Chapter VIII: Frozen Flames
Blue energy engulfed Alex and a figure could be seen emerging behind him. It resembled a fat clown, in a tattered purple suit with a dead rose in the breast pocket and a feather tucked into the trim of its bowler hat. It wielded a large mini-gun. The clown makeup made a large red mouth that was sad, and black circles lined its eyes, which sat above a round red nose. It had large clown shoes and a thin belt with a green triangle shaped buckle.
"Thou art I." It said in a booming voice. "And I am thou. Your soul reaches out for strength. I am Proteus, let me be that strength."
Alex smiled, and looked at Jackson. "Need a hand killing those shadows?"
Jackson smiled back and shouted, "Sam, get behind me!"
"Oh err, right!" She ran behind Jackson and Alex.
"Alright, lets do this!" Jackson and Alex shouted together.
Alex's persona, Proteus, jumped up from behind him, and fired a beam of ice out of the end of its mini-gun, like water from a hose. A group of the shadows were frozen by the attack, and Odysseus was granted enough space to get away. The remaining shadows regrouped, and started running towards the two personas. Odysseus swung his sword out from his side, and thick flames shot out. Proteus shot another stream toward the flames, entangling them in a spiralling tunnel of ice.
Jackson smirked, "Fusion attack!" He began.
"Frozen Flames!" Alex finished.
The fire and ice danced around each other as the attack met the shadows head on. Those that weren't frozen to death were burned to death. Proteus and Odysseus stood proud as the shadows faded away into black fog.
"That was awesome." Jackson said.
"Thanks." Said Alex.
"I think you'll be a valuable member of the team."
"I already am, whether you like it or not."
Jackson nodded, and Odysseus faded away. Proteus turned to look at Alex, nodded, and faded away into a flock of green butterflies, which flew gracefully into the distance.
Alex smiled to himself before collapsing to floor, unconscious.
Jackson turned the radio off, and the world of the forgotten frequency began to turn back into the real world, with the thick clouds parting, and time continuing as normal.
Raymond, who was now unfrozen, ran over to the three, and looked at Alex, who was lying on the floor. "Did he?"
"Summon a persona? Yes." Jackson said.
Ray sighed. "You shouldn't have done that." He said.
"What?" Jackson asked.
"Gone off on your own."
"I wasn't on my own, I had Sam."
"Yea." Sam said.
"You entered into a world you know barely anything about." He sighed again. "I know you don't really know me, but I do know a lot about that world. Just don't do anything reckless like that again."
"I'm sorry, but right now, we need to get Alex to a hospital." Jackson said.
"Right." Said Sam, as she dialled for an ambulance.
"Well, at least he's ok. I was worried." Said Ray.
"He was fine. Alex wouldn't give in to a bunch of creepy shadow creatures." Jackson said.
***Sunday, September: 28: Afternoon***
Alex awoke in the hospital the next day. Jackson and Sam were informed immediately, and got there as fast as they could.
They burst into the small hospital room, and Alex sat straight up as soon as he saw them run through the door.
"You guys took your time!" He shouted jokingly.
"Dude, you were awake after one day." Jackson laughed, "I always thought you liked sleeping."
"So did I."
"Are you okay now?" Sam asked.
"Okay? I'm better then ever!" He got out of bed, and poured himself some water from the cooler in the corner of the room. "Its like I have nothing on my conscience any more." He downed the cup in one swift motion. "Y'know what I mean?"
"Yes, actually. I do." Jackson smiled.
Sam sat down on the bed and sighed. "So much has happened in two weeks."
"Yea." Jackson paused. "Yea, it has."
"It's like, before I didn't even know who you guys were. But now.." She sighed again.
"Pretty freaky, huh?" Alex smiled inappropriately.
"Dude." Jackson frowned, "Sense the tone."
"Oh?" He looked confused. A look that he was not unfamiliar with. "Ohh!" He nodded slowly. "Man I'm so stupid."
"Really?" Sam asked. "I hadn't noticed." She said sarcastically.
Alex frowned.
"I really do think these past two weeks have been some of the most important of my life." Sam looked down at her feet. "A-and I hate to say it, but-" She blushed, "I- I'm really glad that you guys were part of it."
Jackson smiled, and looked deep into her hazel eyes, "You think we would be here without you? I could not have admitted to my true feelings if any one other then you guys were there."
"T-thanks Jackson." Sam looked up and smiled.
"Umm, hello?" Alex said. "Guy waking up from a comma over here." He gestured for them to pay attention to him.
"Ok, one, you're not waking up from a comma, you're already awake." Sam said sternly.
"And two, it was hardly a comma, you were asleep for like one day tops." Jackson explained, before heading out of the room with Sam.
"H-hey! It still counts!" Alex complained.
"Bye, Alex!" Sam and Jackson waved over their shoulders as they left.
The sun was still shining outside the hospital. It always was. Sam and Jackson decided to walk back, because the buses were all packed, and the trams didn't run on Sundays.
"I'm glad Alex is okay." Jackson said.
"Okay is not the word I'd use." Sam chuckled
"Okay let me rephrase that. I'm glad Alex is back to normal." Jackson laughed.
"Yea. He's luckier then he thinks, y'know." Sam complained.
"Yea, well. At least something good came out of it." Jackson said.
"Oh yea, his 'persona'." Sam sighed.
They didn't speak for a few paces. Jackson broke the silence. "..Y'know, I'm pretty sure I made arrangements with someone to go to some café today. But I can't for the life of me remember who." He looked jokingly at her.
"Haha, shut up." She laughed. "Its this way."
They headed for the mall, and Sam showed Jackson the café she had mentioned over the phone earlier that week.