Chapter 12: Reunited

Delsin dashed forth, leaped up, engulfed one of his legs with his Smoke Power and did a flying round house kick straight to Guillermo's face. However the doctor with his quick reflexes blocked the kick using his walking stick.

Delsin glowered however he managed to create an opening for another counterattack. He lifted up both legs to stomp against the stick, using it as a leverage, Delsin performed a backflip and fired a fireball at the shadow vines that were holding Ren captive.

Freed from his restraint, he fell to the ground. Sebastian rushed forth, grabbed Ren by the arm and pulled him away to safety. Sebastian then touches an emergency fire hose cabinet beside him, its door swung opened, hose shot out and coiled around Guillermo like a snake, immobilizing him on the spot.

But Sebastian knew this won't hold him for long. Delsin with his quick thinking, stepped back and absorbed the light power from the fluorescent lamps above them. Once he gathered enough, he hurled it towards Guillermo. The light beams slithered like snakes and envelop the doctor in its confining glow, adding more restraint.

"Let's go!" Sebastian led them up the stairs to B2. They needed to get to B1 as their jeep was parked there at the same time they didn't want to involve innocent bystanders at the museum in their fight. They had to get out of here as soon as possible though it's gut-wrenching to abandon both Ezio and Francis behind wherever they are.

Guillermo trapped in his small confinement, watches silently as they made their getaway. Shaking his head in disappointment and letting out a short sigh, tapped his walking stick onto the ground three times. The hose instantly loosen its grip around him and lights dissipated.

"Such child's play," Guillermo adjusted his coat and dusted himself clean. "When will they ever learn?"

Sebastian, Delsin and Ren ran up the stairs as fast as their legs could carry them. Luckily Sebastian knew the jeep's exact parking spot so locating it was swift. But…

"I don't have the keys!" Delsin suddenly remembered. "It's with Ezio! Damn it!"

Sebastian was calm, "Need not to worry. We actually don't need it at all."

He placed his hand on the glass panel of the jeep door, they watches as Sebastian uses his psychic to unlatch the lock inside, releasing it.

"Hurry!" He uses his power again on the starter to get the vehicle roaring to life, stomped hard on the accelerator bringing it to full speed. Delsin and Ren hold onto the grab handles as Sebastian sped the jeep down towards the exit.

As they drew close, they saw Guillermo already standing there.

"Sebastian!" Ren shouted. However Sebastian had no intention of slowing down. Since this annoying old doctor is immortal and indestructible, running him down means nothing.

"Hold on tight!" He promptly switched gear and stepped on the accelerator hard. The jeep zoomed towards Guillermo in full speed and he just stood there with both hands on his stick without flinch as the vehicle got closer and closer.

Delsin who was on the passenger seat beside Sebastian covered his eyes, not wanting to witness the entire knock down with his own eyes and so do Ren at the backseat. However the jeep instead just 'went through' him. Both Delsin and Ren swore they could feel the cold chill ran through their veins that they recoiled in response.

Sebastian glared back and saw the doctor grinning back at him as the vehicle got further and further away. He focused his attention back on the road ahead as he drove down the street without stopping.

"Seb…c…can…can you slow down?" Delsin quivered. His lips and eyebrow twitching and face was completely white as a sheet. Sebastian looked at him then to Ren who was cringing with terror.

He slowed the jeep down to its normal speed and proceeded to park it at the side of the road. They need to calm down; Sebastian leaned back on the driver seat with his hands still on the steering wheel. He closes his eyes and respired deeply, his heart palpitating nervously.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before opening his eyes. He checked on Delsin. He was leaning on the side window with his head resting on his hand while Ren's head hung low and sweating profusely.

"You both ok?" Sebastian asked.

"I'm feeling nauseous and my breathing getting heavy," Delsin replied weakly. "It's like my energy completely sapped."

"Same here…" Ren taking off his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiringly. "It seems the doctor's miasma had a strong negative affliction."

