Chocolate ice cream might possibly be the best thing in the world.
Bia chose it for me, saying it was her favourite when she was nine. I spent two whole minutes trying to picture Bia as a nine year old, and all I got was a wavy-dark-haired pale girl in a white tank top and freakishly skinny jeans.
I’d have to check that against a memory of hers later.
For now, though, I could eat my amazing chocolate cone. The one that currently was spread out on my hands and face, as Bia informed me.
While Calyx rebounded from being stabbed with the Epi-something, I watched her talk to this insanely thin blonde girl who’s evil seeped through her skin.
“Ugh, my mom signed me up for this university prep summer camp,” the girl was droning.
Calyx blinked. “University camp? Lucky!”
The blonde girl, Ivy, laughed. Then she realized Calyx wasn’t joking. “Oh. Um, you like that kind of stuff?”
Bia let out a snort she’d been holding in for awhile. Apparently she knew Calyx better than I did. What was she thinking?
I prodded her brain for the most current thought thread. It was lurking in a shadow.
“Calyx Baker is SUCH an overachiever. I’m surprised she hasn’t tackled this blonde freak show by now for information on that camp.”
Nice, Bia. Real nice.
“She’s really nice though.” I sent my thought to Bia.
Bia returned with, “but too nice. She’s sugary sweet and sometimes it’s not the best thing.”
I couldn’t figure out what to say to that, so I left it and went to see what else she was thinking. Before I could find any other thought threads, a big wall slammed into me.
“OW!” I howled.
Calyx and Ivy looked at me with surprise.
“What? What’s wrong?”
What could I say? I can’t read Bia’s thoughts? She shoved a block into my head?
No. That wouldn’t work.
I had to think quickly.
There had to be something I could say…
“Brain freeze,” Bia thought in my direction.
Before I could ask her what that was, I found the words coming out of my own mouth.
Ivy grinned. “We’ve all been there before, cutie.”
“Cutie will bite you,” I thought projected towards her.
She reeled back in confusion. I smiled.
“So, yeah, if you want to hang with me and my dork brother, you know, just give me a call. I’m always looking for new friends, especially ones as cool as you,” Ivy lied.
I looked over at Bia to see her mouthing along, a very frustrated expression on her face. I giggled.
“Of course! Um, let me put your number in my phone. I’ll lose it if it’s just on a napkin,” Calyx said meekly. “And thanks for saving my life.”
“Oh, it was nothing. My brother doesn’t even need his Epi-Pen. He pretends so Mom will like him more, like that’ll ever happen.” Ivy’s shrill voice sent shivers down my back.
My eyes traveled back over to Bia, who was now staring at the remains of her ice cream cone. Why did she block me? How did she even know how to do that? And what thought could be so important that I couldn’t know?
That look in her eyes was scaring me. Maybe Calyx had noticed it too? I glanced over at her; no. She was busy talking to the freak.
“Calyx,” I thought projected. “What’s wrong with Bia?”
She looked over her shoulder for a second, then turned to me. “I don’t know.”
“Something’s wrong,” I insisted.
“Can I get back to my conversation? Whatever she’s dealing with she obviously wants to do in private.” Calyx glared at me then turned back to Ivy. “You were saying?”
Ivy launched into a whole other tirade on boys or something along those lines. I tuned her out and tried to focus on Bia, who was now watching Ivy with fascination. Um, what?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Chase
The girl in the booth near us began to cough a bit. I could tell her tongue was swelling quite a bit. But I wasn’t sure what to do. Ivy was just laughing, enjoying every minute of this, as she usually did. I paused.
The epi-pen. Could that work? I mean, for her too? I wasn’t sure in the least, but I had one chance, and that was all. “Ivy, the epi-pen, will that work?” I asked. Ivy searched the area with her eyes and then looked at me.
“We’ll see.” She grabbed the pen from me and headed over towards the girl in the other booth. By now, a small crowd had grown. I stood in the back of the crowd, watching Ivy take credit for my idea.
