Finally! I finally get to post chapter 5 up after dealing all those endless graphic design works from client and boss.

Enjoy the story. Sorry about my horrible writing skills :(

Chapter 5: One of Us

Delsin swiped his fire chain whip towards Guillermo. Though he's an old man, his reflexes were fast. This time he was the one who grabbed the whip instead of the doll.

"I won't fall for that again," he said.

"I figure out you will say something like that," Delsin yelled at him. The young Conduit with one hand gripping his weapon, he used his other hand to shot out three fireballs towards Guillermo. However the doctor didn't even bother dodging it, he just stood there as the fire blasted on him.

Sebastian nearly stumbled from the impact when Delsin quickly grabbed hold of him and pulled him back on balance, followed by leading him into a warehouse nearby.

"Stay close," he said. "Help me keep a lookout for that doll."

"Huh?"

"If you noticed it earlier, that doll is nowhere to be seen," he explained. "Back at the town, she wasn't with him. I have a hunch she's hiding somewhere to give us a surprise attack."

"Leave her to me," Sebastian looked around. "You just focus on him."

"I'm counting on you," Delsin answered back but didn't realise that his response somehow startled him.

"I need my partner here! I'm counting on you, Joseph." Those words came back to his mind. Sebastian closed his eyes and shook his head slightly to shake off that thought. He can't turn back to the way it was before. He had to move forth even though it's painful for him.

And he knew that his best friend and partner, Joseph isn't coming back anymore.

(Come on Sebastian! Focus!) He cleared his mind and kept an alert lookout for that annoying doll. Like Delsin said; she could be hiding anywhere for a surprise attack. If she does, he knows how to deal with her. Since he had already done it back in the train.

He strangely can sense her presence nearby. His psychic focus turned his attention towards a stack of barrels further down, not far from them, at the corner of the warehouse. He could feel a different aura emitting from it; different from the rest he sensed. There's no doubt about it. There's no mistake.

Before realization, he was suddenly pushed to the ground hard and heard a loud glass shattering sounds. Delsin's hands were wrapped around him to shield him from the sharp glasses pouring down on them then silence. Sebastian slowly lifted his head up just to see shards of glasses scattered all over the ground.

(Delsin!) He quickly checked on the young man. Surprisingly he was perfectly fine and was staring down at him.

"Sorry about that sudden shove," he apologised. "That doctor is serious this time. You ok?"

"I'm fine but…" Sebastian noticed a shard pierced on Delsin's shoulder and blood was staining his clothes slowly. He immediately panicked. "You're hurt!"

However Delsin was calm. He showed no sign of pain instead he just causally plucked the shard out as if it was just dirt.

"Don't worry about me," he smiled. "This is nothing to me."

(Nothing?!) He couldn't believe what he just heard. (A glass shard just stabbed you and all you can say this is nothing?!)

Delsin got back up and fired another fire blast at Guillermo however he deflected it. Delsin whipped his chain whip towards him again. It slashed at the doctor's face, leaving a cut across his cheek.

Delsin raised one of his hands. The lights around the warehouse suddenly flash brightly. Sebastian watches as light particles emitted from the lamps, fluorescent light etc. gathered at the Conduit's hand, slowly forming a light orb. Once fully formed, he flung it towards Guillermo. It exploded the moment it touches him, causing the entire warehouse to engulf in a bright light.

Sebastian was temporarily blinded by the flash.

"Seb…," he heard Delsin's voice as the lad led him to a nearby pillar and hid him there. "You'll be safe here."

"The doll…" Sebastian tugged at Delsin's jacket and whispered softly. "I know where she is."

Without a word, Delsin whirled around and flung the shard which was stabbed on him previously, towards the barrels. There was a sight screech and the doll merged from her hiding spot. She camouflaged herself within it, hiding her presence from them. Sadly it didn't work out since Sebastian was able to detect her.

He soon felt a bit sorry for that doll. First she got a crack on her face, second she got burnt and now she got stabbed.

"How do you know she's there?" asked Delsin.

"Sixth sense I guess," he replied.

Belle blankly stared down at the shard pierced on her chest. With her tiny marble hands, she pulled it out and dropped it to the ground. She glared at both with her marble eyes.

The barrels behind her levitated and she followed suit. She then points to them both. The barrels suddenly propelled towards their direction. Sebastian, driven by the same unknown force he had experienced back at the train, raised one of his hands in defence.

The barrels immediately halt in mid-air. It just stopped there like they were being held in place by an invisible force. Delsin was taken by surprise as well as shocked that he stood still on his spot. He made a quick glance at Sebastian.

"Seb…?" He was expecting an explanation on this bizarre happening. Sebastian didn't dare to look back at him but he silently mumbled a soft apology.

