"What does it mean to be alive?
Books show that there are many definitions of what living is. The most basic definition of living is simply one who is not dead.
Or a pursuit of a certain lifestyle.
I feel as though I no longer fit this definition.
For my body may still live but my soul has long died.
My compassion, my morality, my vision of the future.
Very few things remain of the past I had once lived.
Hmph the past, what a funny thing, a person's past could be full of anything.
My past was filled with happiness, hope and finally pain."
———————-Mr.Clockwork
Many years ago
I was four years old when I had my first encounter with Soul.
I was outside sitting under a tree writing in my book, working on my designs.
"What are you doing?"
My brother Willaim ask, he walked up to me with a stick in his mouth.
"I'm just writing down a few design ideas." I continued to draw pictures of car design as William sat next to me. William was 6 years older than me.
"Geez little bro, when did you become so good at drawing stuff like this?"
William took a closer look at my design.
"I don't really know they just sort of burst into my head."
"Burst,"
William grabbed my head and shook me a bit.
"We can't have your head exploding, what will mom think? We better call the doctor and make sure it's not contagious."
I chuckled as I knocked his hands off me.
"What are you two doing?"
We quickly stood to our feet as our father Oswald Clockwork stood before us.
"Nothing we we're just-"
Before William could explain, my father shot a bullet past his face.
This was not the first time our father had fired upon us.
"Why didn't you block that with your smoke William?"
Father asked him, taking a few steps forward.
"I uh...I was..."
Father punched William in the gut knocking the air out of him.
William fell to the ground gasping for air.
"WILLIAM!"
I quickly tried to help my brother.
Father gave him me a gaze telling not to interfere.
I lowered my head and took a few steps back.
"You may have been born with a core William, but you lack intelligence, and conviction. Your little brother has already become quite the genius, what have you done?
I will not allow anyone of my blood to disgrace the family name."
Father crossed his arms and looked down at William.
"What is going on out here!"
Our mother Sophie came running out, and immediately tended to William.
Unlike father , she was gentle and kind.
"That's it honey breath, just breathe slowly."
She looked up at Father with furious eyes.
"How could you?! He's your son, they both are. I told you to stop this!"
Father turned on his heel and headed for his office.
"Johnathan!"
He called out to me.
I gulped and took a deep breath before taking a few steps forward.
Mother quickly grabbed my hand.
"You don't have to go, stay with me."
She told me, her voice was soft and gentle. It would always calm me and William down. However there were times I couldn't listen to her.
"If I don't follow him he'll hurt both of you."
I released myself from my mother's hand and walked forward.
Even though I was young I could think and act like an adult when the situation called for it.
I followed my father to his office.
A wooden desk and big red chair behind it.
A large window to see out into the world.
I sat down in the small red chair in front of his desk.
Father sat behind his desk and leaned forward.
"Show me?"
He asked me to show him the work I had been doing.
I handed him all my designs, and father began to look over them.
"Impressive as always my boy. Who knows what you'll make when you're older."
He continued to look over my design's with a smile on his face.
"Father, why did you have to hit him like that? I know that William will surprise you one day."
Father sighed as he put down the sheets of paper.
"The other leaders are expecting me to make him the next head, since he's my oldest. Not to mention he has a core, a natural one at that. He needs to be ready for what's to come. He'll need you a lot more than you'll need him.
You could make it on your own, you're a smart kid. He just needs help getting there, do you understand?"
I slowly nodded my head, Father shook his head.
"Go on now, tend to your brother."
I got up and left the room.
However I didn't go downstairs immediately.
Instead I stayed and listened. I could hear two voices in there.
Even though my father was the only one in the room.
"Geez you really do have a way with kids Ozzy boy."
I heard the second voice say.
It was a voice male, it sounded calm yet evil.
"I do what's best for my kin and the future of this company. Whether they like it or not is not up to them.
My sons will make me proud or they are of no use to me."
After I heard my father say that it ached my heart.
"Hmmm,
How old did you say your son Johnathan was?"
"He's four years old, why?"
"Hmph for a 4 year old he sure knows how to build a nice car."
Whoever this person was, he seemed very interested in me.
"No matter, we have business to attend to, let's head out."
