Phantoms - Chapter 1

Clear the way! Emergency patients coming through!

What have we got?

Three victims of a serial killer down at the docks. One seems to be in a better shape than the others.

How comes?

No idea. When we found the pink haired girl, the blonde one wouldn’t move her hand off her cheek.

Hmm. And the boy?

Stab wound to his back. It’s quite deep and, given how deep it is, magic might be our only option.

Regardless, send him in first. He’ll be done sooner; then, the blonde.

What about the pink haired girl?

Most of her wounds seem to have healed. The damage is minimal so she’s the least of our concern. The blonde girl is in a bad shape.

Do we not even know any of their names?

No idea. Contact Ferris and let them know they’re here.

Understood.

I’ll handle it from here. Let’s go people! Time’s wasting!

***

Eric gradually lifted his heavy eyelids and the morning sunlight burst into the hospital room, blinding him a little. Eric’s vision slowly adjusted and he saw that he was still in his hospital room, the blinds were open and there was a beautiful woman sitting beside him, reading a book in a language he didn’t know.

“It’s morning?” He asked.

“Ah, you’re awake,” The woman said.

Eric brought himself up a bit and he could finally see that it was Kasmine who was sat next to him, her hands on the book in her lap.

“Good morning, Eric,” Kasmine said softly, smiling.

“Kasmine?” Eric asked, his voice hoarse.

“How are you feeling?”

Eric winced a little as the pain from his wounds returned to him, and he put his hands over his chest. “I was…” His eyes flew open in panic and he leant towards Kasmine. “Where’s Jasmine and the others? What-?”

He grunted and grasped his chest hard.

“Don’t move around so much,” Kasmine told him, gently pushing him back down against his pillows. “The healer was pretty exhausted by the time she got to you, so you had to go into surgery to have the majority of your wounds stitched up. They’ll remove the stitches this evening and heal you up properly.”

“What about-?”

The door slid open and his uncle walked in, almost dropping the cups of water in his hands when he saw Eric awake.

“How are you feeling, son?” Lares asked, quickly pushing the door behind him and dragging a stool to the other side of the bed. He smiled and offered him a cup of water. “Here.”

“Thanks,” Eric said, taking it and downing the entire drink at once. “Where are-?”

“Your teammates are all alive and are here in the hospital,” Kasmine interrupted, folding her arms. “However.” Her expression became sad. “Jasmine, Elthia and Ajax didn’t get off scot free.”

“Kas, is this really the time-?” Lares tried to ask but she glared at him.

“Would you rather that I lied to him and said, ‘Oh yes, everything’s fine’ and then when he speaks to them later is told something else?” She demanded.

“I…guess you’re right.”

“Eric, I’ll be honest with you. Last night, you were shot by a professional assassin known as T and, after you were hospitalised, he knocked out the rest of your team and kidnapped Elthia,” Kasmine plainly stated. “He tortured her and baited Jasmine to him and tortured her, however Ajax managed to save their lives and the assassin is dead.

“The good news is everyone on your team is alive. Unfortunately, Elthia has lost one of her fingers, Ajax’s spine was damaged, but the damage was healed with magic and so he’ll be alright, and Jasmine’s face was badly battered, but healing magic restored it completely. She’s still in a bit of pain and will be on pain meds for a while, but she’ll be fine.”

Eric could barely believe what he had just heard.

A whirlpool of rage, grief, despair and regret swirled inside him, threatening to release itself and cause an evolution in his Armour even without it being equipped.

How could this have happened? How could I have been sleeping through all of this? If…If I had been awake or stronger, then I could’ve done something…I could’ve stopped it. What if they had died while I’d been asleep? I’d…never have forgiven myself.

It’s my fault, isn’t it?

Calm yourself, Eric Agrim! Lucifer’s voice boomed in his head, snapping Eric out of his train of thought.

“I know it’s a lot to throw at you as soon as you wake up, but I think you’d much rather have heard about it now than later,” Kasmine said.

“It’s not like I was never going to tell you, but-” Lares began.

“Thank you, for telling me right away,” Eric said, smiling weakly. “Even though it hurts to know, I’m glad that I know.”

Kasmine looked at Eric and then glanced over at Lares. “Lares, mind giving us the room?”

Knowing that protesting would be pointless, Lares sighed in resignation, patted Eric on the leg and left the room. Once the door had shut, Kasmine brought her chair closer to Eric, a comforting smile on her lips.

