Xanadei

I'm a little hesitant about posting this story because of how off topic it is from the rest, and the fact that I don't think it's that good. Well here goes nothing. 10-25-11 __Xanadei __ One

I tried to stop my leg from shaking but, of course, I couldn’t. I was so nervous to be here. Who wouldn’t be nervous to be in the principal’s office? I’m only registering to come here, but it’s still nerve racking. I attempted another habit to stop my leg from shaking: smoothening and crinkling my uniform. It still didn’t get my mind on a different subject. Then, the principal finally spoke. “Well, everything seems to be in order, Miss Robin Rider. You will begin school immediately but first, let’s get you a guide.” The principal turned to the speakerphone to make an announcement. “Will Mister Jake Meadows report to the principal’s office, Mister Jake Meadows.” She turned her head to me and gave me an artificial smile. “Just sit tight for a few minutes while I give you your papers.”

There was a knock at the door about three minutes later. “Come in,” the principal exclaimed. A boy with tousled brown hair and dazzling green eyes came into the office. “You called for me Mrs. Melrow. May I be permitted to ask a question please?” The principal, or Mrs. Melrow, gave a curt nod, signifying for him to proceed. “Am I in trouble?” Mrs. Melrow actually smiled and said, “ No you aren’t. You’re just here to be Miss Robin’s guide around the school.” The boy’s shoulders relaxed as he discovered that he didn’t do anything wrong. “Well it’s a pleasure to be introduced to you, Miss Robin,” he gave a low bow. “As you may well know, I am Jake Meadows and I will be your guide.” It’s a good thing I read the book of the student code of conduct or I’d be dead. “And it is a pleasure to be introduced to you, Mister Jake. I am pleased you are going to show me around,” I curtsied to him in response. “May I be permitted to ask another question?” Mrs. Melrow gave nothing but a nod again. “May I have permission to show Miss Robin Lanchester Prep during study hall? It would be more beneficial than the short breaks between classes for there will be no rush. Miss Robin will get used to the school if properly glanced at.” “I see your point, Mister Jake, so I will give you my permission, but take these passes with you to verify your permission.” “Thank you, ma’am.” Jake bowed. I curtsied. “You may go back to your classes.” We both scurried off. I was relieved of the burden called school. It’s so formal here. Why did Aunt Avi send me to this crazy school anyway? Sure it’s nice, but too snobby for my taste. Well, some were snobby to me except in a formally casual way. Some students were helpful to me like... My thoughts were intruded by a familiar voice. “Hey! So what did you think about your first day here?” Jake asked. “I thought school rules still applied on school grounds?” Jake scrunched his nose in disgust. “Nah, we’re liberated of the formal talk once the last bell rings.” “Well, then it was pretty good. Better than most of my other days.” He smiled. “That’s good. When you heard all the formality, I thought you would flee from the country. I assumed you thought I was a creep.” “Not a creep, but a creeper.” I put my hand on his shoulder in fake sympathy. Jake laughed at that. “You’re funny. Wait. You think I’m a creeper?” He asked changing the subject. Before I could answer, a girl, that seemed related to Jake, came over. “Hey Jake! Is this the new girl?” “Yeah. Destiny, this is Robin Rider. Robin, this is Destiny.” Destiny held her hand out. “Hi, nice to meet you.” I took her hand and shook it. “Me too. Are you and Jake related or something?” “I thought you would ask that,” Destiny said and smiled. “Actually, we are. He’s my not-so-smart twin bother.” “Bother?” I questioned. “Hey!” Jake yelled, exasperated. “I’m only a bother when necessary. That’s when //you// bother me.” “So is this your first time in London?” Destiny asked, pretending to ignore her “bother”. “Is it that noticeable?” I sounded hurt. “Well, you stick out like a sore thumb. Not that it’s a bad thing,” Destiny added quickly to make sure I didn’t feel offended. “No, it’s okay. London is wonderful. It seems to lurk with mystery and I’m used to confusing streets that get me lost for hours. I used to live in New York and London is almost like it. The only downfall is that I’ve never been to a private school like Lanchester.” “No wonder you looked confused at school today,” Jake realized. Destiny jabbed her brother in the stomach. “Ow!” Jake almost doubled over at the force of the blow. While the two siblings were arguing with each other, my phone rang. I checked the Caller ID and answered the phone “Hey Aunt Avi. What’s up?” “Are you okay? How was your first day at school? Do you need me to pick you up?” I turned my head to where Jake and Destiny were. “No, I think I’ll walk.” “Okay, just be home for dinner. Better yet, be home //before// dinner.” I smiled. “All right. I love you.” “Love you too. Bye.” I hung up my cell phone and walked back to find them silent. “Is there something wrong?” “No, I just want to know who you were talking to,” Destiny explained. Obviously she won’t stop bugging me until I do, so I said, “It was my aunt. She just wanted to know when I’d be going home.” “You live with your aunt? Where are your parents? Are they on business trips? Did they send you here as punishment? Are they abroad? Do you get to see them often? Are they nice to you? Do your parents contact you everyday?” My voice choked when I heard all those questions about my parents. I haven’t seen them since I was born. Not even a slither of a memory about them were in my brain. Where //were// they? “I...I don’t...know. I really don’t know.” “Oh my gosh! That’s horrible! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—” “It’s okay,” I interrupted. “I know you were just concerned.” I wiped the tears in the corners of my eyes away before they streamed down my face. “I gotta go.” I turned around and sprinted away. I was a fish out of water and would never find my way back to the sea. I didn’t know London’s twists and turns, so I hid in the closest park. I sat behind a tree and cried all the tears I had in me. Why was talking about my parents such a touchy subject? A hand grasped my shoulder in a reassuring way. “I thought I’d find you here.” I raised my head to find Jake sitting next to me. “You didn’t have to run away like that. I’m sorry if Destiny hurt you feelings. She doesn’t know how it feels like since our parents are always home. I’m sorry and I truly mean it. That must really feel awful.” I attempted to make myself presentable. “It’s just that...that my whole life...I never knew who they were. M-my Aunt says...says that they were...were dead. I wouldn’t believe it, but over the years I learned to accept it. I accepted that they weren’t here to protect me from the outside world, but they gave me an aunt. Sometimes I would...I would stop and wonder if they //actually// loved me.” “Don’t say that. I know they loved you. If they didn’t, then why would they put you in such good care? Look at how you grew up. You were raised by your aunt and you turned out to be strong and determined. If they’re still alive, I know, at this very moment, that they are looking for you.” I sniffed. “You think so?” “I know so.” Jake got up and offered his arm. When I got up, I just pushed him. “Well that was uncalled for.” “Sorry, I don’t do any of that chivalric, formal mumbo jumbo.” “You could //have// said ‘no’ instead of pushing me.” “Well I could’ve, but I should’ve, yet I didn’t.” I smiled. “Would you say ‘no’ to a race?” I asked in a mock voice to taunt him. Jake smiled. “Now you’re talking. First one to the end of the corner, wins.” “You’re on. Ready...” I steadied myself into a running position. “Set...GO!” We bolted through the trees like the speed of light. I had the disadvantage, with my skirt on, but that didn’t stop me. We were basically neck and neck, so I couldn’t define who //was// in the lead. The last thing I remembered before reaching the corner was Destiny screaming. It was a riveting match but I so wanted to win. Between gasps of air I said, “Who...won...Destiny?” Destiny stood there in thought for a moment. She tried recalling the events that lead up to her screaming like a banshee. “Umm...I’m gonna have to say you Robin.” “Woo hoo!” I raised my arms in victory. “Eat it!” “Favoritism!” Jake objected. “I’ve only known Robin for about a few hours and you assume I used //favoritism//? What would happen if it was Robin and I? Hmm? If we were the two racing down the street, who would you choose?” Jake’s cheeks flustered red. “Uh...er...umm...” I started to laugh. “Cat got your tongue?” I stared at him for awhile. “Oh come on. If it was your sister and I who raced, who would you pick in this kind of scenario?” “Girls are so demanding!” Jake yelled, trying to change the subject. “Why do you even need to know?” “Wow, sensitive a bit. I was just trying to get to the bottom of this.” I checked my watch. “Oh, I gotta go. Aunt Avi is gonna //kill// me if I don’t get home. Bye guys!” I waved to them and ran down the street. When Robin was out of earshot, Destiny said, “You would’ve picked her, Jake, wouldn’t you?” Jake looped his arm around his sister and hugged her tightly. “That’s for me to know and you to never find out. Besides, would it really matter now? She’s not even here.” “Taking that as a yes.” Destiny glanced at the direction where Robin went. “Hey Robin! Wait!” She ran before Jake could stop her. Jake put his hands in his pockets and muttered to himself, “Yeah, I would’ve picked Robin.” He smiled, remembering what they talked about earlier.

