Kai's lungs were screaming at him, but he couldn't expand his chest due to the shock and confusion and terror and pity for Shintaro. How could Darkness itself have children? How was that biologically possible? Why had Shintaro not mentioned it? How terrible a childhood had Shintaro had? How could he have lived with his father, who had been trapped in the Abyss? Shintaro couldn't have lived there as a child, right?

"Wh-What?" Chase stammered, lifting his eyes to the tall man that was grinning at him coldly. "You're... How can you... You're our grandfather?" His voice was shaking and quiet, softer than Kai had ever heard from his friend. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his skin pale in shock. 

"How is that even possible?" Falte asked frantically, rising to his feet with an air of furious and confused curiosity. "You're not even a human being, are you?" He looked The Dark Lord up and down, frowning but hanging back. 

The Dark Lord, who had turned his head to look at Kai's father, shrugged his right shoulder indifferently. "I know not the science behind it, so do not ask me." He turned back to Chase with a small grin. "You didn't hear me wrong, young man. I am your grandfather, Shintaro and Cami's father." 

Abby, Chase, and Shintaro all flinched at the second name, one that Kai recognized. He racked his brain and remembered briefly that Abby had spoken of their uncle, Cami, the one who had died years ago. 

"Oh," The Dark Lord said suddenly, perking up suddenly as if he'd just remembered something. "Shintaro, I have a question for you. You'll have to answer me honestly, because if you don't, I won't be very happy." He turned toward Shintaro and leaned forward to force Shintaro to meet his eyes. "Tell me, boy, have you heard of or possibly even seen a man who goes by the name of Ozai?" 

Shintaro clenched his jaw, his yellow eyes narrowing in terrified anger. "No," he snapped shortly. 

"Watch your tone, Shintaro," The Dark Lord said in a warning tone. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood." He straightened away from Shintaro and glanced around at the watching audience. "Have any of you heard of him?" 

Everyone shook their heads simultaneously, and when they did this, Kai noticed that three of his friends weren't outside. Linda, Gabriel, and Amy were nowhere to be be seen. Where were they? Had they stayed inside? 

No, Kai thought. They probably couldn't have anyway. The burst of Darkness had nearly destroyed Zeke's home. The house was crumbling slowly. None of them are cowardly. Linda especially. She would come out and fight if it meant her life. As soon as Kai thought that, he wanted to take it back. He didn't want her to do such a thing. 

"Hmm," The Dark Lord said impatiently, sighing through his nose. He turned in a slow circle and rolled his shoulders, as if just realizing that he had a body to move around in. He trained his eyes on each one of Kai's friends for a moment, assessing them carefully. Finally, his eyes locked on Abby, and he moved toward her. 

This was enough to get Kai's adrenaline going. He lunged forward and caught The Dark Lord's wrist with his right hand, planting his feet firmly below him, though he wanted to run away so The Dark Lord wouldn't hurt him. 

This guy had to be giving off some kind of fear spell. 

The Dark Lord made a soft sound of surprise, turning his head to look over his shoulder down at Kai. He raised one eyebrow with a small, sly smile. "Well, look at this," he chirped approvingly. "Someone has the courage to stand in my way." 

"Actually," Chase's voice said from behind Kai, then his friend came into view and stood directly in front of The Dark Lord with his arms spread protectively. Light Magic sparked at his fingertips threateningly.  "He's behind you. I'm the one standing in your way. Leave them both alone." 

"Chase, move," Shintaro said harshly, his voice hoarse and stern. He struggled to his feet, grunting in pain from he only knew what. His hand touched his chest gingerly, then he dropped it at his side and balled it into a fist. "He won't hesitate to hurt you." 

"Your father is right," The Dark Lord said with a shrug that jostled Kai's arm, but the teenager didn't let go. "Anyone who stands in my way regrets it after I'm finished with them. If," he added coldly, "they're alive after I'm finished with them." 

Terror coursed through Kai's body, and he grabbed The Dark Lord's forearm with his other hand, tugging forcefully. The tall man hardly moved, only grunted in annoyance. 

"You're not going to kill him," Kai said sharply, willing his heart rate to slow so he didn't seem as terrified. He tried to breathe evenly, but none of his body listened to his brain. 

"Don't test me, child," The Dark Lord said flatly, the grin vanished from his pale face. His cold, red eyes trained on Kai's, and indescribable panic filled Kai again. "I have a fairly short temper, and I do not regret that fact. You and your friends might, however, once they realize that I am not to be toyed with." 

"Both of you, stop being idiots and step away from him," Shintaro commanded firmly, remaining where he was but glaring Kai down with a warning look hidden underneath his eyes. 

Kai took a shaky breath and tightened his grip on The Dark Lord's arm, keeping his eyes away from Shintaro. He feared that if he looked at Shintaro again, his friend's meaningful, scared look would make him move away.

Kai would not move away. 

He would not let The Dark Lord near his girlfriend, no matter what he had to do to keep it that way.

