Game Changer

This strange barrier wasn't here before, that's for sure. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to try to touch it. When I place my hand on the flowy surface, it goes straight through, and I can no longer spot it from the other side. It almost looks like it has disappeared.

The air feels somewhat more pleasing on the other side. I decided to try to walk straight into it, and my body thrusts me awake. It almost feels like I was sleeping. I realize that I'm back to where I was standing right before losing track of the men.

The leader and the elder are standing just a few steps away from me. I look at them in confusion. Where were they just seconds ago, and what was that barrier? I'm interrupting by the sound of clapping hands.

I look at the guy from the VSF, and he applauds as he approaches me slowly.

"Well, well, well... Aren't you a special one?" He asks me as he stops at an arm's length's distance. He looks down on me evilly. The man before me is more than an entire head taller than me, and I'm even above the average height. The final rays of sunlight only slightly light up his face. The harsh shadows that loom over his face make him look even more sinister.

He probably senses that I am somewhat confused regarding what only recently transpired.

"You see, my power is that of illusions. I made you face your insecurities which ultimately made you doubt yourself. Normally, the person experiencing the illusion will eventually suffocate due to trauma. Naturally, that will also affect them in real life. Only once before has a person been able to break free..." He states as he scrutinizes me.

"Sadly, you never got to experience the good part." He says with a wicked grin. I'm pretty sure I would be dead by now if it were not for that mysterious shadow that appeared amid the illusion. Maybe it was an intruder of some sort since I doubt it was a part of his illusion.

"I must say that I'm impressed by your little performance before." He then says as he points a finger to where I was fighting the two men before.

"Speaking of, where did the two chickens go?" I ask.

"They were merely buying enough time for me to create a believable illusion. You see, as soon as you start doubting its existence, it will dissolve partially." I nod in response. Wonder why he's telling me all this...? I mean, I'm his opponent. So why tell me the weaknesses of his power?

My legs suddenly feel odd. I look down, and to my horror, they seem to be melting away. If I didn't know better, I would assume they consisted of butter. Leg-substance has started falling on the asphalt ground, almost like drops of water.

I suddenly lose my balance, no longer able to bear the weight of the rest of my body. I fall to the ground with a thud. My entire body aches as the rest of it start melting too. My heart throbs loudly in my ears, and my breathing gets more irregular. I look over to where the man is standing, and he smirks in victory.

He is a jerk. I can feel my consciousness slowly fading away, and I have to fight back the urge to be seized by panic. I have to do something, quickly!

Since I have no physical strength left, I have to find another way of dealing with the problem at hand. It might be time to make use of my power.

I block out the turbulent outer world and try to find peace within myself. I focus on the blood in my veins. I have never tried manipulating my body by using my power, but it might just work.

Considering my current state, this must be another illusion. He probably figured I found the border the last time, so this time he tried to make me immobile. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't expecting me to have a power. I spot the border a couple of steps away. It's so close!

I struggle to raise my arm using my power. Not only will I have to lift the weight of my blood, but also that of my limb, an endeavor I never tried out before. I fail, and my arm falls lifelessly to the ground. I can't afford to give up! I have to get out of here!

"I can do it. I can do it! I CAN DO IT!" I repeat in my mind as my arm raises into the sky above. A drop of sweat runs along my cheek, and I breathe heavily in exhaustion.

I try raising my other arm, too. I struggle, but it's easier than the last time. Since I'm currently inside an illusion, I'm assuming that the man is monitoring me somehow. I'm pretty sure I must look ridiculous right now since both of my arms stand straight up.

Now that I've started getting the hang of it, I try raising my body all at once. I slowly lift myself into the air, and the thought of levitating thrills me. I rotate my body so that I can place myself in a standing position.

Once I'm finally on steady ground, I notice that my body is back to normal. I must have succeeded in breaking free of part of the illusion. Now I only have to exit it. I face the barrier and start sprinting towards it in anger and frustration. This VSF guy intends to kill me... I need to end this somehow.

I cross the barrier, and I'm thrust back into my "real" body. The man blinks in disbelief.

"How is this possible? How did you get up from the ground? I've never seen anything like it!" He says in pure disbelief, and by the looks of it, he looks frightened too. He interrupts me before I get the chance to respond.

"If only you wouldn't oppose me, I would offer you to become a trainee. But now I'm afraid I have to kill you. Too bad. I will remember you, though."

He probably concluded that illusions are highly ineffective against me, considering that he now draws a sword. I almost curse at the sight of it. I remember Haru telling me that guys from the VSF always wear a gun and sword if their powers prove unhelpful. I'm assuming that this man at least wants to take me down fair and square. But on the other hand, he knows that I don't have a weapon with me. And that I'm only a civilian.

