To Save the World

Jason

“I think you need to get rid of that phone.” He said as they stepped off the plane and into Venice.

She gave him an incredulous look, “What? Are you kidding me?”

“Just switch most of the numbers over to a new phone. But having Audi able to call you at any time isn’t a good thing. They could trace you, and she keeps on trying to use her power on you over the phone. I know you can sort of resist her now, but really, it’s the practical thing to do.” He smiled at her, “I just don’t want you switching sides on me, is all, and she seems to be capable of forcing someone to do that.” And I don’t want to see you get hurt.

He stopped suddenly as he saw the fires in the distance - Venice, a city built on water, was burning. It would have been ironic if there weren't so many people in danger. But what can I do? My power can't help in this situation. "You all go ahead!" He shouted, "I'm going to try and find a few more people who might be able to help!"

With that, he dashed off down the streets, calling out in English for anyone who might be able to help, who might know where the nearest fire station might be. He knew they'd probably be helping with the blaze, but if there were any who weren't, he'd need to make sure they would as soon as he could.

Maisy

Chaos. Fire and pain; screams and terror. This was how they worked, it was what they fed on and Maisy had a sinking suspicion that it wasn't she who was in danger of being converted. Why didn't I warn them that Jessa would be in danger? Her shell was unravelling, being peeled away to reveal raw and half healed wounds, sharp, red welts on her mind. Who am I?

Jason had disappeared into the crowd and Maisy found herself following the others at a neutral pace. They were disgusted, they were horrified and they were doing everything they could to help. Maisy wasn't sure what to do. The mobile in her hand felt smooth and familiar, the heat of the fire against her cheeks wasn't terrifying, not compared to what she'd seen before and been a part of. But the screams. Oh the screams!

It was the screen that smashed first, splintered as the phone landed on the pavement and then her feet were thudding along and she was in the middle of it and she knew what to do. She needed water. Maisy concentrated hard, she pictured the red fire engines she'd seen in the picture books with the funny looking men in yellow suits, their faces plastered with friendly smiles. They were only immitations of good will to cheer children but for a girl who had the power to summon anything her heart desired, they were suddenly very real indeed.

The hose pipe appeared in her hands. The truck was behind her. The fire-men looked dazed and confused and in the back of her mind, a small particle of Maisy whispered that this wasn't helping because she was stealing the fire-crew from somewhere else; another fire, another hoard of people. She was merely translocating the heavy burden of death to other people, people whose screams she couldn't hear.

Edward-

I looked out of the window in the plane and saw Venice on fire. Huh, I didn't know we did that much damage. Power outages and a half-frozen runway were all that I could remember. Oh, and icy roads which would cause trucks and cars to slide into one another and blow up which would cause building to be set on fire, etc. I see now.

"So where's Laretta?" Audi asked. I heard something in my chest beat for a minute, but stifled it so she wouldn't see my feelings.

"She didn't come."

"Ooh, does Eddy-kins..."

"Shut up Audi."

All Audi did was smirk. Now she had something to hold over my head.

[Audi Rosario]

"I see water," the words fell out, one after another.

Edward growled, strode forward and was headed directly into the middle of the flames. I jogged after with Jessica beside me. Her heart was thumping at oddly and at no surprise, Edward was yet again furious. For the moments that we were walking, I couldn't tell what I felt. My face crinkled in worry.

Firetrucks spewed water around, confused firemen stumbled about, screams. Maisy was amoung them. Edward had stopped to watched from a distance of a dimly lit ally. I couldn't tell if I had any expression when I turned to Jessica, but it wouldn't have mattered. She was too wide-eyed, staring at the licking flames.

I staggered forward to the middle of two firetrucks, Maisy standing directly infront. At first she didn't see me. After a second she finally caught my eyes. Was I shocked? No... Happy? I took a few steps and squited my eyes at the heat, What am I doing?

"Maisy?" I ran, arms outstretched. The question kept repeating in my head, WHAT ARE YOU DOING! Then the words slipped out of my mouth, the ones I never thought I'd say to anyone--no matter what. "I missed you!"

~Jessa~

So much destruction...did I do this? I looked around and saw the pain in all of the people's eyes. I should be helping these people, not causing their pain!

Shaking my head, I pushed the thoughts away. I couldn't do anything. Not right now.

Audi ran for the and I turned around and looked for Edward. I ran to him and whispered, "Keep on the look out for the good guys and the guardians. They'll be keeping an eye on that girl..."

Edward-

I didn't like being told what to do, but this was an exception. Jessa knew the guardians and the good guys and knew what they would be doing. Her knowledge on this matter was... needed.

And she turned to be right. Next to Maisy and pushing Audi away from her was my twin himself, Jason. This was going to be fun.

Jason

The streets of Venice had, interestingly, led him back to Maisy and the others. Confused firefighters with (he couldn't believe it) fire engines clogged the narrow streets. Venice had never really accommodated for cars, and now they had long trucks in their streets, spraying more water about. He could hear the same sound coming from the other side of one of the buildings, the more regular Venice Fire Department taking care of the blaze from their boats.

Just as he neared the area, ready to help the firemen put out the buildings, he saw Audi running towards Maisy, arms outstretched. "I missed you!" She shouted.

Jason intercepted her, tackling her before she could reach Maisy. The two of them fell to the paved road, Jason collecting a few scrapes and bruises as he skidded along. He got to his feet, glaring at Audi, "Stay away from her." He growled. Then, seeing past her shoulder, he suddenly forgot that Audi and Maisy were even there.