I quickly and quietly left so as to not alert my father and his accomplice.
I made it back down stairs and saw William and mother in the kitchen.
I sat down as mother served us some ice cream.
She would always serve us ice cream whenever things like this would happen.
She kissed us both and smiled.
"Mom, what was dad like before?"
William asked her, I can't lie and say that I too did not wonder.
If my father was ever a good man.
"When we first met he was very different. He always knew what to say and would write me the sweetest letters.
Then everything changed that day."
My mother said no more on the subject.
She wiped her face and asked us to eat our melting ice cream.
Father left the house without a word like always.
Hours passed and night soon fell.
I went to bed and tried to sleep.
My head was full of so many thoughts, I couldn't sleep.
Until I heard something coming from my door.
I heard the sound of a cat meowing.
I quickly got up and walked over to the cat.
"Hey there little fellow how did you get in here?"
I said, kneeling in front of it.
When I went to pet it he ran out of the door.
I looked out the door and saw the cat.
It stood there as if it was waiting for me.
It meowed again and started to run.
"Hey wait!"
I shouted chasing after him.
The cat led me all throughout the mansion until it led me to a hallway with a big red door.
The door was opened a little and the cat ran in.
I quickly ran in and found myself in a very large room full of books.
Some very old and some new.
I walked through the room when I saw the cat.
The cat had a book in front of him, it
appeared to be the oldest of the bunch.
The pages lost their pure white color and the cover was coming apart.
The book was turned to a certain page as the cat meowed again.
I walked over and started to read the page aloud.
"When I merged with the being known as Soul and we became one.
I felt as though that by even accepting to grow my legacy and my company a piece of me has died.
For I can never again have anyone touch my skin. Or else he may take their soul to quench his hunger.
This is the burden that I and many more must carry. I must teach my kin to be strong or else they may fall to his power, and our future will be lost."
I read the page in the book and immediately knew that this cat was more than what meets the eye.
"You asked your mother why he was different, she failed to tell you everything. So here is your answer Johnny boy."
The cat said to me as I turned towards it.
"You can talk?"
I put my hands in my pocket and clenched my fist.
"Yes, but it seems you're not surprised.
Next time work on your poker face."
He chuckled as I stood up.
"You're the one he called Soul."
Soul walked closer to me and sat down.
"Correct, the person in that text was the first Clockwork to accept me into his body.
One of your ancestors.
I've joined with many members of your ancestral tree.
Some of them definitely stuck out more than others."
Soul walked away from me and leaped onto the desk in the room.
"Is my father one of the ones who stick out?"
Soul chuckled
"Not likely his grandmother was quite a force. She was very intelligent like you, but that's not what you really want to ask is it now?"
Soul wiggled his tail as I took a deep breath.
"My ancestors in the book said he offered you power in exchange for his soul. What did he mean by that and what kind of power do you offer?"
"To join with me is to take on some of my traits. If your father were to touch someone with his bare skin he would immediately begin to take their soul.
In order for me to survive I must take a host and feast on the souls of others.
In exchange I gain more power and longer life. I've lived for centuries helping the clockwork family build its empire and fortune.
That is what I grant my user a power that cannot be challenged.
Any attack can be blocked or dodge, but an attack that takes the soul cannot."
"If you need a host to survive then how are you here right now?"
"Just because we are bonded does not mean I cannot walk on my own."
Soul waved his tail back and forth. It was odd the way he would move it. As if he was trying to prove something.
"Let me guess the time you can stay out is limited isn't?"
Soul chuckled and laugh when I said this.
"Very impressive Johnny boy.
The number of souls I consume while outside the body is higher than within.
I can use my soul as both a weapon and a shield."
He stopped wagging his tail and wrapped it around himself.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
A dark cloud surrounded Soul as he stood before me.
Instead of a cat he looked just like me.
Only his eyes were completely black.
"One day your father will have to choose between you or your brother to be my next host.
Anyone can see that you're truly a genius among geniuses.
Unbridled talent your father won't tell you about me due to his strong hold on tradition.
I'm telling you this because I believe you to be my next host.
I'm telling you this to prepare you Johnny boy."
He started to reach his hand out towards me as I leapt back.