"Miasma?"

"It's a term which I called it," Ren opens his sling bag. "It tends to lower a person's psyche and will power to its lowest point. If we don't do anything about it, victims will start to hallucinate, go insane, worst had suicide thoughts or attracted those 'Things'."

Sebastian was frantic with worry since he's the only one who wasn't affected by it.

"We will be fine," Ren reassured him. "I can heal us both. But I better do it on Delsin first since he had no spiritual energy and highly susceptible to these attacks," He gestured Delsin to hold out both his hands. He did what he was told to and Ren proceed to hold them in his.

Ren closes his eyes, Sebastian could heard him mutter something. When he listened carefully, he realized Ren was meditating in some foreign languages that he don't understand but he continues to watch in silence as he heals Delsin in the process.

Strangely Delsin detected a soothing energy slipping into his hands then to his entire body. He could feel the heavy weight of the miasma slowly lifted from him, he felt lighter and his energy returning. Within a few minutes, he was back to his normal stats.

Ren released and fell back to his seat, panting. Delsin stared at both hands then to Ren with a quizzical look on his face.

"You have healing powers?"

Ren just smirked in return. "More of purify to be precise."

"Are you alright? You seem awfully worn out," Sebastian said.

"And you're still affected," Delsin looked at him with concern.

"Oh don't worry about me. My body can purify the miasma by itself. However I tend to be like this every time I perform purification on others. It requires a lot of inner energy and concentration that's why it's extremely tiring. Fret not, a short rest and I'll be fine."

Both let out a relief sigh.

"Now we're out of danger," Delsin folded his arms. "What are we going to do now? Ezio and Francis still missing."

"We'll head back to my uncle's house first and think about it. But do me a favour if he asks about both, tell him they went off to other places for shopping or whatsoever we can come up with. I don't want to worry him."

They nodded. Sebastian then resumed his drive back to Hill Lake Point.

Ezio and Noctis withdrew back the moment the med lab door opens. Scientists, agents and security guards came swarming in, surrounding them blocking off their escape route.

They aimed their weapons at both dangerously while the scientists stood at safe range. Ezio scowled while keeping Noctis behind him, the boy clutched tightly at Ezio's coat sleeve and shivered slightly. The sight of firearms terrified him.

"Ezio…" he whispered.

"It's ok," He consoles him. "They won't hurt us."

A tall well-built scientist boldly stepped to the front, adjusting his glasses while clapping his hand in a slow and sarcastic manner.

"Well well," he beamed with pleasure. "What a pleasant surprise. The assassin is finally awake from his six months slumber." He scrutinized Ezio from head to toe closely with one hand behind his back while the other rubbing his chin. Ezio scorned at his way of observation.

The scientist then turned his gaze towards Noctis. The teen quickly hid behind Ezio's back, not wanting to look directly into that man's eyes.

(He's afraid of him.) Ezio thought to himself. He turned round and wrapped his arms around Noctis protectively, his golden eyes still fixated on the scientist, sending him a warning if he dares to lay a finger on his friend.

"Who are you?" Ezio probed.

The scientist sauntered backward and bowed to Ezio. "How rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself. Name's Simon Winters. It is an honour to meet you, the last of the Hybrid Assassin. The only one who carries the high concentration of the Ancient Ones' DNA."

Ezio frowned.

"Simon Winters huh? No wonder the room feels so cold all of a sudden," he mocked at him.

"You do have a dry sense of humour Assassin," Simon doesn't seems to bother about the derisive remarks. "However this is indeed rejoice day. She will be so pleased to learn about your awakening. You do know how pressurize we were when you were in a coma, every week she will enquired about your status 24/7."

"Is that so?" Ezio doesn't look very pleased. "More like she's yearning for me to participate in her sickening experiments."

"Ah yes," Simon tapped both his index fingers together. "I DO still remember that very day you went berserk and massacred many of the Abstergo staffs. I had to admit I lost some of my most talented assistants back then."

