The Seventh Lyoko Warrior
Part XII: Trust
Warning: The following story is a little more graphic and more emotional. Reader discretion is advised!
As few days passed since Part XI. Michael's been having restless nights, the nightmares came back. Often waking Odd and Ulrich up at night, things haven't been easy for them. Ulrich's gone on to hate Michael as well as losing faith in why Odd is tolerating it. But Odd keeps putting on a smile to avoid his tiredness. But he sees this as an opportunity to talk to Michael. Ever since Michael protected Odd, Odd's been trying to help him.
Odd opened up Michael's door and saw that he wasn't in there. The window was open and a nice breeze was blowing in. Odd looked out the window and saw a dark figure running towards the woods. Odd knew it was Michael; he usually goes to the woods for some alone time.
Odd rushed down to the exit and made his way to the woods. Even though he should leave Michael alone, he had too many questions to ask. He's never gotten the chance to ask Michael because of what's been going on. He was hoping to talk to Michael when they get back to Lyoko. They're supposed to go to Sector Five tomorrow to find to data on the next replica.
The woods were calm and peaceful. But that quickly changed when Odd could hear the sounds of tree branches breaking. There was even the sounds of someone shouting as the branches were breaking. Odd had a feeling it was Michael; he quickly recognized the shouting. He rushed towards the sounds with great haste.
He made it to the center of the woods and saw Michael standing in front of a large tree. Michael thrusted his left fist into the tree and sent large pieces of bark and wood flying behind him. He pulled his fist out and kicked the tree with his right foot. His shin hit the tree and shattered the bark. He held this position and started striking the tree with his open hands. Leaves fell from the branches in huge waves with each time he hit the tree. Pieces of splintered wood tore off as he would pull his hand out for another strike.
Odd watched Michael, wondering what he was gonna do next. But Michael proceeded to punch into the same tree. Odd watched in wonder as Michael punched the tree so hard that it started to tip over. A loud crushing sound filled the air as it hit the ground. Pieces of bark, branch and leaf flew everywhere.
Michael stood next to the tree, huffing loudly. His fists were clenched tightly, his body was shaking wildly. From what Odd could see: Michael was frustrated about something. Odd wanted to try to calm him down, but he figured he'd let Michael get out all his aggression. Ever since Michael's nightmares came back, he's been nothing but angry. He hasn't said a word since them.
"I know you're there Odd," said Michael, looking at the tree Odd was hiding behind. Odd popped his head out and felt terrified about what Michael was gonna do next.
"Me and Yumi are worried about you Michael," said Odd, trying not to upset him.
"It's okay," said Michael. He pulled a water bottle out of his pocket and took a quick drink.
Odd slowly walked over to him, still not sure whether he was calmed down or still angry. After seeing how well he could fight against Xanafied people, he didn't want Michael taking his anger out on him. But he was willing to talk to him because he worried about him. He sat down on a stump and kept his eye on Michael.
"Do those nightmares happen every night?" Odd asked, trying not to sound afraid. But Michael could see right through him.
"I'm sorry you saw all that," said Michael. "It's just been very stressful these past few days. I mean…they just keep coming."
"What exactly happened to you?" Odd asked. Michael didn't say anything. "Every night I can hear you whisper in your sleep. "Why me?", "We'll be together again!", "Why am I still here?", "It's all my fault!"….what's going on?" Odd realized that he was actually yelling at Michael. But he couldn't help it, Ulrich's been complaining about his wake-up screams so much that they've actually lost sleep.
Michael still didn't say anything, he just looked away, trying to avoid the questions. But Odd grew impatient and stood up. He just shook his head and started to walk away when Michael grabbed his arm. Odd tried to shake his arm away but Michael held on tightly. There was no way he could break Michael's grip; he was just too strong.
"Can you keep a secret?" Michael asked, a tear ran down his cheek. Odd looked at him and realized that he was willing to tell him.
"Yeah!" said Odd. "What's been going on?" Michael started rubbing his face as he tried to find the words.