I clench my teeth and exhale resentfully. It would seem I have to fight the man after all. I had hoped he had surrendered or just left the poor elder alone after I broke free of his illusions. I have to make a quick decision. Fight him, run away or surrender?

If I fight the guy, I will probably get a bunch of points reductions. I will also most likely have to use my power and risk him uncovering my identity. If I run away, the elder will die, and my mission will be a failure, but I will get away soundly. If I surrender, both the elder and I will die. The man from the VSF will also be able to uncover my identity.

I look over to the elder. He has a few bruises on his face. He must have gotten beaten up by the man while I was busy fighting his lackeys. He gives me a look of pleading as if telling me to run away.

I have decided. I have to fight back.

~*~*~*~

He lunges forward and slashes his blade in a swift motion. He seems pretty skilled with a sword, judging by his posture.

I manage to dodge his strikes, but only ever so slightly. He manages to catch me off-guard by swinging his leg towards me, making me brace for a kick. But right before he hits me, he targets me with his sword instead. The tip of his blade cuts rather deep into my left upper arm.

I fall back and clasp my arm with my right hand and lock eyes with him. He smiles in response. He is a lot tougher than I thought. I had hoped that I would beat him without using my power, but I'm afraid it will be impossible.

I sigh. I guess I have no choice but to use it.

I focus on my bleeding arm and stop the flow of blood. I look over my shoulder, and to my relief, the blood has stopped running out of the wound.

The man then gives me a look of horror as I look over at him once more. I guess my red eyes must be glowing. Then there is no point in holding back anymore. Maybe I can try performing the same endeavor as I did before. But this time, I'll try to control his blood instead.

I've never tried controlling anyone else's blood before, but I'm assuming it's the same principle.

I focus on the man before me as he stands rigid, unsure of what I'm planning. Without warning, he then rushes towards me. I close my eyes to ignore him approaching. Suddenly, I sense his blood. I can feel him coming closer and closer. I imagine lifting his body with my mind, just like I did with my own a few minutes ago. To my surprise, once I open my eyes, he's levitating over the ground.

Judging by the look on his face, he tries to fight back my power over him. But since I'm currently the one in charge of his limbs, he is unsuccessful.

-10 points for attacking a person with positive KARMA. As expected, I would receive a point reduction. But I wouldn't technically call it "attacking." Perhaps something in the likes of "lifting a person against their will."

"Let me down, or I will kill you!" The man shouts.

"And how are you going to kill me from over there?" I say jokingly, and the man growls in response.

"You know, I could easily end you here and now." I state mockingly.

-4 points for threatening a person with positive KARMA.

"I would like to see you try, little girl." The man replies with a smile. Wrong move, pal.

I bend the man's right arm, which is currently holding his sword so that the tip of the blade faces his chest. His facial expression changes drastically into something more sinister and wicked.

"How dare you threaten me, a VSF soldier?! You punk!" He spits. I feel him resist more than before with his left arm. He's probably trying to reach his gun. He truly has no dignity whatsoever.

I've grown tired of his behavior. I won't kill him, but I have to make him pay in some way. I make him throw away his sword with a loud clang as it hits the ground. I'm surprised no one has interrupted us so far. I guess they are too afraid of doing so.

I start to rotate his body, almost like he's doing an infinite backflip in the air. I make him go faster and faster until I can hear a low gurgling sound. Ew. He's a piece of garbage, just like that other trashy dude.

I throw him away like yesterday's garbage which makes him hit a brick wall. He then falls lifelessly to the ground. Either he fainted from all the spinning, or he hit his head. Whichever is fine by me.

I jump excitedly and raise my arms high in victory. I wince at the sudden pang of pain that reminds me of my injuries.

The previous death-sentenced elder then walks over to me. Only now do I realize that he is also holding a cane, poor man. His steps come to a halt before me, but only seconds later, he gives me a warm hug.

"Thank you so much. You saved my life!"

"Of course. I only did what was right."

"Perhaps, but nobody else would even think for a second about rescuing me considering who I was up against." He says as he takes a step back to look at me gratefully.

"You remind me so much of your mother..." He then says quietly.

"Wait. Do I know you? How do you know my mother?" I say as I grab his shoulders."

"You see, she-" We are interrupted by the sound of sirens. Oh no. We have to go! Someone must have called the cops.

"We have to leave, now!" I say as I grab his hand.

"You go on ahead, dear. You know, there's a reason why they haven't been able to catch me for this long." He says as he gives me a wink and pat on my shoulder.

"Are you sure?" I ask as I turn to face him.

"Very. Now go!" He tells me, and I let go of his hand. I give him a wave before running as quickly as I can in the opposite direction. Before turning around a corner, I glance back to where I left the elder. To my surprise, he is no longer there. He must be one slippery man.

A somewhat delayed message enters my vision after running for a few minutes. -30 points for knocking out a person with positive KARMA.

I stop. Did I see that correctly? -30 points?!