Two

The second day of school was the same as the first. I still got bizarre looks from my classmates and more formal talk. Also, Jake was still guiding me around school since we only got through the first floor of the school. That’s not an accomplishment because there’s five floors and about only a few days for me to get acclimated to the new school. The tour may take awhile, but that’s okay with me. Besides, Jake does all the talking and I just keep walking. On the third day, Jake noticed how quiet I was. I shrugged. “At least say something.” I smirked. “Something.” “That’s not what I meant.” Changing the subject, he asked, “Are you still angry at Destiny?” I shook my head. “Are you mad at me?” I hesitated before I shook my head. “I want to help you, but I can’t if you won’t tell me.” “Nothing is wrong. Can’t a girl be silent? Of course, you wouldn’t think that since guys assume that girls talk all the time. No we don’t. So //nothing is wrong//,” I argued. Actually, something //was// wrong. Something was terribly wrong, but I wouldn’t confess it to Jake. I barely know the guy and he’s treating me like we knew each other for years. Three days with a guy and he assumes that you’re the best of friends. He’s just as I suspected, a creeper. “That’s what they all say. Come on, I thought you were different.” He thought //I// was different? Me? In my mind I was shocked, but I recovered by saying, “Because I //am// different. I ‘stick out like a sore thumb’ just as your sister said. I’m an American in British territory. Of course everybody would hate me. Who wouldn’t? I looked pretty stupid on the first two days here.” “Yes, you are different but in //personality//.” “Oh, you wouldn’t know,” I said in a menacing tone as I opened my locker to grab my backpack. Jake put his hands on his hips, frustrated. “You know what? We’re getting on the wrong foot here. Let’s just start all over.” “Start over? Once something has been done, there’s no starting over.” I slammed my locker and went down the hallway to leave. “Robin! Robin wait! Robin slow down!” Jake screamed. I rolled my eyes and continued trudging. “Come on! Do I have to keep yelling? Robin!” Jake started to run after me. I noticed the people clumping around and enclosing me. I tried to turn the other way but Jake was there. “What do you want?” “Why won’t you talk to me?” “Leave me alone. It’s best if you do.” “No, it’s not. So tell me, why won’t you talk to me?” “Just go home Jake. Go home all of you!” I noticed that my voice started to raise with a hint of anger. “Not until you answer me.” Jake locked his eyes on me but not just him. Everyone was staring at me. “Let me go home. I want to go home.” “No.” Jake stepped in front of me. The anger was overpowering me that I slapped Jake across the face and said, “Watch me.” I turned around before he could recover from his shock. Everyone parted a path for me, in fear that I may slap them too. They did the right thing because I had the urge to slap all of them. Every single person that witnessed this. I stormed off but when I was out of earshot, I started to cry. I began to slow my pace as the tears blurred my vision. //Is that all I can do? Cry? Is crying the only thing I’ve done since I got here? I don’t remember crying when I was in America. Is this what I’ve reached to? Insanity?// My thoughts were interrupted when someone grabbed my shoulder. “Get away from me Jake,” I murmured. “Wow, you’re psychic.” “Lucky guess.” I turned around to see the side of his face bright red. “I must’ve hit you pretty hard.” “Not as much as I did to you.” “What are you talking about?” Jake wiped my cheeks with his thumbs. “You were crying.” “No I wasn’t.” I sneezed. He raised an eyebrow. Just at that moment, I started crying again. “I’m sorry.” “Sorry? Why would you be sorry? You were at the point of murdering me back there and just had to release that bottled up anger on me. It’s okay. I’m perfectly fine with that. If you want, you can slap me again. Better yet, just take that stick over there and start whacking me until I die.” I laughed slightly. “You’re just saying that.” I took out a tissue from my jacket pocket and blew into it. “You just want me to feel better than what I feel right now.” “True, but I’ve taken some harsh blows before.” I gave him a quizzical look. “Really. You and harsh blows? That’s unbelievable.” “Fine I was lying, but I really am okay. Right now the question is are //you// okay?” “Yes...no...I don’t know. I’m really confused. More than I’ve ever been in my life and you’re looking at a girl who blanks out in Spanish” “About what?” “About why you’re being so nice to me. About why you think everything is gonna be okay, when they’re not. About how you can withstand my repulsive self. Also, the fact that you’re nicer to //me// than your own sister. I mean, you’ve known her all your life and me, only three days.” Jake hesitated. “Well, I want to make you feel welcomed, not hated by everyone here because we got another student. Plus, I //live// with Destiny, so nothing can be as repulsive as her.” I gave a hint of a smile. “Come on. I admit that I got you ticked off today, but that’s the price you pay for hanging out with twins.” Jake could’ve been hallucinating but he could’ve sworn he saw Robin smile. “Are we friends?” “We’ve been friends since the first day I met you.” “Really? If my memory recalls, you called me a creeper.” I laughed. “At first I did but that’s changing. Like all of my other suspicions on the first day I was here, they’re changing too. Plus, I was just teasing you when I said that.” I looked at him to make sure he knew that I was joking when I told him that the first day. “You knew that right?” “You were? That’s a relief. I hope all the other girls don’t think that,” Jake said sardonically. “Shut up Jake.” I rolled my eyes. Jake raised his arms, signaling his surrender. “Fine. I surrender to you for you caught me in my act of making you laugh.” “Why were you attempting that, hmm?” I raised an eyebrow. Jake blinked repeatedly and then blushed bright red. Despite the blow I gave him, he blushed so hard that I noticed. I laughed. “Speechless, eh? At least this time a cat didn’t get your tongue.” Jake joined in the laughter. “Well it’s a step up.” “That’s true.” I never really noticed Jake properly before. I mean, with all that formal talk and the sterile environment. (Even though it //is// a prep school and all.) I’ve never noticed how a glimmer lights off his eyes even when he’s not happy or how white his teeth were. The fact that his green eyes made him different from his overall appearance made him somewhat mysterious. He looked so happy right now that it made //me// giddy right now. “You know what?” Jake stated. I turned to face Jake. Jake didn’t know how but behind the dried tears, Robin’s blue eyes twinkled with perseverance. They popped out at him with her shiny, black hair brushed behind her. Also, he hadn’t noticed how fragile or vulnerable Robin could be when upset. Jake pushed those thoughts away. “I think this might be the beginning of a wonderful friendship.” “Why do you assume that?” “Because I’ll have someone else to stop my sister that isn’t me. Plus, if it were one of my other friends that I’d be hanging around with, she’d drool all over them.” “Does she like them? As in a crush?” “Definitely. She tries to flirt with them every time I’m not in the room. That’s one of the many reasons why I don’t bring any of them over to my house.” “Well I’m happy to be a bodyguard for a weak guy like you.” “But now I have a friend who’s gonna insult me.” Jake looked up to the sky and opened his arms out wide. “What did I do to deserve this? First, I have a sister that finds joy in my misery. Now I have a friend who can’t live without insulting me.” He looked back at me. “This is going to be one heck of a roller coaster ride.” //It sure is. Good luck surviving//, I thought to myself as Jake and I walked down the street together.

Three

I was walking down the corridor of some suspicious place. It seemed familiar, yet vague. How do I put this? It’s like deja vu, but you’re not aware that all these events have happened already. Like it’s already happened when you were little and the only ones aware of the event happening were people older than you that were there. I’m not sure how else to describe it because that was the best I could do. Anyway, there were these whispers that kept repeatedly saying, “I am Xanadei. Come to me, my sister. There are things you don’t understand. Come to me my sister, for I am your twin, Xanadei.” I thought it was just utter nonsense because I never had any siblings and if I did, Aunt Avi would’ve at least told me I had a //twin sister.// Some invisible force pulled me to her, but I tried to stop myself and, as always, I kept moving forward. Nothing could stop me from moving; it was like I was being sucked into a vortex that was inescapable. The more I resisted, the faster I went. I attempted to scream, but my voice was failing me. “Do not fear little sister. I am only here to show you your //true// home.” A figure appeared in front of me that looked exactly like me. It was like looking in a mirror. The likeness was uncanny except the only difference was that she had auburn shaded hair color. The scene changed into an elegant foyer. It had a massive crystal chandelier hanging down from the ceiling, a beautiful mosaic floor, and two winding marble staircases. It was like a gigantic palace and it probably //was// a gigantic palace. The scenery outside the large windows were breathtaking. I could’ve looked outside for the rest of my life and be content with just gazing at its marvelous beauty. “This is where //you// belong Robin. This is your home. Mom and Dad have been waiting for you for years. They need you here. Here to take your place as the rightful heir here at the palace.” Somehow, I was able to stutter a few words out. “M-mom and D-dad? I t-thought they were d-dead.” “Who told you that?” “Aunt Avi.” “That explains it.” “C-could I see them?” Xanadei smiled. “Of course you can.” She ran down the hallway to a grand dining room where a couple was sitting at the far end. “There they are Robin.” I gazed at them for awhile, transfixed, as I walked towards them. The man stood up and smiled brightly at me. “Welcome home sweetheart. We’ve been expecting you here” “D-dad? I can’t b-believe it’s really you. I never thought I would see you. Aunt Avi told me you guys were dead.” He shook his head vigorously. “And that’s mom? She’s beautiful.” Xanadei came close to my ear and whispered, “That //was// mom. She died after giving birth to you. Too much blood loss. That’s just a hologram of her. We wanted you to see what she would’ve looked like.” Dad stood up and headed for the door. “It’s time for me to leave now. It was nice to see you again sweetheart. Be careful; so when you come back, you’ll be alright.” “Again? I never saw you. What do you mean by that?” I questioned. Before he could answer, the scene changed again. The whole place turned to a vast ocean of white. I couldn’t tell if there was a floor or ceiling. “Xanadei! Dad! Where are you?” Nobody replied. “Dad! Dad! Don’t leave me!” I ran north, but I couldn’t tell. I screamed repetitively for any sign of life. There was none. Suddenly, I started to fall. At that instant, I flung from my bed sitting upright yelling, “Dad!”

Four

At school on Friday, everyone seemed excited about something that I didn’t know about. Even in class there was this jovial aura. “Class, I would like to make an announcement that tonight is the Masquerade Ball. I know all of you would rather be there right now, but some of you are too happy to care to be in class. I want all of you to have a great time and remember the rules. This is supposed to be mysterious, hence the term ‘masquerade’. All students, even boys, must wear a mask and have a fake alias. The mask does not have to cover your whole face, but make it look festive. You fake alias must be school appropriate and that goes for the mask too. Also, school rules still apply since you are still in school. Leave all coats, purses, cellphones, et cetera, in the coatroom and lockers that have your names on it. Finally, just have fun.” Mrs. Yance smiled. I was surprised to find a sophisticated round of applause instead of rowdy cheering, but I just went with the flow. Mrs. Yance glanced at the clock. “It seems that class is over. Have fun tonight. You are all dismissed.” I gathered my books and departured to my locker to go home. When I left the building, a hand grabbed my shoulder. “What do you want //this// time Jake?” “Actually, it’s Jake //and// Destiny this time,” the familiar girl voice replied. I turned around to see the twins both grinning. “Why are you guys so happy?” “Who wouldn’t be? The Masquerade Ball is one of the //best// dances of the school year. I mean there’s plenty of other dances, but this is the one everyone anticipates for. Both girls //and// guys look forward to dressing in their best apparel to show off to others. Besides, the themes for the dances are what make them magical. Last year, the theme was a night stroll along the beach. Amazing. Plus, we wanted to know if you’re coming.” “Could you come?” Jake added in. “Sounds intriguing...” I paused for a dramatic effect before I dropped the bomb by saying, “No.” “Why not?” “I’ve been to many dances before and they all stunk. Nobody was excited and they all went because they had nothing better to do. This one just might be a step up from the train wrecks I’ve seen. Besides, there’s too much drama at dances and I find it annoying that couples pick a dance to tell their boyfriend or girlfriend it’s over. I really don’t know why I pay to go to those dances because it’s a waste. Anyways, I never really have fun at one.” “This is different. This will be //way// better than what you’ve seen,” Jake pleaded. “Coming from you, I don’t believe it Jake. The answer is still no. Also, I don’t have a dress and I can’t buy one because I don’t have the money to.” I glanced at their devious faces. “No, I’m not borrowing from you guys.” “I’m not gonna stop bugging you until you come.” Jake testified. “Now you see why I call him a bother,” Destiny said. I thought for a moment before I replied, “All right, maybe.” “Maybe?” Jake asked, disappointed. “Maybe. I may come or I may not. Maybe,” I explained. “Better than nothing,” he concluded.

I dropped my backpack on my bed when I arrived home. I grabbed the sewing machine from under my bed and began to work. I finished the dress one hour before the ball started. I had to get ready. I took a shower and dried my hair. This wasn’t a prom, so I just applied neutral colored makeup. After I got dressed, I gazed at myself in the mirror beside my bed. I was amazed. The dress was about four inches below my knees, almost skin tight. The shade of blue was the shade of my eyes, an iridescent midnight blue. Near the bottom of the dress was an intricate pattern of silver swirls that seemed like their moving when I took a step. My hair was up in a bun with my bangs partially covering my left eye. Also, there was a sparkly blue lotus in my hair as an accessory. I wore heels to make myself taller than I really am. (I’m only 5’1 1/2”). I was relieved to know that I already had a mask because I wouldn’t have been able to create or buy one. It only covered the top half of my face and matched my dress. It wasn’t just a simple mask, but had the same design on the dress around the eye holes. The mask sort of looked like butterfly wings spread out openly to show its beautiful pattern. When I left my bedroom, my aunt was right there. “You look stunning Robin. Can’t believe you pulled it off, but you did.” I smiled awkwardly. “Thanks Aunt Avi?” “I meant with the time crunch. Now, do you have everything you need? Cellphone? Student ID? Purse?” “Check, check, and check. I have everything.” “I’m not going to let you walk in those heels, so I’m driving you.” Aunt Avi dangled her car keys.

