Chosen

by Lauren Chow

  Adam pointed at Luke, my poor victim, who looked very confused. He pointed to himself, and I nodded slowly. I got up and slowly walked towards him. I could see Luke looking kind of scared, and I didn’t blame him. I would be scared if someone came up to me looking like a predator. It already happened on a few occasions.

  I stood in front of him as he sat between Drake and Jared on the couch.

  I smiled sweetly and turned quickly to Adam, who nodded vigorously.

  Here went nothing. It finally dawned on me how embarrassing—and disgusting—this was, but I tried to swallow my nerves.

  I give Luke a ‘come here gesture’ with my finger. Luke hesitantly came closer, and I put my mouth to his ear. When my mouth was right next to his ear, I lost my nerve. It was too disgusting.

  “I need you to look disgusted because Adam wants me to spit in your ear. Follow my lead,” I whispered as Adam watched eagerly. He looked up at me, bewildered, but nodded subtly.

  I made a weird spitting noise (that I hoped was convincing), and Luke pulled back, covering his ear.

  “That’s nasty!” he cried and ran out of the room while Adam started laughing hysterically. Good, he fell for it.

  I rolled my eyes. He was such a kid. Everyone else looked either disgusted or confused. I rubbed my face.

  “Don’t ask. I hate these codes,” I mumble.

  “What codes?!” everyone but Adam shouted.

  I shook my head.

  “Clara! It’s time to work on some more magic!” Maggie called out as she walked into the room. She sat in Luke’s old spot and folded her hands.

  “Since you have mastered reading people’s minds, we’re going to work on sending your thoughts to other people,” Maggie said.

  I gaped at her. I can do that? I never knew my magic extended to that.

  “Alright, so what I want you to do is think of something. Let’s start off with one word. Once you have your thought, I want you to push it towards us, alright?” Maggie instructed.

  I nodded. I closed my eyes and tried to push my thoughts to their heads. Hello? I opened my eyes to see anyone’s reaction, but they still looked at me expectantly. I closed my eyes and tried again, hoping to hear some sort of reaction.

  Nothing.

  I huffed and tried a few more times until I got nothing. I opened my eyes and looked at Maggie.

  “It’s not working!” I sighed in frustration.

  “You aren’t concentrating on the right place. Find the connection between our magic. Think of it as a bridge between our minds,” Maggie said.

  I grunted before I closed my eyes. I tried to visualize the connection between our minds as I sent my magic through.

  Hello?

  I heard gasps and snapped my eyes open. Everyone looked in shock.

  “Holy crap, that’s weird,” Drake said holding his head.

  “This is great,” Maggie praised. “Now, talk to someone individually. Start with Jay and start having a conversation,” she said with a smile I couldn’t decipher.

  I nodded before reluctantly turning to Jay.

  What do I say to him? I could feel my embarrassment as I concentrated on Jay’s voice.

  Can you hear me, Jay?

  Jay gave me a small smile.

  I can hear you Clair. How are you?

  I couldn’t help but feel amused.

  I am feeling okay. Thank you for asking.

  You know you can tell me anything, right?

  I was a bit shocked by his blunt question, but I nodded my head.

  I know. I trust you.

  I trust you too.

  “Enough with the flirting!” Tony called out, and everyone snickered. We both flushed.

  “I wasn’t flirting!” we both said as they all went into another round of laughter.

  “Great job Clara! This should become more useful to you,” Maggie said with a smile. “Now, who wants dinner?”

  We all went towards the kitchen, and I felt someone brush their arm with mine. I looked up and Jay exchanged a shy smile with me as we walked together, our arms brushing ever so slightly.

  21 - Parseltongue 2.0

  There was a dark figure standing in front of the old house. I couldn’t see any of his features but I could tell he was tense and impatient. Another figure walked up to him and turned to him.

  “It’s all set up,” the figure muttered.

  The other figure nodded.

  “Make sure the girl is somewhere else before everything blows up. Vlad has taken a personal liking to her.”

