Dead End 

chapter 9   

Home 

It's been a few days since their last mission. Everyone's minds were buzzing with questions. Gluttons for answers. Amarion was held in his room for days, he always did love to make theories, trying to solve puzzles. Jaiden, Kamya, and Will went to local libraries to gather info on cults and various  religions. Keyshawn stepped out to go shopping on his own. Grant was practicing his powers. Collin went out for lunch. 

The house was quiet but there was one room that was filled with loud noise, jabbering mumbling. It was Amarion. Flipping through books, looking for clues that weren’t there. He just couldn't fit the pieces together. Collin came back home with food. To ease his friend's mind. They sat and ate their food for a while.

“ I can't find anything…”

amarion said with visible discomfort. His eyes, erratic, he looked tired as if he was just up all night. 

“ What do you want to do?”, Collin asked with a stern look. He was allowing him to think before any suggestions. 

“ I don't know. “ 

amarion said before letting  out a sigh. “Any ideas?” he asked collin. 

Collin walked around the room and thought for a min. 

“If we can't find their goal or know what they plan to do, then why not ask someone who's involved?” 

“ I hope you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.” amarion said with an annoyed look.  

“yep! gotta look for Michael.” 

Collin said with an excited look. Amarion rubbed his head as if he had a horrible headache coming on. He reluctantly agreed. They left the house to find him. 

Library 

Flipping through books. Searching the internet. Drinking bad coffee filled with creamer that makes it taste less like shit. Kamya found a book on Greek mythology, she found it interesting so she read it. She found some stories about different gods and goddesses, about triumphs and tribulations. What they went through. She found some writings in something called the Greek Apocalypse of Moses. It was the Greek version of the story about Adam and Eve. A tree called the tree of mercy. In the Greek apocalypse after being banished from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve have two children, Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel. The Angel Micheal tells Adam that he will have a new son to replace Abel named Seth. After having Seth, Adam and Eve have 30 daughters and 30 sons. Adam then fell ill. Seth and Eve set out on a journey the the gates of the Garden. They begged and pleaded for oil from the Tree of Mercy (tree of life) which was said to heal wounds and illnesses. The Angel Micheal refused their pleas but promised to give them oil at the end of time. Eve and Seth return to adams side. Eve tells her children her side of the story. Afterwards God and Micheal appeared before Adam in his final moments before taking him to heaven. Kamya shared these writings with the others. Jaiden and Will state that they’ve both found books and writings related to a specific tree. Jaiden says he found in the Norse mythology section he found texts on Yggdrasil and how it connects different planes of existence together. William was looking into Hinduism online. In sacred books on hinduism there were mentions of a sacred divine tree called the kalpavriksha. The tree was guarded by the gandharva. A type of Celestial being who are particularly mentioned in Indian religions. The tree was in a garden located in Amaravati, the city of immortals ruled by the king of the gods Indra. They searched online in the library for hours to see if there were any tree related conspiracies or problems going on around the area and out of town. 

There were Fifteen. 

4 ritualistic murder sites spread across the state. 

4 attacks in public areas such as parks, walking trails and Gardening stores. Location: Oak Park, Mi

7 missing persons reports filed near forest or tree populated areas.  Location: Flint, Mi 

“So which one y'all wanna go to?” said kamya. 

“I would like to go to the murder sites but.. What if we run into some shi?” Will asked. 

“Come on gang we can do anything ya know why? Cause we’re a team!!☝️🤓” Jaiden said enthusiastically. 

“..." Kamya and William stared at Jaiden in silence. 

“Alright let’s go to the murder sites.” Said Kamya.  

They walked out of the library. Without realizing it was 12am. 

“Still wanna go?” Kamya asked. Her body was tired and her energy depleted. Like all of them were. 

Nothing tiring like studying. 

“Yeah let’s just look real quick and then we can go home.” Will said.  

They all got in the car that they drove in and headed downtown. 

Training 

Grant was sweating.  

