Cloud - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

When Frederick said that having those new powers was going to make me paranoid, he wasn't wrong.
I was starting to see dead people everywhere. I could feel them and it gave me the creeps. All of this was so new to me but at the same time, it all seemed familiar. Like Storm said, my powers were still adjusting and not having them under my control was really annoying.
I seemed to be seeing ghosts more than I would have liked. Just looking outside the window of my new bedroom, I could see some people who clearly did not belong to this world anymore roaming around. Their ancient clothes and theirs faces proved it all. Some were like zombies. I tried to ignore them by staying inside of the house but inside wasn't supposedly better.
I had other ghosts bothering me inside the house.
Gina appeared to me in the most awkward places. She would look at me with those accusing eyes and it just made me feel so bad. News about her death was seen on TV surprisingly. Her burnt body was found and her head was just a few meters away from it. It made me want to puke watching this.
Eden too haunted me. Despite the fact that Cloud and I hadn't talked at all since I left his bedroom, Eden still came after me. I couldn't understand how that worked. I thought that by leaving Cloud, he would stop coming after me but I was wrong.
To make matters worst, I also started to have nightmares. I had nightmares about that shadow that I saw when Eden showed me his memories. The shadow of Cloud. It was scary. I could imagine it hiding in the dark with its red eyes staring at me.
I needed help, it was obvious. I needed to learn to control those new powers before I lose my mind. Though, who could I ask for help? The others offered to help me but I declined each time. That got Frederick to worry more about me but I didn't want him nor the others to get involved with this. I needed new fresh eyes on the matter and after days of thinking, I finally found the right person to help me in this situation.
Alexandro Vins.
"Hey, you really think that this Alexandro guy is going to help us?" Nicolas asked me as he looked around the classroom that we were currently in. He was leaned against the wall near the door.
I happened to be back at the high school but this time, I wasn't with Cloud, I was with Nicolas. I did not even have to ask the latter to come with me, he just followed me. I guessed that he really wanted to get out of Cloud's house.
"Yeah, Alexandro helped me before," I replied to him, glancing outside the window. "And he seems to know about a lot of things, so his help will be appreciated."
He nodded slowly and then let out a sigh. It was only after a few minutes that he spoke again.
"Earlier, in the hallways, everyone was staring at me," he said surely to start conversation and he seemed to be annoyed. "It was like if I came back from the dead or something."
I chuckled at that. True, while walking to come to this classroom to wait for Alexandro, a lot of people stared at Nicolas in the hallways. They seemed to be surprised to see him back and the reasons for that were pretty obvious.
"Well, let's not forget that they haven't seen you around the high school since a very long time. Moreover, you came back with me," I told him and then I added, "You're also mister popular."
Nicolas rolled his eyes at that.
"I hate that title," he admitted and I was slightly surprised.
"I thought that-"
"I know what you thought, I know what everyone thinks of me," he cut me off and he lowered his gaze. "People think that I'm that rich boy who has everything that he wants. The perfect girlfriend, the perfect friends, the perfect life basically, but it's not like that at all."
I watched him curiously. I still did not have a real talk with Nicolas. I learnt a lot more about his past recently but now that I thought of it, the past Nicolas and the present one were different in so many ways. His guardian life and his current life weren't the same anymore and maybe it was time for me to learn a bit more about his new existence.
"How is it actually?" I found the courage in myself to ask him and he looked at me. "Your life I mean."
"Not so great," he replied after much thought. "I don't want anyone to pity me but if you want to know, well, my parents are always working and they are rarely at home. Right, they have influence and give me whatever I want, materially speaking, but on the affection department they are just so bad. Honestly, I would give up all of my money just to feel loved by them."
Saying that made him sad, I could see it in his eyes. I did not know that he felt this way. Maybe his brother succeeded after all. He wanted to make Nicolas' life a living hell and from the looks of it, preventing him from feeling love was his way of making him pay for his betrayal. An eternity of misery.
