The Chosen Ones: Red Smoke

by Mitchelly Melo

  I started up the steps, looking at John, who was still waiting for me.

  “Liz?” Liam shouted from the bottom step.

  “Yes?” I said, turning to look at him.

  “Do you love him?”

  I could say it was none of his business, but I just said:

  “Yes.”

  I went up the stairs and when I reached the top I put my arms around John's neck and kissed him. I kissed him for as long as I wanted.

  "I thought it wasn’t for us to touch," he said, smiling as I let him go.

  “Do you mind?” I asked.

  “Not even a little.”

  And we kissed again.

  When we got to the room, I went to get ready to sleep. I felt the same fear every night at the same time. That terrible nightmare literally killed me every night. I always tried to stay awake, but always failed. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to learn more about this whole Aster business.

  "Why did everyone keep saying that an Aster didn’t exist?" I asked, sitting on the bed.

  John was leaning against the head of the bed with one arm behind his head looking at me.

  "Well, there never really was one. You are the first.”

  “How so?”

  "You'd have to know the story from the beginning. It's a long story, do you wanna hear it?”

  “Of course.”

  "Long ago, in Pacem, there was a goddess named Aster. She was extremely powerful and always used her powers to help people. From her youth, her greatest dream was to find love. Being a goddess, it was no easy task. Until one day she met Gaius. He was also a mighty god, and they soon married. She always wanted to have children and when she got married it was the first thing that came to her head.”

  "After a year, Aster still didn’t have a child to call her own. She only thought about how all her power meant nothing when she needed it most. She asked for help from everyone she could ask, including other gods, but no one could help her. After ten years, Aster and Gaius finally gave up. "

  "One day she decided to go to Pacem to spend a night as a normal person, away from her problems, as she liked to do. She did this a few times a month. As she walked through a field, he heard screams coming from a tree. She ran to the tree and found a young woman, alone, giving birth. "

  ‘Please, help me,’ the girl said, screaming in pain.

  ‘Why are you here alone, child?’

  ‘I have no one,’ the girl said.

  "Aster helped bring the baby into the world and when she held him in her arms, with tears in her eyes, the girl said,"

  ‘You must take good care of her. She’s the only good thing I have in this life.’

  "Before Aster could ask why, the girl let out her last breath. That night, Aster returned to her palace — which was at the top of the highest mountain in Pacem — the happiest she had ever felt. She believed that this stranger had given her the best gift anyone could have given."

  "That same night, when the child went to sleep, Aster decided to return the happiness she now felt. She used her magic and made that from that day, among the babies born in Pacem, some would be different. They would be the Chosen Ones. They would have incredible powers they would use to do good, to protect others. Aster said these chosen children would be her children, the children she never had. And in times of need, a child would be special. It would have all the power they wanted with just a touch... "

  John was now smiling at my expression. I was amazed. I shut my mouth and motioned for him to continue.

  "They named this special being in honor of the goddess. But we've never heard of an Aster. There is no record."

  "How do you know these stories?" I asked.

  "We also have books in Pacem, Liz," he said, smiling. "They say this particular one, Aster wrote herself. Others say she returned to Pacem years later and had a Pacenian write for her. Some say the daughter wrote it.”

  "That's really incredible. Why’d you never told me that story?”

  "I didn’t think you were interested in Pacem's story.”

  “Of course I am. As far as I know, it's quite possible that I'll never go back there, so the stories are as much as I can get. And you have no idea what it's like to hear such stories when you've grown up believing none of it is real.”

  "Oh, it's all very real.

  “All of it?”

  "Humans have books, movies, and comics that talk about magic, dragons, fairies, and other magical beings, but most people don’t believe they really exist. They are too skeptical. They would probably turn away if they saw real magic.”

  "So all the fairy tales are true?"

  "Most of them," he said, smiling. "I think some of the Pacenians talked too much while they were strolling around here.”

  “Fairies?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mermaids? Werewolves? Dragons?”

  John was still nodding, smiling. I could only think that I would never know this incredible world. My mother's world.

  "Torim is always saying how dwarves are detestable creatures. Whenever he tells a story about Pacem it's the same thing.”

  I laughed at John's imitation of Torim.

  "The closest to our kingdom here on this earth, it's us, the Chosen Ones. We are the only magic here.”

  “I really want to know more stories about Pacem. Can you tell me?”

  "I'd love to," he said. "Everything I know, I learned from Torim. Since they couldn’t bring any books here, he teaches our children our story. Pretty different from the stories you grew up with, right?”

  "Surely there are more dragons," I said, laughing.

  I leaned in and kissed him, running my fingers through his straight hair.

  "So..." John began to speak.

  Suddenly he looked uncomfortable. There was no trace of previous laughter. His face was completely serious.

  “What did he want?” He continued after a second.

  "Nothing," I lied.

  "It didn’t look like nothing. Seriously, Liz. What happened?”

  I didn’t want to make John angry or even more uncomfortable, not now that I had finally dealt with Liam's situation. I was silent for a few seconds, examining the situation. I decided not to lie to him. I never wanted to lie to him.

