Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice!

Chapter 24

My God, what on earth will I do? If enough people are around, level five can destroy a single structure and injure many individuals. With it being so close to the school there isn't much hope for anyone here. If things keep going the way they are now, a lot of people could get killed. There is only so much that we can do.

I could call the girls back to help me maybe strengthen our numbers. However, I don't know if they will get back in time or if they are still having to close the portal. If it fully opens then the demon here might be the least of our worries. There's no time to hesitate; all these people are in danger. 

Running through the halls of the school to get to the exit the school bell rings. As kid's began to flood into the hallways., I do my best to dodge them left and right as I hear some of them shouting to slow down. 

Thinking to myself. Oh, but I wish I could right now. 

All of my team right now are exhausted from the portals opening up everywhere. Now we had finally found a solution to cut back on some of the chaos. Then this happens, it is like we are in one big chess match. We get one step ahead in the right direction. Then the enemy takes one of our pieces away in an unexpected move; sending our plans backward. 

Could honestly be coincidental that a level five showing up here now? It makes me wonder if the portals were ironic or decoys. Or maybe I don't know how but just bad luck. 

With our abilities, the girls ought to be able to sense the creature's presence by now and be returning soon. I will find a way to endure, at worst, I can buy some time before the girls return. 

Just as I got out the door; I gasped in realization, I was looking for this demon and could not even sense its presence. It should be overwhelming at a level 5 but to my surprise, I couldn't feel anything! 

Was something jamming my senses or did it leave already? I could not change it, so I started searching outside of the school looking for this monstrosity. 

I proceeded to the back of the school where the tennis court and a little woodland area are situated just beyond the chain-link fence. I chose to rely on my basic instincts even though I was unable to detect anything. My gut told me that this would be a wonderful spot for it to hide. Not sure, why something this powerful would be hiding. 

I released my blade as I called to my sword to "Soar Rising Crane" I gripped the hilt as I slowly crept into the woods; as I observed my surroundings.

Around the back of a large tree standing by the school sports shed was none other than the Demon Phoenix standing there. 

My stomach knotted up even tighter now. I could feel my face becoming feverish and hot. This guy got under my skin. 

After going without him for over two months, he has the gall to return once more. I was so angry that we had to work endlessly to clean up this things mess. He has taunted us some much in the past enough was enough. 

I know at the time he first appeared, we didn't have the right technology to tell us what his level was. Was he always level five? I don't get it, nothing seemed new about him. I mean I could see he looked the same; where his wing once was had some sort of bandage.

The moment our eyes made contact he took his beak around the bandages and pulled them off from his side. It came off unraveling; falling to the ground. 

He turned and looked at me; this had to be some joke thinking to myself. His wing regenerated from his body. Right before my eyes, 

He had many months to have grown it back and yet he waited until now as if taunting me. Was he trying to show that all my efforts did not affect him? 

Once his wing was fully regenerated he lifted them sharply into the air with a quick whip. His wings caused embers to fly dancing across the ground and trees. 

I felt the familiar heat of his flames scorched across my body but thankfully it was only about the mere tips of his flames. His behavior told me, he was quite proud of himself. 

He let out a large screech to the sky and preceded to breathe flames from his beak at me. This time I dodged behind the trees attempting not to get burnt. 

I have to be quick about this before he burns down the whole place. He's just trying to put on a big show. 

I bet he is here to exact his revenge, but what I don't understand is how he knows that I'm here. I hid my spiritual pressure I thought. Well, maybe I didn't do it so well since this is a fairly new practice. 

I stepped out from behind the trees and proceeded to attack. I gripped the hilt to the point of cutting off blood circulation to my knuckles they were white as both my hands wrapped around my sword. 

At a glance, I could see that the flames were enclosing us in this small area. He was trying to corner me and trap me as he had done before.

Look at you bird brain, this is old you've tried this trick before I taunted him. This area doesn't give us much room to move around. Why don't we just cut to the chase and let me take that arm back of yours? 

