“What’s the plan?”

  “You already know the plan. Except we’re not running anymore. This place wants us dead, so we’re gonna fight like animals till they finally decide to leave us alone.” I closed my eyes for a second and let out a deep breath. A shiver of warmth glossed across my body. A dark, greenish light began coruscating around my body, briefly blinding everyone nearby. “You’re probably not gonna be able to use it just like that right off the bat. My advice to you would just be to think about something that gives you an intense feel of emotion. A thought that can stir up and erupt within you in an instant. Be it happy or angry.”

  “You make it sound easy… but I'll try!” He closed his eyes, and clenched his fists as he started to murmur to himself.

  I stared down the line of guards in front of me. There’s eight of them lined up side by side in close range, and more in the back stretching far down the hallway. The distance they covered was intimidating, numbers far greater than what I’ve witnessed so far. The same could probably be said for Zion’s side of the hall as well. We wouldn’t have been able to run even if we wanted to. Unfortunately for them, I didn’t have the slightest intention of fleeing. I’ve been learning.

  I leapt up on the locker, getting a high ground advantage. I got a running start before leaping once more, off of the lockers and diving head first into the crowd of guards. One swung its leg in the air, trying to kick me before I landed. I managed to catch it while midair. After landing, still clutching the leg of the monster, I began to swing it around, using its body as a weapon to knock the other guards around me into the lockers.

  “HOLY- how are you doing that?!” Zion said in amazement, he was watching my every move.

  “FOCUS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE HALL!” I screamed at him before launching the guard that I was using as a weapon down the hall towards another large plethora of guards. It was like throwing a bowling bowl down a lane towards the pins. None of them could escape the strike.

  Before Zion could turn around, a guard ran up towards him kicking him full force in the ribs, sending him crashing into the left side of the lockers.

  “ZION!”

  I tried to make my way towards him but two guards dashed in front of me blocking me from getting to him. Shit! They’re getting coordinated!

  One lunged its leg forward to kick me, I ducked, slid under it, and extended my leg out, kicking the guard behind it into the lockers. I sprung up off the ground, into the air, and threw a punch towards the first guard, sending it flying into the one that hit Zion.

  “There's still more coming!!!” I dashed over to Zion. I must’ve moved really fast, he was frightened at first at me suddenly appearing right in front of him. It must’ve looked like an instance for him. “I need you to fight. Please.” The look I gave him was not me asking, but telling him. “We can’t lose this momentum!”

  “O-okay!” I helped him back on his feet.

  “Focus. Remember that I'm here.” I turned back to face my side of the hall but doing so caused a sharp pain to ring across my entire body. Blood shot out of my mouth as I trembled down to my knees. “ACK-”

  “W-what happened?!”

  What happened? I didn’t see anything come near me…. Was it something else?!

  I tried to focus my energy to heal myself, in trying to do so I was met with another shot of pain that raced across my body like a shockwave. More blood followed its wake, spouting from my nose and leaking from my eyes. Another wave of pain paved its way through the body. A feeling so agonizing, the pressure from the energy around me feels like it’s imploding on me.

  “AUGH-... shit…” I fell face first to the ground. My body stopped glowing. I can just barely move my arms and legs. Did I overdo it with my powers? I didn’t… account for that…

  “I got you!”

  He tried picking me up but met with sudden swiftness of another kick to the other side of his ribs, throwing him across the hall next to another massive plethora of guards. Is it me… or is the hall getting bigger? This amount of guards doesn’t make any sense any more… It shouldn’t be able to fit this many! Just before it was your average school hallway, about 12-14 feet wide. With us in the middle, it was only able to fit 6-8 guards at a time from each side, with the rest in the back waiting to get through. The hall was only able to have a set number of guards in front at a time due to the sheer differences in sizes of each of them. The room looks double the size, the lockers appear further, as if they’re creeping away.

  “Gah-” I tried to speak but more blood poured from my lips. Reaching my hand out for support, but my arm faltered midway and my head came sinking back onto the ground. I need to get him before more start to close in!

  “Eughh…” Zion struggled to make it back to his feet. Just as he was almost up, a guard kicked hard on his back, slamming him back into the ground. As his head pushed up against the floor, a streak of blood squirted from its volley. “...n…o…”

  I could hear more guards starting to approach me. Like rubbing nails on a chalkboard, the terrible scraping sound of their legs filled my earlobes. That sound feels like a requiem. If I stopped hearing it, I know that means I'm finally dead.

  I turned over on my back, trying to lift myself. To no avail, my body wouldn’t budge. If this happened in the auditorium, I could've never hoped of carrying us out, let alone crawling away.

