A Modern Myth

I wasted no time and raced up the stairs and into the bus. I looked around madly for Gerard, but I saw nothing.

“Where is he?” I asked Mikey.

“I…I don’t know…he’s gone,” he answered with a shaking voice, eyes widening when he got a good look at me. I had my mask on, but I could tell he recognized my voice.

“Where?!”

He pointed in the direction of the forest. “Some guy came and took hi-”

I ran. I didn’t have time to listen to the whole story. I blocked out the thoughts of what state he might be in and focused only on running. I was gasping for air and my muscles were screaming, but I knew I couldn’t stop.

I stumbled into a clearing and looked around madly for Gerard. The clouds overhead moved and allowed moonlight to spill over the ground. He was lying in the middle of the circle of trees, and I sprinted over to him. Kneeling next to him, I picked him up and flipped him over onto his back. He was barely breathing, and his heartbeat was slow and ragged.

Then I saw it. A tiny one-inch slit cut across the artery in his neck, and a purple substance surrounded it. Leto must have hit him with a poisoned weapon, and from what I could tell, it wouldn’t be long until Gerard was dead. I had to act fast, but if I didn’t know what poison to treat him for, I could end up killing him even faster. I carefully studied the wound, but before I could reach for the pouch of medicine I carried, something was pulled over my eyes and mouth. I felt myself being dragged backwards and tried to draw my swords, but the ground disappeared beneath my feet seconds later.

“Don’t move or you’ll die.”

I held still. The cloth was lifted away, and I realized I had been taken up into one of the trees. I suppressed a gasp of surprise.

“Leto?”

“Shh. They will be here soon,” he whispered, glancing down at the clearing. No sooner had he spoken than three figures appeared in a triangle around Gerard. They stood silently, and I watched as Leto drew three short knives, each coated in a dark, gleaming substance. He closed his eyes and seemed to lean back against the tree, but just seconds later he was gone.

A stifled cry of pain caught my attention. One of the figures crumpled to the ground, and the other two quickly followed. I climbed down from the tree to see what had happened just as Leto reappeared, holding the knives fanned out between his fingers. My eyes widened when I realized who he had just killed.

“The leaders of the Order? But why-”

“Take your friend and leave,” Leto said coldly as he tucked the knives away. He threw a small object at me, and I snatched it out of the air. “Give that to him. It will counteract the poison.”

“Why are you helping me?” I asked. I knew he would likely be killed for such an act, but he hardly seemed to care.

“Go!” he said with urgency in his tone. I picked up Gerard and ran back to the bus. The lights were off, and I cautiously stepped inside, laying him down on one of the couches. I studied the object Leto had given me, but I could hardly see it in the darkness.

The lights clicked on a second later, and I realized three people were standing behind me.

“What’s going on, Bob?” Frank asked. I froze for a moment, then sighed and took my mask off, turning around to face them.

“Give me two seconds so I can save his life,” I said, trying not to sound angry as I poured the liquid over the wound. It was absorbed in seconds, and the color began to return to Gerard’s skin almost immediately. I felt under his neck for a pulse, and his heart had fallen into a steady, slow rhythm. Now he was just sleeping.

“Bob…what…who…I mean…” Frank stammered, barely able to form words. “What are you?”

I sighed. There was no point in hiding anymore. “It’s a long story.” When they didn’t say anything, I continued. “I’ve only seen my parents twice since I was about five years old. I wasn’t raised in Chicago; I barely remember living there. I’ve spent most of my life living inside a mountain training to be a secret assassin, and currently I work for an organization that has existed for centuries.”

Ray’s eyes were wide with disbelief, while Mikey and Frank just stared at me.

“I’m a ninja.”

Frank was the first to burst out laughing. “No, really, tell us what’s going on.”

“He’s not joking,” Ray interrupted.

Mikey gasped. “You knew? And you didn’t tell us?!”

“He had to keep it secret,” I tried to explain.

“No! He didn’t, and neither did you!” Mikey shouted. “And now my brother’s gonna die because you’ve both been lying!”

“He’s going to be fine,” I told him, lowering my voice and hoping he would do the same. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.”

“Why not?” Frank demanded, now just as angry as Mikey. “We’re your best friends!”

“Because it’s dangerous. If the Order found out that I told you, they would kill you. All of you.” I sighed and finally sat on the couch near Gerard’s feet. “I finally told Ray because I couldn’t take the stress anymore, but telling everyone would’ve been too much of a risk.” They looked hurt.

“So, since you’re a ninja,” Frank said condescendingly, “what’s the deal with Gerard?”

“That’s more complicated,” I answered. “I’m not sure why, but the Order wanted him dead. They sent Leto to do the dirty work-”

“Jared Leto?” Ray asked, shocked. “That’s why you were so surprised, isn’t it?”

I nodded. “I found Gerard in the forest, almost dead. Leto showed up and hid both of us, then killed the leaders of the Order when they arrived to make sure Gerard was dead.” I sighed. “He’ll probably be dead by tomorrow once the next Superior finds out.”

The mocking, angry look had vanished from Frank’s face. Now all three of them just looked scared.

“What’s the group called?” Mikey asked timidly. “The one you…work for…”

“It roughly translates to the International Order of Ninjas.” I allowed myself a small smile. “My teacher used to be the Superior.”

“And who might that be?” asked Frank.

“Remember Mike Shinoda?”

“No way,” Mikey said, incredulous. I nodded, glancing back at Gerard. I hoped he would be able to sleep through the night. He deserved it after everything he had been through.

“You don’t have to worry about this anymore, I think,” I said as I started to walk back to my bunk.

“Hey, Bob?” someone called after me. I turned back. Frank, Ray, and Mikey were all staring at Gerard. He was sitting up halfway, eyes partially open and watching me. He looked worried. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I will be.”