  “Yes Dexter. But... don’t you think this is a little extreme?” the figure asked hesitantly.

  Dexter laughed.

  “You have killed many people my friend, and you’re worried about these people inside?” Dexter asked with disgust.

  “I saw Mark torturing the girl. She’s harmless,” the man protested. Dexter turned to the man.

  “Unless you want to be killed, follow my lead. You will be nothing but one of many people who disobeyed me. We’ve been friends for years now, Christopher. We’re loyal to one another. Now enough talk—make sure this damn house explodes!” Dexter roared before marching away deep into the forest.

  The man—Christopher—stood there and sighed. I could feel his confusion and guilt. He didn’t want to be a part of this. For years he’d wanted to leave, but he was afraid to get killed himself. He thought of himself as a coward and wanted redemption. He was ashamed of being friends with Dexter.

  He’d seen things that no man should see.

  He looked at the house that he was about to destroy. He didn’t want to harm the girl—she seemed so... fragile.

  But orders were orders. He hoped to God that they made it out. He wouldn’t go after the girl. She was his only hope.

  He watched the sun begin to rise. Dawn was the sign of rebirth and new days. Instead, he was only bringing death. He looked at his watch.

  Let’s get this over with before dinner, he thought.

  He closed his eyes and pressed the button to the detonator.

  More blood on my hands, he thought solemnly as he walked away when the house exploded.

  ***

  I woke up with a fright. My heart was racing at an uncomfortable pace as sweat covered my body.

  Oh crap!

  Maybe the dream wasn’t even real? I couldn’t take any chances now. If I made a fool out of myself, then fine. But I needed to get us out of here.

  I jumped out of bed and got out of my room in just my sweats and t-shirt. I began banging on everyone’s doors. I used my magic to get into their heads.

  Everybody up! We need to get out of here! WAKE UP!

  I heard groggy thoughts in my head as they began to wake up.

  “EVERYONE UP! GET OUT OF BED!” I shouted.

  “What the hell is going on?!” Drake said as everyone huddled around me in their pajamas. Except all the guys were shirtless. I tried not to stare. It’s not my fault that they were all ripped.

  “Eric,” I turned to him. “This house is about to explode. We need get out of here!”

  Eric looked wide-awake now. He turned to all of us.

  “Everyone get to the emergency exits. I have some vehicles a couple miles away from here. I need you to split into groups since some of you have no clue where to go,” Eric turned to me seriously. “Are you absolutely sure?”

  I nodded slowly. Eric sighed and started barking orders. I went to Maggie and hugged her.

  “Be careful,” I said quickly. Maggie nodded and hugged me back.

  We created three groups:

  Group 1: Eric, Adam, Tanya.

  Group 2: Maggie, Tony, Luke.

  Group 3: Jay, Drake, Jared, and me.

  They had us go different directions to get to the exits. Jay and Drake took the lead since they knew where to go, and Jared stayed behind me.

  We ran through different hallways with twists and turns. I rubbed my wrist an
d gasped.

  “Crap!” I groaned.

  The guys stopped, and I almost ran into Drake’s back. Everyone turned to me.

  “What?” Jay said, panicked. I pushed them to keep running.

  “I forgot my bracelet and picture. Too late to get it now,” I said regrettably.

  I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked behind me as I ran to see Jared smile sympathetically at me. Somehow, it made me feel better.

  “Do we know when this place explodes?” Drake shouted.

  Before any of us could answer, we were knocked over, and I blacked out.

  ***

  I woke up from a bad smell. I coughed as my lungs screamed for air. I opened my eyes to see black smoke and the orange glow of fire. I slowly got up as I saw pieces of the wall exposed and wood was everywhere. Something warm trickled down my cheek, which I touched and examined.

  Blood. I used my shirt to clean some of it up. Besides that, I only had a few cuts and bruises as I got up. I looked around.

