Chapter Thirteen

Earth, three years have advanced since Zach's short period on the island.

We were taking cover behind a very large rock as gunshots were flying over our heads and zooming past us just inches away from our arms. "CONTACT THREE O'CLOCK! FIFTY METERS! ITS A SMALL GROUP ARMED WITH AUTOMATICS! SNIPERS ON SMALL HILLS TOWARDS NINE!" My squad leader called out.

"TEAM ALPHA LAY DOWN SUPPRESSIVE FIRE! BRAVO I NEED YOU TO FLANK! JOHNSON FOLLOW THEM!" He commanded. Myself, along with team bravo rushed out as alpha tossed smokes and shoot rounds.

"JOHNSON! YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!" My team leader yelled as they rushed to reach the flanks.

"AFFIRMATIVE!" I replied running past all of team bravo with my weapon tightly gripped. My goal was to decimate the snipers shooting at my platoon. They had already claimed two our own by a surprise attack. It's time we avenged their deaths.

Another smoke was deployed to conceal our movements. The powerful winds helped the smoke become more effective to our advantage more importantly mines as I needed to deal with these two snipers as quickly as possible. There was a reason why my platoon chose me for this specific job. I was known for being able to close distances with my incredible speed. Even with this extra fifty pounds worth of gear on my body I would not slow down.

Reaching to the top of the hill, I saw the two snipers laying not too far from one another along with their reinforcements or replacements in case they were to be shot. It was me against four men armed. However, there was another reason why they chose me for this mission.

One of the men saw me rushing at them with full speed. Quickly he drew his gun aiming it towards me, "CRAZY AMERI-" He words were cut short by my weapon slamming into his leg shattering it completely. "ERGHHHHHH!"

They called me Iron Sledge.

The three other men quickly rose to their feet with pistols drawn only for me to disarm them effectively.

Most would and have considered me a suicidal soldier for bringing a knife or in this case, a sledgehammer to a gun fight. But when you are an individual who detest guns such as myself but also wants to serve the country you stand for against foreign threats you improvise. Guns needed to be maintained to make sure they never jam, run out of ammo, and make far too much noise. That isn't the case with melee weapons as the only ammo you need is your stamina which is what I have a lot of.

With one good swing I hit one of the snipers in his rib cage causing him to scream in excruciating pain. Some say after swinging for such a long period of time you'd get tired and eventually die. That's a lie because the human body is capable of so many things when under extreme stress.

Another good swing connected with the man's hand breaking the small weapon along with his own hand. A sledgehammer was a heavy and formidable weapon to use in combat. Just about anywhere it's head comes into contact with will incapacitate or kill an opponent by pulverization.

Ducking under the final man's attempt of an attack. I struck him in the abdomen when he bent over I effectively placed my hand over the head of the sledgehammer driving upwards hitting him underneath his jaw. This blow would knock him back having him fall and roll downhill towards my platoon. The other three continued to rive in pain from my destructive blows holding parts of their bodies I hit. I kicked away their weapons they dropped earlier while watching as my platoon cleaned up the rest of the attackers.

Another win for the Americans I say.

That same day, we were heading back home for the holidays. It sucked that a last minute attack happened right before we left causing two of our own to pass away. It sucks even more when you need to explain to their families why they aren't coming home either they needed to be informed.

In the quiet plane I looked out the window into the night skies watching as the stars glistened throughout the night. "Johnson, I never got the chance to tell you this but great job as always out there." My friend, Coden said to me.

"Thanks Coden." I replied.

"Johnson, your going to be known as Iron Sledge for the rest of your life. Going into now your fifth battle with such a disadvantage and living to tell the tale time and time again. My family and wife refuse to believe a kind of man like you exist. My kids on the hand think your awesome and want to meet you at the house."

I smiled, continuing to stare out. "I'll find time and stop by Coden." I say. Funny thing was, a lot of my fellow soldiers have told me the same thing. Families wanting to know about the legend of Iron Sledge. Even going as far as trying to post me on media. I wasn't interested in fame and told the army I rather stay unknown.

