Jet bent his head down in defeat as the bully walked away. It would seem that there was something Electro could do after all.
After finally having the desire to move again, he got up from his spot and made his way out the front exit. His eyes darted to the voice of a friend who had been waiting outside.
“How’d it go?” Clyde asked hesitantly, unsure if he wanted to know the answer.
Jet narrowed his eyes toward him. “I don’t know, you tell me!” he snapped. “Oh, that’s right, you ran, didn’t you?” Jet asked in a raging satire.
Clyde was taken aback by the harsh tone in Jet's voice. He frowned as he came to a conclusion. “I’m so sorry…” he said solemnly as he placed a hand on Jet’s shoulder.
Jet jerked his shoulder away from Clyde. Afterward, Jet’s gaze fell to the ground out of guilt. He had no right to yell at Clyde like that… “You’ve got it all wrong,” he heaved, breaking the awkward silence. “I didn’t get rejected. Heck,” he scoffed. “I didn’t even get to say anything.”
“So…what happened?”
The two sat down on the steps as Jet explained his troubles. “Andrika scooped her away from me, then Electro came—” He stopped as he saw Clyde tense at the name. It was not his intention to make Clyde feel guilty. He sighed as he decided to skip a few bits of information.
It wasn’t like he was hiding anything. His cheek was bruised, and his mouth was bleeding—even someone without Clyde’s investigational prowess could figure out the rest. “In short, Electro demanded that I stay away from her, and he said if I didn’t cooperate then he would punish, not only me, but you and Crystal, as well.”
Clyde growled angrily, “That’s going too far.” Was there ever a limit for that deranged beast?
Jet nodded in agreement. It was going too far. If Electro attacked the very Princess of Nebulan, he’d be locked up somewhere afterward. He was dense, though, and because of that, Jet didn’t doubt for a minute that he would harm her. In the end, no matter how much it hurt, Jet had to stay away from her.
After Jet spent even more time with Chiyu, his bruise healed up and his mouth stopped bleeding. He waved good-bye to Clyde before beginning his walk toward his house. As he was walking homeward bound, he heard a huge cry of pain. Worried for the girl’s safety, he ran toward the voice.
He regretted chasing after it instantly when he saw the cry belonged to her. Though her face was turned, her long, brown hair gave her away. Crystal…
Jet tried to pull away, he really did, but she was so discontent. Entranced by her presence, he really had no control. He stepped forward hesitantly. “U-um…Crystal?”
She gasped before looking back and into his chocolate-brown eyes. “Y-you okay?” Jet asked her in a gentle voice.
Jet wanted to hold her so badly—to wipe away the tears evident to come from her welled eyes—but he also wanted to run. It was an awkward feeling, each desire inflicting his conscience in a different way. If he ran to her and did as he desired, there was a chance of Electro finding out, but if he just left her there in that state, he would never forgive himself for it.
The tree behind her almost ridiculed his hesitancy. The very promise etched in the bark seemed like it had been smoldering of fire, and he felt it burn at the very core of his soul. He could feel the tree pulling him—like he was the metal to its magnet.
His next move cost him. He took a step closer, and she ran toward him because of it. At that moment, there was no going back. The desperation in her eyes and her frantic hold constricted him, her face falling onto his chest. “Oh, Jet,” she cried. “Why would Lord Adonai not give you a Gift?”
Crystal could feel Jet’s body tense at the question. It had been a simple form of inquiry, but she gathered Jet had misunderstood. He probably thought she asked the question just to see what wretched thing he had done. He probably was thinking her tears meant disgust or something. How stupid! She couldn’t think of a single reason to be disgusted.
She felt him push her away gently and watched in mourn as he looked down shamefully. His distress was unlike she’d ever seen. He used to be so happy and untamed, but now he looked inflicted, so defeated. It was a countenance she never saw before nor ever wanted to see again.