Ezio immediately stiffened and clenched his fists as he struggles to hold back his anger. That horrifying and repulsive image of him completely bathed in crimson blood. Lying around him were countless of lifeless, mangled, mutilated and disfigured bodies piling up on one another as a frenzied Ezio laughed hysterically.

It was that very woman who anesthetized him and also the same day he fell into a coma and unknowingly split his soul into half to escape the torment but by doing he causes more suffering to Noctis. Ezio left the teen all alone by himself while he slept.

"Anyway," Simon turned his back towards him. "Since you're awake now, we can proceed with the usual procedure."

(Usual procedure.) Ezio felt his blood boiling, lowered his head and tightened his grip on Noctis's arms.

"Ezio?" Noctis gently shook him.

"Enough…I'm not a thing…"

"Pardon?" Simon raised an eyebrow.

"We…are…not…THINGS!" Ezio repeated himself but loud for everyone to hear. His Eden powers triggered; a golden light surrounds him and golden-like threads spreads out like deadly serpents. Ezio gathered his strength and blasted a bright light blinding the other agents, guards and scientists causing them to go into panic-stricken state.

The golden threads then slithered towards the crowd and entered their minds. Some of the guards and agents froze for a while before starting to shout in delirium. All of a sudden they began to aim their guns at each other direction and gunning both sides down. Blood splattered, spilled and bullets flying everywhere. Some unlucky scientists got caught in their crossfire and were gunned down. Cries and screams of agony echoed down the hallways as survivors crawled out of the med lab and ran down the hallway with blood stains seeking help.

Noctis covered his ears and eyes as he cowered. Not wanting to let Noctis to see such sight, Ezio scooped him up in his arms.

"We're leaving. Hold on tight," He whispered. He bolted towards the tall horizontal glass windows where the landscape of the entire city can be seen. Their only route to freedom. Simon immediately knew their intention and shouted, "They're planning to escape! Stop them!"

His men start firing at them. Without wasting any time and as quick as a flash, both Ezio and Noctis smashed out of the window of their prison. Glass shattered around them as they plunged down the Abstergo building.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Simon ordered as he dashed towards the shattered windows and stared down. "Have they gone mad?! It's 80th storeys high from here!"

Ezio dived towards the building below. Noctis could feel the strong gush of wind rushing up at them as they fell. But Ezio could feel he's weakening greatly. He had just awoken up and used all his powers to his extent tires him greatly. He will lose conscious sooner or later and if he does, both will meet their impending doom.

"Noct…Use your crystal now."

Noctis turned to him.

"Hurry…I can't hold much longer…"

Noctis quickly took out his Crystal pendent and concentrated his energy into it. It began to glow, Ezio reached out and hold it together with Noctis; a bright light engulfed both and in a blink of an eye, they were gone.

Simon slammed his fist to the wall in rage and cursed. "Damn it! They got away! I was careless! I have to retrieve them before she finds out."

He instructed to his men. "Three of you, call all the high authorities to the meeting room now! The rest tend to the wounded or the deceased. Hurry!"

"Sir?"

"What is it?"

"We got an incoming call from Mobius."

Simon sighed. "Put them on the line. And I need them at the meeting as well."

Sebastian, Delsin and Ren reached William's house, parked the jeep in the garage and hurriedly entered the backdoor by the kitchen just to see his uncle washing the carrots he got from his farm.

"Seb? Delsin?" He was surprised to see both. "You're back really early. I thought the four of you will be out the entire day."

"Well something cropped up," Sebastian paced past him with Delsin following closely behind.

William sensed there's more to it. "Are you hiding something?" He asked.

Both stopped, looked at each other and swallowed hard. "No we're not. Why?"

William rinsed his hands and wiped them dried. "Your action tell me otherwise."

