Ghosts In Mind

{The chapter will interchange between first person pov and third person pov.}

"Your scare tactic worked. Almost half of the city volunteers to receive both injections under the basis of joining the city's army." April reported.

"What does half the city mean?" Mikel asked lazily.

"Almost 20 thousand."

"Now that's something. But having numbers will not win me the war, how do I ensure quality? Did we get many training officers these days?" He asked.

"I am afraid not." April responded.

"It is alright. We have enough mana grass, spring mana dew and body refinement potions for the army. It is time I go on a recruitment mission. I someone who will give me the best results." Mikel stood up walking to his room.

"Planning a long trip?" Kai looked at Mikel with concern.

"Something like that. I need someone to train my group of mages into a lethal force."

"Who is qualified to teach them that you know?" Kai asked.

"Someone imprisoned in Siang mountains. Do you know about it?"

"The mythical place that keep supposed super human people? Does this place exist?"

"It sure does."

"Do you know who is imprisoned there?"

"Hunters?" Kai widened his eyes. This was in the footage Mikel retrieved from a deeply hidden file of national security.

"Hahaha.." Mikel laughed joyfully and nodded.

Hunters for all their power are also helped responsible for their actions if it endangered others unreasonably. Hunters had allowed the government to build such a place for holding those who are not following the strict laws of Hunters association.

In the end this place became similar to the normal prison where powerful people held those they can not control. It became a political tool to keep Hunters in line but leaders of Hunters association used it to get rid of some individuals in their enemy camp with too much potential.

Just like how humans frame each other, use the justice system as their spear to aim at those they want to get rid of.

"I don't like that smile." Someone is about to be unlucky. This prison will be attacked sometime in the next few months by the blood clan but they may move up the time table because of the changes in the situation.

He went downstairs and took out a military arquus scarabee painted black and drove out of the base. It's going to be a long drive but if the result are good it will all be worth it.

Toy city closed its doors from accepting new residents for the time being. No visitors, no merchants or out of town overnight guests. For the next two months the base will stabilize internal structure.

Many if the new ability holders signed up to join the base army because they have a 10 years contract so the injections are paid for by the base. Others who can afford to pay the cost if the injection are able to build hunting teams with powerful members.

Mikel wanted to show them the difference between these two parties. Those joining his army will see a significant increase in strength within a month of joining compared to private ability owners.

The resources Mikel is throwing at his army is an astronomical amount for regular wealthy organizations. Even most families in the central base can not dare to have the ability to raise powerhouses in a short period.

Mikel put the administrative staff in charge of sorting out all the details. They will show the results with in a month and covertly compare the two groups. This will undoubtedly increase the number of volunteers.

A crash happened four miles away from the base. "Mother fucker!" Mikel came out of his military with a shotgun on one hand. Mikel looked at his car tires and stopped in his track, anger filling him up completely. These fuckers are going to pay for this.

Within a movement, the sweet sound of the shot gun alerted the men and women blocking his way.

"You have to pay if you pass here. Do you see this area? We keep it clean and safe from robbers, infected and other dangers." A man wearing what looks to be Indian features on his head, walking bare chested and wearing old style long trousers.

Mikel pointed the shot gun and pulled the trigger. It sent someone flying on impact. Seconds later several other people pulled out guns and started shooting at Mikel who erected a magic barrier in front of him making all the bullets look like they are poking a water surface which absorbed all the impact letting them fall on the ground one by one.

He is still walking forward step by step. If you look closer at his face a deep hatred is reflected on his eyes. "Mother fuckers hurt my car!" He raged.

He shot several more people letting them die on the street. When the others ran away, he walked around shooting the ones laying down again on their heads to make sure they don't wake up. Blood splattered on his shirt, pants, some of it splashed on his face. But he doesn't seem to care. 

After they are all dead, he turned around and took back his car that now has wasted tires because these people put something on the road that is strong enough to completely ruin tires from the military force.

Granted it is a toy version of the military force but still he loved that car. I took off my clothes and put on an overall and military boots. This overall is used by construction workers. I guess I will have to kill a few more fools before reaching my destination.

[Flash back]

Mikel sat in a comfortable couch facing the royal blue walls of the therapist's office. He had always found it suspicious that this man looks like a model with that refined and gentle demeanor but is working for the cold and ruthless Lu brothers.

"Are you going to ignore me today as well?" The man's magnetic voice made Mikel's ears numb from hearing such a pleasant sound. However, Mikel's eyes remained cold and distant.

"How about I ask you a yes and no questions?" 

"Are you very invested in uncovering my pain and helping me release it into the ocean like in those romantic story books?" Mikel asked the doctor with a chuckle. 

"I know you're being forced to come here, but this doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience." 

"I know that I am here because Lu Aang is throwing his weight around, showing me this is his territory and he can make me do whatever he wants." Mikel said gloomily.

"Did you blow up a bus full of humans who where being used a hostages by blood kin so you can let them pass through the barrier?" The doctor looked at Mikel with no judgement but a curious glint in his eyes. 

"Yes." Mikel answered. This answer, for some reason seems to amuse the doctor. 