“I…don’t really know.” His whisper was so faint that Crystal could barely hear it. He was fading from her. Even his tone of voice seemed to constrict itself from speaking freely in her presence.
He never intended to push Crystal away, but her comforting hold soon felt too comforting, like he didn’t deserve it. He had to push her away, for her sake. He felt he had to save her from himself—from the disgusting creature he’s become and from the dangers she would be in because of that fact.
The image was frighteningly clear. Electro was standing over the bruised brunette, grinning in his malignant glory. Jet closed his eyes in repulsion and breathed deeply.
His disgust and anger subsided back to shame. How fitting that it would be him—that he would be to blame for Crystal’s pain. They were right to call him a monster.
“Stop it!” Her voice was high; it sounded like she had been crying all over again. Upon looking up hesitantly, he confirmed that to be the case. Her tear-filled eyes seemed to peer deep into his soul and into all of his insecurities. “Stop distancing yourself from me,” she sobbed. “If you think I’m going to go along with the, 'you’re a monster' crap, you’ve got another thing coming! I missed you... I just want to be with you—powerless or not.”
His gaze had fallen, and he glued it to the ground. One more look into her wounded gaze, and he would crumble. All his pulling back will have been wasted.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see her sad smile, her bottom lip quivering. “Didn’t you miss me, too?”
His eyes had been closed, but they had creased into a glare. That’s when she wondered, was there something she didn’t know? What could have agitated him so much? Was it her? Was he angry with her for being so far away in his time of need?
“I…I did miss you.” His voice was strained, like he was fighting with himself to comfort her. The forced tone of voice sent a thousand blades through her heart.
It was the stupidest question Jet had ever heard her ask. Of course, he missed her! He longed for her presence every day he was without her.
That’s what he wanted to say, anyway, but the terrifying image—Electro standing over the broken girl he loved—controlled his response. There was always a possibility that what he said and what actions he made would be heard and seen. While he was thick in the head, Electro was very resourceful when it came to getting what he wanted. Jet couldn’t put it past him that he would tail Jet. It was the perfect way to confirm him truly breaking it off with her. For all he knew, he was being watched right now.
His eyes absently scanned the trees behind her. Sure enough, he caught another Nebulanian staring at him, peering over a tree. One pale blue eye glared at him, the other blanketed by his violet hair. But Jet only needed to see one of them to notice the expression. The Nebulanian was shooting him a cold look of censure. Jet knew the color of that hair and eye anywhere. Shiiru—Electro’s lackey. His gaze seemed to physically speak the words Jet knew he was thinking. Finish it.
Jet turned his attention back to Crystal’s dewy, pleading eyes. He could tell she was desperate for his confirmation. While he had planned on simply not answering her question, he forced out the fact that he did miss her. He had to. He didn’t want to see her broken like this. Through his selfishness, he endangered her with another reply of endearment.
But he didn’t know how much he was risking then. He hadn’t a clue how close they already were to danger until now.
Jet debated using Sacred Speech. He considered telling her everything through their telepathic way of communication but decided against it. While the words would be unheard, the markings would glow. Shiiru would see Jet trying to speak in this form, and know he was telling her something that would ultimately upset Electro.
He would report it, and Jet didn’t want to risk the bully’s reaction to his blatant secrecy.
While he confirmed he missed her, that was all he could offer her. Any more than that, and the magnetic pull would be too strong to resist—he’d selfishly inch her closer to harm's way. “But…” he heard her whimper quizzically, obviously concerned by the forced voice. This was it. If he was going to ever stop the pull, he had to now.
The blades piercing her heart began to twist mercilessly as she heard his next words. “But…I think it would be best if you and I…stayed away from each other.”
As Jet looked toward her, he could see it happening. The pull was fading. He could tell she was about to break, but he stood firm as he kept the image in his head. He’d rather have her hate him than see her get hurt because of his own greed.
He could tell she was growing weak. It seemed like her whole body was about to collapse. She managed a hurtful glare despite the frailty he saw in her. “So…you think it would be best?” she asked him, her voice trembling. “You think us not being together is the better choice?”