"Do you remember when we were in the gym and Jim attacked us?" Michael asked. Odd just nodded his head. "When I said that I could finally be with HER?"
"Yeah…." Odd's eyes widened as he realized who Michael was talking about. "You mean that Liana is…." Michael just nodded his head as Odds face turned white with fear and grief.
"Yep," said Michael, taking another sip of his water. "It happened about a year and a half ago." Michael looked at Odd, knowing he'd want to ask about what happened. "Relax, it was something that…well…..it changed my life."
"So what happened?" Odd asked.
"We were…uh…we were attacked by a couple of crazy people. I thought I had the upper hand….but I was wrong. They were armed and they shot us." Odd's turned even whiter but he was also confused.
"Hold on a minute…," said Odd. "How did you survive?"
Before Michael could say anything, some bushes started to rustle. Michael quickly jumped as a shadowy figure appeared in the bushes. Odd quickly jumped up but Michael got in front of him. As the figure got closer, Michael could see a javelin in the man's hand. The light from the moon revealed that the man was actually the gardener. Xana's eye flashed in his eyes as he watched them.
Suddenly Odd's phone started to ring. But he just ignored it because he knew it was Jeremy.
The gardener ran towards them at lightning fast speeds with the tip of javelin aimed at Michaels chest. Without hesitating, Michael pushed Odd out of the way. Odd flew back about twenty feet and slid another seven feet as he hit the grass. Odd could barely see but his heart practically froze when he saw it. Michael didn't have enough time to react or get out of the way. The gardener's javelin went right through Michael's chest.
"MMIIICCCHHHEEEEAAAALLLLLL!" Odd shouted.
The gardener turned to look at Odd, who was completely paralyzed in fear. The gardener slowly walked up to Odd, a twisted smile burned in his face. Odd tried to get up but his body felt like stone. Just like the time when one of his clones was turned to stone by that fog.
The gardener grabbed Odd and hoisted him off his feet. Odd tired to shout but it only came out in tiny squeals. His eyes shook wildly because that was the only thing he could do. The gardener was laughing menacingly as huge sparks of purple lightning erupted from his hands. Odd's eyes closed as he realized that he won't make it out alive.
"HEY SPARKY SPEAR!" shouted a familiar voice.
Odd's eyes widened when he saw Michael standing up with a javelin through his chest. A thick pool of blood stained most of his white shirt. But he stood there, hardly fazed about what happened. Of course his face wasn't pleasant, having a javelin rammed through your chest would ruin anyone's day.
Odd's face became so white that he looked like Michael. Seeing Michael standing there with a spear in his chest froze him even more. But he worked up the courage to utter out a few words.
"But….how…..," said Odd.
"I said that we were both shot, but I didn't say that I survived," said Michael.
He grabbed the tip of the javelin, which was sticking a foot and a half out his back. With a quick motion, he snapped about half of his off and threw it into the grass. He grabbed the rest and slowly slid it out. After he threw that one the ground, Odd could see a nice one inch-wide hole in Michael's chest.
The gardener dropped Odd on the ground and ran towards Michael. In a blaze of speed, Michael grabbed his neck and slammed him into the ground. Clumps of dirt and grass flew out as the gardener slammed into the ground. Without hesitating, Michael threw his fist down and in an instant; it was over. The gardener's body went limp as he passed out. Michael managed to knock him out.
Thinking about Odd, he looked up from the foot deep hole in the ground he made and saw how frightened he was. His face turned completely white as his starred at the hole in Michael's chest. So many thoughts rushed into his head; "Is he a zombie?", "Is he a vampire?", "Is he something from a Dr. Schrank movie?". His mind became over-flooded with emotions that you couldn't describe.
"You okay?" Michael asked, walking over to Odd.
"Am I okay, are you okay?" Odd asked in a louder tone. Michael helped him up and sat him against a tree. He pulled his shirt off and examined the hole in his chest.
"Man, compared to SpongeBob I'm unlucky," said Michael with a snicker.