Edward, his elemental twin, was standing about halfway down the street, grinning ear to ear as shadows began to flock to him, the street darkening significantly, "Ah, Jason. Good to see you here at last! Are you enjoying our fair city?"

The street brightened suddenly as Jason drew on the light in the fires, intensifying it, starting to glow with a bright white light himself. The street was plunged into even greater chaos as light started warring with darkness. "I'd like it more without the fires."

Kathy-

I was helping Noah listen for screams in the collapsed bulidings when they light show happened. Outside it looked as though someone was having a fight with the light switch.

"Jason and Edward have met again," I muttered.

"Jason can take care of himself. Let's get these innocents to safety."

...................

Edward-

"I'de like it more without the fires."

It was like this everytime we met. Witty remarks and two light schemes fighting for control. I kept the darkness going and pushed Jason back a bit. Maisy screamed and Jason looked away, breaking concentration. With a push of mental force I shoved his light backwards even more.

"Your girlfriend seems to be in trouble!" I taunted.

~Jessa~

I groaned. The whold light on/light off thing was giving me a headache. Rubbing my temples, I started to speak, "Since you guys are doing the whold strobe light effect thing, I'm just going off to find some trouble to cause."

"SHUT UP, JESSA!" Edward screamed, losing his concentration.

"Whatever." I sighed and skipped off in a random direction. "I wonder where Kathy is..."

Kathy-

"Charcoal! Help these people!" I shouted, extending my voice to reach her over the sirens of the fire trucks.

"Kathy?"

I turned and saw Jessa. What was she doing here?

"Jessa, go away."

Suddenly Nathaniel stepped out from somewhere. I prepared to send a tidal wave a screeches at him, but something was wrong.

"Ah Ms. Mercy, is it good to see an old friend?" he asked her. She didn't answer. I never knew a time when Jessa didn't have something to say. He smirked and lifted his hand. "Kill her."

What?

~Jessa~

Crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap. What do I do? I mean, she's like a sister to me. Sure she liked torturing me, and scolding me....But Nathaniel...what would he do to me if I didn't do as he said? I suddenly felt sick. He was probably the only one I really feared.

Wait. I grinned and Kathy looked at me kind of weird. Revenge can be sweet. Besides, if I attack her, someone will come and help. They always do.

"This should be fun." I melted the rock and created a ball of lava in my hand.

"Wait...Jessa..." Kathy said, confused.

"I betrayed you guys, remember?" I rolled my eyes, "Get over yourself, Kat."

I shot the lava at her and she ducked.

"Ahh yes, revenge can be sweet." I said, outloud this time.

Kathy-

She's just acting. She has to be acting.

"Ahh yes, revenge can be sweet!"

Oh she was playing like that huh? Two can play at that game. But now I needed to get her away from Nathaniel.

"Jessa," I called and then clapped my hands together. The waves of sound cracked the street and flew at Jessa, sending her backwards. She got up and glared. Good, she's angry. I ran down the street and I heard the bubbling rock behind me. Good, she was following.

[Audi Rosario]

Nathaniel was here, I turned. His dark eyes shifted towards me and it was no sooner that he was headed my way. He didn't smile and neither did I, it wasn't the time to. I looked around for a moment and saw that Maisy had run somewhere. My stomach clenched, No! Don't leave!

"Audi," That was a strange voice. My eyes glanced up at Nathaniel who had outstretched a hand, a smile almost tugging at his face. "It's nice, isn't it? All the mayhem and chaos is so nostalgic,"

I hesitated at his hand, but grabbed it and was helped up and given a slight hug. I didn't know whether to be grateful or in complete and utter shock. I knew happiness, I knew when memories floated back to people, and I knew what Nathaniel felt and what he didn't.

My throat was dry, but I still managed, "Yeah, I guess it is, but we need to find her."

"Hm?" He gazed at Jason and Edward's fight, smiling a soft smile now, like a father watching his sons play. "Find who?" He sighed out.

"Maisy!"

"Okay, let's find her then," The smile turned a little and he was almost back to his seriousness, but his emotions still bubbled with laughter and a psychotic little merriment at the sight around us.

Jason

Jason spun around as he heard Audi say something to Nathaniel about going after Maisy. No! he thought. If Nathaniel got near her, he could hurt her more than anyone else ever could.

Then the light went out in the street altogether as Edward took advantage of the lapse in concentration. Jason stumbled, dropping to one knee before concentrating again and inducing what Jessica had referred to as the ‘strobe light effect’.

After some time of the light and the darkness pushing back and forth, trying to force the other completely away, both Jason and Edward staggered back.

Edward gave Jason a menacing grin as he apparently changed tactics, darkness swallowing him up as he became invisible. In response, Jason bent the light waves around himself and achieved the same effect. Edward’s disembodied voice seemed to come from anywhere there was a shadow, “So, two can play this game, huh?”

Jason’s voice emanated from the sources of light, streetlamps, the fires themselves and the puddles of water reflecting that light. “So it seems.” Light intensified in those main sources and shot down from them in thin search-lights that began to quest the street. If they fell on Edward, he would be revealed.

Edward-

I avoided the light sources. If the darkness stayed around Jason long enough, he'd be too drained to fight anymore.

"Edward?" I didn't turn but was face to face with Larella.

"Larella? What are you doing here?"

"Helping of course." Something was different. Her eyes weren't bright and good but more evil then I had ever seen.

"If you're going to help, go find Maisy and don't hurt her. Nathaniel wants her alive."

"You don't control us Edward."

And she disappeared.