Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  "Can we do the super-fast subway travel tunnel thing?" I turned to the guys walking backward as I asked. I was practically jumping in excitement, somehow gaining back energy I didn't know I had left in me.

  Nick and Raynor laughed as Isaake answered me. "Once we are out of the square." He nodded.

  I faced forward and saw Ollie had a smile on his face which confused me. He was giving me whiplash on his opinion of me. Or he might just be thinking about what he had for lunch. I had to remember not everything was about me.

  "Why do you guys travel underground? Couldn't you do the same thing aboveground? Or would you just fly off like you're on the moon?" I questioned and received a confused look from the man beside me. Oh, yeah. They haven't been to the moon yet.

  "We could travel above ground," Raynor admitted. "But then we would have all the obstacles to face."

  "And everyone would see us," Nick added like that was a reasonable explanation.

  "You guys sure are big on your privacy," I muttered out.

  "We have to be," Ollie spoke up.

  "People respect strength." Isaake clarified probably knowing I was going to ask more. "But too much strength makes those same people scared." I thought about it and nodded.

  "I can see that," I admitted. "So, you guys are super strong. Or well, in your gifts I mean." There was silence to my question. I didn't know if they were going to answer but Nick did.

  "Hector and I are both gifted in Water." I nodded along, already having heard this. "Hector can maneuver water and do a neat trick of keeping dry in the rain. I can cleanse water so that it is drinkable, separating it from anything that makes it harmful. Hector can't do that." Again, I nodded for him to continue. "I can also part rivers with ease." Raynor interrupted him with a snort.

  "It took a lot of practice, so I wouldn't say it was 'with ease'" Nick ignored him and continued.

  "I can make the water move fast enough to slice through wood. I can make it a weapon." He clarified. I had dropped behind in pace and was walking between Nick and Isaake now. Raynor took up the rear as Ollie filled in the front making us a diamond pattern. I was turned towards Nick as he gained my full attention.

  "Weapons can kill," Isaake spoke up this time. "Something that has the power to take a life isn't something that a person in a position of power will allow. Unless that weapon is in their control." He spoke darkly and I got a glimpse of the cold man I took him for when I first met him. It was then that I realized he hasn't been that way with me for a while.

  I wondered how that whole power-play thing worked for Isaake. It has been in the back of mind to ask him about his gift of Death. I'm pretty sure that classifies as a weapon that can take life, based on the title alone. Does that mean he is controlled by someone of power and that's why they let him live? I was scared to ask. I didn't want to hear an answer that I wouldn't like. I don't want to think of this man as someone who kills others based on an order. A mercenary.

  I felt the tension in the group and looked towards Nick waiting on him to break it up. Nick was stuck in his own thoughts and the silence was bearing down. "So, the tunnel." I blurted out louder than I meant to and saw Nick jump and Isaake flinch. "How does it work?" I spoke in a much calmer normal tone. That's me, completely normal over here. Raynor chuckled behind me apparently finding humor in my normality.

  The training area was behind us now, so I assumed we were about to tunnel again to get to the place. I may have just blurted out about how it works, but I really was curious. I felt like I was weightless last time, but I swore I was still on the ground. The ground was flying or something.

  "We go underground and travel." Ollie looked at me funny.

  "No, shit." I deadpanned. I saw his lips lift before dropping down again. I'm starting to think he gives me these answers on purpose. "Why does it only work with you two though." I pointed to him and Raynor. "And don't tell me because of your gifts." I quickly inserted. "Explain it to me."

  We stopped walking and I realized I was surrounded by the guys. Huh, I didn't notice that on the way here. "I manipulate the earth to create a path to where we are going." Ollie started explaining.

  "Then I manipulate the air to push us there quicker," Raynor added proudly.

  "I felt the ground beneath my feet though. It was steady, but it wasn’t." I added unsure if I was remembering correctly.

  I heard and felt the rumble of the ground below me now as Ollie started manipulating the earth to create the hole for us.

