Chapter 8- The New Recruits
The morning light filtered in through the cracks of the old wooden windows, painting long slashes of golden sunlight across the room. The scent of tea, faint electricity, and old parchment lingered in the air, everyone had finally gotten a good night's rest after the chaos of the last few days, but today wasn't meant for resting, today was about preparing for the next ally.
Hiroshi sat at the head of the large, scratched up table in the living room, He placed the Book of Hypnotism down in front of him, the cover gleaming slightly under the dusty sunlight, one by one, the others gathered around the table, Tall Boy with his usual lazy swagger, Chimera chewing on a piece of gum, and Mae trailing behind with a dreamy look in her eyes,
Hiroshi looked around the table, his expression calm but focused, his fingers tapped once on the cover of his book,
"We need to talk about the next person", he began, voice even, "The one we need to confront… and maybe bring into the group",
Chimera raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, "Yeah yeah, we know!!!!!",
Tall Boy leaned back in his seat, kicking one of his long leg up onto the corner of the table, "So when's this little field trip?",
"Soon", Hiroshi replied, "But first....I want to know where your books are",
He turned to each of them in turn, "This is dangerous, if we're going up against people who want those shards, we can't afford to be careless, so… where are they?",
Tall Boy scratched the back of his neck, "Uh… mine's still at the abandoned house",
Chimera rolled her eyes, "Seriously?",
Hiroshi frowned, "You left it behind?",
"It's not like anyone else can use it" Tall Boy said casually, shrugging, "Once someone bonds with the book, it's useless to anyone else", to them it will just be like holding a brick",
"Still careless", Hiroshi said, his voice a little colder now, "It's not about someone using it, it's about someone taking it, if we lose the book even if the powers stay it's still a risk, we need every piece of this puzzle with us",
Chimera sighed, "Relax, ours are fine, mine and Mae's books are hidden in an old subway station downtown, nobody uses it anymore. It's basically invisible",
"Still", Hiroshi pressed, "they're vulnerable",
He paused, then looked over the group with a sharper gaze, "From now on, I want everyone to have their book closeby, with what's coming, we can't afford a single slip",
Tall Boy sat up, a bit annoyed, "Ugh...I said it's safe—",
"And I said go get it", Hiroshi interrupted, his voice like steel,
There was a moment of silence, the tension was thick,
Then Hiroshi stood, "While you're doing that, Chimera and I are going out, we're going to find the next person, we will add to our group",
Chimera's eyebrow twitched, "You sure we're enough?",
"We don't need to fight", he replied, "We just need to talk, if we go in quiet and prepared, it'll be fine",
Before anyone could argue, a sudden movement broke the stillness,
Mae practically leapt from her seat and grabbed onto Tall Boy's arm with both hands, pressing her cheek against his bicep with a dramatic sigh,
"Yay! I'll go with him!" she said cheerfully, "We can get our books together!",
Tall Boy froze, "Wait.....what!?"
Mae looked up at him with sparkly eyes, "Please!!! It'll be fun! I'll help you, and we'll be quick!",
"I'm not taking her", he muttered under his breath to Hiroshi,
But Hiroshi didn't even blink, "Take her",
Tall Boy narrowed his eyes, "She's gonna slow me down",
"No she won't", Hiroshi replied, "You two can handle it, just don't waste time",
Mae jumped up and down a little in excitement, still holding onto Tall Boy's arm like a gleeful little magnet, "This is gonna be fun!",
Chimera, already pulling on her jacket, gave Mae a quick glance and smirked, "Be good, Mae, don't destroy anything before I come back",
Mae stuck out her tongue playfully, "No promises that I wont!!",
Hiroshi turned toward the door and nodded at Chimera, "Common let's go",
The two of them stepped out, Chimera puts her hands in her pockets as she followed behind Hiroshi, the mood shifting from cozy to serious in a heartbeat, as the door closed behind them, the house fell into a quieter hum leaving Tall Boy with Mae still glued to his arm and no clue how this would turn out.