"Well…" Sebastian trying to think of an excuse. "I … want you to meet… a friend of mine as a surprise but I guess I failed right?" He gave Delsin a nudge.

"Y...Yeah," Delsin grinned.

"New friend?"

"Hi sir."

William turned to see Ren standing behind him. Ren smiled and waved in return, "Nice to meet you, I'm Ren Hojo. Friend of Sebastian."

William blinked his eyes in response, "I say…" he immediately offered a handshake. "William Castellanos, Sebastian's uncle. Nice to meet you. I must admit I didn't know he have another Japanese friend, so how do you two know each other?"

"We …" Sebastian stammered.

"Instagram," Ren replied. "We met online and had been chatting for quite a while. We were so surprised to bump into each other at the underwater museum isn't it, Sebastian?" He titled to the side and gave him a wink.

"Yes," Sebastian played along. "We knew each other on that site."

"Geez…I thought you aren't into those," William raised an eyebrow at his nephew.

"I guess I changed."

Sebastian closed his bedroom door, locked it from the inside and leaned on it. He exhaled deeply and wiped off his sweat on his forehead.

"That was close," He looked at Ren. "Thanks to your quick thinking, we manages to convince my uncle that both Francis and Ezio had urgent matters to settle and will be back tomorrow or day after. But…" He paused for a while. "I feel bad lying to him and this lie won't last for long. Sooner or later he will find out."

"We have no choice," Delsin slumped onto the floor. "We can't possibly tell him the actual happenings back at the museum. He will think we had gone bonkers."

"We still had to search for them regardless," Ren said. "When we were back there I could sense Francis's presence though weak. But there's sadness too."

"What do you mean?" Delsin looked up to him. "I don't understand."

"I'm not sure how to explain. I only met him for a short time. I don't know much about him however what I felt back then was like he's bidding farewell. I told Sebastian about it."

Delsin turned to Sebastian. "Is it true?"

Sebastian nodded his head. "He asked me if I sense it too. I did a little back then and yeah, there was this slight sorrowful sensation. But I don't want to jump to conclusion till we find them."

"I believe they're still at the museum," Ren pointed out. "If we both can detect his presence, then there's a chance that Ezio could be with him."

Sebastian fall into deep thought. (I don't think they're held by Guillermo since during the encounter, he never even mentioned anything about them nor threatened us with their lives. Maybe like Ren said, they could still be entrapped but in another place where we can't access. Unless…) Sebastian frowned. He recalls Francis telling them about a mysterious woman in Keanu's memory. He assumed that woman could be Kidman as she went missing since the Beacon Incident.

(Could it be her doing?) He shook his head. (No…she doesn't possess any special abilities. She don't have the capability to do such things.)

His mind lingers to Ruvik. (He's definitely out of the list. He never met them before. If they weren't with these three suspects then who and where they could be?)

"We'll go back to the museum at midnight. We'll check that place again," Sebastian said.

"Erm..." Delsin interrupted. "We might have an issue."

"What do you mean?"

"Look" He points out of the window.

Sebastian and Ren peeked out, to the direction where Delsin was pointing; a black van parked not far from the mansion.

"It's that black van Ezio warned us about. What do we do now?"

Sebastian lours at it, he quickly lowered the curtains, dimming his room from the afternoon sun. "I'm not sure but it means trouble."

"Is that van always here?" Ren curiously asked.

"It was here yesterday according to Ezio," Delsin replied. "But left shortly after that. Now it's here again."

"We'll keep an eye till night falls. If it's still here…" Sebastian closed his eyes. "I'll lure it away while you both search for them."

Delsin goggled at him in total disbelief. "There's no way I'm letting you putting yourself at risk," He points at him. "I'm against this. If you so insist on it then I'm coming with you."

"I knew you'll say something like that…"

"I don't know what's the situation between you all and that vehicle but it's best we three stick together," Ren said. "Is there another alternate route to the museum to evade it?"