“How are you really feeling?” She asked.

“Can I answer honestly?” Eric asked back.

“Go for it.”

“I feel like shit.”

“Well, that was to be expected. Still, it’s great that you’re pretty much out of the woods.” Her expression suddenly became serious. “Ajax only just saved Jasmine life yesterday.”

Eric was taken back and frowned, clutching onto his sheets tightly.

“When T gassed your team, Ajax managed to cut out some of the poison by equipping his Mech suit and, when he woke up, he went after T,” Kasmine explained. “Well, even if Ajax hadn’t done what he needed to, Jasmine and Elthia wouldn’t have died.”

“What do you mean?”

“Eric, have you ever heard of someone called ‘The Merchant’?” She asked and he shook his head. “He’s an information broker, thief and professional assassin who was on my team back when I was at Ferris. He controls the world’s largest information network and he either knows or can find out any piece of information you want. Well, not for free, of course. I get it for free because we’re old friends.”

“Um, I don’t understand what this has to do with what happened last night.”

Kasmine smiled. “You owe him for saving your life back in that alleyway, and because he told Ajax where he could find T. If it wasn’t for him, you’d all be dead. Although.” She lost her smile. “Jasmine…is largely to blame for last night.”

“What do you mean?” He demanded.

“That’s for her to know.” Kasmine poked Eric’s nose gently and smiled a little. “And you to ask her.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Eric said, nodding.

Kasmine smiled and sat back in her chair.

“Kas, can I ask you something that might be stepping over my bounds?” Eric asked.

“You already have by calling me Kas,” She replied, giggling softly. “Only my close friends get to do that.”

When Eric didn’t smile back and looked at his sheets, Kasmine lost her smile and said, “Ask away.”

“If the Merchant knew about T’s plans, then why didn’t he stop him?” He asked. “Why didn’t he just stop T and arrest him?”

“Ah, that. I don’t pretend to understand what everyone of my allies does and why they do it, but he didn’t have any malicious intentions, I assure you. He also doesn’t like to kill unless he has to, and he doesn’t like directly interfering with people’s business unless he’s paid. Does that anger you?”

“A bit, but…” Eric smiled sadly. “They’re all alive and that’s more than enough.” He took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. “Can I ask one more thing?” She nodded. “Have you…ever killed anyone before?”

“Sure,” Kasmine replied casually. “It comes with the job. We fight bad guys like T, Bunny and worse and, a lot of the time, there’s no place where we can hold those sorts of people, so killing ends up being a common solution. Why do you think I made Teeq turn the tournament into the simulation battles rather than standard matches? It helps you guys get used to the idea of killing without actually killing anyone. It’s cruel and highly unethical, I know, but it’s necessary so you guys don’t hesitate when you enter an actual fight. After all, people like you and me can’t be imprisoned or controlled.”

“You and I?”

“Someone like T with the power of Lucifer isn’t going to be allowed to walk around freely. I, on the other hand, am a Vampire, and an Ancient one at that.”

Eric did a double take. “You’re a Vampire?”

“Yeah,” Kasmine coolly replied. “Does that bother you?”

“Not really. I mean, Kiara’s a Vampire and she’s my friend, and I trust you.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Are Ancient Vampires stronger than regular ones?”

Kasmine blinked twice and titled her head. “Did Kiara not explain anything to you?” He shook his head and Kasmine let out a small sigh. “Ancient Vampires are the oldest and most powerful breed of Vampires on the planet. Obviously, I’m not one of the first ever Vampires to have ever existed, but I am the daughter of someone who was. Ancients are far, far stronger than normal Vampires and other lower class Vampires, but all of us are stronger than regular humans.”

“How many Ancient Vampires are there?”

“I have no idea,” Kasmine admitted, shrugging her shoulders. “I’m one, Kiara’s one, the Great Families are all Ancients, and I imagine there are some more I don’t know about scattered around the world.”

“How do you even become a Vampire?”

“You can be born to them like any other human, or you can receive your Vampirism from someone who is a Vampire through their fangs. Why?”

“Ah, I was just curious and had wanted to ask a Vampire that,” Eric hastily replied.

She giggled. “Curiosity can get you killed, you know,” She said in a sultry voice and Eric shuddered, making Kasmine grin. “Anyway, I have to get back to Ferris. The Guardians and the school aren’t going to run themselves, after all.”

