The Battle for Freedom

April

I had conjured everything that everyone needed. We needed to relax and calm down for a while. A scream erupted and I looked around. I could have swore that it sounded like...Zane! She wasn't here. I looked around frantically. It appeared the others were too.

"It's Zane," I said, pointing to smoke rising. "She must have used a fireball!" Everyone faced towards the woods and took off. I sighed. I couldn't run. I took off aftter them, limping as fast I could. I probably looked stupid, but I had to help her.

"Zane!" I cried out. If something happened to her. I swalloed. Nothing would happen. I wouldn't let it. I trailed after the others and conjured a knife. I just hoped that a knife would be the only thing I needed to protect myself and the others.

Jason

We ran towards the sounds of Zane's scream. Zeke was hurt but he was still running pretty fast. As we burst into the clearing were the smoke was we froze Zane was no were to be seen.

"Shit" I said looking around and I didn't need Kimberlees power to tell that everyone else was thinking it. Some of the girls looked like they were about to cry. I went up to Cappy and put my hand on her shoulder, we were just friends though, right?, any way right now it wasn't the time to think about stuff like that. Still I couldn't help but register the sensation hat ran down my spine as she turned around and hugged me.

"It's okay we'll get Zane back she'll be fine" I said and could tell that the words meant for Cappy had been heard by everybody.

"we need to do something" Zeke said standing up.

April

I had finally reached the others. Apparently I was too late. I looked everywhere. She was gone. I fell to the ground and sobbed. Poor. poor Zane. What had happened to her?

"It's my fault," I whispered to myself. It was my fault. I had brought up the idea that had gotten everyone angry. I had noticed she was upset but thought she needed time to herself. I could have stopped this.

Kimberlee had heard my thoughts. She looked at me and shook her head. At least she valued my private thoughts. I looked around. No one else had seen my moment of weakness...escapt Mikael. I turned and tried to wipe the tears. He kindly placed a hand on my arm.

"We'll get her back. We'll look for her," he said, lighhtly. I nodded. I needed the comfort. I was a burn mark on the ground and looked away. She had onviously put up a fight. I could feel the tears coming again. I shoved them away.

"How can I help?" I asked in a small, watery voice. "I mean just look at my ankle. I'm useless." Mikael shook his head. "I'll slow everyone down!"I buried my head in my hands and leaned against him. What was I going to do?

Mikael

I sat and held April as she sobbed against my chest. "April, April it's alright. We'll find her, i promise. And i think a place to stay was a good idea regardless of Zeke."
"Th...thanks" she sobbed. "D...do you think she'll be ok?"
"She'll be fine" i smiled gently infusing her with power.
"Is...is that you?"
"Is what me?"
"That strange feeling of warmth everytime you touch me. I feel better after each time."
"Promise not to tell?" She nodded. "Ever since we got here i've been different. I've been soaking up power like a sponge. That bolt of energy was overflow discharge."
"Is it dangerous? I mean no one will be hurt right?"
"I don't know. I hope not."
"I need lots of energy." She whispered.
"Why?" I asked quietly.
"Protection. Guns, clothes that kind of stuff."
"What April were just kids this is insane."
"Please Mikey just help me."
"Alright." I replied giving in to her smile. I placed my hands on her shoulders and let the energy flow like a tide. I could see her filling with power.[b]
"Oh my" she whispered. "Your glowing. Is this really how you see the world?"
"Yeah" i replied nonchalantly.
"It's beautiful."

Zane

I was moved. Something touched me. Air, I believed. I couldn't open my eyes, I was too afraid. What could have done this. I tried to create a small flame on my hand, to try t dissolve whatever was holding my arms up, but the angle wasn't good. I ended up burning a bit of my arm.
"Auch," I complained to myself. I decided to open my eyes. I can face it.
But I saw nothing more, of what I had seen before. Darkness, again. Slowly, the darkness revealed shapes and figures to me. I was sitting at rock floor. I remember clearly how it was cold and fresh, but discomfortable. Something in my mind changed. It ran through my thoughts, like Cappy would usually do, but it didn't read any of them. It seemed it was searching for... memories? Of my friends?
He found it. That moment when Lulu (?) fell and the earth moved.
"Feelings," he hissed.
"Stop it!" I screamed. I would not give them up. I was able to give him a victory smile.
"Get out of my head!" I shouted, and tried to jump forwards, but the shackles hold me back.
He walked away laughing.

