Chapter 16

"Hey Kenny..."

"Kenny..."

Kenny was startled when she felt Dawn tightening her hold on his arm. She raised an eyebrow expressing concern. "Are you upset about Volkner?"

"Wait, what?" He asked, crashing back to reality. "Since when have I ever been upset about him?"

Dawn started fiddling with her fingers. They've been staying in the hospital for almost three weeks now. It was already late afternoon. After finishing their respective hourly check ups, they both decided to see each other and spend some time. Dawn straightened the sheets of her bed and raised the covers as the cold late afternoon breeze swept past the windows. Kenny sat on her bed spaced out. She was getting better day after day, she can now speak normally.

"You know.." She started. "He is so formal with me but he just calls you 'bud'."

Kenny was so caught off guard with what Dawn has said that he found himself in a sudden fit of laughter. "That has never crossed my mind. Not one single bi-"

"Then what's troubling you then?" Dawn cut him off. Kenny could sense the seriousness Dawn was pressing on.

'He killed my family and everyone in the village where I grew up.'

'I studied here in Hearthome and when I returned back to my home village near Sunnyshore City for a summer vacation, that was when that devil struck like an asteroid falling from the sky as he consumed all of us in a single explosion. It's a miracle I survived.'

'That's why I joined the GAS so I could avenge my family and everyone in my village. And of course to make sure it would never happen again. Not under my watch.'

Ever since Kenny had that talk with Volkner and Dr. Blaine last week, Volkner's story has never left his mind. Coming back home only to find everyone you love slaughtered and massacred, he sensed a deep nostalgic pain cutting him open from the inside.

'Kenny! Run! You're too slow! Keep on running! Don't turn back!'

'Here, take this. Use it to survive in the human world.'

'NOW! KENNY! RUN GODDAMIT!"

'Live, for me, no matter what. And I'll see you soon. Definitely.'

Kenny silently held onto his sapphire pendant. He somehow felt where Volkner was coming from. The scourging and reverse scourging he just heard messed him up. He knew he did not come from the same town Dawn lived. He knew he somehow scourged Dawn's bestfriend and became him in this world. It was starting to make sense to him. The scattered memories, waking up in the woods outside of Twinleaf, his eyes glowing red one time. He certainly must have scourged someone and that particular someone might have been Dawn's bestfriend. He did not know how but he must have. He gripped his sapphire pendant tighter.

Ever since he heard about scourging from Volkner, it all came down on him. But instead of fearing, cowering, crying and regretting; it only strengthened his resolve of wanting to be stronger to protect Dawn.

'I don't deserve her love. Until I can reverse the scourging I have done and bring her bestfriend back, I will become stronger and protect her with my life' He willed and cemented the thought to his heart. 'I will protect her as the real devil Kenny.'

"You have devil class right Dawn?" He asked the troubled bluenette.

"Uhh, yes. I think." She cupped her chin and stared at the ceiling trying to remember clearly. "Yeah, I think we did study about it."

"So have you ever heard of reverse scourging?" Kenny continued, partially hoping Dawn might know something.

Dawn pressed the sides of her head. "I do have heard of scourging. I know about it. It's when devils consume your essence or something, that's how they steal your identity and be you in our world." Dawn shivered as the cold gust of wind blew past the curtains. "Scary right?"

"Yeah..." Kenny nodded, his toes curling up uncomfortably. "So I haven't talked about it to you before because I wanted you to recover and rest as much as you can. But I have spoken with Volkner the other week." Kenny straightened his legs then crossed them facing Dawn. "He said about himself being a high rank of sort in the Grim Angel Society. They called it 'Pillar'. And our doctor, Dr. Blaine Thornton, he said they don't use guns when dealing with devils. He said they do this reverse scourging." Kenny said, breathless.

Dawn only looked at him dumbfounded.

"So base on what you said that scourging is when devils take over our identity, so reverse scourging would be like the opposite? Humans stealing devil identities? Or releasing sealed human essence from devils? Something like that? How is that even possible right? It must give them some sort of powers if it does help them fight against devils."

