by Peay, Dexx
“That’s fine.” I gathered my things. “No sneaking out and flying around the city and fighting guys or whatever else it is you always seem to get into.”
I was exhausted when I made it back to my room. I threw my book bag off my shoulders into the dark room.
“Ouch!” A voice yelped.
I turned the lights on and Airez was on his bed wrapped in his blanket rubbing his head.
“Sorry.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing. Just, next time watch where you throw your things.” His tone elevated.
“Yeah, whatever.”
My phone flashed 12:47 P.M when I woke up to a message from Imani asking to come over. Great way to spend my Saturday morning. I got myself together and walked over to Imani’s dorm. She wanted me to come over and spend the day watching movies in bed. I brought over a few horror and action flicks but of course, she wanted to watch the romantic tearjerkers. I convinced her to watch one of my movies and I’d watch one of hers.
“We should all get-together and do something later this week.” I said, not paying attention to the screen.
“Who is we all?” she asked, irritated.
“You, me, and my friends and maybe some of yours. Mine would really like to meet you because to be honest, they don’t even think you exist.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dylan.”
“I don’t see what the problem is. What do you do when I'm not around? Do you have any friends? Do you study? What are your hobbies? I feel like I know nothing about you.”
“Fine.”
She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Even with her hair wrapped in a scarf and missing a layer of her face, she was still cute.
I smiled inside at her complexity.
“Fine.”
“I will meet your friends. I will go out, and whatever you want to do. I will do it I guess.”
“Don’t sound so happy about it.”
When Monday rolled around I asked all my friends what they were doing tomorrow night, and if they wanted to catch a movie with Imani and I. Charlie and Stacey had to study for a big test. Chris’ parents were in town so he and Gunner were going to be with them. Delilah had plans with some of her other friends which left only Marcus available. I probably should’ve planned first so it wouldn’t look like my friends bailed out on meeting her.
I walked over to Marcus’ room to see if we can have another shot at the journals again.
“What are you guys getting into?” Charlie asked when I entered the room.
“Just about to go over some boring chemistry homework.”
“I don’t know how you guys understand that crap. I'm going to stick to business.”
“Care to stick around and learn something?” I asked.
“No thanks. I'm going to the library to meet up with Stacey.” He grabbed some books and left the room.
“Whew. Thanks for getting rid of him,” Marcus said.
He walked over to his closet, which had everything but clothes, pulled the journals out of a bin and spread them over the bed. That funny looking symbol was randomly located on each of the books in some fashion. It was triangle-shaped with a fancy looking number seven but the ends looked like hooks that hung through the center of the triangle.
“What do you think it means, Dylan?” Marcus asked.
I looked at it and became drawn to the symbol. It was like time stood still and everything became clear to me. I no longer saw the symbols. I saw English. Shangaleese whispered through my lips without me knowing.
“What was that?” Marcus looked at me then the journal.
“It says Shangaleese. Look at it.”
He looked back at the cover and looked at me. “No it doesn’t. I just see shapes.”
I glanced again and the words were no longer clear, just shapes. “That’s weird, I could have sworn it said Shangaleese.”
We both opened the journals and went through them again. Some of the languages in the book we recognized — French, Spanish, Italian, English, German, the others were still a mystery. We focused on the pages written in English and I began to read:
1106 - The year here is 1106? I’m not sure I know what that means just yet. This is all too much for me. The way these people write, talk, they even enjoy walking? I want to go back home. I miss my father so much. I hope one day he makes it to this strange planet once the war ends.
-Shina
“What war?” Marcus glanced over and eyed me.
“I have no clue. Let’s keep reading.”
1107 - It has been two years since I’ve seen my father. I'm starting to think that I may not ever see him again. Mom is still holding on and so is Shyra.
-Shina
1107- Shyra is starting to come into her abilities finally. She is fire just like father and myself. He would be so proud of her if he were here.
-Shina
1108 - Today I met a man. He is very charming, dressed in black tights and black armor. He had this animal they call a horse. It was so swift and cunning. He even let me go for a ride on him.
-Shina
1110 - Sorry I haven’t written to you in 2 years. I want to try and have a normal life here and start over again. I think that is what you would want father. I am with child and married now. I am excited to see what element my child will possess. My husband’s name is Alaric and you would approve father. I am ready to pass our family history on and keep our family name alive no matter where we are.
-Shina
1111 - A few weeks ago my baby boy was born into this new world. He is amazing. His name is Craft.
-Shina
1111 - I tried my best to fight them off. I don’t know how they found us, but they did. I really wish you were here father. I don’t know what to do at this point. I have no more tears to cry and nowhere to go. I took the baby out for a few hours and when I came home the place had been destroyed. Mother was dead and then I found Alaric and Shina also dead. I'm just a young girl and I need you badly Dad. All I have now is the journals and Craft and I will make sure he is safe and an excellent warrior.
