Hugh The Southern Flame (Chaos Chronicles Book 2)

By R. J. Tolson

Centuries past, the world of Evos fell into war as its inhabitants battled over the powerful Nios Crystal, said to allow its user to control fear itself. After the crystal was lost and worldwide destruction blanketed the land, a band of survivors founded six great cities across the globe, never leaving their dream of global domination behind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Universal Kingdom Print
• Release date: Aug 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9780990329954

Book preview

I’ve always known what I needed to do.

Pride

Independence

I’ve been drowning in shoes too deep.

Ambition

Recognition

I wish the sun would come out and burn away the soles.

Fantasy

I’m just so tired of being alone.

Ignorance

– Hugh

Chapter 1

Burst City

It’s said that hundreds of years ago, the most powerful tool in existence, the Nios Crystal, was discovered in the remains of a remote jungle village. The stone granted the holder control over both the darkness of our hearts and the corrupter of our mind: fear itself. Knowing it was the catalyst of the Great War, we called it humanity’s most deadly and reliable enemy—and I needed it. Eventually, after the crystal had been lost, the war over its control ended and a new age of reformation and technology came. Problem was, as a lowly university student, I had no way of getting any more information on it, let alone searching for it.

One would think that with the technological advancements made on this planet in the five hundred years since the Great War, living on Evos would be easier, and maybe in some ways it was, but the competition between the six great cities of the world had recently halted the rapid development of technology. Of what we called the eight great environments, six were huge cities, the seventh the Grand Seas, and the eighth and most dangerous—the Wastelands—encompassed all of the land outside of the cities’ borders, unexplored terrain where the biggest population of humans lived, with gruesome creatures that roamed the land. The infamous crystal was said to be somewhere in the vast area of the Wastelands, waiting to be found.

Although I had recently moved from my home village, Meridian, to Burst City, I still knew very little about the other cities and the Wastelands, considering we spent most of our time studying under the Evolution program, or EVP. Like the five other great cities of the world, Burst City had a primary focus on researching psychic powers—but with the addition of higher technology. Due to some covert power the government held over the rest of the region, even outside Burst, most of the other great cities were far more primitive, and in most cases, if not all, did not have access to electricity like Burst did. Comprising almost three million people, seventy-five percent of them students, Burst City boasted itself the most technologically advanced of the cities. Even though each city was a city-state, the citizens of the five other cities sent their children to Burst City if they could afford to.

By enrolling in EVP, the citizens of Burst studied to develop their potential supernatural powers. Over time, these powers developed through levels ranging from zero to five, with rare cases known as specials. Once a student ascended past level zero, which was for people who had begun the program but had not achieved results yet, they become what was generally known as an Esper: a person who had achieved some sort of ability. The stronger the ability and the more control an Esper had over it, the higher the level they were. That, of course, was where I came in.

Nothing more than an average student and athlete, I was constantly made fun of for my pale skin and red-tinted hair. Through what must have been sheer luck, I had somehow ranked as a level-one Esper through the reality exam, the city-wide test that ranks a person according to his power and degree of control and how easily they will develop.

Hugh! yelled a familiar voice. Hey mate, stop daydreaming, class is over!

Turning my head away from the window and my view of the sunny weather, I grabbed my notebook from my desk, threw it into my backpack, and stood up with a smile.Thanks, Zane, I said as I followed him out of the classroom. Want to grab a bite to eat on our way?

Sure, good idea, he replied as we made our way through the mass of high school students surrounding us in the center hall. I know a great new burger place, it’s crazy good!

Stepping outside of Burst Central High, a huge building designed to look like a castle from the ages of myth, Zane and I made our way through the front garden entrance. Generally a loner, I didn’t hang out with anyone aside from Zane, and even then, calling it hanging out could be a stretch.

I heard there has been a rise in crime lately, stated Zane as we began our walk toward the East Shopping Sector of the city. If only SCAN wasn’t known for being so slow with their work. SCAN, Burst City’s security force, had recently had a change in command and seemed to still be adjusting to it, as they always arrived late to crime scenes.I can see how that could happen, I replied with a frown. Did you notice a change in the color of the ground?