  “Jay? Drake? Jared?” I called out. I tried to read them but couldn’t hear anything. I looked through the rummage. They had to be here somewhere.

  I heard a groan and saw a pile of debris begin to move. I ran and started to move the wood, ignoring the splinters and cuts forming on my hands. I slowly saw the figure move and the light from the fire let me identify the person.

  “Jared! I can’t find the guys! What about everyone else? I can’t read their minds—”

  “Clara, calm down. Let’s look before the fire traps us.”

  We looked and saw that the exit was blocked with debris.

  “Great, we are so dead,” I said dully.

  “Can’t you be a little positive, Clara?” Jared snapped.

  “I’m being realistic,” I snapped back. “We don’t know where we’re going, we lost Jay and Drake, and we’re trapped inside a burning house. I can’t be positive.”

  Jared gave me a quick hug before releasing me to hold my hand.

  “I need you to concentrate. Just think,” Jared instructed. Easy for him to say.

  I decided to concentrate on Jay. I looked through my mental box and heard static. I focused even harder, ignoring the pounding in my head as the thought got clearer and clearer.

  Clara! I don’t know if you can hear me, but we’re outside the house. We lost you and Jared. Please be alright. Oh god, what if she is dead? She can’t die. She can’t or I will—

  “Did you hear anything?” Jared cut me off. I was irritated because I wanted to hear the rest of Jay’s thoughts, but I was invading his privacy. At least we knew where they were.

  “They’re outside. We just need a way out.”

  Jared nodded and we started searching for a different exit. We dodged falling wood coming from the ceiling and fire trying to grasp us.

  We made it into the living room and saw that it hadn’t been touched yet. The door!

  “Jared, there’s the exit!” I said excitedly. We’re going to live!

  But of course (since it’s my life), a growl ruined my momentary happiness.

  A dark shadow moved in front of the door.

  “Jared?” I said in a monotone voice.

  “Hm?” Jared said with a calculating gaze on our blocker.

  “Is that what I think it is? Please tell me it isn’t what I think it is,” I said calmly.

  “You mean a Drakken? Then yes. This isn’t good,” Jared answered.

  “I thought they lived in the field,” I said, backing away as it came closer.

  “They only live in souls; they never go into the outside world. Something is wrong here. Get behind me!” Jared ordered.

  He grabbed something from his pocket that exposed blue light, revealing his machete as he pulled it out. Did he always keep it there?

  The Drakken roared as Jared started to slash at it. I could tell from its shrieks that Jared was winning. I turned around and saw the fire starting to get closer.

  I heard a final shriek before it went silent.

  “Clara! Come on! More are probably coming!” Jared shouted.

  I grabbed his hand as we ran for the exit. Fresh air reached our lungs as we made it to the woods. I closed the door and stepped back.

  The old cabin burned up and turned to ash, never to be used again. I looked up and saw the sun rising. I heard more growls, and I turned to Jared in fear. Jared pulled me behind him as shadows surrounded us.

  One shadow rammed into Jared, slamming him into a tree. I saw him struggling, but he was having a hard time moving.

  Oh, this was not good.

  I heard different hisses and purrs coming from the shadows.

  Tasty. Let’s eat.

  I’m not tasty! I frantically reach into their minds.

  “Don’t eat me! Humans are not food!” I argued to the shadows. The shadows stilled until the one in front of me stepped closer.

  You understand me?

  I looked at it confused. I was reading its mind, right?

  Yes. I can.

  They started conversing with each other before turning back to me.

  Interesting. But we still eat you.

  You don’t want to eat me. I taste like... tofu. Possibly even kale.

  Kale? What kale?

  I also have a citrus flare. Kale and citrus together can create a... a toxic poison. You... die from it. Painfully.

  I know Drakken that was poisoned, one of them panicked.

  I gaped. Maybe these creatures weren’t the brightest...

  My friend tastes like it too. You really don’t want to eat us. Leave us alone. We will not harm you, and you shall not harm us.

