Children of a Lesser God

Chapter 114: The Pain Of The Living

Laz noticed something earlier. That some of the officers that were shooting at them were dead, but a few of the others were still alive, simply trapped in their own heads. He held back because of that and didn't try to attack them. But now, he didn't give a shit.

Laz stood like a statue with coldness in his eyes. If he had tried a few days ago, Laz would not have been able to be angry. For true anger is the result of fire on the inside and coldness on the outside. True anger is not fury, it's not rage, it's a mix between the hot and the cold without knowing which is which.

And yet, Laz was also sad, heartrendingly sad. If his insides were hot and his outsides were cold, then his heart was like the absence of all feeling and yet completely overflowing in pain. Such a contradiction might seem impossible, but it's the only way to describe Laz at the moment.

This was the pain of the living.

And he needed to let it out. Crouching down, Laz's foot sank into the ground as though it were jello and launched himself forward. Several shots rang out, but all of them missed due to his speed. Despite Laz's feelings, he hadn't lost his mind as he aimed for the one with the shot gun first. Grabbing the barrel, Laz flipped the gun up and pulled the trigger, causing the man's head to explode and his body to crumple to the ground. Without much thought, he then struck down with his heel, smashing the struggling white bug that was trying to crawl out of the remains of his neck.

Just as the other puppets turned to face him, Laz quickly cocked the gun, took aim and fired.

BOOM, cock, BOOM, cock, BOOM, cock, BOOM.

All of their heads exploded before they could dodge or take aim. Hopping around like he was playing a high speed game of hopscotch, Laz crushed the creatures before they could crawl out. He could have just burned them all away, the same way he did for Kat, but they didn't deserve such a freeing death. Just as he finished with the last one, the once blurred bug man appeared in his vision. Before, he could barely make out a glimpse of it since it could move faster than the eyes could follow. But now, it's movements were almost too easy to follow, like watching a toddler try to hit an adut.

Laz didn't hesitate to make a move when he saw it coming. As Laz circulated his energy, he could feel an almost endless supply within him. It was like, instead of using fuel to light the fire, he was now using a battery to power it. The difference was astounding.

As the fire erupted from his hands, he side stepped as he shot his hand out, quickly grabbing onto the creatures wings and burning them into dust. Since the creature was moving quickly, it couldn't compensate for the loss of it's wings and ended up rolling on the ground. Laz moved just as quickly and before it could get too far, he was right in front of it. Laz launched a kick square at the creatures abdomen, causing it to fly backwards in the other direction with loud cracking noises ringing out.

Suddenly, Laz felt a whoosh of air as two more of these bug like creatures came into view beside him. Unfazed, Laz punched out with his left hand while kicking out with his right foot, catching both creatures and sending them flying as well. Since they weren't very close, although he cracked some of their armor, they were still intact for the most part.

Without missing a step, Laz launched himself at the direction of the bug on his left and sent the black fire towards it. Even though it had begun to stabilize and retreat, Laz was faster. With the advance in level, Laz's fire had gone through a change as well. It was now more of a pitch black color from just a night black color. When it covered the green armored bug man, it took less than a second before it was reduced to a pool of bubbling liquid. Turning around, Laz noticed the other bug had started flying up and away, leaving it's wingless comrade behind.

Although the injured one was trying to get it, the cracks in it's armor made it unsteady and unable to stand. Seeing Laz walk towards it, it finally stopped trying to move and just waited.

"He he he... pity I couldn't get her, but I could feel her body squirming in pain as I reaped her life. Was she close to you? A sister perhaps? Or maybe even a lover? Such a shame. And to think you even melted her in the end. How cold. How delightfully cold, HA HA HA HA."

The puppet master was taunting Laz as he walked up to it. Laz didn't say anything and just squatted down before grabbing the creatures head and making it look into his glowing red eyes.

"I will find you. And I promise you, I will kill you, very, very slowly."

"HE HE HE, poor little boy. I will be long gone before you can even figure out where I am. But don't worry, I will grow even better creatures for our next meeting. This way, I can mercifully send you to be with that girl, but only after using your body for a long, long time."

Laz knew the puppet master was probably being carried away by his creatures as they spoke and since he didn't know exactly where that cave/mine was that Jon had found, he would never get there in time to stop them. He wanted to hurt this bastard, but just beating up puppets wasn't going to do a damn thing.

Struggling with his own helplessness as he was mocked by this unknown person, Laz just wanted to strangle him. Suddenly, he got a wicked idea.

"You think I can't get to you huh?"

"Nope. I'm already on my way. But don't worry, if you want to keep this one as a souvenir, I will be more than happy to chat with you every now and then. I would love to be able to tell someone about all the wonderful things I am doing now that I am free to do anything.".

