"I am really disappointed in you little brother," a voice said which came from inside the little forest, and it was as if the winds themselves were carrying the voice. "Where is your dignity and pride, little brother? Giving up that easily, are you now?"

Magnus wildly looked around, searching for where the voice was coming from, but he came out empty-handed since he could not even catch a whiff of the speaker's coattails.

"Big Brother!" Michael shouted with pure happiness and joy, Magnus quickly had to restrain him at once since Michael started to have some funny ideas-- namely, resistance.

Then seeing that defiance was quickly put down by Magnus with a smack right across the head, Michael once more began his shouting, "Big brother, you have to save." he wailed. "This savage miscreant wants to kill me, just like he did to my two followers, which mother gave me."

"Will you ever grow up, Michael." The speakers said in a displeased voice as he finally appeared in his full glory, right out of the treeline.

Magnus blinked his eyes a couple of times, not believing what he was seeing…. Where the fuck did he come from, he asked himself. I swear I just looked at that area a few seconds ago, and he was definitely not there.

Still, though, that made one thing perfectly clear-- Michael's big brother is gifted.

This fella looked exactly like Michael with his blue eyes, blond hair, pale complexion, slender frame, and sharp, pointy features. But the main difference was that he was a few years older, much more mature, and stood a good 2 meters, just like Magnus. Also, instead of that ugly sneer, that Michael always has on his face, this guy walked in with a cold, aloof, and blank look on his face, making it absolutely clear that his disposition and temperament is on a whole nother level than Michael's.

Not letting his guard down for a single second, Magnus stood his ground and continued to point his gun at Michael's temple. From what Magnus could pick out from this guy's personality, this hostage he has in his hand is the only thing that is keeping him alive.

Michael's big brother completely ignored Magnus and turned to face Michael, asking him in a bored lecturing tone. "Look at yourself, Michael!" The man began with, as he looked at Michael up and down, with unconcealed distaste in his eyes at what he saw.

"You let this plebeian," he said, as he indicated at Magnus with a flick of his hand, while not even looking at him, "get the better of you, for the second time, I would believe."

Michael's mouth hanged open, once he heard his older brother's final comment, and asked in a startled tone, "How did you know?"

Michael's older brother sniffed in contempt at his younger brother's question, but still, he answered the question. "Mother knew that you did not get those injuries by accident, so she guessed that you went out to settle some score once you took out the Mech suit from the manufacturing workshop.

As the eldest, she sent me out to tail you. I had to make sure that that this insult was paid back in blood. Even though you are useless, you are still blood. Oh, yes, and I had to make sure that nothing unexpected happens." At that, Michael squirmed a bit in shame, but his brother carried on, as if he hadn't noticed or most likely didn't care at all.

"Good thing I did," he said with a contemptuous laugh, "or else you would have ended up like your two followers."

Magnus silently shook his head to himself in disgust, not only because of the way this fellow is treating the honorable sacrifices that his families' subordinate made, but also because of the way he is treating his younger brother. In Magnus' books, that is no way, at all, to treat a blood-related kin.

But what surprised him the most was Michael's reaction, not only did he tremble with embarrassment... but also anger.

Michael's older brother saw that too, and looked at his younger brother with a scornful smile, "Oh, does my little brother hate it when I speak ill of his dead lackeys?"

Magnus couldn't stand this any longer, so cut into the conversation, Magnus started off with "Mr. Sawyer," since he did not know the man's name. "Do you want to come to some sort of agreement about the release of your younger brother?"

Michael's brother spun around to face Magnus for the first time, and looked at him with the most aloof and iciest look possible and said to him. "You will remain silent as I converse with my brother, are we clear?

A lesser man might have recoiled back in fear and shock, but the only response Magnus gave was a surprise raise of his eyebrows.

"Wow," Codex said from inside Magnus' mind, "what a fucking prick, huh?"

Magnus chuckled inside at that, and added with a hint of amusement, "And here I thought that you couldn't get any worse than Michael. Ha!"

At his question, Michael's older brother did not even wait for a reply from Magnus, immediately he went back to face his younger brother and went back to ridicule him.

"Hey, Magnus," Codex said as all laughter was gone from her tone, leaving nothing else except deadly seriousness.

Magnus turned away his attention from the conversation going on between the two brothers, and brought his full attention to Codex and asked, "Yes, Codex?"

"Listen, Magnus," Codex immediately started off with once he had Magnus full and undivided attention, "It is clear that this guy, here, will not be negotiating with you. You got to come up with some other plan to get your ass out of here."

"What do you expect me to do, Codex?" Magnus defensively asked in a sulking tone. "Should I fight him, huh? Because news flash, he is gifted, and he could wipe the floor with me, with his powers. The only thing I could do is treat with him. That is the only option we have here! Still, though call the cops, if we do not end up coming to an agreement, ending up in their hands for murder is a much better option."

"Okay," Codex said, "Already done, the cops are on their way but it would take a while since we are out in the middle of nowhere. Anyways it would be good to have a plan B, or you are toast."

Magnus grumbled under his breath, since he knew what Codex said was right, then turning to face Codex, he asked in a hopeful tone. "So, what should be my plan B?"