City Streets – Late Morning
The city buzzed with energy cars honking, people rushing across the crosswalk, advertisements flashing from tall screens, Hiroshi narrowed his eyes at the chaotic scenery, he wasn't used to being in such loud, crowded places, his bowl cut glinted under the sun, and his thick glasses slid slightly down his nose as he tried to keep up with Chimera, who was striding ahead like she owned the sidewalk,
"Are you sure this is the right place?", he asked calmly, eyes scanning the surroundings, "There's no sign of anyone unusual here",
Chimera popped her gum, "Relax, Glasses Boy, he's here, I made him promise me a favor months ago, this is payback time"
"Who exactly is he?", he asked,
She smirked and didn't answer directly, instead, she stepped into a wide open plaza near a tall building and cupped her hands,
Then she shouted loud enough to make people turn, "HEY! TIME DORK!! COME OUT, I WANNA TAALK TO YOU!",
A few people slowed down to stare, brows raised, others whispered things like, "Weird girl" and walked faster,
Hiroshi blinked, "Be…Subtle",
Chimera rolled her eyes, "No way, subtle is boring",
She took a deep breath and screamed even louder, "COME OUT, ASSHOLE! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!",
This time, something happened,
Up above them, standing at the very edge of a glass skyscraper, was a young man, He was tall but, not as tall the way Tall Boy still he was taller than Hiroshi and his presence made the air shift, his semi-long burnt sienna hair danced lightly in the wind, he wore a sleek black trench coat and lazily flipped a silver coin between his fingers,
"See?" Chimera said, pointing, "That's him over there",
Hiroshi narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the mysterious figure, he didn't say anything but he could already feel it, the time around the guy wasn't moving quite right, the wind stilled when it reached him, the blinking lights behind him flickered oddly.
Abandoned House-
Tall Boy stepped into the old, dust coated house like it was nothing, cracks ran through the walls, and broken furniture was scattered everywhere, but in the middle of the room was a large, hollowed out tree stump oddly placed, like it had grown through the floor,
He knelt and reached inside, pulling out a thick, heavy book with worn brown leather, 'The Book of Beastism',
Mae clapped her hands, "Ooooh, that's so cool! Its got that ancient wild energy, I can feel it!",
Tall Boy rolled his eyes, "Let's just go find the rest",
They left and headed underground toward the unused subway station that time had forgotten.
Graffiti covered the cracked tile walls, weeds grew where train tracks once were, Mae led him to a far corner, crouched down, and started digging into a loose tile, she pulled up a dusty black backpack and unzipped it, revealing two glowing books tucked inside one shimmered with a shifting pattern like smoke and mirrors, 'Book of Illusions', while the other pulsed faintly with trickster energy 'Book of Deceit',
Tall Boy looked around, "Cool, now let's leave before someone sees— ",
Before he could finish, Mae was already clinging to his arm again, "You're so bossy, lighten up a little!",
Tall Boy gritted his teeth, "Can you not touch me every three seconds?",
She pouted dramatically, "But you're my walking tree!",
He rolled his eyes and they left the old subway.
As they walked back toward the surface, people on the street started to take notice,
Whispers floated through the air, "Aww, they're so cute together",
"Look at that tall guy and the short cuvry girl clinging to him so romantic!",
Tall Boy's eyebrow twitched, it was getting on his nerves, but it got worse when a guy holding a fancy camera ran up to them,
"Excuse me! I'm doing a photo project, Adorable City Couples! You two look perfect! May I take a quick photo?",
Tall Boy deadpanned, "No!!!",
Mae, however lit up, "Yes!!!",
As the man raised his camera, Tall Boy stepped in front of Mae and lifted his left arm, the Beast Hand, veiny, clawed, and terrifying and used it in blocking the camera lens completely,
His red eyes glowed faintly as he growled, "I'll give you three seconds to… walk away...One—",
The photographer dropped his camera strap and stumbled backward, "O.....Okay! Sorry Sir....My bad!" He bolted like he saw a ghost and ran off quickly,
Mae folded her arms with a pout, "Meanie",
Tall Boy sighed, "He's lucky I didn't roar",
Just as they turned a corner, Mae's eyes sparkled at a ramen shop nearby, "Oh! Ohhh! Ramen! I'm starving! Please, please, please, can you buy me some?",
"No!!!", Tall Boy growled,
"Come onnnn… I haven't eaten since forever! Just one bowl I promise, please, Beastie Boy?",
He flinched, "Don't call me that!!!",
But She gave him puppy eyes, "Pleeeeease?",
His eye twitched cause he didnt like her whiny voice, it was like nails on a chalkboard,
"Ughh…Fine!", he agreed,
Mae gasped dramatically and dragged him by the arm into the small, cozy ramen shop, practically bouncing as she picked a seat by the window,
Tall Boy sat down, arms crossed, brooding and watched as Mae clapped happily,
"What a weird girl...Gosh!!!", he whispered to himself.