I glanced at my cell phone and saw that I was half an hour late. It didn’t matter because I was always late to dances. “Remember Aunt Avi, the dance ends at twenty-three hundred.” “English please?” “First of all, I //am// speaking English. Second, it’s military time for 11:00.” “That long?” “Aunt, it’s already 7:30.” “Even then.” I gave her a quizzical look. “Eleven o’clock. I’ll leave now. Bye.” I watched the car leave before I walked the giant steps to the school. When I got inside, I showed my ID and headed for the coat room. There, I was greeted by a friendly doorman that guarded the whole school. I dialed in my combination to my “locker” and placed my purse in a secret compartment to try to fool my friends, because the locker doors are glass. I left the room to go to the main event. The Masquerade Ball. I assumed the dance would look like some last minute get together with lame decorations, but this //was// different. The room was dimly lit to show the array of white lights sparkling around the whole area. There were beautiful decorations all around. Dark blue balloons and matching silk table cloths with some hints of yellow and white. Ribbons drooped and swirled around the walls and they swayed gently as people passed by. The arrangement reminded me of “Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh. This wasn’t a normal eighth grade dance, this was more like a prom.

For the next three hours I just stood near a corner and paced around. Anybody that passed by, I attempted to smile so I looked like I was having a great time when I really wasn’t. What was the //actual// point of coming here if I wasn’t happy? Was it to make Jake happy? Did I want to dress up? I started to walk towards the door, but I bumped into someone. I curtsied. “I-I’m sorry.” “You don’t have to do that.” I looked up, when I was still in a curtsy, and I knew instantly that it was Jake even with the mask on. “Oh. I’m sorry, again.” I tried to regain composure. “Well, I’m Mystique.” “You sure are.” He shook his head. “Nice to meet you, Mystique. I’m—” “Prince Charming?” I interrupted. He smiled. “Close. The Young Warrior.” “Darn. Thought you’d be a prince. At least you have ranking from the Middle Ages.” “I wouldn’t be judging Mystique.” He paused and stared at me. “You remind me of—” “Megan Fox?” I chipped in. He laughed. “No, but a friend of mine. You look exactly like her. Even your personalities match perfectly.” “And you remind me of my friend. You look exactly like him and have that same smile. I wonder if you’re actually him.” “I’m taking that as a compliment. You know with the same smile and all.” The song altered to Home by Daughtry. We both looked uncomfortably at each other, but I knew what was coming up. “Do you...do you want to dance with me?” I smiled shyly. “Of course.” The “Young Warrior” lead me to the dance floor and held my hand with his and my waist with the other. We locked eyes and I knew for sure that it was Jake once I saw his mysterious green eyes. For some odd reason, I couldn’t take my eyes away as if I were in a trance. In that spellbound moment, I felt like everyone had melted away and that we were the only ones dancing. I also felt a connection between us even though I wasn’t completely positive that it was Jake. Then, something broke me from this fantasy. Reality. I blinked. I was relieved when the song ended, yet I didn’t want it to end. “That was nice,” he said, trying to spark up a conversation. “It was magical to me.” I blushed fire alarm red, which made me blush even more because he knew that I was blushing. I let go of his hand and said, “I gotta go now.” “Go where? The ball isn’t over yet.” “I just gotta go now.” He grabbed my arm and told me, “Don’t go yet. Please.” His eyes bore into mine with plead, but I tried to resist. I yanked my arm from him. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.” While I was walking backwards, I bumped into a guy holding a cup of water. A cool rush of liquid went down my back that made me jump. I turned around and apologized to the random person. I was so embarrassed that I didn’t notice the water puddle on the ground and I slipped. I flung my arms out and landed into the water bowl with a splash. The next thing I knew, I was drenched, from head to toe, with water. My makeup was running, but did that really matter right now? “Are you okay?” The Young Warrior offered me his hand. I didn’t take it. I got up by myself with what was left of my dignity and ran out the door. I went into the coatroom, got my purse, and headed for the entrance. I heard a voice yelling my fake name. I pushed the door open and was greeted with more water. It was raining heavily. Didn’t see that coming. When I got down the steps, the Young Warrior grasped my shoulder. “Don’t leave. Not yet. Please.” “Why shouldn’t I?” My voice began to choke. “I’m drenched, it’s raining, and I’ve had enough embarrassment for one day. I can’t go back there. Plus, I’m gonna catch a cold if I don’t get into dry clothes.” “You //will// catch hypothermia if you stay in this weather. Here.” He took off his coat and gently placed it on my shoulders. I sneezed. “It’s funny. I can hear the music from here and I’m almost at the point of singing. Technically, I’m singing in the rain.” He laughed. “You know you’re a bit absurd.” I laughed. I gave the Young Warrior his jacket back. “Thanks, for tonight and making the dance a little more enjoyable than it was.” I started walking home. “Wait. You forgot this.” In the palm of his hand was the blue lotus that I was wearing earlier. “Keep it. It’s not against the rules to leave a little hint is it?” I gave him a wink and headed home. “Wait.” “What now?” I asked exasperated because he ruined my dramatic/romantic exit. “Why don’t I take you home?”

I knocked on the door while the Young Warrior stood there, hopping from one foot to the other. As we stood there, soaked from the rain, I stared at the ceiling and hesitated before knocking the door a second time. The door opened and Aunt Avi was standing there with a quizzical look on her face. “Home too soon aren’t you? What’s going on—” “Ah, you see, my alias is Mystique and this is a guy I met, Young Warrior. I wasn’t having the best of times at the dance and started to head home. I got caught in the rain—” Aunt Avi interrupted. “Don’t say anymore until you get in some dry clothes.” She glanced at Jake. “Don’t you leave either. I want to hear your side of the story too.”

I was shaking my leg, again. Nervous to tell my story immediately after his. We were both sitting on the couch, that was elevated about five inches from the ground, with our masks and fresh clothes on while our soggy ones were sprawled on the kitchen table. Young Warrior stared at his surroundings while talking, which I can’t blame him for since I still find it amazing. We found the condo like the rest but my aunt had a more modern approach to the place. The living room, where we were currently inhabiting, had a ten inch platform raised five inches. There were hidden couches in the intervals between the places where the doors were. Under our feet, the perimeter was filled with book shelves and storage places. My aunt wasn’t a big fan of bright colors, so she kept the walls white. The furniture was either purple or black because Aunt Avi would only approve of two colors and those were purple or black. The rest of the condo is amazing, since we live on the top floor with the biggest place than everyone else on the same floor. Aunt Avi said she wanted the place to look like one of those fancy places in New York, where we used to live, and she fulfilled her promise. “Mystique, it’s your turn,” Aunt Avi said apprehensively. I took a deep breath. “Well when I got there, I stood around and faked some smiles for about three hours. I was going to leave when I bumped into this guy.” I pointed directly to Young Warrior, who was sitting next to me. “I said my apologies, but a conversation sparked up. Soon enough he asked me to dance with him. Somehow, I realized that this couldn’t be happening to me, so I attempted to leave.” I sighed. “But he didn’t //want// me to leave and I bumped into a guy with water. Then I tripped and fell into the water bowl. That’s why my dress is drenched, not because of the rain. “Anyway, I was so embarrassed that I ran away. I left the dance, but I didn’t get that far before he caught up to me. He wanted me to stay and I wanted to also but I just couldn’t face those people again. I can’t stand humiliation. We stood there for awhile until the Young Warrior asked me to take me home. Then the rest you should probably know.” I lowered my gaze. “I find it charming that this young man didn’t want you to leave and even chased after you in the rain. Without the formalities, I would say, ‘You guys are living a tragic love story’, but that’s not what a responsible adult would say. Despite the fact that he got soaked, I thank him for bringing you home safely.” “You’re welcome. If you don’t mind, I’ll just leave and take my soggy clothes with me. Thank you for your hospitality.” The Young Warrior bowed slightly. “Why don’t I just call your parents and tell them you’re here and that you’re okay. Just tell me the number and soon enough, you’ll be back at home.” The Young Warrior nodded. When Aunt Avi and him left, I headed for my bedroom. “Stay right there Mystique.” I was spooked to find that Aunt Avi had eyes behind her head, but then again, she could’ve seen me through the arch separating the kitchen and living room. I sat right back down and straightened my pants. “Can’t wait until Monday, can you?” The Young Warrior appeared from his hiding spot. “I just want to know who you are because I don’t want to live incognito.” “I thought you already had a person in mind?” “Yeah, I do and I’m positive you’re her.” “Then why do you still have this urge to find out? Besides, you never know. Other girls could have had the same alias.” “No they didn’t. I met every girl tonight and no one had the same name as you. I’ll know if they’re lying to me because you’re unique. No one can take that away from you.” He searched my eyes for some sort of reply. I smiled. “I have a feeling I know too. Now I can’t wait for Monday.” He took my hands in his and stared at me. “The weekend will pass by so quickly you won’t even notice.” He started to lean in towards me, but returned to his position original position, when he heard Aunt Avi’s footsteps. He acted casual by scanning through his phone. Aunt Avi approached us and stated, “Your parents are on their way. They’ll be here in about five minutes. Stay tight while I get the tea.” She came back from the kitchen with piping hot tea. “Here you guys go. If you need anything, I’ll be in my bedroom.” Aunt Avi “left” the living room and into her room like //she// was the teenager in this situation. I asked, “Hey, do you want to exchange phone numbers?” “Sure. I want to contact you at all times. Give me your phone and I’ll give you mine.” He handed me his fancy iPhone while I just handed my lame flip phone. After we finished exchanging, there was a knock on the door. “I’ll get the door and you get your soggy clothes.” I leaped off the couch and headed for the door. I smiled brightly. “Hi, I assume you are here for your son. Please come in.” I gestured them to come inside like a hospitable person would. “No, it’s okay. I’m ready.” The Young Warrior headed for the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll have these washed and brought back to you tomorrow.” “Don’t bother. I’ll just come to your house. Besides, I’m running errands tomorrow.” “Are you sure? Because―” “I don’t mind. The only worse case scenario would be me getting sick. Either that or you could just keep the clothes. I won’t need those anyways.” I leaned close to him and said in a hushed tone, “Don’t worry. Those clothes were meant for guys. I used them to sneak and pass as a boy once.” Then I said in a louder tone, “Have a good night and safe driving.” I closed the door. “He seems like a nice boy. He’s cute too.” Aunt Avi appeared from behind her door with her own cup of tea. “You had your ear pricked up against the door, didn’t you?” I questioned, blushing. Aunt Avi hesitated like she got caught for stealing extra ice cream from the refrigerator. “Okay I did, but I was curious. I’m your guardian. I’m supposed to be concerned about you.” I rolled my eyes. “He likes you. I mean //really// likes you.” From protective mode to gossip mode just like that. My aunt thinks she could act like she was in her early twenties even though she is...in her early twenties. “What?” That struck me like lightning. “I saw with my own two eyes that he tried to make a move on you.” I blushed even harder. “Why do you think he feels uncomfortable when there’s silence? He wants to make his move, but doesn’t know when.” “Aunt Avi,” I whined, embarrassed. “Hey, I’m just stating that he’s falling for you. And so are you.” “What?” I blinked rapidly. “Don’t act like I don’t know what’s going on. //You// have a crush Robin.” I hugged my knees up against my chest and rested my chin on them. “Maybe I am falling for him.” I smiled bleakly.

The Young Warrior removed his mask when he got into the car. “She seems like a nice girl. She’s pretty too, just like her mum,” Mrs. Meadows stated trying to break a silence that has gone on for far too long. The Young Warrior blushed. “That’s not her mum, it’s her aunt.” “Anyway, she’s pretty.” “You sure know how to pick ‘em,” Mr. Meadows chimed in. “Dad, really?” He whined. Destiny laughed. “Shut it Destiny.” “Sorry,” Destiny cleared her throat, “but it’s sweet that //you// danced with Robin. I know you felt something when you danced with her. It’s called a connection, and that connection is called //love.//” Destiny was attempting to play matchmaker babbling on about how she knew that this would happen. The Young Warrior blushed harder. “Awe, my son is falling in love. Next thing you know, they’re married.” “Mom!” Destiny laughed even harder. The Young Warrior gave up and stared out the window. “Come on Jake, lighten up. I know you like her. I can see it in your eyes when you talk to her. Just admit it, you have a crush Jake.” Jake sighed and turned to his sister. “Maybe I am falling for her.” Out of his pocket, Jake took out the flower and smiled sweetly.

