Chapter 11: Ruler of Everything.

  “He shot at the sun with a gun, his only friend…”

  August 28th, 1990; Link II’s 7th Birthday. Time: [9:00 AM]

  A yawn filled the air.

  Stretching his hands into the air, Link II saw the scars on them, still fresh.

  His eyes filled with numbness.

  As he got up from the mattress, feet echoing in the silence.

  Walking out to the living room, he peered at the window.

  Watching for danger.

  After a few moments, he went back to what he was going to do.

  Cook some amazing food.

  Beginning to grab the ingredients from the shelf.

  As he put them in the pan, Carne asada sizzled, beans bubbling.

  All of it full of smells and sounds galore.

  After 30 minutes, the clock in the kitchen read 9:30.

  Setting up the table, he grabbed a plate and began serving it.

  Finally sitting down on his chair and…

  Watching his food, staring at it like it barely pleased him.

  Remembering how he only ate to ignore the past.

  Not even needing to eat food to survive, nor water, but could still pass waste.

  Taking a sigh and grabbing the plate in his hand.

  Walking towards something.

  A garbage can.

  In his gaze, opening it with his foot, its hatch moving upwards.

  The plate still in his hand.

  Deciding to save it for something, rather… somebody.

  Grabbing tin foil from a cupboard and gradually covering it.

  Carrying it in his arms as he began to teleport.

  His mind focusing on the place to teleport.

  The air humming with energy.

  Instantaneously arriving besides a shop.

  Specifically, a clothing store.

  And seeing an old friend who he ran into during a dark time.

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  Hearing his voice as he entered the door, calling Link II a different name than before.

  “Hey there Pablo! How's it going?”

  He began walking towards him with the plate, while the man smiled at him.

  Acting like old friends.

  Getting to the counter, the man ruffled Link II's hair, both smiling and enjoying their company.

  Link II passed on his plate shyly, mumbling under his breath.

  “Here is… some food I guess.”

  The man's reaction, a sense of surprise at such a generous act from this kid he barely knew about, but cared for deeply.

  “...thanks kiddo. You didn't really need to deliver me food you know…”

  While Link II shrugged, answering back.

  “Well, I just made it back at my home, so why not give it to somebody like you, Garvin?

  I mean, you did kinda let me get away after what happened last year.”

  Both sighing, remembering the night it happened.

  Now silently standing in thought, thinking for a moment.

  “Should I walk away now? Do people leave after catching up on everything or gifts?” -Link II thought.

  As he began walking towards the door, uncertain whether to leave or not.

  Right before that, Garvin yelled out to him.

  “Hey! Pablo! How's about I deliver back your plate on Friday?”

  Glancing back, Link II nodded, his hand pushing the door open.

  Just as Garvin said one last thing.

  “...Just stay safe kid. Please don't get involved with the gangs around here.”

  His voice echoed as Link II left the shop.

  Around 10 AM, Link II arrived back home.

  Checking the mail, he saw an envelope.

  Its yellowish color mixed with the name of the college he submitted the bachelor's degree form to.

  His face brightening instantly, ready to earn his achievements for doing the hard work with relative ease.

  Rushing inside the home with a smile on his face.

  Slamming the door, throwing the envelope onto a table, excitedly ripping up the envelope.

  Seeing the printed paper that read:

  “Hello, This is Vincent Garcia, a staff member of the Compton College, sending you this note to notify your guardian that their form was rejected, despite having the right information, we have concluded that they have cheated on these forms.

  For example, Section A; V:42, your answer was A.

  Do the police have a right to arrest somebody who is in the right to defend themselves?

  A: Need Context.

  B: Plant evidence that puts them in the wrong.

  C: He has the right to resist if the officer is in the wrong.

  The correct answer was A.

  Now, we understand that it may seem like your guardian may have got it correct, but you are wrong.

  See, we took a background check, and found out that you both identified as “White” and “Mexican”.

  So unfortunately, due to the chain of command, you won't get your degrees.

  Thank you and have a nice day.

  Vincent Garcia.”

  Link II fanned with flames, his eyes filled with hatred and anger against this person who denied what was rightfully his.

  In his mind, thinking.

  “This is bullcrap! I did the f-ing work! I filled out the forms, the mathematics, science, and especially the art forms!

  I deserve those degrees, I worked my butt off for them all, and ‘chain of command'? What kind of excuse is that?!”

  Ripping the paper into nothingness out of anger.

  From his anger, it became flames that emerged from his body that set the house on fire.

  Turning around, he saw his own combusted flames engulfing his house.

  Desperately rushing towards them, trying to stop the flames, jumping from the floor to try and reach them, but couldn't.

  Focusing on collecting his thoughts before the house burnt to flames.

  Each flame spanning outwards from the delay.

  Closing his eyes as he focused on his last positive memory.

  Listening to music.

  His arm slowly moving upwards towards the flames, sucking them back towards him.

  Chilling the flames and curing the black burn marks on the walls.

  Eyes opening back up, revealing glowing bright white pupils.

  The flames dimming out near his eyes, leaving a bright orange silhouette around him.

  Sighing, the flames relaxing and delving back into his body as he walked to the table.

  Getting onto a chair and thinking for a few moments.

  “Why… Why did I create fire? I… never wanted to make flames burn my home.

  I-I just wanted to get what I earned. I mean, don't I deserve it all like Willard said? I… don't know anymore…

  I just want to feel confident, not alone… again.”

  Itching his head, wondering what to do in this disappointing moment.

  His eyes darting to the CD player as glitching into a song

  That song being Woods by Bon Iver.

  Hearing the slowed down intro…

  His eyes balling in tears from hearing the tragic autotuned voice singing.

  All reminding him of how lost he was after Willard's death.

  Falling onto the floor, curling into himself as he reminisced on what he's done.

  Kill people for selfish reasons like safety.

  Forgotten to check up on people, despite what they've done to him.

  Realizing he never became humble, just lost between pride and weakness.

  All to justify killing cops for safety.

  Link II's eyes slowly dimmed as the music continued, the last thing he heard before passing out on the floor…

  “I'm down on my mind…”