Dawn suddenly gripped Kenny's hand nearest to hers. "Is this what's been on your mind the past few days? May I know why?"

Remembering the memory from the school incident, Kenny heaved a heavy sigh. He rubbed the nape of his neck with his free hand. "I guess it just came to me you know. I.." He stuttered. "I want to protect you Deedee. I want to be strong. So it just came to me. That maybe.."

Kenny was cut off by Dawn's warm embrace.

"Dawn..?"

Dawn only hugged him tight.

"No.." She muttered. "Don't. Please." She snuggled and shook her head vigorously.

"But..wh-"

"You are all I have left. I don't want anyone to take you away from me."

Kenny was shocked at what Dawn was talking about, he only hugged her back.

"What are you saying Deedee. Of course no one can take me away from you." He chuckled softly then stared solemnly at the swaying curtains of Dawn's hospital room.

"I'm such a freaking wuss!"

"Why can't I protect her?! Why am I so weak?!

"Was there even anything I could do? How could I even save her? I'm just nothing..I'm no one. I couldn't possibly save her."

'I am not letting any devil take away Dawn! Over my dead body!'

'I will protect you this time Dawn. I swear'

"I just want to be stronger for you. To protect you." He said. "It's what I have been saying to you all these years since we were young."

Kenny gently pulled himself away and stared at Dawn. He wiped away a tear that stained her cheek. "And there's Paul too." Kenny bit the inside of his cheek, denying the feeling of jealousy inside his heart. Saying his name was taking all his energy not to bite his own tongue off. "I'm sure he can-"

Kenny paused when mentioning Paul's name just made Dawn tear up more.

"Did I say something..?"

"He's also dead Kenny. He's already dead." Dawn couldn't hold it in anymore that she broke down in an anguish sob.

"Dead..?" Kenny felt his palm gradually become clammy. "How..? Unbelievable.."

"His name is in the records. Apparently, the three of us were at school and he didn't survive. Volkner has his name on the records." Dawn managed to speak between sobbing.

"Unbelievable.."

"just unbelievable.."

It was all Kenny could utter as he left Dawn's room to confirm it with Volkner in his room somewhere in the hospital upper floor.

*A few weeks earlier*

"I got them all already Master Will." A black puddle silently pooled in front of the gates of Hearthome Academy. "They are now under my sphere." Three bodies slowly surfaced from the black pool.

"Magnificent." Will replied. He dusted off his velvet sleeves and tucked his hair. He then bitterly bit his lips looking at the abandoned academy that has crumbled along with his grand plan and dream of recognition. "They even have the guts to quarantine my kingdom! Imbeciles!"

Karen pushed her glasses up. With a snap of her fingers, the black pool around them dissipated instantly. "What exactly happened here Koga?" She asked her colleague. "This isn't what I expected. This is the work of the GAS."

Koga turned around and looked at the GAS guards and employees around them frozen under Karen's influence, 'sphere' as she called it.

The three of them pushed past the gates as Koga started speaking, the bright yellow moon glaring at them from behind like a giant spotlight.

"A kid. Maybe around sixteen or seventeen." Koga started as they enter edthe main wing of the school. "Only his right iris glowed red. You know what that means right. He's the fabled cursed half-blood of our history. He even has the The Redolence like Prince Lance and his siblings." They climb up a few set of stairs. "He just went berserk, turned into this huge demon and started killing and eating everybody. I fought him for a while but he's indestructible. It's impossible to defeat him, at least for me. I barely escaped."

Koga looked at Will awaiting for his response, but he didn't get any.

"His outrage might have attracted the GAS and cleaned this place up?" Karen suggested.

"Might be." Koga replied. "What really worried me is his Redolence, it's very distinctive from Prince Lance. That boy smelled of death and hell."

"It almost smelled like the original Demon Emperor.." Koga continued.

