Leverage
The dark walls of the cave were cold as they passed along the corridor. Pino's long legs carried him much faster than she could keep up, but he held her hand tightly to avoid losing her in the darkness. Anna's heart raced wildly the farther they moved away from where she was held. The dwelling felt like some sort of elaborate maze. She knew she would need him to get back to that room. Pino was the only ally she had in the camp; she definitely needed him to stay alive. For several minutes she followed him along winding hallways and sharp turns that lead them down different, darker paths. The pace was beginning to make her dizzy, and she eventually closed her eyes while holding his wrist with both hands. She stumbled into his back when he abruptly stopped his movement, and he pushed her body firmly against the wall.
"Someone's coming," he whispered.
She held her breath.
Orange embers dimly lit what looked like an intersection of two hallways as the sound of approaching footsteps filled their ears. Pino used his body as a shield in front of her as they hid along the edge of that junction, allowing them to rest along the shadow.
"Do you know what happened to her?"
Anna recognized the child's voice immediately and quietly gasped. Pino pushed her back against the hard stone as she tried leaning forward, and she held her hands flat against his shirt.
"Mei," she whispered.
"It's complicated and far too late to explain," a strong male voice replied.
She peeked around Pino's arm and caught a glimpse of the girl being escorted through the intersection by a tall, slender man with blond hair and dark glasses. Pino waited until the light receded before releasing her.
"She's okay." Anna said it while holding her hand over her chest.
"Come on," he sighed and grabbed her hand.
They continued along the dark path for a few more minutes. Pino released her briefly to open a large, metal door she didn't know was in front of them. When they entered the room she held her breath. There was a small table resting against the far wall holding a small kerosene lamp. The fire was small but emitted enough light for her to barely see the smooth features of her son's sleeping face as he lay perfectly still on top of a thin bed. Pino closed the door as she slowly walked toward it, and her eyes filled quickly with tears when she sat beside him and ran her fingers through the thick strands of his hair.
"Hana."
He didn't move at all, and her relieved smile quickly faded.
"What's wrong?" Pino asked softly.
She pulled the boy into her arms and gently rubbed his back with her hand, clutching him tightly against her chest.
"Hao put him to sleep. I won't be able to wake him up."
"What?" Pino walked away from the door and quickly approached the bed. "He can...do that?"
"He won't open his eyes until Hao wakes him. It's a power I can't match." She kissed his hair and embraced him for an extended pause before delicately lowering his head against the pillow.
Pino stared at the silent boy and held his breath. Anna rubbed her face with one hand and released a frustrated sigh.
"I have to get him out of here," she said bitterly.
"That's not telepathy." Pino leaned over the bed slightly to get a better look.
"It's brain manipulation."
He scratched his neck nervously with his hand. "What?"
"Hao's ability is more than just hearing thoughts. He can change them."
"Change?" A chill ran down his spine as he repeated the word.
"He tells you you're tired. You fall asleep," she added.
"How can you resist?"
"You can't."
He sat on the bed and stared at the floor as orange hues bounced along the surface.
"You're wondering if you've been manipulated," Anna said gravely. "I doubt it."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because you're an accomplice. You'll do whatever he says because you're afraid not to. He doesn't have to manipulate any of you."
He was offended by the assessment but didn't counter it.
"Hana is stubborn and hates being told what to do. Hao put him to sleep because he had to."
"What's the difference between Hao's ability and yours?"
She hesitated. "I can make suggestions. My words can be ignored."
"So, if you said I was tired...it wouldn't necessarily work?"
"No, but if Hao said it you'd be unable to stay awake."
"Are you lying, Anna?" He was staring at the floor when he said it. "You didn't manipulate me into helping you?"
"I made a suggestion. You chose not to ignore it."
"I don't believe you." He stood from the bed. "I think you two share the same ability. Hao's is just stronger."
"Hao's power is completely different," she sighed. "I can make contact. That's it."
There was a pause as Hana's light breathing filled the air.
"I haven't brainwashed you, Pino. I can't. You're here because you care about my well-being. That's not a bad thing."
Pino stared at the unconscious child again with an expression of amazement and fear. He was certain she was telling the truth, but to believe her story meant Hao had power he was unaware of. Hana hadn't moved at all from his position on his stomach. A boy his age would surely toss and turn while sleeping or even mumble vague phrases under his breath. Watching his still body increased his fear, and he couldn't stand it.
"I need to get you back," he said abruptly.
She followed him reluctantly and wiped her face with the back of her hand. He pulled the door open, but there were people passing by in the hallway in the same moment. The metal was too heavy to move fast enough. Horo and Pirika saw Pino's shocked face and stopped walking. Pirika glanced at him with a worried expression, but Horo pushed the door and stepped inside.
"Pino, what are you doing here?"
When Pirika entered the room the door was closed behind her with a large block of ice that fell against the floor. She blinked her eyes as partial shock overwhelmed her briefly but quickly shook her head when she noticed Horo standing in the middle of the floor. His right arm was outstretched with the hand clutched into a fist, and his angered expression was frightening. There was a woman pinned against the wall with a thick, round layer of ice tight around her throat, and her eyes were widened with perceived fear. Pirika stared at her with a frown, but her expression quickly softened when she recognized her face.