"I do not know," Codex simply responded, then seeing that was not going to cut it out since Magnus was glaring down at her, she then added, "Why don't you use the Mech suit to get yourself out of here?"

Magnus looked in the direction that Michael threw the virtual headset when he surrendered. "That is not going to work. This is an Ultralight classification. The only thing it is good for is dealing with angry crowds. Not some gifted person." Magnus started off with on a gloomy tone, but then he started to think about it, and ideas and thoughts raced through his mind.

"But if I can get close to him, then I might be able to…" Magnus said as he went off thinking out loud to himself.

However, those thoughts were cut short, as it would seem that Michael's older brother found it in himself to once more speak to Magnus. "Well, then," he said to Magnus as he smiled at him, in a not so friendly manner. "We must be on our way."

Magnus did not let himself get fazed by that look. He actually even went on to plaster the exact same kind smile on his face and said to Michael's brother in a very calm tone. "Well, I also do not mind being on my merry way, but I need your guarantee that I can have safe passage, and you will not be coming after me."

"Hahaha," Michael's brother quickly broke down into laughter as he heard what Magnus said, Magnus looked on in confusion at him, but Michael…. he had a look of absolute terror.

Magnus, who was very confused at what was going on, couldn't help himself, asking, "What do you find so funny?"

"Well, you," was Michael's brother simply response once he finished with his laughter. He peered at Magnus and asked him, "You really believe that you are walking out of here, alive?"

Magnus's eyes immediately squinted together in anger and asked in an icy tone. "You do know that I have your brother at gunpoint, huh?" And to emphasize his point, Magnus shook Michael a bit, causing him to yelp in fright.

Still, with that amused look on his face, like he was watching some ant struggle right before his eyes, Michael's brother responded by saying. "That can be easily solved."

Then with a flick of his hand, Michael's brother propelled some sort of blade made out of thin air.

With a Woosh, the windblade flew towards Magnus, and before he could even process what was happening or even say a pip, the blade stuck him. It hit the midsection of Magnus' arm, cutting right through it like a slice of cheese.

The arm that held the gun fell to the floor with a solid thump, and Magnus just stared at it, too shocked and amazed to even notice the blood gushing out of his stump.

Then the pain hit, it was like a truck coming in at 100kmh, and his now slashed arm felt like it was on fire. The pain coursed through him like boiling lava, and Magnus dropped to his knees as a scream of pure agony escaped his mouth.

The only reason why Magnus was not out cold, on the ground, was because he knows that if he passed out, for a single second, it would be game over for him.

Michael watched all this unfold, with a controlled expression on his face. All that was left now, was for his brother to deliver the killing blow-- like he did so many times. Deep inside, Michael asked himself, how many times has it been now since I watched my brothers and mother kill people who stood in their way?

Then shaking his head, he answered, Ahh, too many times to even count, now I guess.

It is not he is taking Magnus side all the sudden, no- far, far from it. It is just that every time he watches these murders go on, it is like he has a silent hand in it.

Then all of a sudden, he heard his brother speak to him, "Micheal!" He shouted at him.

"Yes, big brother," Micheal immediately responded, as he awoke from his musing.

His brother walked over to were Magnus severed arm laid, and unclutched the gun in between the fingers grasp, and handed it to Michael. "Finish him."

Michael nearly jumped right out of his wheelchair, once he heard what his brother said. He looked down at the gun that right before his eyes, then looked up at his brother, who held a cold, steady gaze.

These eyes almost made him flinch back, but a part of him, held him back from doing so, and that was the part that found all this amusing.

So, today, I am going from watching to participating, haha. Man, that is a real step up for me! That little part of him deep inside, the furthest part of his mind, whispered.

And it made him sick.

Looking down at the gun once more, then at his brother, Michael swallowed the lump in his throat and whispered, "I think, I will not, Charles."

Charles raised his eyebrows in astonishment, not quite believing what he was hearing--rebellion. So once he asked, "What did you say, Michael?"

Michael raised his head, and looked at his brother, right in the eyes and pronounce. "I said, I will not kill him, and become like you, a murderer."

Charles look of surprise slowly transformed into an ugly scowl, taking in a deep breath, he looked down upon his younger brother and said to him in a disgusted tone. "I always knew that you were pathetic, Michael, but now you are just weak."

"I am not weak," Michael shouted, before he could continue, his brother cut him off.

"If you are not going to do it, little brother, then I shall finish the peasant," Charles said with a sneer, as he turned away from his younger brother.

Out of a mechanized machine, a deep roar of laughter came out of it, both brothers wheeled around to face were the laughter came from, and it turned out to be the Mech suit.

The Mech suit turned to face them and said in a voice very similar to Magnus, "I think I have something to say against that." Then it fired the large ass machine gun that is held in its hands.

Without stopping at all Magnus, who was controlling the Mech suit ran towards Charles, he knew that surprise rain of bullets would not be able to finish the gifted bloke.

