The name came out of my mouth like a word that I had not said in a very long time. It was a name that I had not spoken in years. It felt strange to say it again. The name sounded bad like something I should not be saying.
"Vernon…"
The frozen world shook badly like the whole thing was scared of that noise. Time started moving but it was slow and uneven. Dust came down from the sky. Blood dropped down from somewhere. A man was screaming in the distance because the pain had finally caught up with him again. The frozen world was still and quiet except, for that man screaming and the blood dripping.
Vernon stood up straight. Rolled his shoulders like it was no big deal. His smile did not look mean. That is what scared me the most. It was peaceful. It looked normal. It was almost kind. Vernons smile was calm and familiar almost gentle. That really frightened me about Vernon.
So he said, his voice was deep and steady, "You do remember the things that happened the memory of the past is still, with you. It seems that you do remember me Akira."
I held the sword really tight. The leather gloves were wrapped around my hands. My knuckles were white with tension. My heart was beating loud in my ears that I could not hear much else.. Then I started to hear the sounds of the warehouse coming back to life. I heard people groaning and shouting. I heard weapons falling to the floor as the spell started to wear off. The sword was still clutched in my hand. My heartbeat was still pounding in my ears as I stood there in the warehouse. The spell was losing its power. Everything was slowly going back, to normal. I was still holding the sword tight.
"You were really dead " I said to him. "I saw the whole thing happen. I saw you catch on fire. I held your body in my arms. I buried your body in the ground -"
Vernon cut in raising his hand. "You buried what they allowed you to see, brother." he said. With this move the five hundred Drakans behind him fell to their knees all at once overcome with fear that did not belong to them. It was fear the thing Lucifer had put into my soul. The Drakans were really scared it was like they could not breathe. Vernon and the Drakans and Lucifer and my soul it was, about fear.
My stomach got all twisted up inside. It was like my stomach was doing flips. My stomach was really twisted.
So it is true I whispered to him," You have his mark on you well."
Vernon looked at his chest. His fingers touched the scar. It was like he was touching a medal he had gotten a time ago. He said "It was Lucarious...The angel of our dad, remember? It just took a secrifice of your friend."
Anger rose up like a dark wave. The rage felt very strong. It was, like a black tide that was coming to overwhelm everything. The rage was powerful. It was growing.
I asked him out, " So news was true. You killed him?" I roared with anger at him. I wanted to know how many people got hurt because of him. How years of their lives did he take away. He had to have done something to get where he is so I asked him, "And how many innocent people did you hurt to get to that place?
Vernon laughed quietly. "Are you still saying this is about being innocent?" he asked. Look at all the people, around you Akira. He pointed to the gang members on their knees. Some of them were. Some were scratching their ears. They were hearing voices that nobody else could hear. It was driving them crazy. Vernon said "You and I are not here to decide who is right or wrong. The Vernon and Akira are just being used for something. We both killing humans after all."
"No!!!" I shouted with anger, stepping forward my blade is low. "I'm cleaning the world by wiping the trash in mortals. I chose this path for myself. I chose to deal with the weight of my decisions. You on the other hand chose to hide behind masks and lies. The path of the Sword of Justice is not an easy one but I will not back down." I hesitated to say next word and whispered, "In my eyes you are criminal too. Don't think I'll hesitate to cut your throat with my own sword."
His eyes got really dark but it was not because he was mad it was because of something that had been inside him, for a long time something that went way back.
He smiled and replied to me, " Akira you know why you never win in hide n seak from me? Because you always follow rules. Now you own devine power of devil , in a dream to fix this world, yet play this game of blood with rules."
The memory hit me like a punch.
Ash-stained streets. Sirens in the distance. Two boys running from a world already broken.
Vernon kept talking. He walked around me really slow. He said "You lost every time Akira... You even failed to save our mother sweet heart."
I took a step forward really fast.
Our swords met again the steel screaming as we clashed. This time there was no pause, no testing to see what the other person would do. Every strike I made was filled with years of resentment that I had been holding inside. He fought like I did. No, like what I might have become if I had not held myself back. He was brutal and efficient. There was no wasted movement. Every time I left myself open it was like I was promising him that he could kill me. Our swords meeting again was a thing. Every strike he made was strong. Meant to hurt me. He did not hold back all.
The man completely caught me off guard. Disarmed me. I was really surprised that he was able to disarm me easily. The way he disarmed me was very quick and simple.
The sword spun out of my hand. Slid across the concrete. His foot hit my wrist before I could even move. I heard my bone crack. This caused a lot of pain to shoot up my arm. I took a steps back. I was gasping for air. The sword was still lying on the concrete.
Vernon said "enough". Then he lowered his blade. This was not what he wanted to do when he came here. I could tell from his behavior, he would not kill me yet.
I coughed blood out of mouth. My ribs were broken, I could bearly stand.
Vernon looked at me with eyes of arrogance. I could clearly see his eyes were shouting, " Look Akira I'm no longer kid , I'm stronger then you now."