"Change of plans." Will interrupted as he went inside his room. Both Karen and Koga looked at him as they followed him inside. Will sat on his usual office chair and spun to face the other way. Karen and Koga both took their own seat across Will's table.

"Koga.." Will said, breaking the intense silence around them. "I care no less, whether he has the Redolence or not, Prince Lance has abandoned us."

Koga almost choked on his own saliva.

"Why would h-"

"Because we are simply replaceable." Will cut him of. "That's all."

Koga turned his head to Karen. Her silence suggested him that what Will said was true.

"That can't be.." He bitterly spat to himself.

"But that is not why we are here for, us three." Will spun his chair and faced them. "We are not here to lament or grieve." Will crossed his legs and leaned back on his chair. "We are here to reclaim our lost fame and glory."

Would you like me to dispose them?

They would make fine ice sculptures here.

Will popped a vein on his head.

"You mentioned that this cursed half-blood you encountered had purple hair?" Will asked.

Koga replied with a nod.

"Seems like there's two of them." Will continued. "Could be more."

"Two?" Koga echoed. "If the legends are true, there five more out there."

"A cursed half-blood is now the prince's right hand." Karen looked at Koga. "He's a brunet however. But unlike you said, he doesn't have the Redolence like Prince Lance. But I can't confirm it yet."

"Cursed half-blood.." Koga uttered. "These things are really real."

"Insignificant!" Will abruptly stood up. "If we ever take the head of the cursed half-blood that destroyed our plan. Then maybe Prince Lance would reconsider us again, find our place back at his side."

"But how sure are we that he still alive? The GAS ransacked this place." Koga asked.

Will exaggeratedly bend on his back and started laughing hysterically. "I'm sure my sparky boy Volkner would have kept him somewhere." Will stopped laughing and turned around. He flicked open the curtains as the bright glow of the moon showered the room in glum brightness.

"Koga." Will called out. "I'll leave the same job to you. Bien?"

Koga bowed his head. "I am close to unraveling the secret of the reverse scourging. We shall soon destroy it."

"I'll give that doctor a visit.." Koga added.

"And Karen." Will cleared his throat. "Find this boy for me. I'll leave that job to you."

Karen slowly stood up. "No problem. That's easy for me." She walked and let her hands feel the glow of the moonlight from the opened window. The moonlight liquefied on her hand as it traverse up her arms like a blanket. Both of her eyes started glaring red.

Koga could hear the GAS employees and guards outside shrieking in intense pain, eventually dying out over Will's hysterical laughter.

With a grunt, Karen's dark sphere which was once only covering the school suddenly expanded covering the entire city of Hearthome.

"No one can hide from me. I am the moon!"

...

Volkner stood up from his seat to stretch a little. His office wasn't really that big, it was only enough to have space for a table and a couch. He pinched the telephone in between his ears and shoulders as he stretched his waist. "Really? I would love to see a proof that you already took dinner." He smugged through the device. "Okay Claire, if you say so. I easily get worried when it comes to you you know." He jested.

Volkner then heard someone knocking on his door. "Just a minute!" He called out to his visitor.

"We'll catch up later. See yah. Take care of yourself." He hung up. "Come in."

The knob twisted and Volkner was very surprised to see Kenny.

"Yow bud Ken!" He greeted. "Have you taken your dinner yet?" He asked. "How's your medication?"

"I'm fine Mr. Starr." Kenny gently closed the door behind him. "But I heard something from Dawn and I would like to confirm if it's true."

"Oh, I see. Please take that seat." He gestured to a small stool beside the door. "Sorry for the messy office." Volkner sat dawn on his chair.

"Okay, straight to the point." Kenny whispered to himself. "Is it really true that Paul Blackwell is dead?" He gulped a gallon of saliva.

"Yes." Volkner answered him immediately. "A friend of yours right? Dawn said so too. I'm sorry to hear it."

