49. Clark

"I told you I'm not going to do it right? So stop! Stop already!" Said a handsome voice as Alex and I made our way towards one of the Juniper lounges in the building, voices drifting towards our sensitive ears.

"What did you say? Say that again? Be a man and say that again! No, Clark! I have had enough of him! Don't tell me to calm down!"

Alex and I looked at each other in confusion as another manly voice spoke up, not because they were arguing, but because of the unfamiliar name he had just called.

Clark?

We already knew who were inside the room eating each others head off. It was Hardcore, one of the most well known boy bands of Juniper Entertainment. Alex had said that when he was coming back from his morning flight instead of morning walk, he happened to smell something very odd.

Then he heard the sound like the beating of drums, thumping in his ears and followed it, the scent of basil and thyme clinging on. Once he reached his final destination, he had come to find nothing but just a group of bickering boys who he later realized were Hardcore themselves.

He said that they had been arguing over something back then but he didn't bother listening, for he was too consentrated on finding the sourse of the scent. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone, leaving Alex void of his tracker. At last he came to the conclusion that whoever it was must have smelled him too, and had ran off for dear life.

It had been at least thirty minutes since that happened, and by the looks of it, they were still agruing, much to their Guardian's uneasiness.

"Are they still arguing?" Alex asked in disbelieve once we stepped inside through the wall, looking around us.

"Looks like it."

The bickering continued. "Jim, just order the chicken will you? Why are you creating a big deal out of it?" Said Hector, looking lazily over at the said junior, who stared at Jackson with fury in his eyes.

"We have been having chicken for over four days now! Four bloody days! I'm sick of it!" Jim lashed out again, earning another glare from Jackson.

"Then do you have a better idea? What would you expect us to do then? Go down to the cafeteria and have lunch provided by our so called CEO? Oh wait, why don't you just go complain to Jim Peterson about it? I'm sure he will listen to you, after all, you both have the same name don't you?"

Jackson mocked Jim who suprisingly didn't snap back. Instead, his face fell as realization hit him and he looked down at his feet, Jackson turning away from him.

Alex whistled beside me, taking the whole scenario in. "Okay, I don't know what they were arguing about last time, but it was surely not about chicken."

I mentally rolled my eyes. "They are not fighting over chicken. That was just the begining. It's something else."

Alex looked confused. "What something else?"

"Lets find out."

So saying, I placed an invisible shield over the lounge which, as a matter of fact, can't be removed by any other Guardian but myself. Alex watched as the forcefield spread, still confused.

Just when he was about to ask about my actions, a small squeal escaped, one very girlish but frightening at the same time.

Alex looked around before finally looking at me. "Did you hear that?"

"I did."

"I think it's the Guardian."

"Indeed it is."

"How do you know that?" Alex asked with a frown but I didn't bother replying. Instead I walked forward, following the scent that lead me, Alex in my lead.

Rounding a corner, we finally saw him, crouched down in one of the corners of the large balcony. Alex gasped at the dark haird boy, but all I could do was stare.

"Please don't hurt me! I mean no harm! I just... I just protect them! That's all! I don't to anything else!" The boy cried out, buring his face in his hands as he tried to grow smaller and smaller by every step we took.

So we stopped, staring at the scared boy from a decent distance. Suddenly, Alex knelt down on one knee, looking at the boy intently.

"Hey. It's okay. We are not here to hurt you. She might look a little scary but she's not all bad. She will protect you. You just have to trust us. Okay?" Alex said as he reached out a hand to the quivering boy, where as I only rolled my eyes.

Way to throw me under the bus in an instant.

The boy looked up, giving me a clear view of his face. Flawless skin, way to flawless for his own good with pale skin. His hairs were jet black and a pair of round glasses sat over his nose. If I didn't know better, I would say Harry Potter had come to life. All in all, he was an absolute nerd.

He stared at Alex's outstretched hand in terror before turning his gaze to me and locked there. 'Her... her eyes... they a-are-'

"The color of blood?" I completed, more like questioned, and the poor boy only quivered even more. I sighed, wondering how many more times will I have to go through something like this. At first it was Alex, who turned out to be a real pain in the ass, and now this, scared out of his wits before he even knows me.

"Yeah that's how I became after I died. Are you Clark?" I asked the boy, realizing that Alex still had his hand outstretched. Clark nodded before taking Alex's hand and standing up, much to Alex's delight. I had no idea why he was so happy about all this.

"And you are Hardcore's Guardian? Am I right?" I asked again, but the boy only nodded meekly, not ready to make eye contact with me.