"There is actually," Sebastian replied.

In the end, they decided to stay put till night falls…

Ezio woke up and found himself lying on a big grass field. He heard a soft breathing sound to his right, he turned to find Noctis was lying next to him, sleeping.

He slowly sat up and looked around. He could see the sun setting, covering the entire place with its reddish orange light. This place was familiar as he observed and came to a realization that he's back to Hill Lake Point where the others were. However it seems they landed in a farm somewhere…

"I'm back…" he mumbled. Just then a sheep strolled to his side and start nibbling on his hood, he chuckled and gently pushed the little animal away.

"Sorry wool ball, that's my favourite coat."

The sheep baa in disappointment and returned back to its herd not far from where they were. Ezio then shook Noctis awake. "Wakey wakey."

Noctis grumbled and turned away. "Let me sleep for another 5 minutes…"

"We can't afford to waste any more time. Get up now, sleepyhead."

Noctis sat up drowsily. Ezio pulled him up to his feet and tidied him up including his messy spikey hair.

"Let's go."

"To where they are? You know the way back?" Noctis asked.

"Yeah…I've been here before. Sorry let me rephrase again; my other half of me was here before, I went to scout around the entire place to get familiarise."

"Are they far from here?" Noctis playfully kicks a small rock.

"Not really. We just need to cross the river over there. By the time we reached there, it will be already nightfall."

Noctis frolicked on the field ahead of him. It pleases Ezio that the boy finally back to his cheerful side and so was he. They were finally free from their captivity after being held there for half a year. Ezio contemplated how Noctis spent his time during his deep slumber.

"Noct?" He called out to him.

"Yeah?"

"Did…" He hesitated for a while. "Did they hurt you during my coma?"

Noctis was still for a few seconds before answering. "Not really. Always the same treatment and procedure as usual if you know what I meant."

"You seems nervous around Simon Winters. Did he do something to you?" Ezio stood at his side.

Noctis shook his head. "No… I just don't like his eyes and attitude. He's immensely creepy when you get to know him more. He had this deranged hobby."

"Mind telling?"

"He…had this fetish for young victims especially young boys or men…pardon my language but he's a fucking sadist," Noctis swallowed hard. "Those tortures he did to them was not a pleasant sight for me to witness…I'll never forget that nightmare. Their screams still ringing in my head."

Ezio immediately placed both hands on Noctis's shoulders. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most. It must had been hard for you during the six months."

Noctis smiled and shook his head. "I never blame you. You too already suffered a hard lot. But now we're free, we can go anywhere we want right?" The boy beamed with glee.

"Yes," Ezio looked down at him. "I'll introduce you to Delsin and the others. They're just like us."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"It's already nightfall and that van still here…" Delsin sighed. "Looks like we're sticking to plan B."

Ren checked his watch, "Two more hours before 12."

Sebastian sat by the study table, resting his head against his clasped hands. He was unsure on what to do; he prayed for the safety for both his friends at the same time he didn't want to drag them down on his personal plight any further. He stared down at both his hands then to the small glass cup right beside him. He remembered the words Ren previously said to him.

"You have to accept them if you want to protect your friends and yourself."

He began to concentrate on the cup, he focused his mind onto it. It shook a bit but the more he focused hard on it, it shook even more violently. Suddenly the cup just flew out of the table and smashed against the wall. The glass shards shattered to the floor.

Both were startled by Sebastian's sudden display of power. They watched as Sebastian slowly picked up the shards piece by piece. Once he gathered all, he showed it to them.

"Watch,"He poured the shards onto the table and focused on it again. Delsin and Ren stared open-mouthed as the shards began to merge with another until the glass cup was completely restored back to its previous state.

Completely flummoxed by the whole thing, Delsin picked up the cup and inspected it thoroughly to see if this is real or some mind trick. He then passed it to Ren who did the same thing before placing it back on the table.