What he has is an Ultralight Mech suit, and from what Magnus could remember from his time in the University, Michael always used to brag that his eldest brother was a D class gifted individual, and that is out of the S to F classification. Meaning that he is middling class hero, and they only thing that can match him beside somebody from the same class, is not a light class, but a Medium class Mech suit.

So, that should show you how ill-equipped Magnus is to handle this fella.

As the dust cleared, Magnus saw Charles standing tall and unscratched, with his hands spread wide to the sides in a claw-like grip, and right before him was all the bullets that Magnus fired, standing still in mid-air. Then with a single sweeping swipe of his hands, the bullets flew back into the air, hitting the Mech suit head-on.

The Mech suit put up its arms in an x-shape to block all the bullets so that it would not hit something vulnerable, while it continued to run headlong at Charles. Once the bullets stopped assaulting it, Magnus chucked the 55 kg machine gun right at Charles, with the mentality of; since bullets are not doing him any harm. Now let's see him try to block that machine gun coming in at 35 kmh.

Yet, Charles easily dispatched the machine gun flying towards him. With two flicks of hands, two windblades formed up, and struck the machine gun in mid-air, sliced it into two, and letting each piece land to either side of Charles.

However, it was too late for Charles since the mech suit was already upon him. Magnus jumped right at Charles, with his both hands spread out, looking as if he was ready to give him a bear hug.

"Is that all you got," Charles asked in a bored tone, as the Mech suit laid only inches away from him, but unable to go any further since there seems to be some sort of shields protecting him from either side.

Magnus, who was inside the Mech suit, started to maniacal laugh, Charles looked at him as a hint of confusion crossed his face.

Then the Mech suit turned its head to look down at Charles and spoke up to clarify things, "You must be wondering what I find so funny, huh?" Magnus said in a cheerful and upbeat tone, "Well, it is because I have you where I wanted."

Then Magnus did something to the Mech suit, causing it to heat over and steam. The only thing Charles was able to say was "Fuck," as the Mech suit exploded.

Magnus came back into his body, then walked over to the ruin of fire and smoke. All that was left in the small ruin was a melted husk of the former Mech suit and a burnt body, even his severed arm was gone.

Magnus leaned over the body and whispered to it, "At the end of the day you are like every other soul, a human, gifted or not."

Then out of the smoke, somebody came near to where Magnus was bent over, Magnus quickly got up, but before that he picked out the handgun, which somehow managed to survive all this, out of Charles's pocket.

Wheeling around to face the newcomer, Magnus saw that it was just Michael, who was staring down at his brother's burnt body with an unreadable expression.

After a long while, Michael finally looked up from his brother's body and turned to face Magnus, "Well, are you going to kill me as well." He asked as a blank expression played on his face.

Magnus, slowly and carefully loweedr the gun, and responded to Michael by saying, "I heard you, when you refused your brother. So, as the saying goes, a life for a life." waving his hand at Michael, Magnus added, "You are free to go, Michael."

"I guess I should be thanking you for not killing me like the rest of them," Michae said with a bleak chuckle.

Magnus's fingers twitched over the trigger, but he decided to stick with his word, and let Michael walk. Still, though, he added, "Don't think for a single second, Michael, that I am doing this because I forgave you. The truth is far from it," Magnus said, as he faced Michael head-on with a cold and icy gaze. "I hate you, and I shall for the rest of my life, for what you did to me."

Michael slowly nodded his head, then sighing in defeat, he turned around and wheeled away in his wheelchair.

Magnus watched as Michael wheeled away into the forest and disappeared off into the distance. Slowly the adrenaline rush that he was feeling slowly ebb away from him, and all the pain and hurt trickled back.

Through only sheer will was Magnus able to stand tall, he turned his gaze away from the trees and started to make his way up the hill.

It was a slow and difficult process, since with all the blood loss, cuts, and bruises that he had on his body. Still, though Magnus was finally able to make it, and he sat himself down in the same rock he was sitting on before all this mess started, besides the rock was a beautiful young tree, and a mesmerizing view of the city. All the components of a great resting place.

"Magnus, why didn't you rush over to the hospital?" Codex asked in a brokenhearted voice, but deep down, she knew the answer.

Even so, Magnus answered her question, as he sadly chuckled with heavy-lidded eyes, "You know that would do me no good, right Codex? I am not going to make it with all the blood I lost."

Codex remain silent, letting it encompass all of them.

After a long while, Magnus, who seemed to be resting, spoke up, "What do you think mom is going to say, huh? I couldn't even survive a single day without her. Ha!"

"That is not funny," Codex responded in a far off voice.

Magnus shook his head, "The same old Codex, huh? Well, I have to say, no matter how short it was, it has been one heck of a ride, Codex!"

"Stop saying that!" Codex shouted, "I just called 911, and they are on their way. So just hold on."

Magnus just chuckled in response, at the core of it all, Codex it just a worry-wart.

Then as he leaned back into his comfy rock, a thought hit him. Reaching into his pocket, Magnus pulled out the black shard he tripped over. Magnus peered at it, and voiced his question, "Hey, Codex, what do you think this is?"

Then suddenly a tear appeared right before Magnus, before he could even voice his surprise and shock, he was gone.