Hello again! I decided to TRY to post two chapters this week because I'm on spring break and I have more free time. I might just get the weekly Saturday post that I'm trying to do moved to Sunday this week.
I hope this chapter is good. I have a little motivation now that a few people favorited/followed the story. I read that first review about four times because it made me feel good about this. So thank you guys!
Anyway, here's your chapter. I had to put Jeff in there because he is really the only one who would fit the part I needed him for.
*Disclaimer*
"Ness, did you even tell them where to meet us?" a blonde haired boy with a bowl cut and glasses frustratedly asked. They stood outside a building halfway between doors separated by twenty feet of space.
"I'm sure I did, Jeff," Ness assured him, "Or maybe I didn't? I don't remember. They'll show up though."
"And you're sure they're not on their side?" Jeff kept interrogating his friend.
"Yes, I am. I'm certain this time."
"This time," he rolled his eyes, remembering what he considered Ness's most stupid act. They were silent for about fifteen seconds.
"I'm just going to go out on a limb here and say they're going to walk through that door in three.. two.. one..," Ness pointed and was pleased with his prediction. Claus and Lucas came through the door right as he expected.
"That isn't fair," Jeff quietly complained, "You're a psychic."
"Where the heck were you? You told us to meet you after school but you didn't give us any clues on where we were supposed to find you," Claus ranted.
"Hey," Ness laughed, "Why don't we settle down here? This is my friend Jeff," Ness gestured to the boy standing beside him. "Jeff, this is Claus," he pointed to the other one frustrated with himself, "and Lucas." Lucas shyly smiled to his new acquaintance.
Jeff took a step forwards and looked at them. He seemed to be inspecting them, "They don't seem like they're on their side, at least."
"Heck no we aren't!" Claus took this as on offense, "Why would you think-"
"Claus," Lucas interrupted the angry raving. "Anyway, erm-," he wasn't quite sure how to continue his sentence, and awkwardly took a fraction of step backwards.
"Come with us," Jeff gestured them to follow.
"Wait wait wait," Claus refrained, "Where are you taking us?"
"That cannot be discussed in public. You will just have to trust us," Jeff looked back.
"Claus," Lucas whispered, "They aren't going to do anything us." Lucas was normally a good judge of character, so Claus consented.
They walked into a more urban part of the city. "Jeff," Ness tried to speak through the loud street noises, "I think we're supposed to take a left here."
"No, we aren't," Jeff emended him, "This is Austin Street."
"Oh," Ness became confused when he saw the street name sign, "It looks the same."
They went on like this while Jeff led the way for obvious reasons. Five minutes of walking after that, Claus started his complaining, "I'm getting tired of walking. How far are we?"
"We're going to get there in a few minutes, just stop whining," Jeff hushed him.
They finally arrived after the long walk down extensive avenues. They were in a tight alleyway with doors lined up and down both sides. They strode down three quarters of the way, and Jeff knocked on a brown painted metal door. The door opened a moment later, and a rotund man in a lab coat greeted them inside.
"Ooh, more visitors," the man excitedly said. Lucas hesitantly stepped in behind the other three when he noticed the man intensely gazing at him.
"Dad," Jeff addressed the man, who was apparently his father, "We need two more of them. Do we have enough for that?"
"I think we have enough for fifteen right now," the man recalled. "I'm Dr. Andonuts by the way. Good to meet you," he excitedly shook the twins' hands. "Now, if you would come with me," he signaled them to follow, which they did, not knowing what they were going to do. He called back to Ness and Jeff, "Wait, and watch the door." They were led into a room in the back of the somewhat large apartment where there were six lab tables. Two rows of three. The tables had beakers and test tubes all scattered about them.
"Do you know what we're doing here?" Dr. Andonuts asked them. They both nodded 'No.' "I guess they didn't explain it to you then. Anyway, we're going to make some PSI disabling drugs for you. But don't worry, they're only temporary."
"Excuse me, sir," Lucas politely interrupted, "Why would we want to use PSI disabling drugs?"
"Well if the Pigmasks are trying to find PSI using students," he explained "They won't be able to detect what isn't there, if you know what I mean."
"So you're taking away our PSI for a small period of time?" Lucas summarized.
"Yes!" Dr. Andonuts gave a thumbs up, "Now, if you could tell me a few things so I can get proper measurements.."
They told Dr. Andonuts what he asked. He asked about things like weight, height, allergies, and other medical things. "One more thing," he picked up his clipboard, "What kind of PSI do each of you use? You first," he pointed his pen at Lucas.
"Um," Lucas thought, "I have uh.. PK Flash, Lifeup, Healing, Shield, Offense up, Defense up, PSI Shield, and Counter. I think that's it," he mentally double checked.
