I don't own MR, whoa that was plain

Assassination of Memories
Chapter XVIII – Mistaken Identity

Shadows' POV

How could I be so utterly stupid!? No wonder he was familiar, no wonder the feeling of anger rose a little when I first saw him! How could I not know it was him, the sick betraying bastard!? The instant I got down the stairs my eyes were on Neo, but at the sight of the black hair whipping to the side my eyes flicked to his face. Calm like I had always seen, even when he beat the living daylights out of me. Rage boiled in my blood, instincts though calmed me down enough that I didn't explode in the worst way. But I still did. I shot towards Teacher snapping my leg out; he ducked jumping back like he always did. 'Sometimes cowards do live, be a coward at first then come back with a wave of bravery.' Teacher's words echoed in my head making me clench my teeth. I jumped over the couch ignoring Max's yell of protest. Teacher was going to die, and he was going to die now.

I brought my knee up into Teacher's stomach lashing out at him keeping my arms in for protection. He dodged, predictably his leg shot out to take me down, I flipped sideways bringing another raged kick at his head. He blocked that coming at me with a punch that snapped my head to the side. Blood exploded in my mouth; I spat it out in Teacher's eyes. I didn't admire him anymore.

I hated his guts.

Teacher stumbled back narrowing his eyes at me past the blood. I pissed him off, oh well. Spinning on the ball of my foot I planted a round house kick right in his chest sending him flying. I snarled pouncing on him my fist colliding with his cheek. When Teacher whipped his head toward me three jagged claw marks spilling blood was on his cheek even though when I had punched him all my fingers where coiled, he pulled his feet to his chest pushing with all his strength throwing me off. Neo held Max down the best he could, looking like he was struggling to restrain himself. I brought my arms up to shield my face from Teacher's punch mentally slapping myself. With all the strength I could muster right at the moment I unleashed the power on him, sending him across the room and into the wall where the drywall gave way. He was stuck in the hole he created, vulnerable for attack. I shot at him again when the shadows of the furniture leapt up wrapping around my arms and waist keeping me suspended in mid-air. Teacher tried to use this to his advantage being restrained against the wall by more shadows.

"Can we all just calm down and talk this out!?" Tranq said. I just realized he was there, and Bronze and Jared. Oh shit I was in trouble. "What the hell do you think!?" I barked though clenched jaw and teeth feeling like I was about to implode. I was seething, rage filling my vision and better judgement. The glare Tranq shot at me was like one I've never seen him use; it reminded me of Teacher almost. That made my gut coil with hatred and wrath. "Let. Me. Go." I said coldly narrowing my eyes at Tranq. He held my glare with his own. "Both of you stop, Neo leave." Jared ordered. Neo disappeared which instantly wasn't the best idea. Tranq's reflexes needed work; he couldn't grab Max with his shadows before she punched me in the face. The taste and smell of blood wasn't helping, I was shaking with fury wishing I could kill people just by looking at them glaring at Teacher. "I need to rip his guts out." I snarled not taking my eyes off of Teacher. "Shade!" Jared barked fiercely. "I hate you, how could you turn me into this!?" I snarled at Teacher. "I don't know what you're talking about. You've got me mixed up with someone else." He retorted in his way. "Don't act like you don't know me, you taught me how to fight dumbass!" I roared. Teacher as always was calm his eyes telling me that I was letting my rage come out, looking completely disappointed with his student. "You turned me into this cold hearted killer you sick bastard!"

"I have no idea what you talking about." Teacher said calmly. "Like hell you do!" I screeched. "Shade calm down! You're working yourself up." Tranq said. He saw my face, the look in my eyes, the way I trembled under the shadows restraining me. To my horror I felt my eyes welled up with raging tears. "How could you tell me killing was right!?" I screamed. Shadows stop it, don't do this to yourself. Your turning into Blaze a little voice in my head told me, I set my jaw the tears in my eyes disappearing. "You destroyed me. Are you happy Ari!?" I snarled. His eyes widened then fury, hatred; total loathing filled those dark eyes.