"Anna?"
"Stop, Horo!" Pino said and stepped forward, but Pirika held her arm out to push him back.
"Don't attack my brother. He'll kill you."
Anna's mouth was agape; strange, garbled noises released from the back of her throat, and her arms dangling at her sides began to violently shake. The tips of her toes were barely touching the surface of the floor, which made breathing more difficult. A freezing sensation numbed her chest with an unbearable burn.
"Get out, Pino," Horo said with a growl.
"You're hurting her! Stop!"
"She's fine," he replied dismissively. "You need to leave."
"There's no need for this. She just...wanted to see him!"
"We won't hurt her, Pino," Pirika said quickly. She was staring at her brother with great worry.
"Tell him that!"
"Pino, she's being polite," Horo said calmly without turning around. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into. Take a walk."
A flooding sensation of sharp pins filled Anna's limbs as she stared at the door with frantic eyes. The scratchy noises from her throat were more desperate, but with exception of the involuntary shivering she couldn't move.
"I won't let you do this," Pino said angrily and pushed Pirika aside. "Let her go!"
Horo knew the man was advancing from behind but didn't move. Pirika stood in front of the bed and held out her hands, creating a long shield of ice to insulate Hana from what she was expecting to transpire. Anna was secure against the wall even when Horo dropped his hands, and he exhaled with irritation as he paused. Pino clutched his hands into fists as he prepared to attack, but his arms were caught in the air as sharp pain ran underneath his skin. He was immediately pinned to the floor by his palms, and he stared at the stone with shock.
"Stop, Horo," Pirika said wearily. "He gets it."
Pino's confusion seemed to contradict her statement. He clenched his teeth as he tried pulling his hands away from the floor.
"You're going to break them off," Horo said with annoyance.
"What?"
"He's using the water in your body to control your limbs," Pirika explained and stepped slowly away from the ice wall. "Your arms are frozen. If you try too hard to move them they'll snap in half."
"That's...impossible!"
"Move your arms and find out," Horo growled.
"This is unnecessary, Brother. Pino knows you're stronger than him. Stop it."
"Impossible..." he repeated.
"When I release you, get out." Pino could tell he was irritated. "If you try attacking me again I won't hold back."
"She'll be okay, Pino," Pirika said softly. "I promise."
The sharpness faded, and profuse sweat covered his arms. He rose slowly to his feet and stared at Horo with narrowed eyes, but as his gaze veered toward Anna's incapacitated figure the expression softened.
"I'm sorry," he whispered then slowly walked away.
Pirika closed the door as he exited, and the ice shield in front of Hana's bed quickly melted away. Horo released Anna from the wall with a violent tug of his hand, and she fell to the floor coughing and gasping for air.
"I would ask what the hell you're doing here, but I'm sure I already know," he snarled.
She didn't answer.
"You didn't think you would just walk out of here with him, did you?"
"Hana's in danger," Anna said weakly while staring at the floor.
"He's in training," Pirika countered.
"Pino's gone." Horo took a step forward. "You can stop the damsel in distress act now."
"I know you hate me, but this is serious."
"Did he even realize he was helping you?"
"Horo, calm down," Pirika pleaded.
"I still don't understand why they took your side. All of them."
Anna glanced at him with a weary expression. His eyes were filled with intense hatred, and his teeth were tightly clenched.
"They made their own decisions, Horo. Hao is a monster. You know that very well."
"If Hao is a monster, what are we calling Yoh? Hao wasn't the one who murdered almost three hundred people in their sleep. That was your husband."
Pirika closed her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed. Hana didn't move when the mattress lightly tilted. Anna cleared her throat and rubbed her neck but didn't answer.
"And then everyone just pretended like nothing happened. I was the crazy one. I was being 'manipulated' by Hao. I was the traitor."
He didn't notice he was yelling at her but wasn't interrupted.
"How did you pull that off, Anna? Yoh was in love with that woman. He was going to marry her."
"Horo..." Pirika considered stopping him, but she knew he was too angry to listen.
"You're suddenly the love of his life? And Kiyomi doesn't exist? I know I'm not crazy. My sister's not crazy. But all of your friends seem to be."
"I don't have the power you think I have," Anna sighed. "This isn't a conspiracy."
"How can you destroy an entire village and pretend it didn't happen? Yoh is the enemy here. He has always been the enemy. If you want to protect your son, protect him from that bastard."
"Horo, let me talk to her alone. Please?"
Pirika stood from the bed slowly and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Hell no."
"Her power is weakened, remember? That's why you attacked her. I'll be fine."
"You're not going to turn my sister against me, Anna. I'll kill you first."
He stormed out of the room and slammed the door. Pirika darted her eyes toward the bed and frowned slightly when Hana didn't react to the loud sound.
"Heavy sleeper," Anna said weakly.
"You're going about this the wrong way, Anna."