-Shyra
“Whoa are you reading all this, Marcus?”
“Bro, I don’t know what to make of it.”
We kept reading and learned that Shyra raised Craft. She talked about how much she missed her father but that she learned as the years went on, her family history was what was most important. Craft started using his powers at the age of five and together they trained in hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, and the use of their powers. At the age of twenty-five she married and had one son and one daughter. Craft was starting to come into a young man and was a good help with the kids.
1126 - The war here is really starting to pick up again. How did they find us here on Earth is what I'm wondering. Craft is a big asset in leading some of the other Vandakhorian people we have met. We know what we must do, Fight!
-Shyra
1129 - Craft is taking the kids and fleeing. I've decided to stay back and fight. This will be my last entry until I find Craft and the kids again.
-Shyra
1130 - Today I am 19 years of age and something strange is going on with my powers.
–Craft
1130 - Every night I tell the kids of how their mother was a hero. I also tell them the same hero stories of grandpa that I was told growing up. I wish I could have seen the beauty of Vandakhor.
–Craft
In shock, I said his name, “Marc.”
“What is it?”
“I believe the people in these journals are your ancestors.”
“I think you’re right. What do you think happened? What’s this war they’re speaking of?”
“I have no idea but we will go through the journals and find out what really happened.”
The next day I overslept and missed my first class. I was still playing the story of Craft in my head—how he did everything to lay low and keep the kids safe. Marcus must come from a family of ancient super-powered warriors.
<
br /> If that’s the case then where do I come from?
We stayed up half the night reading through as much as we could, but the journals hindered us each time it transitioned into another language.
Later that evening, I headed over to Imani’s dorm so we could walk to the movies.
“Where’re your friends you wanted me so desperately to meet?” she said, looking at her phone like she was pressed for time.
“Well, they all sort of had plans already. However, my best friend Marcus will be meeting us after the movie since he had some studying to do.”
Throughout the movie she seemed distracted. She picked at our popcorn and paid more attention to the people in the theater than she did the movie. She hardly cracked a smile while I had tears from laughing so hard at the movie. Her fingers bounced up and down on the armrest and every time I tried to touch her, she flinched.
“You alright?” I asked at every incident.
“Yeah I’m fine.” She would falsely reply, edging on the crazy side.
Reminded me of Jessica.
Ewww.
After the movie was over, we headed back towards campus. She didn’t say a word. At that point, I was just ready to drop her off. I’d rather be around Airez than Imani. My phone rang and killed the silence. It was Marcus.
Thank you!
I couldn’t wait to talk to somebody normal.
“Where are you guys?” he asked.
“Right at 49th and 8th.”
“Cool I’m walking up now.”
He had no idea how excited I was to see him.
“Yo, bro,” I said as our hands met. “This is Imani. Imani this is Marcus.”
Everything about her froze except the up and down movement of her shoulders. She didn’t speak. Marcus and I both stared at each other.
Then her.
She was climbing that ladder of psycho-weird.
Marcus stuck his hand out to shake hers. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before,” he asked. And in seconds, it was confirmed.
Psycho.
I stumbled as she pushed me to the side, and wrapped her arms around Marcus’ waist right as she made contact and took him down.
It wasn’t any ordinary tackle.
Her jacket incinerated at the wrist, reaming him down an alley. His head smashed into the brick wall leaving a small smudge of blood.
“Dylan, get your crazy girlfriend off of me,” he forced from his teeth.
She jabbed at his torso.
“Imani, what the hell are you doing? Stop it.” I demanded.
“It’s for, your own, protection, Dylan.”
I threw her off and jumped in the middle of them; Marcus struggled to stay on two feet. I iced up and pointed both hands to the two of them.
“You sure can pick ‘em,” Marcus said, holding his ribs.
“Imani, you have some explaining to do!” I yelled.
“Me? You have some explaining to do as well,” she responded. Just then the old rusty pipes on the sides of the building rattled against the walls.
We all froze from the banging. Marcus and I looked up. Imani was still on fire.
“What are you doing, Dylan,” Marcus said.
“That’s not me,” I said.
The shaking got louder and harder until the pipes exploded. Instantly we threw our hands over our heads for protection. Water rained down, soaking us, extinguishing Imani’s flames. Water crept towards our feet like it had a mind of its own. I watched as it formed circles around the three of us. I took a step back to escape it. No sooner than I moved, it shot up like a geyser and created cages around us.
“What the hell is going on,” Imani cried with soaked hair pressed to her face.
The water rose, reaching up half the building then splashed down with high-pressure. We all fell to our knees and when I looked up, there were two people standing only a few feet from us. They both raised a hand and somehow picked the water up with no cup or apparatus.
“Start talking,” the girl said, holding a pillar of water in the palm of her hand.
“And who the hell are you two?” I asked.
Marcus and Imani both flared up and went after the two but were easily shot down with a blast of water.
