The Power Unleashed

The Power Unleashed Chapter 1: Unleashed

Hi there, and if you happen to be reading this, thanks!  In the next part of this chapter I'll have music, but there isnt much action in this part, so for now no music.  now sit back, grab the popcorn, and enjoy!

My feet splashed through the shallow puddles as I ran down the street, late for school again. I really need to set my alarm for an earlier time, This would be the 5th time this month I was late, and the principal would be right upset with me. I guess I should tell you what's going on here.

My name is Jack, 14 years old, orphaned at 5, a decent student, however late I always seem to be. Now you might wonder why I'm not in an orphanage, or going to school for that matter. In the world these days, plenty of kids live on their own, and it may be a little hard at first, but we manage. Right now however, i'm not worried about any of that, i'm only worried about making it on time. I ran as fast as I could pushing myself although my feet ached and my legs felt like jelly. I could see the school, the late bell was about to ring, as long as I didn't run into anybody I could probably make it in time for first peri-

"Late again, huh?"

I grimaced, I heard the voice of the person in this city who I hated above all others. Darryl Falkins This guy had been a thorn in my side the second I stepped into this school. As if his main purpose was to make my life hell.

"Man, I came out here to see if I could find some myself some small fry, but looks like I got the best catch, hehehe."

He grinned, and I knew it was a sign to run. I tried to move around him and make a break for the building, but he caught me by the back of my jacket and put me in a headlock. I struggled against his grip, but all he did was squeeze on my neck harder

"Trying to get out are we? No, not until you give me what I want."

I struggled as my breath become much more ragged, and I began to see spots in my eyes. I barely heard Darryl, but when he spoke it wasn't his voice.

"Where is it Winter? Where's the weapon"

I stopped struggling for a minute. How did he know my last name? I hadn't used that name since my parents had died. The principle didn't even know my surname.

"W-what are you talk-ing about Falkins?" Was all I managed to get out.

"Don't act like a fool Jack Winter. We know who you are. What you-Urgh!"

I felt his grip loosen, and heard something like a sandbag falling off a truck. I turned around, and saw Falkins' unconscious body lying on the ground. Rain pattered down, and I vaguely heard a bell ring, yet all I could do was stare at Falkins, and I wondered what weapon he was talking about, and why he had spoke in such a demented voice. I shook my head, then with a start realized the bell had gone off 5 minutes ago. I cursed under my breath and ran to the school, looking back at Falkins and knowing with grim satisfaction that I wasn't the only one who would be late. 

I went through the day normally, though somewhat dazed, still confused about what happened. I ate a quiet lunch in the courtyard, and noticed a few things. I was a lot more aware of stuff that was happening around me than I normally was. I noticed the birds in the trees, and the individual voices of people. I also noticed 2 people in particular. I vaguely remember from my last period. I think their names were James and Dash. Dash was pretty athletic and played on the school's basketball team. James was pretty different. He had an interest in sports, just not playing them. He was a gamer, and kind of a geek, always wearing a Star Wars hoodie or something like that. They were the oddest friendships I had ever seen. It was also confusing enough for some reason I had singled the two of them out. Then something even weirder happened. James looked straight at me, and for a second I felt as though a jolt of electricity had run down my spine. I didnt know what it meant, but didnt ponder much on it, for it had started to rain again, and Derryl Falkins and his buddies had spotted me, and he was mad. I got up and made to move to go back inside, but next thing I knew I was shoved into the muddy grass, then pulled up by my hair by one of Falkins cronies.

"Thought you could just get away with that Jack? Did ya?"

I coughed up mud and looked him, seeing only rage in his eyes. I knew he only used my first name because he didn't know what else to call me, not as a sign of respect.

"Did what? What are you talking about?"

"That stunt you pulled this morning. How did ya do it?"

With a start I realized he was talking about what had happened earlier, with him speaking in a strange voice then just passing out. I still didn't understand it. I didn't see him listening to reason though, so I had to act ignorant

"What are you even talking about?

"Don't play dumb. You know exactly what you di-"

Derryl paused, and looked over my head. Then his buddy let go of my hair. I turned around, and saw Dash looking down on Derryl. Apparently he had decided to come to my aid, which I didnt understand, but I wasnt complaining. One look from him was enough to make Falkins and his friends run for the hills, and they did just that. I turned to thank him, but he was gone, looking around so was James. Weird

Walking home from school today, the rain was pouring harder than it had all day, and for some reason, I noticed a random construction site. I started heading towards it, wait, why am I walking towards a random construction site? Huh. Well, once I was looking around, I noticed something odd. A giant hole just sitting there. Why had someone patched that up. If they were going to be building something, that definitely wasn't safe. I looked down the hole, feeling like I was being drawn to it, buuuuuut thats crazy. Suddenly I heard a loud bang, like a gunshot. And I lost my footing and fell into the cave.

I should have been dead, or at least have a broken bone, but I was fine except for a few bruises. I looked around the cave, there was a long tunnel. I followed it. I entered into a torch lit circular room with 2 paths. Then suddenly, I heard a roar. Not like a bear, or a lion, or a tiger. The noise was like a sword grinding on a stone. Gravelly, and almost ancient. In the darkness of one of the tunnels, I saw a pair of glowing eyes. The thing that owned said eyes stepped into the light, I nearly screamed. A large creature, shrouded in black mist, reeking of the odor you might smell if you opened a grave that had been sitting for hundreds of years, took step after step towards me. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed from fear of this, this thing! It lunged, its fangs shining in the torchlight, and I regained feeling in my legs. I dodged its fangs, which shredded through the rock like it was paper. I ran down the tunnel opposite to the one it came out of, and slammed into a wall of crystal. There was an odd green glow behind it, and I was filled with hope.

"A way out!" I picked up a rock and hit it on the crystal. A small crack began to form, The beast approached slowly, as if curious to see what would happen. I kept striking the crystal, faster as it began to gain on me. With one last strike, the crystal shattered. There was no way out, only a floating green orb made of pure energy. I felt, called to the orb, I approached it, and the second my finger touched the orb, there was a flash of green light, then it was gone. The beast lunged at me. And I was dead. . . . . wasn't I?