"Wow, not only you possessed telepathy and extrasensory perception, you can restore things back to its original state," Delsin remarked. "Wait… does that mean you can heal?"

"No, I can neither heal others nor myself except for objects," Sebastian expressed out sadly. "If I can do that, I'll already rid myself of this dreadful sickness that have been a bother to me."

"You are sick?" Ren asked.

"Since the day I developed these powers, I had been falling ill quite frequently."

"Is it bad?" Delsin asked.

"Yeah… My seizures is random. Once it occur, I'll be in bed for a week. The longest is about a month. The doctors don't even know what's the main cause nor a treatment suitable for me. Rather than finding a cure, they instead experimented on me. The reason I came here was to avoid them."

"Good move," Ren applauded. "I'll do the same thing if I were you."

"Anyway let's head to the garage," Sebastian exited his room. "I'll go check on my uncle. You two wait for me there."

"He sounds asleep," Sebastian quietly opened up the garage doors. "Let's go before he awakes up."

"But it's not even 12 yet," Delsin looked at his watch.

"I know but at least he will be safe," Sebastian started the jeep up. "Come on."

Delsin sat on the passenger seat while Ren at the back. Sebastian quietly drove the vehicle without the headlights on, out of the garage. Instead of exiting through the front gate, he steered to the back gate. However exiting through the back, he had to drive through the woods to get to the main road. It's a troublesome detour but at least they can avoided the black van's line of sight.

Sebastian could feel the chills as they approached the dark woods slowly. The shadows silhouette of the tree and branches cast by the moon light resembles those of long menacing claws waiting to grab their victims and tore them apart anytime. As he observed them, he swallowed hard as it reminded him of her.

Shaking off his troubled thoughts, he concentrated on returning back to the museum. He turned on the headlights and drove through the woods; manoeuvring carefully across. A few minutes' drive through feels like hours due to the tight narrow surroundings. Sebastian felt at ease the moment he caught sight of the main road street lights ahead.

"Just furthermore and we will be out of the damn forest," he said softly.

"That's good to hear," Delsin looked out of the car window. "Sure is spooky at night but beautiful at day."

"You can say that," Sebastian looked up to the rear view mirror to check on Ren behind, "You doing ok?"

"Yeah," Ren's both hands were gripping tightly at his camera. "Kind of restless in this sort of place."

"You don't have to be now," Sebastian reassured him. "We're out."

Sebastian carefully drive the jeep down a small grassy slope and up onto the main road. However halfway through, the engine suddenly died down causing the trio to freeze on the spot in shock. Sebastian tries to ignite the engine again however in vain. No matter how many times he tries, it just won't start.

"Shit!" He cursed. "At a time like this?"

"This is really odd," Delsin exited, opens up the hood and inspected the engine inside. Then he proceeded to check on the tyres.

"Anything wrong?"

Delsin put both hands on waist. "Nothing. No malfunction, no leakage, no puncture. The petrol tank is still full. Everything's perfectly fine, I don't see anything that causing this fault."

Delsin suddenly motioned Sebastian and Ren towards him, he whispered softly.

"Erm… I was wondering, maybe you both could use that sight of yours to see if 'They' are the ones behind it?"

They were speechless.

"I can't see those things," Delsin shrugged.

"Alright," Ren took out his camera and took a snapshot of the jeep. The photo developed and there was nothing weird shown on it. Sebastian made a round around it but sensed nothing particular too.

"Not their doing."

"If it's not those then what's causing it?" Delsin scratched his head.

"Who knows," Ren sighed. "So we walk?"

"It's quite a distance from here," Sebastian said. "It will be nearing morning when we get there. Besides…" He gazed towards the dark woods. "It's seriously a short ride before the breakdown."

"Then what option do we have now?" Delsin kneeled down. "The jeep's down, the black van still out there, the doctor could be anywhere."

"Err…guys…" Ren was pointing towards a distance on the main road. "I think something's coming."

