I'd get this chapter done earlier, but Comcast keeps messing up on me, unfortunately.


Chapter 7

Isaac and I went back home to shower and change clothing. I put on my usual - a black buttonless jacket with a hood, gray ski pants, and gray ski gloves. It was 7:00 pm, and Dad was still not home. True to his word, when I peered into our refrigerator and took out the red bowl as he instructed, it was spaghetti with zucchini and ground beef that would be our dinner. Fairly standard for a White family in South Park, maybe on the healthier side to be honest. There was just enough for the two of us. I stuck the bowl in the microwave for four minutes on power level two. After that was done, we both sat down at the round wooden dinner table to enjoy our quiet dinner in the kitchen.

Our kitchen is the same layout as most other kitchens, in fact, our house is exactly the same layout as most of the other houses in South Park (some houses are mirrored). Your standard living room in the front with a stairwell there, then you have a kitchen big enough for you guys to eat there, but there is also a dining room if you so wish.

Isaac was the first to break the silence. "So where did you get your powers?"

I shrugged. I really don't have good answers, just plausible theories. "I'm not sure...my best guess is the Stick."

"Stick?" Isaac answered.

"The Stick of Truth. It looks like a regular Stick but it glows with power." I replied.

"The same stick Terrorblade is hunting?"

"Yes."

"And when is he coming?"

I shrugged. I don't know what to say. I'm not sure what kind of disaster is supposed to happen. The book didn't describe much, it was rather vague. "I'm not sure, to be honest." I ate a bit of my meal.

"How'd you come across the stick anyways?" Isaac asked.

"It was Eric Cartman's." Isaac cringed when I said the name. "I stole it from his backyard just to see it for myself."

"When you stole it, did you know that it was evil?" Isaac asked.

"No," I responded, "I gained my powers before I even touched the stick." I began to tell him the whole story. "So Ray is the new kid who moved into town earlier this afternoon. I don't know his last name by the way. But yeah, we chatted, we walked and talked around for a bit, but then we ran into Butters. Butters was playing that Lord-of-the-Rings game again. You know what I'm saying right?"

"Yes," Isaac said, "continue."

"So Butters invited Ray to play the game with Cartman. I followed both. Cartman talked about knowing that Ray would come and so he invited Ray, but not me. So I got mad, I snuck into Cartman's backyard to find some elf-looking kids fight Cartman's friends, so I snuck into the backyard and took the Stick."

"And why did you do that?" Isaac asked.

"To make Cartman pay for being a dickbag to me," I replied. I still hate that fat asshole, "I mean come on, if someone's going to be a huge ass like that I'm going to make them pay. I might be a thief, but I keep what I steal, and at least I deliver."

"But you don't have the Stick though," Isaac said.

"I didn't see Kyle coming," I admitted. It was sorta true.

"What made you suddenly try to go find answers?" Isaac asked.

"Because, like I said back in the school library, no normal child should have magical powers. I heard those elf-roleplayers say that 'whoever controls the Stick controls the universe', and I too thought it was silly, but they are right...in a way. I just didn't have the knowledge of how to wield the stick to its true potential. I don't think the book explains fully, there's alot of missing detail." I rested my head on the palm of my left hand, with my left elbow leaning on the table.

"What I don't understand," Isaac said, "is why you'd go out of your way to cause all this trouble when we could just do regular things - and don't use the excuse of going off to save the world. Because I know you Cole." Isaac was always calm, but I can tell I was already getting on his nerves a little. "You'd use any tool you can get. I don't think you'd abandon your powers that easily."

"I know..." I paused for a second. I wasn't sure if I wanted to say this, but Isaac was looking at me intently, waiting for me to explain myself. I took a deep breath again and closed my eyes. "I hate to admit this, I know you tell me I shouldn't be jealous of them, but yeah. I'm jealous of the popular kids. I really am because most of them have properly functioning families with parents and siblings that are always there for them. While our mom dies of colon cancer when we're like three. Well I guess Kenny McCormick doesn't, but he's the exception, not the rule. Back to what I'm saying, dad doesn't see us all the time, but I can't blame him because he has to work his ass off to feed both of us while most other kids get what they want." Tears ran down my cheeks, and to avoid Isaac from looking at me, I stood up and walked over to the kitchen window that gave view of our back yard and the sunset. "It's not fair, I have to look out for the both of us, because of assholes that will try to take advantage of us. And the worst part is that I don't have any friends in my 4th grade class, while you get to talk all the time with Garet, Jenna, I know Doug and Bill and Fosse and a few others are pretty chill, but I don't get that luxury, I'm constantly stuck in stupidass high school drama in my 4th grade class from the likes of people like Stan and Wendy. Like when everyone fucking freaked out over some list on who was the hottest guy in our class, or having to join in on High School Musical routines just to fit in, or something similarly petty - I'm just tired of being compared to everyone else over stupid petty girl shit - because I really feel like shit inside."