She had planned to yell at him, she really did, but her heart and mind thought differently. She was falling apart. She had to get away. She scrunched her face in an attempt to hold back tears that were threatening to escape.
“You don’t understand! That’s not what I meant,” he tried to explain.
“Save it!” Jet heard her snap. He had begun to feel the guilt creep in. He broke the pull…and also the promise they made to each other. The next few words crushed him.
“Maybe, you really are a monster,” he heard her weep in her brokenness. He watched her turn from him and run from his presence.
And, just like that, their polarities were reversed.
*******
Chapter 3
Jet’s Dying Regret
As Crystal left, Jet caught Shiiru staring directly at him. The lackey kept to his post, probably ensuring that Jet didn’t follow after her. Jet met his expression with a hateful glare of his own. They stared for a while until finally Shiiru deemed it safe to slink back to his master. He smirked victoriously before retreating in the shade of the trees.
Jet didn’t really know how to take this outcome. While he did succeed in saving her from Electro’s grasp, he had broken the promise they made to each other. He was supposed to feel relieved, but now he felt even worse—if that was remotely possible.
Now what was he to do? As much as he liked the idea of apologizing to her…he couldn’t. If he had given in to the desire, the sacrifices he'd made to keep her safe would've been in vain. All eyes were on her. She was the princess, after all. There wasn’t one second that they would be able to have alone. And if he tried to get close enough to explain it to her…
Electro would come for her…just as he had warned. Jet cringed.
Never once had he felt like this. His head was about to split in two. In the end, the girl he loved was going to be the victim of his decision—regardless of which choice he made. Her anguish seemed…almost inevitable.
So…was that it? Was he just supposed to sit back and watch Crystal go through such grief?
Electro’s commands were simple; he couldn’t touch her, and he had to stay far away from her. Other than that, he—rather, she—was safe.
The splitting headache began to fade. Finally, there was hope. At last, it seemed there was a way to keep her safe and happy.
The rules were to stay away. He could manage that. While he had to keep away from her, he could leave something for her to pick up later. All eyes were on her, after all. Why not use that to his advantage? If everyone’s attention remained on her, that’s fewer eyes watching him. Maybe he could write a letter and perhaps even give her a gift of some sort. He knew her locker combination, and so long as she hadn’t changed it recently, he could leave it in there. He could keep his distance, while still showing her his affection for her.
He smiled as he found his answer. I’ll get her a present then.
Jet ran from shop to shop. “Hello?” he called out in panic.
No one answered.
What was going on? The market he found himself in was nothing like he remembered. There was no laughter of the customers ringing in the air. Jet heard not even one salesman bellow out their product. He saw no one and heard nothing.
Images of the barren dream flashed through his mind. He ran, trying to escape the nostalgic desolation. “Someone, please answer me,” he begged.
Finally, someone answered back. “Fear not…you’re not alone.”
Jet turned around with a jolt.
The man had green eyes and blonde hair that ran down a few inches underneath his shoulders. He smiled at the boy’s surprised response.
Jet, now questioning his searching capability, gazed at the man. The man had his arms folded and stood just in front of the entrance of a pitched-up white tent—a tent Jet had already passed a few seconds ago. Jet partly dismissed the subject as he opened his mouth, trying to shake his racing thoughts. “W-Where is everyone?”
The man smiled, stretching his golden Sacred Markings in the process. “Where they need to be,” he answered. Then he eyed the customer with another grin.“…As are you.”
Jet scrunched his nose in confusion. “What? What kind of answer is that?”
The man chuckled, “The right one, of course.” He extended his hand toward Jet. “My name is Gabriel. What’s yours?”
Jet’s gaze flickered between his open hand and his warm smile. After speculating on Gabriel’s friendly countenance, Jet reached for his hand.
“I’m Jet,” he offered with a lost expression, Gabriel nodding with a cheerful smile.