"You think I'm that evil psycho path?" He snarled back looking like the devil from hell. Instantly I knew I was wrong, that I had the wrong person. That snarl, it wasn't Ari's, it wasn't him. I had almost warped right in front of him! No I did warp, when I punched him. The claw marks left a dark red stain on his olive cheek, it was still bleeding heavily. My head hung in guilt, some of my hair curtaining my face. I calmed down enough that Tranq let me down but he let Fang down at the same time. His punch broke my nose, sending me to the ground. I didn't complain, I didn't even glare at him, I hung my head feeling the blood flow to my mouth shut tight. I waited for the punch or kick I deserved that didn't come, Fang just glared down at me. Tranq let Max down coming over to me sweat on his forehead. "Are you okay, I mean, your head?" he asked looking concerned. I looked up at him, for the first time since we had met, I shook my head. It was throbbing dully but it still hurt, Tranq asked Bronze to go get some Tylenol.

"I'm going to need two bottles worth." I told Bronze my headache getting worse fast. "Even for you that's overdose." Jared said firmly. I shook my head, "No I need two bottles. It's not overdose for me Jared. Every time I've asked you to get pills I have to get a second bottle." I told him. Bronze nodded going off the bathroom. The silence wasn't the best, the feeling in the room no better. Though it was a little better when Bronze stepped in with two glasses of water and two bottles of Tylenol. Max and Fang watched in suspicion as I quickly downed both bottles almost choking, Bronze held out the first-aid kit to Fang. Hesitantly the dark boy took it sitting down to patch himself up. Max was still glaring at me, sitting next to Fang. "How do you know Ari?" I asked Bronze shot me a look to say the atmosphere in the room was already bad enough. "He tried to kill us a couple times; he was Max's half brother." Fang said calmly. Okay maybe not calmly, more seething-ly. "Was?" I said trying to grasp what he was saying. "He died almost a year ago." Max said coldly. "That's impossible." I said getting daggers glared at me from Max. "He died right in front of me." She hissed. "No, because the last time I saw him was February." I shot back making her eyes widen. Fang's jaw set a little, a patch of gauze over the cuts I gave him. "I'm surprised you haven't killed yourself Ride, having him as a half brother." I said making her glower. "How do you know him?" Fang asked making my chest tighten. "He was my teacher." I said frankly. "What did he teach you?" from the way Max looked at Fang I guessed he didn't talk much. Just like Teacher. My mouth became a white line, I didn't speak. "You said something about killing. He taught you that?" Fang seemed disgusted even through his impassive face. Ari had that same face; I had learned it off of him. I didn't look away, "Yes." Max looked like she wanted to kill me, appalled by the idea jumping to conclusions. Probably the right conclusions. "Tranq go upstairs to my room, there's a piece of folded paper on my desk. Bring it." I said. "Okay—" "Wait you lied too? You told us we'd be in trouble because we lied about our names. Look who was talking." Max blurted out. "I didn't say that Ride. I said anyone who lies about their names would have the police over them." I shot back as Tranq left. Max instantly narrowed her eyes at Jared, "How come you're lying to the police then?" Jared shook his head already guessing what Max was thinking. "You've got it wrong Max; I'm part of the police so they won't get the idea to search into her past. I'd be surprised if you haven't heard any of the rumours floating around." Jared said. Max was defeated and she didn't like it. "Tranq what have I told you about look through things that aren't yours?" I said without having to look at the demon standing at the bottom of the stairs behind me. "How did you get this!? Do you make Hunter get it?" Tranq cried. "How do you know Artemis?" I asked directing it at Fang ignoring the demon behind me. Both of them tensed, ready to fight. "You're Shadows." Max said eyes still narrowed. "Brilliant deduction, Ride. Curiosity killed the cat, Tranq, give me the journal." I hissed. He didn't, he threw it to Fang. "I don't know how she got it but it's yours." Tranq said sounding betrayed. I was wondering if Fang's eyes were getting tired from glaring at me for so long. "I didn't get to read much, just something about a girl name Serenity." I said Fang was still tense, the journal clutched in his hand.