  When the hole was opened, and the slope was clear to lead us down, Ollie turned his attention back to me. "I keep us on a piece of the earth to steady us." He gestured for us to step down. Nick stole my attention before I moved.

  "You should have seen what happened before they came up with that idea." Nick started laughing. "Raynor threw Isaake into the back of his house and broke his glasses." Ollie started laughing too at the memory.

  "It's hard to keep Air controlled around four different people." I heard Raynor mutter. "Focusing on one object is easier, which is why I just have to push the slab of the earth now." I heard Raynor but I was focused on another thought.

  "You had glasses?" I questioned Isaake. I couldn't be completely sure, but I think he was blushing.

  "I did. Ollie Healed my eyesight when he got control of his gift." He admitted.

  "Holy shit." I was stunned. It seems silly to not realize that a gift that can regrow my burnt skin could also correct eyesight. I guess it was just hitting me how powerful all these gifts are. And the guys have multiple gifts. "So, you guys are strong in all of your gifts?" I questioned. Isaake nudged my back to get me moving. I admit I was enjoying the conversation and didn't know if they were going to ditch me when they got there. I was stalling.

  Ollie was shaking his head in denial even as Isaake spoke up behind me. "Some of our gifts are more powerful than others." He explained.

  "Some don't even work at all," Raynor spoke up and I watched the guys in front of me look over at him with different emotions. Nick showed pity, while Ollie showed shock. I couldn't see Isaake's reaction from behind me, but I assumed by the other two Raynor did not speak about his other gift much.

  "How about we get moving?" Isaake spoke up changing the subject. Ollie snapped out of his shock and nodded in agreement. With no further stalling to be done, I stepped down.

  The air whizzed by us as we took off down the tunnel. Again, I had butterflies in my stomach from the weightless feeling. I loved this feeling. It reminded me of the one school field trip to Six Flags that my teacher paid for. All too soon it was over though, and we were back on solid ground.

  "You guys need to combine powers and become the Avatar so I can travel like that every time." Confused looks greeted me, and I decided to explain this time. "The Avatar is a character from a T.V. show that can control Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. Holy shit. I wonder if that idea came from your gifts!" I was going off on my own theories. The guys still looked confused, but I didn't bother explaining further. There was too much time between us to convey everything that these men haven't witnessed.

  A sweet voice calling out had me looking towards the bridge. I saw some of the guys stiffen up from my peripheral but focused all my attention on the two new strangers. A woman was standing next to a taller man who looked menacing.

  The man had on a tan cloth that covered his bits and a headband covered his bald head with a feather hanging on it, but it was the weapons that drew my attention towards him. A bow that was nearly as tall as himself was propped on the ground beside him much like a staff. I spotted arrows sticking up from over his shoulder. There was also a club on his hip. No, wait. I caught a glimpse of shining metal. An ax?

  The woman started moving towards us with a smile on her face. I looked towards her and almost stepped back in shock. She was beautiful with long thick black hair. There was a headband similar to the man around her head as well. Another similarity was that she was wearing a skirt covering her bottom half much like his...and nothing
else. Her breasts were bare for the world to see. Well, that's different.

  Don't look at her boobs. Easier said than done. As weird as it sounds, having a woman with her breasts bared after being used to everyone covering up from neck to ankle for the last week, well it was like peeking through your fingers during the movie parts when you are supposed to have your eyes covered. Fascinating in a way.

  I didn't even think about the guys until I heard an awkward sounding throat clearing. "We've told you about dressing appropriately when visiting, Aska." Ollie sounded almost strangled. How cutely awkward of him. “It’s polite company for women to remain covered in front of others.”

  "Speak for yourself. I know someone—ow!" I heard Nick mutter before he grunted in pain.

  I hope one of them smacked the shit out of him. Just because a woman chooses to dress, or half dress, like she is doesn't mean you stare at her like that. I glanced over at Nick and saw he held onto his ribs while Raynor was glaring at him. I glared his way too, hoping he saw the meaning in my eyes. Pervert. He never even looked my way. He did keep his eyes averted when he looked back at the woman, Aska. Looks like he can learn.