  "He asked for another chance. He said he was still in love with me.”

  The mixture of feelings on John's face was clear as they passed. Anger, fear, doubt. More anger.

  “And what did you say?” He asked.

  "I'm here with you, aren’t I?" I said taking a lock of hair that fell on his forehead. "I solved my problems with Liam. No need to worry about him anymore.”

  "Good," he said, kissing me and the worry quickly disappearing from his face.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  I went to sleep at 1 o'clock in the morning. I put off by talking to John, reading and then just staring at the ceiling, but as always, I wasn’t strong enough and fell asleep. But to my surprise, I slept all night without the usual nightmare waking me up. In the morning, I woke up happy for not having seen those scenes yet again. As soon as I got ready I went to find Zal so we could begin training.

  John was still asleep, so I wrote a note telling him where I was. I put it on the bedside table and left.

  "You really got up early, didn’t you?" Zal said, yawning.

  "I'm going to make a pie for lunch today and it takes time. It's best if we start early.”

  “I thought it was because you were excited.”

  "And I am," I said, smiling. "Especially today."

  We walked to the leisure area at the back of the hotel. The orange light from the sun rested on our skins and illuminated the large swimming pool. The morning air was cold, but the anticipation of the fight wouldn’t let that disturb us.

  “What do you mean?”

  I explained to Zal what was happening. The nightmare, the pictures of Grandma and the hunter killing me every night.

  “Wow, Liz. I'm so sorry.”

  “Th
anks. I’m relieved.”

  "You always looked fine. I never imagined you were going through that.”

  I could tell from Zal's face that he knew how I felt. He didn’t talk about Niko with me and I didn’t ask, but at that moment I wondered if he wasn’t being tormented by nightmares either.

  "I think I'm good at hiding my feelings," I said. "And most days, I really was fine. The fear only came at night.”

  We went down the stairs and into the pool. The rubber mats were still there. We begin by stretching. I spent a lot of time in the punching bag, Zal always giving me posture cues and complaining when I let my guard down. We ran, we did crunches, [[[ and finally we went back to the safety mat.

  "Let's get back to the good part," Zal said a long time later.

  "All right," I said, catching my breath.

  We positioned one in front of the other and a focus took over Zal's face. His face was exactly like that when he was training. The face of someone who knows that one day the fight would be real and that I would have to be prepared.

  "Third rule: Never underestimate your opponent," he said, with a serious expression, pacing back and forth. “For example: you. If someone saw you, so small and thin, they wouldn’t think you’re too intimidating, would they?”

  "Thanks" I said to myself.

  "But we know that's not the case. You now have the gift of strength. If well trained, no one will be able to defeat you. Come on, attack me.”

  From the first blows I felt the difference. Now the field was leveled. Zal diverted at the same speed I attacked him. A while later I threw my fist toward his face, but he swerved, grabbing my hand. Zal turned my back on him and put his arm around my neck. He began to close his arm, leaving me breathless, and instinctively I caught it, using all my new strength, holding it by the hand and pulling his thumb back.

  Still putting his thumb back, I pulled his whole arm forward, pushing it. Zal fell to the ground and I put my knee on his back, bringing his arm along and squeezing. I had pinned him to the ground and couldn’t be happier.

  “Okay!” I kept pressing on his arm. "You're not as frail as yesterday, remember?" He said, his face on the floor.

  "Sorry," I said, letting it go.

  "That was very good," he said as he lifted and wiped his clothes.

  "It was instinctive," I said, beginning to blush. "It's good to use all this new force inside me. It's like it's pulsing all over my body.”

  "I know," he said, smiling. "I was also very excited when I realized I had this power. Suited me. You know, I wasn’t very strong before.”

  Zal squeezed his bulging biceps.

  "I started training when I discovered I was a Chosen One. I discovered my purpose. To fight. Fight for our people. For Niko.”

  He looked baffled for a while, as if the fact that his brain remembered Niko was a punch in the stomach.

  "Anyway, you're good at it," he said, hiding the agony that was just on his face. He wouldn’t let it spend more than a few seconds there. "I'll enjoy watching you progress."

  "Thank you," I said, smiling. "I'm excited to learn."

  He smiled at me and we started training again.

  When John woke up, he went to watch us. He sat in the same place as before, near us. It wasn’t long before others did the same. They certainly expected more than what happened yesterday. They would be surprised that I was stronger today. I'd hear people panting every time I could knock out or hit Zal. In a moment, Zal suggested that I start using fire.

  “You don’t mind?” I asked, worrying about hurting him. He was very strong, yes, but he wasn’t immune to fire.

  “Of course not. In a fight, you have to use all the resources available. Let's go. I'll be fine.”

  “Okay.”

  "And that's also the fourth rule," Zal added, smiling.

  I made fireballs the size of tennis balls and threw them in Zal's direction. It served more to train my new skill than anything else. Zal dodged them brilliantly. I admit that I hadn’t done my best either; I still worried about burning it. But it was certainly a good training.

  The reaction of people when they saw me playing the first fireball was as loud as it was funny. I let myself laugh and turn my head to see their faces. Pure horror. Now it wouldn’t be long until they found out what I am.

