Chapter 635 Manny Pleads

It was silent between Manny and Ritsuka. Ritsuka kept his head looking in the black abyss that was pointed towards Manny while Manny looked at him. Manny's face hardened then softened then hardened again. It went like this for a while as his adam's apple bobbed.

'Am I on Lee Seng's side or not?' Manny thought to himself. He shifted in his spot and looked ahead. 'I'm always on his side. Everything I did was for him…' He desperately wanted to believe the lies he had told himself for years, but his heart panged like a dagger went through it.

"I…" Manny managed to let out. "Everything I did was for Lee Seng. Every action, every choice. It was all for him… Who are you to ask where my allegiance lies? It's always with Lee Seng!" Manny's voice bounced as he whipped his head to look in the direction of Ristuka. He couldn't see it, but Ritsuka was angry. He tucked his bundling fists underneath his legs and held them there.

'No fighting.' Ritsuka told himself. 'Even if he's an idiot.'

"I've known Lee Seng since we were babies. We practically grew up together!" Manny continued. "I should be the one who's asking you that question! Are you on his side?"

"I am on his side." Ritsuka replied, quickly. "I've done nothing but try to understand him. A guy like Lee Seng has been a public image since the day he was born and—"

"So have I! So has Sara! I know what it's like to be in the public image! To have people talk about you behind your back in public because my dad and my sister are public figures. Don't act like you're on the same level as we are! You'll never understand what the pressure does to you!"

"I don't understand the pressure?" Ritsuka scoffed. He turned to look ahead, resting his head against the wall. "My parents work in government. My older siblings work in the Police force or the Guild in some capacity. One is a scientist working to understand the world and the mutations caused by the serum… I don't understand?" Ritsuka turned his head slightly to look over to Manny.

"Do you know what it's like to be compared to people?" Ritsuka asked. "To be compared to everyone else you're connected to because you simply exist within the eyes of the public because your family chose to do that?"

"Yes, I know –"

"But we both don't know what it's like to be powerless for two whole years." Ritsuka interjected. Manny's jaw tightened as he turned away.

"Enough. You and I don't get along." Manny brushed the subject away.

"Two whole years he was alone, Manny." Ritsuka continued.

"Shut up."

"Two years you ghosted him."

"You don't know what really happened."

"Two whole <strong>fucking</strong> years he was bullied for not having an 'ideal' power. He was labelled powerless because he didn't amount to the Numbers or you or Sara!"

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"Shut the fuck up!" Manny screamed. "You don't know what actually happened!"

"Then what happened?" Ritsuka quietly asked. Manny sucked in a breath and froze.

"Why does everyone want to know? Why are you so nosey? This is between me and Lee Seng. Buzz off!" Manny hissed. He began to turn when the dim light of Liz, Olivia and Evan came into view.

"How can someone be on the same team and not at least give a reason?" Ritsuka rolled his eyes.

"Hey, we're—" Liz began to spoke as Manny interrupted. Manny whipped his head, looking at Ritsuka who was staring ahead at the parallel wall.

"You ever think I might just die if I say anything?" Manny asked loudly.

"What's going on?" Evan asked. Liz stuck her hand out. Evan and Olivia came to a stop.

"What's happening?" Olivia asked.

"Death?" Ritsuka turned. "So, your life's on the line." Manny's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said. He looked away, realizing the rest of the group was here and obviously listening to the heated conversation.

"I… Let's go." Manny began to stand up as Liz moved up.

'This is my chance.' Liz thought. 'Our chance to figure out what he's been hiding.'

"Manny." Liz confronted the healer. Manny's face was filled with dread. He was scared of what he just blurted out yet angry because he felt like he was being pinned against the wall. "I didn't push you all these years because I didn't want you to feel cornered."

"Then don't!" Manny began to grab Liz and push her aside. Liz pushed herself into Manny and looked his wandering eyes. "Get off. Let's go!"

"Damion." Liz pinned him against the wall. She had no problem getting into Manny's almost non-existent bubble. Manny gulped as he kept his head turned away from her and the others. "How are they going to know you told us? Are they tracking you? Are they listening to our conversation as we speak? How will they know if you just tell us?"