On the contrary, I think I want to take something back of yours. -

A voice erupted from the creature. Unlike any other time, the beast was speaking. He sounded like a human. His voice sounded familiar and around my age. 

This time we're going to play this game differently; "My way". I have a little bit more time on my hands than last time. I got to thank you for the hand you gave me or I should say stole. It inspired me he said, with a mischievous laugh. 

As he spoke his flames turned from a bright reddish-orange to an eerie blackish-red. 

The body of the bird morphed into a human as feathery embers shed off him and blew into the wind. 

The dark black smoke made it difficult to see him as he slowly approached closer. 

Where his beastly body once stood was a black portal burnt into the ground. As he walked away from the portal it began to glow and ripple with strange energy. Black lightning was shooting from it as malice poured from his direction. 

There was a red aura encircling him swirling with the smoke from all around the field. 

I could only stand there frozen in fear and amazement. I've never encountered a demon turning to a human form this must be what it meant to be a level five. 

It seems as though he had full control over that demon and it empowered him. 

Seconds before he was close enough to reach me one large gust of wind blew the black smoke so I could see his face. He had dark golden yellow eyes and short red spiky hair. 

I gasped, I thought, I heard his voice before it was, "Josh" Beck's best friend, who had left with his father some time ago. This must have been the reason why he had not been around for a while. 

Why Josh? Was all that I could come up with as he crept a little bit closer? 

I took a deep breath and confronted him. Do you realize what you're doing and who you're hurting? 

Becky cares about you a lot she's going to be devastated to see you in this condition. 

Condition!? My dear, I have been set free from the Immortal chains that bind us all. I have to say that it's thanks to you. 

Thanks to me? I haven't done anything to make you like this. 

Yes, but along the spiritual path that strengthened you. Additionally, it gradually started to unleash powers in those around you. Similar to Micah and Becky—yes, I am aware of the moment when their powers emerged. 

That said when you choose to become a Waymaker. I made the complete opposite decision, and a man presented me with a deal I could not refuse. He promised to grant me everything of my heart's desires, now look where we are. 

You think it's all worth it to sell your soul for all your treasures and desires. How far do you think this path will lead you? Do you feel like you have absolutely everything you've ever wanted? 

Is there not even a part of you that longs for anything else? Something that screams deep down inside of you that you're missing out; that there has to be more? 

Enough! I'm not looking for one of your petty inspirational speeches that persuade me to change my heart. I don't need saving what I need now is blood. 

So that's it; All the memories of growing up with Becky were tossed out the window. 

You want blood, so you're willing to spill hers too then! 

I said as I lunged forward and launched off the tree in anger. I was not looking to go for his arm; I'd take his head instead! 

If there's no persuading him then there's no way of saving him, I thought bitterly. He dodged my sword with overwhelming speed that my eyes could barely trace his movements. 

Looks like I am not the only one that is out for the blood, he said; toying with me. 

Mid dodge, he ducked down and drew back his fist. Slamming it as hard as he could into my lower ribs sending me traveling feet into the air. 

I got back up quickly and coughed blood. I quickly regained my composure. I must find a way around his new improved speed. 

I'm guessing you found that the Phoenix demon doesn't allow you to be so nimble. So you changed things up a bit even if it meant revealing your true nature. 

Yes indeed, I must confess, I'm not very mobile in that state. I'm not going to give you another chance to attack me. Not again, you won't so much as lay a scratch on me. 

I have to admit maybe I'm blind with rage and off my game. 

So much destruction that you caused to the townspeople. All these portals you've been opening up and now you're out here ready to hurt your so-called friends. Including someone who loves you. 

Who loves me? No one has ever loved me; you guys were only pretend friends. 

You don't get it, Becky has always been in love with you. She told, me since you guys were both kids. 

I told you already stop feeding me a bunch of nonsense. Especially things that you don't even know or understand. I asked that girl out a couple of times since we were little and growing up. Not once did she show any interest. 

She just laughed, shrugged It off, and ignored me. Your lies are but a sham. You're procrastinating your time away waiting for backup. I told you before that nothing is going to save you; I'm out for blood. 