Within seconds, the girl who with the swelling lips and tongue was doing better. She was sitting in her booth, breathing in and out, trying to be as calm as possible. What was the big deal anyway? I mean with girls. They get embarrassed just the same as guys, they fall a lot, they squeak and they shriek. Girls aren’t anything special. They’re all the same. Like Ivy. They’re pretty, annoying, rude and too worried about appearance. Well, I’ll tell you one thing. There is no way I’m ever going to start dating if all girls end up the same. Damsels in distress.
I could only ever like someone who is independent. And who doesn’t need product to survive, and someone who is human. Just like me. A little imperfect. And a little different.
Just the way a human should be.
Ivy slid into the booth next to the girl with the swelling lips and started to make conversation. She was laughing, and within moment, the freaken little social girl had the girl who had swelling lips laughing too. There was another girl at the table, one who was sitting the the middle, clearly bored out of her skull, and also a small girl. One who looked no more than six years old or so.
I walked over to Ivy to sit down, seeing as she had moved tables on me without asking. But she only pushed me back. “Hold down our seats over there, Chaster, I don’t want to lose my window spot over there.” Ivy smiled faux-sweetly as she watched me begin to walk over so I could sit alone.
No, I thought. No, I wouldn’t do it. I was better than this. I wouldn’t take it this time.
“No, Ivy. I’m going. Text me when you care, sis. Until then, shut up.” I walked out of the ice-cream parlor with a proud grin on my face until I realized, I had no where to go, and was in the middle of no where.
Great, I thought. Now I’m lost.
I looked to my right and spotted a large area of trees and shrubbery. Forest. Perfect. Ivy wanted to find me? Let’s see her sweet talk mom out of this one. ‘Oh sorry I lost your son mom. Would you like some ice-cream?’ I don’t THINK so. She loses me, she’s in for it. And me? Well, I’m flying high.
Suddenly, and without warning, clean air filled my lungs. City air was nasty. Forest air was inspirational. I breathed in and out deeply for a few minutes. Just standing there, breathing. But when my back pack dropped to the ground, I looked down to make sure it hadn’t landed in anything. However, when I looked down, I discovered something slightly more...complicated?
My entire body was engulfed in pink, yellow and white flowers.
How in the hell did I accomplish this?
The epi-pen. Could that work? I mean, for her too? I wasn’t sure in the least, but I had one chance, and that was all. “Ivy, the epi-pen, will that work?” I asked. Ivy searched the area with her eyes and then looked at me.
“We’ll see.” She grabbed the pen from me and headed over towards the girl in the other booth. By now, a small crowd had grown. I stood in the back of the crowd, watching Ivy take credit for my idea.
Within seconds, the girl who with the swelling lips and tongue was doing better. She was sitting in her booth, breathing in and out, trying to be as calm as possible. What was the big deal anyway? I mean with girls. They get embarrassed just the same as guys, they fall a lot, they squeak and they shriek. Girls aren’t anything special. They’re all the same. Like Ivy. They’re pretty, annoying, rude and too worried about appearance. Well, I’ll tell you one thing. There is no way I’m ever going to start dating if all girls end up the same. Damsels in distress.
I could only ever like someone who is independent. And who doesn’t need product to survive, and someone who is human. Just like me. A little imperfect. And a little different.
Just the way a human should be.
Ivy slid into the booth next to the girl with the swelling lips and started to make conversation. She was laughing, and within moment, the freaken little social girl had the girl who had swelling lips laughing too. There was another girl at the table, one who was sitting the the middle, clearly bored out of her skull, and also a small girl. One who looked no more than six years old or so.
I walked over to Ivy to sit down, seeing as she had moved tables on me without asking. But she only pushed me back. “Hold down our seats over there, Chaster, I don’t want to lose my window spot over there.” Ivy smiled faux-sweetly as she watched me begin to walk over so I could sit alone.
No, I thought. No, I wouldn’t do it. I was better than this. I wouldn’t take it this time.
“No, Ivy. I’m going. Text me when you care, sis. Until then, shut up.” I walked out of the ice-cream parlor with a proud grin on my face until I realized, I had no where to go, and was in the middle of no where.
Great, I thought. Now I’m lost.