Yeah, man! answered Zane as we continued. I don’t remember why exactly, though.

The ground, normally made of some silver-colored substance, now looked as though it had been replaced with red bricks. After passing by a few large white buildings, generally research facilities, we reached the East Shopping Sector. Surrounded by several stores, a large grassy park filled the center of the sector. Making our way over to the middle of the park, Zane and I walked up to a red burger stand titled Burger Dreams.

I’ll get a fire burger! ordered Zane with excitement as he handed over his credit card to pay. Actually, I’ll have two!

Turning around, Zane faced me with the biggest smile anyone could ever have. Only of average height, around six feet, with long black hair, he always joked about how his tanned arms would be as muscular-looking as his legs one day, something he was infinitely proud of. He handed me one of the burgers and I thanked him, as it was his turn today to buy dinner.

Well, Hugh, Zane said as he patted me on the back before running off, burger in hand, I got a train to catch!

Laughing at how he constantly seemed to amuse me, I had forgotten that he had to make his train back to his district. Although we lived in the same direction from the school, he lived in an outer-city district, while my student apartment was located at the end of the East Shopping Sector. Deciding to take a second to finish my hamburger, I sat down on a bench facing the bank.

Oh, said a man on the other side of the bench. That smells pretty good!

Although I normally didn’t talk to random people in the city, I laughed and agreed with him. Glancing to my left to see whom the voice belonged to, I almost choked on my burger. Wearing a black-and-white striped sweat suit, the man obviously had something hidden inside his sweatshirt, as his back stuck out unnaturally. He wore a white hat that made it hard to see his face and held an old black-and-white newspaper that looked like it came from the Great War era.

I wonder why the bank’s metal shutters are down during the middle of the day? I asked, thinking aloud.

Peculiar, isn’t it, commented the man in an interested tone.

Well, I said with an awkward sigh as I got up from the bench, have a good day.

You too, kid! said the guy as I began to cross the street.

Accidently bumping into a hooded person as I looked to the side of the road for cars, I turned around to say sorry, only to be suddenly and violently blown backward. Having to take a second to regain my composure and hearing from the loud blast, I sat up and looked around as the smoke from the explosion quickly cleared.

Hey, called a calm voice, do you mind getting off me?

Realizing I had toppled the guy I had just accidently bumped into before the blast, I stood up, apologizing. Glancing toward the bank, where the explosion had obviously occurred, I now understood why the security shutters had been closed.

Out of our way! yelled an oversize man as he jumped out of the bank entrance, followed by two other men with masks on their faces carrying several black bags. Come on, don’t just stand there! Let’s go!

Turning as if to make their way across the street and into the park, the biggest of the three robbers came to a halt. Shocked and in disbelief, I looked on from a few feet away as the young boy I had knocked into stood in the middle of the road, blocking the criminals’ route. Standing around average height, just as I, the boy’s features could now be seen; I assumed the blast must have knocked off his hood. Looking to be around seventeen years old, the light-brown-skinned, green-eyed, lean-built boy glared up at the three men from under his brown bangs.

Because of you, he said in an agitated but soft voice, with an accent I had never heard before, my ice cream spilled all over my shirt.

What’s this? yelled the three men in laughter before the biggest of the three moved forward, bringing his right fist swinging toward the kid. Do you want to die?

Without thinking in the slightest, I jumped in front of the kid, only to be knocked straight back on the ground in front of him. Bleeding from my lip and in pain, I questioned myself as to why I had risked myself for someone I didn’t even know.

Who’s this, eh? asked the robber as he brought his fist back a second time, swinging on a course to meet his previously intended target.

But before his punch could get any closer, a loud sound filled the air as the man fell onto the ground in agony.

Damn, SCAN is already here, exclaimed one of the other criminals as they backed away in fear. Jovah, you all right?