There were far more important matters to tend too and those very same matters are what drives me to fight every single day. Cause I needed to know where he's been at for the past three years.

After the confrontation with those demons that were once his parents and disowning of their own flesh and blood he was crying in my arms and I couldn't help but feel and know this was all my fault. Had I not kept pressuring him to tell his parents about his sexuality he'd most likely still be here. I remembered that night like it yesterday as well. When he finished crying his eyes out I let him have my bed while I slept on the floor close by in case he needed anything. Then, something told me to wake up particularly at 2:00 AM in the morning only to see he was gone without a trace of ever leaving....

The wood floor in my room creaks whenever someone walked on it. Also, I was a light sleeper myself I would have woken up to him moving. Yet, he wasn't there at all. All his clothes he brought remained in the same corner also untouched. I stayed up all night roaming the streets looking for him while informing local authorities. A city search pursued that very night only for him not to be found. The next day, we searched again with only failing results. Authorities even checked any dangerous areas to see if he may have committed suicide. Nothing was found.

When the same constant answers of, 'not found yet' came up. I decided on conducting my own investigations that no one knew about. If I told anyone about this, they'd think I was insane. Don't have to worry about judgement if the only person to judge you is yourself though. From what I concluded in these three years is this.

It may sound crazy... but it's the only plausible source I came up with after searching every region of the world.

Zach Birds, my best friend was taken away by an unknown force.... something that wasn't human.

Myself, Kirk, and the rest of our little group speed walked down the hallway quietly as we could to avoid waking anyone up. There was no time for unwanted attention right now. The six of us needed to save Frederick before it was too late. On the bright side, we not only got the confirmation of the device existence. I memorized the code needed to activate it. All we need to do is figure out how to choose a destination to get us out of here.

Opening the door leading to the outside we begun running towards Frederick's hangout spot, the springs. "Kirk, you and Jacan don't have to wait for us, go! Get there as fast as possible." I told them.

The two of them nodded their heads before taking off at full speed together. Kirk, the faster of the two went even faster leaving us and Jacan in his dust. It wouldn't be long until Kirk had gotten smaller into the distance.

"He's fast..." Percy commented, "any confirmations that he'll still be at the springs?"

"Of course he will, he sleeps out here every night." Kyzarian said.

"Great, I'm pretty sure Kirk can convince him to come along with us despite the language barrier. Hyptant is going to be pissed if he can't have what he wants so the escape is now on double time."

"Correct, like I told you all before, I memorized the codes. The only thing left is choosing our destination, killing him, and blowing this place out of existence." I told Percy. "Anything new with the void?"

"No, not yet. Going with your theory of how it works I made my deepest desire to be given a power to help everyone escape safely. But, I don't think the void is capable of giving away magical powers. The people we have seen have all had physical enhancements."

"Correction, we've seen two. I would count three but Kirk hasn't shown much. Yes, he's got both impressive strength, speed, and endurance. That's just isn't enough to justify him being a physical enhancement like both Jacan and Sam who've I have been around long enough. There's plenty of magical powers that can give you very good physical attributes as well."

The remaining five of us did make it to the springs. Kirk had been here long before us and it still surprised me that he didn't come out at all. Was it already too late? God, I hope wasn't because Frederick didn't deserve such a crude fate.

At the entrance of the springs I observed for anything out of the ordinary. Footprints, fresh footprints to be exact. Kirk's were here obviously going by footprints and small blood droppings. There was something way off right now and I don't if it was the fact he hadn't come back or there was more then one set of footprints leading into the entrance.

Frederick is so innocent and I already knew he would willingly just go if called.

A rustle of dead branches that had broke off the trees brought me to my attention. Coming out of springs was Kirk with a pair of boots in his hand. "No...." Percy said.

Setting the boots down by his own Kirk continued looking at them as he rose up to his original posture. "These were by tree he sleeps by. He's gone."