Rooftop Overlooking the City
The sky was bleeding into the horizon as the city bustled beneath the golden clouds, Chimera stood with her arms crossed beside Hiroshi as the wind tugging at her strip green top,
They both stared at the guy
Hiroshi blinked, "So that's really him?",
Chimera gave a slow nod, tension tightening her jaw, "Yep, that's him",
The guy across the gap locked eyes with them and in one effortless motion, he flipped a coin into the air,
The second it spun into the sky, everything changed,
The everything around them slowed down he city stilled, cars barely crawled across the streets like molasses, people moved like drifting phantoms, a dog's bark became a sluggish echo of sound, and a falling soda can on the street hovered in midair,
The guy jumped off the building but in,
Slow motion.
He floated gracefully, his trench coat catching the air like wings, when his feet touched the ground, they barely made a sound,
Hiroshi's jaw dropped slightly, already impressed with hi powers,
The guy walked through the slowed world like a god unhindered by time and when he reached them, he didn't bother with greetings,
He looked straight at Chimera, "Its...you!",
"Hmph", She shrugged, "Im not here for you, he is",
She jerked her thumb toward Hiroshi,
The guy turned to him, "What do you want?",
Hiroshi stepped forward, firm and unwavering, "I want you on my team",
The guy frowned, "Team? What the hell are you talking about?",
So Hiroshi told him about the books, the ancient Wizard, the powerful Orbuculum, and the crystal shards, about the Magician as well, and that if he helps him he will get his desires granted,
He ended by pulling a glowing shard from his pocket, "This is one of them and there are more",
The boy rolled his eyes, "You really want me to waste all my precious time for some scavenger hunt?",
Chimera growled, "You owe mem, Remember? One year ago, I saved your butt",
The guy shrugged, "Fine I owe you, but not like this, I'm not joining just 'cause this bowlcut says so, I'll pay you back… some other way, next time",
He turned to walk away,
Hiroshi lowered his hand slowly, Chimera scoffed, "He's hopeless lets just go, I'm sure we'll find someone else",
Hiroshi sighed, disappointed then He turned with her,
But just as the time walker took another step, Hiroshi's words echoed in his mind—
'You can get your deepest desire granted…',
Suddenly, he gets a small,
FLASHBACK-
A stormy ocean, a young girl in a yellow raincoat sinking and screaming, he reached out, trying to grab her but it was too late, the waves swallowed her, he couldn't save her.
End of FLASHBACK-
He snapped back to the present with a gasp.
"Wait!" he yelled,
Hiroshi and Chimera turned sharply,
The guy's eyes shimmered, "Is it true? If I help you… I can get my desire granted?",
Hiroshi nodded, "That's the deal, it's not easy—but it's real",
There was silence for some minuete,
Then the guy closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and finally spoke, "Alright, I'll help you but oy because of what I want",
Hiroshi smiled faintly, "That's good enough for me",
Chimera shrugged, "Took you long enough",
Hiroshi gestured, "We need to gather the team...If your book is nearby, go get it",
The guy nodded and disappeared in a blur, the coin finally hit his hand, time resumed, cars honke, people walked, the everyone and everything around them moved again, the was back again within a few minutes, then,
Hiroshi turned and led the way.
