First Strikes Disaster

by Tatiyana Perkins

"I said, best skills."

  "Temperatures and water magic."

  He gave her a stamp on her arm that was of a bird.​What?​Hazard ran up behind her, saying “Rose,” and turned white as a ghost when he stopped her. Rose held her breathe again.

  “Name.”

  “Hazard.”

  “Special power?”

  "Nothing."

  "Best skills."

  “Dirt and gravity."

  "Let me see your arm."

  "What?"

  "Let me see your arm"

  She lifted up her sleeve, relieved that they were only about to stamp her.

  "Right arm."

  "I have bad burn marks on there.”

  "Won't be a problem, just show me your right arm.” Hazard caught Rose's eye and Rose raised her eyebrows. She lifted up her sleeve to show the bad fake burn marks that hid her tattoo that was of a mask.

  "Take this one." The guard said without a second glance.

  "No," Rose yelled.

  "What did you just say?"

  “Why are you taking her?”

  He nodded to a guard who tried to take her too, but she pushed his arm away. Immediately thick metal chains wrapped around her. Rose thought she was doomed until Evan snuck up and turned them into sand. She shook the sand off and pushed the guard back with ice. Together Evan and Rose put up a border between the guards and the students. "Together?" Rose asked.

  "Yes, together."

  Rose took the first guard and Evan took the second. They shot out more handcuffs and even thick vines, but Rose kept slicing them with glass and Evan turned everything into sand. It began to get hard to see, as sand and glass crystals clouded the air and still, Evan managed to get his guard down when he threw a metal rock at him.

  Behind them, the students that were watching were torn at whether they should stay silent or cheer. One thing was clear for everyone around; these weren't the normal guards. The realization that this was an attack turned to fear and a few of the students ran. Rose took out her guard with an ice chunk. By then, so much sand was in the air that it was getting harder to breathe, and two more guards rushed out. Hazard appeared from thin air and finished them off the two by wrapping them in rocks.

  The border crashed down and the three of them grew scared there were more, but it turned out to be Lena. “We have to go home,” she said to Rose. “Something happened to the house, these men aren't even legit. They-”

  But Rose didn't need to hear the rest, for she had already known.

  “We need to get those kids home safe,” Mr. Clark said, making her lose her train of thought. The kids had run but many, realizing they didn't know where they were, had walked back, others climbed up on top of trees, and the last stayed toward the front where they could see all the things that would surround them.

  “What's happening?”

  “A government breach. We've been expecting it for a while now, Ana warned us at the beginning of the year."

  “I know who to call,” Rose said, and she took out the tiny watch in her pocket.

  “Are you sure it's safe?”

  “Definitely. He works for no one but himself and he’s Daniel's best friend.”

  “Good. Bring him right away. We don’t-”

  “EVERYONE I AM CALLING SOMEONE. WHEN HE COMES DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT HIM IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR VISION. HE IS COMING TO HELP US," Rose announced. “In fact, cover your faces,” she added.

  They did as told. Rose twisted the hand three times and he was there before she could finish her breath. Behind her someone said, “oh my god,” and Rose put their hand back on their eyes. People were often surprised, as most didn't know that the man of light was an actual man made completely out of light; now he was in more of his true form then he was at the dance. Rose could bear it, as he gave her eyes a protection charm when she was younger, so it would not make her go blind, but even then it still desperately hurt. He had the body of a human, but with light peaking through little holes and gaps that shone brighter than the brightest star in the sky. She hoped everyone listened to what she said.

  When he moved, there was so much light you could no longer see he was a person. “Hello,” he said.

  “Alex."

  “You sent for me?”

  “Yes I did, there's something wrong.”

  “Is it Daniel? Did you find him?”

  Rose shook her head. “No, I'm so sorry. We have to get these people, specifically kids, out of here. Right now someone is trying to take them all. We scared them away for now but they'll be back." He rubbed his chin and then counted how many there were. “Thirty” he announced and then ran. It took him no more than thirty seconds to get every student home.

  “Thank you,” she said, breathless.

  “No problem. So what exactly is going on?"

  “We don't know. All around, people who don't belong are in the city. Apparently we’re being taken over."

  “I saw that on my way here - it looks like a war ground - I need to get ready." Before Rose could finish he ran again, and behind him, he left traces of fire. Rose started picking up things people left so they wouldn't get destroyed.

  “Rose,” Lena said, catching her breathe, for she had disappeared somewhere while they talked. “We need to go too. Ana and her army are already getting ready.” Rose dropped everything except a cup.​The fight is happening now? “You have to stay with me,” Lena continued. “You can pick where you want to go, but you can't leave my side. If anything happens, we have to run, if you do lose me let Ana know and she will give you one of the other guards." Pride kicked in as she saw Lena was wearing all black.

  “Wow,” Hazard said, watching Lena take off to get something from the school.

  “I'm surprised Ana let her do it.”

  "She seems like your own personal bodyguard. I would my let my daughter be protected by someone too, if I knew they cared for them. It's a safe bet." Rose turned around, ready to agree, but something in Hazard's face made her stop and understanding overcame her.