"Maybe that's why Emma was so important to me," Nicolas continued slowly. "Maybe that was why I couldn't let go."
"You really loved her, didn't you?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Yes," he replied and he let out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Kind of funny. I wasn't really attracted to her at first but she really got stuck to me. I swear, she wouldn't let me go. In the end, we started dating and I somehow fell in love with her. I thought that it was the same for her but I was wrong."
Now that I thought of it, Nicolas was supposedly a guardian and Emma a prostitute and from what I heard of prostitutes, guardians were their favorite preys. Maybe that was why Emma was attracted to Nicolas. I did not think that the latter knew about this little piece of information and I preferred to keep it that way. His situation was already bad as it was.
Honestly, before, Nicolas kind of annoyed me. He acted like if he was better than anyone else. He seemed to not care whether he was acting like an ass or not to people. Damn, he did not even get my name right. Did he do it on purpose? I didn't know but one thing for sure, from the moment I had met him, he had been unpleasant to me for unknown reasons.
Though, now, his behavior was different in so many ways. He was calmer and nicer and he seemed to have accepted whatever was going on around him. What caused such change in him? What caused his attitude to change towards me more importantly?
"Nicolas," I started, wanting to know the truth. "Why did you act like an ass with me at first?"
He hummed briefly before replying, "Well, I'm naturally an ass to everyone but I would be lying if I say that you weren't a special case, cause you were. I was just jealous of you."
"Jealous?" I repeated in confusion and he nodded.
"It's because of Emma. I don't know why but from the moment that she met you, she started talking about you a lot and she seemed to care more for you than she did for me. That made me angry and jealous so I decided to take it out on you."
"Well, that explained everything," I said in surprise. "But seriously, there was no reason to be jealous. There was nothing going on between Emma and I. She's just a girl who offered me her friendship. She's not even my type."
A smirk came on his lips and he said in a teasing tone, "Yeah, Cloud is more of your type."
I gasped in disbelief.
"What? No. Absolutely not!" I exclaimed and he gave me a knowing look.
"Come on, I can see it," he said. "There is obviously something going on between you two. Luffy, you sleep in his bedroom."
"I don't do that anymore," I protested and I added in a lower tone. "I started sleeping in one of the guest rooms if you didn't notice."
"Oh, yeah, you got into a fight," he remembered. "Couple fight, is it?"
"No, that's not it. We didn't fight," I protested once again and I paused. "It's just a lover from the past coming back."
"And you love Cloud, don't you?" he questioned me and I avoided his gaze, feeling embarrassed.
"Is it the impression that I give?" I asked him in return and his reply was affirmative. I sighed. "I don't know what to tell you. I thought of it a lot lately. It seems like I'm trying so hard to deny the truth. I'm fighting it. I can't just let that happen."
"Why?" he asked me curiously and I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Because he's Cloud," was my reply. "Him and I, we fight, we kiss and then we fight again. It's like an endless circle. There is always something, whether it is a lie, his past or his actions. I don't feel like if he is being honest with me. God, I don't even know how he feels. I can't let myself fall in love if he doesn't want to try."
He did not reply anything to my words and just looked at me. I stood awkwardly in front of him and asked myself where the hell was Alexandro? I had been told that he would be in this classroom but there was still no sign of him.
"I can't believe that I'm talking about that with you," I told Nicolas, trying to fill the silence and he chuckled lightly.
"I can't believe it too," he admitted and he seemed to think for some seconds. "I need to tell you something. It's about this whole guardian thing."
I frowned.
"Say."
"I want to be your guardian," he spitted out and my eyes widened in disbelief. "I thought a lot about what Calum said. I can choose who I want to protect and I want it to be you. I have a feeling that it is the right thing for me to do. I know that right now I am not the strongest person to protect you but Calum agreed to help me trigger my inner power. Until then, I just want you to trust me on this."
He was surprising. He wanted to protect me? Of all people, he chose me. Why would he do such thing? Could he even do this? He was supposed to protect the light and me, I was far from it. Wouldn't it be better if he protect someone who really deserved it?
