Chapter 43: Step into my shadow
The doors close and Jace leans against the glass, looking down at the city.
Jace: “You can do this, Jace. You have no idea what’s going to happen when you see that asshole again, but you can do this.”
He turns his head towards the floor number. He watches it count up and up until the elevator begins to slow down. He pushes himself off the glass and stands up straight. He clenches his fists and waits as the doors slowly open. From inside, a familiar voice is heard.
Jack: “So, you’re back.”
Without hesitation, Jace swaps to Bolt and begins to shoot lightning bolts towards Jack. During his frenzy, he’s too hyperfocused to notice that Jack dodged before the bolts hit him. Jace lowers his arm and looks around.
Jack: “That’s not a nice way to greet someone.”
Jace turns around. He takes a step back in intimidation. Jack seemingly teleported during his attack. How?
Jace: “What’s your trick?”
Jack: “My trick? You mean my Aura?”
Jace: “You can use Aura too?!”
Jack: “My research proved successful, so why wouldn’t I give myself the same drug that changed so many lives?!”
Jace: “You make me sick.”
Jack: “The feeling’s mutual.”
Jack extends his arm out to his side. He curls his fingers as a katana appears out of the shadow beneath him.
Jace: “A sword? That’s cute.”
Jack: “You haven’t noticed yet, have you?”
Jace: “Huh?”
Jack: “The sword was a distraction. Look down.”
Jace: “Why? So I can lose focus on you? Screw that!”
Jack: “I tried to warn you.”
Jace feels something attach to his legs as it begins to slowly pull him into the floor. He whips his head down and notices that he’s truly sinking…into darkness? Jack laughs and mimics the same movements, eyeing Jace down as they are fully submerged within the darkness. Soon, Jace’s vision begins to return as he finds himself surrounded by pillars and encased within walls.
Jack: “You are now trapped within my world of shadow.”
Jace: “What the hell is going on?!”
Jack: “When my shadow links with yours, my Aura is able to take full effect.”
Jace: “You locked me in a shadow dungeon!?”
Jack: “To make it easier to comprehend, yes. I am also able to contort this entire room to my benefit.”
He unsheathes his katana and holds it towards Jace. He then swings it to the side and begins to charge at him. Jace raises his fists and tries to swap to any element, but finds himself unable to do so. He flinches in fear before noticing that Jack has seemingly disappeared before his eyes. He glances around in a panic before hearing a whoosh from behind. Instinctively, he turns around and gets ready to punch, but stops when he notices that Jack also wasn’t behind him.
Jack: “It seems you’re in quite the predicament.”
Jace: “Face me, you coward!”
Jack: “Coward? How is this any different than a spider watching its prey squirm and wriggle in its web before encasing it and devouring it?”
Jace: “Because your ‘prey’ is gonna find a way out of this hellhole!”
Jace looks towards the wall and crouches forward. He sprints off towards it and holds his arms up to guard his face. Instead of colliding with the wall, he phases through it and finds himself at the opposite side of the room.
Jack: “I don’t think you understand just how much I can control this space.”
Jace: “You’re gonna have to attack me sooner than later! There has to be a weakness to this world!”
Jack: “If there is, I’ve never found it.”
Jace begins to look around as he clenches his left fist.
Jace: (I need to combine my elements again. Surely that can pierce through wherever I am.)
He closes his eyes and focuses in. From behind, Jack emerges from the floor and prepares his katana. Jace opens his eyes and whips his body around before aiming his arm at Jack. Simultaneously, they charge at each other. Jace stops dead in his tracks and fires off a blast of elemental energy. Jack grits his teeth and leans backwards as the beam goes right over his head. He turns around and watches as the attack pierces through his shadowy world. The area begins to dissolve around the two, returning them to the top floor of Titan.
Jack: “I’ve had enough of this.”
Jack raises his left arm towards the back of the room and clenches his fist. He begins to pull his fist towards himself. Jace looks behind, only to notice that the room is getting smaller.
Jack: “Try to avoid this. You’ll either be crushed by my shadows, or you will once again be forced off of this tower.”