"How do you plan on protecting them if you can't protect yourself?"

Clark looked down again, but I only stared at him, earning a glare from Alex which I did not heed. He needed to face it.

"I know. I know I'm weak and unable to be a proper Guardian. I don't deserve this. Hardcore shouldn't be stuck with me. But they are, and I don't know what to do about it."

I sighed, but Alex only patted the guy in the back, making me raise an eyebrow. Since when did Alex care about other's so much?

"There's no use whining over the fact that you are weak." I stated, earning another glare from Alex but I only returned it back to him.

"And there's also no use in rubbing circles in his back when you can't help him face the truth. You are a Guardian now Clark, and no matter what you do or say, you can't deny the fact that you are one. And the Deitys have chosen you for a reason, look forward to that and succumb to your strength, instead of hiding in a corner and begging for mercy. Like Alex here said,  we are not here to harm you, but help you. The shield I placed wouldn't have harmed you. But if it would be someone else, someone who has ill intentions, would you have begged them for mercy as well? If so, do you think they would let you go if you begged them like a coward instead of standing up for yourself?"

Clark shook all over, his body trembling at every word I said,  because deep down, he knew that every word I said actually described him, and knowing his true self frightened him.

True, how long was he going to live like this? Begging anyone powerful then him to spare him? How was he planning on protecting Hardcore like this?

Alex cleared his throat before turning to Clark. "What my friend Cilia here means to say is that you have potential power in you, you just have to channel it. And we are here to help you with that. You see Clark, life of a Guardian isn't very easy. There are predators, those that are more powerful than us, hungry for our power. Cilia is one of those powerful ones, but she is not here to take your powers, she wants to help you build it. She protects me as well, she will do the same for you too."

If I hadn't learnt how to keep a straight face, I would have dropped my jaw there and then. Alex had come up with a story so fast, or had he prepared this all along? I don't know. Whatever it is, he was really quick. Half of what he said was right, but the other half, not so sure.

He was luring him in with the promise of training him. Just like I lured him in with the promise of immortality. Alex sure knew how this worked.

Clark nodded gravely, finally looking at me. I hadn't realized that I was staring at him, until I finally looked away and walked towards the main room, where the seven boys were.

Hardcore happened to be my second most favourite boy groups, with Coldblood as the first. Now don't get me wrong, the reason I haven't mentioned Heathens is because I don't catagorise them. Heathens is just Heathens. They live in me.

I had alwayse pictured Hardcore as the cheery fools they were. But seeming them like this, angry and furious at each other, I was starting to doubt myself. Hardcore were known to be cheery and close friends of Heathens, now I was starting to wonder what had changed about them.

"Why are they fighting?" I asked Clark, who was no standing on my right with Alex on my left. It seemed like he had gained a little bit more confidence, for his voice didn't waver as he spoke but held a hint of sadness.

"Not fighting. Arguing actually. They have been doing that a lot these days."

"Why is that?" Alex asked. Clark stared at the boys, a longing look in his eyes.

"I don't know. All I know is things aren't very well with them. Mr. Peterson doesn't appreciate them anymore, as if he is done with them. That shouldn't bother them but the main problem is...he is depriving them of their certain rights as artist's." Clark sighed before smiling sadly at the boys who were still arguing over chicken.

"They don't get to do much comebacks, they barely release a proper album, and Mr. Peterson intends to dispose them off, although he wouldn't say it to them. But I already know, I just don't know how to say it to them. They fight over silly things like chicken right now and other stuffs. Their contract comes to an end in a few days, I guess I must tell them soon."

A long silence followed after that, Alex and I taking everything in.

"Well that's some fucked up shit."

"Mr. Peterson is sick." I said to which Clark chuckled and Alex nodded.

"Yeah, and I still don't know how to protect them from sick people like him."

I sighed again, which I realized I had been doing a lot. Placing my hands in my jeans pockets, I said. 'Maybe I could help you with that.'

Alex looked at me, but I only gave him that look as if to say 'Let's go with the flow of your story, shall we?'

Clark, on the other hand looked at me like a lost child and I had to admit, he was rather cute. Where Alex had the beautful yet handsome face like an idol, Clark had the youth like look in him that made him look small and...cute. I guess I can say he had a pretty face with long eyelashes dusting his cheeks.

"You can?"

I shrugged. "Alex already told you didn't he? I protect him. I can protect you too. As you can see, Alex and I here are immortal. In short, we are Guardian's that are officially proven by the higher ups. You are a Guardian, yes, but you are also a missing spirit, which means you have Grim Reaper's tailing you."