"I can't!" Manny answered. "Let's just go."

"Keng's still knocked out." Olivia commented. Manny cursed as he looked over.

"Wake him up, then." Manny replied.

"Even if he does wake up, Manny," Liz spoke. "He won't be able to move for a while. We all decided to rest here so we're resting here."

'',

"Then I'm going ahead without you guys." Manny pushed Liz backwards into Olivia and turned to move. "I should've just stayed a Merc." Evan stepped in his way. He nervously stuck his hand up and gulped.

"Talk about it, Manny. It doesn't get any better from this point." Evan warned him. "It's better to just talk about it and –"

"Get out of my way!" Manny threw a punch straight at Evan, sending him backwards into the ground.

"Evan!" Ritsuka shouted. He immediately bolted up and rushed at Manny. "You bastard, Valentin! I knew you were no good!" Ritsuka tackled Manny and the two went tumbling onto the ground as Liz pulled away from Olivia.

"G-guys!" Liz shouted. "Now's not the time! Stop!" She watched as Evan threw himself up and rushed at Manny and Ritsuka. Ritsuka pummeled Manny with punches as Manny defended himself. Evan tried to rip them apart, but nothing seemed to be working.

"Enough!" Olivia shouted. The whole group froze as a strange energy washed over them. Olivia's hands were bunched up at her sides as her head was slightly turned away, eyes shut.

'I can't move.' Manny thought. His body twitched as he tried to move but felt something invading his head. Something telling him he couldn't do a single thing even if he tried. Olivia gasped as blood fell from her nose. Her head was splitting as she stumbled into the wall.

"Let's just… Talk about it, dammit!" Olivia weakly spoke. "Look at us! Lee Seng's lookalike is unconscious and clearly doesn't want to be here! He wants to find Lee Seng while you two have been constantly fighting since Keng told us the truth! Aren't you ashamed? Aren't you disappointed you're acting like five-year-olds while our friend, Lee Seng, is missing?" She wiped her nose and held herself up. Her body shook as the hold on everyone release.

"Liv!" Liz grabbed Olivia. Olivia motioned her away.

"I'm fine!" Olivia told her. She took a stumbling step forward as Liz flinched, not knowing if she should follow Olivia or not. "Tell us what you know, or I'll bury you in the rubble." Manny's head lifted of the freeze as Olivia glared at him.

"I can—"

The earth below Manny cracked as Olivia pointed at it.

"Spill it!" Olivia shouted.

"I really can't!" Manny shouted. Manny's feet sank into the ground as stones turned to dirt. He could feel a strange process of stone turning to dirt and dust as he fell deeper in. "If I do, I'll die! Put yourselves in my shoes!" Manny sank to his knees in an instant as the ground ate him.

"Olivia! There's gotta be another way!" Liz shouted. Olivia turned and froze Liz in her spot. She turned, done with this ordeal, as blood gushed out of her nose. Her head was splitting in a billion directions as the sleeping Keng began to stir.

'W-what's going on…?' A thought triggered in Keng's head.

"Tell us!" Olivia shouted

"I really can— Ahh! Olivia stop! It isn't worth the petty – Ahh!" Manny sank straight down to his hips as he tried to move. His body wasn't responding, and Olivia was barely keeping it together. Keng shook his head, feeling his body had become sluggish. He had, at least, broken out of his rock stasis.

"Spill it, Valentin!" Olivia shouted. Cries fluttered out of Manny's mouth as he continued to say the same thing.

"I can't! I can't! I can't!" Manny screeched as he sank to his chest. Keng rose, looking behind him. Blood was spilling out of Olivia's nose and mouth. She was propped up against a wall now as the rest watched in horror. Manny screamed for help as he continued to say the same thing. Keng grunted as he stood up. "Keng, help! Please! I really can't tell you guys! If I could, I would but I can't! You understand right?!? You have Lee Seng's memories! Of course, you'd understand! Please!"