Ramen Shop
Tall Boy stared at Mae with a mix of amusement and horror, She was devouring her third bowl of ramen, completely oblivious to the crowd watching her eat like a starved anime character,
Tall Boy leaned back, "Does she have four stomachs or something? What the hell..." he whispered to himself,
Mae slurped noodles like a champion, wiped her mouth, and sighed in delight, "That was heavenly!",
Tall Boy cleared his throat, "Hey, so… your friend knows someone who could join, do you know anyone else we could add? So we could be complete?",
Mae tapped her chin, "Hmm…not really, only she knows, I don't know anyone else", She stared at Tall Boy's bowl of ramen, "But I'll think about it..hey are you gonna eat that?",
Tall Boy sighed, "Just take it, I lost my appetite anyway", he frowned,
Mae smiled at him while she grabbed it and started eating it like she didnt just finished three bowls already, Tall stared at her and shook his head.
After they were done, they walked down the street, Mae clung to Tall Boy's arm like a koala again, Then suddenly,
SWOOSH!
A white haired guy in a blue hoodie sprinted past them, nearly knocking into a trash can,
Behind him, five thugs wielding baseball bats came running,
"GET HIM!" the leader shouted,
Tall Boy blinked as a smirk fixed on his face, "Well, that's interesting",
Mae grinned, "You wanna follow them?",
"Hell yeah", he replied,
They trailed them to a dark, dead end alley.
The thugs cornered the white haired guy, their leader cracked his knuckles, "How dare you challenged me motherfucker!!! Now you're gonna pay",
The guy didn't flinch, He only dropped his backpack and smiled at him,
"Nahhh!" he said calmly, "I led you here so I can do this...",
"Huh?! Do what you—",
The boy's eyes began to glow,
"Hey!" Tall Boy said suddenly to Mae, Cover your eyes, now",
BOOM!
A blinding flash of light exploded from the boy's eyes, the thugs screamed in agony, clutching their faces,
"Ahhhhh...WHAT DID YOU DO TO US!?"
"You're blind..." the guy said coolly, "Only for twenty minutes but long enough for this—",
CRACK!
He punched the first guy into a wall.
THWACK!
Kicked another into a trash can.
BAM!
Elbow to the face.
He moved like a trained martial artist, taking them out with fluid, precise motion,
Mae clapped, "Wooo! Get 'em, white haired fellow!!!",
Tall Boy raised a brow, "Hmm okay… I think this guy's good",
When it was over, the thugs scrambled away, screaming, he white haired boy laughed and slicked his hair back,
He picked up his bag, ready to leave but was stopped by Tall Boy and Mae.
The guy looked up, "Damn, you're freaking tall dude",
Mae waved cheerfully, "Hiya!",
"What do you two want?", he asked, adjusting his hoodie,
Tall Boy smirked, "You ever wanted something really bad? Like… a wish?",
The guy narrowed his eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?",
Tall Boy told him everything the books, the crystal shards, the Magician, the orbuculum that can grant any single desire,
The guy suddenly burst into laughter, "Man, that's the most funniest joke I've ever heard",
Tall Boy grinned, "You'll believe it when you see it",
Mae gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes, "Please Just come with us!",
The guy scratched his head, "Umm sure I'll go, only 'cause you look cute"
Mae blushed, "Awwnn, thanks!"
Tall Boy groaned and frowned, "Oh brother… let's just go already",
As they walked, Mae tried clinging to Tall Boy again, but he dodged, "Nope not this time, I need my personal space",
She pouted and whined,
The white haired guy chuckled, "You can cling to me if you want, girl",
"No thanks", Mae said sweetly, "Only Tall Boy gets that privilege",
Tall Boy sighed and kept walking,
The new guy followed, still laughing, "This is gonna be interesting…"
Mae shout behind Tall boy for him to wait up for her but he cared less and continued walking. . .