Guys, I wanted Zeke to go. So this time, don't bring him back.



Zeke

Silently I slipped away in the panic. I wasn't going to stay here, I took a look at Kim, and with a flick of my wrist, made her slip on, I saw her fall, and get knocked out. That was the time I needed, with a single breath, I ran. No matter how hard my legs screamed, I kept going. I refused to stay here, if the others choose to follow me, good for them. The rest were idiots. I pushed harder and kept going, I felt my legs scream harder and harder. It was a struggle just to walk, running, well that was like standing on a bed of spikes. I made it, well I don't how much or how long I had ran, but I was out of the forest. I saw a lake. Yes! The water, it would help me. With out a second thought I dove into the water, and felt my legs stop screaming.

I never felt hurt in the water, though it was another story when I got out. It wouldn't heal me, but help me, so I would be able to run with out as much pain when I got out. After a few minutes, I got out, holding some water at my legs till I reached the surface. I made my self dripping wet, so until I dried, I would be okay. I took one more huff and took off again, it was getting dark (?), so I had to keep running, I want to make as much distance as I could before it was to dark to see.

April

"Zeke!" I yelled, limping after him. It was no use. He was gone. We were separated. Zeke had ran away and God knows where Zane is. Why was this happening? Didn't he understand we needed to stick together? Without everyone, there was no way we could save Zane. I tripped over a rock and fell flat on my face. Mikael had given me a lot of power, but my ankle still sucked.

"What now?" I heard someone ask. I was dimly aware of someone helping me up. This was for real, I thought dazed. We could die. We could never get home. This is real. Kimberlee was starting to come around. I felt a twinge of anger. He could have ran if he wanted, but why did he have to hurt Kimberlee?

"Are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded. "Where's Zeke...I read some of his thoughts before he-"

"His thoughts? Where was he going? After Zane?" I asked. She shook her head and I knew he was headed towards civilization. I couldn't believe he would do this. We needed him. Zane needed him. He was going to leave us...alone. We could die and he wouldn't even know.

I felt the tears threaten to spill over. I stopped them. First we had to find Zane. Then we would get Zeke. Poor, poor Zane, I thought. Who knows what was happening to her?

Jason

After about tweenty minutes I noticed that Zeke was gone. I had been busy trying to cheer up Cappy.

"great , Zekes gone guys" I said and people turned around checking for him before realisin he was gone.

"shit were stronger together" April said and I laughed a little.

"if you say so, half of us are injured and were in a world we know nothing about it dosen't matter if were together" I said my way to the forest in the opposite direction of were Zeke had probably gone.

" were are you going " Cappy said.

"going to find people, don't worry I'll be back anytime I need too" I said and Kimberlee looked a little pissed.

" were not gonna stay here in the hope that you might come back" She said.

"don't worry I will search teleport, I can do that well for you because your power open people minds and it makes it easier to conect to you and you to Cappy" I said walking future into the woods.

"why me?" Cappy said.

"think about it" I said before teleporting into the sky from here I could see to the edge of the forest as I fell through the sky I teleported to the edge. I walked slowly from now enyoying the coulours that came with night. After about an hour I had to halt at the sea or whatever they called it here. A large splash came from the water and I slipped out one if Aprils knives. Before I could prepare my self more a green tendril whipped out and grabed my leg. I pulled me down the beach and into the water. I spun around and slashed the knife around randomly. But still I pulled me down. I transported and was suddely in the beach the water that had been with me splached out too and so did the creature it was baisicly a giant green squid I raised my Han in defence but it burst into squals and then melted after a few seconds of me shivering in cold and shock a girl with bright red hair and a petit face still she looked a few years younger than me. After a few seconds a boy ran after her.

"sis dam we don't know we can trust this guy." He said. The boy looked my age and wore a black turtle neck and baggy jeans coated in a thick layer of mud. The girl laughed.

"Jeru come on what dose mum tell us" The girl said. Jeru nodded.

"yeah whatever Alice be nice all that crap" Jeru said and Alice sighed.