Guillermo, taking this chance, took out a handgun from his coat pocket and fired at Delsin.

The young Conduit stared with his eyes wide at the frozen bullet just a few inches away from his face. He took a few steps backward. He stared at the barrels at the side, back to the bullet then to Sebastian again.

Sebastian just stood there. His hand already lowered down but both objects still hovered in the air as if they're awaiting for his orders or frozen in time.

Sebastian moved his hand in a circle motion manner, diverting both barrels and bullet's course of directions; making them faced both their attackers.

With everything in position, Sebastian gave the signal by clenching his fist. Barrels flew towards the doll and the bullet fired itself towards Guillermo. Belle managed to evade out of the way as the barrels crashes at where she was.

Except Guillermo, he strangely let the bullet hit him like what he did previously for the fire. It hit him right at his stomach however he never even flinched. Instead the doctor just dug his finger into his wound and pulled out the blood-stained bullet before tossing it aside.

The inflicted wound then closes by itself.

"Impressive," Guillermo said. "Too bad your ability's still not strong as him yet."

Sebastian turned his attention a stack of steel pipes piled at the top level of the warehouse.

"You leave me with no choice," he snarled back at Guillermo. "I don't like doing this but…"

The steel pipes shook violently, snapped free from its restraint and hovered dangerously in the air. Sebastian immediately points to the doctor and the pipes strikes.

Cloud of dust and dirt spread out and crashing sounds echoed through the warehouse as the pipes fell, trying to crush or impaled the doctor.

Delsin used both his hands to cover his eyes from the incoming dust. It lasted for minute before it finally subsided. He wonders if the freak survives that attack as he tried to get a better look. He heard a soft bump and saw Sebastian was sitting on the floor, sweating and panting. He quickly leaned down to check on him.

"Sebastian?"

"I'm fine. Just a little tired."

(I just used a little and I'm already exhausted like this. Probably I never used my gift till this extent.) He slowly helped himself up, still felt a bit wobbly on his legs.

"You think he's dead?" Delsin asked as he looked at the steel pipes piled up at where the doctor was.

"I doubt it…" Sebastian replied. "He doesn't look like the type that can be killed off so easily."

He suddenly felt an intense sharp pain on his head that he cupped his hands over his head and staggered backwards.

"Sebastian!" Delsin rushed forth.

"I'm ok. I tend to have these relapse every time I used them."

"Them? You're talking about your powers?"

"I'm sorry," he said. "I wanted to tell you but…"

"Save it for later," Delsin interrupted. "Our priority now is getting out of here."

Sebastian somehow agreed with the young lad. He nodded in return.

They were about to make their retreat when Belle suddenly appeared out from nowhere and clenched herself onto Delsin and bite him viciously on his neck. Delsin screamed in pain as he struggled to get the doll off him before she torn off his flesh. Blood had already started oozing out from his neck.

"Delsin!" Sebastian grabbed the doll, trying to pull her off him. "Get off from him!"

A strong hand wrapped around Sebastian's neck and dragged him away from Delsin. He choked a little and grasped at the hand that was holding him.

Delsin, unable to withstand the pain, fell to the ground. He was startled to see Guillermo unscathed. "How in the world did you…?"

"You both think that you can kill me with just these attacks?" he smirked as he choke hold Sebastian tightly. "I've had been alive for a decades. Attacks like these won't hurt me since I'm not a human to begin with."

Sebastian found he was unable to breathe and started to cough. Seeing his friend in peril, Delsin gritted his teeth in rage. Not caring about safety, he used his full strength and managed to separate the doll from him. However the doll had already inflicted a deep wound on his neck. Delsin quickly used his hand to stop the bleeding.

"I don't know what you want with him," Delsin growled. "But let him go."

"You think I will?" He tightened his hold causing Sebastian to gasp for air again. Delsin knew that old man won't let his target go so easily. He noticed he was still bleeding.

(Strange, my wounds should have healed by now.)

"You're wondering why your wounds won't heal isn't it?" Guillermo asked. He seems to know what Delsin was thinking.

"How do you know?"

Guillermo just smiled back. The young Conduit again felt another stabbing pain on his back. He turned to see Belle stabbed a long nail onto him. She giggled and hopped off. Delsin fell back on his knees again.

(Shit…I didn't sense her.) He plucked out the nail and tossed it aside. He felt an immediate drowsiness, his sight were losing focus that he found that he no longer had the strength to get back up.

"What did you do?" he questioned.

"Poison," the doctor answered. "That poison she gave prevents you from healing yourself. Though a Conduit, you ain't immortal."