  She put her cup down, picked it up, and then put it back down again. None of the actions made Lena less of a girl, none of the actions told her if it mattered.

  Lena came walking back with Lorenzo, and with that, she was ready to settle three people in.

  “No, I'm not going,” Hazard said. “I need to get Sakara. He can help.” “Fine, Rose, come on.”

  Rose hesitated, for the words just stated were dreadfully affecting her. If left to think for herself, she would have never guessed. Then the night of secrets came back to her, how they were regarded differently after that, the way Aylea had looked at her the day she found them laying cheek to cheek. She smiled at the memory. Hazard spotted her smile and smiled back.

  “We have to start leaving soon, Rosie."

  “We'll leave now. I'm ready.”

  Hazard bid them well and left.

  They took off.

  Ana and her army were truly already set up when they arrived. Rose ran as quickly as she could, before anyone could stop her, and stood beside Ana as they waited on the front line. Would they be hit by regular blows first? Or monsters. Monsters were dangerously loyal, so she didn't have to worry about their monsters going against her, but did they have their own?

  Nothing happened for a long time. No one was permitted to talk, and it stayed quiet. If this was how war started, Rose remarked, it was dreadfully boring. While she waited, Lena snuck away to find news from one of the men. Right after Lena left, in the corner of her eye Rose saw the white butterfly appear and fly past her out to the forest. She had to look a few times to be sure, but she knew it was the one from her dream. She studied its movements curiously, for it appeared to be after her. It seemed to stop, waiting for her to come to it and draw her in with its light. “Not right now,” she said, still angry that she never figured out who sent it in the first place. The butterfly landed on Ana’s shoulder and stared at her. "Butterflies don’t stare,” she told herself, but this butterfly was staring. Fo
r a minute they held eye contact and then it flew away slowly. When Rose refused to budge, it repeated the move five times, finally flapping its wings furiously on the last. “Fine,” Rose said, and she snuck away to follow it. “This better be important,” she said. It seemed a long time that they were just walking; the army was no longer in her line of vision and she reconsidered her decision. “What is all this about?” she demanded. As it took her deeper into the forest, Rose almost turned around. In fact, she did turn around and was walking until she felt that behind her the butterfly was starting to change. Slowly at first, but surely. "Wait, you're not the regular butterfly,” Rose said, getting anxious. First it grew bigger till it had an almost human form, and then it started to change color. Before she knew it, standing in front of her was a black mist.

  “You?” Rose shrieked.

  “I told you I was a friend," he said.

  "Ana-” Rose began to call, but he motioned and her voice went away.

  “I’m here to help.”

  “No, you’re not,” she argued. “An-”

  “Stop and look at me. I’ve been trying to get in contact with you but you won’t listen”

  It happened again, where for a split second he looked very familiar.

  “What is it? What do you want?”

  “I can’t do anything in matters of this war, but don’t you want to know where the people are?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “If you're not lying, take me to them.”

  “I can't, but I can show you what I discovered.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder, and every detail from what happened played out in her mind. The kidnapping, the sickness, Autumn, the attack on the school, tyrants, all the deaths that happened randomly out of nowhere. It played in her mind at least four times, only from someone else’s point of view. It was infuriating, as nothing fit together. She was ready to push the mist away, until all the events from the day kept playing and she noticed something it kept highlighting. With the realization of how their world kept being attacked, Rose almost gasped out loud.

  “Wait a second,” she recalled. “Those were from the game today and they're your memories. I don’t understand how were you-”

  He shook his head, and she shrieked, “Artisan.”

  His hair changed back, as did the features on his face.

  “You can’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t, but that day with the forest-"

  “There are others like me, Rose, who can turn into anything they wish to. I wasn't trying to kill you. In fact, me and my wolf friend had a good laugh after you left.”

  “Where have you been?”

  “It doesn't matter.”

  “It does, or have you forgotten you have a son.”

  His jaw tightened, “I love my son to death. I would do anything for him. I am doing everything for him. Believe me, he knows it. But listen to me. If the same people are fighting today, that took them, now is the best time to go get our families.”

  “You think they'll leave them unattended?”

  “I think there won't be as many guards to watch them, if you leave now Noah will help.”

  “Come with me.”

  “I can't. I still have a lot of things to do.”

  “But you can hide and I need your help.”

  “I need to be out there spying or else your aunt and everyone else will die.” “Rose,” Lena called from somewhere close.

  “Go to her. Now. Get her help.”

  She ran over and looked in Lena's eyes. “They knew,” she whispered, “they knew everything. Where to find them, how many there were, they always made sure plans, they always covered their tracks, and loved to throw attacks at school."

  It took a minute, but Lena caught on, and they whispered it together.​"They're inside the dungeon."

  It was how they kept getting into the school, it was why they attacked during the game, it was why they tried to go after the children, it might even have been part of the reason why they had new teachers, but Rose could not bring herself to think about that right now. But most importantly, it was how they always knew everything. Something in Rose stopped her from tapping Ana. Daniel was gone, her parents were missing, her grandma had hidden away and her brother might not ever be found. In front of her was the last blood person she'd ever have. She had come to love her; more than she ever thought she would have.

