Choices

He was careless, a fool, too arrogant to realize the deep shit he, himself was in. From a young age, Kai learned never to let his guard down. That was just life, people were cruel, the world was even crueler. It would knock you down before you could even get back up, over and over again.

Somehow Kai had let this simple fact slip his mind, and now he was really going to die. 

'How pathetic.'

While in the midst of what he thought were his final moments Kai felt something shift in the air, and a warm gust caressed his cheek. The savage wind was somewhat alleviated and the large hail balls turned back to rain.

This was not some miracle though, no… just a boy guided by his determination. Amidst the storm a fire was flickering. With the last seconds that he had, Kai looked closer at Karma. The world around him seemed to bend and shift, looking almost like hot pavement during a high noon summer.

The golf ball sized hail that was once assaulting Karma from every direction now turned back into rain, then simply evaporated. Small rocks that threatened to leave countless wounds on him, melted into molten lava. Kai thought to himself:

'But how…?'

Karma himself didn't know how he somehow activated his affinity, But he couldn't let it go to waste. Using the momentary burst of power, Karma leaped between Kai and the Rock. Taking the blow head on and being sent flying.

Getting sent reeling by the speeding rock Karma was thrown completely off balance and flung in the air. A flash of pain spread all throughout his body, flooding his mind. It was so agonizing he thought he had been flattened, but in fact he had survived. Unfortunately though, due to the hit, his body was sent barreling towards a gigantic funnel cloud.

With the help of his momentum Karma was being quickly swept into the bowls of the storm. But in the next moment a furious glint was shown in Kai's eyes.

'No… I refuse to let it happen! I won't lose another brother! NEVER AGAIN.'

In that instant Kai had a premonition. Human will. That is what drove his affinity, and that was what he was going to use to tame his power. Resolve flooded Kai's mindset, he felt as though he could do anything as long as he wished for it. There was no time for hesitation, not in this new world he was thrown into.

Activating his affinity, Violet arcs of lightning began to circle him. At first they flickered around him, as if gathering energy. Then the purple whips of light began to dance all around Kai, playing on his hair all the way down to his toes. And as he pushed off the ground to jump for Karma, the ground cracked.

The purple lightning surrounding Kai's body, augmented his power greatly. If before he was as fast and strong as 100 men thanks to being mutated, now he felt he had the power of 500 men. 

'Control it.'

Kai had lost control before, and it wasn't hard to do so. So had to keep his emotions and intentions under control. He felt intention was a big part of controlling one's affinity, because when all he had in his mind was to get to Karma, the bolts of violet lightning lunged toward the ground. It was like they were helping Kai get enough momentum into his jump.

At the same time Kai screamed out to Karma.

"HOLD OUT YOUR HAND!"

Dazed, and uncertain of where his leverage was, Karma hesitated. It didn't take long for him to regroup though, because with a mangled arm he put out a hand towards Kai.

Then Kai jumped. Due to his enhanced mutated physique, Kai already was considered superhuman. But thanks to the help of the lightning augmentation, his leap was truly incredible. Breaking the ground underneath him, he shot through the air with stunning speed, and in just a breath he, and Karma's hands were clasped together.

Karma gave him a mischievous grin, then said with a wince:

"Show off."

Kai smiled then realized he was still in the air. He had thought that the weight of the two boys would be enough to bring them back to the ground, but unfortunately he was mistaken. The young boys slowly began to get sucked into the raging funnel behind them… Until they weren't.

Luckily they had a smart and strong maiden with them as well, who just so happened to be able to control the wind. 

"Damn you two! Never split up in a storm!"

Unleashing her affinity, Loni fought the storm over control of the wind. Yes, she was just dormant but if she could try to focus her power in one specific place, she should have been able to bring the boys close enough to where she could grab them. And so, using all her might and energy she had left, Loni fought the furious storm over the boys.

It was hard, very hard, but she couldn't just let them die. Companions in a place like this means survival, to be alone only means the most gruesome of deaths. So she needed to keep them alive, plus she knew what it was like to be discarded and thrown away like trash. And she would not commit the same act on someone else.

After a terrifying and exhausting struggle, Loni was able to gain the upper hand. Using the currents of wind she slowly began to draw the boys back in. They were just within arms reach now. Grabbing Kai's leg she could finally release her straining power. But immediately after she did, the malice and coldness of the storm seemed to deepen.

It was like the savage storm was pissed off about having its meal taken away. Though, that was not surprising, afterall who likes having their meals taken out of their hands. The winds rage grew even more, and this time Loni could not even hope to resist it. With the large hail that was almost the size of a baseball now, pelting the 3 mutated with every second, Loni knew they couldn't stay in one spot for long.

Unless they wanted countless holes to be plowed into them. Loni's arms and legs were beginning to ache from trying to hold on to the boys. Not only that but her mental fatigue was also on the brink of collapsing. 

Time was ticking. She had to make a choice, save herself and leave these two boys she just met to die. Or join them and delve into the bowls of the storm. 

'But if we get caught in that, we'll die.'

With her mind almost as erratic as the world around her, Loni thought to herself. She had made her choice.

'I-I'm sorry…'