Yeah, said the man as he stopped rolling around on the ground. Take care of them for us, Makel.

With pleasure, replied Makel, the shortest of the three, as he walked in front of us, facing the park.

Across the street stood six SCAN officers, all of them dressed in light-blue uniforms with black, tough-looking vests and the gray-star security emblem on their shoulders, holding rectangular black hand-sized guns that were known to shoot almost instant knockout darts.

You are under arrest for property damage and robbery, announced one of the officers through a microphone. Step away from the civilians and put your hands up in the air to surrender and be taken into custody!

You heard them, said Jovah. Raise your hands in the air.

They were obviously up to something. I suddenly heard yells of agony from the direction of SCAN. Turning my attention toward them, I gazed in horror as a few of the officers fell to the floor. All of their guns looked as if they were slowly melting away.

Finish them so we can get out of here before more of them show up! commanded Jovah as he picked himself up.

One of the other robbers whipped his arms toward the SCAN officers. I watched as purple bullets of liquid erupted from his fingertips at high speed, only to disappear a few feet from their target.

I don’t think that would be a very good idea, declared a voice I felt like I had heard recently. You don’t want to add murder to your charges, do you?

Confused as to how and why the man who had been sitting next to me on the bench was standing in front of the officers, unharmed and not scared, I grabbed the boy next to me and backed away from the criminals, in awe. Throwing off his white hat and striped white-and-black shirt, the man revealed a muscular body covered in scars. Behind him hung a silver rod stretching the length of his back, while his short black hair, five-o’clock shadow, and cool demeanor made him look like he belonged in an action book.

Who are you? asked Jovah. Get out of our way!

I can’t just sit by and watch such a pathetic scene, can I? asked the man in a sarcastic tone as he began making his way toward the group. What kind of agent would I be?

If you don’t get out of our way, we will kill— Makel began before stopping midsentence. Wait, what? Agent?

Agents—or dogs of the government, as they were infamously known for being—were specialized officers trained to handle extreme situations as well as tasks for the higher-ups. Anyone was said to be able to apply when given the chance, but the acceptance rate was nearly zero. Rarely seen in everyday life in Burst City, they operated under a different code and standard than the rest of society. Any other information about them was kept secret from the public.

You’re an agent? asked Jovah. No, no, no, there’s no way; agents don’t get involved with internal affairs like these, everybody knows that. Kill him!

Launching off the ground, the muscular man looked as if he were gliding across the street as he ran toward Makel. Dodging the now-noticeable purple liquid with ease, leaving behind burnt holes in the ground, the man closed in on Makel. Inches away, the agent flicked his left wrist upward, intercepting Makel’s own wrist, causing the purple acidic substance to be misdirected. Instantly, the agent brought his right leg around, kicking the criminal Esper on the backside of his knees. Thrown off balance, Makel fell backward toward the ground as the man brought his forearm down against Makel’s chest, pushing him against the pavement.

Two more, indicated the agent as he stood in front of Jovah and the other robber.

We may be criminals, said Jovah as he put his hands up, but we aren’t stupid. We surrender.

I would have to disagree, said the agent as he tied up the criminals with electrical binding handcuffs. Criminals like you always shock me. To think you will be able to get away with things like this in Burst City—I can never understand it.

Even with an Esper, we can’t compete with a full-fledged agent, said Jovah. We were just unlucky.

Although your grunt’s poison is pretty developed, a level-three Esper with no combat training would never be able to do any serious damage, said the agent as he handed over the criminals to the recently arrived SCAN officers. Atone for your crimes in jail.

Walking over to us, the agent put his hand on my shoulder. Are you okay, kid?

I think so, I said as I wiped off some of the dried blood from my lip. Just shocked.

Good, he said with a smile. I saw your well-meant intentions. You’re a good guy. How’s your friend doing?

Ah, well, actually, I said as we both glanced over at him, I don’t really know—

Hey you! called the boy as he looked back at us with sorrowful eyes. My ice cream…

The agent burst out laughing. What a funny kid. It’s good he can use jokes to laugh situations like these off. I’m glad to have met you. What’s your name?

