Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Arsenal slowly opens his eyes and finds himself staring at the white hospital ceiling. He turns his head, noticing the IV bags hanging from a steel pole. Despite the white bandages across his chest and arms, he struggles to sit up.

His gaze fixed on a lady sitting beside him. 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I don't want you to hurt yourself more." She said 

Confused, Arsenal asks, "Who are you?,What are you doing here?"

She responds, "Can't you tell? I saved you."

"Why?" Arsenal questions.

Eloise ponders, "Did you really want to die back there?"

"Yes," Arsenal admits.

Eloise she smiles,as she walked towards the window at the far side revealing her brown hair styled in long dreadlocks and deep green eyes with a small mole under her lip.

 "I guess there is no need for this anymore." She flings open the window

Arsenal turns away, frustrated. "What makes you think that makes any difference?"

"I want talking to you to be a lot easier, Arsenal." 

"Don't call me that; I am no longer Arsenal," he asserts.

Eloise smiles as he changes the subject, "What about Kael and Lana? Did they make it?"

 "No, they were crushed by the building, just like Raven." She said 

Tears roll down his eyes, "I couldn't save them. They were the only people who stood by me, even though I was rude and pushed them aside. They still sacrificed their lives for me." Tears fill his eyes, which he struggles to hold back.

Arsenal's bitterness resurfaces.

 "I understand you, Arsenal. I mean Kyle, it's..."

Arsenal cuts her off, "Don't say you understand me when you don't know what I am going through."

Eloise scoffs but then explains her purpose, "Well, that's true enough. The main reason I am here is because I am recruiting you into the esper organization I am affiliated with."

Kyle turns to face her, intrigued by the offer.

Eloise elaborates, "Haven has four major esper organizations: Paradise, New Order, Zaofu, and the Enlightened. As an esper who is no longer affiliated with any organization, it is beneficial for you to find another organization to be affiliated with. You are lucky because I am the daughter of the head of The New Order organization, Eloise Nero."

Skeptical, Kyle questions her further, "Why should I? I am not even sure if I still want to use my powers again. It has no purpose anymore."

Eloise insists, "That's not what Sinclair thought."

Kyle remains doubtful, "How would you know?"

Eloise shares a revelation, "Sinclair once told me about how a ten-year-old kid gave him a run for his money and how that kid would one day right all the wrongs in this crazy society. That kid was you, Kyle."

Kyle remembers Sinclair's words, "He said he just created me to kill him as atonement."

Eloise smiles, "Sinclair has always been one twisted individual. He did want to pay for his sins, which is why he created both The mercenary ring Reapers and you. The Reapers to help him get rid of the people rotting the world, and you to kill him and then live a free life."

Still conflicted, Kyle shares his perspective, "I don't see living with the guilt of killing someone as living free."

Eloise reassures him, "Either way, he wants you to be able to make your choice, Kyle. You are no longer Arsenal; you made that change yourself." She gets up from her chair.

"Make your choice. I'll be back tomorrow. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she leaves the room.

Kyle turns and stares at the ceiling, contemplating the path ahead. "Make my own decisions as Kyle," he says to himself.

+

Eloise enters her lavishly decorated office, adorned with numerous awards and laurels. Her mahogany desk glistens under the bright white light. She picks up a large framed picture, gazing at a photo of her and her three siblings.

From outside, a voice calls out, "Big sis…"

Sighing heavily, Eloise mutters to herself, "How many times have I told you not to call me 'Big sis' when we are at the tower?"

The voice continues, "Where is he? Where is he?" It gradually nears her office.

Eloise's younger brother pokes his head into the office, excitement in his green eyes. "Eloise, where is Arsenal?"

 "He is still at the hospital."

Anxious, he asks, "Did he say he was going to join?"

"He hasn't made up his mind yet."

He runs his fingers through his short brown hair.

 "Why are you so happy that Arsenal might join?" She asked 

"So I can have a rival. To be as strong as you or Dad or Draven or Anastasia or Big Bro, and one day become the head of New Order, I must have a strong rival, and Arsenal would be perfect for that."

Eloise acknowledges his strength, "Well, you are strong enough. Your psionic ability is powerful and versatile, and you've got strong classmates like Rachel and Tori."

Blushing, he mumbles, "Well…"

Eloise's attention is diverted by an unexpected visitor.

 "Eloise, do you have a minute?"

A tall figure appears behind Eloise's younger brother. It's Casimir, a colleague. She expresses her surprise, "Casimir, I wasn't expecting you today."

 "I wasn't planning on coming today either. Gabriel couldn't contain his excitement about Arsenal, so I had to come and see who this Arsenal kid is." He walks over to the bar, pours himself a drink, and examines his reflection in the mirror.

Eloise gestures toward her brother, who exits the room.

 "So, what did he say?" He asked 

"He hasn't made up his mind. He also said he didn't want to join as he has lost his purpose."

Sipping his drink, Casimir offers to help, "How about I go talk to him?"

Eloise hesitates.

 "Let me talk to him. I am sure he would listen; we have a lot in common." He continued 

"Please yourself. I have a meeting with the board in five minutes." Eloise prepares to leave the room, picking up her coat and a file folder.

Meanwhile, on the hospital's rooftop, Kyle stands near the edge in his green hospital gown. He's deep in thought, he sighs after hearing footsteps

"I haven't made up my mind yet," he said

"Is that so?"

Kyle turns to find a stranger approaching. "Who are you?"

 "I'm Casimir Alexander, a Grade Zero esper affiliated with New Order."

Kyle remains cautious, "So Eloise sent you?, tell her that I haven't made up my mind?"

"You know, we're alike." He ignores him

Kyle asks, "How so?"

 "I was kicked out by my family because I wasn't born an esper, an anomaly in the long line of the Alexander Family. I didn't have a purpose until I met a particular person who changed my life. After ten years, I returned to Haven, confronted my entire family, and proved that I was among the top ten strongest espers in the country."

"That doesn't sound like me." He said

Casimir continues, "After proving my family wrong, I felt lost again, but then I realized that there are people in this country who need our power. Espers are meant to protect people, and esper organizations are sanctioned by the government to handle the country's conflicts. You lost your family, but life gave you Sinclair, Kael, and Lana."

Kyle remains skeptical, "And then life took them away."

 "Life wants to give them back to you, and we can help you retrieve your parents' legacy and seek revenge against Paradise."

Kyle, unsure about this path, looks at Casimir. "Before I accept your request, I want to check out the power of New Order. I need to be certain that you have the strength to help me take down Paradise."

Casimir reassures him, "You will meet powerful individuals at the organization, many of them your age. They can help you."

Kyle takes a step forward, asserting his choice, "It's you I want."

Casimir understands the gravity of the decision, "Don't worry, you don't..."

But Kyle is resolute, interrupting Casimir, "It's you or no one."

Casimir meets Kyle's determined gaze and accepts the challenge, "Fine, but battling you won't actually be any fun, so..."

"Use your most powerful technique. I won't use my psionic abilities, only augmentation. If you can land a punch you win".