Kenny hid his clenched fist. He was very sure that the devil that went on a rampage was Paul, he could tell by the way that thing smelled. So Kenny was confused what Volkner meant. There were so much fog with the situation. It was so unclear and clouded. "How did he die?" He prodded.

'Unless...' Kenny whispered to himself, his fingers tapping more intensely and rapidly on his lap.

'I don't care if you are true or not. I'll kick the hell out of you!'

'Unless...that was Volkner?' Kenny found himself asking. 'That red bony thing..?'

"I'm sorry Kenny bud but I can't disclose that information. The most important thing is that you and Dawn survived and are now safe. Right?" Volkner replied. "This is not just me but this is GAS policy. I'm really sorry." Kenny heard him sigh. Basing on his expression, Kenny found it genuine and sincere of Volkner that he at least told him that Kenny wasn't allowed access to such information. Kenny appreciated what Volkner said.

Kenny only replied with a nod. "Okay..so you manage to rescue us right? You defeated those devils in the school?"

"Yep!" Volkner beamed him a bright smile.

"You must be so strong Mr. Starr.." Kenny wondered. Without any actual and real information on what really happened with the school incident, Kenny assumed that Volkner really must have defeated Paul. Kenny assumed that Volkner was someone really strong.

"Well... err... I guess." Volkner chuckled and scratched his head. He then motioned Kenny to come closer trying to whisper something to him. "I can actually kill anyone with just a flick of my finger." He whispered. "Shh.. Don't tell anyone." He winked. "Not to scare you or anything though." He then soon followed it with a hearty laugh. "That's why they call me 'The Shooting Star' because I do things very quickly." He then snapped his fingers in front of Kenny as he suddenly disappeared in front of him only to reappear behind him to whisper back something to Kenny's ear. "..in a flash."

Kenny was so caught off guard that he did not even notice Volkner disappearing.

"A.. ..." Kenny blinked. "That was incredibly fast!"

Volkner then playfully tapped Kenny's shoulders and returned back to his chair. "All thanks to Dr. Thornton's discovery of reverse scourging."

"Uhm Mr. Starr.."

"Do you think I could become strong like you?" Kenny asked him solemnly. He did not even look Volkner in the eye. The flashbacks of Kenny pathetically stuck in the alley and laying his body over Dawn shamed him so much that he did not have any courage of looking up at Volkner. He was anticipating him to say 'No' that he never had any chance of becoming someone capable of protection, that he was too incapable and weak unlike Volkner. He clenched his fist so hard and tried his best not to roll any tears that were daring to jump out from his sockets.

When he did not hear any response from Volkner, he gathered enough courage to at least look up at him. He saw Volkner smiling at him gently without any prejudice and pretense.

"Of course Kenny bud. Anybody is capable of protecting their loved ones." Volkner then stared forlornly at a picture frame beside his office mug. It was a picture of girl with sky blue hair. The girl was cupping her own face in her hands while making a funny face. "You. Me. We are not any different when it comes to protecting the people we care about."

"Believe it or not, but we become the strongest when we are protecting someone. These people give us so much power. It allows us to defeat anyone. Even people or devil much much stronger than us."

"But if you're thinking about reverse scourging, I'm so sorry Kenny bud but you are not a candidate for it." Volkner already anticipated what Kenny was about to ask next.

"Why?" Kenny asked. "Am I not strong enough for it? Am I not fit?"

"No, no, that's not it." Volkner replied, taking the photo frame and cleaning it with sleeves of his blazer.

Kenny wrinkled his forehead and nose in confusion at what Volkner said.

"For one to qualify for a reverse scourging..." Volkner placed back the frame and stood up as he went behind the room to prepare himself coffee. "One must be at the brink of death."

"Remember what I told you the other day? That when I returned back home we were massacred by a devil?"

Kenny nodded.

"I was brought back to life with reverse scourging."

"Coffee?" Volkner raised Kenny a mug, inviting him for a cup.

Chapter 16 End: Reverse Scourging