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My Heart’s Cry: The troubles of a gay teenager

By Tomas Owen

Chapter 1:
(Tomas)
“You are gay man.” Said John and I laughed but really it hit a little to close to home, for I was gay but I had decided not to share the information with the world. After all it was my business not anyone else’s. In fact only one other person knew and she was a close friend, her name was Sarah and we had been friends ever since 5th grade. Still I had tried dating some local guys (at school) that identified themselves as gay but I couldn’t do it they were just to girly for my taste. Plus none of them really took me seriously. Oh they tried to understand but my psychic powers and spirits were just too much for them to cope with. For that matter I find it is hard to balance those two parts of my life with my life. I headed towards class the hall becoming congested as usual so I bumped into someone on accident. “Hey f**, watch were your going!” the hall froze everyone turning towards me to see what I would do. I tensed at the name and as I turned toward the boy I let my temper reign free and Sukura took control of my body.
(Sukura)
I felt his anger and I had been waiting for a good fight. The guy pulled back his fist and I kicked it before he could bring it down. There was a satisfying crack as his knuckles popped. As he shook his hand to get the feeling back I shifted position and my other foot raced up to connect to his side and he stumbled back into the wall of students behind him they drew back and he fell to the ground with a resounding thud. “Sukura! Sukura!” the crowd cheered as the guy got back up I shifted my form again into my “Fire” stance it was good for quick and fast attacks as well as allowing me to increase my other attributes like movement speed and evasiveness. Joseph came at me again but he seemed to be moving in slow motion as I moved out of the way and hit him as hard as I could just below the elbow and then drew back. You could hear the “craaaaaaaaackkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!” of his arm as it suddenly fell useless to his side. Then I spoke “We can end this here and now while you still have your dignity or you can keep fighting until your nothing more than a useless lump. What is your choice?” “Enough talk lets fight!” he ran forward like a charging bull so I just moved to the side and tripped him he fell into some lockers and went down for a few seconds, then struggled up. “Jeez, where are the teachers?” I thought as I once again jumped up and kicked him in the face. He was really angry now because he was slowing down and I knew that if I got in range of those fists I was a goner. So I changed again to “Earth” from which I focused primarily on defense. He rushed me now and I blocked his blows but my arms had begun to hurt under the repeating sting of his punches. When he paused for breath I took a swing of my own. To those that did not posses the ability to see energy I will describe my right foot as it hit him in the neck and knocked him out. My foot was covered in blue chi energy and as I turned into the roundhouse kick to finish this the chi energy trailed behind my foot like a comet’s tail before slamming into his neck now the blow alone was not enough to finish him but the chi overloaded his receptors on his neck and I took the excess chi and shoved it into areas that were collecting it, when your Chi overloads you black out without fail. So he hit began to fall and I caught him before lowering him to the ground and folding his arms over his chest. Then I turned to go to class and the crowd parted like the red sea everyone glancing at me with respect and fear. I was tired of this everyday being oppressed and hated for just trying to be me. I walked away with my head held high to the school door and walked out. The wind began to stir around me as I stepped outside and I headed determinedly to the park. The block felt good under my feet something hard that I could pound without worrying about hurting someone else. I do not like to fight and the experience had shaken me to my core. As I walked my spirits manifested semi-transparent at my side we walked together in silence listening to the sounds of nature stir the air. Sukura as the closest to me and as we walked he turned toward me. “How did I do Tomas?” “You kept me alive and that is all that matters.”
I reached for my inner calm and opened my mind to prayer. “Dear Lord, I pray that everything works out and that I can put this behind me and move on. Oh and I hope that everything goes well with Casey. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.” As I said this Casey came up from behind in his truck and got out. The others moved back a bit to give him some room and he nodded to them in turn. Casey was the only one that can see my spirits and in that was part of the reason that I liked him. Also he wasn’t judgmental, he never judged anyone no matter what the circumstances. “Hey Tomas what happened?” he asked as I lay back onto his shoulder with my eyes closed. “A fight at school, Sukura protected me and everything is ok now but I am tired of having to pretend that I am something I’m not.” He put his hand on the top of my head and left it there. He shared my pain and I could tell he wanted to know more but I was not ready to tell more yet so we just sat in companionable silence. I sighed and then I told the rest. “His name was Joseph, and he had called me a f**. I lost it, and now my secret is out.” “ Well not necessarily” Said FirePaw I could fell Casey turn his head towards him with a quizzical look in his eyes I just settled for looking that way with my eyes closed. “ well I have noted the situation and they do not know what you fought the guy about yes you had a strong reaction to that name but everyone knows that you hate to be messed with and this just reinforced that fact believe me they will not be thinking about the reason they will just be avoiding you. “ Thanks for that FirePaw” Said Casey and then as the grove grew silent, I was finally at peace. My mind ceased to think and I fell into the golden abyss of slumber.