"don't mind him he just thinks he has to act all grown up to impress you" Alice said and Jeru pushed her annoyed.

"whatever, anyway come on you" he sao pointing at me. I obedently got up followed them.

" I'm Jason" I said but the guy ignored me.

" yay did you here that Jaru, Jason, it's fritelet isn't it we've never brought a fritlete home before" Alice said and Jaru grunted. It was long silence on the way back to these people house I was amazed when we got in a car that flew up. I tried to not act surprised since they were probably Colman place here. Sadly I couldn't help looking a little dazed as we flew up to a flaring city with tall metal buildings that had a sleek and cool design. Finnaly we got to a one three bed room apartment high up on a top floor of one of the taller building in the city.

" how do you like it" Alice said as a doorman opened a door to a marviulrs bright white and cream living room. As Jaru walked in a woman dressed in a red t shirt came and stopped us.

"come on in here with all that mud" she said making us take off are dirty clothes and fold them up, by the way she barley registered me I guess this was preety comman.

After fifty minute I was lying on a big red bed with weird giant screen that seammed to baisicly a tv but the called it sh which didn't make any sence to me. I opened a door were a new set if clothes was already layer out for me. I pulled on the new white jeans and was impressed by the fact that they didn't stain and dirt dissoled of them. I pulled on the black t shirt and the red waistcoat by shit turned longsleeve automaticly and some red and black striped vans automatcly fitted to my side. I pulled nearly on the drivers hat letting my hair hang out the sides and grabed some if the weird money that they had on this flying city. I would go back to the others soon and tell them of this place but first I had to check it was safe.

*HUm... I don't know what'll happen to Zane... She can try to run away, I guess.*

Zane

"Has it been days? Hours?" I asked to no one. The darkness seemed to clutch in; I couldn't tell day apart from night. I bet if I'd went outside, I'd be blind.
That man... he wanted their flaws. Their weaknesses.
"I just want to go home." I remembered what April said. God, she must be worried sick. She always would. There was a time at the mall, where she was trying on some clothes, and I went to another section of the store. After a while, I saw her with the security guy, relived for finding me.
I couldn't help but smile.
"happy memories, hum?" That voice! That horrible, despicable voice always in my head!
This time, I laughed in anticipation. Oh, how frustrated he'll be when he can't get in my mind!
"You ain't getting it your way."
"let's see, shall we?"
Something stabbed my defences, trying to get in my mind. I reinforced them, by meaningless things. That cute black dress at that store, and those shoes that would match. Cappy once said it worked. He backed away.
"Don't worry. I'll be back. And you'll be weaker."
He walked away. I waited for a very long time. I couldn't tell if an hour, or two. In that place, you'd loose track of time. Track of everything.
"Move," I whispered. The ground started to shake, more violently by the minute.

April

Nobody was moving. They thought since Jason was on it everything was going to be okay. No. We had to get Zane back. Fast.

I started limping deeper into the forest. No one noticed but I thought I heard someone following me. I turned quickly, but no one was there. I kept walking, faster. I didn't know where I was going but I had an idea. Zane and I had always been close. It was almost as if there was a bond between us each, except the one between Zane and I was stronger. I was going to find her and when I did, I was going to find out who took her and kill them. I flinched at that vicious thought. I was changing.

The woods were starting to become less dense and I saw a patch of light up ahead. Why was a house in the middle of the forest? I walked closer, hoping to find Zane. I ducked down quickly. Someone was sitting at the edge of this place. I snuck around towards the back. Suddenly the earth begain to tremble beneath my feet. Zane, I smiled.

I walked quickly towards the house. My limp was starting to get better. I had a feeling it was because of the adrenaline my body was pumping and not that it was actually healed. A twig snapped and I stopped. Something was behind me. Something knew I was here.

Jok: What happened to Jason? I think you just had people appear, they and they took him in out of no where, like they always did it or something. That right?

Cappy

Jason left a long time ago, but he still wasn't back. Before he left he said it was easy to connect with. Why? It puzzled me, does this mean he likes me? No it couldn't be were just friends. . . But I can't ignore the feeling I get when I'm around him. . . What why am I having thoughts like this when Zane was kidnapped by God knows what. And Zeke ran off, maybe he went to find civilization. What if civilization, was what had taken Zane? April said that they might of been evil. What if she was right? I looked at Kimberlee to see if she knew, she looked puzzled by my thoughts, but nodded as if she thought I might be right.