“Right, thank you for stopping by.”

“You’re very welcome, Eric. I’ll come back tonight to check up on you,” She said, walking to the door. “Oh, and Eric.” She turned to face him and smiled. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you,” Eric replied, smiling.

“Even after everything that’s happened, I hope you can still keep that smile during your time at Ferris.”

***

Shortly after Kasmine had left, the rest of Eric’s team had stopped by briefly to check up on him, before having to go to get small check-ups themselves.

“The doctors just want to make sure that whatever gas T used last night has been fully flushed from our systems,” Kaida had explained to the panicked Eric. “All it seems to have done though was just knock us out for a few hours, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Even though Kaida had told him that, Eric still felt incredibly anxious about it but, more importantly, he was worried for his friends that had been wounded last night.

Slowly, whilst using a crutch to support him, Eric made his way up to Ajax’s room which was two floors above Eric’s.

I can’t imagine how much pain Ajax must be going through, Eric thought, wincing at the slight pain he felt from one of his own wounds. I know how scary it is to think that you’re dying and how much it hurts when you realise that you could have died just yesterday.

Eric reached Ajax’s room, knocked twice, and was soon called into the room by Ajax.

He was sat up on his bed, a computer tablet in his hands and he didn’t even look up to see Eric enter the room.

“Hey,” Eric weakly called to him.

“Oh, Eric,” Ajax said, smiling at him, placing the tablet on his bedside table. “How are you feeling?”

He’s…smiling? Eric gradually made his way to his bedside and sat on a chair next to him, leaning his crutch against the wall.

“Are you sure you should be moving around so much?” Ajax asked.

“I asked the doctor and he said it was fine,” Eric reassured him.

“Well, if you say so, but, doesn’t it hurt?”

“A little if I move too much or too quickly.”

“Don’t overdo it, mate.”

Eric smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

“Good. So, what’s up?”

Eric blinked twice and lightly scratched his cheek. “I’d…wanted to come and see how you were doing, but…you seem to be fine?”

Ajax nodded and leant back against his bed. “You don’t have to sound so doubtful about me,” He said, looking into Eric’s eyes. “I appreciate you coming to check up on me, but, really, I’m okay.”

“You seem…rather cheerful for someone who nearly died last night,” Eric admitted, unable to hold back his confusion.

Ajax chuckled a little and gazed out of the window. “Yeah, you aren’t the first one to tell me that. You should’ve heard Alexis when she came to see me. ‘You fucking idiot! Why are you smiling so much after making me worry and cry so much?’” He grinned. “Even when I’m hospitalised, she doesn’t hold back.

“Honestly, this might sound strange to you and everyone else, but how could I not be happy with all things considered?”

Eric shot him a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”

“During the Single’s Tournament, I was able to show myself that the years of training and hard work that I put into becoming a Guardian weren’t wasted and that I could do it if I put my mind to it. Last night, I finally proved to myself that I could actually be a Guardian and that I was good enough to be able to save lives. I hate the fact that I couldn’t get there earlier and that I couldn’t stop that monster from doing what he did to Jasmine and Elthia, but I still managed to save two people’s lives last night and, when I was told that they had survived this morning, it felt amazing.

“I’d never felt such warmth and joy before. Even though my back was killing me, even though I had almost died and even with the regret of not being quicker weighing on my mind, I still felt so happy because I had saved their lives.” He turned back to Eric with a bright, and full, smile that Eric had never seen Ajax make before. “Don’t you think that’s amazing?”

Eric was dumbstruck by Ajax’s words.

As he had started his trek to visit him, Eric had been wondering what kind of a state Ajax would be in, if he was suffering as much or as more as he was, and if he needed someone to support him. Instead, even after taking a knife to the back and nearly dying, Ajax was happier than he had ever been.

“I was too weak to do anything for my sister during the incident with Bunny, and I was too weak to really play a large part in our team fights, but, this time, I saved two of my friend’s lives,” Ajax continued. “I’m so happy that I was able to do something for someone I care about this time. So, don’t worry about me, Eric; it’ll take more than a knife to the back to get me down.”

“So I see,” Eric inadvertently said, causing Ajax to laugh a little and Eric smiled at the sight. “Ajax, thank you for saving our friend’s lives last night.”

