Chapter 557: The Drive
The glamours buildings disappeared into the background as the truck sped along the road, driving through the less wealthy parts of the city on their way north. While Las Vegas itself was a beacon of excess and wealth, that didn’t mean that those living here were all like that.
Looking out at the trailer parks and dilapidated buildings, Amira started speaking.
"My parents told me before about the town they used to live in before moving here to the country. While it might sound crazy, even compared to places like this, our old village was poor..."
"Yet you went to college over there?" Laz asked, thinking about what she had been told.
"There are always rich areas, even in the poorest countries. While my parents were forced to live in poverty, that was mostly thanks to them living with my dad’s family. My mom’s family was actually quite well off. When I went over there to visit them, I never knew what they had in store for me until it was too late. I was also rather ignorant of how the education systems in different countries worked as well. My mother’s family felt that getting a degree in medicine would make me a more valuable marriage partner for my eventual wedding so they had no problem’s paying for me to go as long as I did well. And I did. One of the youngest graduating doctors in my class. And when I returned to the family after getting my degree, that’s when they sprung the marriage one me. Little did they know that my mother had warned me about this and also told me to be sure I had an escape plan ready just in case. I didn’t believe her considering how my grandma and grandpa had treated me ever since I went there, but I did it any way just so my mom would be at ease. Little did I know just how right she was and how stupid I was for thinking otherwise. I made it out... but now, just like my parents, I have no connection with any of the family on my mother’s side..."
"It’s hard for me to think that such things go on, even in this day and age. But then again... considering what my life has been like for the last few years, I guess I shouldn’t hold on to those types of naive thoughts anymore," Brittany said, leaning back on the seat while the cool ac washed over her.
"That’s the smart idea..." Laz said, taking a turn and accelerating forward.
"And then what about you? You are one hell of a special guy in the end, aren’t you? For the famous Hearn Group to be your backer, being friends with a guy like Leo and his sister. I’ve never wanted to know someone’s story more than I want to know yours right now..." Brittany looked over at Laz and said.
"Not much to tell. Awakened, did some shit and ended up here," Laz said, not really comfortable talking about himself while both Brittany and Amira were turned to look at him.
"No. No.... It can’t be that simple. When I met you both in the club, I felt like I was half insane already. I went there with the intention of dying to avenge her and yet for some reason, after getting a shot of your man juice, I felt my mind clear up. Like all the clouds are gone. The pain, torment and walking that fine line of real and imaginary disappeared in an instant. Look, I’ve never had sex with an infect.... an awakened before, but many of the other chosen have. And yet there isn’t any known records of one of us clearing up the head fog. So I can only guess that applies to you," Brittany said, bringing her concerns to Laz now that they had time to talk.
"I’ve never had sex with one of you before either so I honestly have no idea. In fact, I don’t even know what this head fog you’re talking about is..." Laz replied, looking over at Brittany.
"It’s... a condition they warn us about. From what Global Sciences Inc has revealed..."
Laz almost lost control of the truck when that name was mentioned.
"What? You ok?" Brittany asked, having grabbed onto Laz for support.
"Fine. There was something in the road," Laz said, brushing it off. Despite it still being sunny and clear, they hadn’t seen anything ahead of them but let it go.
"Anyway. What we are told is that we have been chosen to wield the elements to fight evil. While they don’t mention the awakened as evil, everyone knows they consider them to be the main target. Well... one of the first things we are told is that within our minds in the cloud of mana that is the fuel to use out powers. To grow that cloud to certain levels is what allows us to get stronger and us more power. But the problem occurs once that cloud grows. See, since it’s up here, it starts to do stuff to our heads, causing what’s called the brain fog. Now some people have a larger capacity for that brain fog than others and therefore can grow their cloud larger. Although it will always have an effect on you, you are able to control yourself while only experience a slight change in personality. But when you try to expand that cloud larger than it should go... you start to experience a mental breakdown. As such, there is a limit each person has. And the group that studies that hasn’t found a way to measure the maximum of an individual, but they have found ways to control the deterioration that happens as a result of growing stronger. There are pills you get from the church that the company funds.. and while I call it a church, it’s more like a support center. Anyway, we are told that from the moment we are enlightened, aka, the cloud appears in our heads, we should take the medicine to keep things under control. The end result is that once we reach a certain point, it’s impossible to grow stronger, but as long as you take the medicine, you won’t grow crazy either..,. at least not right away. The problem is that once a chosen has hit their limit, if it’s too low... they will no longer be offered the medicine to keep it under control. And once that runs out... well... suicide would be the best solution if you still have enough of a mind to do so. Otherwise you are taken away to be locked up so that you can’t be a danger to either the public or the churches image," Brittany said, offering as much inside information she could.
"And you had reached that limit?" Laz concluded.
"I... yeah... I wasn’t growing stronger anymore and that’s when I knew that Robert would never be forced to pay for what he did. What’s more, once my results were discovered, not only would I lose access to the drug, but I would also be locked up... So yeah... my time was running out," Brittany said with a sigh. It wasn’t easy for her to admit she had a limit, but her revenge was more important than her impending doom so she wanted to at least go out with a bang while she was able to.
"And now?" Laz asked, curious.
"Now? The fog is gone and my cloud is at peace, ready for me to draw in more energy and expand it... I think... I’ve been hesitant to try if I’m being honest... just in case I’m wrong," she admitted.
"I don’t think that you had reached your limit in the past..." Laz said, thinking to himself.
"Why’s that?"
"When awakened go through their stages... there are certain steps we must follow to construct our cores. Failure to do so could result in permanent damage to the awakened and what’s more... they could even lose their power and their lives. I think, what he means... is that those who reached the limit just didn’t know what they had to do next to expand their ’clouds’ as you called them," Amira answered, having reach the same conclusion Laz had.
"But... then how do some people know and some don’t...?" Brittany asked, confused.
"Because it’s obvious that the technique is something the hide, even from the other chosen," Laz replied with a sigh.
"Why? And then... what’s the drugs purpose? Why do we go crazy after we stop taking it?" Brittany saw the truth in their words, but couldn’t figure out all the pieces.
"I don’t know if I’m being honest. There’s probably a reason... but that’s not something I could figure out," Laz admitted.
"So... there... could be another reason?" Brittany didn’t want to think she was just being used as a sacrificial pawn for people like Robert, but everything so far pointed that way.
"I know one very talented person who might be able to figure it out... but she would need a sample of those pills," Laz said, thinking about Nora.
"I... I have some pills left... do you think...?" Brittany didn’t want to touch these pills anymore. Even if she could grow stronger now... there was no way she was going to trust these things ever again.
"Sure. Once we get back, I’ll send them over. Maybe you could also help her with her research. After all, you’re the first chosen I’ve met who I can stand... well... at least I can now anyway," Laz replied with a laugh.
"Ha. Tell me about it. I don’t know how you hid it from me at first, but once i got a feel for your awakened blood, there was something about you that just screamed at me to kill you. I’m lucky my desire for revenge was stronger than my desire to kill you."
"Why do you think that is? The hatred between the chosen and the awakened?" Amira asked the question no one wanted to think about.
"No idea. But for now... we can leave all that aside," Laz said, pointing forward.
Up ahead, along the barely paved road, a forest loomed in the distance, growing larger by the second.
By the time Laz reached the first tree, he understood just how massive each of them were as he looked up into the sky, unable to see where the tree ended and the blue eternity began.