"That action was done under the horrified gaze of 8 powerful base teams?" The doctor asked again. 

"Yes." Mikel answered pulling out a single wanting to smoke, but this made the doctor in front of his frown. Mikel smirked and lit the cigarette. "

"Knowing all this, do you realize why the Lu brothers are forcing you to take therapy?" 

"Only 'yes' and 'no' questions doc." Mikel took a long drag, closing his eyes and then slowly letting the smoke out. 

"Do you hate yourself?" The doctor asked but Mikel threw a knife between his eyes. It turns out, this was just a fantasy in Mikel's mind. 

"No." He answered. 

"You killed so many innocent humans and you don't hold yourself responsible for it?" 

"No." The doctor sighed in frustration when Mikel gave this answer. 

"Mikel, you have to understand that what you did was inhumane. Do you know that if you make no progress in this therapy I have to recommend you be evicted from the base?" 

"Yes." Mikel finished his smoke and smiled. 

"Do you not care?" 

"Not."

"Let me give you an advice, wasting your time on others will only make you sadder. Our time is up." The doctor showed Mikel out before rushing to open the windows letting inside some air. Mikel looked at this picture and smiled before leaving the central base. 

....

I shake my head after recalling the last life consultation with a therapist under the behest of my annoying little brother. All Aang had to do was frown and make a remark, his boyfriends will do anything to wipe that frown from his face. Like holding a paceline at the palm of one's hands.

After killing those hostages along with the blood kin on board, Aang was horrified and shook the entire way back to the base. Lu Pei forced me to see a therapist thinking the reason I don't value human life anymore is because of all that I had gone through. 

Like a fool, I had thought he cared for me. But a clod bucket of ice water woke me up. "I only made you take therapy so that Lu Aang will stop worrying about his psychotic older brother." He had looked me in the eyes and said. This broke my heart into several tiny pieces and that very night I packed up and left. 

"Therapy didn't work, but torturing my enemies with my own hands, setting off hundreds of town level bombs all over the blood kin territory, donating my high level healing pills to the wolf clan just so they can suffer less losses in the hands of the blood clan. All these made me feel more relief than a thousand therapy sessions.

I took out a single and started smoking. My face relaxed a bit remembering this is just ghosts in my mind. All the bad things did not happen in this life. I will not let them. 

I continued driving, occasionally knocking cars out of the road for a few days, I decided to use a hover board during the day and finally made a lot of progress. A trip that would have taken three weeks to a month lasted for a few days.

When I came face to wall almost smacking against the wall surrounding the high security jail I almost pissed myself. About to fall off the hover board when someone suddenly pulled me back up on top of the wall. 

"Thanks.."

I say but the next second my face is smashed by a stone like object, knocking me out on the spot. When I opened my eyes, I am in a dark place with both my hands chained on the wall. My head is still ringing from the hit I got on the head. 

"You're up? Good." A man wearing yellow jam suit turned on a torch on the stone wall. This person seems familiar. 

"My name is Gill Alphin of the Alphin family."

The man with long silver hair and a pair of striking yellow eyes came forth. My heart quickened at the sight. What a devastatingly beautiful man. But this picture is filled with inconsistencies making me raise the corner of my lips.

"Are you in my head?" I asked sharply while raising my mental shields. The man halted his steps after hearing what I had asked him. It seems he never thought I would suspect him.

Getting into someone's head is usually only the beginning. In order to surf through people's memories, they need to completely believe in the illusion you create inside their head. However..

"Only fools would be deceived by such a low level illusion. Up your game a little, or are you looking down on me?" I taunt.

The surroundings disintegrated as the illustrationsis broken apart by my slowly strengthening mental walls, I finally saw where I am.

Inside a cell with two rusty cuffs on both my wrists. Mikel recognize these types of cuffs. They are mana restructuring cuffs. No matter how powerful a mage is, if they have these cuffs on they can not access mana inside their bodies.

I have a small world as my treasure, to access it I only need mental force. Using mental awakening power which I refined according to the recipe book in my space is different from using mana.

This ability allows my cognitive ability to sore, allowing me the ability to absorb knowledge faster. I had made it for learning magic circles and spells.

Now because of my mental power, I can access my space. This thought gave me comfort while locked up and chained in a place full of psychotic killers with combat training.

"That's impressive. You managed to repel my illusion. Since you are clearly well versed in mental fortitude are you willing to answer my questions honestly or should I employ something delightfully medieval?" That man speaking to me is wearing a dark brown overall.

He is walking slowly my way as he threaten me with a low hoarse voice. To his last statement he pointed at the small table a small distance away from me but closer to him.

This metal table is covered in gleaming silver objects which are very sharp. It seems he hadn't been walking towards me at that time, but he had been walking towards that table full of torturing items.

He has wild blown hair and a face full of wild stumble like a mischievous fur ball. Looking at the man, I realized the most frightening thing about him is that red colored set of eyes.

"You're a blood kin." I hate that my voice came out trembling. In an instant, the cuffs on my wrists became heavy as my gaze became blurr because of the subconscious tears in my eyes.