I looked to my right and spotted a large area of trees and shrubbery. Forest. Perfect. Ivy wanted to find me? Let’s see her sweet talk mom out of this one. ‘Oh sorry I lost your son mom. Would you like some ice-cream?’ I don’t THINK so. She loses me, she’s in for it. And me? Well, I’m flying high.
Suddenly, and without warning, clean air filled my lungs. City air was nasty. Forest air was inspirational. I breathed in and out deeply for a few minutes. Just standing there, breathing. But when my back pack dropped to the ground, I looked down to make sure it hadn’t landed in anything. However, when I looked down, I discovered something slightly more...complicated?
My entire body was engulfed in pink, yellow and white flowers.
How in the hell did I accomplish this?
Calyx
My ice-cream began to melt, and I made a big show of catching that falling drop for Fable’s sake, before I started to actually eat the stuff.
This was insane. No, this was more than insane.
Here I was, sitting at a booth in an ice-cream shop, with a child who we have possibly kidnapped, and my neighbor, Bia. But wait! It get’s better! We all have inhuman super powers. And if that’s not enough, we all now how to use them. I think.
“Bia, I don’t know. What if we get in trouble? Fable, she shouldn’t be here. We need to return her.” I tried to keep my voice hushed, but sure enough, Fable had been using her mind ability, and had picked up everything I just said.
“Nope, un-uh, not gonna happen.” Fable licked some chocolate ice cream off her lip and looked up at me, destroyed. Apparently, sending her back was worse then us going to jail.
Bia pretended she hadn’t heard me. Instead, she licked at her mint chocolate chip cone furiously, trying to stop it from melting so fast. But I could tell she didn’t care about the ice-cream. She was just as worried about this as I was, wasn’t she?
She had to be.
We were criminals. We had a stolen kid. A stolen kid for Pete’s sake. Didn’t anyone care? I surely did. And I wasn’t about to go to jail because I messed up.
Messing up is not allowed.
Strictly against the rules for me.
If I messed up, even once, then everything might come out. Things would be said, charges made, it just wasn’t as easy as sitting in an ice-cream parlor with a stolen kid. Was it?
It couldn’t be.
“Bia,” I tried to speak her name, but my tongue had swelled up. Oh shit. This wasn’t good. “Bia,” I tried again. “ What’s in this ice-cream?” My demand came with much urgency.
“Uh, I don’t know. Maple flavoring, Pecans, something like that.” Bia flicked an abandoned chocolate chip off the table absent mindlessly.
“Okay. Just wondering.” I thought for a moment. How was I supposed to break it to Bia that I was having an allergic reaction the pecans, without worsening the state of my tongue?
“OH MY GOD! ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR MOUTH? IVY, IVY IS SHE HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION? IVY, DO SOMETHING!” A chubby boy from a few booths over began to scream.
Well, that’s one way.
This was insane. No, this was more than insane.
Here I was, sitting at a booth in an ice-cream shop, with a child who we have possibly kidnapped, and my neighbor, Bia. But wait! It get’s better! We all have inhuman super powers. And if that’s not enough, we all now how to use them. I think.
“Bia, I don’t know. What if we get in trouble? Fable, she shouldn’t be here. We need to return her.” I tried to keep my voice hushed, but sure enough, Fable had been using her mind ability, and had picked up everything I just said.
“Nope, un-uh, not gonna happen.” Fable licked some chocolate ice cream off her lip and looked up at me, destroyed. Apparently, sending her back was worse then us going to jail.
Bia pretended she hadn’t heard me. Instead, she licked at her mint chocolate chip cone furiously, trying to stop it from melting so fast. But I could tell she didn’t care about the ice-cream. She was just as worried about this as I was, wasn’t she?
She had to be.
We were criminals. We had a stolen kid. A stolen kid for Pete’s sake. Didn’t anyone care? I surely did. And I wasn’t about to go to jail because I messed up.
Messing up is not allowed.
Strictly against the rules for me.
If I messed up, even once, then everything might come out. Things would be said, charges made, it just wasn’t as easy as sitting in an ice-cream parlor with a stolen kid. Was it?
It couldn’t be.
“Bia,” I tried to speak her name, but my tongue had swelled up. Oh shit. This wasn’t good. “Bia,” I tried again. “ What’s in this ice-cream?” My demand came with much urgency.
