Aesir

Kor

I don't know how long I stayed there, quivering. I let every emotion run its course, eventually gaining some awareness.

Ana was beside me, patting my back, and I let her do it.

I was tired, overwhelmingly so after the barrage of emotions, too tired to push away offered strength.

"It's...It's alright," she muttered awkwardly.

I wasn't tired enough to actively take it though. I crawled away. "Leave me alone," I growled.

She sighed, sounding exasperated. I couldn't quite make myself care.

"We'll get out of here," she said plainly.

Hadn't I just said that? Had it been minutes ago that I had told her we would be fine? Could it be hours or a day even? We will not, and you know it...I don't stand a chance without my magic, I thought viciously, hoping it would cause her pain. And there I went punishing the innocent girl again.

"Then teach me," she said with a hint of fire in her voice.

I scoffed, opened my mouth to tell her in how many ways that was a stupid idea. I froze. "What?" I demanded, turning to her to read her face.

"Teach me," she repeated, slower.

My mind jumped at the thought, but I reigned it in. Rekard will just use your magic against you. "You're too stupid to learn," I spat, feeling some comfort at the mock hatred.

"What he doesn't know," she whispered and yawned, "...won't hurt me."

I raised my eyebrows, shaking my head. "He'll figure it out."

"I'm good at playing dumb."

I glared at her. I glared at her because I really wanted to hug her. I glared at her because it was a damn good plan, and I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it. I glared at her because it's hard to face the bright light of hope again in the pits of despair. I glared at her because most of me really wanted to accept her plan, but the moral part refused to allow it. I won't let her risk it.

She frowned at me much as I was frowning at her. "I'm offering myself up."

"I don't care," I said blatantly and ran a hand over my face because I so wanted to begin teaching her at that very moment. "You're my responsibility. I can't be throwing you to the rabid dog to protect myself."

She looked at me as if I had lost my mind which was a look I was probably getting frequently. "So... Instead of you teaching me and me learning we're just going to wait for Rekard to come and kill us."

I had no answer for that. My mouth opened and closed. I'm sure I played a marvelous idiot. "Fine," I snapped when my brain refused to find an answer that was more logical than the faulty one I had just spit out.

She smirked smugly, and I pretended to ignore her.

I took off my shoe and threw it across the room, sitting crisscross on the floor. "We'll work on Blue powers, powers of the mind. Blues are constantly searching for information. I was half Blue before I began the search to master all of the colors." I winced at a thought that had just ran across my mind: she would have been open to every emotion I had felt during my episode. Of course, that was one of the things that had set me off, but I hadn't cared about Ana during my fit. I'm sorry, I thought, too proud to say it. I half hoped I had thought it too quietly for her to hear. "I was also half Red if you didn't just figure that out." I raised a finger as she opened her mouth, smiling to make it friendly rather than demeaning, and continued, "That is strange. They are enemy colors. It's a bit of a psychological disaster sometimes. I've worked very hard to repress my Red. As you saw just a few moments ago and in Rekard, it's not the best color to have if you don't have it on a tight leash." I raised my eyebrows as a question for understanding and got a nod. "I want you to move that shoe from that end of the room to me..."

She waited for more.

I waited as well.

"Aren't you going to tell me how?" she finally asked, irritated.

I grinned. "I think I'll let you figure it out."

She gave me an unbelieving look.

I shrugged. "That's what your dad told me when I asked him to teach me."

"What if... I actually figure it out."

"I'll know." I'll stop you. "Not that you're smart enough to figure it out," I added in what she would most likely take for a sarcastic mean sneer after all of the crap I had said to her, but had more of a playful connotation in my mind.

She would get it. I hoped it would take her a little more than a few moments to figure it out. It had taken me three days to get close enough to make Derik tell me... I settled back against the wall as she directed a focused stare to the boot.

Spoiler

Give me until Monday to do Lya. I thought I would post what I had finished. I won't have computer access on Sunday.

Anastasia

Kor sat and glared at me for several long minutes, forgetting that I could sense his emotions- therefore I knew he was tickled to death that I had proposed the plan, though I felt a bit of hesitation in him. I won't let her risk it.

