Earth's Lone Avenger

"Out Of My Head"

How can I warn them all when even my mates won't listen? HOW CAN I, LUXUS?!"

Leo wasn't exactly waiting for a reply but he was a little bit disappointed that Luxus didn't answer him. He left the playground and went home. Since a week ago, the Town's academy has been on a short period holiday, so he didn't have much work to do aside helping Nana with his share of chores after which he'll run out in the evening to play his head off.

One thing Leo liked about this Town was how friendly people are. From the various shows and movies he has seen, someone in his condition is always subjected to various kinds of torture and bullying from peers with higher rank in the society. But the kids here are as friendly as they could.

Even when Ray and his little circle of friends haul hateful words at him, they will always come back to play ball with him at the town field. They have never used Leo's condition to hurt him before. Everybody in town knows what happened to Leo at that very young age and they had taken pity on him. Some even visit him occasionally at the orphanage to give him gifts. Most of these people were friends with her mother, Laura.

And he also has his two close friends, Pert and Allan. These two are orphans too and they all share a single room in the orphanage. The three were practically inseparable most times. They were the only ones who never called Leo crazy. Why, they have their own level of craziness themselves. With this friendship group, Leo was able to pass through the hard times easily.

But now, he has been distancing himself a bit. Pert and Allan has been worried about his recent behaviour. When they asked what the matter was, he only said he was fine and only needed a little time for himself. And they let him be.

Leo felt bad for himself. He needed help, he knows. But how was he supposed to tell people that there's a man in his head telling him of the doom Earth is in if they don't prepare?

Nana had spanked him that day. He could only imagine what would happen again if he repeats that tale. Though Nana is a very nice old woman, she never cease to discipline whoever gives her a headache.

Leo was out playing Ball n' Hoops with his friends. It is a popular game among the townfolks. Each team has six players and a pole is erected at two ends of the field. This pole has a round ring at the top which the ball alone can pass through. So, each team tries to throw the ball into the opponent's ring pole while trying to stop them from dropping the ball into theirs. Throwing the ball from a distance outside the box gives three points, and throwing from inside the box gives one.

After Ray and friends has dropped many three pointers and the score was 16-8 in favour of Ray's, Leo was becoming tired of the game. There's no point playing since there's no chance of winning Ray's team again. He got substituted with a boy called Moose. Leo walled to the deserted part of the pitch to sit by himself. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.

when he heard that ding sound again in his head, which was now getting familiar.

"Well, I don't want to play again. Ray's team always beat us."

"Yes, I agree, Mr Luxus. A million miles to Laranpurt is not too far. It's just like a stroll."

"I tried, Mr Luxus. I tried telling my friends about the invasion. They all laughed at me.

Yesterday, I tried to get to the town chief's house to tell him, the guards sent me running down the street. What am I supposed to do?"

"Yes, Mr Luxus, but I can't. I don't know the world you live in, but here on Earth, a child doesn't just decide to go out of his town to Laranpurt which is more than a million mile away to tell them something he doesn't even know is real or fake."

"well, nobody will blame me except you. Nobody will know I have this information, if it is true. The blame will always be on the Earth Guardians and the Space Invaders. They let their guard down, that's just it..."

"EVERYBODY, LOOK! LEO IS TALKING TO HIMSELF AGAIN!"

He was so engrossed with his argument with Luxus that he didn't notice that Ray was now close to him to listen. Instantly, everyone gathered round and started laughing and jesting so hard. Even Pert and Allan couldn't hold back the laughter. This was how crazy it has been for Leo in the past few weeks.

Luxus who was hearing these said in Leo's head...

"SHUT UP! STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO OR NOT TO DO! I AM GOING NOWHERE NEAR THAT BASE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU ARE TOYING WITH MY BRAIN! GET OUT OF MY HEAD AND NEVER TALK TO ME AGAIN... GET OUT!"

Leo yelled so hard that his neck muscles seems like they are about to burst open. The boys stopped laughing at him and some even became scared. They have never seen Leo act in such a manner, and they felt maybe they have crossed the line there. They thought he was screaming out at them, but it wasn't really at them. Even Ray couldn't say a word.

Without waiting to check how his sudden outburst has affected the boys, Leo ran away from the pitch and all the way back to the orphanage. The day was getting dark. Tears flew from his eyes as he ran, making his vision very blurry. He stumbled upon a thick vine and fell face first on the ground.

Blood seeped from his right cheek, his left knee was bruised badly and he just sat there crying his eyes out.

For the first time in 5 years, he truly missed his mother.