(Casey)
I watched him as he slept and then leaving Sukura to support him I got a blanket out of the truck bed and after they lifted him up I put it underneath him. I silently thanked each of them in my mind for keeping him safe and then I stretched out beside him on a separate blanket and waited for sleep to come as I watched him slumber. Before I fell asleep I held his hand in my own so that we could share our dreams. I dreamed that we were in a forest glade, and that we were not alone, the place was filled with a temple in the background, and the glade was covered in nine tailed foxes. I smiled this was a dream that I had seen before. These foxes had been able to talk and have their own personalities so this was sort of what I was expecting. “Hey Tomas where are we?” I asked just to be sure “We are in the spirit realm Casey. How did we get here?” He looked around and they pointed out a figure in the crowd that was dressed in fine gold and silk. The fox began to walk toward us and Tomas tugged me to into a bow as it drew closer. “Tomas, how are things going for you two?” “Things are going good Lady Abbott, got into a fight at school today though and just left afterwords. I admit I was distressed and I was not expecting that fight so I left the school so I could cool down.” She nodded and we both stood. “So this is Casey, My you look exactly like I thought you would. Come the both of you I have some things to discuss with you.” She said and with a swish of her cloak she turned around and headed for the temple. We followed without hesitation. As we drew close to the courtyard, she slowed her fast pace and waited for us to catch up to her. She led us to a side room which contained a huge crystal ball. Yeah I know typical stereotype, but still this fox was more than what she seemed I’m sure. She seated herself behind the ball and motioned for us to sit on the other side, so we did. As I waited for something to happen the orb in front of us lit up with a series of images that played like a movie. We had planned at coming out to our families together today and that was what was showing up on the crystal ball show. It went fine with my parents; they did not hate on me for it and welcomed Tomas into the family without a problem. Then the same occurred with Kyle’s family and that was good but thankfully when we got to the woods Sukura held up his hand and Lady Abbott cut the power. Tomas was glowing with happiness I could tell and as I grabbed his hand he smiled at me. I recognized the look in his eyes that he was only half concentrating on me, because he was using telepthapy to talk to Lady Abbott.
Then his face grew grave and he looked worried. “Hey what’s going on Tomas?” I asked “She hasn’t got much time left and she has just named me as her successor.” He said in my mind his mental tone was concerned. Then I felt myself returning back to my body as I woke. I opened my eyes and looked over at him, he was stirring in his sleep and a frenzy of expressions was passing over his face. The wind began to pick up in response to his emotions. It was cold and fast which meant whatever was going on was causing him pain. The other spirits were sitting around us asleep as well except for one. Sukura was right at Tomas’ shoulder and we exchanged glances. Then we began to talk him asking me a question in my mind and then getting my silent answer, but not intruding upon my thoughts themselves.
“So did you sleep well?” “Yeah I did.” “Where did you two go?” “Lady Abbott’s Temple, why do you ask?” “Is she doing well?” “Uh, that would be a no. She named Tomas as her successor today.” “Well then where is he?” “Still with her I imagine.” Sukura touched Tomas’ body and when there was no response he entered the body. Tomas stirred but I knew that it was Sakura that was making the body work not Tomas. “Hey Casey, Tomas is going to be ok. He has a strong heart, do not worry about him.” I nodded and then said “Look we better head to my house, it is getting time for me to be home and Tomas promised me that he would be there for me when I decided to come out to my parents.” Sukura got a far away look in his eyes as the rest of the spirits entered the body and joined him. “Sukura!” “I’m sorry what? Oh that’s right yes I think that that can be arranged. I’ll take care of things on that front and he can return here.” There was a pause then the body twitched lightly as Tomas took control off the body again. Silent tears shook his frame as we got into the truck and as he sunk into the leather seat I saw Samuel, I mean Sam holding him as he cried. I headed down the rode to Belleview Drive and turned in at my house. Sukura I mean Tomas had dried his tears now but you could still tell that he had been crying. “Hey Mom, hey Dad how is it going? I have a friend from school here he just went through a lot today so we are going up to my room ok.” I could tell that they wanted to question me but I did not give them a chance I just rushed Tomas up to my room and turned on some music the