It was never my intention to imagine that you would have changed your mind. What I simply told you, wasn't a lie. You were largely ignored since she was reluctant to speak with you. She was trying to abstain from bringing you any more suffering. 

She thought it wouldn't be appropriate to date you because you and your dad moved around so frequently. She stated, that she was aware of how tense your relationship was due to your father's obligations. She assumed it would cause you further anguish being in a relationship. 

Do you think it was that simple? What a pathetic excuse! I had known her since elementary but we only got to see each other off and on. My relationship was in distress because my father always wanted me to move around. I never really felt like I could call anywhere home. 

When I gain this power I release all my worldly possessions, thoughts, emotions, and any other forms of dreams or ambitions binding me. I have been set free and ascended to a new reality. 

You're the one calling me delusional. I think you being in that Phoenix demon form for so long has toasted your small birdy brain. 

My tactics seem to be working. I had used quite a bit of time for the girls. They should be back soon. This monster is finally going to get the ass beating of a lifetime that he well deserves. 

I took another swing with my sword this time as I charged out from around the trees at his back. He dodged me!? 

He grabbed a hold of my sword and it cut through his hand. I watched as blood was dripping to the ground; it was all that I could focus on. As he had a hold of me around my neck suspending me in the air. 

I told you you only had so much time that you could procrastinate and continue to dodge me. Your times up and I want my blood, he said in a cold deep emotionless tone as he whispered in my ear. 

Lucky for you this current situation doesn't require me to have to finish you here on the spot now. 

He held my throat so tightly that it nearly broke my windpipe. I was unable to even breathe. From this moment till I passed out, the seconds flew by and until I had no breath left in my lungs. 

It seemed he let go my limp body dropped to the ground hard with a thud on my injured side from his punch. I could feel what might have been a crack in one of my ribs finally breaking. I couldn't even scream, there was no more air left in me! I fought from closing my eyes drifting in and out of consciousness.

Right before I passed out completely, I squinted to see that Josh was being attacked by a man with a sword resembling mine. Even though I couldn't exactly recall where I had seen him previously, his face looked familiar.

Oh yes, that's It I remembered—it's him—the boy who, when I was a child, would protect me from my bullies. He was a lot older now. What was his name? D, No, Evan. 

Evan -What's up little bro back in town looking for some trouble I see? Has good old dad put you up to this again? 

You stay out of this you little punk if you know what's good for you! I was just finishing what I had to do here so don't get in my way. 

I don't think I can let you do that; see I have a certain obligation to fulfill like kicking your sorry ass. 

Ha... Always with the jokes you beat me so many times before growing up. "But", things are a little bit different I have a little extra power behind me now. 

Oh yeah? I figured it was only a matter of time. Dad liked to play with demons and then his precious baby boy had to follow in his footsteps right behind him. I was just hoping that maybe you would pick the lesser of two evils quite literally. 

You should have chosen a different path. Ain't fair, I haven't seen you in quite a while and you got to do a family reunion like this. Sad. 

I told you I have a business right now that I have to deal with and you're in my way I don't have time to play your childish games. 

Aw... what's it to you? You got time to play with this young girl but you don't have time to play with your dear big brother, he said with a crooked grin. 

They were locked in a battle his sword and the fist of the demon Phoenix had a gauntlet with long-bladed claws. 

Well, I've given you enough warnings; my patience is already worn thin. I'd much rather pick up this maybe at a much later time but I highly doubt that.

Josh had the sword in one hand the other dug his claws into the chest of his brother Evan. 

Agh...Evan let out a groan before collapsing to the ground.

Josh walked over and picked up Kaysi's unconscious body and walked over to the portal. 

Until we meet again big Brother, he smiled. 

No, Evan said in distress. You lost your mind you can't take her down there. 

Micah gasped just as she arrived and shouted "Oh My God Kaysi!"

Josh? Becky whispered, in bewilderment. 

NO Baby screamed as she reverted into her animal form, she leaped towards them. 

I hope he gives you everything you want. Evan sarcastically shouted. The portal closed shut just as Baby's paws landed on the scorched ground.