  Why can’t I keep my promise to him? It’s the same scenario all over again…

  They circled me, all peering down at my frail being. It was a horrifying sight. I’ve never been up this close to them for this long. I’m staring death itself in the eyes. They smell horrible, their deformed legs up close makes my stomach crawl. Their faces were dark but up close and personal, their eyes were clear as day. They reassembled mine, human eyes. They’re eyes looked so out of place, it felt unnatural when my eyes met theirs. There’s not a single thought behind them, just like puppets.

  I could hear Zion shouting in the distance. There’s no telling how much the room has moved, he is probably getting overcrowded by more and more of them. He needs to get away…. If I can just use my power… I can get us out of here… But I can’t. It won’t work… I-I can’t use it. Please run, please run. Leave me. You can escape, I know you can!

  I can hear more coming from the walls. There’s no end to them. Just… give me a quick one. I don’t wanna feel any more pain. It hurts too much, I'm tired of having to suffer before it…

  “Just… go.”

  “NO!”

  In the blink of an eye, a shower purple liquid painted across me, the guards no longer in sight. Turning my head I then knew where they went off to. They’re remains have become one with the floor. Just like on stage when he crushed her…

  The world around me began to ascend upwards. The weight of my body no longer felt like a burden. I’m floating…? I tilt my head back to see every guard in the hall without footing. We’re floating! Zion’s doing it! Some of the lockers are flying as well. His range is insane!

  The world around me looked disarrayed as I viewed the bizarre sight from upside down. Without warning, we began moving down the hall at an alarming speed. It’s like flying!

  My view of the situation was quickly out of my mind as I stared at the much bigger scenario before me. Guards were flying all around me, getting flung up, down, and sideways. Slammed into the floor, lifted up crashing into the ceiling, sent flying into the lockers. There was no time for them to get they’re bearings or react. As soon as they crashed into one thing, they were back on their way to the next part of the hallway, speed not letting up once. The force of these blows are surely gonna turn most of them into mush meat.

  This is a chaotic sight.

  I appear to be unaffected by the motion of the guards. I just continue floating down the hall, though still keeping the same disastrous speed of the guards. I managed to finally muster up enough strength to gather my bearings while being in constant motion midair.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  What the hell was I thinking?! I can’t just lie down and accept death! I didn’t just make a promise to Zion and the others, but also a promise to myself. I’ll keep moving forward. No matter how hard of a hit I take, or how big of a spill I leak. I’ll keep moving.

  I have to find him!

  I began to shout to try and gain his attention. “ZION! Where are you?! Zion?!” It was no use. I would have to try and find a way forward, but if I do, I'd risk one of the guards colliding into me.

  I let out a sigh knowing what I need to do. If I can get it to work, I’ll have enough strength to move more freely through the gravity. I couldn’t earlier but maybe I can push it…? Worst case scenario I overload again. If I do, I might have a harder time remaining conscious.

  Before I could focus, something unnatural was starting to come about. What we’re approaching can’t be called a hall anymore. Smoke filled my lungs causing my throat to itch as I coughed. The atmosphere changed to a dark, red blare. An ocean of lava flowed in all directions, completely covering the floor on the path of the hall we’ve entered. An influx of guards began diving into the molten hot lava against their wills, courtesy of Zion.

  “I can feel the heat from here, I'm sweating bullets already.” It’s intense, it’s like we’re inside a volcano, I’m scared to move. If I get hit by a stray guard in the process, I could potentially be dumped into the sea of magma with them! Some of them come too close at times, just within a few inches from me.

  No, I have to keep up. I have to keep adapting to the obstacles this place is throwing at me. This is my chance! Focus! This situation is different from everything I’ve faced thus far. One thing I can say confidently is that I'm at an advantage here. If I can get my ability to activate I’ll be able to move around more freely without worry of the physical toll my body has taken beforehand, but that strain has transferred into the ability. If I try to activate it now it’ll be unsuccessful, I'll' have to wait for the right moment. In the meantime I can strategize a way forward. Look ahead, look for openings in the holes between the guards. The mass onslaught of them makes me up for a game of ‘Where’s Waldo?’

  Whether it was confidence or pure arrogance, the smirk on my face was as genuine as they came. “I got this.” A splash of lava raced upwards towards my direction with quick haste. “Focus…” Scanning my surroundings, I left not a single part of the room unaccounted for, every guard is within my vision, none can escape my peripherals. Wait for the perfect opportunity from the most best positioned guard.

  “...NOW!” I reached my hand out and gripped onto the head of guard flying past from behind me. “WAHHHH-” this speed… I can’t hold onto this one for long! I have to find another one that’s being thrown towards the ceiling. I began to quickly feel the drastic raise in temperature as we descended, sweat flooded my hands as a burning sensation began to rise on the bareskin of my shirtless body. The intensity of gas the lava emitted was a lot to digest. I covered my mouth and nose with my other arm, while still holding onto the guards' head with all my strength. “I'm not here for a dip in the pool.” I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t believe I could pull it off.