I’m Hugh, I answered.

I am Nova, he stated. I am an agent of Burst. You guys go home and get some rest, all right?

Waving as he walked away, I looked around to realize SCAN had already begun to attend to the people inside of the bank, but it looked as though everyone had come out with fairly minimal injuries.

Hey, I called as I walked up to the kid next to me. Are you sure you’re okay?

Surprised at how calm the boy had remained throughout the whole robbery and confused as to why he was so depressed at the mere fact that his ice cream had spilled with everything else that had gone on, I persuaded the boy to come with me by offering to buy him a new cone, which he happily accepted.

Are you sure you are all right? I asked as I handed him a scoop of strawberry ice cream in a chocolate-covered cone.

Now I am, he said as he ate the scoop in a rush, smiling afterward. Thanks.

No problem, I asked, still dumbfounded as to how he could act like nothing had happened. I was still shaking a little bit.

Well, he said as he got up, throwing his hood over his head, I’ve got to be going. I’ll see you later.

Wow, I said as I looked at the time on my phone, turning back to the boy, it’s already seven— Feeling a bit hysterical, I found the boy nowhere in sight. I was going to ask your name, I thought.

Not really ready for any more out-of-the-ordinary experiences, I sprinted to my student apartment complex down the street from the park, took the elevator up to the fifth floor, and placed my hand on the small black metal box next to my door. Instantly, a blue screen lit up as a wave of yellow light flashed under my hand, scanning my handprint and unlocking the door. Without turning the light on, I trudged through the small, dark passageway leading to my studio bedroom. Dropping dead onto the mattress, I closed my eyes and sighed. Goodnight, I mumbled to myself as I sank into my soft, warm, safe bed.

Chapter 2

A Cemetery Night

It’s funny how you never realize how relative to a person events and experiences truly are. Although I had heard a few kids talking about the bank robbery while walking through the Burst High School halls, I noticed that everyone was going on with their daily routines like nothing had happened. And to be honest, rather than feeling shaken like I had yesterday, I no longer felt that way. It wasn’t that I had just recovered from the shock instantly, but rather the feeling had been replaced with something I couldn’t explain.

Hey man, said Zane as he came from the direction of the bathroom, down the hall from our only class of the day. Looks like you are late as usual!

Yeah, I responded with a smile and sigh. You know me, ready for another boring day of oh-so-exciting EVP classes.

Well actually, Zane began as he wrapped his left arm around my shoulder, taking a step forward to open the white classroom door and guide me in, looks like we have something a bit cooler going on today.

From what I had seen of the schools in Meridian, a village that stood just outside of the giant walls circling the outside of Burst City, although our city facilities were newer and bigger, the inside of our classrooms looked exactly the same as the Meridian schools’—a chalkboard and teaching stand at the front, the smallest and most uncomfortable station chairs with desks attached facing the board. But the windows showcased a view of the beautiful layers of the city below—the only escape offered from the draining curriculum.

Entering the classroom, I found that everyone was seated as usual, only to look up and find the teacher, Ms. Rie, smiling with utter joy as she told everyone to be seated. Unlike usual, though, a large, familiar figure leaned against the chalkboard, staring out the window.

Nova? I exclaimed in confusion without thinking.

Hey, buddy! he greeted me as he immediately moved off the board, the look of boredom no longer spread across his face. Hugh, right? What a coincidence!

I laughed out loud before realizing I had momentarily forgotten the rest of the class. Nova looked exactly the same as yesterday, still sporting his black-and-white sweat suit.

Hugh, called Ms. Rie with a very obvious fake smile, please return to your seat so our school’s special guest may start his presentation for this class.

Yes, Ms. Rie, I said while apologizing and sitting down at my seat near the front of the class next to the window.

That’s a good kid you got there, declared Nova as he stood in front of the class, towering over all of us. It’s been quite a while since I was last in school, but it looks like the inside of a classroom never changes.

