The Awakening

by Rochelle Southwick

  “It will be okay.” Jake tried to reassure me.

  “Mmhm” was all I could manage as I continued to stare at the phone.

  When I finally got service, I called mom. My fingers shook as I entered her phone number. It rang once, twice, three times and then she answered. “Hello?”

  “Mom.” I said. She could hear the shaking in my voice.

  “What’s the matter? What happened?” She asked quickly.

  “Mom, the rebels, I think they are planning on attacking us.” I pressed my fingers to my temple and closed my eyes. Images of a significant battle danced in my thoughts.

  I heard her breath catch, “when?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Come straight home.” She said I could hear papers moving in the background. I assumed she was straightening her desk before she came home. “I will talk to Malcolm and meet you there.”

  “Okay.” Was the only response I could get out before the phone went dead. She had hung up on me, my own mother.

  I shot a look at Jake. “She wants us to meet her at my house.”

  He nodded.

  “You can stop this, you know.” I heard the voice say.

  I didn’t respond, just wanting the voice to go away.

  “Come talk to me. In person, and as long as you listen to what I have to say, I will make sure that they don’t come tomorrow.”

  I turned my head towards the window so Jake couldn’t see my face. “What do you mean?”

  “Just as I said. Come talk, listen, and then make a choice for yourself. All I ask is that you listen.”

  “Where?” I asked.

  “Sorrensen’s in the parking garage, third floor, eight p.m. Come alone,” He responded.

  I would go, but how? I couldn’t let anyone know what was going on. Jake would never let me go, neither would mom.

  I continued thinking about this until we pulled up to the house. Mom’s car was home, and I could see her pacing inside.

  I groaned, Jake cut the engine and looked over at me. “Are you ready?”

  “I suppose.” I said. He came around and opened my door and we went inside. It was already four p.m., mom usually didn’t get home until much later.

  “Honey.” Mom said as we walked inside. She rushed over to me and pulled me into her arms. “Are you okay?”

  I sighed, “I’m fine.”

  “Well then, you have some explaining to do.” Mom took my hand and led me to the couch. “How did you come up with this wild conclusion?”

  “I don’t know.” I didn’t know how to answer the question without raising more. I thought about Claire and the undecided. That was probably the safest route. “You know those people who start out in the clan and then leave but haven’t decided where they belong?”

  Mom nodded but said nothing.

  “Well, I think they can still communicate with us. Or at least I’ve heard them. Someone warned me.”

  “I heard it too.” Jake interjected. He hadn’t, we both knew that. I glanced over at him, not wanting to throw too much suspicion his way.

  Mom raised her eyebrow. “Well, I suppose that could be. Did they give you any more information?” Mom asked.

  I told her where it would be, and the time that everything would supposedly happen.

  “Okay, if that is all, then I need to get this information to the Elders. You two will stay in this house until you are told otherwise. You will not be going into the woods tomorrow. Do you understand?”

  We both nodded and mom picked up her bag and headed outside. I could see her holding her hands up and could almost bet she was putting a protection spell around the house.

  Unfortunately for her, I knew how to get around them.

  I stood up, and I felt Jake step towards me. “You told her you could hear them too.” I whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” Confusion washed over me.

  He placed his hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him. “Because, I felt like it was the best way to protect you.”

  “Protect me from what my mom?” I asked, confusion lit my features.

  “I don’t know.” Was his response. I looked into his eyes and I could tell his answer was genuine. He really didn’t know who or what he was protecting me from.

  Twenty-Two

  At seven p.m. I told Jake I was going to go shower.

  “Okay.” He said as he smashed a few buttons on the video game controller.

  I felt bad for lying to him, but I had to protect the people I love. If that meant listening to someone, so be it. I moved towards the stairs behind him and picked up my purse that was sitting on the foyer table while he was otherwise distracted.

  I went upstairs and shut the bathroom door. I opened a music app on my phone and connected it to the blue tooth speaker I had in the bathroom. Music began playing, and I turned the shower on.

  I took a deep breath and then opened the bathroom window. I reached my hand out the window and could feel the magic surrounding the house. It was like a bubble, stretching around us.

  I took a breath and pushed my magic out, slowly carefully I made a hole big enough for me to fit through. Stepping out onto the garage roof and then sealed it behind me. Mom would never know.

  Outside of her spell, I could now perform my own magic. I snapped my fingers and was instantly on the sidewalk.

  Glancing into the house, I could see Jake playing his video game. I sighed, “I’m sorry.” I whispered and then walked down the sidewalk towards the bus stop on the corner.

  I waited impatiently as the bus turned the corner down the street. Finally, it pulled up in front of me; I climbed quickly onto the bus after paying the fee and then found a seat.

  The bus jostled down the street, and I held my breath. I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I prayed I was doing the right thing.

  I let my magic course through me; I had been careful with it up until this point. I didn’t know how much of Zeeda’s power ran through me.

  The sun was setting by the time I reached my stop. The parking garage for Sorrensens’ was a few blocks up.

  I put a shield around myself and made my way towards the garage.

  I could feel the presence of other magic near me the closer I got. I doubled my efforts to my shield, praying they couldn’t sense me coming.