"From what I've heard this Serenity was a big person in Iggy's life. Girlfriend? Or even a bit more than that?" I asked. "You're sick." Was Max's come back. I decided to play with her. "Fang will you quit that." I said calmly as if trying to remember my lines for a play. "Quite what? Breathing?" Max pushed herself against the couch as if to get away from me her eyes widening. "Who moved the table next to the stairs? Sorry, Iggy. The staircase just looked so empty. Don't forget I'm blind." I rambled onward making Fang blink. That was Teacher's way of being shocked. "I'll make eggs. I don't want Max to burn our last frying pan—" "Alright stop!" Max snarled. I looked them both in the eye; Fang was really suspicious now, Max too. "You really freaked out the last time Ride, what, grew up a bit?" I asked smugly. "Keep talking and I'll break your neck." Max growled. "Don't push me Ride." I snarled back. "Shadows stop." Jared said. Suddenly I heard whimpering from down in the basement.

"Angel's up." I said. Max shot off the couch, I followed after her so she wouldn't do anything stupid. She glanced over her shoulder as if I was going to start my possessive preaching again. Angel still looked like crap, still chalky white; her blue eyes dim as she looked at Max through the glass. "Max?" she croaked, Max looked pained. Be nice to her for once, a little voice said, try putting yourself in Max's shoes. I blinked staring at Max.

She cared for this girl dearly and Angel had almost been taken away from her. I could see Max was trying to be strong, not to show anyone her weakness for this young girl. I looked at Angel trying to put myself in Max's shoes. Suddenly I felt a pang of guilt for not being able to keep Angel safe from Holden, angry at him for almost turning her into a Dead-one. But I didn't feel like killing anyone for it, I felt like I needed to do everything I could to make sure Angel got better. These feelings were new, alien to me. Could I really start caring out of the blue? Was the other person that was angry at me for overshadowing her really me? It was all making my head hurt, even with all the freaking Tylenol I had ingested.

Max was talking quietly to Angel through the glass, asking questions that Angel could nod or shake her head to. "Where's Iggy?" Angel hoarsely asked. "Back at home, Angel just rest okay?" Max said. Angel's dim gaze fell on me; I felt a probing at my mind. A curious kind of probe, almost like antennas of an insect looking for trouble. I resisted trying to violently force it out, instead I tried to grasp onto it, understand what it was looking for. It wanted to know why I helped, and how I could stand against the Erasers. What where Erasers? Oh yeah, that's what Tranq called the Copies. I wasn't use to this and all the while I knew the probing was coming from Angel. Put yourself in Max's shoes, the little voice reminded me. I must be going insane but I tried to get the reason for Angel's mental probing. She was also scared; well I did kill a Copy mercilessly in front of her. I let the probing in just a bit; giving her the weird feeling that had overcome me the instant I realized what was happening. She seemed satisfied at that backing off. Well that was an odd experience I thought giving my head a shake. "I'll leave you alone." I said walking past Fang who had just come down. Tranq was standing at the top of the stairs giving me an odd look. "Be wary, Angel is a telepath." I warned him.

Okay so that seemed a little bit like a filler chapter but my imagination and creativity are a bit lacking right now (if it isn't always) So those of you who have put me on the Author Alert list (that's the little list on the left corner there) know that I have a new story White Snow Fire. Now this is a little thing for times like this, I can't think of what's gonna happen next in AOM I go and write WSF (kinda looks like I'm swearing there doesn't it?). It's about a girl named Lynx, and so far as Dygen Entreri (man that's a mouth full) has commented it isn't as crazy as AOM. Yeah, so far. Well gotta go before my mother chucks my computer out the second story window!

~Akiko~

The window, the window, the second story window
If you don't know your nursery rhymes
Your going out the window