Chase didn't move either. His fierce, determined face betrayed no fear, which made Kai confused. Everyone else, including Shintaro himself, seemed terrified of this man. Was Chase simply hiding it extremely skillfully? 

"Listen to your father," The Dark Lord said firmly to Chase, his tone dropping to a menacing rumble. "For once, he is being extremely rational. I suggest you do the same, or my self-control will disappear." 

"No," Chase said shortly, tipping his chin up defiantly. "He may be making a choice that seems rational to him, and I'm grateful that he wants to protect me from you, but I'm protecting my sister. Because apparently Kai and I are the only ones with sense." He shot a look at his father, one full of anger. "Besides..." he added, looking back up at The Dark Lord. "Who says I need protecting?" 

Kai was startled when The Dark Lord threw back his head and laughed heartily. His left arm was still clutched in Kai's hands, but his right arm touched his stomach as he laughed. Finally, he slowed his laugh to a chuckle and grinned down at Chase freakishly. 

"I admire your spirit, boy," he said merrily, but his tone and grin dropped away when he spoke again. "But it will be your enemy while I'm around." With a mere tug, he yanked his arm away from Kai and moved toward Chase with malice burning in his red eyes. 

"NO!" Kai cried, lunging around The Dark Lord and tackling Chase to the ground. They both went rolling across the grass, then Chase dug his arms and heels into the ground, flinging Kai away from him. 

Kai landed painfully on his shoulder and rolled once more, then slid to a stop on his back, his neck and arm throbbing. Gasping, he immediately sat up, rolling onto his knees in a panic. He hadn't realized he'd hit his head until the throbbing coursed through his skull, pounding in his ears and behind his eyes. 

Chase was in front of him, also sitting on his knees and rubbing his right arm with a pained look. His back was to The Dark Lord, who was advancing menacingly. 

Panic seized Kai, unlike anything he'd ever felt before. His stomach clenched, his heart skipped, and his lungs constricted. His brain was the only thing that functioned, and it was screaming at him to run, to move, to get out of the way, to help Chase, to do something. 

But he couldn't move.

The Dark Lord was trudging his way toward Chase, looking nothing like the man he'd once been. A hazy shadow of Darkness enveloped him, hiding his features and giving him an unknown, freakish demeanor. Behind the shadow were two glowing red eyes, fixed directly on Chase's back. Fanning out from the back of the darkness were two large, webbed wings made from Shadows. Sharp, long claws extended from the shadows. 

Kai couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't move. 

This wasn't happening. 

This couldn't happen. 

It wasn't true. 

It couldn't be true. 

It was only a dream.

A dream. 

Kai couldn't look away from The Dark Lord until Chase's hand touched his chin and guided his eyes down toward his friend's yellow pupils. When Chase did this, Kai felt his lungs start to work again, inhaling and exhaling faster and faster.

"Hey," Chase said, smiling slightly and making Kai's panic worse. It was just like he'd seen.

"Hey," Chase said again, drawing Kai's attention back to him. "Look at me, not behind me. Don't look at him. Just look at me. Pay attention to me. Nothing else. I don't know what you're thinking, but whatever it is, stop it." 

Kai tried to reply, but he was beginning to hyperventilate. He could feel his whole body shaking in fear and anxiety and worry and anger. He couldn't let this happen. He wouldn't let this happen. 

Chase's eyes widened a little, and he looked slightly behind Kai with a look of amazed confusion. 

Kai realized that, much like The Dark Lord, Dark Magic was swirling around him dangerously. His own shadowy wings had unfolded from his back, blazing Dark Magic at the tips. Shadows whooshed around the two of them, almost as if creating a shield to keep The Dark Lord back. 

Except it wasn't working. The Dark Lord wasn't advancing quickly, but he was coming. He was walking almost leisurely toward them, his red eyes still locked on Chase's head. Kai could feel the blistering anger boiling off The Dark Lord's magic. 

Chase took a deep breath and looked back down at Kai's face, the gentle smile returning. "Kai, calm down. Breathe slowly. Are you listening to me? It's going to be okay. It's alright. You're going to be alright." 

What about you?! Kai wanted to scream, but his words stuck in his throat. He choked down a panicked sob, clenching his hands. The Dark Magic around them hissed lowly. 

"It's alright," Chase repeated. 

"It's okay." 

Then the sky turned black

The Dark Lord appeared

and Chase

screamed.

~

OH my FReakING LORD you GuYS I'm DYinG rigHT NoW-

I can't believe I have finally made it here!! I was so so stuck for such a long time!!!

I'm so happy!!!

Seriously, I cannot thank you all enough for being so patient with my lazy butt. I'm so happy that you all remained here with me, encouraging me when I felt upset that I wasn't updating. 

Thank you so much for reading! (Even though I left you at another terrible cliffhanger.)

Until the next chapter!! 

*cries happily then remembers what just happened and begins to sob at myself*

P3ac3!!~~~