Five

Turns out, I got sick and my tonsils were swollen. I got sick from staying out in the rain and having wet clothes on too long. My tonsils got swollen because who knows how? I stayed at the local hospital to get my tonsils removed when I got a text saying: Where are you? I dropped by and no one was there. I thought you were coming by. Please tell me.

Do I really have to reply? I did anyway with a text explaining: Let’s just say, worse case scenario happened. I got sick and tonsils are swollen. At hospital to get tonsils removed. Sorry couldn’t make it. Sorry.

He replied: What? You’re at the hospital? Which one? I need to know if your okay.

I replied: Chill. Surgery didn’t start yet. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Got to go. Going to ER now.

I sighed. “Who was that Robin?” Aunt Avi asked while gripping my hand. “Just the guy I met at the dance. Said he was worried that I didn’t show up to get the clothes back and that he may visit at the hospital. It’s nothing to worry about Aunt Avi. Just your typical friend that almost pees in their pants just because plans changed,” I said in a hoarse voice. “Stop talking now. The doctor will put you under anesthesia and the surgery will come and go quicker than expected. Just relax and calm yourself down.” My eyelids began to grow heavy and soon I passed out.

When I woke up, I felt this dizzy sensation like I just got whacked over the head. My surroundings seemed all blurry and I couldn’t identify the people gathered around me. They all seemed like the same person, but then again I was under anesthesia so my brain must be in a stage of befuddlement. I had this awkward feeling that I was seeing triple of my aunt or was it actually three people in front of me? Stupid anesthesia. Good for pain but horrible with brain functions. “She’s waking up. Robin, don’t talk for now because you’ll just strain your throat. The surgery is done now and your tonsils are gone. Don’t eat ice cream because that’s just a stereotype. Drink a lot of fluids, mostly water, and eat soft foods. I would recommend you to //not// go to school for a few days until you’ve recovered enough to perform daily tasks and talk. I know you must be thrilled to hear this news but I’ve talked with your aunt and she already contacted the school.” //For once could I// not //have to deal with school? Thanks doctor. You’ve prescribed me with a dose of a week’s worth of homework. Super.// “Robin, are you okay?” My vision may have been blurry but I could identify that voice no matter what condition I’m in. I nodded slowly in reply. Jake exhaled deeply. I took my phone out and replied sluggishly: I didn’t die Jake. I wasn’t ill. I just needed my tonsils out. No big deal. You and your way of interpreting things.

Jake answered, “Well I’m sorry for being concerned.” Destiny tilted her head. “Jake, who are you talking to?” “Robin! Who else?” “Last time I remembered, the doctor said she wasn’t allowed to talk and Robin didn’t say anything.” “That’s why they invented phones Destiny. And an instant messaging service called texting,” Jake said sarcastically. “Congratulations! You’ve discovered technology! What’s next? Are you going to find out that the contraption that took us here was a car?” Destiny retorted. “Ha ha. Very funny Destiny.” As they were ranting to each other, I searched the room for Aunt Avi, but she wasn’t in the general vicinity of the room. I recalled her being here before the surgery but now she disappeared. This concerned me because I assumed that she would be right there to see me in good condition. Then again, Aunt Avi may have just gone out to buy food and put these two ding birds in charge of my welfare. Not a very wise decision by my aunt. It’s like letting an alligator rampage throughout the hospital. I shook my head but that just made me dizzier than I was already. I became bored of watching the two bicker about a petty subject, so I fell asleep. When I woke up, I found Jake and Destiny asleep but no sign of Aunt Avi still. I began to worry so I tried to wake Jake up by texting him. I heard the vibrating of his phone in his pocket but he wouldn’t wake up. I lifted myself into a sitting position and took my pillow to whack Jake in the face. It //still// didn’t work! I don’t know how it didn’t work but it just didn’t. I came up to him and started shaking him. Nothing. I inched closer to his face and waved my hand in front of his eyes. While I was inching even closer to his face, his eyelids opened slowly. Jake’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?” I blushed and said in a faint voice, “I tried to wake you up, but didn’t work. I was going to smack you in the face.” “Are you sure? Because you’re getting pretty close for a smack in the face, like you were going to kiss me.” He smiled. “Anyways, I knew it was you. At the dance. Remember?” I smacked him in the shoulder. I wanted to yell but I whispered, “Of course I do! Ugh! I knew it was you also. It was pretty obvious.” “Really? Because I tried super hard to hide my good looks.” “Pompous!” Jake began to laugh. My cheeks began to turn a deep red as if they were bleeding. I rose from my position and sat back on the bed, crossed my arms across my chest, and stared at the door. “Oh come on Robin! You know I was joking right? You can’t //really// be mad at me right? I was fooling around with you. You know that.” Destiny was aroused from her sleep by the ruckus caused by the heat between Jake and I. “What did you do //now// Jake? Did you tell Robin that you had no friends and that you hang out with good for nothing losers? Well I would see why she’s angry. She’ll be hanging out with a geek that does nothing!” Destiny began to laugh. “Destiny, that wasn’t it,” Jake said between clenched teeth. I began to sob. “Oh I know how you feel sister! Jake being my brother and all.” “That’s still not why she’s not talking to me. I don’t know if you’re oblivious or just plain inconsiderate. Clearly Robin is crying about something other than what you //think// is my status at school.” Looking directly at Robin, Jake asked, “Was it what I said earlier? I know I was sort of being a jerk and I just wanted to lighten things up. Come on, tell me what’s the matter.” When I stopped crying, I whispered, “It’s not what you said. It’s what I don’t //see// here. Aunt Avi hasn’t come back yet and it’s been about three hours. I’m really worried. Anything could have happened.” I searched Jake’s eyes to see what his reaction was to what I just said, but his eyes were just as passive as Destiny’s in Spanish. Then I asked, “Where do you think she went?” Jake got up and paced the divided room. Every other second he glanced back at me. “Well with what you just told me, I think she might have been kidnapped. Since she’s your guardian, she wouldn’t leave your side until she knew you were alright.” A thought occurred to his head and he ordered, “Quick, look around the limited space you have for any messages left here or any clues given.” We paced the room for anything left by this “assumed” kidnapper. I checked under my pillow and that’s where I found it. A note written quickly yet legibly was left there. I scanned it and my face turned pale, not like it wasn’t already. “Jake. Destiny. Look at this.” I beckoned them to come over here. “Look at what this says: To a place where you excessively boast Is where I’ve taken your aunt host. Do you how weird this is?” “Yeah I know. What kind of kidnapper leaves messages that rhyme? Do you know how stupid that is? It’s like were playing some Find It game!” Destiny was obviously not getting the point of the entire message. I wouldn’t be able to tell if she was kidding or she was for real. “Don’t you get it? This alleged kidnapper has taken my aunt and I know where.” Jake and Destiny looked at me expectantly like they didn’t have to ask me to spill the answer. “New York,” I whispered.

Six

“New York! That’s in a different country! How are we supposed to leave UK and get there? Besides, we still have to pay your medical bills! Plus... we need tickets. For the PLANE! Do you know how //impossible// this task will be? We’re just putting ourselves in danger. Also, we don’t know //how// dangerous this kidnapper could be. If he has your aunt, for what purpose? Where are we going to get the kind of money to get plane tickets? And how long would we be gone? What if he’s out for money? What if he just wants to mess around with us? What if this is just a prank? What if they’re not actually in New York? What if―” I covered Jake’s mouth with my hand. “When I take my hand off your mouth, you’ll stop talking. Understood? If not, you’ll see your mouth with duct tape stuck to your mouth so tight that it’ll need to be surgically removed. Your choice. Three...two...one” Silence. “Thank you. After the barrage of questions aimed by Mr. Worry over here, why don’t we take everything one step at a time.” I turned to Jake. “You got that?” Jake nodded. Destiny raised her hand, but didn’t wait for me to call on her when she asked, “Aren’t you //not// supposed to talk? Didn’t the doctor say that you’re not supposed to talk? I thought he took your tonsils out?” I sighed. “Yes, but I //need// to talk in order for a plan to be devised. If I don’t say anything, your brother over here will get lightheaded from questioning me with the most absurd things. Besides, I’m not talking. I’m whispering.” Jake opened, then closed his mouth, afraid of what I may threaten him about next. But his curiosity got the better of him. “I feel an adventure coming on.” “Yes, but if you two want to come, you’re gonna have to get past your parents somehow. I’m not bringing you two along unless you come up with an excuse. Make sure it’s practical yet inconspicuous. I don’t want the cops to do this investigation instead of me. This is my adventure, and I’m not letting them steal it.” I coughed. “So, I was thinking of using my allowance to buy us all tickets to New York, but we’ll have to go economy though.” “And that’s just your //allowance?”// “Yeah. I’d still have enough to spare for a lunch at New York and a room at a hotel. That’s about as much I have to offer. What do you guys have that may be important?” Destiny rummaged through her purse. “Well, I have a pack of gum, a pack of tic tacs, enough pounds for a cab //to// the airport, my iPod, my phone, a camera, Jared’s phone number, and a pen.” She turned her purse upside down just in case anything else would be hidden in there. “The only useful thing is the money.” Jake checked his pockets. “I have a stick of gum, half empty, yet half full, tic tac pack, my phone, my wallet, which only has fifty pounds, and a note from... Destiny?” He glanced at his sister questioningly. She just shrugged her shoulders, but gave me a devious smile. “Okay. I’ll just pay for the expenses. You guys pay for the provisions and what not. We’ll leave as soon as we can. If your parents don’t pull through, I’ll go by myself. Don’t even try escaping and leaving your parents behind. I’m going to leave some traps the day I’m going to leave, that’s if your parents say no.” “But—” “No exceptions Jake. If you want to go, you’re going to have to find a way to get pass your parents. I don’t want to end up sued for ‘kidnapping’ or ‘abducting’ you guys. We have a deal?” Destiny nodded. “It’s a done deal,” Jake agreed.

I began pacing the room when they left. I had to lay back down in bed, since the nurse caught me. I decided to ponder at what is going on. //Why’d they take my Aunt Avi? For what purpose is this? Is there an incentive for this alleged person to take my aunt? Do I know the person?// A billion questions were buzzing through my head, and I began to feel dizzy. I leaned against the wall for support. There was this nauseating pain that began building up in the pit of my stomach. I don’t know if I was just shocked by the news or if I was actually sick. I’m going with the latter. A nurse came rushing in and told me to sit back down. This time, I obeyed. I hugged my knees all the way up to my chin. I sobbed. //I’m going to find you Aunt Avi. When I do, I’m going to crush that kidnapper into oblivion. I swear, he/she/it won’t want to mess with me.// I rifled through Aunt Avi’s neglected purse and found her check book. I took a pen out and wrote the price of the medical bills. I ripped the check and left it on the side table. I wrote a note stating “Here’s the payment.” I dropped my feet onto the ground lightly. I crept towards the window and glanced down. First floor. Simple. I turned the latch and heaved the window open. I already got on leg out when a doctor noticed me escaping. I ignored him, got my other leg out, and dashed towards our condo.