Sweat coming down my head I could hardly breathe.
My heart started to race. I could barely think at all. It was as if years of anxiety had suddenly swelled up inside me.
Soul started to laugh as the room was filled with his dark aura.
I could hear thousands upon thousands of souls crying out.
They we're in pain and in need.
The air became heavier and I could barely breathe.
Soul stopped laughing and smiled at me.
"SLEEP ON IT JOHNNY BOY, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE YOU REALIZE YOU NEEEEED ME!"
His laugh echoed throughout the room.
As he disappeared into the shadows.
The air became light as I could finally breathe with ease.
I already had so much on my mind that I couldn't sleep.
That the time I did sleep was when I had completely exhausted myself after this encounter.
Years passed and Soul had yet to approach me again.
I turned 15 when I finally meant her.
When I started high school no one wanted to be friends with me.
Everyone thought we were brutes.
Until one day I tried my luck with a girl named Sarah Rose.
After bumping into her and asking for her name I asked her.
"Do you think we could be friends?"
Sarah tilted her head and got confused.
"Excuse me?"
She asked me curiously with a smile on her face.
"We'll you see no one wants to talk to me, except for the teachers because they have to I guess. Everyone is too afraid to talk to the clockwork boy."
I said with half a smile and a small chuckle.
I was quite the nervous wreck back then.
Sarah laughed and smiled at me.
"What class do you have next?"
She took a few steps closer to me.
"English 11."
I told her pointing over my shoulder, as she tilted her head the other way.
"If your class is over that way, why were you walking the opposite direction when you bumped into me?"
She chuckled as I started to blush, I took a deep breath and said.
"Ya know I think we should get to class."
I told her with my voice reaching a slightly higher tone.
"Lead the way Mr.Clockwork."
She said to make fun of me.
She winked at me as we headed off to class.
"So um Sarah what are you into?"
I eagerly asked, wanting to get to know my new friend.
"I like engineering."
When she said that I stopped and looked at her.
It took me by surprise that she had a similar interest as me.
She stopped and looked back at me.
"What's wrong?"
She asked me, putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Nothing, just a small world we live in."
She chuckled as she grabbed my hand and started to run.
"H-hey!"
"Come on you big dummy. If we don't run we'll be late for class."
She let out a big laugh that made me laugh like never before.
I spent the whole school day with her.
Just talking.
It was the first time I did something for me and not something my father wanted.
A few hours after school my brother picked me up and I couldn't talking about her.
"I mean William, this girl is really something. She let me look over her engineering plans and it blew me away.
I think if we worked together we'd be able to create something really spectacular."
I told him with this huge embracing smile on my face.
"Oh yeah I'm sure that was the only thing that blew you away."
William said to me, smiling and winking at me.
"What does that mean?"
I looked up at him as he winked at me and chuckled.
"Face it little brother you're in love."
He poked me in the forehead.
"I am not, just interested in her work."
He began to rub his forehead.
"Oh yeah her work was definitely the only interest you had in mind."
"Would you shut up already?!"
"What it's perfectly natural for to be having these urges. In fact little brother I doubt dad ever will. So it's time to talk about the birds and bees."
I immediately punched him in the arm as he started to laugh.
He put his hand on my head and told me.
"I'm proud of you buddy."
As he did this
I could see some of the bruises on my brother's arm.
I knew he had wanted me to get away from the family but I couldn't just leave him there.
"What if we started a business?"
I asked him.
"A business what are you talking about?"
He said taking his hand off and back on the wheel.
"Think about it, with my brain and your degree in business economics we could start a business.
We won't have to take the Clockwork business. We can make our own business."
He pulled the car over and looked into my eyes.
I don't know what he was looking for but whatever it was he found it.
"Alright buddy, let's start a business. Here's the deal: I'll get it up and running and once you graduate college there'll be a seat waiting for you."
He held his hand out and without any hesitation I shook my brother's hand.
I didn't need this power soul promised,
all I needed were the people in my life.
Sarah and I both graduated college early at the age of 17.
With the deduction of helping the world advance in technology.
I remember the day we were working on building floating cars.
We had already built the most advanced cell phones with unlimited service. Boats that could travel across the sea in a matter of weeks instead of months on end.
