Chosen

by Lauren Chow

  Eric looked at me with sad eyes.

  “There’s more to it. You need to know who.”

  I looked at him grimly and clenched my shaking hands.

  Eric sighed and matched my expression.

  “The leader is named Vlad Salem,” Eric said.

  Vlad Salem? That didn’t seem like a super intimidating name.

  Maggie must’ve seen my unimpressed expression because she shook her head.

  “Trust me Clara, this man is a very bad man. This man has destroyed families, slain women and children, tortured for information, and doesn’t hesitate to get what he wants. He rules with intimidation and fear. He is someone you do not mess with Clara,” Maggie said condescendingly.

  I gulped harshly and felt my mouth dry.

  “Y—you want me to face that. You want me to beat… kill him. I can’t do this. I’m not like you guys at all. You picked the lame girl who is weak and frail. It can’t be me.” I choked.

  “Clara, Fate has called you. You were chosen to fight. You are stronger than you think,” Eric stated as they both tried to get me to understand.

  Kill.

  They expected me to kill this man. I didn’t have the strength to harm someone to that extent. Images of Herbert and Irene flashed through my mind. I’d already seen too much death. I couldn’t commit murder.

  I frantically got up and left the office, not bothering to reply to Eric and Maggie’s shouts to come back. I ran down the hallways, looking for a place to hide. I spotted a random door at the end of a hallway and decided that it might be an ideal way to escape everyone. I quietly went inside. Hopefully no one would find me, so that would give me time to get my thoughts together.

  It was pitch-dark, so I used my hands to find the light switch. After a few minutes of stumbling, I was able to turn the lights on. They flickered for a few moments before brightening the room. The room was mostly empty. It looked like no one had bothered to come in here for years. Spider webs and tablecloths covered the furniture. Every step I made created a creaking sound from the old wooden floor.

  I sat on the dusty floor and pulled out my iPod from my back pocket, picking a song to serenade myself with.

  The song started to play as I hummed to the tune, not able to help singing quietly. I closed my eyes and just listened to the song, blocking the rest of the world out.

  “Do you mind if I join you?”

  I jumped and placed a hand on my racing heart. I felt myself begin to blush. Oh gosh, that’s embarrassing.

  I turned to see Jay with a soft expression on his face. I felt myself get redder and faced him all the way on the floor. I tried to ignore the churning in my stomach. It always felt like that when his attention was on me.

  “How long were you standing there?” I mumbled in embarrassment.

  Jay smiled and sat next to me on the floor. I saw him shrug as he wiped some of the dirt on his jeans.

  “A few minutes... the whole song. What song was that anyway?” he asked as he eyed the room in distaste.

  “Uh, it was by Skylar Grey, Coming home pt. II. I’m sorry you had to hear me. That must’ve hurt your ears,” I said.

  Jay shook his head quickly.

  “Don’t even say that. You have a great voice,” he declared with his charming smile.

  I snorted at the compliment.

  “Apparently I have many gifts. Did Eric and Maggie send you?” I looked down at the floor.

  I felt a warm hand on my chin. He gently pushed it up so I could see him. I saw Jay frowning.

  “No, they were huddled up in the office. What’s wrong? You were happy and energetic earlier,” Jay said, concerned.

  I looked him in the eye and felt I could be honest with him.

  “I can’t do this,” I whispered. “I’m weak, I can’t train well, I have super powers, and little old me has to lead people to their deaths. I feel like I’m going to fail. A guy named Vlad wants to hurt innocent people, and I’m supposed to stop that? I can’t,” I mumbled in defeat, fiddling with my iPod.

  After sharing my pity party with Jay, everything was silent.

  Jay looked at me for a while before finally speaking.

  “I don’t blame you for feeling this way. If I were in your shoes, I would have left a long time ago—yet you stayed for the safety of other people. You are being hard on yourself. You just started training today. Not everyone is going to somehow become an amazing fighter after one session. Your ‘super powers’,” he quoted with his fingers, “are going to guide you. You can read minds Clara. Sure, you need training for that, but Maggie will help you with that. Soon you won’t even need your bracelet. And one more thing.” He leaned in closer to me so we were face to face. He was taller than me, so he had to hunch down. I felt his warm breath on me and forced myself not to shiver.