“Uh, I don’t know. Maple flavoring, Pecans, something like that.” Bia flicked an abandoned chocolate chip off the table absent mindlessly.
“Okay. Just wondering.” I thought for a moment. How was I supposed to break it to Bia that I was having an allergic reaction the pecans, without worsening the state of my tongue?
“OH MY GOD! ARE YOU OKAY? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR MOUTH? IVY, IVY IS SHE HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION? IVY, DO SOMETHING!” A chubby boy from a few booths over began to scream.
Well, that’s one way.
Thirteen
“Do not play me, idiot woman.” I muttered, jerking on Julianna’s arm. She grunted then sent me a sharp glare, as we slammed ourselves through the forest bordering the barn. Our trek was beginning. It was early dawn where we were, which meant it was late night or so for my victims.
“What the hell is this, do the Taliban train psychotic teenagers now?” Julianna yelped, jerking away from my hold. I loosened my grip, letting her fall away. The grown woman lost balanced and fell onto a pile of branches. Her mascara was smeared around her mossy eyes, her red hair straying from her hair band.
“Listen to me,” My voice retched. It echoed against the trees. Or, perhaps, against nothing at all. I bent down, teeth bared, eye to eye with the pitiful female. “I am not in a very...negotiable mood. Nine has already ambushed my prey. If you care to live, dearest Julianna, you will obey. Do not run, for I will catch you. Do not fight, for I shall perish you. And do not scream, for I shall silence you. I am nothing as you deem me to be.”
“Look at what you’re doing,” She retorted, daring to stand before me. “You’re an eighteen year old girl wrestling a thirty three year old woman! Honey, your breasts are barely developed. Look at yourself, look at how young you are. You’re out of your mind!”
“Perhaps,” I growled darkly, a shower of blond hair spilling over my shoulders as I leaned down farther. “You’re the one you should be fretting over.”
With a sigh, Julianna began brushing off her clothing, raggedly. Her mouth was in a thin line, her eyes deceiving. “Alright. Alright, I’ll walk. If, you tell me what you are, exactly.”
I lifted a brow. “You should fear for your life, Julianna. Yet you speak so...carelessly.”
“Hah,” She uttered. “You lose the fear once you enter med school, darling. And when you talk to me, my name is Julia. Not Julianna. Do you understand?”
“Pardon me? You’re the one under my thumb! Do realize that I have no need for your life.”
“Apparently, you do, missy.” She answered savagely. “You haven’t killed me yet. Now, what are you? When you talk, you don’t move your lips. It’s like your voice is coming from your throat or something, humanly impossible. Your speed and strength is above the average man’s. And, there’s more of you?”
“My name is Thirteen,” I ventured, casting a glare out of the side of my eyes. She expected answers, then so be it. I was preferably tired of her slowing my pace. She could not escape my hold; speaking to her would breach no harm. “I was created scientifically under the hands of the United State's forces. We all were.”
“For what?”
I didn’t break eye contact. “To rid of you. All of you.”
“What the hell is this, do the Taliban train psychotic teenagers now?” Julianna yelped, jerking away from my hold. I loosened my grip, letting her fall away. The grown woman lost balanced and fell onto a pile of branches. Her mascara was smeared around her mossy eyes, her red hair straying from her hair band.
“Listen to me,” My voice retched. It echoed against the trees. Or, perhaps, against nothing at all. I bent down, teeth bared, eye to eye with the pitiful female. “I am not in a very...negotiable mood. Nine has already ambushed my prey. If you care to live, dearest Julianna, you will obey. Do not run, for I will catch you. Do not fight, for I shall perish you. And do not scream, for I shall silence you. I am nothing as you deem me to be.”
“Look at what you’re doing,” She retorted, daring to stand before me. “You’re an eighteen year old girl wrestling a thirty three year old woman! Honey, your breasts are barely developed. Look at yourself, look at how young you are. You’re out of your mind!”
“Perhaps,” I growled darkly, a shower of blond hair spilling over my shoulders as I leaned down farther. “You’re the one you should be fretting over.”