  "Where is Eliza?" That sweet voice asked ignoring the comment about covering up. I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to laugh, but I had the urge to. She clearly didn’t care what they thought of her nudity.

  The man was with her when I looked back forward, both closer than a moment ago. I could tell now that the weapon on his hip looked more like a knife. I admit I was looking at him warily. I had nothing against him of course. But the things that he was carrying could hurt me, and that seemed like something I should be wary about.

  The woman's words registered in my head and shocked me out of my staring session with the knife-like item. The number of times that people keep mentioning Eliza around me was starting to be suspicious. John, and now Aska.

  "Not yet." I heard Ollie say and turned in time to see his eyes turn away from me. "Come wait inside while we go out."

  "You wish to leave us underground without you?" Aska asked and the man with her grumbled something under his breath.

  "Raynor and I will stay." I heard Ollie answer. "Shall we go inside?"

  The woman's eyes turned towards me questioningly. I didn't know what she was trying to ask though, so I gave her no answers and followed the men while they opened the way to the secret bunker. I got a feeling I was about to learn one of the purposes of the club.

  I quickly got in between Ollie and Raynor while we walked the water path, not comfortable putting the woman and man directly behind me. It was a bit unreasonable. There were plenty of men who carried guns around in the square. I was warned repeatedly of the people there who could and would hurt me as well.

  The unknown man carried a rigid posture like he was fully expecting to fight at a moment’s notice. Despite that, I was probably safer with these two people than anyone in the village. The fact that the men seemed to trust them as well showed that I was safe. With that last thought, I tried relaxing.

  Nick and Isaake didn't follow us inside. So that left five of us. I made to stand on the wall so the others could sit down at the table when a chair seemed to materialize out of the ground. It was roughly the same shape as the other four chairs, but instead of wood, this one was made of hardened ground that raised up and formed it.

  "You can make chairs?" I questioned disbelievingly.

  Ollie turned around and gave me a look. "Of course." He said in a way that made me think he was calling me stupid. Oh, I'm about to wipe that look right off your face, buddy.

  "I've been here twice and had no place to sit and you just now made a chair." I pointed at the offending chair. "You didn't even make one for John." I pointed out referring to yesterday when his friend arrived.

  Ollie's eyes narrowed. "I didn't think about it." He grudgingly admitted.

  "Or, it's because we aren't half-naked chicks," I said in a much lower voice, still trying not to offend the woman who had a bodyguard ready to kill. I heard Raynor's laugh that he tried to cover with a cough and realized I didn't succeed in keeping my voice down. Ollie's glare narrowed further, and his hand went to rubbing that damn beard of his. I smirked in victory and he openly scowled as he threw his arm down.

  "Are you two going to continue this mating ritual, or can I introduce myself to her?" Aska asked from much too close beside me. I jumped effectively breaking the stare off that I was winning. My cheeks heated knowing that she heard me talking about her, but I chose to ignore it and shake her hand.

  "Tessa Woods."

  "Askamaboo." I scrunched my eyebrows before asking her to repeat her name more slowly to try and get a feel for it. I still decided to call her Aska like the guys, just in case. The man didn't even try to introduce himself.

  "So, what's going on?" I glanced at Ollie when I asked the question and saw him sitting at the table on the new chair. I wasn't sure who I was asking, but Ollie was the one who answered.

  "You're going to hang out in the back room for a bit."

  "Or," I suggested and plopped down in the chair beside him. "I can stay right here and find out for myself."

  "What is going on?" Aska asked carefully now looking between Ollie, me, and the space where the entrance was sealed. She looked wary now like I was the threat. That made all the hesitance I had a moment ago evaporate.

  "She's fine," Raynor demanded giving Ollie a look. I'm pretty sure he was taking up for me. Ollie looked exhausted and turned his attention to Aska.