Sebastian looked towards the direction where Ren was pointing, "That's a stroke of luck. It could be some night travellers. Maybe we can hitch a ride."

"If it turns out to be the doctor at the wheels smiling at us, I'm so going to flip the jeep," Delsin grunted.

Sebastian, out of a sudden received a Vision through his mind; it showed him the black van, 4 men in black suits and a woman, the Mobius logo lastly followed by a hooded man with a blade for a split seconds before abruptly ended. The sudden perception staggered Sebastian as he immediately realised his power is warning him of the incoming danger.

"Hide…" He said to both Ren and Delsin.

"Huh?"

He speedily grabbed them by their arms each and dragged them back to the woods.

"Sebastian?" Ren gazed up to him. Sebastian placed a finger before pursed lips to hush him and did the same gesture to Delsin. The trio watches in silence as the black van which was seen in Sebastian's vision, parked itself beside their stranded jeep. Four men in black suit stepped out and inspected the vehicle. Shortly after a woman dressed similarly, got out of the van too.

"Anything?" she spoke. Sebastian shuddered at her voice; it was familiar, he heard it before however it wasn't her. This voice was more monotonous. Could it be that woman from the…

"They could still be around. Search them," She ordered her men.

"Yes ma'am." They spread out.

"Remember, we need him alive and unharmed, I don't want any mistakes or I'll be finding myself filing unnecessary reports to him."

(Him?) Sebastian frowned.

"We have to go," Delsin tugged at Sebastian's sleeve. "We can't stay here. It's not safe."

"Y…yeah."

"Come on," Delsin led them further back into the woods. He don't like the feeling of venturing back but had to do so to evade those men. Since it's only temporary, it won't hurt much. However they didn't really get far when they heard sounds from behind.

They whirled around to see two of those men catching up to them. How in the world did they know they were here?

"Stop right where you're!" One of them yelled.

"Go!" Sebastian hurried Delsin and Ren. They ran as fast as they could, pushing away the bushes, twigs and branches out of their way as they tried to get away. The men pursued them closely since the target they were after is right at their sight.

The three of them sprinted up a slope and into an opening of the forest however they came to a sudden halt. The other two men along with the woman, were already there. They tried to make a turn back but their pursuers already caught up with them.

Delsin carefully shot a few concrete attacks as a warning. He did so to scare them away as he would rather avoid bloodshed; he didn't like to kill but will do so if they endangered his allies. The agents showed no fear, they continued to approach them dangerously, armed with weapons. Ren took out a switchblade from his vest, ready to defend himself. Sebastian was still unsure if he should use his psychic…

He senses that one of the agents will fired at them in approximately four seconds.

"Delsin! Shield!" Sebastian yelled.

Delsin crouched down and slammed his hand hard on the grass; concrete spikes emerges out creating a concrete barrier between them and their assailants. The three of them instinctively ducked for cover.

One of them DID fire; the bullets ricocheted off the barrier. Delsin got up and fired a fiery smoke to the attacker; knocking the handgun off his hand. Delsin quickly materialized into a smoke, dashed through the man, rematerialized behind and choke-slammed him to the ground, then crushes his head with a concrete without mercy.

The other agent beside was completely startled by Delsin's merciless act and froze still. Not giving him the chance to retaliate, Delsin was about to strike with his chain whip when Ren suddenly appeared and stabbed the agent on the back with his switchblade, he yelled in pain as he fell to the ground. Ren's hand was stained with blood but he was calmed. Before the agent can get himself back up to his feet, Delsin thrust a sharp pointed concrete dagger straight to his head.

Two agents dead at their feet in just a few split minutes, they both turned their attention towards the remaining two and the female. They somehow don't seem to bother by their team mates' death instead the female agent just adjusted her glasses and sighed, "Another mess. Now I had to clean it up once this is over."

