8 years later...

Wyatt glanced out from behind the machinery he was hiding from behind. His hand reached up and nervously brushed the blue hair out of his face, revealing his brilliant silver eyes.

He glanced to his left, studying his older twin. While Wyatt had unnatural colored hair and eyes, Chase looked so generic you probably couldn't tell they were twins at first glance. He had their mother's looks, with brown hair and blue eyes. His hair was shaped into a pointy, somewhat Elvis style hairdo. The stud he wore reflected off of the machinery's glare from the sun. Chase glanced at his twin before scowling in a sarcastic, brotherly manner and turned away.

Rolling his eyes, Wyatt looked to his right. His heartbeat did a nervous tap dance. Cassie had changed since eight years ago, and in her sixteen year old demeanor, she lived up up to her attitude. Even though she was a few months younger than Wyatt, she stood the same height as him. Her hair had been cut to her neck length, and her bangs framed her thin face. She had a habit of highlighting her hair every other day. Today, she had highlighted it purple with light blue in her bangs. It helped that she was faster than light. Her intelligent green eyes didn't leave Royce for a minute as her fingernails dug into her palms.

Wyatt took his eyes off her and watched Royce. Royce hadn't changed since when he and his brother were kidnapped when they were eight. Same hair, same eyes, same sadistic manner. His thin fingers worked their way on his giant flat screen computer, typing in codes and downloading files, while the other hand held a coffee mug as he stared at the computer. Perhaps Royce's only friend were computers. He was odd and evil, and Wyatt could never guess what he'd do next.

The sudden alarm call made Wyatt's heart skip a beat. Royce looked at the caller ID on his giant computer, and sighed as he answered the call. A man appeared on the screen. His jet black hair was slicked back, and a purple gem tattoo on his face emphasized his navy blue eyes. He wore a ridiculously expensive suit. Armani. Maybe something even better. A hint of stubble covered his face. Royce, with his messy silver hair, red eyes, gray marking, and crumpled suit, was the exact opposite of what the man enjoyed.

Royce looked up. "Hello there, Duke."

Duke laughed and stared into the camera. Behind the machinery, Wyatt found Duke's eyes unsettling. They were cold and haunting, with the slyness of a fox in them. No wonder. He was, in fact, one of the richest men in the world, living with his noble family. You had to be deceiving in order to be successful. That was how the cookie crumbled. Duke stopped laughing. "Hello there, Hunter."

Wyatt noticed Royce's jaw clench. "I am technically older than you, Lighting."

"OK, fine. I'm forty. I look around...maybe thirty. You?"

Royce seethed, "226."

"And you look like you're no older than half the people working for you! What was that thing you used again? A potion to make you age slower? Did you use it on your little brother? Or is he dead and in Hell, wondering where you've disappeared to?" From the look on his face, Wyatt could tell he was enjoying the taunt.

Royce looked away and clenched his fists.

Duke smiled in a sadistic manner. "Anyway, I have a message. From Lucius. He wants to know how the bait and the weapon are doing, as well as the little lady. What was her name again? Cassandra, or something like that?"

Wyatt heard Cassie growl. She hated people getting her name wrong. More importantly, who was the bait and the weapon?

Royce immediately relaxed. "The bait is more useful than the weapon ever since I gave him Psychic magic. As for Cassidy, not Cassandra, she's changed. You couldn't even tell she was the same person as before!"

Duke shook his head. "That's not very good, is it? We need the weapon. The bait is just supposed to be bait. I don't understand why you'd give him Psychic magic."

"I'm just making sure he lives long enough." Royce's bitter manner had changed. His bitter attitude was now a look of evil happiness. "I have a beautiful plan to get him to awaken. It's time to play hardball."

Duke grinned. "Oh? What's the plan?"

Royce answered, "Can I put you on hold, Duke? I have something to take care of."

He spun around and lifted his hand. In that moment, Cassie shrieked and shoved them aside as the machinery they were just hiding behind. The pieces scraped against Wyatt's skin, leaving bleeding cuts everywhere. He fell against one of the the tables, the corner digging into his gut painfully. He crumpled up into a ball and barely stayed awake. His vision, blurry from his head hitting the wall, could make out Royce beating up Chase. Chase screamed as Royce's boot connected with his stomach. Royce lifted Chase into the air just by moving his hands. He flew into the wall and stayed still.

Royce turned around. His face was a mask of fury as he glanced at Cassie. "You too, Cassidy, huh? Am I that untrustworthy?" She screamed as the light that normally supported her in combat shocked her to the core.

Wyatt's dizziness started to clear up. He struggled to stand. "Stop. It's not her fault."

Royce stopped. Cassie collapsed to the ground. The air cracked and fizzed and smelled of ozone. He quietly stalked closer to Wyatt, the same way he did when Wyatt was first kidnapped. Wyatt stood up. Royce smiled, amused.

"If you're that brave, why don't we have a duel? A duel with magic and some swords?"

Wyatt gulped. From behind Royce, Cassie got up. "No, Wyatt... You have no magic. He'll kill you in seconds."

Royce glanced over to Cassie. "Shut up. It's his decision."

Wyatt took a step forward. "I'll take it."

Royce smiled. "That is a very good choice, Wyatt. I'll see you at sundown, in the coliseum. Don't blame me if you die."

With that, Royce turned around and walked away. Wyatt could hear his excited laughs echo away as he disappeared from the room and down the empty corridors.

At precisely 7:30 pm, Wyatt walked down to the arena, Cassie to his right and Chase to his left.

Royce was staring absentmindedly at his wall of different weapons. He turned around when he heard them come in and sneered. "Welcome."

Wyatt took a gulp of air and walked into the dirt arena.

"Rules are simple. We fight until one of us can't get up." Royce reached behind himself, grabbing a sword in the process. He threw it at Wyatt with precise aim, the blade digging into the floor at Wyatt's feet. Royce raised his hands. "I'm using my magic only."

In a flurry, Royce charged, his hand clamped down on Wyatt's throat as he slammed him against the wall. Wyatt's vision blurred and he felt his sword rise up against him, like a curious snake. Royce whispered, "Have fun," before letting go. It made no difference. Royce's magic kept Wyatt pinned against the wall like a bee stuck in a spider's web. The sword almost danced in his face before suddenly carving a giant cut against his cheek. He screamed, blood running down his face. The blade had embedded itself so hard in the beginning, the vision in one eye dimmed almost completely out.

Royce watched with a somewhat happy expression. He snapped his fingers, and the blade stopped, dropping down into the dirt, completely normal like a sword would do. At the same time, the grip on Wyatt's neck loosened. He fell to the ground in a heap.

The only thing Wyatt heard was, "That'll show you that I won't go easy every time you defy me. Cassie, Chase, bring the loser to the infirmary. I can't stand looking at his pitiful mess anymore," before everything turned black on him.

*****

Mystery Person

He walked through the rain, checking the date on a local newspaper. February 20, 2132. It'd been, what? Around four years since he'd left? Four years of being free. Sure, being a homeless runaway was hard, but he'd gotten used to it. He glanced at a wanted sign. The cost had gone up in four years. Tearing the poster down, he tore it into shreds. He wasn't going back.

Nobody could take his freedom anymore.

Nobody.