"Alright," Dr. Andonuts nodded, "That seems really good for someone your age."
"Thanks, I guess. But I pale in comparison to Claus," Lucas modestly admitted.
"Nonsense!" Dr. Andonuts looked up from his clipboard, "I have never before met a child with as many skills as you have. But we'll see if you're right, there." He expectantly stared at Claus.
"Right," Claus thought for a minute, "I've got PK Thunder, PK Fire, Counter, Flash, Defense Down, Offense Down, and," Claus's voice trailed off. Dr. Andonuts' pen scratching stopped. He looked up and saw Claus in some kind of emotional turmoil. Claus hesitantly continued, "and, PK Love."
Dr. Andonuts' eyes widened at this, "PK Love? You've got to be kidding me. The last person who could use PK Love lived hundreds of years ago!"
"I know. I've heard that a million times," Claus exaggerated.
"With that you could probably take out the whole Pigmask Army–"
"No, it isn't like that at all!" Claus suddenly became angry, "I could do that, but it would be awful! Do none of you people understand? I can't control something like that. I just can't," Claus slowly sat down in a chair, and was resisting the tears urging their way into his eyes.
Dr. Andonuts went back to his clipboard, not sure how to respond, "I think we're done here for today. Go back to Jeff, he'll tell you what to do next."
They walked slowly back to the room where Ness and Jeff were. Lucas noticed his brother's unsteady walking through the narrow hallway. "How'd it go?" Ness asked them.
Claus found a seat on the couch in the front room. "Don't talk to me," Claus bent over and rested his head on his knees, "I need a minute."
Lucas was also dealing with conflicting emotions for his brother. He hated seeing him like this. It had happened before. He knew why though. "Claus," Lucas sat down next to him, "It wasn't your fault. We were young and-"
"No, Lucas," Claus sat up straighter, "It was my fault. You might have died and it would be my fault."
"Whoa, what's happening?" Ness rudely interrupted.
Claus gave him a nasty, angry look, "PK Love is what happened."
Ness was somewhat in shock when he heard that his newfound friend could use a PSI technique so legendary. "Claus-"
Ness was then interrupted by Lucas's gestures, telling him to shut up. Claus saw those very unsubtle movements. Lucas didn't realize that at first, but when he did, he quietly said, "Uh.. Sorry."
"No, Lucas," Claus answered, "They should be surprised. They have reason to." But Claus hated that truth with every part of him. Why did he need to have this gift that hurt him so much before? "Alright, what do we need to do now?" Claus asked Jeff. He stood up slowly.
Jeff answered quietly, as if he thought someone were listening from afar, "Come back here tomorrow night. At seven o'clock. The PSI inhibiting drugs should be done by then. Do you know the way from your house?"
Lucas nodded, "No."
"Ness, can you get them here, then?" Jeff asked of his friend.
"Ok," Ness agreed.
"I'll see you then."
They went off. Ness followed Lucas and Claus back to their place. Claus was in no mood to talk. He followed the other two at a slow pace. They were talking, and he could hear them.
"Ness?" Lucas nervously asked, "Would you mind pretending that thing back there didn't happen? You know the one where Claus was getting all moody?"
Claus was ten feet behind them, and overheard this. 'Moody? Really?' he was annoyed with his brother's phrasing.
"Uh, alright," Ness answered the blonde boy beside him.
"Thanks," Lucas's slight tension relaxed more, "It's just that what we were talking about should have stayed between us, and Claus's temper isn't the most manageable. It just hurts to see him like that when I can't do anything about it."
"Don't worry," Ness smiled, "I understand what you mean."
They arrived at the apartment building where Lucas and Claus were staying. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess," Ness waved as he walked away.
"Bye," Lucas called after him.
They went inside their small room. They were silent as usual. Claus went to sleep almost immediately after dinner. Lucas followed him.
Claus was lying facing the ceiling, for minutes that felt like hours, thinking about what happened at Jeff's house. He recalled his brother's statement to Ness 'It just hurts to see him like that when I can't do anything about it.' This made Claus feel terrible. The last thing he wanted was to bring any harm to Lucas.
He finally fell asleep. This seemed more pleasant than life. He stood outside with his brother. He noticed he was younger than he was now. His actions were not in his control, though. They were sitting on their back porch, talking.
'Are you feeling better now?' younger Lucas asked the younger Claus.
'Yeah, I'm fine,' Claus nodded, 'Nothing was wrong in the first place!'
'But you were sick an hour ago,' Lucas started.