"There's probably still time...." Dakota reassured.

"No Dakota, there's not. I'm sorry truly I am."

Deep inside I knew that this was my own fault that he died. I put my own selfish gain for information instead of a human life and I couldn't help but feel or actually know that was absolutely wrong for that.

Of course it's wrong. You put your own gain over a human being. As we speak, Frederick being devoured. Arms being torn off, legs being snapped into two, organs being ripped out of his stomach just to be gnawed on. Doesn't that ring a bell Zach?

Blinking, I saw that Gavin was standing right beside Kirk.

You recalled what happened to me right Zach? That's what is happening to Frederick right now. I'll be surprise if anything is left.

"No..." I sobbed, "no it's not! He can't be!"

But he is dear Zachie! Deep down inside you know he is. Why was Frederick denied freedom? Did he not meet your standards of being able to taste freedom as well. Oh wait, what freedom? Sooner or later you all will be on some other planet full of others beings like the warden and be kept in cages waiting on to be devoured. Here's the best part though! I get front row seats of watching you and your beloved here beside me get torn apart turned into literal shit.

No, your wrong! It was not because I didn't want him to taste freedom. I'm aware he's dead because of me. But I wouldn't wish this type of life on my worst enemy! We're all going to make it together!

Oh come on, Zach do you really think some kid like you stand a chance against the warden? Just accept your death and be free of this place! IT'LL BE EASIER ON ALL OF YOU!

"SHUT UP! All my friends are getting out here together! All of us!"

Friends huh? Friends are someone you'll never leave behind. Frederick wasn't a friend obviously. How long will it be till everyone else dies?

"ZACH! SNAP OUT OF IT!" I blinked my eyes twice seeing that everyone were staring at me. "You there? Percy to Zach."

I nodded my head looking at the place Gavin was. He was no longer standing by Kirk, who stared at me confused. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks." I felt tears streaming down my cheeks indicating I was crying during the ordeal with Gavin. It was my mind playing tricks that was pure guilt. "I think the best we can do is just bury the boots as a sign of respect for him."

Kirk nodded, picking up the boots and begun walking towards me. "Who in the hell is that?" I heard Jacan ask. I turned to his tall figure seeing that he was looking up towards the very tall tree. I followed where he was looking to see two figures standing on a branch looking straight at us. It was far too dark to make out their faces but I saw one was noticeably taller than the other and whatever he was wearing, it wasn't a jumpsuit. The shorter of the two gave me this vibe of pure hatred towards me and the fact I felt it from all the way down here gave me goosebumps.

"Oh no...." I heard Kirk say.

The shorter figure leaped off the branch higher into the air. Balling his fist and taking in a huge breath the figure's body came into the dim light revealing a face of smirking boy with light brown hair. "Welcome to my island.... ZAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCHHHHHHH!" A deafening scream unleashed from his mouth I felt myself being pushed out by a hand. In that split second I turned back to see who had pushed me. Everything had gone in slow motion at the point and the person who moved me away was Kirk while Jacan pushed the others out of the way as well. The sheer force from this person's scream caused not only both of them to collapse onto the ground it pushed further into the ground forming a huge crater that stopped at my feet.

"KIRK! JACAN!" I called to them getting up from ground and looking into the hole.

Both of them thrived around in pain clasping their ears with their hands in the hole. "DAMN IT!" Jacan bellowed outloud.

A slight tremble was felt directly behind me. A hand grabbed my shoulder and then forcefully threw me away from the crater my back came into contact with bark of a tree making me yelp in horrendous pain. "How long I waited for this moment Zach..." I looked up at my aggressor who was slowly approaching me still having a devious smirk on his face. "Allow me to introduce myself you beautiful young boy. I am Queen Charley the second original prisoner to set foot on this very island. Now...." He took in a huge breath and that meant only one thing. He was going to scream again!

"DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" Despite my body being in pain from roughly being thrown into a tree. I found just enough ounce of muscle to dodge his powerful scream. Turning around I saw just how catastrophic his scream was. That very large tree I was against was not only uprooted from the ground it was sent into several other trees also uprooting them in the process. That scream had cleared a small area of trees making mini landscape.

"STOP MOVING!" Charley ordered as I ran away.

So this was Queen Charley? The boy that everyone was afraid to anger and with that kind of power I can finally see why. Cause if he had not gotten his way, he'll just scream and demolish everything in his wake. Even people like Jacan and Kirk cannot withstand this scream and that in itself is absolutely terrifying. All I could do is run away from him I won't even attempt to fight him at all at the cost of my own body being destroyed I couldn't fight him.

Suddenly, someone quite literally dropped in front of me forcing me to stop in my tracks. "Where do you think your going Zach?!" This person rose their head to look at me and instantly I knew who this was just from those emerald eyes. It was Sam, that bastard. "Think I was going to let you get away that easily? Your still my boyfriend!"

"HOW CAN I BE YOUR BOYFRIEND IF HES TRYING TO KILL ME!"

"I won't let Charley kill you... but as for your friends? I won't stop him from demolishing them." He smiled, "actions have consequences Zach if you didn't wanna deal with me you shouldn't have been so willing."

"Leave him alone!" I heard voice from behind yell. I know that voice, it was Dakota. "We just took a hard loss of one of our own and here you two are worrying about someone else! WE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS HERE! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?!"

No, Dakota stop talking...

"THE WARDEN TOOK FREDERICK AWAY AND ATE HIM! THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO GAVIN! AND IN A FEW WEEKS WERE ALL GOING TO BE DINNER!" Sam's cocky smirk disappeared completely shifting his gauze straight at Dakota. "YOU ALL WORRY ABOUT SOME GUY WHOS TRYING TO GET US OUT OF HERE TOGETHER BEFORE WE GET EATEN. WHY WON'T YOU HELP US!"

DAKOTA! SHUT UP! PLEASE HE'S GOING TO KILL YOU!

Sam had shoved me out of the way sprinting towards Dakota at a frightening speed. Once again, like earlier everything had gone into slow motion. Sam was inches away from Dakota's face his palm opened towards him. Charley who was only a few feet away from me stared at me with malicious intent. But I couldn't care less about him, Sam was about kill Dakota and there was nothing I could do about it!

Then out of the crater came a leaping Kirk. Who stopped Sam from reaching Dakota just in the nick of the time. Jacan also came out of the crater brushing off the dirt from his massive body balling his fist staring right at Charley. "I'm about sick of you Charley. Always putting yourself over others. Zach was never interested in your position and yet here you are trying to kill him."

"And I can see why he wasn't interested. He was too busy trying to figure out a way to get out of this place. Not only that, I see you have all been putting your noses where they don't belong." Jacan gritted his teeth dashing towards Charley and taking a huge swing at him who jumped away.

I saw Kyzarian, Percy, and Dakota run over to me. "We need to get out of here!" Percy instructed, "If we stay here we'll be apart of this destruction!" Over to our left I saw both Kirk and Sam fighting it out crashing into nearby trees and nearby stones smashing them to bits with their small bodies. To our right Jacan was battling with Charley who was using his screams to propel himself away from him while also getting hits in.

From the corner of my eye I see Kyzarian grabbing a handful of his long dreadlocks and putting them into a ponytail with a band in his hand. "Your right, you three need to go." He said as he unzipped the top half of his jumpsuit revealing his black tank top.

Percy gave his boyfriend a look of confusion as to why he was saying that we needed to go while he stayed back. From behind a us a someone landing caused our bodies to tremble a bit from the force. Turning around in a unison, we saw someone quite tall dressed in shining knight armor with only a sword in hand. "What a nice night it is isn't it you four? So, tell me why do you know about Frederick and Gavin now hmmm? No need to be alarmed I am a fair king and I like to give my citizens a chance to explain themselves before trail of execution."