With a sigh, Julianna began brushing off her clothing, raggedly. Her mouth was in a thin line, her eyes deceiving. “Alright. Alright, I’ll walk. If, you tell me what you are, exactly.”
I lifted a brow. “You should fear for your life, Julianna. Yet you speak so...carelessly.”
“Hah,” She uttered. “You lose the fear once you enter med school, darling. And when you talk to me, my name is Julia. Not Julianna. Do you understand?”
“Pardon me? You’re the one under my thumb! Do realize that I have no need for your life.”
“Apparently, you do, missy.” She answered savagely. “You haven’t killed me yet. Now, what are you? When you talk, you don’t move your lips. It’s like your voice is coming from your throat or something, humanly impossible. Your speed and strength is above the average man’s. And, there’s more of you?”
“My name is Thirteen,” I ventured, casting a glare out of the side of my eyes. She expected answers, then so be it. I was preferably tired of her slowing my pace. She could not escape my hold; speaking to her would breach no harm. “I was created scientifically under the hands of the United State's forces. We all were.”
“For what?”
I didn’t break eye contact. “To rid of you. All of you.”
Jack
I stood there, in rabid rage, and in complete disbandment. WHY IN THE HELL DID ELIN HAVE A PICTURE OF MY FATHER IN HER BACK POCKET?
“Brady,” Elin choked, brimming with excitement. She seemed nervous, but happy. “Once again, does Jack stare? Does he go into trances? Does he spend a lot of time outdoors? Do slight earthquakes or natural, elemental things happen when he’s around you?” Her words were rushed and hard to break.
“Uh,” Brady answered, dumbly. He glanced at me from the side of his eyes, wondering if he was going to be hit. “Jack couldn’t keep a plant alive worth his life. I remember this one time, he bought roses for one of his dates, and he accidentally watered them with Round Up, so—-”
“Brady, if you don’t shut up---”
“Shutting up.”
“You have your father’s eyes,” Elin cut in, holding up a picture of my dad. “Emotionless. Gray. Your hair’s a little darker than I imagined it though...Did your father ever tell you about...The Hourglass?”
“He mentioned something like that. Then profusely refused an MRI and EKG.” I lifted my chin a bit, my brow clouded. My arms were crossed tightly against my chest, and Sarge was reeling protectively against my legs, although he wasn’t quite sure what he was defending me from.
“Well,” Elin chided carefully...too carefully. “My...mother is Erin. My dad’s Eli. And, and E-Ember’s parents are Dana and Alex.” There was a moment of silence, as we all filed in this information. Finally I broke into a grin and threw my arms out to the sides, no longer tense. Seeing my posture and expression, Elin let out a breath of air and broke into a similar smile, letting out a nervous chuckle. Ember was smiling too now, and the two girls exchanged nervous glances. Brady and Sarge remained in utter confusion.
“Well, this is great,” I said smoothly with a lighter, happier tone.
“You’re telling me,” Elin agreed.
“Now,” I continued, still with a light heart. “I can find and locate your parents and deliver you to them, then be on my way.”
Ember and Elin’s expressions collapsed, their joy short-lived. Brady turned towards me, to speak. “Jack, we can’t.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Brady?”
“Because I believe them.”
“I guess I can deliver you to your parents too.”
“WHY ARE YOU REJECTING THIS?” Ember exploded, her fists clenched. Brady, Elin, Sarge, and I were stunned by the little girl’s sudden animosity. Her eyes sliced into mine, like knives. “A FREAK OF NATURE ALMOST KILLED YOU, I ELECTROCUTED HER OFF YOUR CAR WITH MY BARE HANDS, YOU’RE SEEING FLASHES OF THE FUTURE—-OR SOMETHING——AND BRADY...BRADY EVEN BELIEVES IT!”
“Hey now,” Brady warned, waving a finger at the angry little grunt, slightly insulted.