  The skin of a guard is hard like steel, I doubt it'll melt easily or melt at all. If it did, I'd see a significant decrease in guards already. The numbers haven’t dwindled a bit, only due to the continuous growth of the room is that it’s able to handle this many of them. But that’s only half of my point. What goes up must come down, yes? With Zion here it now goes both ways. What goes down… must also come up!

  As me and the guard were meters away from our bath of fire another guard erupted from its depths. Not wasting a single second, I planted both of my hands on the head of the guard and pushed off into the direction of the next guard. I managed to grab it’s arm but a splash of lava followed him as he sprung by, burning me as I latched onto it.

  “EUGH- TOO HOT! TOO HOT!” After gaining enough distance from the disaster down below, I let go of the guard. Before I could gain my bearings and come up with another solution, another guard from below came flying upwards. It collided with my backside, having me go with it to its course. “ACK-” I coughed up a spurt of blood before gritting my teeth and getting back into it.

  Use it as an opportunity! Adapt more! Don’t lose sight of the goal!

  Looking forward, another area began to emerge into my line of sight, this time it’s on the more greener side of the spectrum. A forest or flourishing trees and beautiful lilies filled the green grass they laid upon. The more we approached, the more appealing and glamorous the forest became. The shine the leaves on the trees emitted, the captivating rainbow sparkle of the flowers made it feel like a fairytale.

  While busy admiring the scenery, I was too oblivious to what was going on directly in front of me. A tree came into view that we were coming at head on, without time for a plan I braced myself for the impact awaiting me.

  Taking the bark of a tree to the face at this speed was a nightmare, combined with the force and weight of the guard behind me, I was left dazed and unable to see straight. I fell from the tree, onto my back on a soft patch of green grass. The guard landed next to me on my foot. I managed to free it by jerking it hard in one fast motion. Sounds of flowing water filled my ears, I turned onto my stomach and began to peer upon an odd occurrence.

  A wolf twice my size. Its fur is a thick hide of silver with a white streak that spiraled across its body. It just sat there, resting on a rock in the middle of a lake. The waterfall that rushed behind it complemented its artistic and divine appearance. The sound of the water running along its course felt like bliss for a moment as I locked eyes with the mysterious beastly wolf. Its calm and collected gaze resonated with me on a personal level. I felt like one with the wolf while our eyes interlocked together. The posture of its body radiated a presence of superiority and dominance. The wolf tilted its head to me before looking away, no longer paying me any heed. A warmth that I could only feel while I used my ability, I feel it while I'm around this wolf. This person is not a wolf…

  “y-You're…” My body began to float and just as before, dragged down the hall by this strange concept of gravity. It’s like being pulled along by a leash, I can fight it all I want, but as long as the collar is wrapped around my neck I'll be forced to skip to its whim. I have to try it now! Before it’s too late!

  Close your eyes, ignore everything around you. Think of something that stimulates the mind in a unique way. That wolf… I've seen it before… but where? The enchanting forest, the vibrant sound of spring… I’ve been there before. I started to feel tingles within the center of my stomach. My eyes darkened as visages of static raced through my mind. Am I remembering something…? I can’t see anything through all of this…

  My head began to ring amongst the sudden attempt of repressed memories trying to resurface. My lungs began to feel suffocated from the pressure, my breath ran out, and I began to gag and choke. Opening my eyes I was greeted by the company of water. I can’t… breathe…. Water… everywhere… can’t… swim… up…!

  I failed my arms and legs trying my hardest to swim in any direction. My mouth opened, no longer able to contain it shut. Water filled my body, beginning to drown my lungs. “Arggg… arghhhhhhh!!!!” I need air! I need air! I… need…

  The light in my eyes slowly started to diminish by the second. I’m gonna… pass out…

  As my eyelids began to shut I was finally given the thing I needed to survive. Air. The scenery of the hall changed, no longer filled to the brim with water. I threw up what water I had swallowed and my lungs took in air once more. “UAHHHHHHHHHHH… That was close-” A guard crashed into me from the side causing us to hit a nearby debris. Looking at it, it was the shape of a giant glacier. A print of face painted the ice wall red as my body slid away continuing upon the path. Looking around, I can see we're in a type of blizzard now. Either it’s adrenaline or I'm in so much pain that I don’t feel the coldness of the weather. I need power…

  Another wall of ice blocked my path forward. There’s nothing I can do, I can’t move a single muscle. …C'mon! Fight dammit!

  A rapturous howl filled the enormous hall, its unearthly sound sent a wave of black and white vibrations throughout the atmosphere. Those shockwaves had to be of Godlike nature for they reshaped the entire hall in an instance, as if changing reality itself. No longer a blizzard blocking out vision from the eyes, no longer ocean, a forest or a sea of flames. The expansive returned back to its former school like nature. The numbers of the guards also lessened. Looking back I could see the wolf from before in the distance. It tilted its head once more at me before turning and walking away out of sight. Did it do that…?