  "Nothing is wrong, Aska. Tess is here to help." He then pointed a look at me that clearly said 'go along with it or die'. Or maybe I was paraphrasing his thoughts. Either way, I nodded my head stupidly like that was my exact purpose at the moment. Helping with whatever I'm supposed to be helping with. I only wished Ollie gave me the job description beforehand, so I didn't mess it up.

  The exaggerated nod seemed to relax Aska enough that she sat at the table. Her guard/ husband/ person who is licensed to kill chose to stand behind her. When he moved, I saw hair sway from behind him and realized that there was hair growing from a spot on the top of his head that trailed down. I missed it earlier assuming it was part of his head piece. I should really ask who he is, but his look says he isn't interested at all about what's going on around him. If it weren't for his stance showing he was clearly ready for a fight, I would assume he was bored.

  Surprisingly Ollie spoke with Aska and filled the silence. They both seemed comfortable with each other like they've known each other for years. Even Raynor spoke up at times asking Aska questions about her tribe. It made me curious about how long they knew her and what their relationship was with her. Maybe Ollie was seeing her all along and couldn't tell anyone because of her different heritage?

  The girl I wished to marry was killed because she was Indian.

  Ollie's words chose that moment to pop in my head sending a cold chill through me.

  "Father wishes to see you again," Aska spoke this more quietly. The silence that followed confused me. "Ollie?"

  "You know I can't." He harshly cut her off. "Not..." His voice had a strangled quality that showed unbearable pain.

  "It's been eleven years." She reached across the table and held his hand in hers. "You need to see him. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for her." She gently coaxed.

  Ollie made a choked noise then yanked his hand away from Aska and stood up abruptly storming towards the back room. I had a sense of déjà vu when I looked back and saw the door closing. I didn't stand to follow him like I did Isaake. I was going to leave that job to Aska, who seemed to know him better. He was clearly in pain and I had no idea what was going on.

  I looked at the chair laying on the ground noticing little rocks and pebbles within the hardened dirt. After a moment with no movement from the other two, I decided to make my presence known. "What just happened?" I asked Aska who had tears in her eyes.

  She looked sympathetically towards me. "When wheat—"

  "It's his
story to tell," Raynor demanded and scraped his chair back as he got up to fix the fallen chair.

  I didn't mean to get mad. Raynor was right that I shouldn't ask someone else about Ollie's problems. But having everything spoken around me, and no answers given, was pissing me off. Maybe that was my excuse for storming after Ollie when I didn't need to. I ignored Raynor's warning he called out and didn't even hear what Aska said.

  I slammed the door behind me when I entered the room and found Ollie curled up on the ground clearly weeping. He looked at me and I saw the utter devastation in his gaze. It evaporated the anger out of me, and I know he saw my expression morph as I watched his pain.

  "Get out of here!" He screamed as the painful expression was covered in fury.

  "Ollie..." I spoke softly like he was a cornered animal. I didn't expect this. I didn't expect to find the man who shuts himself out, who holds himself stiff and tall so many other times, to be broken in pieces on the floor.

  "Gadzooks! Leave!" He shouted again. He scrambled up to his imposing height and stood looking ready for a fight. I somehow knew he wouldn't actually hit me. No, he was prepared to berate me though. Because I saw him weakened? Or because he was scared to be weak?

  "No," I stated firmly.

  He looked shocked for a moment before the scowl reappeared. "I could push you out." The ground rumbled beneath my feet and rose in small waves around me. It stayed solid right beneath me. "I could shove you right into the water through the wall." He seethed and the wall started waving too. "Will you swim or drown?" He sneered.

  "I'm made of sugar, so I'll probably melt." I put my hands on my hips and stared him down like he didn't scare me at all. I was pretty sure he wouldn't shove me through the wall, but honestly, I was putting a lot of faith in a guy I haven't known long.

  He growled at me and started marching towards me. It was intimidating as hell and I hated not having the upper hand, so I stupidly marched towards him as well. Fuck if I knew what to do when I got to him.