“Okay,” I muttered, a tad bit angry again. “Maybe I don’t believe it because IT’S NOT REAL. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS THE HOURGLASS AND YOUR PARENTS ARE BRAINWASHING YOU. THEY WERE TERRORISTS. READ THE GODDAMN ARTICLE!” I violently began digging around in my pants pockets until I came up with the old newspaper clip Annie Hawthorn had almost shoved down my throat just days before. As it fluttered to the ground at Ember’s feet, I turned to Elin, “And YOU! You’re the craziest of them all! You’re displaying obsessive behavior not only over me, but over my family, and that’s a violation to privacy—-NO MATTER WHAT AGE. AND BRADY, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I’M SHARING A TENT WITH YOU TONIGHT. I DON’T TRUST YOU WITH MY EYES CLOSED.”
“THAT’S GOOD THEN,” Brady hollered back, finally ticked off enough to fight back, just inches from my face. “BECAUSE TONIGHT, YOU’RE GOING TO NEED TO SLEEP WITH THEM OPEN IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON NOT WAKING UP FACE DOWN IN A RIVER TOMORROW MORNING!"
“ENOUGH!!!” Elin screamed, cutting all of us off. Brady and I glared at each other for another split second before our eyes reluctantly tore away from each other and back onto Elin. She was cradled gently in Ember’s arms, which looked awkward since Ember was a little shorter than she was. Tears were streaming down her face, and I wasn’t sure if it was because the kid was upset or just plain pissed off. Still, she swallowed and continued. “Fine. If you don’t want to help us...then I can’t make you.”
Elin spun around, storming away toward the girl’s tent that Brady had only built up forty minutes before. Ember shot a quick glare at me before she raced to trail Elin back to the tent as well, reaching out to touch her arm as they walked. Brady, Sarge, and I watched their retreating backs, before Brady turned to me again and muttered, “Nice going, Dr.Daniels.” He turned away then, and jogged slightly to catch up to the two girls and offer comfort.
Bitterly, I turned to Sarge. I knelt down to him slowly, squatting to reach his eye level. Sarge met my gaze, his ears twitching. “At least you’re on my side.” His tail slowly began to wag, as I brought a hand up to scratch his head. I licked my lips, realizing I had a headache. “Well. Looks like we’ll be sleeping in the car tonight.”
“Brady,” Elin choked, brimming with excitement. She seemed nervous, but happy. “Once again, does Jack stare? Does he go into trances? Does he spend a lot of time outdoors? Do slight earthquakes or natural, elemental things happen when he’s around you?” Her words were rushed and hard to break.
“Uh,” Brady answered, dumbly. He glanced at me from the side of his eyes, wondering if he was going to be hit. “Jack couldn’t keep a plant alive worth his life. I remember this one time, he bought roses for one of his dates, and he accidentally watered them with Round Up, so—-”
“Brady, if you don’t shut up---”
“Shutting up.”
“You have your father’s eyes,” Elin cut in, holding up a picture of my dad. “Emotionless. Gray. Your hair’s a little darker than I imagined it though...Did your father ever tell you about...The Hourglass?”
“He mentioned something like that. Then profusely refused an MRI and EKG.” I lifted my chin a bit, my brow clouded. My arms were crossed tightly against my chest, and Sarge was reeling protectively against my legs, although he wasn’t quite sure what he was defending me from.
“Well,” Elin chided carefully...too carefully. “My...mother is Erin. My dad’s Eli. And, and E-Ember’s parents are Dana and Alex.” There was a moment of silence, as we all filed in this information. Finally I broke into a grin and threw my arms out to the sides, no longer tense. Seeing my posture and expression, Elin let out a breath of air and broke into a similar smile, letting out a nervous chuckle. Ember was smiling too now, and the two girls exchanged nervous glances. Brady and Sarge remained in utter confusion.
“Well, this is great,” I said smoothly with a lighter, happier tone.
“You’re telling me,” Elin agreed.
“Now,” I continued, still with a light heart. “I can find and locate your parents and deliver you to them, then be on my way.”
Ember and Elin’s expressions collapsed, their joy short-lived. Brady turned towards me, to speak. “Jack, we can’t.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Brady?”
“Because I believe them.”
“I guess I can deliver you to your parents too.”
“WHY ARE YOU REJECTING THIS?” Ember exploded, her fists clenched. Brady, Elin, Sarge, and I were stunned by the little girl’s sudden animosity. Her eyes sliced into mine, like knives. “A FREAK OF NATURE ALMOST KILLED YOU, I ELECTROCUTED HER OFF YOUR CAR WITH MY BARE HANDS, YOU’RE SEEING FLASHES OF THE FUTURE—-OR SOMETHING——AND BRADY...BRADY EVEN BELIEVES IT!”