She then motioned to her remaining men, one of them immediately dashed towards Sebastian and tried to grab him by the arm but Ren was quick. He shoved the agent away, took out his camera and took a shot. The camera emitted a bright flash making the agent squint temporarily. The agent then proceeded to take out a baton, swung it towards Ren however an unseen force knocked him back. He managed to balance himself and tries to hit Ren again…

He suddenly noticed his hand that was holding the baton, gone. He looked down and saw his arm lying on the grass. He looked back up and saw Ren holding a torn photo; he peered at it and came to a sudden shock that the photo was actually himself. Ren had taken a photo of him and the torn part was the place where his right arm was.

Ren proceeded to tear the photo; this time he tears off the left leg and the agent fell to the ground heavily. His leg was torn from him however the agent felt neither excruciating pain nor blood splatting out, it's as if he had become part of the photo.

Ren stood over and watched the agent squirmed in fright. He lastly torn off the head section on the photo and the agent shared the same fate, lying dead with his head gone.

"I'm sorry," Ren quietly apologised. (I didn't want to do this…)

Delsin quickly hold Sebastian by the hand and led him to safety. The three stood face to face with the woman and her last standing agent.

"What an astounding unusual power you displayed," the woman remarked to Ren. "He will be fascinated. For such a young man like you with such potential can't walk unnoticed but it's really great shame you aren't the breed we're looking for."

Ren didn't say anything in return.

"Goes the same for the Conduit. Both are considered failure and parasites to her New Age so you know what fate awaits."

"Yeah I heard it lots of times," Delsin gave her a death stare. Sebastian glanced at him, to the woman then back to Delsin. He pondered what they were talking about.

"Sebastian Castellanos," the woman calls out to him in her usual monotonous tone.

"Tatiana Gutierrez..." Sebastian replied.

"You remembered me? It pleases me."

Delsin and Ren looked at Sebastian.

"You're one odd nurse back then," Sebastian said. "But wouldn't you a mis….?"

"Anyway," Tatiana interrupted him. "We have orders to take you back. Please excuse me for a minute."

"Wait…" He tries to stop her when a strange humming sounds echoed out loudly.

"Argh!" Delsin covered both ears and collapsed in pain so was Ren. Sebastian slumps to the ground as well and was dragged away by the agent. Delsin tries to get up to stop the agent but the sound weakens him greatly.

Sebastian was held with both his hands clasped tightly behind his back as he was dragged towards Tatiana. He saw her holding a small item shaped like a music box on her hand and it was the very object that plays the strange humming sound.

"Seb…" Delsin pushed himself up though in agony, he tries to call out his powers but nothing came and he collapsed back to the ground again.

"This music box renders your power useless and leaves you in a vulnerable state. It was engineered and created for parasites like you both and hybrids," Tatiana explained. She took a handgun and points at Ren at point blank range. "Now to dispose you both before things get out of hands."

Sebastian struggles against the strong grip.

"NO!" He shouted.

Then the grip around his hands loosened. Confused, Sebastian whirled behind and saw the last agent choking on his own blood and a small blade was pulled out from his neck.

"Requiescat In Pace," a black hooded figure stepped forth.

Tatiana was distracted by the sudden attack that she felt a sharp pain on her hand resulting her dropping the music box. Before she could retrieve, a boy suddenly snatched it and distanced himself away from her.

She saw the boy glaring at her as he crushes the music box with his bare hands. The sound stops and the pain inflicted on both Delsin and Ren vanished immediately.

Knowing that she's now in a plight; with her men gone, she can't even fend for herself since she's outnumbered, she quickly uses a flash bomb. Everyone got blinded and by the time they recovered she was gone.

"She's got away!" The boy yelled.

"It's alright. Let her go," The man said. "We will meet her again when time comes."

"Who are you?" Sebastian asked.

"Geez… I was missing for a few hours and you already forgot about me. You break my heart Sebastian," the man pulled his hood back, revealing himself. "It's me, Ezio."

End of chapter 12