Project Zodiac; Code Name: Leo by Elixir John
1661 Words
There is no time to waste. I need to survive. I need to live.
I don’t know how I got here but I kept on running. Away from the hooded robed figures that are chasing me.
Twenty minutes earlier, I was on my bed surfing on the high waves in my dreams. With a loud banging sound on the door downstairs, I have woken up. I quickly got up. I heard the creaking of the door in front of my room. What the hell is he thinking?! I was about to go towards the door. I halted when the door flung open followed by a strange strong gush of cold wind that knocked me to the ground. I heard all the windows over the house shattered. I sprang up and darted towards the door; running across the aisle.
“Dad!” I shouted as I reach the end of the hallway.
“Stay there!” he shouted. I can hear him downstairs. I halted and hid behind the staircase. “What do you want?!”
“Project Zodiac. State your code,” an almost robotic voice said. I tried to peek. I saw three figures. They are wearing black hooded robes and seems like masks with the eyes flashing red neon lights and hexagonal light patterns running all over the masks. It reminded me of that one video of flashing patterns of a cuttlefish when they sense danger. It was one of that few clips we watched in Biology class. “I repeat. Project Zodiac. State your code.”
“W-what?” Darius, my stepfather grumbled. It has been only me and him in this old house since my stepmother died a decade ago. “What are you talking about? Who are you?!!”
“Where is the boy?”
“What do you want with my son?!” my stepfather demanded.
“Eliminate.”
Out of nowhere, a saber materialized on one of the figure’s hand and without any warning, stabbed my stepfather on his chest.
“NO!!!!!” I shouted with fear as I watch my stepfather being held high with a blade through his chest.
“P-Phyrrus,” he called for my name between his breathe. “R-run.”
Upon hearing that very word, I got on my feet and started to run across the hallway. I got out of the house through the window and jumped down. As soon as I gained my momentum, I sprang up to continue sprinting. I ran as fast as I could. The night sky is clear of clouds. The moon shines brightly as ever. I passed through the corn field. Not long enough, I heard the rustling sounds of the leaves behind me. I know they’re gaining distance. A few more feet and I’m out of the field. I stopped and quickly laid on the ground. The rustling sounds became louder and louder. I can feel my heart beating fast and loudly. So loud that I actually am afraid that they might hear it. Then, I felt a burst of air passing above me. The three figures chasing me got out of the field followed by a stillness. I remained there after a few more minutes just to make sure that they’re already gone.
I stood up when I have convinced myself that they’re not coming back. I started to walk out of the corn field. Fear has befallen me when I my gaze shifted at a certain point. I saw the three figures hovering; with a saber on each one of their hands. The blades glisten under the moonlight. One, coated with blood, glisten like it was embedded with rubies. The masks a while ago flashing a cool blue light now is a macabre red. Their robes are flowing in the air.
“Target scanned. Vessel status; inactive,” one of them said. I can’t put two on two together. Project Zodiac… Vessel…What are they talking about?
“What do you want from me?!” I shouted; frustrated and definitely afraid for my life.
“Eliminate Project Zodiac. State your code,” again with the same phrases they utter. I ran again; this time towards the woods. I kept running; eager to survive. I need to find a way to escape. But how? I can’t find anywhere to hide. Right now, the woods don’t give me enough hiding spots.
I started to hear branches falling. I started to run faster as I can. I got deeper in the woods. The terrain became thicker with wild bushes and the trees seem closer to each other. I can feel that they’re keeping up on me. I suddenly tripped on a rock on my path. I felt my body fall to the ground and rolled down a steep slope. I plunged into a pool of water. I can see the moonlight reflecting on the surface as the shadows of leaves slowly covers most of its luminance. I saw a shadow passed by.
Silence.
My heart’s beating. I started to feel an intense pain on my chest. I can feel it burning. I looked at my chest; it’s glowing underneath my shirt. I quickly removed my shirt to see. What is happening?