light soft rhythms soothed him I could tell. With his resolve back we came down stairs and faced my parents. “Mom, Dad, I have something that I want to tell you.” “What is it son? Does your friend need to leave?” “No he doesn’t need to leave. Mom I’m gay and Tomas here and I have been getting to know each other quite well over the past month.” “WHAT?” Said my dad but my Mom forced him back down into his chair with her hand. “Why did you wait so long to tell us?” “I wasn’t ready, but now I am.” “So how do you two know each other?” “I met Tomas one day in the park he was sitting all by himself and there was a crowd of people around him making fun of him.” I took a deep breath here was the clincher. “He was in a fight and the guy was like a college freshman that liked picking on the little kids and as you can see Tomas is small for his age. Anyway he was going toe to toe with the College kid when for no reason that I could see he just fainted. They dragged him off into an alley way and left him there.” I was breathing heavily and Tomas placed his hand on my shoulder, instantaneously calm flowed into me quieting my shaken nerves. I smiled at him gratefully. “So Tomas is it? What made you black out?” Now it was Tomas’ turn in the spotlight and he took it in stride with ease. I marveled at his strength he stood there like nothing had happened and a close friend of his had not just died. “Well I know what happened but on top of me being gay as well I doubt that you will accept this little twist.” “Try us.” “Ok you asked for it. Here it is: I’m a metahuman, now we are not wide spread so meeting one of us is rare but whet is even rarer is being accepted for who we are.” “A metahuman? I don’t follow” “Metahumans are people that have abilities above the range of Normal human talents if you’ve watched X-Men then we are the modern day mutants if you will.” “Ok so you’re saying that the reason you blacked out has something to due with you being a metahuman?”
“Right, now you’re catching on. I blacked out because I was having a vision and when that happens without fail I faint, that is if it was a strong one and it was in the case that Casey has mentioned.” “What was it about?” “You know I think that I will keep private it is too personal to share.” I glanced at Tomas when he made that remark because the vision had been about me and him meeting. Still that was his right to tell them or not and he chose not to so I would support that. “So then what occurred Casey?” “I saw him and I ran over to see if he was ok. There was a mattress nearby and I picked him up and laid him out on that. I took off my jacket and balled that up and put that behind his head. He just laid there for the longest time and so I put my hand over his face to check and see that he was still breathing and then I put my hand on the side of his neck and checked for a pulse. That was when he jerked awake catching my hand and twisting it around behind me before I even had a chance to react then before I could say anything he had released me and turned me around. He seemed to be searching my face then he stepped back and took a breath. My name is Tomas; it is nice to meet you Casey. I had gasped with shock.” Here Tomas took up the tale. “I knew his name because I had fallen into his mind when I he had touched me, and it had taken a few seconds for me to readjust myself to being in my body again.” “What do you mean being in your body again?” “Well you see, I have about 6 spirits in my body and we can switch control of the body between us independently or at will. Oh and they can be seen but only by certain people and your son Casey is one of the only ones that I know can see them.” As if to prove Tomas’ point FirePaw briefly made himself visible and I watched him go around the room and pass through the wall to his room, then my little hand held radio just started to float down the hallway and his parent screamed in shock making FirePaw jump and hold his ears. “Hey

“So who is he?” I asked my gray eyes alight with curiosity. “He is my boyfriend.” answered Sukura Suddenly turning away from me. I stood there stunned. He is gay and he never told us. He was waiting for the blow to fall and from his face I could tell that he had heard my thoughts. Yes I didn’t tell you guys because it is not your burden to bear and notice there are mostly guys here and only a few girls. I stopped to think about this and he waited patiently then it clicked NO! You wouldn’t dare do that! I screamed in mental outrage. Listen to me Lockheed sense my emotions, I feel no lust for any member of the Lunar Dividers I have lived a lonely life full of rejection, every time I went to date someone I felt honor bound to tell them about my powers, and every time my heart was broken because they all wound up rejecting me. Tears began to fall as the pain not quite forgotten resurfaced anew and split open old wounds so that they could bleed afresh. I felt terrible for starting this but “I must weather the storm” I said to my self softly.