"I'm not against your decision," I told him at last. "But I'm not the best person to protect. I'm bad. I don't know if you were told about it but Gina, she's dead becaus-"
"I know," he interrupted me. "Your cousin told me about it and I don't blame you for it. Your life was on the line. You just protected yourself...I never liked Gina anyway."
He gave me a reassuring smile and I shook my head. Right, he was going to be my guardian then. It did not look like if I could change his mind anyway. His mind was already made up.
Suddenly, the door of the classroom opened and in came Alexandro Vins. We stood up straight at his arrival and he looked at both of us in surprise.
"Luffy, Nicolas, what an unexpected surprise," he said as he walked to his desk. Nicolas examined him from up and down suspiciously. Alexandro continued, "Tell me, what can I do for you?"
"Another replica died," my reply was straight and forward and Alexandro froze. "And now, I received more powers...I'm seeing things."
"What do you mean by things?" he asked me as he sat on his chair and I folded my arms over my chest.
"The dead, for example," I replied, "And sometimes, I'm having some flashes of images going through my mind. I'm feeling emotions that aren't mine and I can feel death around me. This isn't right. This is getting to my head. I need your help."
He leaned back against his chair and watched me with a deep frown.
"Is there more?" he asked me and I let out a sigh.
"Yes," I replied. "I came into contact with someone, someone dead, and he made me see his past, his memories. I can't even understand how he did that."
"It's the powers which interfered," he corrected me and he cursed under his breath. "Things are getting worst and worst."
I leaned my hands on his desk and said, "You need to help me to control my new powers."
"Do you even know what you can do with them?" he asked me and I shook my head. He hummed, "I figure much. It seems to me that now you can see through the world of the dead." He stood up from his seat and walked to me. "It's your eyes. Those powers are much stronger than the little gift that I gave you before."
"Can I learn to control it?" I asked him.
"It depends on how strong you are," he replied. "You'll need to concentrate and have a lot of mental strength."
"I'm up to the challenge," I told him and he smirked.
"Let's see then," he said and he glanced at Nicolas. "Would you mind helping us, guardian?"
"I-I don't," Nicolas answered quickly and Alexandro chuckled.
"I'm surprised to see that you are still alive," the older man said and Nicolas frowned at his words. Alexandro went to take two chairs and placed them in front of each other. He mentioned for Nicolas and I to sit, which we did. Once facing each other, Alexandro came to stand behind me and he placed his hands on my shoulders. He asked me, "Tell me, Luffy, what do you see when you look at Nicolas?"
"Hmm, simply Nicolas," I replied in confusion. "I see nothing special actually."
"Wow, thanks," Nicolas told me sarcastically while rolling his eyes.
"What am I supposed to see?" I asked Alexandro and he moved his lips closer to my ear. I shivered at the sudden proximity.
"You need to see Nicolas' true form," he whispered. "Open your mind and let the power seek in. You see what you want to see."
That was easier said than done. I did not have a clue on how to do what he just said. I thought about what the original told me and I did not see how linking my powers with my feelings was going to help me in that situation. I needed to find my way through this.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I heard the bell of the school ring then but I did not mind it. I concentrated instead. I opened my eyes but got no result so I closed them again and concentrated harder. I did that process a few times but still, it wasn't working. The only time that I wanted those powers to work, they didn't want to cooperate with me. I clenched my fists and frowned, my eyes closed. I was getting annoyed.
"Damn it. I give up!" I exclaimed as I snapped my eyes open. "I-"
I stopped my sentence and my eyes widened at the sight of Nicolas. He was differently, he was suddenly breathtaking. He was wearing a white and silver shinning armor. His eyes color seemed to have become brighter and he was literally radiating light.
It was his guardian form.
He seemed to be at peace. Though, this beautiful view of him did not last for long and soon, I gasped in horror. His armor disappeared and he became suddenly shirtless. Wounds started to appear on his skin and he became bloody. His eyes lost all colors.  He seemed to be in intense pain. His light was fading away.