  “You. Are. Not. Weak. You are one of the strongest people I know. Everyone is supporting you. We need to get that through your beautiful skull.” He used his index finger to gently poke my forehead before pulling his hand away.

  Beautiful? I tried not to blush.

  I sighed and closed my eyes. On instinct, I rested my forehead against his.

  “You really think I can do this?” I asked quietly, not bothering to hide my anxiety.

  He hummed in response.

  “I don’t think. I know,” Jay stated.

  Grudgingly, I pulled away from him and opened my eyes. His eyes were closed as well, but they fluttered open so I could see his storming grey eyes. I felt my heart race faster and tried to calm down.

  This boy was driving me crazy.

  I looked away and cleared my throat.

  “We should probably get downstairs. They’re probably worrying,” I said awkwardly.

  Why was I being awkward now?

  Jay nodded and stood up. He walked towards me and grabbed my hand to lead the way. I pouted.

  Jay turned and saw my expression. He looked amused and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask what I was sulking about.

  “Why do you always get to lead the way?” I muttered, and his laugh rang free in the hallway.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” Jay challenged.

  “No.”

  “Exactly.” He cut me off as he kept leading me down the hallway.

  Jay pulled me to the living room, and I skipped away to hop on the recliner in satisfaction. I turned and saw Adam smirking at me, wiggling his eyebrows. I narrowed my eyes at him. He got up from his seat and walked his way towards me. He leaned into my ear.

  “Code Goat,” Adam whispered. I groaned out loud. Jay looked at me in confusion as he turned on the TV.

  “Keller, no!” I whispered frantically.

  “You know the rules, Girl Scout! I REPEAT, CODE GOAT!” Adam yelled, making my ears ring.

  Adam and I had special codes. We made them up for different scenarios. Some of them were serious, while some of them were absolutely ridiculous. You never knew if they’d be useful. Code Goat, however, was not fun... at least for the recipient of that code.

  It was pretty much a way of saying ‘boy talk’. It worked out for the both of us since we were both into boys. It was funny to do to Adam, but since the tables had turned, Adam would not let it go.

  Dang it.

  “Fine. We will later,” I said reluctantly.

  “Where’s the goat?” Luke asked as he walked into the room. He looked to Jay, who shrugged in response. I waved my hand dismissively.

  “You don’t want to know, Luke. You don’t want to know.” I sighed.

  16 - Come At Me

  Thud!

  I groaned in pain and wiped some of the sweat off my eye.

  “Again!” Drake shouted as he went back into his stance.

  Drake and I been training for two weeks, and I still kept getting reacquainted with the nice blue mat. I had a feeling the mat and I would always have a special relationship.

  I looked at everyone else training
with their partners with envy. Adam stopped sparring and went to the raise the volume on the radio. He started bobbing his head to the music and I rolled my eyes.

  “Drake, I give up! I don’t know how to fight or defend myself.” I groaned and lay back on the mat.

  Drake looked at me before I saw a flash in his eyes. He helped me up and I stood up uneasily.

  “I’ve seen your reflexes and skills. You have potential, but you’re too scared to go for it. You need to follow your reflexes.”

  “I’m trying! I just need a little push.” I rubbed my face in frustration. Drake smirked before he called out to the guys.

  “Guys, it’s time for the blackout. New plan. Lights!” Drake pointed to Luke.

  I looked at him, confused, until the lights turned off.

  The lights came back on and everyone was gone.

  “Hello?” I said confused. Did they all just bail on me?

  I heard a noise from behind me and turned around to see a fist coming towards me.

  “Whoa! Are you crazy?!” I squealed and moved my head just in time before I got a black eye or lost a tooth. I jumped back and saw Jay begin to charge me.

  “Sorry Clara,” Jay said sincerely.