Gabriel turned his back to Jet and beckoned him to follow with the raising of his hand. “Come on,” he chirped as he began to leave the market and the meadow behind.
For an instant, Jet’s feet were rooted. He didn’t want to move another step. Though he may be Gift-less, he wasn’t brainless. Here they were, all alone with no eyewitnesses. It’s a place for the perfect crime.
Now, most Nebulanian’s wouldn’t have even considered the danger. Aside from Electro, his kind rarely harmed others—the only exception was Jet. He was pretty much the only one who was both physically and emotionally abused, and it was because of those terrible moments that Jet was a little more cautious than most.
But, in retrospect, there was something about this person that brought him an unusual ease. Somehow, as he watched the figure lead the way, Jet knew—despite the huge possibility of this being a trap—no harm would come to him.
His foot left the ground, trusting his instincts. “But…where are we going?” Jet asked as he hesitantly followed.
“I already told you,” Gabriel laughed gleefully. “We’re going to where you need to be.”
Not that again… Jet narrowed his eyes. Maybe he wasn’t going to hurt him. Perhaps the elder was just going to annoy him to the point of insanity. Where you need to be? What kind of answer was that??? “And where would that be?” he asked in exasperation.
“Why ask me?” Gabriel inquired with a shrug. “Isn’t that up to you?”
Who was this freak? “I don’t know where I need to be. I’m following you!”
Gabriel laughed heartily.
Jet growled irritably in response. “What’s so funny?” he snapped.
The man stifled his laughter. “I’m sorry, but you just answered your own question. I couldn’t help but laugh.”
The two were now halfway down the hill as Jet replied to the man’s absurd statement. “No, I haven’t…”
“Oh, but yes, you did,” Gabriel contradicted. “You just told me you felt you need to be following me.”
Jet had about enough of this. He stopped following the old coot and folded his arms, rooting his feet at the bottom of the hill. “All right! That’s enough. Either you tell me where I go, or I’m going to find another place to shop!”
Gabriel hung his head and stopped as Jet did. H
e turned and revealed a rueful smile. “That’s just it, my friend. I can’t make your decisions. No one can. In the end, we all have to trust what we feel.” He paused, looking into Jet’s eyes. “What do you feel?”
Jet grunted. “I feel I’ve been following a madman,” he replied in a monotone.
To Jet’s surprise—and dislike—Gabriel chuckled at the reply. He seemed indifferent to the boy’s aggravation. “All right, Jet. I’ll leave you to your journey then.”
And with that, Gabriel began his walk back up the hill.
Who was that freak, anyway? Jet dismissed the thought, unsure if he wanted to know the answer to that.
His gaze found a single building made of brick. The building was the only thing built on the wide field of green.
Both the structure of the building and the area it was built in gave a surreal appearance to the shop. It seemed so out of place.
After walking through the shaded glass-pane doors, the windowless shop instantly veiled the evening scarlet sun. Jet’s eyes ached at the immense contrast of light. He blinked in response to the sensation. As his eyes began to adjust to the change of lighting, Jet surveyed the area. If nothing else, it was dark. The only lights he managed to find were dim and gave their attention to the jewels encased in glass, the jewels glittering happily as if gesturing gratitude toward the light’s company.
Attachable leather shelves were clinging to every unseen wall, boasting the jewels they possessed by use of their clear glass frame.
Jet counted eight clear-glass, black-framed, wooden tables—four on his left, and four on his right. Each table stood on top of the tan-colored carpet with long, slender legs. The two rows stood parallel to each other on either side. The farthest rows of tables from the walkway stood behind the spaces in between the rows near to Jet. This setup provided space to move while still giving the sense of luxury.
The air was cool—thanks to a single fan hard at work above Jet—and refreshing. A pleasant fragrance lingered in the area as Jet followed the russet-colored carpet that led to the front counter.
Setting Sun Vol. I [Teaser] Page 5