"Enough," I exclaimed and I hid my eyes with my hands. This was it, wasn't it? Nicolas' true appearance. How could he have changed so suddenly? The answer to that question clicked in my mind. It was Nike's fault. He tortured Nicolas, he broke him and that was what was left of him.
"Luffy," Nicolas said and I felt his presence in front of me. "Are you okay?"
I shook my head quickly. I was scared to open my eyes now. I did not want to see anything anymore. I did not want to see anyone in pain. How was I going to live with that?
"Listen to me, Luffy," Alexandro said, "You may learn to control your powers but they will always force their way through you. You just need to ignore whatever you see. It's a sad truth that you will need to learn to live with."
How much I wanted to run away from my problems right now?
Nicolas grabbed my hands and pulled them away from my face. I kept my eyes close, still scared to face him. He said my name softly and encouraged me to open my eyes. I resisted and I felt him touch my cheek. Letting out a sigh, I peered my eyes open really slow and I was relief when I saw that Nicolas return back to his normal form. He smiled at me.
"Don't tell me that I was that horrible," he joked but I did not find it funny.
"I'm going to become paranoid," I stated.
"Nothing is sure," Alexandro chuckled. "Are you up for another round?"
"No," I replied immediately. "I have enough of this already. We are going to go back home."
"As you wish," he said with a nod, "Come see me whenever you need help."
"Right," I told him and after saying goodbye, Nicolas and I got out of here. I started to walk towards the exit.
"Hey, wait," Nicolas exclaimed at me. "No need to walk so fast."
"Sorry," I told him and he looked at me with worries in the eyes.
"Is it really that bad?" he asked me and I nodded. He sighed, "Try to not think about it so much."
I would have liked that but even if I tried to not think of it, I would, one day or another, see it with my own eyes again. So what was the point of all of this? A pep talk wouldn't be enough to get me out of this situation. I was screw.
Thankfully, the hallways were empty and we easily got out of the high school. I wondered if the rector would inform my parents about my numerous absences and about me bunking classes. It was my education on the line here but I didn't have enough time for it.
What would I even do with my life? I did not know. What I would do after I finished high school was still a mystery to me. God, I was not even sure if I would pass. I didn't give much attention to my studies lately. I was an idiot.
Nicolas and I arrived at the parking and we went in the direction of the car that Rain gave to us. Nicolas got in the driver seat while I got in the passenger one.
"Hey, I know that you are not in your best state but can we go to the hospital?" he asked me and I gave him a questioning look. He explained himself, "I want to see Ken."
Ken, I nearly forgot about him once again. I never went to see him at the hospital so far. I did not even know if he was better or not. Maybe it was time to pay him a visit.
"Okay, let's go," I agreed.
Nicolas drove the car out of the parking and started to drive in the direction of the hospital. I looked outside the window the whole drive, my mind drifting away. I felt drained out of all my energy. I wanted to sleep. I needed to do it once I would be back at Cloud's house.
When we reached the hospital, Nicolas parked the car and we both got out. We walked to the hospital's entrance and I realized that I did not know in which room Ken was.
"Hey, do you know where's Ken hospital room?" I asked Nicolas and he nodded.
"Frederick told me about it," he replied and I blinked. I followed him as he went towards the elevator.
"You seemed to have talk a lot with Fred," I commented.
"He's nice," he said as we got in the elevator which was empty. He clicked on a button and the doors closed. "We made small talk when we crossed paths in the house. It kept me busy."
I guessed that Nicolas was really feeling bored at Cloud's house. Just like me, he couldn't run away even if he wanted to.
Suddenly, the door of the elevator opened and a familiar face appeared in front of us.
"Dad," I said in surprise, even though, I shouldn't be so surprised. He worked at the hospital so logically, he should be there.
"Oh, Luffy," he said in the same surprise tone as he walked in the elevator. The doors closed behind him. "What are you doing here?"