Suddenly the blood on his skin started to darken and crumble off. The hole began to shrink as Odd realized that it was closing up. Still pretty baffled and confused, he sat there staring at Michael with wide eyes. After the hole closed up, Michael took his water bottle and poured the rest on him. With his bloody shirt in his hand, he wiped the rest of the blood and water.
For the next few minutes, the woods went completely quiet. Not even a mime could make a sound out here. Odd settled down and Michael watched his face getting its tan back. Although it became so awkward, Odd was still glad that Michael saved his life. And from what Yumi told him about the car accident, no wonder he snuck out of the hospital.
"So…uh…are you some kind of vampire or zombie or…what the heck is going on here?" Odd asked, trying to sound casual but he was panicking. But the mere thought of Michael with a hole in his chest made him want to puke.
"Well that definitely hurt so I'm not a zombie," said Michael. "I don't drink blood so I'm not a vampire either. To be honest I don't know what I am. I just know that I'm practically undead." Odds eyes widened as his voice became more raised.
"Practically…what do you mean practically?" Odd asked. He was starting to get hysterical. "You just got a spear through your chest and you're okay, how is that possible?" The pitch in his voice was shaking all over the place. "I don't get it, how are you stil-" Michael's face turned red as he cut Odd off.
"HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW!" Michael shouted. Odd's face turned white again as Michael's fists clenched up again. "They shot us, I tried to defend her, but she still died and I died with her. She's up in heaven and I'm stuck down here as my punishment for being weak. He pulled the picture of him and Liana out of his pocket and started crying. "I couldn't even protect her…it's my fault she's gone. If I was stronger, we could've gotten out alive." He buried his head into his arms and kept crying. "It's all my fault…it's all my fault….it all my fault!"
Odd's heart sank as he listened to Michael destroy himself. Seeing him this miserable made him feel sorry for him. Without even thinking about it, he gently placed his hand on Michael's shoulder. Michael pulled his head out of his arms and looked at Odd's hand. Odd still looked up to Michael and valued him as a good friend.
"Stop doing this to yourself man!" Odd said with a huge smile on his face. "You saved my life a couple times and you pushed Yumi out of the way of a car that could've killed her. I know Jeremy and Ulrich don't see it, but I trust you. And I'm sure Yumi would too. But just beating yourself up, it scares us." Odd stood up and found the man hole cover on the ground. "I can't imagine what you've been through, but I know you're strong. I've seen it and Yumi's seen it too." Michael's face brightened up. Listening to Odd's speech gave him a reason to smile.
"You're right Odd," said Michael quickly standing up. "You and Yumi are my friends. Sitting around feeling sorry for myself isn't helping anyone." He looked at Odd, who already took the cover off and was ready to go down the latter.
"So you coming?" Odd asked. Michael nodded and rushed over to the latter. With a new drive, he and Odd rush to the factory.
Listening to Odd has given Michael a reason to fight for the Lyoko Warriors. But will that fight last or will it crumble?
Find out what happens next in part XIII: Michael's Will
Sorry I haven't made another chapter for a while. I hope you guys have been reading my other story series; The Assassin of Time, Samurai Rescue Mission, Williams Clone Mishaps, Fight or Flight and Birds of a Feather. One thing I want to address to the people who like my stories is that I'm wondering if I should continue with William's Clone stories. I'm stuck on this subject so please give me an idea of whether or not I should keep going or finish it.
I'm also taking a chance by asking you guys how you want the next chapter to go. While Yumi, Odd and Ulrich are at Lyoko securing a place for Aelita to come. Aelita and Michael have to either convince Jeremy to send him in or knock him out again so Aelita can send him in. What would you like to see? Thank you if you read this and took the time to send a review. Things have been busy for me with my other writing projects separate from Fanfiction that have really made it difficult to work on other things. Thanks again for taking the time to read this is you did and see ya later.
And thanks for taking the time to read this. Please review and show your support. Also check out my newest series Assassin of Time to see my other Original Character. All your reviews help make my stories better.