But we both know you're not, you were never meant to be.'

'It wasn't a waist.' I growled. 'I've got friends and a life which is more than I can say about you.' I floated up into the air. 'Don't show your face at school. I don't want to see you again.' he flew up in front of me trapping me in his arms.

'I wasn't planning to. This will be our last encounter for a while.' he ran his fingers through my hair staring down at me. 'Last chance to take my side.' I foaled back away from him. Silently flying away. I guess this meant war then.