  An hour before lunch, Zal and I finished up and I went to take a shower. My muscles ached with every step I took, but it was a good pain. I felt good at every cramp because I knew I was doing something good.

  I finished bathing and I wore a long-sleeved blouse and jeans as the weather was starting to cool. I went straight to the kitchen and started making the pies. Lemon pie was Grandma's favorite. I would sit in my corner while the people who cooked lunch walked through the kitchen. Some time later, working all alone and submerged in thoughts, the pies were done.

  When John and I finished eating, I took the piece I had saved for Runne and I brought it along with her lunch.

  "I'll be right back," I said to John, who was sitting on the couch in the living room.

  "I'll wait for you here."

  I went up the stairs and stopped at the door of Runne's room.

  “Runne, it's Liz.”

  After a few seconds of silence, I opened the door and went inside. When Runne didn’t want anyone to come in, she screamed some insult from inside the room. It happened more often than I wanted. When she was okay with someone coming in, she stayed silent. I learned it right away in my first days of visiting her. I opened the curtains with one hand, holding the tray with the other. Runne was still standing on the bed, drawing on the wall. She didn’t seem to have moved an inch.

  "Don’t you think you should get some rest? I brought food for you, Runne.”

  “And?” She asked, stopping the hand she was drawing on the wall.

  "And pie," I said, unable to contain a laugh.

  Runne got out of bed in a second and took the tray out of my hand in the other. I ignored her as she went straight to the pie and set the food aside.

  “Finished your drawing?” I asked.

  "Yes. It had been in my mind for a long time. It was already pissing me off.”

  I turned to see the drawing and I got the feeling I'd seen it before, but I couldn’t remember where. I stared at the dark green that dominated the image and an annoying voice began to speak in the back of my mind.

  "Elizabeth, this pie is delicious," Runne grumbled with her mouth full.

  “Thanks. Runne, what is this?” I said, pointing to the picture.

  “It's a cabin. It's in the middle of the woods,” she said, taking another piece of pie. "At least I think it's a cabin."

  Suddenly a light went on in my head and the annoying voice stopped talking. I got closer to look and immediately remembered.

  "I'll be right back," I said and ran.

  I ran down the hallway and when I got to the stairs I started calling for John. I didn’t have to reach the last step before he appeared at the door of the room with a concerned expression.

  “What happened?” He asked, looking around. “Are you alright?”

  "Yes. Come, you have to see something."

  He didn’t ask anything, only followed me back to Runne's room.

  "See that," I said, pointing to the drawing.

  John looked at my face and then at the drawing. The expression "I don’t understand anything" continued on his face as he stared at the cabin, certainly only lingering on the drawing to try to see what I was seeing.

  "It's an old cabin," he said.

  "No, it's not just a cabin," I said. "It's an abandoned cabin that sits in the middle of the forest here in Heaven Valley.”

  “How do you know?”

  "It's kind of famous here. The owner was a hermit who lived there for a long time. One day they found him dead and the hut was abandoned. They said he was dead a long time when they found him. They began to call it ‘The Death Cabin”. And when Emma and I were little, she dared me to go in alone. I went in, of
course.”

  "And why would Runne be painting this cabin?" John asked, facing the wall again.

  "Exactly," I said, looking at Runne. “Why?”

  "I've seen it in my dreams a few days ago," Runne replied.

  "John," I said, walking to him, "that might mean something."

  "The hunter may be hiding there," he said.

  I smiled at his quick thinking. I nodded and he smiled back.

  "Come on," he said.

  We left the room in a hurry.

  “What are we going to do?” I asked.

  “Talk to Zal.”

  We went down the stairs and went looking for Zal. We walked through the hotel until we found him in the kitchen. We explained everything as soon as we arrived.

  "And why exactly are you so excited about this?" Zal asked, standing up. "It doesn’t look anything to me."

  "Because that's our first clue since this all started," John countered. "None, Zal. We have not had a clue so far.”

  "And it doesn’t hurt to take a look," I said. "I know where the cabin is.”

  He looked at us thoughtfully. From his face I could see that Zal didn’t want to believe anything, because the disappointment of discovering it was nothing would be overwhelming. I felt a tightness in my stomach as I remembered Niko.

  "All right," he gave in. "Let's go get the others.”

  When we found Maena and Isys we explained everything again. Isys seemed excited to be able to leave the hotel, but Maena wasn’t very happy.

  "Are you sure this is worth our time?"

  "Do you have any other clues we don’t know?" John snapped.

  She made an ugly face, but followed us. I thought I was tired of being locked in the hotel too.

  "Wait," Zal said, stopping us.

  We went into the small room before the kitchen and Zal opened one of the cabinets. They had knives, daggers, katars, axes, swords, and many other weapons. The others seemed to know what to do and went straight to the closet and started picking up their weapons. I stared in surprise as they tucked them into a kind of belt that was invisible over their jacket and shirt. I was still intimidated by the number of weapons and by the fact that I didn’t know how to use any of them. Still.

  "You didn’t think we'd go empty-handed, did you?" Zal asked, smiling.