“Thanks for saying so, and you’re very welcome.”

***

That was…unexpected, Eric thought as he headed for Elthia’s room.

With no need to try and comfort or support Ajax, Eric had little reason to say in his room and they both knew that, so Eric had simply left after finishing their conversation.

He could never have imagined that Ajax would be in such a good mood and he doubted that Elthia or Jasmine could feel the same way that he did.

Given how close the two girls are, it must be painful for them to be hospitalised so far away from one another. He walked up to Elthia’s door and gently tapped on it. Even though I know that they’ll be suffering, is there actually anything that I can do for them?

“Come in,” Elthia called.

As soon as Eric entered into the room, he was surprised to Elthia sitting upright against her bed, a forced smiling on her lips and she was making direct eye contact with him.

“Hello, Eric,” She said politely, beckoning at a chair. “Please, have a seat.”

Elthia…

Immediately, Eric knew that Elthia was not okay.

Her tone and mannerisms were so forced that it hurt Eric just to see it.

Rather than say anything right now, Eric decided to do as she said and he sat down by her bed.

“How are your wounds?” She asked.

“The healer will be by later to fully seal them, but for now I’ve got stiches,” Eric replied, looking at the dozens of freshly bandaged cuts and bruises that were across her body.

He felt sick just seeing her in such a state.

“Have the others been by?” He asked, a forced, gentle smile on his face.

“Yes, they stopped by on their way to you, actually,” Elthia replied. “Connor said that they had a check-up about the gas, yes?”

“Ah, yeah. It won’t take too long for them to get screened, so they’ll probably come by again later.”

“Something to look forward to then.”

“Yeah.”

Elthia looked down at her hand, the burnt flesh on her hand had been healed but the new skin was flaky and she rubbed the severed joint softly, her expression turning dark.

“…For too long, I’ve been weak and I’ve been a liability for the people I love most,” She whispered, not taking her eyes off her nine fingers interlocked together. “Ever since I met Jasmine, I…I’ve been too dependent on other people, acting like a spoiled child and as someone that needs to be protected. Even though I can’t fight, I should at least be able to do something back for the people I love, right? I couldn’t do a damn thing in our Team fights either. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to get defeated so easily and feel like you’re nothing more than a burden on those around you?

“I’ve always known, you know, how abnormal it was for me to be acting like a child at my age but, because Jasmine never said it bothered her or told me to change, I always convinced myself that it was fine to stay this way because she was the only real family I ever had. Did she tell you? About how I ran away from my home because I was always kept inside, home schooled and never allowed outside because of my tattoos.

“My parents didn’t want their contacts to know that their daughter was born a freak. When Jas first came into my life, I finally felt like I had a family to rely on, someone who I could always depend on…” She clenched her hands together and bit her lip. “Because I’ve always acted like this, I’ve never been able to stand on my own two feet and have relied on Jasmine for too long. I need to stand on my own two feet and grow up.”

Like with Ajax, Eric was taken back by what she was saying.

He knew that out of everyone who had been injured last night, Elthia and Jasmine would be the two in the most amount of pain, but he had never considered that Elthia could have reacted to it like this.

“You don’t have to force yourself and rush it,” Eric gently said, smiling a little. “I mean, I think you’re fine as you are and-”

“Being who I was led to this!” Elthia screamed, holding up her four finger hand to Eric, tears in her eyes. “Because I was too weak to stand up by myself, because I couldn’t fight back, because I was too dependent on Jasmine, that…that monster exploited that and used it to hurt Jasmine and I!” She frowned and a few tears poured down her face. “Being who I was caused last night to happen.”

Elthia wiped her eyes, clutched her missing finger and stared viciously into Eric’s eyes.

“I will change who I am and become stronger,” She said firmly. “I won’t rely on other people anymore and I will start acting my age.” Before Eric could even respond, she turned away from him and said, “Please leave.”

“Elthia…” Eric whispered, his hand inadvertently reaching out to hold her shoulder but he stopped himself.

His hand clenched into a fist and he stood up, grabbing his crutch. “I’m glad you’re okay,” He said through a forced smile and turned to leave.

Just before he went through the door, Elthia whispered, “Thank you for visiting.”

Eric frowned a little, frustrated with himself, and left.

***

Eric stood outside of Jasmine’s hospital room and he didn’t moved to knock on her door like he did before.