"Is that so?" Delsin shakily got back up to his feet. But then he spotted something and slowly lowered himself down again. Seeing his sudden change of action, Guillermo wonders why he did that when it wasn't long he noticed a small red dot positioned itself at his heart.

"What the…"

There was a loud gunshot. Both Sebastian and Guillermo fell hard on the ground. Sebastian hastily freed himself from Guillermo's grip, got to his knees and crawled away towards Delsin's side. Belle in shock flew towards her master to check on him when a hand grabbed her by the collar. She gazed up just to see a young man with long silver hair tied up in a ponytail, wearing a blue trench coat, glaring down at her.

"Fr…Francis?" Delsin called out.

"You sure made a lot of wreck," he holds the doll tightly as it tried to scratch him with her sharp marble hands.

Francis slammed her down hard on the ground. He mumbled some strange words and she instantly froze. He then releases her and she just lied there motionlessly.

"Did you…?"

"I just cast an immobilize spell on her," he walked towards Delsin and Sebastian and kneeled down. "You're hurt."

"These wounds are nothing," Delsin looked with concern at Sebastian.

"I'm ok. But you…"

"I don't get it," Delsin stared at his hands stained by his own blood. "What kind of poison did he give me?"

He suddenly recalled the doctor and whirled back. Guillermo was still lying there with his eyes closed.

"The gunshot?"

Francis pointed up. Both saw a young man with a long brown hair, tied up just like Francis. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt with a sweater vest with a hood attached, denim jeans and sneakers, waving down at them. They watched as he climbed his way down in an amazing agility before landing in front of them.

"Whoever this guy is," he stood up. "He won't be able to move so soon since the bullet I shot with him had the same effects on that…" he glanced down at the doll. "…puppet…"

"Ezio, you're here too?"

"You know you got us worried," Francis carefully checked on Delsin's wound. "Your wounds aren't serious but it's best to get it treat before infection. I will do something about the poison. And he is?" Francis gestured to Sebastian.

"Sebastian Castellanos," Delsin replied. "He's a friend of mine. We just met. That doctor was trying to kidnap him."

Upon hearing that, Francis helped Delsin and Sebastian up. "Let's get of here first before they regain conscious. We'll talk about this later. The jeep's outside."

Francis started the jeep engine while Ezio took out a first aid kit spray from a backpack before handing it over to Sebastian.

"This might sting a little."

The young Conduit swallowed hard as the medicine sprayed on his injuries. The pain was unbearable that he gritted his teeth and made a soft groaning sound.

With his wound clean, Sebastian proceeded to bandage it. Delsin then gave his thanks in return.

"We have to leave this place now," Francis said. "The commotion caused the cops at Hillview Town on an alert. It will be bad if we stay. They might end up finding us."

"Well guess we had no other choice. So where should we head to now?" Ezio asked.

"I might have the slight idea of where we should be heading."

Francis then turned to Sebastian. "Can you come with us?"

"Huh?"

"It's not safe for you to linger here anymore. We will take you some place safe," he narrowed his eyes. "I sensed something about you. You're just like us."

Sebastian was taken aback by what he said.

"It's ok," Francis reassured him. "We won't hurt you or anything. You will be safe with us."

"I don't know if I should…" Sebastian gave a worried look. "I already got Delsin involved in this. I don't want to drag you both down too."

"It might be already too late for that," Francis said. "The doll saw my face."

Sebastian went silent.

"Come on," Francis boarded the jeep. "Where do you stay? We can give you a lift there."

Sebastian felt a gentle pat on his back. He saw Delsin giving him a nod and boarded the jeep. With no option left, Sebastian followed.

The jeep drove down a small rocky path. It was a short ride till they reached the main road. As the jeep drove into the night, Sebastian at the back seat went to check on his watch and found it was already 4am.

"Destination?"

Sebastian looked up just to see Francis's reflection on the rear view mirror.

"I'm actually heading for Hill Lake Point. It's the next town after Hillview."

"Hill Lake Point, huh?" Francis checked on the GPS tracker. "About two hours ride."

"By the way," he continued. "Allow me to introduce myself; I'm Francis Kenderick and this is my younger brother, Ezio."

"Nice to meet you," Ezio smiled.

"It is nice to meet you all. And thank you for your help back there," Sebastian gave his thanks.

"No worries," Ezio leaned back on his passenger seat as he stretched his arms.

"So Delsin, mind explaining what happened back there?" Francis asked. "We were looking for you until I heard a loud explosion outside town, followed by a bright flash coming from the port. You got into a fight with that stranger?"

"Sort of," Delsin rubbed his neck to soothe the pain. "I can't leave Sebastian to deal with him alone."

"Is that man a Conduit?"

