Operation: DESTINY

Difficult

Experience

Scars

The

Inner

Number's

Youth

Chapter 9: Hollow whispers from a dead man

The date was July 10, 2008…the day of the funeral for Nigel Uno's beloved parents after the week of the car accident. The tragedy took a real toll on Nigel, the last time he saw them was before he went to the movies and all he said was: "Going to the movies, I'll see you later." No love or compassion in his voice at all, just a quick bye…the last bye. It was raining, which helped Nigel pretend that his tears were the rain. Everybody was dressed in a black, the men in suits and the women in dresses. Abby was standing besides Nigel on his left and Wally on his right. All of them were looking at the two coffins being laid side by side together as they were being lowered down into their eternal grave.

Why the hell couldn't I save them…if I only paid attention to that assassin's warning…I could have…Nigel thought grimly as the two coffins were being rested into the soft dirt that was their new home. Nigel was so depressed and heart broken that he didn't see two people watching his every move…two people that would completely change his future.

Benedict Uno stared at him with dark green eyes that would move along with Nigel. His dark brown hair was sulking over his face from the dreary rain, covering his jaded eyes. He smiled with delight for now it's the time for his plan to come into action, become the guardian of Nigel Uno. Everything has been according to plan for him, he killed Nigel's parents, and now since Nigel's other family members live in England, Nigel's lawyers will immediately give him to Benedict. Nothing can go wrong for him now, and Nigel can't do anything about it, and Benedict couldn't help a grin for his victory.

Damien was also staring at Nigel Uno, the assassin that came into contact with him only two weeks ago. He was wearing a black suit along with every other man at the funeral. He was watching Nigel closely; making sure nothing outrageous begins to happen, such as a riot. Damien did give Nigel a warning though, that certain events in his life were about to go not his way, but Chronos' way. And it is…Damien and every other assassin in Chronos knows what exactly Nigel's actions are going to be. And they were ready for their new leader to take his place.

The rain was still falling as everybody was leaving the cemetery with white faces. A car crash...just as simple as that and Nigel's and all of his friend's lives were about to dramatically change. Nigel trudged besides Abby as they were heading towards their rides home…but where would Nigel go? That's the one question that was ringing inside of Abby's head as they were silently walking together. Abby was going to take Nigel home, but she knew that it wouldn't be forever. He needed a legal guardian, a family member. Abby glanced over and saw that Nigel was looking at the ground with no emotion at all, just a dull and plain look overshadowing his tears of sadness. Abby couldn't bare seeing him like this, they were having such a good time at the movies when that one phone call changed everything. Nigel got onto the bus quickly and sat in his seat without any noise at all, and as soon as the hospital stop came by he flew out along with his friends. Abby being one of them.

Why did this have to happen now out of all times? Abby wondered as they still trudged together. That was when the murderer came into play.

Benedict stopped in front of Nigel and Abby, blocking their path home. He had a menacing look on his face; a creepy smile and his dark eyes were staring at both of his enemies. Nigel looked up from the ground for the first time today and stared at his Uncle with a mad look. His eyebrows were furrowed and the pain seared out of his eyes. Abby looked up at him also with madness. Both teenagers knew that he had something to do with the death of Nigel's parents.

"I'm sorry Nigel, about your parents." Benedict began. Nigel knew he was lying; he was glad that they were finally done with. "But I also miss my brother terribly, and I don't know what to do now."

"You can get out of my life." Nigel said before passing by him along with Abby. He was mad; mad at that assassin, mad at Benedict, mad at the world, but most of all mad at himself. He didn't take the assassin's warning for granted, and now his parents are gone, and they'll never come back. He should have been more careful about his actions, he should have stayed home and just didn't go near the outside world, but it's to late now. It's already engraved in his stone of fate.

"Oh, I don't think that will be happening." Benedict said turning around as Nigel and Abby stopped. Nigel turned around to face his Uncle, and Abby did so also. She just didn't want to but in with anything right now, definitely with Nigel and Benedict. "Your lawyers were talking about whose going to be your legal guardian, and they all had the same result." Nigel looked up with a shocked face as he realized the truth. "Me."

Nigel froze for a split second as he took it all in. He was so depressed about the death that he forgot about his new guardians and who they would be. Benedict as his new father…he would completely tear him to shreds on the first day. It would be death spelled out for Nigel. "What…" Nigel said coldly.

"You heard me, and I'm sure your girlfriend did also. You're going home and getting all of your belongings and then coming to your new home." Benedict smiled evilly as he walked forward and leaned down to whisper into Nigel's ears. "Pain and blood are about to come your way."

Nigel's eyes widened as Benedict left him; Pain and blood was his future, his death. Abby stood there to shocked to even speak a word; she didn't know what to say. What do you say to a statement like that, to your best friend to make him feel better after the death of both of his parents? There was simply one answer; nothing. Death can not be changed, and neither can destiny, unless you can destroy yourself before then.

"Abby…thanks for everything." Nigel muttered out as he started towards her Jeep. He didn't know what to say either; he was speechless as much as Abby was. Abby sighed knowing that there was nothing that they could do, and followed Nigel to her Jeep.