It has happened time and time again but something kept me hoping and then I met Casey. Such kindness and acceptance such as I had never known. It was bliss, a nice change from heartache, but I couldn’t help myself from letting my walls fall down when I met him. I knew then that he was the one I had been waiting for all this time. Unguarded Joy surged within him briefly then he seemed to pull himself together. “He is psychic now because I gave him my blood so now he is one of us and it is time that he grew into the role that has been cast for him. With this I left I couldn’t take it anymore. I stormed past the others in the sitting room who looked up in askance as I went by, but I paid them no mind it was time to pray and it was time to get to my room where I kept my own Bible. I proceeded to pray “Dear Lord be with Sukura as he faces this challenge and keep him within your grace. In Jesus name we pray Amen.” Then I went back to the living room my heart heavy with the truth that I felt like I must tell. I faced the group of guys and waited silently for them to notice me. “Guys I have something to tell you, if you will listen to me. Sukura is gay. He has brought his boyfriend here from the hospital; I thought that it will be good for everyone to know.” One of the first members of the group turned to me, his name was Morgan. “So why did you tell us? I for one will say that this does not bother me if he is. It doesn’t matter he has never messed with any of us in that way, even when we were injured and when he had to approach that area he never did so without our permission.” I was taken aback by this speech; it felt as if I was being rebuked. “Look all I am saying is this. If he is gay it does not matter to me. I can’t speak for the rest of the people here but if he is then it does not matter.” “Well it matters to me.” Said Lucia and her brother flowed by his friends nodded. Morgan turned to them and stared them down. “Look whatever Sukura’s orientation he has always treated us with respect and dignity. He never let that affect how he dealt with us? He has never left us behind on the field of battle and no matter or wounds or how close we were to death he risked it all to make sure we came back here safe to our families and to each other. He is a willing and able comrade and we should be glad to have him as our leader.” Lucien opened his mouth to speak “Yes he has done all of that but what were his motives? He has asked me to meditate recently claiming that my powers have been growing and it will allow me to control them. So I did and during the course of that meditation I felt his presence in the room. I looked around and didn’t see him, so I called out to him in my head. “Sukura what are you doing here?” “Lucian I was just checking to see if you were meditating. I do not know how to astral project but I do know that if you astral project that there has got to be someone else in your body to keep it functioning. So I came out of my room and saw that Sukura was messing around in that little computer room of his and he looked up surprised when I entered.” “Lucian what are you doing here?” “Did you just astral project into my room?” “No I didn’t but someone else must have I could look into it for you.” “Ok sure” During this exchange I noticed a shadow slip into the room and as it materialized behind Lucian everyone grew silent. “Lucian! So you doubt my motives you think that I am a traitor for not telling you everything about myself, yet I have never asked for your past histories nor tried to influence you to tell me something that you didn’t want to.” Lucian jumped and then turned around foot extended and that foot went threw Sukura. Lucian stared and shock before falling over. The others and his friends laughed at him and he got up his dark face turning darker with embarrassment. “So you have not revealed to us all of your powers either have you?” he accused. “Well you have not seen this power and also every leader must have a few tricks up his sleeve for when people like you turn up.” There was a gasp at that and Sukura’s semi transparent form seemed to become more visible as the light from the fire played eerily over the assembled Lunar Dividers. “Why are you here Sukura? Why not face us yourself in your body?” “Because Casey is waking up and Tomas must tend to him.” “Tomas who is that?” “Tomas is the boy whose body I share he didn’t tell you?” “No he didn’t what other secrets is he hiding?” “Sukura be quite!” said a voice and the boy we all knew well stepped into the room dressed in scrubs he was shaking with rage. “Yes Tomas is my name and Sukura is one of my spirits but I don’t see why that information matters Lucian” At this Lucian ran tried to run threw the astral projection but it was like he ran into a brick wall he just fell. Tomas walked up just behind Sukura and he stood like a barrier between them. He made to move to the side but Tomas shook his head “You cannot harm me Lucian for I hold the power here remember when I told you I had someone else set up the spells around here?” he waited until everyone nodded then continued “Well one of them in particular allows me to be warned whenever anyone is plotting against me or even when my name is mentioned. As for the spells I laid them myself.” “So what are you saying Tomas?” asked Morgan he seemed to stumble over the name. “ Morgan, you and I will talk later; as for you Lucian you and your friends are finished here, but your not leaving until I fight you.” Hate flowered and blossomed behind Lucian’s eyes and Tomas smirked as with a jerk we were all pulled into the courtyard of a temple. We were in a stadium and we were seated around an open field. The two combatants below were Tomas and Lucian; yet Tomas had done something with his hair it was white as snow and the sky overhead had