We had left the clockwork business behind, much to my father's dismay.
Back then everything had just made sense.
Working with my brother and my amazing Sarah.
Life couldn't be any better.
I if I remember correctly that day started with me
underneath a car working on it.
Adding in some new technology.
William, Sarah and I had come up with it.
I slid out from under it, my shirt and hands all dirty.
The three of us were working in a garage owned by the company we made.
We called it Analog industrial sort a play on words.
Because Analog is a device that tells time.
I'm getting off topic anyway.
Sarah and Willaim were standing next to a console.
"Try it now."
I said pointing at them.
Sarah started to push buttons on the console.
As William started to smoke a cigar.
"Could you not smoke that inside?"
She asked him.
"No can do, it helps me when I'm nervous."
She gave him a look that made him put it out.
"Okay testing flight system in three, two, one."
She pressed a button as the wheels turned into turbines and started to create lift.
"It's working, IT'S WORKING!"
I cheered as we all began to cheer and laugh.
"Haha yes."
Sarah said as she pumped her fist.
However we may have started to celebrate a little too soon.
Sparks started to fly from the car as it started to malfunction.
The sparks began to hit everything in the room.
"Shut it down quickly!
I shouted as Sarah pushed the off button,
The car turned back into normal and crashed onto the ground.
I kicked the ground in anger.
William walked over to me and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Hey look I see this as an absolute win.
Come on think about it, the other cars didn't even make it off the ground.
They would just kind of blow up.
Now we know that it is possible and we're not gonna stop until it works."
He told me as Sarah came up and held my hand.
"We'll get it, you wanna know why?
Because we're in this together.
Our technology will change lives.
It already has so let's keep at it."
She said as she put her head on my shoulder.
"I know we will, guys.
I just get frustrated sometimes.
Come I gotta get cleaned up, we're meeting my mom for a lunch break."
I headed to my own office where there was a shower.
When I walked inside someone my was sitting in his chair.
"Um excuse me , can I help you?"
I said walking towards the room.
"Do you know the muffin man?"
The man asked me.
"I'm sorry who?"
The man sighed as he stood up and looked me in the eyes.
"Ye know the muffin man."
I shrugged as he fell back in my chair.
"Never mind, just get out of my office."
He told me, waving his hand.
"This is my office."
I told him as I walked to my desk.
"Is it?"
He looked around and nodded.
"Ooooh yeah pff my bad, Jonathan Clockwork right?"
He asked me while holding his hand to shake my hand out to me.
"Yes and you are?"
"Oh where are my manners? My name is Fighter and I'm interested in your inventions."
I finally shook his hand as I sat down in one of the chairs.
"Is that right?"
"Yep, yep, yep for you see my dear Clockwork. Can I call you Clockwork or do you prefer Johnathan, John,
Johnny, let's just stick with Clockwork.
So anyhow your inventions are like I said impressive so I would like to help you further your technology advancements."
I was definitely intrigued, however I did wonder what his motivation were and what he wanted from me.
"So what do you get out of this?"
I asked, leaning forward.
"Absolutely nothing, here's my card, call me when you're ready.
Between 11 and 5, expect at 12:00 that's when I shower. You can at 12:30 but I'll probably be getting dressed.
At 12:40 I'm eating a muffin and if you call me I will freaking kill you."
He handed me his card and I looked at it for a second.
It had a rather weird logo on it and a picture of him giving a thumbs up.
I looked back up at him and he was leaping out the window.
"Catchphrase."
He said as he leapt out of the window.
"W-wait!"
I quickly ran over to the window and looked out of it.
I looked all around but he was nowhere to be found.
I cleaned myself up and we headed off to meet my mother.
However the day took a turn I did not expect.
"How are things going?"
My mother asked us.
"Pretty good, Johnathan over here is on the verge of making the first flying car."
He said with a chuckle.
"Ahem,"
Sarah said, looking at him.
"Apologies, Johnathan and Sarah are about to make the first flying car."
As we were eating our ice cream three men with guns came in.
Everyone probably thought they were here to rob the place.
I knew better than that.
Three Clockwork's all together in one place they were here to kidnap us.