  “This is ludicrous.” I heard a voice I didn’t know say. “How do we know she’s even coming?”

  “She’ll come.” That voice I knew. “She would do anything to protect the clan.”

  “Then why are we even talking to her?” The first voice asked.

  “Because she doesn’t know better, and we were asked to.” I could feel Claire’s irritation.

  “I know you’re here.” The voice in my head said. “I know you know better than to lurk.”

  I stepped down a row of cars, even in the darkening garage I could see the shine off of them.

  I saw a wicked smile cross the face of the man with Claire.

  Blue lightning danced at his fingertips. I saw the strike before it came near me and dodged behind a car.

  “Jett, what the hell are you doing?” Claire shrieked.

  “Making this easy for everyone.” He said. I could feel him rallying his magic once again.

  “We are supposed to be here for backup in case she attacks! We aren’t supposed to hurt her!” Claire said, advancing towards him.

  “Shut up, Claire.” He said, throwing a blast of magic towards her. She flew back, not having time to defend herself.

  I crawled to the front of the car, trying to stay out of sight. My heart was racing as Jett strolled closer to where I had gone.

  “Jett stand down.” The voice rang loud in my ears.

  “Come outcome out wherever you are.” Jett taunted.

  The car I was hiding behind shifted and before I knew what was happening, it was flying into a pillar. The pillar shook violently, and dust rained down around us.

  “Ah.” Jett said. I could see him clearly now.
He had inky hair and a chiseled face. “There you are.”

  A shot of emerald green magic flew between us. “STAND DOWN JETT.” The voice shouted in my head.

  “Make me.” Was Jett’s response as he stepped towards me.

  I took a breath and then emanated my magic out around me. I pressed it closer and closer to him, as it touched him he screamed. He dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. My magic coursed through me, as it passed through him I could feel it expand further.

  I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I glanced toward it, where Claire had been moments before she was now gone.

  My magic continued to light the surrounding garage. I heard another person screaming. I stepped away from Jett. He was still rigid and screaming; he was no longer a threat to my safety.

  I made my way closer to the other man, screaming. Who was it that had drawn me here so unaware of what he had gotten himself and his fellow rebels into?

  The sounds of his screams were closer now. I rounded a corner and could see a man kneeling in pain; he wore a black cloak; the hood drawn up so I couldn’t see his face; he held his hands up. Trying to show me he meant no harm.

  “Who are you?” My voice sounded unfamiliar somehow.

  With monumental effort, he pulled his hands back towards the hood of the cloak.

  As it fell back, he looked up at me. My breath caught, and my magic faltered. Pulling back enough that he was no longer in pain.

  “Bea,” he panted out loud. That voice. Those eyes. “I know this doesn’t make sense.” He breathed. “You will understand, I’m sorry this happened this way. I’m proud of you.” Then, with a snap of his fingers, he was gone.

  I dropped my magic and fell to the ground. “Dad.” I whispered.

  Twenty-Three

  My head was spinning. I was still kneeling in the middle of the parking garage. I tried to control my ragged breaths and focus my mind.

  I saw red dripping onto the floor. I brushed my hand to my face and withdrew it. Blood was on my fingertips. I had exhausted so much energy.

  “Jake” I called out in my mind, praying he could hear me.

  “Where are you?” Was his response. It was clipped, and irritated.

  “Parking. Garage. Sorrensen’s.” I managed to get out.

  It seemed to take forever for him to arrive. Sobs wracked my body as I saw his car pull up. I felt gutted, hollow inside.

  The irritation on his face was instantly replaced by worry.

  “What the hell, Bea?” He said, rushing over to kneel beside me.

  He put his arms around me and I gladly leaned into them. He felt warm and steady as he rubbed reassuring circles on my back.

  After a while, he stood, pulling me to my feet. “We need to go.” He took my hand gently leading me to the car.

  I looked at the surrounding cars, a thin layer of dust coated each and every one.

  Jake saw the car that had been flipped over and looked at me. “Please tell me that wasn’t you.”

  I shook my head. “No, I didn’t do that.” I said vaguely.

  He opened my door and eased me inside and then went around and got in himself.

  I didn’t speak for the rest of the ride home. I prayed mom wasn’t home to witness me coming back looking like death.

  We pulled up, and her car was still gone. He sighed, then cut the engine. “What happened tonight Bea?”

  The answer to that made little sense, I was still trying to wrap my mind around that as it was. My dad, the fun, goofy, caring man that he was, was a rebel.

  This didn’t make any sense.

  “I will tell you, Jake.” My words were quiet. “When I can.” I prayed he understood.

  I felt him stiffen next to me, but he nodded. We headed inside, mom’s spell still around the house.

  “You aren’t the only one who knows how to sneak out.” He said casually as I shot him a questioning look.

  I glanced at the clock on the mantle, it was nearly eleven p.m. “We should sleep.” I said I was exhausted in every sense of the word.

  “You should shower.” He glanced in the room's direction I had obviously snuck out of. “I mean really shower this time.”

  He was right. I went upstairs and found the most comfortable cozy pajamas that I could and then headed into the bathroom.