In a matter of a single second, thousands of scenes appeared in my mind. Like a poisonous seed, they sprouted, taking root and completely covering my sight in nothing but despair.

All the abuse, the torture and the humiliation I suffered in the hands of vampires all those years seem to break through the layer that has been keeping all the horror below the surface of my mind.

"No!." I shouted. Then my eyes started hurting. My blood boiled to 60 degrees in an instant. I don't know what is happening but I will not wait like this to find out.

I took out a pair of black long knives with a sinister black flame emitting from the blade. With quick maneuver of my wrist, I cut the joining chain allowing my hands to move freely apart even as the cuffs are still on.

My vision has turned bright, I can hear the heart beats of all the nearby humans and this vampire infron of me. I threw one blade onto his chest but their speed is ready as advertised.

I followed up with a raise of my arm when he threw something sharp at me. For now, he is keeping his distance from me but I am not patient and lunged for him right after the sharp small knife struck my metal cuff and fell to the ground.

After closing the distance, I engaged in a fierce close combat battle with him. My skills are average but my burst of strength is the reason he is now breathing heavily.

With a thought, I recalled the blade I had thrown earlier and stabbed it into his neck making him scream in pain. "Ahaaaaa!"

"Ahaaaa!"

The blades are special, they not only burn the flesh but the soul as well. That kind of pain is not something an intelligent being can survive armed only with sheer force of will.

I twisted the blade and stabbed the second knife into his stomach and slashed sideways. With a shout I increased the black silent flame.

The entire body is covered in black gloomy flamed that have turned the vampire into slow disintegrating ice particles. Seeing him dead, something in my body retreated back into my subconscious mind and my body fell backwards.

Clarity returned in my gaze and saw that I am not in the cell but in a hospital room. A man in what should pass for a doctor's coat stood below my hospital bed holding a file.

Looking at him not sparing me a glance I focused on my surroundings to see if this is another mind game. I m not too concerned about them accessing my memories because I have long secured that part of my brain with traps.

If this is another mind dive, they are looking for me to provide them with a key to my first trap. I waited and watched.

An entire afternoon passed. So far I haven't dis covered any inconsistencies with the place. Sounds occasionally drifting from outside are not repeating or out of place. The amount of dust in this place is appropriate for a hospital room. Most importantly the doctors and nurses who would come in are humans with no oddities on their expressions or appearance.

"Interesting." A voice suddenly sounded again. But I had a suspicion whomever that is, they are talking about me.

"You have been focused and extra alert from the moment you woke up. You even killed one of our mental specialists well versed in minded diving. I just have one question for you, stranger. What happens next will depend on your answer to my question."

This time I recognized the one in front of me. "Lou Lufei!" I exclaimed. It came out natural as if I have known him for a long time. That is because he was the one who taught me all the weaknesses of bloodvlan in my previous life.

Remembering his fate in that life, my eyes instantly reddened. Lou Lufei on the other side of the room didn't change his expression. He is probably thinking I am putting on a show or something like that.

"I..admire you very much. I promise I don't want to harm you in any way." I blurted out desperately. How can I forget Lou Lufei? The truth is, he broke my heart when he died. The most painful thing about his death is that he chose to stay by me side even when facing overwhelming power.

In the end he was killed by the blood kin. Many mornings of Lou Lufei finding my battered body in my room without even the strength to ask for help,flushed in my mind.

Lou Lufei is a big guy but has a soft heart. He would take care of me and slowly nurse me back to full strength. A person who had seen me at my lowest but never once gave me a disgusted gaze I was familiar with from the rest of the world.

"Then, can you tell me why you are here?" Lou Lufei asked coolly seating down opposite me.

"The war of three clans will soon begin, this place is equipped with many devices to tame Hunters and ability users. The blood clan is coming to take all of you back to be used as training dummies for the blood army." I want to roll my eyes at the cliché name the vampires have chosen for their main army.

"That does sound plausible. How can you help us?" Lou Lufei asked me calmly.

Me "...." Dude I just did.

"That's it? Tell us what's coming and dust your hands of the matter altogether?" He seems to be clueless when it comes to self preservation.

"Information is priceless, especially when given in a timely manner. I am not your mommy, what? Want me to wipe you too?" I asked flashing annoyance in my voice. It's not like I can say: Hey, I came to recruit capable people to train my army.

"Hahahhahahahha....." Lou Lufei laughed for almost an entire minute before abruptly standing up, with swift movements he picked up the metal chair he had been seated on and threw it at me.

My eyes bulged in horror as the fast moving chair landed on my chest with a sickening 'crack', several of my ribs broke on impact making me spit out a mouthful of deep black blood.

'Shit!' I forgot why this madman was locked up in this place with no chance of pardon. Heavy footsteps sounded aggressively as he approached my bed. I knew then, this fucker is going to kill me. I can feel consciousness fading but I stubbornly clung to stay awake long enough to utter one word.

"Stella!" I shouted and ruptured something which made me spit more blood. The foot steps halted. I knew it! He won't kill me if I say the name of his precious younger sister.

Right before passing out I lied to him. "She....sent...me." The. Lights out.

...