After trying, and failing, to comfort Ajax and Elthia, Eric was beginning to wonder if his efforts were absolutely in vain and that there was truly nothing he could do for them, not even offer them a shoulder to lean on, let alone comfort them.

Jas wanted to tell me something yesterday, right? Eric thought, a slight scowl on his face. Is it possible that she knew this was going to happen and was trying to warn me? He shook his head and moved to knock on the door. I shouldn’t doubt my friends like this.

No one replied to his knock and Eric raised an eyebrow.

He slid opened the door and almost gasped at what he saw.

Jasmine was staring blankly out of the window and she was hooked up to various machines, some of which were giving her medication. Even though Elthia’s healing magic had saved her and Ajax’s lives, it had only fully healed Ajax’s wounds and Elthia had become too drain of Mana to fully heal herself and Jasmine. As a result, her cheeks were still a bit bruised and torn even after Elthia had healed her, so the doctors had to attend to her wounds as well.

“Hey,” Eric said.

“Hey,” Jasmine said back.

Eric dragged a chair over to her bedside and sat down next to her, but she didn’t react to him in the slightest.

She didn’t even look at him.

“How are your injuries?” He asked.

“Fine. Yours?”

“The healer’s sealing mine later today and I’ll be discharged tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Silence.

“Um, did the guys drop by?”

“I sent them away,” She answered.

“Fair enough.”

A longer, more uncomfortable silence.

“How are they?” Jasmine asked.

“Ajax and Elthia are fine, and the rest of the guys are just getting looked at to make sure that the gas is out of their systems,” Eric replied.

“I see.”

The regular, hectic and loud sounds of the hospital outside of the room seemed to grind to a snail’s pace as the atmosphere between them grew more and more unpleasant by the second. Eric was already anxious because of how Jasmine was acting towards him, even more so when he realised that his two previous attempts at support had ended extremely poorly for him.

Still, he had to know; Eric had to ask her about the night before.

“Jasmine, what happened last night? Why…did it happen?” Eric nervously asked in the softest tone he could manage.

Jasmine’s body tensed and it began to shake a little, causing Eric to wonder what kind of face she was making right then.

“It’s none of your business,” She told him.

In that moment, something snapped within Eric and his pent up anger and frustrations poured out all at once.

“Don’t give me that crap!” Eric shouted, standing up so quickly that he knocked his chair over, causing Jasmine to spin around terrified. “Do you really think that you can say that after everything that’s happened? It’s no longer just your problem anymore because everyone else on our team got caught up in it and they have a right to know what happened and why it happened!

“Last night, I wasn’t able to do a thing for any of you and, for all I know, you, Elthia and Ajax could have all died before I’d even woken up and that would have destroyed me! I couldn’t do a single God damn thing then, I couldn’t do a single thing to help Ajax now, and I wasn’t able to support Elthia even a little!” He ground his teeth and scowled. “I feel so useless and pitiful right now, and I hate myself for not being able to do anything for you guys last night and today is eating away at me, making me feel worthless and like a shit friend.

“All I wanted to do was try to comfort or support you guys in whatever way I could, even if it was just offering an ear to listen to you talk or a shoulder for you to lean on, or someone to wipe away your tears, but I haven’t been able to do a single thing for any of you.”

Eric winced and grabbed his chest; one of his stiches had come undone and a small amount of blood trickled from the wound.

Jasmine, panicked, looked at him and reached for him, but she stopped herself and brought her hands to her chest. “Please, sit back down.”

“Only if you’ll just talk to me,” Eric pleaded, a desperate look on his face. “Please.”

Eric pulled his chair upright and sat back into it, his hand pressing on the wound which had reopened a little, and he closed his eyes, blocking his tears.

“I’m sorry,” She whispered, looking at her own hands.

They were shaking madly as fear swept over her

Even though I’m so terrified of telling him, even though I’m so scared of losing my friends, I…have to tell them, Jasmine told herself. If I don’t tell them, I’ll lose them anyway and everyone’s suffering because of me; they deserve to know.

“I’ll…tell you everything,” Jasmine began, grasping her fingers tightly in her palm. “Who that man was, why everything that happened that last night happened, and…who I used to be. Just…please…don’t interrupt me until I’m done…otherwise, I…” She looked into his eyes, her own slowly forming tears. “I won’t be able to finish.”