Damien watched the scene from a few yards back, enjoying all of it. Benedict was a stealthy murderer, he killed off both of Nigel's parents easily and no evidence was even against him. But there was one thing that he didn't have. Intelligence. He didn't have the intelligence to figure out Nigel's next moves, that would be his own destruction, and that is why Damien was just sitting back and waiting for the one moment. The one moment that would finish this whole tragedy, and begin a new chapter in Chronos' success and bring forth the Golden Age.

His cell phone rang once again, and he didn't react suddenly. He waited for a second, his eyes set on Nigel, then he slowly put his hand in his pocked and took out his cell phone. He flipped it open and raised it to his ear.

"Hello?"

Damien, is the plan ready yet?

"No, but it is very close. Nigel just got a new guardian."

Ah, I see. When do you think he'll be ready?

"No more than a week."

"Good, I'll be sending reinforcements soon enough."

"Yes."

The call then went dead as the other line hung up, leaving an anxious assassin wanting to make his move as soon as possible. He just couldn't wait. Then he turned around swiftly and started to fade away with the rain.

Nigel looked up as Benedict's limousine came to a stop. The mansion he has attacked so many times was now in front of him, as his new home. He couldn't bare to wait any longer for what Benedict put as the pain and blood that was about to unfold. The rest of his life was going to be misery and agony, nothing more or less than that. Just maybe some sort of hope was going to shine through and take new meaning on his life, hopefully. Nigel hoped that he died instead of Benedict inflicting pain on him until he finally just let go of the cliff of life. It was like he was never going to see the sun ever again. The reflection that he saw in the mirror was now shattered along with his fate.

"There's nothing I can do, Abby. Just face it I'm a dead man."

"There has to be some way. I'm not going to let Benedict put you through this!"

"You think I want this!? You think that I want to go through this for the rest of my life!? There's no way out, my parent's are dead, and I have no idea if the rest of my family are the same. I'm going to have to go through this…even if I don't like it at all…"

"But…Nigel…"

"I'm sorry… Abby…"

Nigel remembered that that was the last thing he said to her before getting out of the car and walking away forever. There was no going back; he couldn't go back now, he already done enough damage. There was the mission, and then the car crash that nearly killed all of his friends, and then that assassin…he didn't even tell Abby about him. He's been lying to his friends, and they all believed him, every single word, and he couldn't go back. Not now and not forever.

I deserve this…I deserve all of this pain… Nigel thought to himself as he got out of the limo. His eyes were dark and lost, like he didn't have any meaning to live anymore. Nigel…didn't feel anything anymore…from that moment on…he was…hollow…

"What!? Nigel is living with Benedict now!?" Wally yelled towards Abby. Hoagie, Kuki, and Wally were all at Abby's house. She was revealing the dark truth about Nigel's new life…if it is that.

"Yeah, apparently…and there's nothing we can do about it." Abby said staring back at Wally. She tried to convince Nigel that he doesn't have to go through this, that there has to be a way out, but he didn't believe her. He doesn't believe anybody anymore.

"Are you sure, what about Rachel? Can't she do anything about it?" Hoagie pleaded on. He didn't want to see his best friend fall at the hands of the enemy, definitely Nigel. He wouldn't even think about falling.

"So…what are we going to do about your Uncle?"

"We're going to kick his ass until he gives up…"

"Nigel…do you honestly think that he's going to ever give up on killing us?"

"No…but I won't let him kill me…and definitely you guys. I couldn't live if you guys died."

"Then I'm with you until the end!"

"Yeah…"

Hoagie smiled at the memory. He remembered the conversation so thoroughly…like it was yesterday…but now that memory is broken. Nigel is now Benedict's son legally…and he won't budge to do anything about it. It's like he wants to be put through it.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I checked and she tried, but nothing…I just can't believe it…" Abby said looking away. She didn't want to tell them what Benedict told her and Nigel; about his pain that he was going to go through. It was already bad enough that Nigel accepted it. He didn't even say good-bye to the rest of his friends…

"Believe what?" Kuki asked. She watched Abby with her black eyes that were on the verge of crying. She didn't want to see Nigel go away; he was always saving her on missions when Wally couldn't.

Fire was spreading around everywhere. There was no way out…Kuki was done for…or so she thought. The fire that was surrounding her rapidly was caused by a killing maniac...who apparently didn't like the TND. He wanted all of them dead…as in her. It was getting harder to breathe…like some unseen hand was grasping at her throat. The team got separated by the fire…and now she was caught it he middle with no way out that she could see.

"Somebody! Wally! Nigel!" Kuki screamed out hoping for an answer. She was coughing and it wouldn't stop…and she thought that this would be her forsaken grave. Kuki didn't want to die…she wanted to be with her friends…her boyfriend…her family. She wanted to live…but this death house didn't want her to get a chance. All it wanted for her was to bury her forever.

Kuki fell to her knees…she thought that it was over…everything she wanted to dream was gone along with her faith…but that's when Nigel came.

"Kuki, hold on I got you."

