12 - The strongest Crystalbringer
Last night, Elaine and I fled an alley straight out of a horror movie—blood and death everywhere—and sought refuge in what I assumed was the safest place: the city center. It sounds dumb, but who would dare attack us in a crowd?
Elaine collapsed onto a bench by the main fountain, and I sat on the one beside her. I wanted to avoid attention, but the curious stares of passersby made it clear I failed miserably.
A few people approached, worried about Elaine's pitiful state. «Is she okay? Do you need help?» they asked. I couldn't tell the truth, so I improvised: «She had a bit too much to drink.» It made her seem foolish, but it was the best excuse I had.
We waited there for Clare and Brianne. As soon as I explained what happened, they rushed over and took us home safely.
Nightlife is downright dangerous! If I weren't a Crystalbringer, I'd be dead by now. Twice I've faced life-threatening situations, and I have to admit—the Blood Crystal feels more like a blessing than a curse.
I jolt awake as my phone buzzes on the bedside table. A message. My eyes dart to the ceiling, where the clock projects the time in glowing red: 7 A.M. Why would Brianne and Clare be here already?
Brianne always calls at exactly 7:15 A.M. to make sure I'm not late for school. Her routine is always the same: «You've got 15 minutes to get ready, or you're in trouble!» But this time, it's just a message, not a call. Weird. If it's not Brianne, who the hell is texting me this early?
I grab my phone from the nightstand. The screen lights up, and the message sends a chill down my spine.
[I'm at your front gate. Don't keep me waiting.]
Gin LeBlanche? What does that delinquent want from me?
I leap out of bed and get dressed at lightning speed, probably setting a personal record I'll never break. There's no way I'm risking making him angrier. The message, dripping with menace, twists my stomach in fear.
I bound down the stairs two at a time and spot him. He's standing at the condominium gate, casually leaning against a lamppost. A cigarette dangles from his mouth, and his cold, piercing gaze cuts through me like a blade. Dressed entirely in black, he looks like a brooding metal singer.
«Here I am...» My voice trembles despite my effort to sound calm.
Gin flicks the cigarette to the ground with a slow, almost theatrical motion. Then he looks down at me—towering over me. I swallow hard, waiting for him to speak. After what feels like an eternity of silence, he finally speaks, unnervingly calm.
«Last night, a man called me. Do you know what he said?»
«N-No, I don't know...» I stammer, struggling to stay calm, but my voice betrays me.
«Of course you don't know. He told me about a girl surrounded by a purple aura, making objects float without touching them. And a boy with superhuman strength and speed, who took him down effortlessly. Ren Volkom, do you know who told me this?»
He's definitely talking about the man I fought last night. I was sure I'd killed him! Damn it! How could I have been so careless? In my panic to escape and protect Elaine, I let my guard down.
I can't speak, but the cold sweat dripping down my forehead says it all. I manage a shaky nod, barely holding on to my composure.
Gin smiles, but it's anything but comforting. «Lucky for you, since he's one of my men, I made sure he couldn't tell anyone else.» He steps closer, his tone growing harsher. «Ren Volkom, it seems Brianne and Clare's care hasn't made you reliable. No problem…»
His voice turns darker, almost malevolent. «...I'll deal with you my way.»
As Gin speaks, I notice something unsettling—his eyes. Moments ago, they were dark gray, but now… they're deep midnight blue. His pupils, though black like any other, seem to absorb light, surrounded by a luminous spinning ring.
Before I can process what's happening, I fall to my knees. An invisible weight crushes me, unrelenting. What the hell is going on...? I can't move! It feels like a massive force is pressing down on every part of me, pinning me to the ground. I struggle, but it's useless. Every muscle and bone in my body screams under the unbearable pressure.
An inhuman scream rips from my throat as pain erupts everywhere. Blood… it pours from my pores, like I'm a sponge being wrung dry. My bones… oh God, I feel them snapping, shattering one by one like brittle twigs. I can't even stay on my knees anymore—I collapse onto the asphalt, my face pressed to the ground. The force doesn't let up; if anything, it grows stronger, and even the pavement beneath me begins to crack.
Gin hasn't even lifted a finger, yet he's killing me. So this is the power of the strongest Crystalbringer? It's terrifying. I've never felt so helpless, so utterly afraid in my life. I thought Gin was just a petty delinquent, but now I see the truth. He's a monster—the worst kind. If God existed, He'd never allow such devastating power to fall into the hands of a madman like him.
My vision blurs, and my senses shut down one by one. Even the pain feels distant now, as if my body has stopped processing it. Every nerve must be torn, every organ reduced to mush. If someone X-rayed me, they'd find nothing but blood, shattered bones, and ruined flesh. This isn't punishment. He's killing me!
«Thank your lucky stars your last name is Volkom; otherwise, I'd have already turned you into a shapeless mess!» he growls through clenched teeth, frustration evident in his tone.
What does that even mean? What's so special about my last name? It's strange, but now is definitely not the time to think about it.
A familiar sound pierces the haze in my mind. Tires screech against the asphalt as a car brakes sharply. I'd recognize that sound anywhere—it's Clare's car. Is it already 7:15 A.M.? Clare and Brianne's impeccable timing might have just saved my life—or so I hope.
«Let Ren go, now!» Brianne's voice cuts through the chaos, brimming with rage.
Gin barely glances over, a wicked smile curling his lips and sending a fresh chill down my spine. «Happy now, Ren? Mommy's here to save you,» he sneers, his venomous tone as natural as breathing.
«Don't make me say it again, or—»
«Or what, sweetheart?» he interrupts, a smug grin dripping with arrogance. «You want to challenge me? Go ahead. I'm waiting.»
The atmosphere shifts instantly. The air turns scorching, so hot that even breathing feels like swallowing fire. A fierce wind rises, whipping up dust and debris in a chaotic storm. Clare and Brianne are unleashing their power. If they fight here, the entire neighborhood could be destroyed. Why does this have to happen right in front of my house?!
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Clare and Brianne. They stand firm, resolute, but their hands tremble. It's not just rage—it's fear. A fear I know all too well. Gin… he's a madman, but worse, he's a madman who thinks he's invincible. And yet, here they are, risking everything for me. Even though they know they don't stand a chance. Even though it's all my fault…
Then, something unexpected happens. Gin loosens the invisible grip crushing me and steps back. For the first time in what feels like forever, I can breathe again, though the pain is so intense I can't even lift my head.
«Take this brat and teach him how to survive in this world,» Gin says, his voice cold and razor-sharp. «Because next time, I won't be so gentle. I'll kill him for real.»
With those final, biting words, he turns and walks away, leaving me sprawled in a bloodied crater, too broken to move. All I can do is pray there won't be a next time.