The Species of Power [Draft 1]

Chapter 38

Mark sat in a corner by himself and held the blade in his fingers. He couldn't help but wonder how the shield happened . . . why could he even use the blade in the first place? Ruth thought it was because he was the one who delivered it to the real world, which was a good theory, but he wish he had a certain explanation. Margaret leaned against the wall, while occasionally rolling her eyes at Garret who couldn't stop pacing.

"Garret," Margaret said. "I can't hear any potential attackers with you pacing like a chubby kid contemplating stealing a cream filled chocolate bar!"

"Sorry," Garret said, as he took a seat and bit down on his lip.

With everything going on, Mark was surprised that he didn't feel a sense of panic. He was on cloud nine for a short while from the buzz of barely surviving, but now all he was was focused. He did not want to die, and if he could think of something maybe he didn't have to. 

Mark looked across the way and saw Samia organizing some of her medical supplies. He always noticed her various ingredients that were all the sizes of berries, or marbles. That's all she used to heal, little medicine pockets filled with potions that worked wonders. She had a lot remedies. But Mark couldn't help but be intrigued of a certain remedy that was black in colour. It was different than the others, not only in colour, but it had spikes sticking out of it as well. 

"Hey Samia," Mark said, with his eyes on the strange remedy. "What does the black one with the spikes do?"

"Oh . . ." Samia said. "It, um . . . if someone came to me in the worst pain, beyond any help, and headed for a certain fate . . . I would use this to end their suffering."

"So it would kill them."

"To put it simply," Samia said. "Yes . . . why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Mark said. He watched as Samia continued to organize her remedies for a moment, until he couldn't help but asking her another question. "And how quickly does it work?"

"They die in eleven seconds."

"Alright," Mark said. "Just wondering."

"Hush!" Margaret hissed. "I can hear people coming this way . . ."

"Are they moving fast?" Garret said, as he sprang up from where he sat.

"Very."

"Alright," Garret said. "Mark, Samia, get out of here. Margaret and I will get you when everything is safe."

Samia hastily gathered her remaining remedies and stored them while Mark stood with a strong grip on his blade. The two went down the hall as instructed.

                                *                 *               *

With a trail of blood following his path Joseph steadily made it to where he needed to be. He could practically smell him; this caused the blood lust to boil inside him. Moments later, Mark Patel and a frightened Child of Peace girl appeared into his sights. They noticed him straight away, and he was impressed at how Mark wasn't running away and screaming for Ruth to save his sorry ass. 

"Fancy meeting you here Mark Patel," Joseph said. "I take it the peaceling is your body guard?"

"By the looks of it," Mark said. "You need one way more than I do."

"You don't feel threatened then?"

"No," Mark said. "In fact, I would feel pity, but you're an asshole so I'm really trying hard not to laugh here."

"We'll see who's laughing when your head rolls past your body."

Behind Mark the Child of Peace gasped, but both of them ignored her.