After combat training, Thorn took Kai back to their room, told him to sit down, not touch or do anything, and watch. Kai did as told, sitting crisscross on his blankets and folding his hands neatly.

Thorn walked over to the pedestal with the gem inside. He put his hands on the glass and omitted a strange dark light. The shiny, untouched glass surrounded the gem shimmered away like dust. Thorn reached in and grabbed the gem in his hand.

Kai noticed him wince, but he suddenly felt a strange pain slide through his body. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone. He looked back up at Thorn, who was smiling wickedly at the gem. He held it up for Kai to see.

It was a normal looking gemstone — except for the fact that it was a dark purple and swirling with light slivers inside. This made Kai confused, but he still was very amazed.

"What is it?" he asked Thorn curiously. He found himself leaning forward anxiously as Thorn chuckled and tossed it from one hand to the other.

"It's the first half of the key," Thorn said, his smile widening. "Now that I have the other half, I can open it."

Kai was left confused, but didn't question further. He wondered secretly what the "key" and "it" was, but only watched as Thorn examined the gem with a smirk.

"It's the first half of the key," Linda said in his head, "just like he said. But the key is for the Abyss. The ... realm of Darkness. Everything Dark is there. The leader of Darks is trapped there. Thorn is going to ... connect the first half with the other to open it and set the Dark Lord free."

What's the other half? Kai wondered, shuffling on the blankets.

"Shintaro."

Kai almost choked on nothing. He but his tongue and squeezed the blanket. What? Shintaro was the other half?

"Yes, he is," Linda said sadly. "All Thorn has to do is get the gem close enough to Shintaro — which is excruciatingly painful — and the gem with connect itself to Shintaro. It's... he could die from it, but Thorn doesn't care. He just wants The Dark Lord free. Only Luke would be making Thorn hesitate."

Kai didn't care what Thorn would do. He didn't care if Thorn would try to stop him. He jumped off the blankets and dashed for the door, panic squeezing his stomach.

He skidded to a stop outside the room, but only was still long enough to swing open the door and charge in.

Three startled faces stared at Kai as the boy stopped abruptly and almost fell forward. Shintaro leapt up and caught him.

"What in the world?" he said to Kai. "What's going on?" He immediately went into defense mode and gazed around the room. The door was still open, and Abby jumped forward to close it.

"Thorn..." Kai gasped. "He's gonna ... hurt you... with the... key..."

Shintaro flinched so hard that Kai dropped away from him. When he looked back up, Shintaro was staring down at him with a look of realization and terror.

Chase was struggling to stand up, but Abby was trying to pull him down. "What does he mean, Dad?" Chase asked, pushing away his sister and stumbling into a standing position.

Shintaro fumbled to help Kai stand back up, then he pushed his son down. "I... Don't know if I should tell you." He paused then shook his head. "No, I'm not going to tell you. I'm sorry, but I ... can't."

Chase stood back up. "Why not?" He sounded angry and betrayed.

Kai decided to keep his mouth shut, if Shintaro didn't want them to know. He was about to turn back to Shintaro to try to warn him to prepare, but the door slammed open. Kai whirled around and faced Thorn, who was standing in the doorway looking angry and distraught. He had the glowing black gem clenched in his hand.

Shintaro flinched and took a step back, gritting his teeth. Abby ran to Chase and pulled him back, but Chase tried to grab his father as well, and they all ended up stumbling backward toward the wall farthest away from Thorn. Kai remained where he was, watching in dismay as Thorn walked forward, and Shintaro grimaced again. 

No, Kai thought determinedly. He's not getting to Shintaro. He angrily lunged forward and grabbed Thorn's arm, yanking his arm toward himself so he could grab the gem. Thorn grunted in anger and tried to smack Kai away, but the boy ducked. Kai's hand closed around Thorn's, and he pulled his fingers away from the shard. 

After he had possession of the dark gem, Kai turned and tried to flee out of the room, but Thorn grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward him. The gem flew out of Kai's hand immediately, and they both scrambled to catch it. 

Thorn's hand was about to wrap around it, and Kai felt a rush of anger and speed. He yanked Thorn's hand down with his left hand and grabbed the gem with his right, pulling it away from the taller man. Thorn tripped and fell harshly on his stomach, and Kai stumbled to try to flee out of the room again.

"And who might you be, young one?" a voice in Kai's head said, and he knew immediately that it wasn't Linda. It was male, and it had a cocky, smug demeanor, just like Thorn, except somehow more terrifying. "You're much different than Thorn. More... confident and determined. What are you doing, exactly?" 

Kai didn't like this new voice, plus he was too occupied, so he ignored it and put one hand on the doorway to propel himself forward. Before he could get out, however, Thorn snatched the leg of his jeans and yanked his leg backward. Kai clenched his hand on the gem harder so he wouldn't let go in instinct as he slammed onto the dirt under him painfully. Thorn's hand grabbed his left shoulder, and Kai repressed a scream of pain. 

"That's MINE!" Thorn yelled, his voice loud and angry. "Give it back, Kai! Right now!" His grip tightened, and spots danced in Kai's vision. 

"No!" Kai said back. "Not this time! I won't let you hurt Shintaro!" He lifted his free leg, looked behind him, and kicked Thorn in the jaw. The grip on Kai's arm loosened, and the boy stood up quickly. 

"Kid!" Shintaro said sharply, his voice strained but desperate. "Put it down! I can handle this! You don't need to -" 

His voice was drowned out by the man's voice returning inside his head. "Ah, you're different in other ways, too. You're one of those rebellious Darks, aren't you? There have only been a few of those, but they all change their minds soon enough. I wonder, will you do the same, with that angry determination that you have, or will you remain the way you are now?" 

Kai shook his head and turned around to run out of the doorway, but the voice stopped him again. 

"Kai, is it?" he asked, even though he sounded like he already knew. "You don't have the right to be protecting him. The points Thorn has made are valid - he is your opposite. You shouldn't help him, nor should you be his friend. He will only betray you in the end, because he is a Light and you are a Dark. It is his duty to destroy you - us - and your's to destroy him."

No, Kai thought back, wondering if the man could hear him or not. Was it the gem, or was it his imagination? He wouldn't do that. He... he wouldn't. 

"But you don't know that, do you?" 

Kai clenched his open hand and blinked a few times. Thorn was stumbling to his feet, so Kai had to move fast. He rushed out of the room, clinging the gem to his chest (even though there was some pain coursing through his whole body). He heard Thorn follow him out.

"Stop," Thorn commanded behind him, and Kai slowed down. His voice sounded less determined and he sounded defeated. "Turn around and give me the gem. Now." 

Kai turned around and found Thorn with one arm behind his back and the other outstretched patiently. His chin had a bump on it, but he seemed to be paying it no mind. "If you do anything -" 

"Don't worry," Thorn sighed. "If you're going to fight me like that, I'll have to do it another time. Besides, I have a lesson to teach you because of how you acted." His gaze hardened, and Kai felt himself shrink back in fear. "Now," Thorn reminded him, beckoning him with his fingers.

Kai inched forward and placed the gem into Thorn's hand. The taller man sighed through his nose and started walking towards his room. Kai followed, but the spots that had taunted him before were returning. He limped into the room and didn't wait for any instruction from Thorn.

He laid down and closed his eyes - and sleep immediately took him away. 

~ 

Here's the fifteenth chapter - again. I'm so sorry for the crazy mix-up! I have no idea how long it's been like that, but I finally fixed it. Thank you all for being so patient with me!! Ti amo!! 

I hope you all can catch up and not be so confused..

Welp, peace!~~