Grabbing a small duffle bag from behind the teacher’s stand, Nova unzipped it. To our genuine shock, not only did he pull out a short black sword, the same length as the bag, but he flipped it around his finger like nothing.

First off, my name is Nova. I also happen to be an agent, he announced as he placed the sword in front of him for all to see. Ignoring the surprised sounds of the students, Nova placed the sword back in his bag. That is just one of the many weapons one may train in when becoming an agent. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself, and I need to keep this short to get through all the classes. Do any of you know what an agent is and what we do?

Seeing him being the first to raise his hand, Nova picked Zane to answer.

Like SCAN officers, agents do work for Burst City’s government, right? asked Zane with an interested look.

That’s a pretty good place to start, but it’s a little more detailed than that, Nova explained. Agents are an elite separate division within Burst City’s government forces. When one becomes an agent, they gain access to the agent database that has classified information not available to any other, they can use ninety-five percent of all public places at no cost, they get elite missions with unfathomable rewards, and more.

Wows echoed from the back of the classroom to the front as the students glanced at each other in excitement.

But before any of that can be obtained, one must pass the agent exam, declared Nova as his face turned stern. And before you are even given the right to take the exam, you must pass the two parts of agent training, a rigorous program designed to not only test your limits, but to see if the potential to pass the exam is there.

But what if you’re an Esper? asked Zane with a focused expression. Are they already assured to pass the exam?

Both Espers and level zeroes can be agents, Nova said as he put his hands in his pockets. Those who begin the training process find that it doesn’t matter if your abilities have surfaced or not. Most people don’t make it past part one of the process, let alone the part two.

Instantly, it felt as though the atmosphere in the classroom had changed from excitement to gloom as the students sighed and looked downward toward the floor in silence.

I want to join, I said as I abruptly stood up from my desk, breaking the silence. I made sure to look only toward Nova. Everyone, including Ms. Rie, seemed to be in shock. It was obvious what they were thinking. Why would the quietest, most unfocused, and least competitive of the students in the class want to do something said to be the hardest of the hardest? They, of course, knew nothing about me—but they loved to look down on me.

I want to be strong, I want to make a difference. I don’t want to be weak anymore, I stated as the students around me quickly recovered from their shock, transitioning into laughter.

This isn’t a joke, Hugh, please sit down, said Ms. Rie as she turned around to face Nova with a fake smile. Please continue, Mr. Agent.

Frowning while disappointed at not being taken seriously, I decided to sit back down as Nova began to speak.

I have decided on the process I will use to pass or fail those who wish to join the Agency through a simple question, said Nova as he smiled. Put your hand on your desk if you would like to never deal with fear again, and raise your hand if you would rather conquer fear itself.

As I looked around at the rest of the class, I noticed they all had their hands on their desks, but even though I didn’t know if it would be the right choice, I raised my hand in the air.

Now, am I correct to assume most of you who put your hands on your desks think life would be easier without fear, or something to that effect? The class mumbled a yes here and there. Well, I’m sorry to say, but everyone who put their hand on their desk failed. If you would like to apply the next time a recruitment period comes by, please do so.

What? Yelped a few in the class. That’s not fair!

But let me leave with this. Hugh, please come up here, directed Nova as the class glared at me. Please explain to me why you would rather conquer fear than abolish it.

Fear is one of the things that push us to grow stronger as people. I don’t want to be weak, and to conquer fear, you must be strong.

The class was speechless again. Nova disrupted the silence with his overbearing laugh. That is the kind of thinking we are looking for in people. Welcome to the Agency, Hugh.

Opening my eyes in surprise, I smiled and laughed as Nova patted my shoulder. Thank you, Nova!

Don’t thank me yet, he said as he picked up his bag. Your training information will be sent to your home. I’ll see you again if you pass the exam and become a rookie.

Watching until Nova had disappeared through the door, I walked back to my seat and looked up at the ceiling. Not believing what had just happened, I perked my ears as the teacher called attention to the front of the class. Even though she began her lesson like it had been any other day, it was obvious the rest of the class was disgruntled.