Seven

I kept running until I reached the front doors of the building. Once I got pass the doorway, I just walked up the steps at a brisk pace. Coincidentally, the elevator was broken. To make things matters worse, I live on the top floor. As I began climbing the eighth flight of stairs, a voice popped into my head. //Robin, where are you? Your Aunt Avi is in grave danger. You must save her from the evil clutches of Cheka.// I telepathically spoke, //Xanadei, is that you?// //Yes.// //Who’s Cheka? Why does she have Aunt Avi?// //As I’ve previously stated, Cheka is an evil spirit that will do anything to overthrow the king. She’ll do anything for that kind of power.// //Wait. So what Dad told me about being the rightful heir to the throne...that was all true?// I’m //a princess? Me? What about you?// //I have other plans in life. I stepped down so you could have the throne. I want to be an owner of an academy. I want to help the less fortunate. Enough about me. You must leave immediately. Bring your friends as well. Hurry. The police are still chasing after you. Once you’ve gotten what you needed, leave through the back door. I’ll guide you to this place called an airport where these flying metal beasts will get you to the hostage city of New York.// //Are you serious? You’ve never heard of an airplane? You’ve never heard of one of the most amazing cities in America? Where exactly was I born, and where you are currently taking residence in?// //Syiorianda.// //Shore-e-ahn-da?// //Precisely. It’s a lovely country. Too bad only certain people have access to it. Que lastima.// //Hold up. You know spanish?// //Si senorita. Vamanos! Vas con tus amigos a New York City.// //Show off.// //You don’t have much time now. GO! I’ll be waiting for you once you’ve corralled your friends together.// //Okay. See you soon Xanadei.// //One more thing Robin.// //What is that?// //Don’t die.//

Eight

I knocked on the door to the Meadows’ mansion. (It was huge, by the way.) Jake opened the door. “Hey. What a pleasant surprise.” “Quit the sweet talk. We need to leave. Like now.” “I thought we had one more day.” “Too bad. We need to leave now. The cops are coming after me because I escaped the hospital. I left a check though. I have everything I need. The cab is waiting right there. Get Destiny right now. Get whatever you need, but you guys only get ten minutes. I’m giving you no more.” He smiled. He opened the door wider. “We’re already ready.”

“I already got the jet ready. We have to leave immediately. Ignore all workers at the airport. Just make a beeline through everybody. Forget all manners. Just keep moving.” Jake and Destiny stopped moving. Jake asked, “A //jet?//” “Yes. Now let’s go. We need all the time we can. Do I have to remind you guys that the //cops are after me!//” “Calm down. You don’t need to yell. It’s only been approximately nine hours since you got your tonsils removed. So simmer down.” “Then keep moving!” We ditched the taxi and just ran to the airport. There was no time to lose. I closed my eyes for a few seconds to breach Xanadei. For some odd reason, she wasn’t replying. As we ran down the asphalt path, I kept attempting to contact Xanadei. “Why aren’t you replying?” I exclaimed angrily. “Who...are...you...talking...to?” Jake asked between gasps. “Nobody.” “Really? Because I’m talking to this girl in my head named Xanadei,” Destiny chirped in. “Xanadei?” I skidded to a halt. “Yeah. She’s really nice. She says you’re her twin sister. But by the way she talks, you guys don’t sound related. Xanadei is so nice, and you’re...” Destiny trailed off when she noticed me glaring at her. “Never mind.” “Can you girls have your friendly banters on who’s better later, even though we obviously know the answer is Xanadei.” I slapped Jake’s head. “You proved my point.” “You better start running.” “Obviously because the cops are about twenty blocks away from us.” “That and because I’m going to tear you to shreds until you cry to your death. Either that, or I’m going to throw you from here all the way to New York. That’s no exaggeration. You have know idea what I’m capable of, Jake Meadows.” Jake gaped at me. “You’re e-e-eyes are t-t-t-turning violet. W-why are they turning v-v-violet?” I blinked. “What are you talking about?” I asked as if nothing ever happened because I don’t even know what happened. “Never mind. Let’s go. Only a few more miles. We can make it.”

Once I saw the airport protruding from the horizon of the asphalt road, I began to accelerate. Almost there. //Hurry. The cops are gaining very quickly. They know you’re scheme and they plan to stop you. They’re trying to block all entrances to the airport.// //Oh now you talk to me? Did they close the entrance to the actual plane runways?// //They assume that the fences were good enough of blockades to stop a thirteen year old from jumping.// //Well they’re in for a surprise. They should’ve expected the unexpected.// “Guys, we’re going to jump the fence. Once you see a blue jet or a tall and slim guy, run towards that direction. If you don’t find it, just hop onto the closest plane you find. We’ll just find another plane to New York. Whatever you guys do, don’t stop running. That’s our only option and choice, if we don’t want to get caught. We won’t go to jail, we’ll just get penalized. I’m not in trouble. I just escaped the hospital without fully recovering. Plus, I didn’t have a guardian, and they didn’t realize that I //paid// for the bills. Anyways, just keep running!” //I thought you already gave them this lecture.// //Oh you shut up! You were no help in this situation!// //Oh, but I was. If it weren’t for me, you’d be captured by the apothecaries already.// //Do you live in a world of primitive thinking?// //Syiorianda is the most innovative thinking countries in this dimension. We just fear that if technology ever came into our country, Syiorianda will become corrupt.// //Technology is not corrupt; it’s the gateway to our future.// //Say what you will, but you’ll see soon how life is way much better without it. In due time you will. In due time...// With that, Xanadei disconnected from me. After that conversation, I felt really weak. It was as if I haven’t eaten in weeks. Maybe a whole month. I felt as if fatigue was overtaking me, yet that never happens because I usually sleep around the same general time. I realized that there were after affects of telepathically speaking. A throbbing headache began pestering me. “We have to find that jet quick. I feel really dizzy.” Jake noticed that I began to stagger. He came up right in front of me and grabbed me. I sat piggyback on him. “This will be a lot quicker. Besides, Destiny and I are pretty quick at running. Maybe just in my perspective though.” “Whatever.” I glanced up to see the familiar jet. I pointed towards it. “There! Right there!” Jake veered to the right and soon enough, we made it inside the plane. Jake and Destiny were panting hard. Mr. Sanders smiled brightly. I puked into the small trash bin. After a few minutes of barfing chunks into a trash can, I sunk into the cushy seat. Jake smiled grimly. Destiny was snoring thunderously. I glanced at Jake and smiled ruefully. My eyelids began to grow heavy. The pounding in my head began to grow louder. I closed my eyes, and it seemed like I’d never wake up.

Nine

Have you ever slept for an extended amount of time and when you opened your eyes, you had this dazed feeling? How you didn’t know where you were or what your surroundings were? That’s how I felt right now. I didn’t open my eyes yet because this bright light, I’m assuming fluorescent, was shining through my eyelids. Plus, I just didn’t feel like opening my eyes yet because of what may occur. I was afraid of what I may see and what I may not. It sounds pretty confusing, but it makes sense to me. That’s all that counts. I opened my eyes, one by one. We weren’t in the jet anymore. I began to panic. Why weren’t we in the plane anymore? Where //were// we? I was so confused that I sprang up into a sitting position only to realize that the ceiling was small, and I bumped my head. “Ow! Where are we? Why are we moving? Why aren’t we on the jet anymore?” I basically said all the questions in my head aloud. “Calm down. We’re in New York, but we’re taking you to the hospital...again,” Jake explained. “What!” I exclaimed. “Why are you guys taking me to that infernal place?” “Mr. Sanders told us to. Just like the good kids we are, we obeyed the elder.” “Gosh! That’s not my concern. We may not have any money to pay for the bills //and// the room. What are we going to do when there’s not enough money to get us into a room? What will we do then?” “Isn’t it obvious already? Your aunt told me that if she didn’t like it in London, she’d want to move you and her back to New York. She thought one step ahead and kept the condo you guys had before. Therefore, we can stay there. Problem solved. You are welcome.” “What! I could’ve moved back to New York and I wouldn’t have a problem in the world? I could’ve avoided going through those entrance exams? I could’ve avoided going to that ridiculous school? This is outrageous. I wouldn’t have to //be// in this situation if I knew that two weeks ago.” My voice began to crack. “This is so unfair. Aunt Avi wouldn’t have been captured. I wouldn’t have lost my voice. I wouldn’t have you two here. You guys could’ve been out of this situation. Life could’ve just been dandy.” Jake slapped me in the face. “Cut it out. You’re beginning to go delusional.” He noticed me with a hurt expression, as I rubbed my cheek. “Sorry about that. You just get me so frustrated sometimes. Actually, most times. Stop yelling. The driver is going hear you. Now if you just calm down, we can devise a //proper// plan.” I nodded. I gazed into his deep green eyes. “What are we gonna do?” My eyes were beginning to water. “I’m freaking out now. I thought about all the questions you asked, and now I’m scared. I’m scared to death.” “Well you should be. Look behind you.” I turned around to notice the driver...not driving anymore. The driver morphed into some form of darkness. It had no face, no form, no shape. It was almost like nothing, but it was everything. It was my deepest fears and nightmares. It was anything it wanted to be. It was scary. A ball of fire began to accumulate in...its...hands. //Get out of the car. NOW! It’s Cheka!// “Guys, we have to jump out of the car.” “Why?” they said simultaneously. “Why? //WHY!// Because that //thing// that’s driving this ambulance is going to KILL US! So if you want to live, then JUMP!” Jake pulled the latch. He checked both sides before he jumped. “Destiny, you best not be thinking about safety if your life is on the line.” I glared at her. She had the deer-in-the-headlights look on her face. She didn’t hesitate one bit to jump. I got up, but I sort of hunched because this ambulance was more like for a dwarf. There was a throbbing in my head...again. I risked a turn back to see that...//it// launched the fireball at me. Like the stupid person I am, I attempted to deflect it in mere defense. As it got closer, I shut my eyes rapidly. When I expected to be smoldering into bits, I was just shifted backwards by half an inch. I pried my eyes open. To my surprise, I didn’t die. In fact, I was actually controlling the fireball now. I began to smile and laugh hysterically. I decided to jump off, backwards, and “backfire” Cheka’s evil plot to kill me. As I jumped off the ambulance, I did a tuck and roll. Then, the cool part was that when I got up, the ambulance bursted into flames like in those cool action movies. I smirked. //It’s not over yet Robin. You and I both know well enough that that was just the beginning of all your problems. She’s not dead. At least not yet. Don’t congratulate yourself yet. You’re going to need to do more than shoot a fireball at her. You’re going to need to train from a master swordsman, like Sir Jake Meadows. You’ll need to learn everything about your powers from sorceress Destiny.// //Wait. Jake...is a master swordsman. He can’t even beat me in arm wrestling! And Destiny? I’m sorry, I don’t want to offend her or anything, but Destiny pretty clueless, let alone a well-trained sorceress!// //Do not doubt your friends. They are both very powerful. They’re just not in their homeland. Neither are you. Your powers are very limited in this part of the world. Actually, in every part of the world except Syiorianda. Syiorianda is your only hope in defeating Cheka. But for now, you’ll have to outsmart her. She’s very powerful. Almost as powerful as you. You haven’t trained yet, so your power is as equivalent as a normal citizen of Syiorianda. That’s pretty low. While you’re in New York, you’ll be tested by her. How loyal you are to your country, yourself, and your friends. Make the right choice, and everything else will be smooth sailing, Robin...// My body began to convulse. I felt like I was being possessed. Probably because I was...actually being possessed. I shut my eyes and began to scream. I felt Jake and Destiny’s presence, but they began to yell at me. I couldn’t make the words out because I was freaking out too much. I fell to the ground and cringed at the overwhelming strength. Cheka was amazingly strong, and the downfall was I didn’t know how to get her out of my body. My eyes rolled back and I just shivered. I stood up slowly and my eyes glowed bright red. I, really Cheka possessing me, used my new powers to telekinetically clutch the twins in a death grip. I threw them towards a brick wall. I chuckled. I winced. My eyes turned bright violet. //You aren’t going to mess with my friends and I. Not this time at least.// I screamed so loud that every part of New York might have heard it. I built a mental wall to prevent “her” from damaging my friends and I any further. My entire body began to glow like the sun and I dug my hand in my heart. I assumed that the glowing gave me the power to grab inside myself. I retrieved a dark form from my body and threw it so far that she landed in the Pacific Ocean. I collapsed on the asphalt ground and passed out. Jake and Destiny rushed towards me. I panted. “It’s not over. I know it. It’s not over...” I whispered.