“Don’t try that again,” the girl said. “Now, who are you guys?”
“Please, just don’t attack us again. My name is Dylan, this is my friend Marcus and this is Imani.”
“Tell us who you are,” Imani ordered. “Friend or foe?”
The girl glanced at Imani like she was searching for something. “Friend. I'm Hachi. And this is my twin brother, Hudson.” They were both lightly tanned with dark hair. Hachi had hers pulled back into a knot at the back of her head. Her figure screamed athlete and her beauty said Pocahontas. The guy was carved and looked like he could lift a car with ease.
“How did you do that with the water?” I asked.
The girl looked at me as if I already knew.
“The same way you can do what you do with ice and they can generate fire from their hands. We’re all alike,” he said.
“No, we’re not,” Imani sneered, glancing over at Marcus.
“Why don’t you shut up or we can finish this fight,” Marcus said, igniting his hands.
“Both of you just stop — now — damn,” I yelled.
“I'm just saying. I don’t get why it’s always me getting attacked. People act like you don’t even exist. Sure, lets go after Marcus, he won’t care. Nooo… forget Dylan, we want Marcus.”
“You finished, Marc?”
“I'm sorry about the attack. We were just in the area and heard all the commotion. We have an obligation to our people,” Hudson said. “Listen, we will talk more, you all go to NYU correct?”
“How’d you know?” Marcus asked, taking a step past me.
“Look down you idiot,” I said. He was wearing an NYU jacket along with the rest of us. They both flew away and left us there soaked.
“Why did you attack me?” Marcus asked Imani.
“Your marking that’s why.” She snapped back, pushing her hair out her face.
“I don’t have a damn mark,” he said.
She reached for his left hand and pulled his sleeve up slightly revealing his wrist. She then turned him around and examined the back of his neck.
“It was right here. I saw it. I know I did and it started off the same way.” She scanned up and down his left arm and paused.
“He doesn’t have a mark, Imani.” I walked over and separated her hand from his.
“Now I remember. Did you live in Poughkeepsie?” Marcus stared at her. “You did. I remember you from my Dad’s restaurant.”
“Is that true,” I asked. “Did you live in Poughkeepsie?”
“It’s true,” she said. “I lived with my Dad’s best friend for about a week while he was out on a mission. We were attacked in Jersey and had to flee. We then moved to Albany and we’ve been pretty safe there so far. I've had to move around because no matter where we moved to, we were always found. That’s why I've kept to myself. I know there are many of them out here in the City and at school I'm sure. Last thing I need is for my father to receive a phone call saying I'm dead.”
“I had no idea,” I said.
“Sorry, Marcus. I really thought I saw their marking on you,” she said.
Their?
“It’s always me.” He threw his hands into the air.
The next week Marcus and I met up again to read some more before we went home for Thanksgiving break. I cracked the book open and with this particular one, the pages were practically falling out. This one had to have been the oldest. Marcus read from one journal; I had my eyes glued to another. In the midst of scanning, something caught my attention.
“Marc, read this,” I said.
He came over, sat next to me and laughed. “Are you kidding me? I have no idea what this says.”
“It’s in English. Now read it.” I pushed the book to him.
“Bro, I kid you
not, all I see is shapes and damn squiggles.” He pushed it to me.
“You’re funny. Fine, I’ll read it.”
-My name is Aarnadore Shangaleese and we finally made it to Vandakhor. Our neighboring planet Qihar invaded our home planet Xarpore. A number of us fled, but we didn’t all make it. We took the ships and set course for Vandakhor but on the way there we passed through a stream of glowing lights that slowed us down. Once we landed, we all realized that something was different about our powers. We all could somehow move things by our thoughts, and my lightning power is now stronger than ever.
The people here welcomed us with open arms and called us Shooting Stars, a gift from the galaxy. This place is so beautiful and tropical—nothing like the tall skyscrapers and buildings we are use to.
-We used our powers to help these people in return for acceptance. We helped with crops and creatures, built homes for people. It was such an amazing experience.
-I've fallen in love with Princess Thanda of the Shihi Nation and cannot wait for her to bring my unborn into this world.
-We have been asked to protect the planet. They divided the planet into eleven different nations and each of us has been put in charge of a nation. I have been crowned king of the Shihi Nation and one day my son will continue my reign as king.
-I think he may wield the power of ice. I wasn’t sure how this would turn out but it seems like if we reproduce, our kids will possess the same powers as all Xarponians.
-The Xarponian/Vandakhorian population is slowly starting to grow. It pleases me to see that our families’ heritage will not be forgotten and live on here.
“The symbol that keeps appearing on all the books is the symbol for Shangaleese. Marc, I think — and I know all this sounds crazy — but I think you come from the Shangaleese family and — and… you may be an alien,” I said.
“No. What’s crazy is that you made all that up off the top of your head.” He snarled and stood.
“Marc, I have no reason to make this stuff up,” I yelled.