'It was just a PSI fever,' Claus shrugged, 'I hate those things. Why can't PSI come in a better way?' They both agreed on this. 'At least I get something good out of it, unlike some people.'
'Claus!' Lucas was offended, 'Just because I can't shoot fire or anything doesn't mean that my PSI is bad!'
'Well it isn't cool,' he answered as a prideful nine-year-old.
'But mom told me it's more useful,' Lucas boasted, trying to defend his already minuscule ego.
'Are you saying you could beat me in a PSI fight?'
'N-no. Claus I didn't say-'
'Come on, let's go,' Claus dragged him into the middle of the yard, 'I want to figure out the new thing I learned.'
'But mom and dad said to not fight with PSI-' Lucas resisted.
'Pfft,' Claus laughed, 'What do mom and dad know about PSI? We're the only ones in the family who can use it.' He smirked, 'And besides, you can barely fight with it,' his taunt cut Lucas deep.
Lucas's anger grew, 'PK Flash!' Lucas shouted his attack–a trait that occurred among many young or novice PSI users. Lucas had to rely on physical ability beyond this. PK Flash was his only offensive attack, and it didn't do direct damage. He approached his older brother, who was slightly blinded by the alpha level attack. 'Can we stop now?' Lucas hesitated, 'I don't like fighting.'
'No!' Claus answered, 'Unless you want to admit that I'm better than you.'
'But Claus...' Lucas looked torn apart, he said no words and turned his back away.
'Oh! I got it! PK Love!' Claus excitedly shouted. Nothing happened at first. But a second later, a rainbow hexagon went flying forwards and struck Lucas on the back of the head. He shot forwards, and landed ten feet away. Unconscious. 'Lucas?' Claus's breathing pace went up, 'Lucas?' he realized what he did. He panicked, 'Mom! Dad! Help!'
The parents, inside heard their child's cries for help. They came running outside. They saw the motionless boy lying face down on the grass.
'What happened?' the mother asked, also close to a panic attack.
'W-we were playing and-and,' Claus stuttered trying not to cry from fear, 'I made him fight me with PSI.'
'You what?!' the father lashed at the boy, 'We told you to never do that!' he turned to his wife, 'Go get an ambulance, fast.'
In five minutes they were headed to the hospital, following an ambulance that carried the unconscious Lucas and the worried mother.
Claus sat in the back seat of their car, quietly crying.
'What PSI skill did you use?' his father driving the car asked.
'It was the one I just learned,' Claus swallowed, 'PK Love.'
He hit the brakes of the car and said nothing for a moment. 'Claus,' he breathed deeply, 'Where did you learn about that?'
'My PSI fever."
'No,' he raised a hand to his forehead, 'That's impossible.' Everything blurred. Claus found himself at the hospital. He walked into a room where he saw his younger brother lying, asleep. IVs and other things were hooked up to Lucas's arms. He remembered sitting there for three hours, hoping Lucas woke up; resisting his parents wanting to bring him home; hoping he would get to see his brother again.
It happened, late at night. Claus was asleep in a chair. 'Claus,' Lucas tried to speak in more than a whisper, 'Claus.' He awoke with a jerk. 'Claus.'
"Claus," Lucas shook Claus awake. It was morning, "We have school remember?"
"Right," Claus threw the blankets off of himself, "Why do we need to go there again anyway?"
"Well first of all," Lucas explained, "We won't be arrested again," he made a fair point. "Second," he added while pouring a bowl of cereal for breakfast, "We get an education."
"I don't care about that last part." Claus sat down at their small dining table, facing his brother. Lucas's eyes were looking at nothing. It seemed halfway between Claus's face and the table, "Are you alright?"
Lucas didn't answer until Claus repeated his question again, "Oh, yeah. I'm fine," he answered as he snapped back into reality. Claus was almost done with breakfast when Lucas looked at the clock, "We need to go now."
Claus stood up and put his shoes on. Lucas stood by the door waiting. Out of the corner of his eye, Claus noticed Lucas hadn't even eaten any of his food, "Lucas," Claus asked–a bit confused, "You didn't eat any of your breakfast."
"Oh," Lucas blinked, "I mean- I guess I just wasn't hungry."
There was definitely something up with him. They quickly walked to school and started their day.
Yeah, I know the ending was a bit abrupt, but it was getting a little long in some aspects. I also wanted to figure out a way to end it there to attempt a slight cliffhanger. And no, Lucas's PK Love is for later.
This chapter turned out a little more Claus-focused than I wanted it to.. Don't worry, though. If you like that, I have more of them planned. If you don't, I have a few Lucas or Ness or other character focused chapters planned.
Reviews/Comments/Criticism are appreciated. Have a nice day.