went from a cheery blue to a cold hard gray. His voice rang threw out the stadium and as it did I noticed several foxes appearing from thin air and into the rows of bleachers upon the other side of this stadium. “Lucian Grayworth I challenge you to a duel the loser leaves the lunar dividers and the winner stays. Do you accept my challenge?” “Yes Tomas I do.” The crowd roared and I felt uneasy. Since when did foxes cheer?” as I thought this one of them appeared beside me and I jumped. “Who are you?” I asked “I am FirePaw and I noticed that you seemed to be looking around at my brethren in askance so maybe I can answer your questions.” “Ok well to begin with what are you?” “I am a fox but I can stand on two legs or four if I choose but when I stand on four legs my tail splits into 9 tails and the tips of them are lit on fire. On two legs I can light my paws and feet at will. I am also one of the spirits in Tomas’ body, my name is FirePaw.” I had nothing to say at this pronouncement so I looked own upon the combatants. The stadium grew silent as Lucian made some clandestine motions with his hands. A black mass formed between his hands and he threw it at Tomas. Tomas just simply held out his hand and the orb changed from black to pale sky blue. “What did you do to my darkness orb?” he asked “This is the power of Light which has always had the power to conquer the darkness.” Said Tomas “Enough sorcery Tomas fight me hand to hand if you dare, without Sukura your hand to hands skills are rubbish.” “We shall see Lucian we shall see.” Was the answer and there was an undercurrent of danger as Tomas began to shift his stance to one of defense. Why are they doing this? What is Tomas trying to prove? I turned towards Morgan who was beside me. “Why is he doing this?” I asked with an unspoken plea in my voice. “Sukura knows I mean Tomas knows that it will be easier to stop future betrayals by making a dramatic example out of Lucian of course when you leave the Lunar Dividers all of your memories of this group will be removed and I have seen Tomas do this before even without his abilities he is quite the formidable foe. The point I am trying to make is after this little example the others will leave without complaining for the simple price of losing their memories of us.” “I still don’t see how come it has to be dealt with in this way.” I said wincing as Lucian advanced upon Tomas and hit him in the stomach. “Tomas has the spirit of a warrior within him, he is a fighter and he will fight until his last breath and beyond to make sure this group is never compromised.” I began to notice that as Lucian pressed his attack Tomas deliberately opened his guard to encourage attack and when Lucian followed up he countered quite effectively as Tomas jumped back from a particularly vicious kick his stance changed. Now there was a more rigid way in which he held his feet and though he kept his upper body lose you could tell that he was planning something. This time when Lucian moved up to attack Tomas slipped under the striking fist and squarely hit Lucian in the stomach, making him double up and wheeze. Tomas moved back a step for the distance he needed and then he hit Lucian with a roundhouse kick to the jaw and knocked him out. The crowd erupted into cheers that broke off as a multicolored substance floated from Lucian’s head to Tomas’ out stretched hand. “What is that Morgan?” “The traitor’s memories of the Lunar Dividers, they are to be cast into oblivion and there they will be destroyed.” Said Morgan simply. The stadium dissolved and we found ourselves back in the living room with the dying fire. Lucian’s unconscious form lay at Tomas feet and he picked him up and as the door was opened by Sukura threw him out. “So anyone else care to doubt me?” said Tomas there was an undercurrent of venom in his voice and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

Chapter 2
(Morgan)
I shivered and then I noticed that Sukura had gone. Tomas turned and left the room but before he did he said “Morgan would you follow me please?” I wonder what he needs me for.” I though as I followed him to the medical ward. He dimmed the lights and I rolled my eyes I had forgotten about his preference for working in darkness. As my eyes adjusted I turned toward him and waited “So Morgan I want to thank you for remaining Loyal to me out there.” said Tomas “Welcome but why the deception why use the name of a spirit and not your own?” “That question I have asked myself many times but I am or should say was not comfortable with everyone knowing my true name.” as he spoke he turned to the boy upon the stretcher and tenderly pulled back the covered to listen to his heart. “I shouldn't be here watching this.” I thought and when he had his back turned I walked out. In the hall I waited to collect myself and then I headed towards my room. I nodded to the others as I passed and then opened the door to my room. Closing it behind me I took off my shirt and tossed it upon the dresser and then got on top of my bed. I looked up at the dark ceiling and turned my thoughts to what had occurred just seconds before, and my stomach seemed to heave. “Why am I reacting like this? This is Sukura not someone I do not know. I have seen this tenderness before the last time I was wounded he patched up the wound himself and I had no such reaction. So what is different this time?” “Maybe said an inner voice you are not as comfortable with Tomas then you were before because of what you found out about him.” “No that can't be true.” “Ah but it is” “shut up” I told my inner voice and surprisingly it did. “I guess that I just need to be more careful around Tomas and I can't let him know that I feel uncomfortable around him.” With my thoughts in order I finally began to grow peaceful in within a minuet I was asleep.