  Nothing could have prepared me for the girl I saw in the mirror. I too had a layer of dust and dirt covering me. Some patches thicker than others. My eyes were red rimmed and puffy. Dark circles had made themselves present under my eyes. Dried blood covered my nose and mouth, I hadn’t tasted the iron that was now present in my mouth. My hair was a mess, looking like I hadn’t bothered to brush it that morning.

  I sighed and began stripping my clothes. My muscles protested as I brought my arms above my head. I turned on the water and got in, letting the water rinse the night off of me.

  Tears began flowing again as I thought about dad leaving us, leaving me for the rebels. What was the point in this meeting? Would he have told me anything had Jett not gone off his rocker?

  I had always been daddy’s little girl. Never would I have thought I meant little enough for him to just leave me behind without even a goodbye.

  These thoughts continued as I washed and scrubbed every inch of my body, trying to rid myself of this feeling of despair.

  I got out of the shower and brushed my hair back into a braid and quickly dressed

  I picked up my phone from where I left it earlier and saw that I had fifteen missed texts, all of them from Jake.

  Sighing, I knew he was upset with me. I would be too if our roles were switched. I exited the bathroom and found him leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom.

  I stepped towards him. He held his hand up and glanced away. “Jake.” He looked wounded. I knew what was going through his head, why hadn’t I trusted him?

  “Let’s go to bed. I know you well enough to know that you won’t be sitting out tomorrow. Maybe you should, though. Given that you exhausted all your energy tonight.”

  I nodded and followed him into my room. He fell gracefully onto his cot and rolled away from me. His silence and rejection eating at the already massive hole that was forming in my soul.

  I got out of the shower and brushed my hair back into a braid and quickly dressed.

  Twenty-Four

  Sleep came fitfully that night and early morning light broke through the night sky.

  My head was still spinning from last night’s adventure. I could still see my dad kneeling there, could still feel the agony and pain in his face as he spoke to me.

  Jake stirred and looked over at me. He looked like he was about to spring out of bed.

  “Morning.” I was still quiet, not quite my normal chipper self.

  Jake said nothing but nodded. I watched as he stood and headed for the door.

  The morning continued in this fashion. Jake didn’t speak more than a few words to me all morning. By the time we were heading up to the clearing where the battle was to take place, I wondered if I had lost him completely.

  When we arrived, I insisted we park closer to the base of the mountain. “Just in case.” I had said.

  I reached my hand out for him; he didn’t have the ability to transport himself. He hesitated, and I knew what he was thinking.

  “Come on, Jake. We don’t have time for this.”

  I knew I had him there. He sighed and placed his hand in mine. I snapped my fingers, and we were twenty yards from the clearing. Jake pulled away as soon as the magic subsided.

  The field was already bustling with activity as our warriors stood ready to face the rebels.

  “Bea. Jake.” I heard mom say from behind us.

  “Hey, mom.”

  I could see the irritation on mom’s face. “I told you to stay home. You deliberately disobeyed me.”

  I didn’t retort, not trusting what would come out of my mouth.

  “Even worse, you put Jake in harm’s way.” She continued.

&n
bsp; “Jake can handle himself. I’ve seen it.”

  I watched Jake’s eyebrows shoot up as I defended him to my mother.

  Mom turned on her heel and strode away towards a waiting Malcolm.

  I turned to Jake and before I could say anything, magic shot across the field away from us.

  My eyes darted towards where the shot was fired and watched as Jett shook the excess magic off his hands, a smirk on his face.

  In the blink of an eye, bolts of magic were flying in both directions. Jake reached for me and pulled me behind a tree, bracing me against it.

  “Are you sure you’re up for this?” He asked me.

  “I have to be.” I said. I looked up into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to kiss him then and there. I darted up on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek. “I will tell you.”

  I ducked under his arm and out into the fray. I watched as bolt after bolt of magic flew between the rebels and the clan. My head began spinning, I wondered if dad was here if he was attacking us with the rest of the rebels.

  I felt searing pain as a bolt of magic hit me in the shoulder. I shuddered and then focused my attention, knowing that if I didn’t, that could mean the end of things.

  I put a shield around myself and watched as spells bounced off of it. I created a Katana out of magic and smiled at how well the blade was balanced.

  Centering myself, I placed both hands on my weapon, as a rebel flew towards me, sword drawn. I blocked and sliced down the magic flowing through my weapon.

  I was light on my feet, agility was one of my strong suits. The rebel who had attacked me was coming back for round two, I gladly took it getting my pent-up emotions out.

  Disarming him quickly, I told him. “Stand down.”

  “Or what? You gonna put me down?”

  “Or this.” I said placing a spell over him to immobilize him. “I will deal with you later.”

  I looked around me, everywhere I looked more and more clan members were lying dead.

  This could not be happening. We were losing. I started sinking back into that hole of despair. I could feel my magic waning.

  Spell after spell lunged into my shield until I could no longer hold it.

  It hit me square in the chest. I stumbled back in pain and shock as the magic seared through me. Before I could react another hit me. I fell to my knees, barely able to breathe.