"I don't think he is. I don't sense any genes from him. But from what I know is," Delsin and Sebastian looked at each other. "He's after him."

Francis and Ezio kept quiet making Sebastian felt extremely uncomfortable. The silence was brief until Francis decided to speak.

"Sebastian Castellanos," he said. "I know we just met. And I know it's kind of a sudden but we wish to know what's going on. Remember what I say to you back at the warehouse? I said you're just like us."

"Yes I remember," Sebastian nodded. "I was about to ask you that."

"You're a psychic, right?"

Sebastian was surprised. "You can tell just by looking?"

"That's my speciality. But why the old man and that doll try to get you? You know them before?" Francis asked.

"No," Sebastian shook his head. "I just met them. On the train bound for Hill Lake Point. They had been chasing me since I escaped from there."

"They chased you all the way here?" Ezio asked. "Quite persistent I have to say."

"I don't know what they want from me," Sebastian continued his explanation. "But I do recall that Guillermo said he want me to do something for him. What is his goal? I really don't know."

Francis listened carefully as he drove. "So Guillermo is the name of that person who attacked you both at the warehouse? Then what about the doll?"

Sebastian shook his head. "No clue. All I know he calls her Belle."

"A doll with a free will?" Francis rubbed his chin. (Could he be like me?)

"Francis?" Ezio called out to him. "What's wrong?"

"Oh it's nothing. I didn't expect our night at Hillview Town will be so…unexpected. Anyway to answer Sebastian's question, I'm already assumed that Delsin told you about him being a Conduit, right?"

Sebastian and Delsin exchanged looks before both nodded their heads in return.

"Guess it can't be help," Francis gave a faint smile. "It's true Delsin's a Conduit. To be honest the three of us are gifted." He looked up to the rear view mirror and chuckled at the astonishment on Sebastian's face. "Now we met another like us."

"You and Ezio are Conduits too?"

"Hmm…Not really," Ezio answered. "We are different from Delsin. We both don't possess the Conduit Genes."

"Conduit Genes?" Sebastian frowned.

"It's a kind of rare mutation in human beings," Delsin said. "I'm a sub-species of humans who possess superhuman abilities afforded them by it. The gene was a distinctive part of the human anatomy, and can only be seen by a select few and I'm one of them. To those who can see the genes mostly appear yellow in color, and are located in the torso, near the spinal cord of an individual. That's why I mentioned earlier that Guillermo isn't a Conduit as I didn't detect it in him."

"So I assume those who aren't Conduits are therefore known as the 'Gifted?"

"Bingo," Delsin nodded. "But for Francis, he's basically known as a Salem witch or male-witch."

"A male-witch?" Sebastian titled his head confused. "I thought witches are all females..."

"Surprised aren't you?" Ezio looked at him. "Francis's special. He's one of a kind."

"Male-witches are extremely rare," Francis explained. "Out of a population of 1000 witches, only one male-witch will be born. No one will knows when he will arrive. The period can vary; sometimes it can be a year, decades or centuries."

Sebastian was amused. "So in this generation, you're the only one?"

"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe or maybe not."

"I see," Sebastian gestured to Ezio. "What about you?"

"Me? Just an ordinary assassin."

"He possessed a high concentration of First Civilization DNA," Francis continued for him. "A lineage involving both human and the creator blood; direct descendant of Adam. He's able to manipulate people's minds and illusion. He will demonstrate it to you someday."

Ezio sighed. "You too, Francis."

"Aren't they also known as Those Who Came Before, the Precursors or Homo Sapiens Divinius? An ancient and advanced species of humanoid beings that were amongst the first known to call Earth their home?" asked Sebastian.

"Oh you know about them too?" Ezio was curious.

"I read about them in libraries. I thought they were just myths and legends…"

"Sometimes they can be real," Francis said. "It's only when we can get to see it with our own eyes. Anyway let's focus on getting to Hill Lake Point. We will talk about this later. Do you have anyone you know live there?"

"My uncle," Sebastian leaned forth. "He's probably worried about me now but you sure you all want to do this?" Sebastian asked.

"Huh?" They turned to him.

"Well I don't know what to say but I really don't want to trouble you three any further."

"It's alright," Ezio chuckled. "Just let us help besides we travelled a lot. And Hill Lake Point seems to be a good place to explore."

"Kinda true," Francis agreed. "Don't feel bad about it."

"I really don't know how to repay you all but I'm grateful," Sebastian smiled. "Maybe when we get there, I asked my uncle if he can let you three stay for a short vacation."

"Sounds nice," Delsin nudged him.

(Guillermo….) Francis thought to himself. (Where have I heard this name before.)

End of chapter 5