I went to Devlin's house after lunch. I had to get up extra early to finish up the last of my homework. I got over there and knocked on the door. Devlin didn't look surprised at all. He said, "Haley. You OK?" I answered honestly. "No. I'm really not." He sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Please, come in." Devlin looked like he was dressed up for the day. "Are you going somewhere?" I asked. "Oh, no. I just thought I'd look presentable for the day. In case I needed to get somewhere quickly." I nodded. "Where are your parents?" He rolled his eyes. "Yard sales. They always go to yard sales and turn up later in the afternoon."
I smiled. "Uh hey. Can I, uh, talk to you for a minute?" He smiled. "Of course." I sat down on the kitchen stool he had. I took a deep breath. "Devlin, do you think I'm good at this whole "saving people" thing?" He got a questioning look on his face. "Why would you say something like that?" I sighed. I let everything out on him, and I was totally honest with everything. I told him about Brandon Keith, and how I attacked him when he needed help. Thomas, my feelings towards him, and how I felt so...so helpless. Then Brenda, I failed her, she went missing for weeks and I didn't bother doing anything about it. And whoever did have her, did something that was ungodly, sick, and wrong.
When I was done I hid behind my mess of hair. He said, "I understand how you feel. You blame yourself for a bunch of things, like Brenda's disappearance. You had no idea what was going on with her. You can't blame yourself for happened then. Besides, the only thing we can do now is move on. There are some people you can't save, no matter what you do." I didn't make eye contact. "I suppose so." I said. "Listen," Devlin said, "I have a proposition for you." I looked at him. His soft expression was gone. Actually, he scared me a little.
He said, "I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now, and I think that this is the best time to show you the truth." I looked at him strangely. He was looking out of his window, even though its only the street there. He would not face me. He said, "For my entire life, I watched as criminals run the streets. Bullies, future criminals themselves, set others up for failure. Nobody stops them. Nobody can really stop the chaos around us. People are Greedy, Lustful, Vengeful, Irregular, Illogical."
I stood from the stool. "Devlin. You're scaring me." "And you have every right to be, but I do not plan on hurting you." He looked at his watch, but something was telling me he wasn't checking the time. "You see," he began, "the one you call 'The Mystery Man' is closer than you think. I know him quite well." I said, "What are you..." I didn't finish, because I watched as he clicked his black and silver watch. A black mist emanated from the watch. Devlin turned to me with a stone cold face as the mist covered his body, changing his blue eyes, brown hair, collard shirt, jeans, and shoes into an assortment of yellow eyes, white hair, and black clothes with silver linings....
"Devlin?" I said in disbelief. "In the flesh." He said with his voice not sounding like his own. "Now, before you attack me like you did Brandon, let me explain. Humans are natural sinners, I assume you know this going to church this day, they strive for chaos, for ill-wishes on others. The list goes on. They need a leader, a strong one. You wish to help people, this is your chance." I lowered my guard a little. Was he right? "You see, people are never going to love someone who is more powerful then them. I'll use former president George Bush, and current president Barack Obama as an example. Even you, Haley. The only way to secure a man's loyalty is through fear. If you, Joey, Candy, and I get enough power that the four of us can become unstoppable. We take the planet over and create a government that revolves around our complete and total control. We can be Olympians, no Titans! The Ultimate Entities!"
I was awestruck by this insanity, and yet, he could have a point. I couldn't say anything. He stuck out his hand and said, "Our futures will be set, as soon as you let me borrow your bracelet." I took a step back. "We could be Kings and Queens, Haley. We can last forever."
I looked at my bracelet. "You know what, Devlin?" I said. "Out of the four of us, you were the kindest, the most passive, the most forgiving. You used to be living proof that nice guys don't finish last. I even loved you, but now" I clicked my bracelet, and the streamers covered my body. I was in my uniform, all fixed and clean. "But now I know you need help. I'm sorry about this Devlin."
He glared at me. "I'm sorry too." Then he took flight and lunged at me.
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