King? Citizens? Trail of execution? Don't tell me that this was King Alexander?! Gripping his sword even tighter then before he waited for our response. "I don't believe I said being silent was an appropriate response! Explain yourselves this very moment!" Again, we just stood there staring at him. "Very well, then I will just take care of the one of mouthed off, Dakota Moore..." Alexander raised his sword above his head and brought it down at full speed. I was about to take the hit for Dakota but Kyzarian had already shoved him out the way catching the sword with both his hands. "Impressive..."

Shoving the blade away Kyzarian told us to get out there now. We obediently obeyed his wishes running the opposite direction away from this battlefield. "I don't who you are nor have I seen you before but I have reason to believe you are a huge part of this operation! The warden will enjoy disposing of you!" Taking a quick glimpse back I saw that now Alexander had a spear and a shield! Where did he even get that from when he only had just a sword! Not only that, I saw Kyzarian forming some type of green mystical energy sparking in his hand throwing it at Alexander who blocked it with his shield.

This is crazy, this is far too crazy for me too handle! We're running around from arguably a battle with the strongest human beings on this island! Jacan had insane durability with groundshaking strength to match, Sam had the empowerment of humanity at his fingertips to boost his body beyond comprehension, I had no idea what Kirk had yet but whatever it was he could hang with these five, Charley has a scream that uproots and sends several trees flying, Alexander who is a knight who can summon weapons and who knows what else he could do, and then Kyzarian... the first being shown that can actually use magic.

We need to get the hell out of here now!

Sam flew past us skidding across the ground like you would a do a rock at a lake or a pond. Kirk blasted past us the wind produced by him as he passed us nearly made us fall forward. Sam had quickly got up only to be knocked down again by Kirk who then picked up him by the throat to only slam him again on his stomach. Flipping him over on his back Sam used his feet to shove Kirk back getting up and with a bellowing shout he charged Kirk performing a spinning roundhouse kick. He dodged the kick and with his own kick he struck Sam just below the left side of his ribcage sending him flying again into a tree that soon fell over.

Jacan and Charley were clearing more trees as we ran. At one point I even seen Jacan grab a tree and use it as a 15 meter baseball bat. Hitting Charley he was sent flying into the stone cliff. They were winning thus far! All of this chaos and it was too ensure our safety... it showed how much they truly cared about us.

From behind Alexander and Kyzarian still evenly matched one another. But, this was the third time Alexander had switched weapons again. First, a sword, then a spear and a shield, and now it was a two handed sword. Raising the sword the blade actually caught fire then he swung it horizontally towards Kyzarian, "GREAT SLASH!" A blue line of fiery fire unleashed towards Kyzarian who was in the air with that mystical sparkling green energy in his hand pointed it straight towards his slash.

"Gwo eliminasyon!"

BOOM!

The collison of both attacks caused a huge explosion! Even after being a reasonable distance away we still felt the powerful shockwave that sent all three of us flying forward. Grabbing the ears from the intense sound that rung my ears. My body was shaking from what was happening around me.

Looking around I saw that everything was now on fire. Gathering myself on my feet I helped both Percy and Dakota off the ground we needed to keep on moving. Dakota had scraped his forehead as did Percy scrap his forearm. My ears rung for a few more seconds but I was a little too much concerned with Dakota's forehead. Percy was also concerned not even worried about his own arm.

Dakota just stared forward his eyes in bewilderment. Stopping to see what he was looking at Percy and I shifted our attention in unison looking straight down seeing an extremely tall old man that looked to be in his seventies in a black suit. A huge lump formed in my throat because I knew exactly who that man or thing was that was not even fifty feet away from us. The being that almost never showed himself and responsible for eating both Gavin and Frederick.

Hyptant, the warden.

"I would like to see you six in my office...." A smile crept on his lips revealing teeth that obviously weren't human. "Especially you, Zach Birds and Dakota Moore."