I closed my eyes as more tears welled town my eyes, and Isaac spoke. "Cole I'm sorry...I'm selfish, I took your guidance for granted, I didn't consider your own feelings-"

I interrupted him and continued on. I opened my eyes and looked at the sunset. "But rebelling from all this is what makes me feel great inside. I'm not talking about being a part of that stupid goth shit. But when I took the stick, and I used - and abused - my powers, I felt like I was free. When I fought those Ginger Kids earlier today, like I was worth something. Even if I was just sitting back and healing, I felt like I was contributing to a greater scheme of things - whatever that would be." I didn't realize that at the time, but now, I can see how it helped me.

"To be fair," Isaac said, "the ginger kids attacked first, they did try to kill you, from what I heard."

"True." I chuckled. "I'm not a perfect guy, I have flaws, and I can be an asshole just as much as Cartman, or anyone can, really, but I just hate being obedient to the people I don't get along with, and I just wished that people took notice when I did good - Kenny did. With that in mind, we shouldn't be slaving over stupid boy-girl or gender drama, we should go out there, and create shit with whatever tools and powers God decides to give us. I know dad's not around all the time, but he's a great teacher regardless. He's the one who taught us to be independent and brave and to not be afraid to push ourselves. I know I said otherwise back at the library, but that's...really how I feel now Isaac."

"Wow." I KNOW that lower-pitched voice did not come from Isaac. I quickly jumped and turned around while wiping my tears away with the left sleeve of my shirt. It was Ray, the douchebag. Dressed in his green robe and his metal staff. I gritted my teeth, but he went on. "Look, I know your mad, but-"

"What are you doing here?" Isaac asked before I could say anything at all. "Normal people knock, you know."

"You sold me out!" I yelled. I couldn't believe Ray had the nerve to come to me, after all he did. "I trusted you, I thought we were friends! And you were spying on us?!"

"Well I heard everything, but that's not important. What is important was that I was stupid, let me explain." Ray cleared his throat. "Cartman was texting me all day, worrying about us. I went over to tell him that you had the stick. He was down the hall when I found him - I tried to explain the situation with...the Demon Marauder, I heard from outside while I was texting Cartman because I didn't want to distract you, but..." He sighed. "My point is that it was stupid of me to expect Cartman to care about anyone else other than himself. I should have taken Butters' warning. I'm sorry." We were silent for a few minutes, then Ray spoke up. "There is one way I can make it up to you. I know where the Stick is. But getting it won't be easy."

"How?" I asked.

"Well there's something you should know about me," Ray said. "Honestly, I like to spy on people's business alot. You probably figured out by now. I know it's rude, but I'm just...a curious guy, you know?" I was dumbstruck by Ray's comment. I wasn't sure where he was going. "That said, I did see Kyle give the Stick to Stan. Followed him back to his own house. You know where that is, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

Ray grinned. "He hid the Stick in his house. I think in his own bedroom."

"So I just need to sneak into Stan's house and get the stick right?" I nodded. "That doesn't sound too hard."

"Problem." Ray continued. "Is that Wendy is at Stan's house. Did I ever tell you they're boyfriend-girlfriend material? Because from the looks of it, when I last saw them, they seemed awfully close to each other to be 'just friends'." Ray rubbed his chin. "Um...I think."

I laughed. For a guy who likes to spy on people, he seemed pretty clueless about dating. "They've been dating for...a long time now. I guess."

Ray's mouth was agape. It was pretty clear he didn't grasp the concept of relationships. He seemed pretty innocent. "They're dating? No one back in my town dated, like seriously dated, asides from kids developing minor crushes from time-to-time. But we just made fun of them. But here...here...it's like..."

"High school," I finished.

"Yeah." Ray walked up to me. "Listen. Point is, Stan has the stick but you're gonna have to contend with Wendy also."

I nodded. "That's good enough for me. Let's go." I quickly went upstairs to get my trenchcoat and my staff. On my desk was a crown made of twigs I made one time in art. I put that on my head. I wanted them to make sure I meant business. I went downstairs and head outside, and I turned to Isaac. "Alright, Isaac, your turn to do the dishes, I'll be back shortly. Hopefully."

"Good luck," Isaac said.

I began to head east, but I noticed a lack of footsteps. I turned around and Ray just stood there. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"Uh, I forgot to tell you," Ray said, "I need to go home soon or else I'll be grounded." Drat.

I nodded. "Right. I'll see you tomorrow then." We waved goodbye to each other, then I head off towards Stan's direction.

Well I'm about to do it again. Steal something valuable. Maybe get into a fight also. But I didn't care. Even if there's demons and evil in my wake, this is still treated as a game, and in a real game like this, there's no cheaters, there's just winners and losers. And despite what anyone else says, I'm free to play.


Well that's it for now. I might change the description of the story. Other than that, see you next time.