"That;s right, I was told. Your body is completely useless, isn't it. Can't even move on it's own huh?"

"Wait... How did... they told you?"

"That's right. I can tell from your voice that you are male... So, what does it feel like to know you can never have sex again? Hmm? Just some useless empty shell that breeds bugs. Really... I wonder who is using who.." Laz didn't have a lot of practice talking shit, so he just said whatever came to mind. He want the puppet master to be focused right here and to get him to lose control for a breif time. Luckily for Laz, that's exactly what happened.

"You fucking little shit. I swear I will chop off each of your appendages one by one before mincing your dick in a meat grinder and shoving it down your throat." Seems the unknown controller had a bit more experience with insults. Not only that, but it seemed like Laz had touched a nerve. Knowing it was the right time, Laz leaned in close to the bugs face.

"Oh? Well in that case..."

*FUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK YYYYYYOOOOOOUUUUUUU.* Laz sent his spirit sense into the bug like a knife with the words fuck you. Because the controller wasn't expecting it or maybe he didn't even know it could happen like that, he was totally unprepared for it and it hurt, badly.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," the green bug man grabbed it's head as though it could block out the sound. Sadly, it had grabbed too tight and crushed it's own head. Although Laz watched on, he didn't stop it. He wasn't going to keep talking to that crazy human nest thingy if it was the last thing he ever did.

Laz then proceeded to walk the distance back to the blockade. Seeing the body of Jon and his friends, Laz couldn't help but tear up again. He bowed low at a ninety degree angle for a minute before straightening up. Waving his hand over the bodies, he let loose a plume of black fire that completely melted their bodies within a second. Standing there, he saw the golden bits of energy escape from each of them and fly towards him. Shooting straight into his body without pause, Laz could feel their final thoughts.

"Thank you."

"Good job kid."

"Laz, don't give up. No matter what. And remember, we will be watching you." As Jon's final thought faded, Laz felt a pressure on his shoulder as though a hand had briefly landed on it before it faded away. With the energy blazing inside of him, he started to circulate it in the only way he knew how as he slowly walked back to his grandpa's truck. He had the thought to take Jon's but it was totally messed up with large blade marks through the roof and hood. He knew the engine wouldn't start. He also wasn't about to use the police cars as those could be easily tracked.

Getting into the truck that had been shot full of holes, Laz kept his fingers crossed and tried turning the engine over. Luckily, it started up.

'Most of the bullets hit the bed and the glass,' Laz thought to himself. The front windshield was cracked along with the back window while the side windows were completely blown out.

But at least it could run.

As Laz was about to put it into gear, he felt his body start t heat up, painfully. It felt like there was a pot of water boiling in his stomach. Using his own spiritual sense, Laz tried to look inside to find the problem. The glowing ball of energy near his stomach looked like a it was flexing while shaking. He felt like it was strained and needed to rest. It felt like he had over eaten and gotten a stomach ache, except it was energy and not food that he consumed too much of.

Despite the searing pain, Laz put the truck into gear and started to drive. He needed to get away from here as soon as possible and back home. That was the only place he had to go. Without windows, there was a lot of cold, freezing air coming through the truck, but that felt wonderful to Laz. He needed to stay conscious as he felt like the pain would cause him to pass out. No matter what happened, he could not faint. Turning on the radio, Laz cranked it up as loud as he could so he could hear it over the howling wind. It was a song he recognized, a song he had felt personally.

Your words to me just a whisper

Your face is so unclear

I try to pay attention

Your words just disappear

'Cause it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should have said

So I speak to you in riddles

'Cause my words get in my way

I smoke the whole thing to my head

And feel it wash away

'Cause I can't take anymore of this

I want to come apart

And dig myself a little hole

Inside your precious heart

'Cause it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should have said

I am nothing more than

A little boy inside

That cries out for attention

Yet I always try to hide

'Cause I talk to you like children

Though I don't know how I feel

But I know I'll do the right thing

If the right thing is revealed

'Cause it's always raining in my head

Forget all the things I should have said

Laz didn't know how to feel. He didn't have words to express himself at times. That's why he had always just been like air to everyone. Cause he didn't know how to talk to them. And yet right now, he would love nothing more than to be able to pour his heart out to Kat, but knew that he couldn't do that. He had missed that chance.

With every part of Laz in pain, he kept driving. He didn't know how long he had stay awake for, but he seemed to drift in and out of nothingness. When he felt like he could no longer stay upright, he noticed the turn for "The Shack" and pulled in.

The last thing Laz remembered was pulling the key out of the ignition before passing out, into the welcomed unfeeling darkness.