Ten

I don’t know how, but we arrived at my condo with me unconscious. I don’t recollect how we got there or how they knew where it was. It baffled me, but I just went with the flow. I was too beat to even complain or even get a noise out of my mouth. I don’t know how Jake was able to bring me up to my apartment, not that I was saying I was fat or anything. I was laid gently down on the couch, and Destiny rushed to my side and placed a cold, wet cloth on my forehead. Destiny whispered, “Shh. Don’t say one word Robin. Everything will be all right. Fate always shines upon those who radiate with goodness in their heart.” Jake and I must have had funny looks on our faces because Destiny smiled warmly. “I’m not that oblivious to the world, you know. I’ve got a brain as well, and apparently, I’m a professional sorceress and a wonderful apothecary. That indicates that I can heal you Robin, so you just relax your pretty face and I’ll get to work.” As Destiny walked to the kitchen, I noticed Jake staring at me. “I almost―I mean //we//―almost lost you.” He glanced at the floor sheepishly. “Hey, this place is really sweet,” he said changing the subject. He walked around the room, with his hand in his pockets. The floor-to-ceiling windows shone the sun toward Jake’s tousled, and slightly singed, hair. His chestnut hair changed to this caramel color. His deep green eyes became this sea green that made me shudder. The light changed Jake’s whole profile. From being the stranger I have this sort of fondness for to a boy who looked like he came from heaven. (Yeah, my comparisons are not the best and not that realistic.) He turned his head towards me, and I just began to blush. He smiled his perfect white smile, and that just turned my cheeks beet red. With that, Jake just began to laugh. Darn, I hated when he laughed because I could just melt. I just covered my face with a pillow. “Aww, Robin.” He came around the dining table towards me. “I’m just laughing. Enjoying our time here. Especially with you.” I poked my eyes out of the pillow to see Jake staring at me with this longing gaze. “Really?” my voice cracked as I asked. I realized how desperate I sounded and covered my face with the pillow again. Not only did I want to hide my embarrassment, but I just wanted to smell the pillow again. (It smelled like lavender!) Jake pulled the pillow down gently. “Robin, why are you hiding your face?” He locked eyes with mine and continued pulling the pillow down. His eyes were transfixed, but he averted his attention to a stray strand of hair and placed it with the other pieces. After he fixed my hair, his attention was back on me. His green eyes moved down to my mouth, and I realized he was getting closer to me. I noticed that he was blushing as well as I was, but he couldn’t help but inch closer. Once his mouth was on mine, we didn’t get as much as ten seconds when Destiny cleared her throat loud enough for us to both hear. Jake stood up quickly and began scratching the back of his head, guilty. I just looked at my toes, which were still perfectly manicured from the night of the dance. “Mm-hmm.” Destiny came to me and held a bowl of this strange liquid. “Turns out your refrigerator had everything I needed. Drink this and it’ll help to heal quicker.” She gave me the bowl and gave Jake a dirty look. “Mm-hmm.”

Eleven

I woke up early so I could make Jake and Destiny breakfast. I mean, it was the least I could do for their support. I placed my feet onto the cold, wooden floors and raised my arms over my head as if I was reaching for the sun. I scratched my head, which by the way, my hair was in total disarray like I was shocked with electricity. I yawned and scratched my head again. That was a habit of mine, the scratching of the head. I walked towards the kitchen, but I stopped in my tracks when I saw Jake sprawled out on the couch in the living room. I thought he slept in the guest room? I crept towards him and noticed how young he looked while asleep. Then again, everybody says that people look younger when they’re asleep. I smiled and crept into the kitchen. I searched the refrigerator for everything I needed. Surprisingly, as Destiny stated yesterday, the refrigerator had everything I needed. It’s been about a week and a half since we left this place, but everything here seemed to be recently bought. That was strange. No one has access here except Aunt Avi and me. No one. Who could’ve given us fresh groceries? I mean seriously? Who breaks in just to give groceries? I heard footsteps behind me. “Wow. Something smells really good.” I turned around and smiled. “Good morning, Destiny.” I pointed to the chair with a spatula. “Why don’t you take a seat?” She obeyed. I noticed that Destiny’s straight brown hair, similar to Jake’s, wasn’t in disarray like mine. I tilted my head. “Hey Destiny. How do you keep your hair so straight? Mine is like a jungle. It just can’t be tamed.” “Neither can you,” a voice said from the side. I turned forty-five degrees and saw Jake leaning against the wall. I gave him a smirk. “Good morning to you too.” I watched him walk to the chair next to Destiny. While he wasn’t looking, I stuck my tongue out at him. I heard Destiny giggle at this. I joined in the laughter. “What’s so funny?” Jake questioned. “Nothing,” I quickly replied. “What’d you do to me?” “No-//thing.// I just think you’re full of yourself.” “I second that.” Destiny raised her hand. “Says the girl who looks in the mirror for over three hours.” “Oh, so you notice the pretty genes that were absorbed in me,” she said peppily, “but skipped you.” She turned her head towards her brother and gave him a devious glare. “Actually,” I walked towards Jake and played with his hair, “he has the same hair as you. He also has your eyes. He’s not that bad―” I stepped back. “What am I talking about?” I gave Destiny a confused look, but her response was a giggle. I turned to Jake just to see a smug smile on his face. “Why am I saying all this stuff about Jake?” “I don’t know about you, but I’d like to see how this is going,” Jake stated. “For once, I agree with my brother.” Destiny folded her hands and rested her chin on them. “Continue with your little rant about my precious brother.” She batted her eyes expectedly. “No! Did you cast some... some spell on me to tell the truth?” “So it //is// true?” Destiny looked mockingly shocked. She covered her mouth, which was shaped in an O. “So what do you think about his blue eyes?” “They’re not blue,” I snapped. “They’re emerald green, but when they hit the light, they turn to this sea green.” Destiny smirked. “Oh really? What about his mahogany hair?” “It’s not mahogany. I thought you knew that? It’s chestnut, and it has this tousled look that is hard to get for guys. When it’s struck by light, it has this nice caramel.” I walked towards Jake, with a smirk, and messed his hair up. “What about his teeth? Aren’t they dazzling?” Destiny said, with a very convincing dreamy tone. “They’re not dazzling, they’re almost blinding in the most beautiful way.” “Would you ever tell all that to his face?” Destiny inquired. “Yeah, if I had the guts to.” “Well you just said it to his face,” Jake said. “Hello? I’m still in the room! I never left. If you girls wanted to gossip, why didn’t you go to the other room? On the other hand, I’m torn because this is some juicy information. Thank you Robin for giving me such generous compliments.” I blushed. I darted my eyes all over the room to find something to do. I sniffed the air and I realized something. “The bacon!” “You bake your bacon?” Destiny asked. “Yeah. Hence the term ‘bacon’. You bake-on. Not only that, but it’s healthier,” I reasoned. “Whatever. I’m starving.” Jake pulled out three plates and we ate together in silence.

I somehow fell asleep because the next thing I knew, I was being shook by someone. They were shaking me so vigorously that I sprung up into a sitting position and punched the person right in the stomach. I opened my eyes and noticed a doubled over Jake. My eyes widened. “Oh my gosh.” “A simple open of your eyes would’ve been a lot more pleasant,” Jake stated through clenched teeth. “Maybe even yelling at my face would’ve been nicer, instead of punching me in the guts!” I leaped like a frog off the couch and rushed to his aid. I pulled up his shirt slightly to see a bluish-purple bruise about the size of my fist, maybe even bigger. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl and wash cloth. I turned the faucet and waited until the bowl was filled halfway with lukewarm water. I waved my hand over the bowl, praying that this spell that I was reciting was going to work. I don’t know how I knew the spell. I guess it was just a natural instinct, just like it was natural instinct for Destiny to conjure up that tonic. I rushed back to Jake and dipped a portion of the towel into the bowl. With that wet side, I placed it and rubbed it on his bruise. Instantly, the bruise vanished into thin air, as if I never punched him. “How do you feel?” I asked, without meeting his eyes. “I actually feel good. Better actually. It’s as if you never punched me.” He chuckled. “You and I both know that you punched me though.” “I’m sorry! It’s a force of habit. I used to take martial arts classes, and ever since I did that, some odd natural instinct kicks in when I feel like I’m being attacked. You just so happened to be annoying me greatly that I felt the need to punch you. Either that or you shook me so aggressively that it took me by surprise. I want to go with the latter of the two because that’s the truth.” “Whatever,” he snorted. “When are we going to actually start looking for your aunt? I, personally, don’t really want to go back to London just yet. I think this is a spectacular place, and New York is so fascinating that I need to take a tour around the whole state.” “Oh //please.// You just want to skip the history exam. You know as well as I do that you just want to extend your time here so that you can skip any important tests and quizzes. Personally, I think we should find my aunt now and leave New York //immediately.// This place is bringing back terrible memories and bad vibes.” “What do you mean by ‘bad vibes’?” “For some odd reason, my apartment’s aura is not normal. It seems to be shuddering in fear and... scared. Almost scared as if it were going to die.” “Do you know how it’s going to die?” “This place will be burned down.” Jake stood up and began filling up his backpack with necessities. He stared at me. “Aren’t you going to help?” “What are you talking about?” I titled my head. “You said the apartment’s aura was sending you bad vibes. Maybe they were warnings. You said, and I quote ‘Almost scared as if it were going to die.’ That means someone’s planning on sabotaging this place and keeping us trapped here! We’re going to die if we don’t leave now!” He ran towards his sister and shook her awake. What he got for doing that was a slap in the face. “Why is it that I’m the human punch bag?” I couldn’t help it, but I laughed. I attempted to open the front door. It was locked from the outside. Stupid! Who gets a door that locks only from the outside? Oh, that’s right, Aunt Avi would! Destiny tried the fire escape, but she said it was barricaded as well. There were no other forms of escape except... the windows. An idea sprung up like a flower in spring. “Guys, you’re going to have to trust me with my decision. We’re going to have to jump out of the window. It’s either attempt to live, even if it may lead to suicide, or be murdered.” “I choose suicide,” they said in unison. “Okay. So if I die, you guys may have a chance of living. Either that or we just all die together. Basically, it’s if I go down, you go down with me. Lovely.” I picked the heaviest object in the room. I chose the 55” LED flat screen TV. No point in keeping it now, this place is about to burn anyways. Somehow, I was able to levitate the television off its stand and toss it out the window. I didn’t wait for the aftermath of he crash because I grabbed Jake with one hand and Destiny with the other. “Live or die. Let’s go,” I muttered. I closed my eyes and brought Jake and Destiny with me. The funny thing about jumping off a twenty story condominium is that you realize when you hit the ground... for a normal person. The funny thing for the three of us jumping off a twenty story condominium is that you don’t actually hit the ground... you fly. Destiny was screaming her head off, while Jake was yelling “Woo hoo!” I began to hysterically laugh. “Who’s doing this?” “You,” they said simultaneously. “No. That can’t be.” I glanced at my hands to notice that I was actually controlling the wind currents. I didn’t hesitate when I screamed, “This is so cool!” I raised my arms above my head, but that let the wind escape. Then, we began to free fall again. I swooped my arms together, as if I were trying to gather the clouds, and we gained stability again. I looked back and noticed my life home burning in a pleasant inferno. //Cheka is near. Find a deserted barn. Never mind. I found one already. Keep heading north until you see this barn to the right that is about six miles away. That fire was created by Cheka. She is very strong, so be careful where you are and who you trust. You never know, someone may just turn you in for ransom.// //Why do I need to be meticulous about my location?// //If you’re secluded in a place, she can track you down easily. Stay near crowded places.// //Then why are we going to a deserted barn?// //Ohh... um... well then. Turn around and go to Manhattan. Remember the other condo that Aunt Avi kept? Where you guys used to live before the other place?// //Yes. I remember that one. Okay. One more question. Who would want to betray me? I think I know enough about Jake and Destiny to trust them. They’re the only ones I have recently met.// //I can tell you that it’s not Aunt Avi who betrays you. Obviously, Cheka won’t betray you because she’s the one that kidnapped your aunt. Destiny, pardon my rudeness, just doesn’t have the capacity to betray you. She’s more likely to be betrayed by// you//, but that’s more down the road. I should really stop telling you about your future because you may attempt to alter what will be done. By the way, if you do that, you’re going to affect the whole space-time continuum, and I will be tracked down for giving away confidential visions. Oops. I just gave away that I’m psychic. I should really stop talking now.// //Wait. What about Jake?// Xanadei was silent. //He seriously can’t be the one who betrays me. He can’t. I mean, he wouldn’t. Would he?// //Jake is a very handsome, bright, intelligent, young man, but that’s the problem. Their types are always the problem. Don’t ever fall for their kind. You learn to make that mistake only once.// //So he’s going to betray me in love?// //Not exactly... He’s... he’s going to to turn you and Destiny to Cheka and join her side. Please don’t take it too harsh. Your relationship... I’m just not going to finish that sentence. Er... I’m just going to leave you now because this is an awkward moment for all of us. Good bye. See you soon sister.// I guess I was too focused on the news that was delivered by my oh-so naive because we began to free fall yet again. This time at a more reasonable height. A good ten feet. I don’t remember what happened next. All I remembered was a lot of moaning and then I blacked out.