  One of the Drakkens came directly in front of me. I tried not to show any fear and stared at the shadow.

  I live many years. I have never seen a human talk in our tongue besides one. You are fascinating. For surprising me, we let you go. Goodbye Girl who speak Demonic. Hope we meet again.

  The Drakken began doing orders and released Jared before floating away as the sun began to hit the trees. I stared at the dirt in shock. What the heck just happened?

  “What the hell just happened?”

  I turned and saw a shocked Jared looking at me in a new light.

  “I don’t know. I was reading their minds and—”

  “I don’t think that’s what happened. Clara, you were speaking to them,” Jared said shakily. I look at him in confusion.

  “And what’s the problem with that?” I said in confusion as I checked for any injuries. Jared examined me, as if wondering if I could handle the new information he seemed to hold. He sighed.

  “You were speaking in hisses—like hisses from a snake. You were speaking to them. I thought translators were extinct,” Jared muttered to himself.

  I gawked at him. What is this, Harry Potter?

  “Girl who speak Demonic,” I whispered. I looked at Jared. “I spoke a different language? That’s new. So I just discovered a new ability, and I thought I was only supposed to have one? Cool.” I laughed shakily.

  Jared grabbed my hand and pulled me closer.

  “We can talk about this later. Right now we need to find everyone,” Jared said as we began our walk.

  “Great. First mind reading, then ridding people’s memories, and now I speak parseltongue. I’m even more of a freak,” I muttered.

  Jared stopped and turned to me.

  “Clara Evans, you are not a freak. You’re special and don’t you forget it,” he said sternly as we kept walking.

  Whatever floats your boat.

  22 - New Scenery

  “Jay?” I yelled tiredly for the hundredth time.

  “Drake? Oh, it’s no use. Jared, we aren’t going to find them,” I muttered.

  I settled on the floor and lay on my back in exhaustion. I was already covered in ash, my clothes were ruined, and I looked like crap, so who cared if I got a little dirt on me?

  Jared lay down next to me
and turned his head to look at me. He stared intently as he waited for me to say something.

  “Is this my life now?” I questioned in exhaustion. “Am I just going to keep running and hoping I don’t get killed? We almost died in a fire! What if something severe happens to any of us? I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself,” I said quietly, watching the sky turn a bright orange.

  I felt Jared scoot over, and I moved so my head rested on his chest. I felt comforted as he let me calm myself and gather my composure.

  We lay like there for a while, and eventually the morning’s events lulled me to sleep.

  ***

  I started waking up and felt myself swaying back and forth, being rocked like I was a child. It was very soothing and stopped me from stirring. I was awake, but I wasn’t really awake. I was too tired to open my heavy eyes, so I stayed content in my in-between consciousness state.

  I heard voices shouting, but I ignored them. I let myself go back to my blissful sleep.

  “How is she?” I heard a voice stir me from my sleep. I recognized it as Jay’s and felt myself fill with relief.

  He was okay. Everything was okay now in Clara’s world.

  Wait, what?

  Ignoring that thought, I eavesdropped on their conversation. I felt guilty being nosy, but I was curious.

  “She’s fine,” Jared whispered. “But I’m worried about her. She’s scared, Jay. She’s afraid one of us is going to get hurt. With her old life and now coming into our world—I think it’s starting to take a toll on her. Now that she can communicate to Drakkens, she has way more power than we can imagine. We may have underestimated how much magic she has.”

  I thought about what he said. It was true, I was terrified, but was it too much?

  Yes.

  But I was stronger than that. Yes, it was overwhelming, but I couldn’t hide in fear forever. I needed to move on. If I learned anything, it was that I could never forget though—that was too easy and these things kept me stronger.

  I was strong, but I was also human.

  “Another question... do you...” Jay trailed off.

  “Yes?” Jared asked, and I could sense a smirk in his tone.

  “Shut up and be honest with me. Do you uh... like Clara?” Jay said nervously. Why is he nervous?