It started as a dot. It grew until it shaped into a perfect circle. I thought it was over but I was wrong. From the point where it ended, the glow extended forming like a tail. I have seen this shape before but I can’t recall. The faint glow turned into an intense shine. The pain I feel became intolerable. I wanted to shout but I’m in the water. Despite of what I’m feeling, I tried to swim out of the pool. Once my head was out of the water, I saw the pool glowing and started to bubble up from the heat. I reached the end and crawled out. I laid on the ground facing the clear night sky. The pain still doesn’t seem to end.
Then, random pictures started to flash before my eyes.
People in white.
Twelve rooms.
Fourteen people.
Twelve codes.
One mission.
Project Zodiac.
As soon as the pictures in my mind vanished, the glow in my chest stared to dim out; leaving a gold metallic mark.
I feel different. I feel stronger.
I tried to catch my breath as I stood up. I can sense the three figures coming towards my direction. I darted towards the end of the forest; reaching an abandoned barn. Before I can go any further, a blade flew passed me. It hit the ground in front of me. It casted a blue light. As soon as I jolted the strange light, a strange energy pushed me back. I turned around; they’re already just meters away from me.
“Project Zodiac. State your code,” they said in unison.
“Code name, Leo,” I answered.
“Scan complete. Vessel, active. Eliminate.”
They pointed their sharp weapons and flew towards me.
“Incinerate,” I said as I shoot large balls of fire from my hands. This is my power. I can conjure and control the properties of fire. Each one of them got hit and fell to the ground. Their robes started to burn. It revealed three androids. The balls of fire didn’t scathe them. I watched them stand up and again drawing a sword from thin air.
I summoned three balls of fire; drifting around me. The fires’ light illuminated the surroundings. Again, they attacked me. I jump backward as I shoot the balls of fire towards them. It slowed them down a bit. I quickly summoned numerous arrow-shaped fire which fell from the sky like rain shower. It impaled the machines and pinned them to the ground. I’m aware it’s not enough. I summoned blades made out fire. These flew around them like a Ferris wheel. I controlled them and started to attack. It tore their bodies apart; their limbs fell to the ground with a loud thud. Finally, it’s all over.
I fell down to my knees; exhausted with all the running and conjuring fire. It’s still a mystery for me who are they and why they wanted to kill me.
My sense of relief vanished when I heard something from the piles of limbs. An arm floated and again a saber materialized on this hand. It started to fly to me.
I know it’s too late to react. I can’t stop it any longer.
In an instant, it STOPPED right in front of my eyes; just inches away from my face and fell into the ground. It’s blade deep through the ground like somebody pulled it. My gaze shifted when the limbs of the androids started to float. This time, it’s different. It seems like they are floating in space.
Without a warning, most of the parts fell to the ground. Except for a head. Its mask still flashing red light. It then fell to the ground so hard that it flattened like a pancake. I inspected the area. Craters around the bodies and the sword were formed.
I, not for the life of me, knows what just happened.
I was startled when I heard someone whistling. I immediately summoned balls of fire around me and then turned around. I saw a girl walking towards my direction. Red hair, fair skin and has freckles all over her face.
“W-who are you?!” I demanded. She stopped whistling but still continued walking towards me.
“Project Zodiac,” she answered. “Code name. Virgo. I
manipulate gravity.”
“Your one of us.”
She smiled and nodded. The ball of fire vanished into thin air.
“And you are?”
“Code name. Leo,” I responded. “Fire manipulation. You can call me Phyrrus.”
“My name’s Nordika,” she introduced her self. She stood beside me. We looked at the androids.
“Who are they?” I asked.
“I also don’t know,” she replied almost in a sing sang way.
“And how did you find me?” I asked again.
“I sensed you when your vessel activated,” she answered. “I don’t have all the answers. Like you, my memory is a haze. Right now, we need to find the others.”
I nodded. We need to find them.
Fourteen people.
Twelve codes.
One mission.
Project Zodiac.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
- Writer
