99 

Jin sat down, surprised. In front of him, was a fairy—a race long extinct. He sat down, scrutinizing her wings. No wonder why her eyes were so inhuman. 

Sylvia slowly walked to the edge of the building. She joined Jin on his slumping perch. "Did you get surprised?" she asked, wanting to know if he was satisfied. 

Jin fumbled. "But fairies are ... dead. All of them. Extinct."

Sylvia looked up at the sky. "No. They're not extinct. I'd say there are about a hundred more of us. However," she frowned, "being a fairy is a major burden. I'm the size of a human. I'm basically a human with wings. Wings ... that don't even work."

Jin sighed. "What do you mean?"

"They don't work," she said, "I can't fly with them. The fairy race was the most magical race. After the suppression of all magic; the fairies could not survive. They evolved from their small sizes in efforts to survive the new harsh world, which they are unable to fly away from. Then, our blood was mixed with human blood everytime a human and a fairy had a baby. 

"To use healing magic; and flight, magic is needed. As of now, that's not something I have. The world's a messed up place. I felt different around the races. He just wished I was born as a human. I can't even cut the wings off. After the removal surgery, it grows back in about a month, for the most. Bursting throw my back all the time. Pain. Bleeding. That's why I never wore anything that exposed my back. Never."

Jin wasn't satisfied. Was this the secret she's been hiding for so long? He expected it to be related to Nyx and his gang. Turns out, he was wrong, and he genuinely wished he wasn't. What's more, Jin did not feel the slightest thing from Sylvia's kiss. His heart-rate didn't increase, not even for a second. 

She was beautiful—everything. But Jin ... he couldn't feel anything for her. She was also innocent. The bottom line: tonight was a huge waste of his time. There was only one thing that would satisfy him for the night now. 

He slowly stood; forcing Sylvia's eyes to shift focus to him. He heaved; standing at the edge of the building, and looking up at the night sky. "What's the use of being a fairy when you can't fly. Birds have not a care in the world. They're always free. Alone in the skies; flocking away from their worries. I know I wish I was a bird. I envy that kind of freedom."

It was quiet for a while. Jin slowly looked at Sylvia, and uttered, "I'm ... calling it a night. Give me your hand. I'll take you to my house," he glared, "but don't expect to stay there for much longer."

Sylvia tinged. Then, she stood, putting out her hand. Jin took her hand. Suddenly, they were inside of a house, standing in the same poses. It was as if their environment was switch. The teleportation was almost instanteous. 

Jin realeased Sylvia's hand. "It's either you go home or sleep on the couch opposite Ashton," he told her. 

She drew closer to the couch. Jin ambled over to Ashton. Having a serene slumber after a long day, Ashton laid upon the couch, swathed in a blue blanket. He placed a hand upon Ashton's head; and peered down at him.

In two hours, he was leaving the world forever. His friends were never to see him the same ever again. He sighed. "Have a good night of sleep, Ashton," he whispered, with glassy eyes, "and goodbye. I'm leaving. But it's for the betterment of us all. Good bye again."

Jin rubbed Ashton's head. Then he slowly edged his hand away from him. Turning around, he saw Sylvia looking at him. He glared at her, and she immediately averted her eyes. 

Jin slowly walked a few steps until he halted again. He looked over his shoulder, peering at Ashton. Then, he looked ahead again.

Ashton remained on the couch. He had been dreaming about the old days with Jin and his other friends. That's until he felt an ominous presence. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the figure in the middle of the room. From the time he had landed eyes on the figure; he had vanished. 

Ashton heaved, wry on his face. "Goodbye," he muttered, "Jin." 

In truth, Ashton had no idea why he had chosen to say goodbyes. He recognized Jin's change in behavior and tone. He perceived the change in Jin for these three days. However; the demeanor Jin carried was all to familiar. It was exactly the same as the Jin he's been with three days ago. Not a bit different. The only disparity between them was the fact that this "good Jin" always felt sorrow and remorse, when the other did not. Ashton was able to recognize this easily. The two Jins had this hostility, ominosity, negativity, and diabolical demeanor to them. They were, unfortunately, exactly the same as per Ashton's internal proposal. 

Ashton frowned. Then, went back to sound sleep. 

***

Meanwhile, Jin stood at the top of the same building. The building where he was betrayed. He looked down at the world, with hours hours left to his disposal. He towered over it all on that building. Looking down on everything.

In doing so, he felt obligated to become the strongest of them all. So that he could really be surperior to everything. Nothing would be able to harm him. His eyes began to glow green. He would not be stopped when his power is unfathomable, prevalent and unpredictable. 

He figured it was much better to feel nothing. It felt better having no emotions than to have. Because, fortunately, he felt nothing. And this made him feel as though nothing could harm him. He felt inhuman—yes. But this was good. He was superior to any human, that is why.

"Emotions are restraints," Jin uttered to himself; his reluctance quelled by his own resolve. 

And without emotions he was free. Just as free as the birds that soared through the skies. He'll become powerful, yet unaffected by mental and physical harm. And with this stoicism, he will fly above it all with not a care in the world—just like a bird in the winds.

He leaped off of the building, soaring through the air. Gust of wind rippling against his body. His hair being blown up. He was headed straight for the ground.