  Before I could react, Jay leaned down and kicked me behind my legs, causing me to land on the mat.

  “I really need to shut my mouth.”

  I opened my eyes and saw the bottom of a foot aiming for my face. I quickly rolled away before Jay stomped on my face. I got up and into a stance that I’d learned a few days ago. I knew I needed to come up with a plan. If I didn’t, Jay was going to beat me to the pulp.

  Use your instincts.

  “Instincts. Just go for it,” I muttered. I took off my bracelet and placed it on the ground. I could hear different thoughts, but I only focused on Jay’s. Now I knew his every move.

  He ran and went for a punch, but I ducked and elbowed him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain and I saw my leg glide in the air, hitting him on the side. He fell on the mat with a thud. I looked at him, shocked. I did that?

  “Oh. My. Gosh. I’m amazing!” I cheered. Jay looked at me with pride, and he slowly stood up. He went to stand next to the wall, his eyes never leaving mine.

  I sensed a person coming my way and from the corner of my eye, I saw Luke heading straight towards me.

  I blocked a few of his hits before I maneuvered my body away from him. I kicked him in the stomach, and he stepped back from the impact. Luke recovered quickly and dashed towards me.

  Before my mind could register, I turned and rushed towards him. What was I doing? He was going to run me over!

  I felt like I wasn’t even controlling my body anymore.

  I went on my knees, gliding across the mat and put my leg out, tripping him in the process. He fell and did a couple of somersaults on the mat before landing flat on his back with a grunt. I ran to him and put my foot on his back.

  “I win!” I shouted and fist-bumped the air. A boost of pride filled my chest.

  “Get off me.”

  Luke groaned, and I finally got off and helped him up.

  I felt arms wrap around me and spin me in circles. I was finally placed down and saw a grinning Adam in front of me.

  “I knew you would kick their butts. Pay up, Drake!” Adam put his hand out expectantly at Drake. Drake muttered and grabbed some cash from his pocket, throwing it at Adam.

  “You guys made bets on me?” I asked in shock. I wasn’t surprised Adam did though. That boy loved gambling.

  Drake smiled like a little kid caught stealing from the cookie jar.

  “Maybe?” After the look I gave him, he threw his hands in the air. “It was Eric’s idea to do that exercise. No offense, but I thought Luke would need to stay with you for hours,” Drake said, grinning at Jay and Luke. “But no, those two became acquainted with the floor by a five-foot-tall girl!” He laughed hysterically, falling on the floor.

  “Hahaha. Very funny.” Luke scowled. Jay rolled his shoulders.

  “I’m not that short. You guys are just too tall.”

  “I must say, I was impressed with your reflexes. I didn’t know you could do that,” Jay said in an awed voice. I looked at him and saw he was wearing a weird look on his face. I blushed and turned away. I didn’t need Jay to find out how affected I was by him.

  “I didn’t either. I didn’t think I was still that flexible without losing all my limbs,” I said honestly.

  “You should’ve done gymnastics. Man, I wish I saw that leotard,” Drake said dreamily. I looked at Adam, who then slapped Drake on the back of the head.

  “Thank you,” I told Adam and went to grab my bracelet, which I’d left on the floor. Once it was secure I grabbed my water bottle and chugged it down.

  “Easy there. Don’t get yourself sick,” Luke lectured. I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Yes, Nurse Luke.” Luke rolled his eyes at me.

  Maggie came to the gym and covered her nose.

  “All of you stink! Clara, I came in here to tell you I’m going to help you with your mind reading after you’re cleaned up. Chop chop!” Maggie ushered me out of the room.

  ***

  I sat on the carpet while everyone decided to watch on the couches.

  Maggie sat in front of me as we settled in the living room.

  “Alright. Time for Magic 101. Today we are just working on reading people’s thoughts. Clara, I need you to take off your bracelet. You should be able to handle it since there are only six of us in here. It’s better to start off small and get drastically bigger,” Eric instructed.

  I nodded my head and carefully got rid of the bracelet. A bunch of voices slammed into me, but I pushed them back. I looked up at Maggie expectantly once my mind was clear.