A earthquake erupted out of no where, and everyone looked at me.

"Don't worry Cappy will get Zane back." Lulu tried to comfort me.

"Guys that's not me. . .Where's April?"

April

The thing lept out and I dove to the side. I didn't know what it was but I knew it wasn't freindly. I conjured a knife. I couldn't run, but I could fight. Then, the thing transformed into a human.

"Another little pet," he laughed. "What's your gift?"

"Where's Zane?" I asked, not bothering to ask him any more. He laughed.

"Your little freind? Oh she'll be out shortly."

"If you hurt her," I started,

"You'll what? Kill me? You're probably only the mind reader," he smiled and I hid my own.

"Maybe. Maybe not," I replied.

"Let's make this easy on us both," the man said. "I'm tired, your tired. Let's not put up a fight." I laughed.

"You're kidding me right?" I asked. I stepped towards me and I flung the dagger at him. It changed course and flew at the tree.

"You see?" He asked. "That's what happened to your freinds fireball, little mindreader." He threw back his head in laughter and that's when I threw the spare. The one I just conjured. It lodged in his chest and he looked surprised, but hardly fazed.

I limped away. Zane, I thought. I had to hurry. The man grabbed my hair and I elbowed him. He still pulled on it. My eyes watered as he ripped some out by the roots. Not a lot, but enough to be painful.

I had to get away. A rock hit the back of my head and I crumpled at his feet. The only good thing about this was that Zane wouldn't be alone. That's when I blacked out.

Jack

I was finding that it was harder and harder to stay calm in this strange new world. Since we'd arrived here, there had been nothing but trouble for all of us. We'd been split up in our journey here, had been attacked as we were finding each other, and as soon as we had been properly reunited, arguments had broken out and people had disappeared. Jason and Zeke looking for civilisation their own separate ways. Zane kidnapped. April havng simply vanished into midair. This, I decided, was worse than a disaster. It was tearing us apart. We should have been able to go through anything together. Instead, this was happening to us.

"April..." I said, trying to seek out those signature emotions I knew her by. "It's no use." I said, "She's too far for me to just pick up." I looked at Kim, "Maybe if we worked together?"

She nodded, and I tried not to smile. This wasn't exactly the time to be getting distracted by her. Even so, I felt a tingle run up my arm when I took her hand, closing my eyes as I spread out my empathic detection, forming a kind of web over the area with Kimberlee's telepathic help. Alone, I could only detect emotions, she only thoughts. Like this, we could sense both at the same time, effectively able to pinpoint someone and identify almost everything about them.

There was a brief feeling of fear that I instinctively knew to be April. Then, to the shared horror of myself and Kim, a strong flare of pain. "She's in trouble." I said, my eyes flicking open.

"Which way?" Cappy said, somewhat fearful. Kim pointed, but that was only the direction we last felt her. She'd dropped of our map a second later, meaning she was unconscious, and by the time we reached the place we'd found her with our powers, she could have been moved somewhere completely different.

April

Where was I? My head lolled from side to side and I looked into darkness. I was in a room, but I wasn't sure where. My wrists were locked and so were my legs. Mikael, I thought, I missed him and I knew he had wasted his extra energy on me. He had given me all that energy for nothing. I had barely provided the others with food and knifes. My spur of the moment idea didn't sound so good anymore.

"April," a voice spoke clearly beside me.

"Zane," I croaked. My throat was so dry. I smiled. I was glad she was okay.

"What happened?" She asked. "Where are the others?"

"When you screamed we all ran. Well I limped of course but you were gone. Zeke ran off. Because of me and I know he's going to find civilization. Jason teleported and hasn't been heard from since and everyone was just sitting around doing nothing. I tried to provide them with weapons and food and stuff but I had to come for you. Are you okay?" I asked. I saw her nod.

"What's going on? What have they done to you?" Anger was making me stupid. I rattled the bonds that held my wrists as if that would help.

"Nothing April," she repleid. "I'm not sure what they're doing but I know it involoves all of us." She looked at me, a serious expression filling her eyes. "We have to get out of here and warn the others."