Most of the rest of the day went along like any other. Even knowing it was my last day here, as I would stop attending to join the Agency on Monday, the rumor that Hugh was the only one to be accepted to the Agency in his class seemed to have spread throughout the school.

Finishing up my classes, I waited for Zane to meet me at the front of the school for twenty minutes, only to be let down. Wondering why Zane hadn’t let me know he wasn’t meeting up to head to the East District today, I made my way to the outside of the front garden at the gigantic entrance to the school.

Deciding to treat myself to my favorite place to eat in the city, considering I probably wouldn’t be able to go for a long while, I walked over to the closest metro at the beginning of the East Shopping Sector. Jogging down the slight slope that led to the platform, I hopped onto it, only to find that I would need to run to make the train that was about to leave for the Travel Sector. Choosing to be lazy and wait for the next train, I looked down toward the end of the train, only to see a familiar-looking face.

No way! I yelled aloud without realizing it.

Sure that I had glimpsed the face of the ice-cream kid I had met at the bank robbery, I launched off the platform floor at full speed, almost gliding through the train doors as they closed behind me. Entering the inside of the car, I turned to the right. Sitting down on one of the bright white benches that stretched down to the end of the car, I faced the direction I thought the boy was in. As I began to feel the train move, I looked above the doors through which I had entered the train.

Next stop is the Travel Sector, in five minutes, announced the computer that operated the train in a prerecorded female voice. Reminder, the last stop for this train is the Stigma Sector Cemetery.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to leave until the train stopped, I took out my outdated flip phone. Checking my data bar, since our phones were all interconnected through the Burstnet, a Burst City–only network that allowed us to transfer and receive data quickly, I decided to give Zane a ring. Almost immediately, the call went to voicemail.

That’s weird, I thought to myself as the train came to a stop. Snapping my phone shut while quickly putting it in the side pocket of my backpack, I stood up as the computer announced Travel Sector. As the train doors opened, I made sure to make it out first. Stepping onto what looked like the exact same underground platform as the one in the East Shopping Sector, I turned to my left while casually walking toward the car the ice-cream boy was in.

After making sure he hadn’t moved from his seat with a few quick glances from afar, I rushed over to the car next to his, identical to the previous car. I sat on the same side as the boy in the other car while making sure not to be noticed. Wondering where he was going and why he looked like he was paying close attention to a mysterious hooded figure sitting a few seats ahead of him, I decided that I would postpone my trip to my favorite restaurant in the Travel Sector to try to get some answers.

Deciding to wait until the boy got off the train to confront him, I took out my phone again to see the time. Eight p.m. It wasn’t too late. Hoping that I wouldn’t have to wait too long and that he would get off at the next stop, I was disappointed as he stayed seated. After each stop-and-go sequence, I waited for my chance to book it off the train, only to stay on over and over again as we headed out to what looked like the Northern District on the train map.

Without realizing I had fallen asleep, I jolted awake as I heard Final stop, Stigma Sector Cemetery from the intercom. Jumping up, I saw the car I was in had emptied out. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I found that the boy and the cloaked figure he had been following stood at opposite ends of their car, gazing at the door. As the doors opened, I slowly made my way toward the exit as I tried to walk far enough behind the two to seem like I was doing my own thing. Surprised that the boy was in front and the hooded figure followed behind this time, I followed them out of the platform and into the northern part of the Stigma Sector.

The Stigma Sector was a new place to me. As I hadn’t been in Burst City for more than a year, unlike many of the students in the city, I hadn’t traveled around to each sector yet. Immediately after leaving the station, I stopped in awe at the site before me. In front of me towered a large fountain, glowing brightly with what looked like a statue of a headless man. Below, embossed into a metal plate, was Surtr, a name probably taught to us in class when I had not been paying attention. I softly jumped around broken pieces of glass and trash that looked like they had been there for a while.