I gave him an unexpected hug and he chuckled. God, I missed him. It felt like an eternity had passed since I last saw him. We pulled away and he smiled down at me.
"I'm here to see my friend, Ken," I replied to him and I pointed at Nicolas. "That's my other friend, Nicolas."
"Pleasure to meet you," my dad told him and Nicolas replied with a 'likewise, sir'. My dad looked back at me with a frown. "Luffy, where are your glasses?"
I mentally slapped myself at that. How was I going to explain to my dad that I could see without my glasses now? Maybe it was a bad idea for me to crash them under my feet. I should have kept them on to avoid being in this type of situation.
"I'm wearing contact lens," I replied with precaution and my dad's frown deepened. "I know, I found them uncomfortable before but I can wear them now."
"Interesting," he said, surprised, and before he could say more, the door of the elevator opened again. Nicolas glanced at me, clearing his throat.
"We need to get out here," he informed me.
"What a coincidence, I was just going to check on your friend," my dad informed us and he stepped out of the elevator. We followed close behind him. He stopped in front of a door and opened it. I was the last one to enter the room and I closed the door behind me.
There was Ken laying on his hospital bed. He seemed to be dreaming. His breathing was steady and low. Nicolas quickly went at his side and grabbed his hand.
"How is he?" he asked my dad eagerly.
"Stable," was my dad's reply. "There is not much change since he arrived here. He's in perfect health but he somehow doesn't wake up. It's an unexplainable comma."
I remained awkwardly near the door as my dad continued to tell us more about Ken's state. Obviously for the doctors, his situation must be really hard to understand. I guessed that we couldn't simply tell him that Ken got trapped in a sleep by a spell and that only a being inside of me could wake him up.
Where did the original find the power in him to trap Ken anyway? Maybe it was his last strength. Though, it made me wonder. I had his power now. If we followed this logic, I could do whatever he could do. Maybe, just maybe, I had the power in me to free Ken.
I opened my eyes widely at my sudden realization. This made sense to me and I could give it a try. I did not know how the original trap Ken but it wouldn't hurt if I tried to undo it. I didn't voice my idea out loud right away and I just waited for my dad to go out of the room.
It seemed to take forever to happen but after some minutes, he announced us that he was going to check on another patient. I promised him that I was going to inform him when I was going to go away and I turned my attention to Nicolas when my dad was out of the room.
"I got an idea," I told the guardian and he frowned.
"What?" he asked me as I walked to Ken.
"I want to try to wake up Ken," I replied to him and his eyes widened.
"You can do that?" he exclaimed, suddenly excited, and I bit my bottom lip, unsure of myself.
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "I'm just going to try. It will be some training for me, though, I'm not sure that it will work."
"Alright, do you need me to do something? Anything to help you?"
"No, I can do it by myself."
He nodded and stepped away from the bed. I did not think that it was necessary but I did not comment on it. I grabbed Ken's hand and it was so warm. I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes. I did not know what I needed to do but I knew what I wanted. I wanted Ken to wake up. I tried to visualize it in my head.
I felt a force release itself from me and the windows of the room snapped open. I heard Nicolas gasp as the wind started to blow with force in the room. Unexpectedly, I was pushed away and I hit against the wall behind me. My eyes snapped open and I heard the original's voice once again in my head.
You are getting stronger and stronger.
"Luffy," Nicolas exclaimed as he ran to me. He placed his hand on my shoulders and looked at me worriedly.
"I'm okay," I told him, sitting against the wall. I got pushed with force but it didn't hurt at all. "Thank you for caring though."
He was startled by my words and he did not get the chance to reply anything as, suddenly, we heard a sound coming from the bed. We looked at Ken and I swear, my heart started beating fast when I saw his hand move. Slowly, very slowly, his eyes opened and I couldn't believe it.
"Ken," Nicolas exclaimed in disbelief. "You're awake."
"Oh," Ken whispered and he brought his hand to his face, "Damn, I feel like I'm returning from somewhere very, very far."