The bodyguards we had outside had all been killed.
However they didn't know about my brother's core ability; he could easily defeat them with his ability.
I looked over to my brother as he was reaching into his jacket to grab a cigarette.
That was the only way he could use his ability.
However one of the men noticed and shot him in the arm.
"WILLIAM!"
I shouted running to him, when one of the men pointed a gun at me.
He was getting ready to take the shot when suddenly a black spike went through his back.
The same happened to the other men as well.
The spikes retracted as the men fell to the ground.
Behind them was my father looking down at us.
"Stop the bleeding and follow me."
My father turned on his heel as I stopped my bleeding brother and we all followed him to his car.
It was a quiet ride as we rode back to the mansion.
I hadn't been back in years.
We got out as my father instructed the doctors to take care of my brother's wound.
He then told my mother and Sarah to wait in the living room as he wanted a word with me.
There I was back in his old office however this time he was giving me a different kind of look.
"Do you want to know who those men were?"
He asked me but I didn't answer.
"They were assassins sent to kill your brother and your mother. Do you wanna know why? Because first and foremost you're all Clockwork's.
As such you will always have a target on your back whether you like or not.
If you had been working at my labs like I told you, those guards wouldn't have died. Your brother wouldn't be bleeding out like a fool."
"Don't you call him that!"
I shouted at him, that was the first time I had ever spoken out against my father.
He gave me a stare and had a silt smug on his face.
"Face it boy, without me you don't have the power to protect them."
My father said and I could tell he didn't notice that Soul had manifested behind him.
Standing there with a smile on his face.
Once again he took my form with a smile on his face.
I clenched my fist as in defiance.
"Just you watch, I'll create a power strong enough to protect them."
I left the room as my father merely laughed.
I was left with frustration and anger.
A few weeks later I called the one known as Fighter.
Perhaps he could help me develop a weapon to protect people.
He asked me to come to some sort of orphanage.
I knocked on the door and was greeted by a little girl.
I knelt in front of her and smiled.
"Hello there, what's your name?"
She looked at me for a moment as if she was analyzing me.
"Zero percent of being a threat.
I'm Sierra you may enter."
She walked away as I shrugged and walked into the house.
She led me to an office where inside Fighter was sitting.
I sat down and he gave me a look as if he didn't know who I was.
"Who are you?"
He asked me.
"Huh, it's Johnathan Clockwork, remember?"
He started to laugh as he slapped his chair.
"Oh that's right you were that little brat that kept trying to uppercut everyone. Even though you had such small hands.
Well I mean you were a baby after all.
No wait, hold on, I'm thinking of someone else.
You're the rich boy I offered to help a few weeks ago, right?"
I nodded my head not following anything he had said.
"Yes you said you wanted to help advance my technology."
I said reaching into the satchel I had brought with me.
"Not only that but I want to help rid your family of the curse you've been carrying."
I immediately stopped and looked at him.
As he was staring at me with his hands under his chin a big smile on face.
"What do you know about the curse of my family?"
I said sitting straight up.
"I know your family has been carrying it for hundreds of years.
It's powers are dangerous and I also know of the only power that can counteract it. The only power that can defeat Soul."
I stood up with a smile on my face.
"Then you'll help me build a weapon to beat him."
Fighter started to laugh at my idea.
"Oh buddy, weapons won't do the trick.
That is a terrible idea."
I slammed my hands on his desk.
"No I have to do it my way or else he'll be right I have to do it."
I told him as he smiled at me.
"By all means go ahead and try it."
I scoffed as I turned away and headed to my lab.
For weeks and weeks I worked in my lab relentlessly.
Trying to come up with something that could give me the power to defend them.
I was exhausted and had nothing.
There I was sitting at my desk alone in the dark.
With a single lamp shining down on
on the desk and all my papers.
When I felt a hand on my shoulder I looked up and saw Sarah.
"Sarah I didn't hear yo-"
She put her hand over my mouth and said.
"You talk too much John."
She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a warm embrace.
I stood there with absolutely no idea of what to do.
She just held me as I stood there.
I could feel tears falling down my face as I heard her say.
"It's okay we're okay."
I fell to my knees out of exhaustion and started to weep.