A smoke screen enveloped the area. Grant stood in the center of it. He closed his eyes, listened in on everything around him. The flap of a bird's wing, bugs crawling on the ground, and the steps of someone tracking him. Grant was struck from behind. He lost focus. Needed to retry again. He listened. Everything disappeared and the footsteps grew louder. A strike was coming from the side. Grant dodged then quickly attempted a strike. He failed and was struck from behind again. He listened again but this time he knew what was coming. Grant was attacked from behind once more, he dodged, attempted a strike then missed. He was attacked from the side again but this time he anticipated. He parried. Then went in for the kill. He almost landed a hit but was kicked in the face. He was thrown out of the smoke screen. 

“You alright man?” someone said. 

The smokescreen dissipated. 

It was Adrian Gonzalez. 

“I'm alright.” said Grant with a bruised body, bloody nose, and busted lip.  

Adrian wasn't allowed fine either. He had some bumps and bruises too. 

“Wanna keep goin?” Adrian asked while  out of breath and tired. 

“Naw, let's just spar pant* one more time.” Grant said as he was catching his breath. 

Grant and Adrian got into place. They got into their fighting stances. 

Grant rushed in with quick jabs at Adrian's chest and face. 

Adrian raised his arms to block. Adrian let his arms down to grab Grant's left arm then lifted him up and flipped him on to the ground. Adrian attempted to stomp Grant in the face while he was on the ground. 

Grant rolled over to dodge. He stood back up. 

They walked around in a circle. 

 Adrian rushed into grant. Adrian threw a left and right hook as fast as he could. 

Grant started to focus on all of Adrian's punches. He quickly blocked Adrian's last punch and returned a strike to the gut. 

Adrian fell back. 

“You done?” said Grant. 

“Yeah I'm done." Adrian said, winded from all the fighting.  

Grant went in to lift him up 

“Done letting you get a hit in.” said Adrian. 

Adrian landed a sweep kick.

Grant was knocked to the ground.  

Adrian tried to strike with an ax kick. 

Grant rolled backwards to dodge. 

They were both tired. They could see it in each other but neither wanted to admit it. 

They both stared at each other. They could tell what the other was thinking and acted on it. 

They lunged at each other ready to tear each other apart. They punched, beat, slapped and bit till one of them won. 

Neither won.  

They ended up passing out. 

Power 

Keyshawn walked around the mall looking for new shoes and clothes that were on the list of stuff everyone needed. 

Keyshawn was lost in thought. 

He didn't know if he could be helpful to anyone. 

He wanted to ask Amarion for a power but he felt like it should be his own. 

He finished buying the clothes and left the mall. He got back in his car thinking of heading home but those thoughts ate at him all day. He knew of a way to get some real power. His power. 

Keyshawn drove to his grandmother's house. 

He walked those steps and knocked on that door. Knowing there's a price to pay for power.  

He walked in and greeted his family sharing made up stories of what's been up with him for weeks. He stood in front of his family and uttered words that were so damn cringey to him. 

“I want to be one with nature." he said as he started at the ground. The adults in the room laughed aloud at his words. 

“What took you so long?!” they said. 

“So you'll help me out?” asked Keyshawn. Hungry for a favorable answer. 

“Yes of course! Your family after all.” they said. 

“Ok great when can we star-” Keyshawn asked aloud before being cut off. 

“Hold on now. You need to know a few things first. One, we can not help you.” said the elders. 

“What?” Keyshawn responded. He was confused by that but listened. Waiting for an explanation. 

“Two, we can't give you power. You earn it. Through nature's blessings and three u must sacrifice something important to you.” said the elders.  

“Do you understand?” they asked. 

“Yes. I do.” replied keyshawn. 

They handed a bag of seeds. 

“These seeds will bless you with power and allow you to command the forces of nature, boy. But you can't use that power for an entire month, or it will have dire effects. You must meditate and drink water daily. Always be outside.” they told him 

“Is that all?” asked Keyshawn. 

“Yes that is all.” they responded. 

Keyshawn stayed there for a few more hours to catch up then went home. 

He then found Adrian and Grant passed out and  bruised. He carried them back in and put them to sleep in their rooms.  

Collin, Amarion, Kamya, Jaiden and William were still gone.  

Keyshawn waited for them for hours then headed to sleep. 

They were gone for four days.