Almost losing sight of the boy and his pursuer, I rushed past the broken fountain and through a narrow alleyway that led into an open street. With streetlamps to illuminate the dark sky overhead, I made sure to stay far enough behind the two figures so that if I made a sound, they wouldn’t hear it. As I followed, I noticed that most of the buildings surrounding us were power-plant-like facilities with large weed-filled fields separating each facility on both sides of the street. I realized I had heard a little about the Stigma sector.

Known as the most dangerous sector because of constant poor order and low security, people even went out of their way to avoid the sector on their travels elsewhere. Along with the reformatories and nuclear facilities, the sector had gone to the rats years ago because of the constant gang activity in the area. Delinquents of Burst City, both Espers and level zeroes of all ages, made up the many gangs that resided in the sector, where they had become known for their cruel and destructive tendencies. As such, only those who wished to stay in the city but could not afford to live elsewhere stayed in this risky area.

Turning my focus back to my self-appointed mission, I found that both the boy and his pursuer had turned down a passageway on the side of a large gray building just before the street we had been on lightened up and, in the distance, a lighted, urban-like area could be seen. Coming up to the corner of the wall where the figures had turned, I listened to hear if they had stopped just beyond. Hearing the sounds of their footsteps still hitting the ground in the distance, I quickly turned my head around the corner to get a glimpse.

Against the wall of the building, which stood at least two stories, I glanced up to get a better look at what I had previously glimpsed. Having always wondered where the graveyard of Burst City was, I realized I had found my answer. It was too dark for me to be able to see the back end of the graveyard, let alone the sides, but I snuck over to the very front of the cemetery entrance. Standing about a hundred feet away from me, in the center of the closer part of the graveyard, surrounded by tombstones, the two figures stopped walking as I hid behind one of the two large, red-leaf-covered trees that framed the entrance. Barely poking my head out from behind the tree trunk, I looked on at the scene.

Standing a few feet away from each other with their sides facing in my direction, the ice-cream boy and the hooded figure seemed to be sizing each other up. Pulling off the hood and revealing a light-skinned, short-haired twenty-something-year-old man, as far as I could tell, the man spoke.

You shouldn’t have come to Burst City, he said with a raspy, deep voice, as if his lungs were filled with smoke.

Why is that? asked the boy with a bored tone.

You shouldn’t even be alive, from what I hear! But either way, your family isn’t welcome here, replied the man with a cough. I will avenge Zage.

Who? asked the boy, wearing an innocent expression on his face. Look, mate, you seem to know about my family. I’m different from them. How about you just keep quiet about me being here, and we just go along our separate ways?

What? responded the man in confusion as the boy began to start walking toward him, hand behind his head, wearing a smile. Reaching into his pocket, the man brought out a small pocketknife and pointed it at the boy. Abruptly running, almost in what looked like a lopsided way, the man raised his knife as he closed in on the boy, screaming, I will get revenge for Zage!

Seconds from the knife descending on the boy, I found myself closing my eyes. Realizing what I was doing, I forced them open to bear witness to what was before me—finding that where the man’s blade would have slashed through the boy’s chest, there was nothing but air. Looking around the man, I realized the boy had disappeared. Is he an Esper? I questioned in my own mind.

So you’re an Esper? yelled the man in question. Teleportation won’t save you!

No, said the boy. Jumping up in surprise while turning around toward the direction of where the voice sounded like it had come from, the man made a confused expression once again. I’m not a teleporter.

Quickly twisting his head around to look behind him, this time the man met a physical figure with the voice. Appearing out of what seemed like nowhere with his hand on the man’s shoulder blade, the boy jumped a step back.

You can’t even hurt me the way you are now, declared the boy as he gazed at the man with a serious look. Just go back home to your gang.

No! yelled the man in response as he tried to tackle the boy. Disappearing from sight again as the man collided with the grassy field of the graveyard, the boy reappeared in front of him with his hand against the gangster’s throat.

Let me rephrase what I said before, stated the boy, this time not just with his hand to the man’s throat, but with an invisible pressure, like gravity, that hit not only