"I-I couldn't p-p-protect any of you, I'm too weak."
I said as she ran her hand through my hair.
"It's okay to be weak.
You don't have to be strong to protect someone, you're not like other people.
You have a kind heart and want to help people. You'll find another way to protect those around you.
For now it's time to sleep."
She said to me as I nodded my head and fell fast asleep.
She was right I was trying to build a sword when instead I should work on a shield.
When I woke up I was laying on a couch when she walked up to me with a cup of coffee.
I sat up and smiled as she rubbed my cheek.
"Geez I go away for a few weeks and
you start working on stuff without me."
William said, busting into the room.
"Yeah that way I could at least get some work done."
I said standing up as William walked up to me and gave me a hug.
"It's good to have you back."
I said as we pulled apart and he patted my head.
"We'll I couldn't let you take all the credit."
We started to work on something that would protect people.
Sarah came up with the idea for a belt that used magnetic repulsion to reflect bullets.
We started to work on the belt as William would help get us the materials at a rather low price.
It took a year but finally we had come up with a belt that reflected bullets.
We stood behind bullet proof glass, as William took a few shots at it the field the belt created stopped the bullets before they could hit the dummy.
"YES!"
William cheered as did I.
I grabbed Sarah and gave her a big kiss as we laughed.
"Jeez calm down man."
William said as we looked at each other and laughed.
We had finally done it.
I had created something to protect myself and others, or so I had thought.
Analog prospered and everything was moving really well.
I had even become the president at only 28.
The youngest president in our history.
Politics were a different challenge, all the other world leaders wanted a piece of our company.
"Analog is not a government company. We made it to help people."
I told Willaim the two of us were arguing in my office.
"We made it that way until the moment you decide to become Mr.President."
William told me
"Our government has not received any special treatment from our company.
That's why I left you and Sarah in charge.
If we want to make a bigger impact, whether we like it or not, that means we have to get political."
William scoffed at my comment and walked around a bit.
"I hate when you're right."
"You also like when I'm right, we started Analog the three of us did. I wouldn't let anything happen to it."
"I know it's just once politics get involved."
William took a deep breath before looking back at me.
"It's like dear old dad is testing us again."
"I've been wondering that myself.
Which is why I'm choosing to move on, the way he saw things was wrong.
The way he treated his family was disgraceful so I'm going to start my own family."
I reached into my pocket and pulled a ring.
"Do you think Sarah will like it?"
I asked him, William chuckled and patted me on the shoulder.
"You could give her a cheap plastic ring and she would love it.
Besides, it's about time you finally decided to ask her."
I looked at the ring as I held it in my palm.
I was nervous to ask her but in the back of my head I could hear my mother telling me.
"Go on, son, find your happiness."
So I got down on one knee and asked the woman of my dreams to marry me.
Thankfully she said yes that was the one of the happiest moments of my life.
We got married and not too long after we had our first child Jessica.
Even as a child she loved to sing and dance all the time.
When she was four we had our second child George.
He was very shy and didn't take to most people,but he was very kind.
Every night I would tuck them in, no matter how tired I was.
Jessica would try to stay up and run around but I always got to lay down.
Jumping around the room like a rabbit.
"Okay enough running around now okay?"
I said to her as she giggled.
"Okay daddy,"
She said as I kissed on the forehead.
"I love you Bunny."
"I love you too daddy."
She gave me a hug as I hugged her back.
She layed down and fell fast asleep.
Life was good, life was perfect.
I couldn't ask for anything more.
One day
We were walking through the park, George was in a stroller being pushed by Sarah.
My mother was holding Jessica, while me and William walked side by side.
"Glad you could make it."
I said, punching William on the arm.
"It's my nephew's first birthday, of course I made it."
It was so calm and quiet that no one could have seen what was about to happen.
That's when I heard someone walking behind us.
He was wearing a hood, mask and black scarf.
I started to turn around, when suddenly I felt a knife in my gut.
"You've gotta be quicker than that Mr.Clockwork."
He said to me as I gasped for air.
"JOHN!"
My brother shouted as smoke his cigarette, to summon spikes made of smoke.
My mother and Sarah turned and watched in horror.
"JOHN!"
