His vision, his surroundings, they focused into view. Titus felt the burning sensation in his eyes go away.
He dropped to his knees in utter astonishment, his ancestor's advice proved useful.
He kept silent on the concrete walkway, a cacophony of thoughts swirled in his mind. Titus could see Asher running hastily to the school. A few minutes passed; the sky grew darker and the sun dimmed. Cars drove by and the wind blew.
Titus took a deep breath, then pulled on his dreads. He exhaled and closed his eyes.
I should head back.
He got on his feet then took a step towards Asher's direction. Suddenly his vision warped, reality stretched and folded for a second time. The campus entrance became his new location.
How? Wasn't that a one time thing? At least nobody saw...
"Is... is that you? Titus?" Asher heaved, he hunched over, clutching his chest. Titus blinked twice, then he nodded his head.
"We should get inside before it rains." Asher, still in unbelief, asked again.
"Are you Titus or a phantom?" He sighed,
"Yes, I'm me." the cool rainy breeze began to blow. "It's hard to believe but yes. I'm not about to catch a cold staying here so please let's go inside.."
Titus opened the entrance and stepped inside.
He vanished.
. . . .
The wind and rain smashed against Titus, beside him lay a clutter of weathered stones, waves crashed against stony cliffs in the distance. An expanse of wet grass was beneath his feet, to his back the ruins of a castle long destroyed and abandoned.
Again? How? Wait… I wanted to enter a building not a field. Could I control whatever this phenomena is?
Ah it's cold, let me try that place.
Titus began to focus on the edge of the cliff, his brow furrowed as his vision narrowed and contorted on his destination.
His eyes felt hot again. Reality bent around and through him, raising the hair on Titus' back.
He now faced the vast expanse of the sea, a realization dawned on him.
It worked?! If I ever see that old man again, I'm going to thank him.
Titus looked down upon the sea below, then he jumped down into the watery maw. There was no fear in his heart, the turbulent water inched closer and closer.
The second his hand touched the water, he immediately appeared on the balcony of the ruined castle. Titus was certain, this phenomena was truly in his control.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
Behind him, Titus heard a shout through the rain.
Titus whipped around, a man with a mullet and a duffel bag emerged from the damp archway. He was dressed in an orange jersey, white cargo pants and a bracelet with the initials C, V and A.
Titus immediately recognized him, his stomach went cold. The hazel green eyes reverted to brown.
"Answer the question, what are you doing on my property?"
"I'll leave, don't worry." Titus instantly transported to the base of the castle.
… It didn't work, why am I still at the cliff?
The man dropped his duffel bag; he became intrigued by Titus' power.
"Where are you going!" he shouted.
Titus didn't even process his words, he immediately bolted towards a gravel pathway in the woods across from the ruin. Miguel sighed. His shadow became vantablack, and then he simply sank into it, vanishing instantly.
As Titus was running to the woods, Miguel grabbed the collar of his jacket. He recoiled back and fell to wet grass hitting his head.
A sharp, throbbing pain surged through his body, then he felt a warm sensation. Blood was welling up in his mouth and nose.
"You won't be harmed, I just want to talk. My name is Miguel." The corners of Titus' vision were hazy and dark, Miguel's words gave him an odd peace.
"I won't be harmed, huh? Send me to a hospital," Titus asked weakly. His body relaxed, and he became unconscious.
I should have known better.
Miguel lamented while looking down on Titus. He raised his head to see a car rushing through the trail, it screeched to a halt right in front of him.
The car buckled as the owner exited. Miguel was horrified and infuriated at the sight of him.
"Zanze," Miguel snarled. He jumped back and enveloped himself in a dark mist while reaching into his back pocket.
Zanze hoisted Titus onto his shoulder and glared at Miguel. He opened the door of his jeep and gently placed him inside. He placed Titus' rain drenched jacket in the front seat .
With a quiet click he closed the door.
He took a stretch and cracked his knuckles. The space around the car warped then instantly the car disappeared.
Miguel sneered.
"It's been a while, you damn traitor."
Zanze glared even more intensely at him.
"Do you love your life?"
* * * * * * * *
Titus swayed in and out of consciousness as his father was driving him through the Scottish countryside. The rain had ended and music was playing softly through the radio.
Titus suddenly inhaled deeply and coughed out bits of blood. Zanze adjusted his rearview mirror to look at him.
"You're awake, try not to move too much." He said softly. "Uvva…. Why am I in your car?" Titus mumbled.
"It is because you accidentally teleported to a place where a bad person lived, you got knocked out by him, then I had to drive all the way there to get you." He explained with an unhappy tone.
Titus was shocked, his dad explained what happened to him perfectly.
"How did you know?" Titus asked, he did not answer immediately. Zanze decided to focus on driving.
After a few minutes he decided to speak.
"This might be hard to understand, so bear with me.." He stated, "All sentient things have willpower, correct?" Zanze asked.
"Obviously," Titus replied.
"People with strong willpower and the descendants of such people are inclined to have unnatural abilities. In your case, it is the ability to teleport. The manifestation of willpower is generally called Mandala, it is the reason why you were able to teleport. When you use the ability other people with strong willpower can sense your presence."
Zanze took a breath.
"Try not to use your powers too much or else you will attract more people like you and me around us." Zanze explained.
Titus furrowed his brow,
"Why would that be a problem?"
Zanze took a long sigh and grasped his forehead. He recoiled back in pain from touching a miniscule wound.
"Power... It tends to be attracted to itself you see. When it coalesces, the end result is usually horrible."
Titus hummed in quiet agreement.
"So do you have supernatural powers?" Titus asked.
"Yes, though I prefer to call it a niche." He replied.
"Have you always had one?"
"No."
He glanced at his son through the mirror.
"Rest, you can question me later."