EL Tigre: Evolution
"STOP THINKING ABOUT CHURROS WHEN I'M TALKING!"
-Antonio
Chapter 17
"So…how's your training going, Frida?" Manny asked his best friend as they picked up sticks in the jungle.
"It was tough at first," Frida replied. "But now I'm getting the hang of it. And check out these wings!"
"Cool!"
The two teens were out collecting firewood for the campsite Trina and Mer were setting up. Something strange had happened during the teleportation, and they ended up quite a ways away from the temple. It was almost as if something had blocked them. Antonio had flown up to see which direction the temple was in, telling the others to set up camp for the night. They would set out at dawn.
Manny and Frida walked back into the clearing, Frida still showing off her wings by fluttering them a little, and Manny oohing and ahhing. Trina and Mer looked up when they emerged from the brush.
"Good, you got the firewood!" Trina said.
"How's it going with you guys?" asked Manny.
Trina glanced back at Mer.
"I found some soft dirt we can sleep on," Mer grumbled. "Other than that, we're pretty much S.O.L."
Manny and Frida groaned, but piled up the sticks. At that moment, Antonio landed.
"The temple's to the east," he stated. "It won't take long to get there, if we move quickly. For now, just get some rest." With that, he ignited a ball of fire in his hand and lobbed at the pile of sticks, creating a nice campfire.
"I don't know about you guys," said Mer. "But I'm not tired."
"Me neither," said Frida. "I could stay up all night. Right, Manny? Manny?" She turned to see her friend curled up and snoozing peacefully by the fire.
"He's had a rough day," said Trina.
"That's all life is, just one long, rough day," Mer mused.
"Real deep there, Mer."
"Shut up, Trina."
Frida watched their exchange with interest. Mer and Trina argued like an old married couple at times. Her thoughts were interrupted when Antonio placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Come with me," he said. "You need to train."
Frida got up and followed Antonio to the far side of the clearing. She shivered a little as she moved away from the comfort of the fire. Antonio sat down and motioned for Frida to do the same. As she sat down across from him, he started to explain the lesson.
"Tonight's training is especially important, since we will probably meet Los Alados on this mission. Once you come face to face with the woman who infected you, she will become aware of the connection you share and attempt to use it to their advantage. I'm going to teach you to protect your mind, because right now, anyone with a shred of psychic ability can infiltrate it and…STOP THINKING ABOUT CHURROS WHEN I'M TALKING!"
Frida jumped and her eyes widened. "Whoa…you can read my mind…"
Antonio took a deep breath. "Yes. And that is without any special connection. Just imagine what the Alada could do to your mind if given the chance."
Frida imagined her head inflating and popping like a balloon, and giggled. "Sweet."
Antonio sighed. "Not sweet, I can assure you." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You need to take this seriously. Now concentrate on keeping me out of your mind."
"It's that simple?" Frida asked.
Antonio shrugged. "It depends on your will. But I will tell you this; the longer it takes, the more secrets I'll be able to dig up. Deep…dark…secrets."
Frida gulped.
"So the less you want me to know, the harder you'll have to concentrate. That's why you need to take this seriously. Now let's begin."
Frida winced with pain immediately. It felt like someone was digging around in her skull with a spoon.
"You're not concentrating," said Antonio. "And you killed your sister's goldfish."
"Psssh, that's not a big secret," Frida dismissed.
"One time, while eating ribs, you wiped your hands on a dog."
"Well…I guess that could-"
"You were in diapers until the age of six."
"Hey!"
"I'm just getting started. I'd suggest you concentrate."
Frida squeezed her eyes shut and thought with all her might, but the scooping sensation continued.
"Good effort, Frida," said Antonio. "But not quite enough. I can still…" Antonio trailed off. Frida felt herself become very warm. Whatever Antonio had tapped into, it was a doozy.
"I haven't felt anything like this in a long time," Antonio whispered. "You must care for him very deeply…"
Frida growled in frustration. She was tired of this guy digging through her personal thoughts. In retaliation, she concentrated on sending that frustration at him like a mental fist. She did not expect to get the result she did.
She opened her eyes just as Antonio was knocked back by the sheer force of her will. She opened her mouth to express her disbelief, but suddenly…she was somewhere else.
It didn't take her long to realize she was floating. Am I dead?
She looked around at her surroundings. She was in some sort of creepy, medieval-style castle. The room appeared to be a council chamber, or something like that. It had an ornate round table, and seated around it were…
"Freaky Alados people!" Frida exclaimed, but no one heard her. They did, however, look up when the doors burst open and two troll-like guards came hauling in what Frida guessed was a prisoner. One of the guards spoke.
"We found this piece of garbage lurking about outside! Says he wants to see El Santo Oscuro!"
"We told him to stuff it and come with us!" said the other guard. "What should we do with him?"
Los Alados exchanged glances. Alado Uno stepped up to the prisoner and lifted up his chin. Frida gasped. The prisoner was a much younger Antonio! And he had hair!
Frida thought for a moment. "I'm seeing Antonio's memories. I'm in his head! Whoa!" She turned her attention back to the unfolding scene.
"Why do think you would have anything that would be worth the time of the New God?" Alado Uno asked.
The younger Antonio did not meet the Alado's gaze. "I wish to become like you…to leave behind this shell of human existence. I will serve El Santo Oscuro if necessary."
The white-haired Alado smirked. "You would sell your soul? Just like that?"
Antonio swallowed. "…Yes."
Alado Tres spoke up. "What makes you think you are even worthy?"
Alado Uno held out a hand to silence his comrade. "Hush, hush, now. I kind of like this lad." He turned back to Antonio. "You do realize that you may not survive the transformation?"
"I know."
"Well then…" Alado Uno said. He pulled his hand back, and then plunged it into Antonio's stomach causing the man to cough and gasp. "Welcome to the fold."
Frida covered her mouth at the sight, but didn't have to bear it for long. A bright flash of light brought her back into the real world.
"Kid? Kid?" Frida opened her eyes to see Mer's face looking down at her. She was lying on her back. She got up to see Trina tending to Antonio, asking if he was all right.
"You had us worried there, Goggles," said Mer. "First, Tony here collapsed, then you right after. You all right?"
"Yeah," said Frida, rubbing her head. "Just…training."
"I underestimated you, Frida," Frida looked to Antonio, who was also holding his head, "And for that I apologize. Mer, Trina, if you would go back to the fire please? This lesson is private."
Trina nodded and Mer shrugged, but both went back to the fire.
"What you saw was my past," Antonio started once they were out of earshot. "It is something I am not proud of. I got demonic powers much like you did, and I used them for evil. I have killed many people, and I am ashamed of that fact…"
"So…you're all good now…and stuff?" Frida, asked, confused.
"My life has been complicated these last few centuries," Antonio said, with a little laugh and a shake of his head.
Centuries? Frida thought, but decided it'd be better off not to ask. "So why did you do it?"
"The same reason most men do stupid things," Antonio answered. "It was because of a girl."
"Oh…"
"You don't know how lucky you are Frida. To have a connection with a friend like that. I didn't have that. Just remember, when things get dark, think of him."
A moment passed where they just stared at each other, a silent understanding between the two.
"I think that's enough for tonight," said Antonio. "Get some rest, Frida. Tomorrow's another day."
Frida got up, yawning and stretching, and headed over to the fire. Antonio sat and meditated, trying to suppress memories of his past.