  Turning my head and glancing forward I was alerted to the incoming exit in the distance, there was a wall with a large double sided door around it. “A door! Wait… we’re still not stopping… Does he know about the wall?!” We were approaching rapidly, in just a few minutes we’ll reach it and I still see no sign of Zion. “This is a big problem!”

  At this speed, We’re gonna paint the walls red, the guards included. …Screw it! I have to push myself! Adapt! I’m just gonna have to take the shot, and hope it lands. Powers… don’t fail me now!

  I inhaled a large gust of wind, held it in, and closed my eyes. You have to stop Zion. You have to save your friend! I couldn’t feel anything at first, but a fuzzy sensation began to make itself known deep inside, uncomfortable but secure enough to make me feel at ease. “...It’s here.” My body was glowing differently from its usual bright green glow. It now shone a dark greenish hue. Is this because of the state that I'm in right now? …I have to hurry this along quickly.

  My body came falling to the ground, I did a barrel roll before hitting the ground all the way, softened the impact of the land, I began to dash straight ahead.

  “If he crashes into the wall, it’ll just be a ‘me’ all over again, except worse. I’m hating these parallels right now.”

  A guard came flying towards, I hopped over him and began to pick up speed. There’s three coming towards me, one coming from the left, one from behind, and another from above. Now that I’m moving on my own, I have to be extra cautious of my surroundings this time. It’s all or nothing!

  I jumped up, twisting my body, I flipped over the first one from the left, he flew into the lockers. I then side stepped, dodging the second one from behind, I used my hand to push off its body to dodge the third one from above. I landed against the wall, using it as a foothold to charge up my lift off from, propelling myself through the hall like a slingshot, just narrowly missing the guards being flung around.

  Zion, where are you?! Just a little further… just a little, more further! Amidst a barrage of guards I spotted Zion by the dark, purple tint that covenanted his body. He was floating in a state that made him look like he might be unconscious. A dark and gruesome red aura that flashed inside the purple. He felt like an entirely different person. What is that energy?!

  I landed on the right side of the wall, using the momentum I built up to run across it. “Zion! You gotta wake up! You’re gonna kill yourself along with the guards if you don’t stop!” He isn’t letting up, I got to Grab him! “Stay there! I’m on the way!”

  I gathered what little strength I had left in my legs and leapt into the air, adjusting and maneuvering my body to dodge the onslaught of guards. I was too late to see one coming towards me and was slammed into a few of the lockers. The guard was once again flung away, leaving me planted against the wall.

  “Fuck… my pace gone. …Let’s start again!” I stood up and got myself into a position ready to jump again. Getting a running start, I launched myself into the air. “Almost… there…!” Another guard came flying towards me in my blind spot, catching me off guard. Just before it could hit me, I extended my arm, planted my hands against it and flipped off of it, using the momentum to propel me the rest of the way towards Zion.

  Time felt as if it had slowed down, an opening formed allowing me a clear shot to him. Just inches away it felt like the moment of me laying eyes on him felt like a lifetime. That immersion was short-lived as I saw the wall just a few feet away from us, ready for us to decorate its white look with our bodies.

  “s-SHIT!” Finally reaching him, I wrapped my arms around him tightly. I flipped my body, sticking the landing against the wall, the force caused my feet and legs to crack as I landed. I caught us as we were about to fall by grabbing a hold of a hilt of a white flag on top of the door frame.

  Unable to hold my grip any longer, we fell down to the ground, I shielded Zion with my body as we hit the ground. I let go of him once we landed. The rest of the guards flew past us, crashing straight into the wall. I couldn’t see them while they did, too damaged to lift my head, but the noise was gritty. Their blood was surprisingly purple. That and chunks of their body flew from the walls as they collided. Like flies flying into a windshield on a hot summer day. The lava must’ve worn down their bodies. It felt like it went on for longer than it should have.

  Their blood and guts showered us in all its glory. It felt slimy and gross against my bare skin. The purple gooeyness makes me feel like I've unlocked a new phobia. It's a traumatizing thing to behold.

  I can’t feel my legs, I think they may have broken when I landed against the wall. “C'mon… got to... get up… Zion…” I tried to heal myself but was met with a burst of blood coming from my mouth again, and the glow of my body faded away quickly after. “As expected, but… We did it… we really did it…!” I let out a brief smile that was followed by another hurl of blood from my mouth.

  I got to… move…

  Immediately the door came bursting open with a strong force. A disoriented boy with dark bags under his eyes opened it, clutching in his hands what looks to be a metal pipe.

  “WHO IS IT?! HAVE YOU COME TO STEAL MY EYES?!”