“Hey now,” Brady warned, waving a finger at the angry little grunt, slightly insulted.
“Okay,” I muttered, a tad bit angry again. “Maybe I don’t believe it because IT’S NOT REAL. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS THE HOURGLASS AND YOUR PARENTS ARE BRAINWASHING YOU. THEY WERE TERRORISTS. READ THE GODDAMN ARTICLE!” I violently began digging around in my pants pockets until I came up with the old newspaper clip Annie Hawthorn had almost shoved down my throat just days before. As it fluttered to the ground at Ember’s feet, I turned to Elin, “And YOU! You’re the craziest of them all! You’re displaying obsessive behavior not only over me, but over my family, and that’s a violation to privacy—-NO MATTER WHAT AGE. AND BRADY, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I’M SHARING A TENT WITH YOU TONIGHT. I DON’T TRUST YOU WITH MY EYES CLOSED.”
“THAT’S GOOD THEN,” Brady hollered back, finally ticked off enough to fight back, just inches from my face. “BECAUSE TONIGHT, YOU’RE GOING TO NEED TO SLEEP WITH THEM OPEN IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON NOT WAKING UP FACE DOWN IN A RIVER TOMORROW MORNING!"
“ENOUGH!!!” Elin screamed, cutting all of us off. Brady and I glared at each other for another split second before our eyes reluctantly tore away from each other and back onto Elin. She was cradled gently in Ember’s arms, which looked awkward since Ember was a little shorter than she was. Tears were streaming down her face, and I wasn’t sure if it was because the kid was upset or just plain pissed off. Still, she swallowed and continued. “Fine. If you don’t want to help us...then I can’t make you.”
Elin spun around, storming away toward the girl’s tent that Brady had only built up forty minutes before. Ember shot a quick glare at me before she raced to trail Elin back to the tent as well, reaching out to touch her arm as they walked. Brady, Sarge, and I watched their retreating backs, before Brady turned to me again and muttered, “Nice going, Dr.Daniels.” He turned away then, and jogged slightly to catch up to the two girls and offer comfort.
Bitterly, I turned to Sarge. I knelt down to him slowly, squatting to reach his eye level. Sarge met my gaze, his ears twitching. “At least you’re on my side.” His tail slowly began to wag, as I brought a hand up to scratch his head. I licked my lips, realizing I had a headache. “Well. Looks like we’ll be sleeping in the car tonight.”
Elin
My heart jumped. His father was Traven? The legendary Traven, who lead my mother's generation to safety? The one who guided my parents to safety? The one who my mother described as a genuine gentlemen, the one who was so knowledgeable about the Hourglass? Then it dawned on me.
I began to scrutinize Jack's face looking for the similarities. I slipped out a small wad of pictures out of my back pocket, searching through them until I came across his. “He is your dad?” I made a gesture toward the picture of a slightly chubby man in his early thirties. Neat blond hair and sad, far away eyes, the same color as Jack's, filled the frame.
“Why in the world are you carrying around a picture of my fath-”
“That makes so much sense!” I shouted, cutting him off.
“Wait… you know him?” Brady cut in.
“I know of him; I have never met him.” I let my eyes draw toward Brady, then flash back to Jack. How was I going to ask him about his powers without letting Brady know? I wasn't sure if Brady was trustworthy enough. “Plants... does the natural earth react around him in a strange way? Does it respond to him? Does he ever go into a… lets call it a trance. Have you ever seen Jack fall into a trance?” I spoke, watching Jack. Jack's eyebrow made a slight movement before he turned to Brady and gave him the death stare as if to say, "don’t tell her".
“The future or the past!” I blurted out. Brady stared at me as if I was crazy. Everyone else just stood there, not knowing what to make of this situation. If Jack walked away now, whatever attacked them before, would surely get him while he had no defense. “You know your father was a Protector, twice.” I mumbled trying to grab his attention. “He helped my mother, you know, and he knew so much. What I wouldn’t give to meet him.” Jack stood there beside the cooler. I hoped that I left enough of a hook to keep him interested, at least until I could explain a little more of his importance. Through I had already said so much. Would I have to resort to drastic measures?