Silence fell between them quickly. Pirika assisted her when she stood from the wall, and she slowly walked over to the bed. Anna rested her hand lightly into the blond mass of Hana's hair as she sat beside him, and the action conjured more tears.
"I understand what you're doing," Pirika sighed, "but this will only make things worse."
"He's going to kill him, Pirika. What else am I supposed to do?"
"Cooperate."
She clenched her teeth but allowed her to continue.
"You can't just push Hao. He'll push back hard. You know that more than any of us." She began pacing slowly in front of the bed. "You have to be nice to him. Agree with him. Allow Hana to be trained. He needs to get stronger anyway. Be smart and seductive, Anna. Beat him at his own game."
"I don't have time for that," she groaned.
"You won't get Hana out of here before Yoh comes, Anna. It's impossible."
Pirika sat beside her on the bed, and they stared silently at the flickering lamp. Anna released a heavy sigh as she ran her fingers through the boy's hair, and her eyes were saturated again.
"I'll help you in any way I can," Pirika whispered. "It doesn't matter anymore who did what. Hana and Mei are innocent children, and they don't deserve to be in the middle of this."
"There are things they don't know." Her voice was barely audible. "I...should have said something. And now it's too late."
"It wouldn't have mattered, Anna."
She closed her eyes and released Hana's hair.
"I was there when Hana was ambushed. He was strong. Everyone agreed. But something about that attack has been bothering me ever since."
Anna tightened her jaw and clasped her hands tightly in her lap.
"Hana's power is strange. He doesn't move like Yoh at all. I thought he was moving objects in a telekinetic way, but...he was manipulating the wind and earth. Manipulating...elements."
Pirika shifted her body weight against the mattress and stared at the floor. Her hands trembled vigorously as she attempted to restrain them, and Anna's silence increased her discomfort.
"Hao and Yoh are twins. It's possible...but not likely, right?"
"Hana's power is too raw to categorize at this point," she sighed.
"Is he a telepath?"
"No."
"Anna..." she hesitated and closed her eyes. "...Hana's power is not like Yoh's. Is that possible?"
"His power is similar."
"No, Anna. I saw it. Horo did too. It's not the same. You know what I'm asking."
"What are you asking me?" Anna stood from the bed and stormed away. She paced in front of the table holding the lamp and folded her arms tightly over her torso.
"Why would Yoh's son have his brother's abilities and none of his?"
"I just told you. It's not categorized. We don't know enough about it yet."
"If you want my help you'd better tell me the truth." Pirika clenched her teeth and stood slowly from the bed. Anna stopped her pacing and stared at the boy with fatigued eyes.
"Anna," she whispered as fear filtered her voice. "...who is that boy's father?"
"I'm surrounded by enemies. Do you understand?"
Pirika knew that was code for something, but she wasn't sure what it meant. Anna approached her slowly and gently held her hands. Pirika's confusion flashed quickly with fear, but the expression faded as her hands flushed with great warmth.
Listen to me very carefully, Pirika. This must be protected with your life.
Her eyes closed instinctively, and her arms relaxed. They stood in this position for several moments in silence. Pirika's hands trembled, but she didn't open her eyes again until she was released. She stared at the lamp when Anna walked away and sat on the bed. An uncomfortable pause lingered as she slowly turned around, and Anna's eyes filled with tears as she watched her eyes widen.
"That...doesn't make any sense, Anna!" she blurted.
"Training Hana is dangerous. Do you understand now?"
"Who else knows about this?"
"Only you."
"We're going to die," she whimpered. "We're all going to die!"
"Pirika!" Anna rushed toward her and grabbed her hands. "You have to help me. You can't fall apart."
"How can we fight against something like that!" She jerked away as her face became saturated and red. "He's going to kill us, Anna!"
"You're right. We probably won't survive."
Pirika was caught off guard by the statement and wiped her face with her hand.
"But maybe...just maybe, we can get Hana and Mei out of here alive. We have to take that chance, Pirika. We have to save those precious children."
"Anna...I'm scared. I don't want to die here."
"I'm sorry..." Anna paused. "...You can't tell Horo."
"What?"
"You can't tell him, Pirika. Promise me right now."
"We don't keep secrets from each other. I have to tell him. Maybe we should tell everyone. We should give them a fighting chance!"
"No. If you say anything it will give speed to the inevitable. You have to trust me Pirika. Please."
"Okay," she sighed reluctantly. "But...I have no way stop the training."
Anna stared at Hana's sleeping form again and exhaled. "Who is he fighting tomorrow?"
"Nichrom, I think. But there are rumors floating around that Jeanne will fight as well."
"Jeanne!" Anna slapped an open palm with her opposite fist. "We need her, Pirika!"
"But she's not in her right mind. She's...messed up."
"I don't care about her state of mind. Her power is still intact, isn't it?"
"Well...yeah."
"You have to help me get to her!"
"I can't."
"Pirika, Jeanne has the most devastating power here...only second to Hao. With her help we'll have a chance."
"You're right," she admitted. "I'll see what I can do. But in the meantime, you have to go back to your room."
"Fine," she said softly. "We'll make this work, Pirika. I promise."