They both shouted as they started to run towards me.
William immediately stopped them.
"Don't get any closer, I'll take care of John, you get the kids out of here."
He told them they had no choice and there was nothing they could do.
"Make sure you both come back to us."
My mother said before they fled.
The hooded man turned towards him as I fell to the ground.
My brother couldn't launch his attack because I would be caught in the crossfire.
"Normally I would shoot you in the head from afar.
However I'm being paid double to get up close and personal with you guys."
The man pulled out two pistols and cracked his neck.
My brother immediately activated his belt to give himself an advantage.
The man started to walk to the left into the open.
William launched his five smoke spikes at the man.
The man ducked under the first spike, leapt over the next two.
While he was in the air he pulled out a gun with a hook on the end of it.
He fired it right into my brother's arm.
He pulled himself in and punched my brother in the face.
While my brother was down he punched him three times in the face to knock him out.
"For a core user you're not very strong.
I was expecting more of a challenge from you."
He said, kneeling over my unconscious brother.
"How did your hook make it through the barrier?"
I said laying on the ground.
The man turned towards me and stood up.
"You're smart, you'll figure out."
He stood up and pointed his pistol at my mother.
"Stop, we can make a deal, I'll pay you whatever you want!"
I pleaded with him, he took no care in what I had to say.
He pulled his trigger as I was forced to watch my mother fall to the ground.
Everything went slow as she fell to ground.
She turned around and smiled at me one last time.
As she hit the floor holding my son keeping him safe.
I couldn't save her I couldn't protect her, any of them.
His phone rang as he picked it and answered it.
He nodded his head and put it back.
"Looks like your contract's been canceled, the people who put it up just got captured."
He spun his gun around and put it back in his holster.
As he started to walk away I crawled towards William.
Once I got to him I looked at the hooded man and asked.
"Who are you?!"
He looked over his shoulder and said.
"I'm a hunter."
He threw down a smoke grenade and disappeared.
We were transported to the hospital where wounds were treated.
My mother never reached the hospital alive.
I sat in my hospital bed when my brother came to see me.
We both had tears in our eyes, Sarah was by my side crying with me.
"Could you give us a minute?"
William asked as she nodded her head and left the room.
My brother sat down as he scoffed, he looked me in the eyes with a smile.
"Once again we're caught in the crossfires of our father's action.
We share the same name and the same blood.
For that we will always be hunted.
I'm weak and it's only a matter of time before he comes for me.
Before they all do I'm next in line. It only makes sense."
I looked at my brother with confusion
"William what....what are you talking about?"
He looked at me tears running down his face.
"I'm leaving little brother, maybe one day I'll be strong enough to come back.
This is goodbye."
He said standing up and walking away from.
"Wait, wait, wait, you can't just leave.
We can work together, we can figure something out, we always do.
Just don't leave me, don't leave me please."
He looked back at me over his shoulder.
"We already did, remember, you already figured it out by now.
His grapple gun was made of a metal that couldn't be magnetized.
No matter what we do this world is too big, too powerful for the both of us.
Goodbye."
He said walking out the door.
"WILLIAM!"
I shouted for him and I cried for him.
There was nothing I could do to bring him back.
My mother was gone, my brother had left me behind.
I was too powerless to stop either from happening.
Too powerless to protect anyone, no matter what shield I could make.
There are always ways to break a shield, the world would spear head straight through it.
I snuck out of the hospital and headed to the place I knew where I could find power.
A power that couldn't be shattered, a power that could not be blocked, a power beyond anything in this world.
I went home to claim this power.
What I remember from the night is that it was cold and damp.
I walked through the front doors of my home.
Seeing the photo of what was once a happy family, torn apart.
I walked up the stairs and up into my father's office.
There he sat looking at me.
Two men were in front of him.
Tied down to chairs, they were beaten to a bloody pulp.
"These men hired the assassin to kill your mother. So far they only know him by the name Hunter.
They've outlived their usefulness so tell me who shall avenge your mother.
You or I?"
He asked me what I wanted so I walked further into the room.
I raised my arm and held it out to my father.
"I understand now what kind of power I need to invoke real change in this world, come Soul."
My father was surprised as he quickly stood to his feet.