I began to scrutinize Jack's face looking for the similarities. I slipped out a small wad of pictures out of my back pocket, searching through them until I came across his. “He is your dad?” I made a gesture toward the picture of a slightly chubby man in his early thirties. Neat blond hair and sad, far away eyes, the same color as Jack's, filled the frame.
“Why in the world are you carrying around a picture of my fath-”
“That makes so much sense!” I shouted, cutting him off.
“Wait… you know him?” Brady cut in.
“I know of him; I have never met him.” I let my eyes draw toward Brady, then flash back to Jack. How was I going to ask him about his powers without letting Brady know? I wasn't sure if Brady was trustworthy enough. “Plants... does the natural earth react around him in a strange way? Does it respond to him? Does he ever go into a… lets call it a trance. Have you ever seen Jack fall into a trance?” I spoke, watching Jack. Jack's eyebrow made a slight movement before he turned to Brady and gave him the death stare as if to say, "don’t tell her".
“The future or the past!” I blurted out. Brady stared at me as if I was crazy. Everyone else just stood there, not knowing what to make of this situation. If Jack walked away now, whatever attacked them before, would surely get him while he had no defense. “You know your father was a Protector, twice.” I mumbled trying to grab his attention. “He helped my mother, you know, and he knew so much. What I wouldn’t give to meet him.” Jack stood there beside the cooler. I hoped that I left enough of a hook to keep him interested, at least until I could explain a little more of his importance. Through I had already said so much. Would I have to resort to drastic measures?
Ryder
“ Ryder! Would you stop tracking all this sand through the house, every day?” Rebecca grumbled angrily, walking into the kitchen as a maid was cleaning up my plate.
“ Sorry.” I answered the same reply as I always did.
Rebecca sighed and shook her head. “ What am I going to do with you?” She brushed her long, red hair out of her face. Her rusty brown eyes scanned the room.
“ I don’t get it.” I told her. “ Why do they have all these maids and house keepers running around, keeping the place sparkling… if they are never even here to see it?”
“ That’s an exaggeration.” Rebecca scolded. “ They are very busy people.”
“ Right. And where is my mother right now?” I raised my eye brows.
“ She is in Hawaii, relaxing after a very tiring and stressful business trip.” Rebecca folded her arms and stared at me with angry eyes.
“ And my father?”
“ France. Again, he’s taking some time off after-”
“ Yeah, Yeah.” I interrupted, turning away. “ A very stressful business trip.” I sighed and stared out the window.
“ They will be back home soon enough.” She told me softly. I didn’t answer. I stood up from the table, pushed in my chair, and headed for my room. Rebecca meant well, and I knew she was only trying to make me feel better. Though, she really wasn’t doing a very good job at it. I knew it was a lie. No, my parents wouldn’t be home soon, and for that, I was glad.
“ Sorry.” I answered the same reply as I always did.
Rebecca sighed and shook her head. “ What am I going to do with you?” She brushed her long, red hair out of her face. Her rusty brown eyes scanned the room.
“ I don’t get it.” I told her. “ Why do they have all these maids and house keepers running around, keeping the place sparkling… if they are never even here to see it?”
“ That’s an exaggeration.” Rebecca scolded. “ They are very busy people.”
“ Right. And where is my mother right now?” I raised my eye brows.
“ She is in Hawaii, relaxing after a very tiring and stressful business trip.” Rebecca folded her arms and stared at me with angry eyes.
“ And my father?”
“ France. Again, he’s taking some time off after-”
“ Yeah, Yeah.” I interrupted, turning away. “ A very stressful business trip.” I sighed and stared out the window.
“ They will be back home soon enough.” She told me softly. I didn’t answer. I stood up from the table, pushed in my chair, and headed for my room. Rebecca meant well, and I knew she was only trying to make me feel better. Though, she really wasn’t doing a very good job at it. I knew it was a lie. No, my parents wouldn’t be home soon, and for that, I was glad.
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