Nigel was standing in front of her…he was sweating a lot but he didn't care. He wanted to get his friend out of her for good. Nigel reached down and put his arms under her weak body, and then held her up. Kuki always thought that he was strong, and now she knew it was true. Nigel then started to jog forward, to weak to run but not enough to walk. Kuki looked up with weary eyes and saw his determination and bravery in his eyes…and that's what gave her strength as the flames finally deceased as he ran out of the flaming house.

"Oh…well…are you guys sure that you want to know?" Abby asked to make sure that when they find out that they brought it on themselves.

"Of course." Hoagie answered for all of them. Wally and Kuki nodded to show their agreement, and then both of them held hands. They needed comfort and grace now…their best friend and leader was in a pit of hell basically. Benedict was going to make sure that he has no communication to the outside world, and that he wouldn't even venture near the front door. Benedict wasn't going to let him do anything for the rest of his life.

"Well…before Benedict left he said one thing to Nigel." Abby sighed and looked down towards the ground. "Pain and blood are about to come your way."

Kuki gasped and Wally and Hoagie stayed speechless. Pain…Blood…and Nigel was going to get put through this. He didn't deserve that…he doesn't deserve any of that…he deserved an innocent home…with pleasuring people…not agony. He's always fought against anything like that…murders, abuse, fights, and wars. Nigel never wanted any of that, he just wanted peace and equality for everybody.

"What!? Nigel!? We have to get him outta there!" Wally said letting go of Kuki's comforting hand and standing up showing a sign that he was going to leave and start a riot or an outrage. Kuki didn't want any of that…she grabbed his arm quickly which shocked everybody.

"Wally! There's nothing! Nothing we can do!" Kuki screamed letting out all of her anger at the world. Tears started to drop from her eyes down her saddened face at Wally's fury, at Nigel's misery, at Benedict's torture, at everything. Kuki wanted to cry her eyes out, she wanted to rip her heart out, she wanted for everything to finally end.

Wally stopped jerking shocked; Kuki was now hopeless for Nigel. She didn't believe that there was anything that they could do, that anybody could do; and Wally knew it was true. He just wanted to let out all of his anger on something, or somebody. He didn't want to see his best friend just accept the torture, to accept all of this pain and agony. It wasn't like him…

"Hey, shortie! You think your so tough?" A senior yelled across the hallway at Wally…who was then a freshman.

"Are you talking to me?" Wally said turning around to show his courage. He didn't accept any crap from anybody, even if it was a senior.

"Who else? I don't see anybody under four feet here besides you!" The senior said cracking himself up as he walked towards Wally. The senior's name was Mark Huntsed, who was what people call a "hunter". He was basically the school bastard who didn't accept society and took out all of his anger on the under classmen, and today Wally Beetles was the target.

"You're all talk and no play." Wally said looking up at the towering 6 foot giant.

"Let's see about that!" Mark yelled as he drew back his fist and smiled with delight. He loved the violence, the pain, the sheer thrill of it all, but all of that was about to be broken quiet easily.

Mark threw his fist forward at Wally's face who didn't want any crap from him and wanted to give it back to him, but was intercepted by a good friend. Nigel grabbed Mark's hand swiftly and without any pain and effort at all. He was slow compared to the psycho's that he's fought before. Mark's eyes widened as he saw a bald freshman clenching his fist and apparently overpowering it.

"And who are you?" Mark said trying to stay calm.

"Do you really want to know?" Nigel said as he pushed his hand forward putting more pain into Mark's hand and wrist. He kept a plain look that seemed to go right past Mark, who was very judgmental and idiotic about how looks can deceive you.

"Yeah, I do 'cuz you're a dead man." Mark said as he took his fist away from Nigel's grasp. As he did so he kicked upwards at Nigel's chest trying to confuse and hurt him at the same time, but it was about to be switched around.

Nigel calmly grabbed his foot and twisted it creating an ear shattering crack. The audience all gasped and were shocked as Mark fell down with a yell as he cradled his foot. Nigel just broke his foot so simply that the audience was astounded.

"Wow Nigel, you're good." Wally said as he patted his best friend's back. Nigel smiled and then walked over to Mark who was tearing in his eyes. Nigel stopped in front of Mark who was scared now of the fourteen year old boy that just kicked his ass.

"Go get a life you bastard."

Nigel then walked away with Wally and nobody ever even talked badly about them from that day forward.

"I'm sorry…" Wally said as he sat down thinking about the memory. Nigel was there for him that day…but he's there for everybody all of the time. He would die for them…but now that is slowly unfolding…he's dying…and there's nothing that they could do about it.

"I just wish that there was some way…" Abby said as she looked out of the window trying to spot a sign of hope, grace…and happiness.

Nigel walked up to the driveway and found that Benedict was waiting for him…waiting for the torturous fun to begin. Benedict smiled as he saw the helpless Nigel walking up towards him; he just couldn't wait to get out the deadly weapons that would be Nigel's future…his death.

"Welcome, my son, to your new home…your part of hell…your death house!"

Your destiny is like death; there's no stopping it

Thanks for reading everybody! It was hard for me to continue from the last chapter, so I'm glad that I got it done and that I added in the flashbacks…that helped with the emotional part of it…thanks again!