"How do you know of-"
Before he finished, Soul leapt out of his hand into mine.
Life was drained from my skin, my eyes turned black as the room was filled with a dark aura.
With my hand I cut the heads off of the two men seated in the chairs.
"I can see it all now father."
I said as he looked at me in horror.
"I can see every evil deal the Clockwork's made.
Each of them plans with a different world leader.
All for personal gain, I ask to what end.
Where does it all lead to what they seek?
To rule it all, for knowledge they do not possess.
Hmph they lack the power to do so.
I'm going to change this world, father, put this power to good use.
Unlike you all those who came before using it only to further your own needs.
I'll guide this world and shape it into what it should be."
I turned on my heel and walked towards the door.
"You stay here and watch Father, watch as I do what you all failed to do."
I opened the door and walked away.
My father didn't say a word, what could he have said.
I went to my mother's room and saw she had a custom black suit made for me waiting to give me on my birthday.
I walked out of the mansion and headed down the drive.
I was walking out of the gate when suddenly a car pulled up and stopped in front of me.
Sarah got out and sighed in relief.
"There you are, I've been worried sick about you."
She said as she started to walk closer.
"Don't come any closer!"
I shouted, that was the first time I had ever shouted at her.
She stopped and looked at me.
She looked closer, she looked at my eyes.
As her eyes widened and tears started to form.
I told Sarah about Soul years ago and what one would look like if they were possessed by him.
Sarah was the one person left in my life that knew everything about me.
"John, what did you do?"
She asked me as I started to walk past her.
"I did what I had to do."
I walked right past her as she started to cry.
I would reform the underworld into what it is today, create a master plan to become more powerful than ever.
I had become the powerful man my father always wanted.
Many years later my wife adopted a boy.
A boy by the name of Jack.
Why she did it was beyond me, when I first met him he was reading under the same tree me and my brother use too.
I shot bullets near his head and kicked him in the face a bit.
He didn't defend himself at all.
So I tried something else.
"Listen here boy you are nothing, you will never be anything ever, just because my foolish wife adopted you,honestly I don't why I married that whence, she's not good for much."
I raised my foot to kick him again, but this time he caught it and threw it off.
He said to me
"I've been living with Mrs.Clockwork for a year now, I've never once met you. I've seen you in pictures; along with people briefly talking about you.
Foolish is what you call her. I've spent a year with her and "foolish" is the last thing I would call her.
Especially not a "wench" she brought me into her home,showed me love and kindness,I will not allow to speak ill of her.
So tell me how much time have you spent with her,your wife,with your own children."
He was clenching his fist as if he intended to fight me.
I merely scoffed, walked away and lied.
"102 hours in total is how much time I've spent with her, I haven't spent a second with those things you refer to as my children.
This won't be the last time you see me, Jack,you and I have so much to do,remember this,you will never be a match for me."
I walked away with a smile on my face as Soul asked me.
"Why are you grinning about?"
He asked me as I chuckled and said.
"That boy there's something about him."
Years later my family was being held captive by criminals. The leader called himself slider, I went there to deal with them myself.
To my surprise Jack showed up, with a burning confidence in his eyes.
He went into the building alone, a few of his friends I assume joined him later.
One crashed into my building it was quite the entrance.
He fought Slider who could cover himself in steal.
Jack was surrounded by a fiery red aura, the two went crashing down and back up the building.
Until Jack came out victorious, he did what I could not.
He protected them with his own power.
It rattled my mind why was he allowed to defend them, how come he was allowed to have such power.
Power I was denied, I sacrificed everything for the power I have now.
So why is it you were given the power to protect them, what's the difference between us?
Perhaps when the time comes for our final duel I will have my answer.
Here I sit at the Olympic event surrounded by thousands of people who shall soon be sacrificed for a greater world.
Yet I look down on the stage and see him standing there.
Wondering what he will do to try and stop what's to come.
What drives him?
What pushes him?
What makes him so special?
Clockwork looked down at the stage where Jack was standing.
Jack looked back up at him.
Jack pointed his fist at him as Clockwork chuckled and smiled.
"Let's see how you deal with what's to come boy."
To be continued in chapter- 28 battle for Itudah