Chapter 6: Jim's Mind Gets Manipulated
The chamber of Knower hummed softly, the energy pulsating in rhythmic waves that seemed to mirror our collective heartbeat. For a moment, I allowed myself to breathe, to soak in the faint glow of the ancient glyphs, the shimmering coral columns, and the gentle sway of the water. Bull Rock had retreated — for now.
But deep down, I knew it wasn't over. Nothing with him ever ended so cleanly.
"Everyone okay?" I asked, scanning the group.
"Yes," Jasmine said, adjusting her grip on Viola. "For now."
I glanced at Josh, Maxi, Vadia, and Aeliana. All of them nodded, a mix of exhaustion and determination etched on their faces. Jim, however, caught my attention. He wasn't moving like the others. His eyes… they weren't focused. They shimmered oddly, reflecting the faint light of the glyphs, but there was something cold, distant in them — a shadow I hadn't seen before.
"Jim?" I asked, floating closer. "Are you okay?"
He blinked slowly, and when he answered, his voice was flat, almost monotone. "I'm… fine."
Something about the tone made my stomach twist. I moved closer, reaching out. "Jim, look at me. Something's wrong."
He stared at me blankly for a long moment, then shook his head. "You don't understand, Jatex. You never understood."
The words hit me like a punch. My pulse quickened. "What are you talking about?"
Before he could answer, a dark ripple moved through the water, subtle but unmistakable. The currents shifted unnaturally, almost as if the chamber itself had bent under an unseen force. And then I saw him.
Bull Rock.
He had returned silently, moving through the shadows of Knower like a phantom. His eyes glimmered with malevolent intent, locked onto Jim. The faint currents around him seemed to pulse, reaching into Jim, wrapping around his mind.
"Jim…" I breathed, a surge of fear slicing through me. "No!"
But it was too late. I could see the change spreading in Jim's eyes, the way his posture stiffened, his expression blank and unrecognizable. He raised a hand slowly — not toward me, but toward the center of the chamber — and whispered words I couldn't understand, strange syllables that sent a chill through the water.
"Jim! Stop!" I shouted, propelling myself toward him, but the water seemed to resist me, the currents twisting and pulling against my movement. Bull Rock hovered nearby, watching, a cruel smile on his face.
"You see?" Bull Rock said, voice echoing in the chamber. "Even the strongest minds can bend. Even the closest friends can turn against each other. Jim… now belongs to me."
"No!" I yelled, reaching him just in time to grab his wrist. His hand was ice-cold, trembling slightly. "Jim, fight it! Fight him! Remember who you are!"
Jim's eyes flickered, a momentary spark of recognition flashing before the darkness overtook him again. "You… can't… stop him," he whispered, voice hollow. "You're weak. You… all are weak."
I clenched my teeth, desperation rising. "We are not weak, Jim! We are friends! We protect each other!"
The currents around him intensified, glowing glyphs along the chamber walls pulsing violently, as if Knower itself was reacting to the mental struggle. I realized then that Bull Rock wasn't just attacking physically; he was manipulating Jim's mind directly, using the chaotic energy of the chamber to amplify his power.
"Jatex…" Jim's voice trembled, deeper now, as if someone else had slipped into it. "You… don't… belong here. Leave… now…"
"No!" I screamed. "Jim, listen to me! You're stronger than him! Remember the Core! Remember us!"
Bull Rock laughed, the sound vibrating through the water. "He's mine," he said. "And soon, the Core will be mine too. Your precious unity will crumble before my power."
I felt a surge of frustration and helplessness, but I knew hesitation would cost us everything. I tightened my grip on Jim, forcing eye contact. "Look at me, Jim! Look at me!" I shouted, willing every ounce of my energy into the connection. "I am your friend! We've survived everything together! You're not alone — not ever!"
For a fraction of a second, Jim's eyes glimmered with recognition, the dark haze thinning. He struggled, water rippling violently around him, as if his mind was locked in a battle with Bull Rock's influence.
"You… you can't fight forever," Bull Rock hissed, stepping closer, energy swirling around his hands like liquid darkness. "You will fall… like the rest."
I pushed harder, diving mentally into the bond I shared with Jim. Memories of our friendship, shared adventures, laughter, and struggles — every moment we had faced together — flooded my mind. I focused every ounce of strength, emotion, and willpower into breaking Bull Rock's hold.
"Jim! Think of Walpole! Think of the Core! Think of us! Fight him!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the chamber and resonating through the currents.
The glyphs pulsed violently, sending bursts of light and energy through the water. Jim's body shook, eyes flickering rapidly, until suddenly — with a gasp — he broke free. The darkness shattered like glass. He fell into my arms, shaking violently, but finally, his eyes were his own again.
"J-Jatex…" he whispered, voice trembling. "I… I… I'm back…"
"Shh… it's okay," I said, holding him tightly. "You're safe now. We've got you."
Bull Rock's smirk faded, replaced by a scowl. "Impossible," he hissed. "You've resisted me… but only for now. The mind is fragile, Jatex. And I will return."
He surged backward into the shadows, disappearing through a narrow archway, leaving the chamber vibrating with residual energy.
I held Jim close, feeling the tremors of his fear and the adrenaline coursing through him. He looked up at me, still shaking. "I… I couldn't control it," he admitted. "I felt… him… inside me…"
"I know," I said softly. "It wasn't your fault. He's powerful, and Knower's energy makes him stronger. But you fought. You remembered who you are — who we are."
Viola floated beside us, eyes wide. "That was… terrifying. I can't believe he almost took Jim's mind."
"We need to be careful," I said, still gripping my trident. "Bull Rock won't give up. And now… he knows what he can do. He'll try again, and next time… he might succeed if we're not ready."
The friends gathered closer, forming a protective circle around Jim. Jasmine's hand rested on my shoulder, steadying me. "We'll be ready," she said firmly. "Together, like always."
I nodded, though unease gnawed at me. Knower's energy hummed through the chamber, but the pulse felt heavier now, almost foreboding. Bull Rock's attack had shown a new level of cunning — he could strike not only at us physically but at our minds, our trust, and our very unity.
We needed to be stronger. Smarter. United.
Jim took a shaky breath and looked around at all of us. "I… I won't let him control me again. I promise."
I placed a hand on his shoulder. "And we'll make sure he doesn't. No matter what comes, we face it together."
The chamber of Knower remained quiet, almost reverent, the faint glow of the glyphs reflecting in the water. But I could sense it — deeper secrets, deeper powers hidden within these walls. Powers that Bull Rock would try to exploit if we weren't vigilant.
"Let's keep moving," I said. "There's more to Knower we haven't seen, and I think… I think it might hold answers about the Core — and maybe even a way to stop Bull Rock for good."
Maxi exhaled, still shaken. "I don't like it, Jatex. He's getting stronger. Faster. Smarter. And now he can attack us from inside…"
"Yes," I admitted. "Which is why we have to be smarter too. And stronger. We can't let him divide us — ever."
Viola swam close, voice calm but firm. "We won't. We'll stay together. Jim's okay now, and we're stronger for what we've faced."
I nodded, taking a deep breath. Knower pulsed around us, a living testament to the secrets of Walpole Under the Ocean. The challenges weren't over, the dangers weren't gone, and Bull Rock's shadow still loomed.
But as long as we had each other… we would survive.
And we would fight.