Twelve

I moaned and rolled over. I stretched out all my muscles and limbs; they seemed to be all intact, unharmed. I checked my body for bruises, and miraculously, there were none. I was shocked. Man, I think that these abilities, that I have yet to discover, give me some power to magically rejuvenate and heal. That’s really cool. I can’t say that about Jake and Destiny though. They both looked like they have a concussion. They were both bleeding profusely. Destiny’s leg was bent the wrong way. Jake was almost like a human pretzel gone wrong, formed incorrectly and contorted in different spots. I almost gagged, but I knew I could heal them. I rushed towards Destiny. I grabbed tufts of grass, absorbed the energy out of them, and gathered that energy into an iridescent orb. I whispered an incantation and sent the little orb into Destiny’s body. Her body emanated a lustrous glow, and slowly, her body began to regenerate skin, heal wounds, and wipe the blood away. Although Destiny was still unconscious, she was healed. That was all that mattered. I turned my head towards Jake. I knew I had to do this fast. It wasn’t because there was the possibility of him dying, but the sight of him just disturbed me. That image was going to haunt me in my dreams. I assumed that since Jake’s injuries were more severe, I would have to extract more energy. Grass was definitely not going to help me in this situation. I glanced around and spotted an oak tree. I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’m so sorry to be taking your life away, but I don’t want my friend to lose his life either.” Like the tree felt sympathy, it easily gave it’s life away. Compared to the grass orb, this one was twenty times bigger. As the orb began to formulate, the tree withered into nothing. I placed the orb into Jake’s body. His body was still contorted, so I cautiously moved his limbs into what I thought was the proper placement. (It was an attempt. I wish I took anatomy.) They were both unconscious, and I was wiped out, but I didn’t seem to do that weird “go unconscious thing” that people with supernatural powers do. I just sat there, babysitting the two of them. I felt awkward just sitting there. Waiting for them to wake up at any point in time. Out of boredom, I pulled out a notebook. I stink at sketching, so I didn’t even attempt to draw the beautiful scenery. Instead, I //wrote// about the scenery. I wrote this on the first page:

Day one of being runaways, I think. I sit up against the remains of what should be a tree. I constantly glance back at my friends Jake and Destiny. Mostly Jake. There’s a neglected barn about half a mile away. The grass here is really green. The closest I’ve ever been to seeing green this kind of luscious shade is Jake’s t-shirt; it made him look a-//mazing.// Anyways, it’s a lot quieter on this part of the state. Almost //too// quiet, but I kind of like it. I can finally appreciate the beauty of nature. Not that I haven’t already, but I feel like there’s this deeper connection now. I discovered some of the potentials of my awesome powers. I can deflect orbs of fire. Also, I can gather wind and physically stand on air. Plus, I can extract energy from objects, even people, but I don’t even like the thought of it in the first place. So far so good. Oh, I can also rejuvenate and mend my skin. Pretty cool huh? I hope I have some other cool abilities...

That’s all I got to write because I fell asleep. When I woke up, I found the pencil still in my hand and the notebook was still on my lap, but there was another entry. Destiny and Jake were still asleep, but they seem to be breathing. Well they //have// been breathing, but this time, it’s regular. In a neat script, it said:

Day one of being saviours, I think. I look down at my skin, and I’m completely healed. How did this happen? It’s like somebody healed me. More specifically, Robin. Robin looks so cute while she’s asleep. I hope she doesn’t know that I watch her while she’s asleep. If I’m asleep right now while she’s reading this, I assume she already knows that I read her little blurb. Anyways, it’s about five o’clock. Actually, it is five o’clock. Thank you watch. Destiny’s snoring a storm right next to me. Birds have been constantly landing on her, but they leave when they realize she’s not dead. Ha ha. I really don’t know what to say. I discovered that my best friend has amazing powers. I discovered my sister is this pro apothecary/sorceress. I’m a swordsman, but when will my abilities be tested? When will I ever need to be a pro with a sword and/or foil? That’d be really cool though. I wonder if Robin would want to help me practice...

I smiled. Obviously, I’d help him. I don’t want to help him for practice, but I want to help him because I may just be able to whoop his sorry butt. (That’s right; I took fencing classes in New York.) This is seriously going to be fun...

Thirteen

I stabbed Jake with a makeshift foil. It was a branch I broke off from another nearby tree. He jolted awake. “Ow! What the heck was that for?” He began rubbing the spot I jabbed him at. “You wrote in my journal, and I paraphrase ‘if I would want to help you practice’. I’m making your wish come true. Aren’t I nice?” “What’s in it for you?” I give him a face of mocked shock. “What’s in it for //me? Nothing!// Only the sheer enjoyment of kicking your bum. If you win, I’ll do whatever you want. Just for today.” “Deal.” He stuck his hand out. I shook it, as sealing the deal. I created another foil for Jake. I’ve noticed that I haven’t been very nice to trees today. I got in my ready stance. Jake did likewise. “En garde!” I’ve learned from the past that you don’t make the first move, ever, but he wouldn’t move either, so I lunged. I never expected Jake to parry in an instant, but he did. I recovered quickly and decided to play on the defense. //This wasn’t as easy as I suspected,// I thought, //but then again, I gave him incentive to do good.// I was too busy with my thoughts that I left myself exposed. I parried and moved a step back. I attempted a feint, but he knew my strategy, so he just stood there, not even flinching. He advanced towards me and he beat my foil. I got really angry and just lunged, which was a stupid move. He parried that like it was an annoying fly and remised. “Will you just... ugh!” Jake smiled. He lunged, but I tried to counterattack...but epically failing, so he redoubled. I was so ticked off at this point that I didn’t notice Jake lunge and earn a hit. I let my foil clunk to the ground. I raised my hands. “You know what? I forfeit! This is //so// not fair.” “Oh it definitely was. Now I won, and now you have to do one thing for me.” I closed my eyes for the inevitable. Give him compliments? Do his homework? Kick myself? Do something stupid? //What?// “I want you... to take a walk with me.” My shoulders relaxed, but then they tensed up again. “That’s it? A walk? That’s all you want?” “Yeah. I’m not a horrible person that’s gonna make you do my laundry for the next month. We’re in the middle of nowhere and my luggage was at your house, but that bursted into flames. I have nothing better to do. I’m bored. Plus, Destiny would never do anything with me. So... you kind of have to.” “Fine.” I fell into step with him as we explored the place. We entered the secluded barn, but there was nothing interesting in there, except for a few bales of hay. There were no houses, or farms, nearby. I didn’t like the awkward silence between us, so I said, “I’ve noticed something. I don’t want to sound rude, but you don’t sound like you were naturally born in the UK. You don’t spell words like one, and you definitely don’t talk like one. Why is that?” He smiled his irresistible smile. “Well that’s because I wasn’t born in UK. Destiny and I were still born in Europe though. I’m actually Italian. I don’t have any accents, which is somewhat of a plus. We’ve only been living in the UK for about four years now. We lived in Italy for four years as well; in France, for about three years, and in Greece, we lived there for two years. We’ve been hopping all over the continent, deciding which country fit our kind of lifestyle.” Jake scratched the back of his head, messing his hair. “Yeah. I think that answers all your questions.” “Yep. What I also noticed is that I just didn’t heal you, but I also mended your clothes. How does that happen? I really don’t know, but it’s a pro.” “Now it’s my turn for twenty questions. One, where were you supposedly born? Two, what makes you love New York so much? Three, why is it that you don’t look like an American? Four, what do you like about London? Five, if you had to choose, where would you live: New York or London?” “That wasn’t twenty questions, but oh well. Aunt Avi told me that I was born and raised in New York. The second question is super easy to answer. I love New York because it’s lively, thrilling, and amazing to walk through at night. I don’t look like an American because my parents weren’t American, or so I’ve been told. I’m Eurasian actually. My dad was European and my mom was Asian, or so I’ve been told. Now, I’m Syioriandan, which sounds pretty cool too. London is basically the European version of New York, so I have to love it. That last question is pretty tough, but I’m going to have to go with London. Don’t even waste your breath by asking why, because I’m going to answer that right now. I wouldn’t have friends like Destiny... or you.” I glance at him from the side. He stopped in his tracks. “Is that so?” “Yeah.” I blushed. Jake was doing that guy thing when they want to hold the girl’s hand, but they’re afraid that she might pull away, and attempt to occupy their hands by shoving them in their pockets. I mentally rolled my eyes and made the move instead. I gently pried his left hand out of his pocket and intertwined my fingers with his. I smiled sweetly at him, and he seemed to relax. I leaned against him and rested my head on his shoulder, even though he was slightly taller than me. “I feel like I know you better. I’m glad I won that bet.” “Me too.” I think Jake sensed something as well because he tensed up and let go of my hand. I whipped my head around. There was nowhere to hide, yet I felt a strong aura coming from the right. “You sense some danger as well, right?” “Yep. It’s such a shame. We were getting along so well.” I found a decaying fence and pulled out the energy from that. It’s not living anymore, so I won’t have to feel guilty. I conjured the sphere of energy into a ball of fire. Sweet. “Where do you have a premonition strongest?” “To my right.” I pulled off a piece of metal from the tractor and molded it into a sword. No one is going to miss that tractor anyways. If they do, they have nothing against me. “Here.” I passed the sword off to Jake. He played around with it and smirked. “Cool.” “Whoever―//whatever―//that thing is, be prepared.” “Born ready.” “Stop! Don’t do anything! It’s just me!” Destiny yelled out. She emerged from the right, just as Jake and I felt. “Sorry I was snooping around. Mum and Dad texted me. They got excited when I said that Jake took Robin out for a walk, so I took a picture and sent it to them. False alarm, no harm.” She stared sheepishly at the ground. “Not quite. It wasn’t you. I knew you were there; I just didn’t say anything. There is some dark aura around here. Something’s lurking around here and I feel it. Destiny, get ready.” I turn my head towards her, and I saw blue fire. Wow. //Blue// fire emitting from her palms. Bonus for being a sorceress. We were formed into a triangle, looking outward. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jake struggling with a large black bird. I blasted it with the fire. The stupid mistake was that I used all of it, but it wouldn’t matter; fire had no effect on this... black... phoenix. We’re in for a lot of trouble. Destiny attempted to shoot fire at it as well, but ended with the same result. I tried every element, but it didn’t do anything but annoy the black phoenix. I decided to go plain old energy orb, but I just ended up murdering another patch of grass. Then it hit me. This bird is supposed to be colorful, but it’s overtaken by //dark// matter. What other way to injure the bird than with light? I extracted some light from the sun, which wasn’t a lot because the sun is like really big. I aimed for the heart and shot the orb. It went through the phoenix like a bullet. Immediately, it dropped Jake and disintegrated into dust. Destiny and I ran towards Jake. Him not looking very well was an understatement. I sort of got angry because right when I heal him, he gets himself inflicted with the equivalent amount of pain as before. “Destiny you know how to...?” She nodded. She knew the procedure. I decided to look somewhere else, because I just hate looking at something so gruesome. In the sky, I saw a black form floating off in the sky.