  “That’s good. The first time you did it, it took you over a half hour. Now it only takes you seconds. Now that’s one of the fastest times I’ve seen in my lifetime.”

  “Lifetime?” I interrupted her. Maggie smiled cheekily at me.

  “I’m sixty years old.”

  She’s what?! I gaped at her. She looked like she could be in her late thirties!

  “But... y—you look... not sixty.”

  Maggie began to laugh with everyone else.

  “I just happen to be special. But enough about me, let’s get to work! Clara, I want you to concentrate on me and only me. I am going to think something and you say out loud what I’m thinking, understood?”

  I nodded and closed my eyes to concentrate.

  My name is Maggie Lewis.

  “Your name is Maggie Lewis,” I repeated. Maggie smiled and nodded.

  Repeat the code while I’m saying.

  Ybdje580di42ag7j.

  I slowly repeated everything back and she looked at me with a proud smile.

  “Alright!” Maggie interrupted. “Next subject. Luke, you’re up.”

  Maggie sat in Luke’s seat as he got up and sat in front of me.

  I closed my eyes, finding Luke’s thoughts. I looked at him and nodded my head.

  Hello? Testing. Testing. Anyone there?

  I giggled. “Yes Luke, I’m here.”

  He looked at me sheepishly before continuing.

  What should I tell her? I like peanut butter? Narwhals are magical? Please Luke, you sound ridiculous.

  “You talk to yourself a lot. Here’s what I got,” I said, amused, to his red face. “You love peanut butter and narwhals are magical. I didn’t know they were magical.” I couldn’t help myself and started laughing at his face.

  “Yes—narwhals are cool!” Everyone began to laugh hysterically.

  “I’m done! Your turn Adam.”

  “No. No. I don’t want to know what’s going on in Adam’s head,” I protested quickly. I turned to Adam. “I love you Keller, but I know you too well already.”

  Adam pouted but shrugged in agreement.

  “Alright, which brother is up?” Maggie asked
, looking at Drake and Jay.

  The boys did rock, paper, scissors, and Drake won. He walked up to me and sat next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

  “Ready to get inside this head?” Drake said with a smile.

  “I don’t know. I’m a little scared,” I said in mock horror.

  I closed my eyes and focused on Drake. Before I opened my eyes, I felt my focus shift a little.

  Don’t find me. Please don’t fall for it. It’s a trap. Please don’t fall for it.

  I snapped my eyes open.

  “Don’t fall for it?” I questioned.

  Drake looked at me strangely.

  “That’s not what I was thinking. I was—”

  We all flinched at the loud scream that cut through the air.

  Don’t fall for it. It hurts... Go away!

  I jumped up and ran for the front door. I heard people coming after me, but I didn’t care.

  I made it outside and looked to see that I was in the woods again, in front of the broken house. I heard everyone behind me, but I shushed them. We heard the scream again and rushed towards it.

  Soon, we were in the middle of the woods. I looked and saw the sun starting to set. It was going to get dark soon and we needed to be ready.

  We heard a scream and we all froze. I heard a bunch of thoughts and tried to control them.

  “It’s an ambush,” I muttered, holding my head.

  “Be ready boys,” Eric ordered as the guys came out holding weapons.

  We got into our stances as men popped out of the shadows.

  “Get the girl!”

  ***

  Everything turned into chaos once they charged us.

  Some of the guys were able to disarm a few of the men as they fought. Maggie just waved her hands and they were knocked out. I tried to remain calm as I decided how to help. Suddenly an arm grabbed me, but Eric punched the guy square in the jaw. I nodded gratefully before trying to fight the next one.

  Luckily, no one from our side looked hurt, but we were outnumbered. I quickly thought of a plan. I couldn’t let them get hurt because of me.

  I kicked my opponent in the stomach before climbing up the tree. I used to be good at this when I was a kid and I really hoped the branches would be strong enough for this—and that I was still flexible with enough upper body strength. The exercises Drake had been making me do would hopefully come in handy.