Alex stilled, and I could almost smell the fear wafting from him in the mention of the Grim Reaper. I still continued.

"But I can change that, and make you immortal like us. But in order to do that, there is one condition you must agree."

I swallowed, realizing that now was the time. Alex looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to speak. "What is it?"

"You will have to help me in return. There is a mission, in which I require the help of Guardians like you all. It is not very pleasant and I can't tell you what it is. But I will tell you in due time. If you agree to help me, I will make you immortal and... you can help Hardcore a little better."

Clark didn't say anything for a long time, and Alex felt the need to butt in. "Trust me pal, this mission or whatever doesn't sound very pleasant at all. It consists of Hounds of Hell, that I'm aware of. But it also means you will gain immortality and plus point, Cilia here is very much powerful...I guess I already said that."

Alex said timidly after recieving a glare from me. He really had to say that! Clark, being the scaredy cat surely will run away now.

Just when I thought he would say no, the boy spoke up.

"I will do it."

"Beg your pardon?" I asked although I heard him crystal clear.

"I said I will do it. I will help you in this mission. I don't care how risky it is, as long as you can change me and I can protect them better. I will take the risk of Hounds or whatever this mission requires. Let's do it."

A very long and awkward silence followed after that. Clark's determination to help me with this mission in order to protect Hardcore had me feeling nauseous. Or more like guilty. He didn't know what it was, neither did Alex. Was I doing right by keeping them in oblivion?

"Okay! If that's settled then, Cilia will turn you immortal! After that, you can come to me and I will explain you the basic principles you will need to follow from here on. Understood?" Alex said animatedly, giggling like a fool.

Clark nodded. But before we could say anything further, he cut in. "But...there is one more thing I have to do."

"And what is that?" I asked.

"It's my family. I want to protect them as well. I can do that right?"

I smirked before slapping Clark in the back much to the nerds surprise. "You can do more than that once you become immortal. Alex here will explain everything to you."

Finally, Clark did the one thing we least expected. He smiled brightly before running off to the seven boys, not bothering to give us a thank you.

"He should be more greatful!"

"Let him be. I'm sure he wants to give them the good news." Alex said softly from beside me, placing a hand over my shoulder to which I slowly nodded. How could I be so immature?

There, Clark jumped up and down as he told the boys of his news, the argument long forgetten. It seemed like Hardcore could see him and hear him already, just like Fiction. Once the tale ended, the eight boys howled and laughed together, Clark shooting out electric sparks from his palms.

So his powers are lightning and energy. Cool.

The boys celebrated a little longer before Clark whispered something to them in hushed voices, away from Alex and my priving ears. Then the boys turned towards the direction we were standing, staring in confusion.

"Can you guys show yourselves? They would like to see you." Clark said shyly, giggling all the while like a school girl towards her crush.

My heart beat quickened as I thought about it. Alex looked delighted but I didn't know what they would think of me. Would they get scared? Alex said that at the first glance, people see me as something beautiful but at the second glance, something dangerous. And Clark's reaction on seeing me proved his words just right.

How would Hardcore feel in looking at me? How did Fiction feel? Scared, of course. They literally screamed bloody murder on seeing me. Gracious Heavens.

Alex had turned visible already and before I knew it, I was too. Let them think whatever they want. As long as Heathens love me for what I'm , none of this matters.

Gasps and squeals escaped the boys mouths as we came into view. For a long time, No one said anything, until I broke the silence.

"Cilia." I said, raising my hand up as if to wave.

"Alex." He said, more like copied.

Still no words came. Then, all of a sudden, the seven boys started screaming and howling as if their lives depended on it, before engulfing me and Alex in the middle of a circle. Clark was there too, who laughed and cheered along. Soon Alex was doing the same and only I was having a resting bitch face.

I sighed to myself. It wouldn't hurt to have a little fun now would it? And besides, Clark looked so happy and Hardcore were so friendly. One minute they were arguing over chicken and now they were dancing. They surely deserve the best.

With a smile, I jumped along too, clapping and laughing as the boys danced along, the circle now broken as each of the boys took it to themselves to show there skills.

Hector B-boyed. Mark somersaulted. Jim did remarkable pushups. Jackson rapped, joined by Ben. Oliver and Mal just sang along, holding Clak by the shoulders. Alex was now break dancing with Hector. And all I did was stand and laugh and smile.

Yeah. A little fun won't kill anyone. I think I needed it.

We all did.

And that includes Hardcore.