Fourteen

“That’s it. We have to keep moving. This is just annoying me, with Cheka and all.” I began pacing back and forth. Jake was finally coming to, and he was smiling. “Chill Robin. That was awesome. It was //so// worth it.” “No it wasn’t awesome! You almost died! Again!” His boyish grin transformed to a sly, bad-boy smile. “I wasn’t talking about the phoenix.” I blinked a couple of times and blushed. “Destiny, can’t you put him to sleep?” “Sadly, no, but I think you can.” In the back of my mind, a thought surfaced from the depths of recollections and memories. I grabbed at that one little memory and put it to use. I concentrated on that one little spell and placed my hand on Jake’s forehead. I whispered, “I’m sorry, but you’re really getting on my nerves now Jake. It’s not your fault, but you’re making me feel very uncomfortable. So sleep.” Just then, Jake’s eyes closed and he was breathing deeply. I snapped in front of his face, waved my hand, and even slapped him. I laughed. “This is so cool!” I turned to Destiny. “Now that solved one of my problems.” I picked up my journal and shoved it in my backpack. I left no evidence of our presence here. “You were tired of his compliments? Well, put yourself in my shoes. I had to hear about all this stuff about you...” Destiny trailed off. I glared at her. “What ‘stuff’ about me? Destiny, you know I can probe minds right? I can probe yours for the answer. I can probe Jake’s as well, but I’m too scared to. Tell me now. I want to get out of this place. It gives me bad memories... and the creeps.” “Nothing...” Destiny turned around and made a run for it. I was chasing after her, but I gathered the winds, and Jake (I woke him up with a different spell), and we both shot like a bullet. We bypassed Destiny and dropped in front of her. “We’ll talk about this later, but right now, we have to go.” I picked Destiny up and we flew against the westerlies. “I’m probably only going to last about a few hours. Exhaustion will get to me and we’ll all fall. If you see me starting to lack in strength, stop me. Even if I protest, stop me. The dangerous part of using these powers for an extensive amount of time is that it’ll be tough to stop it.” I turned my head to Destiny. “If I don’t stop, shoot me with fire.” I turned my head towards Jake. “If your sister doesn’t stop me still //or// she chickens out, stab me with your sword. No matter how painful it’ll be, just do anything to stop me from going too long. If you guys are wondering why I’d inflict so much pain to myself, it’s because my powers are a delicate balance; my humanity and powers are one, but if one overpowers the other, then life may just come to an end.” The Twins shared a worried glance. I smiled sadly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Remember: I can regenerate my skin and internal organs.” I laughed at their paled expressions. “I know it sounds gross, but in the long run, I can heal from fatal injuries. I’m basically immortal.” I continued the wind for about four hours. I was surprised that no one noticed three kids flying in the air; then again, it was dark outside. My limbs were lacking strength and my whole body felt numb. Fatigue washed over me in a crashing wave. I wanted to stop, but my hands were frozen. I tried again to will away the air, but my hands were stock still. I began to panic. For me to stop the wind, I have to do that physically; it’s not a mental thing. “Uh... guys. I can’t stop the wind.” No response. “Guys.” I turned my head to see them both asleep and on the “ground”. I prodded them with my sneaker, but Destiny was in a deep sleep and there was no hope for Jake to wake up. I tried every tactic that I knew to wake them up. I turned some of the air into water to pour on them. I tried kicking them. Anything that didn’t require my hands because they were basically pinned. “Ugh! Destiny! Jake! Wake UP!” A thought surfaced in my brain. My hands may be still, but I can still use them. I summoned fire into my palms. (I extracted the energy from a nearby electrical pole. Sucks to be the people who won’t have cable.) The fire grew bigger and bigger. I was dazzled by it’s beauty, but I quickly snapped out of it. I folded my wrist toward my arm so I could inflict the pain needed. I don’t care if this is going to hurt as surgery without anesthesia, but I’ll do whatever it takes to stop the pain I’m enduring inside me. I finally touched my bare arm, and when I did, I flicked my wrist harder at my arm to burn it with something a normal person would call a third degree burn. I screamed. That got them awake. We began to plummet to the ground, but I placed air under us so we could land softly. I laid down on the ground. I was too exhausted to even say one word or groan. Soon enough, I passed out.

“Can you stop passing out Robin? You’re really concerning me.” Jake was sitting across from me. “I’m sorry if I don’t know all the rules and regulations of my powers.” My head was throbbing real loud. “Can anyone tell me where we are now?” “Apparently, we’re in Michigan.” I stood up, but a little too quickly. My legs failed me and I fell again. “We’re too far now! We have to go back to New York. I didn’t mean to go this far!” “No duh girl. You took us a little too far from the countryside.” Destiny was sitting against a tree, filing her nails. She gasped. “Thanks Robin. Because of you, I broke a nail.” Destiny glanced at Jake and I, with our weird expressions, and laughed. “You seriously think I care if I broke a nail? Come on! I cut my nails every other week. Pff!” Destiny got up, tossed the filer to the ground, and stretched her arms out. She grumbled something inaudible and walked toward... Lake Michigan? “There she goes again leaving us alone together,” I mumbled. “What? You don’t like being with me?” Jake asked. He propped the backpack up behind my back and he summoned water. “Cool huh? I don’t have powers as strong as yours, but it’s still pretty good. Good enough to keep you alive. Drink.” I slowly sipped the cold water and embraced the tenderness that trickled down my throat. “It’s not that I don’t like you; it’s that I’m afraid you may not like me.” I shrugged it off, but my shoulder was on fire. I gasped. I cringed at the pain that seethed throughout my veins. “Easy now Robin. You’re hurt more internally than externally. Don’t move much will ya? You’re making it difficult just to have a normal conversation with you. Just keep calm and we’ll get you back to your normal health. We’ll stay here as long as you need to heal.” Jake got something from his back pocket. It was a small vial filled with a pinkish liquid. “Drink some of this.” “What if it doesn’t work fast enough? What if Cheka comes after us while I’m healing? What will you do? You’re just one person.” Jake smiled. “Check this out. This is super cool.” He waved his hand over our heads and I found a barrier protecting us from the outside world. “We can see them, but they can’t see us outside. The only thing they’ll see is just a bunch of teenagers acting like their stereotypical selves.” “I would punch you, but it’ll just cause me so much pain that I may just hurl.” I took deep breaths. “You know, sometimes I wished that I had an exciting life. That I wasn’t just living a normal life. I realized that I wished too hard. I regret saying those things. Nowadays, I yearn to have that mundane life again. That sense of fitting in, but then again, I have always been different. When my aunt said I was different, I never knew she meant ‘You’re a powerful girl who needs to defeat evil’ different. Too much for a girl of thirteen. Actually fourteen.” “It’s your birthday today?” I partially shrugged. “Well yeah, but it’s not a big deal. Just reminds me I’m another year older. I don’t feel any different. I’ve never felt different because my birthday always comes second place to the biggest holiday of the year. Christmas Day.... Yay....” I trailed off. “So yeah.” “It’s Christmas Day already?” Jake looked at me dumbfounded. “That can’t be right.” He fumbled for his phone and checked his calendar. “This can’t be right. How did two weeks already pass by?” “Well, we’ve been running away. A lot. There’s been a lot that’s been going on. I’ve passed out more than three times this week already. Umm... we’ve had some crazy encounters with...things. I can easily see how time would be trivial.” Jake locked eyes with me. “Yeah...well, happy birthday. You definitely make my days go by. You make them happier.” I blushed. “Thanks. I mean, the birthday.” I smacked my forehead, which caused me excruciating pain. “Ow!” I yelled. “Didn’t I tell you to stop moving?” He extracted more water from the grass and made me drink it. Jake felt my forehead. “You’re heating up. You may have a fever.” He rummaged through his knapsack. “Oh please be in here....please be in here...” He pulled out yet another vial. “Drink this one now. It’ll help bring your temperature down. Don’t ask where I got it because Destiny will answer that when you two have your girl-to-girl talks soon. All I’m here for is to talk to you.” “More like flirt with me.” “That too.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll save that for another day. You’re too tired. Besides, I wouldn’t be so cruel on your birthday.” “Don’t treat me like I’m on some higher pedestal than you. I’m not a princess.” “But you are. I’ve heard you talk to Xanadei, when you were passed out. She keeps telling you that she’s a princess. If she’s a princess and you’re her sister, then you’re a princess as well. That’s if you follow logic. So technically, your argument is invalid. Nice try. Besides, even if you weren’t a princess, you’d still be one in my eyes.” Jake placed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I know I’ve attempted to be alone with you multiple times already, but this bubble surrounding us makes this way easier. I’ve been trying to get my feelings for you straightened out, but I’ve failed. Words are just understatements of what I really feel. I was never eloquent with my words, especially with you staring at me like that, but I can do this.” Jake inched closer and placed his lips on mine. I only felt the warmth of his mouth. Everything in the world melted. I know I’ve only known him for about a few weeks, yet I felt like I’ve known him for forever. All my experiences with him, all my memories jumped at me. Everything. Ever since I was born all the way up to this very moment. I was gaining my memories back as I kissed Jake longer. I wanted to know more, but I also wanted to enjoy this moment. As always, nothing ever worked to my favor, so Destiny bursted our bubble. Literally. “Being a sorceress has it’s perks you know. Anybody could’ve broken that bubble Jake. You’ve got to become stronger or else it’ll be too weak. Now get up and practice Mister I’m-So-Good-With-A-Sword.” Destiny pushed his brother to the side and placed her laser eyes on me. “You and me need to talk big time. When I say that, I mean now.