  “Let's go,” she whispered to her friend and took her hand to guide her before she could argue. Once away, they left quietly and quickly.

  With happiness, Rosalie saw that the maskers, Noah, Kris, Kana, and Bash were waiting for them when they got there.

  “Rose, yayyy, we were hoping you came back.” Kana explained, “We weren't allowed on the battle ground but we want to help.”

  “Good, because I need something.”

  They all stood up straighter, showing they were ready for anything.

  “I need you to play the game again with me, I know it seems weird, I know you have questions, but we need to do it now.”

  “Okay” Hazard said, and the others fell in line behind her. “We need someone to be coach."

  “Me” said Noah, and Rose knew it was so he could pull them out if there was any danger. He said a quick overview of the rules and they divided. The guys outnumbered the girls by a few, but luckily the game did not see it as cheating. (The girls were evenly matched.) Noah distributed the symbols to the leaders. He gave Kris a big diamond and Rose a shining peridot. “Does everyone know the rules?” They all nodded and Rose was thankful she didn't have to explain. “On my count we'll all go.” He studied then all. “THREE, TWO, ONE, GO.”

  Rose took off. She ran, and in a hassle to hide the symbol, almost forgot what she was there for. After tossing it to one of the girls, she ran back to Kris and threw a huge ice chunk in his face. No one called it, so she kept running. One of the guys had fallen so she helped him up.

  "Dungeon," Lena called and Rose was sucked inside. She didn't know if she was crazy, but she swore she saw the sky starting to turn black before she went in.

  Her fear doubled as she fell and then tripled. The room was small, but it felt so big that it was terrifying. It was truly "connected to all the stars in the sky." Somehow she knew she was walking through space. Her feet touch the ground but the steps felt as light as air. The gravity was only an illusion.

  Chapter 17☆

  There were no cages or cells or big scary monsters, there wasn't even the man she saw in her dream, instead it was just a room. The only thing she saw, that could be of interest, was a door. She began to try to move towards it but her footsteps felt too heavy. She picked up another foot, and it took almost every ounce of strength she had to put it back down. It seemed like the room, that had once looked so small, grew bigger and bigger.​I need Hazard​ , she thought, but Hazard was still playing the game and she had told Lena not to let anyone else go in the dungeon. Rose closed her eyes and sent a cool breeze to find her. When it didn't work, she tried another one, and then the next. At first she thought she should give up, but then the dungeon door flew open and Hazard appeared right next to her. “What's wrong?” she asked.

  “The gravity in this room is all over the place,” Rose explained. “I'm trying to cross to the other side but the room won't let me.”

  Hazard tested the air. “What type of room is this?”

  “It’s connected to all the stars in the sky, so I guess you could say it’s a space room. It's also very important too. No matter what, we really need to get through here.”

  Hazard closed her eyes and settled the atmosphere, then said, “Go now. I can't hold it for long.”

  With that Rose took another step. It felt lighter than anything she could do on Earth, but it was good enough. Before Hazard could lose her grounding, she ran to the door and tried to turn the knob. Locked. With all her strength she threw ice into it, but that was no luck. She tried twice more but it would not budge; there must be somethin
g she was missing, like a key. “Artisan,” Rose thought, and he flew to her instantly, an even prettier white than before. “I need to get in there,” she said excitedly. He landed on the door, which clicked open. Rose thanked him and opened up.

  A bunch of people started at her; some with fear and suspicion, others, younger, happy that someone was there. The strongest ones, obviously, had taken the worst of the treatment, as gashes and cuts ran over their bodies and their clothes were a wreck. Rose was reminded strongly of Naclipse.​Had he been really here and left them to die?​The weaker ones looked starved, frail, and in need of a long rest. It made her want to cry to see them like this, and she knew she had to get these people out.

  When someone said her name, she began to notice that she recognized everyone in the room. After that it was so hard not to push them all out the way and search for Daniel, knowing that he might be in there. When she spotted a woman with an earring that matched the one she had found on the forest floor many weeks ago, her heart soared. She grabbed the arm of an old man with eyes full of pleading. “It's not a trick and I'm not here to hurt you, I promise,” she explained, but he did not believe her. “I swear I mean it. You have to come with me." No one moved. No one spoke.

  She could sense strong energy radiating through the walls and knew that soon, they would not be alone. So many other familiar faces grew scared as they felt it too and bowed their heads. She saw Morgan's pretty face, and a slight pang of jealousy hit her, that she pushed to the side. Slowly but surely, Orion came forth.

  She did not know it was him at first, but his resemblance to Lena soon showed through his face, despite the fact that he had aged a lot in the short amount of time. His blond hair was now streaked with long strands of gray, his lack of muscles showed he had grown frailer, and considerably weaker. Yet even still amidst this group of random people, he had managed to become the leader.

  “When you were little,” he began, “your mom took you to the guard house and you gave me a hug and I gave you a toy. What was it?”

  “A toy kitten.” Rose said startled by her memory.

  “What man were you most afraid of?” he asked