I glared at him, challengingly. "I'm offering myself up."

"I don't care," he said flatly, as he rubbed his face. "You're my responsibility. I can't be throwing you to the rabid dog to protect myself."

I looked at him incredulously. He can't be serious. "So...Instead of you teaching me and me learning, we're just going to wait for Rekard to come and kill us."

He stared at me stupidly for several long moments, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. "Fine," he snapped, his mind angry with me but lacking any better come back.

I smirked, and he pretended to ignore me.

After a long moment he sighed and jerked his shoe off, tossing it across the room. "We'll work on Blue powers- powers of the mind. Blues are constantly searching for information. I was half Blue before I began the search to master all of the colors."

Suddenly Kor stopped and grimaced. She had to feel all of the emotions I was in my episode...

I felt a strong shame once more. I'm sorry.

I squirmed uncomfortably, knowing that acknowledging his apology would be a blow to his pride- really hoping he wouldn't press the issue.

"I was also half Red, if you didn't just figure that out."

I opened my mouth, aren't Red and Blue enemy colors?, but he raised his finger to stop me, smiling. "That is strange. They are enemy colors.It's a bit of a psychological disaster sometimes. I've worked very hard to repress my Red. As you saw just a few moments ago and in Rekard, it's not the best color to have if you don't have it on a tight leash."

He paused, raising his eyebrows, searching for comprehension, so I nodded.

"I want you to move that shoe from that end of the room to me..."

I looked at the shoe for a long moment, a shiver of excitement and fear running down my spine. I eagerly looked back to Kor for direction. I stared at him for several long moments, him calmly watching me- soon I grew impatient.

"Aren't you going to tell me how?" I growled.

Kor grinned. "I think I'll let you figure it out."

I looked at him incredulously. He's gotta be kidding me.

He shrugged. "That's what your dad told me when I asked him to teach me."

Daddy taught Kor? Wow, he must've been really powerful. "What if...I actually figure it out?" I asked slowly.

"I'll know." I'll stop you. "Not that you're actually smart enough to figure it out." He sneered.

She'll probably think that I'm actually mad at her after all the crap I've put her through, even though I'm not...she'll get it...though I hope it takes her a while. It took three days- it'll be annoying if she figures it out in a few moments.

I stared at the boot, waiting, hoping he'd think about what I'd need to do, but he didn't.

Maybe I shouldn't have added that last bit...I was only teasing, after all. I wonder what I can do, to let her know-

"I already know," I said calmly, never moving, but watching him out of the corner of my eye.

He recoiled, and then glared at me. "Stop that, damn it!"

I turned and smirked at him.

"I'm serious."

I turned back towards the boot.

"I can't help it, you know."

"I know, but you don't have to answer," Kor growled. I mean it.

"If you mean it, then why do you keep directing your...you know... towards me?" I demanded.

I don't know...but how can I help it? "Don't you dare answer that," Kor snarled.

I laughed, my mind torn between trying to figure out how to move the shoe and devising new ways to torment Kor- I was really having a good time at it, so far. It made my situation suck a bit less.

You're obnoxious.

"That's not nice," I said, for no other reason than to be sure he was aware that I was listening- and to annoy him by answering.

"The rule," Kor growled. "Is that 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'- I didn't say a word, therefore I am obeying the common rules of civility. ***k off."

I started cackling- the resentment I felt radiating off Kor doing nothing but fueling my laughter. Finally I stopped laughing, and silently focused my gaze on the boot- thinking about how the best way to get the boot was, decidedly trying to ignore Kor, to give him a few moments of privacy.

Kor said that Dad taught him how to retrieve the boot...he also said- well, thought- that it took him three days...Kor's really bright, but I've heard that my Father was crafty...I know he used to adore teasing me with riddles...There's got to be an element to this challenge that's not easy to see...If there were a way to make this complicated, Dad would've found it, and implimented it.

Suddenly I felt another presence outside the door- Rekard. I wonder if the brat's doing any better. I could use some good news.

I instantly collapsed on the floor, lying limply, my eyes closed.

What are you- I heard Kor start, and whispered. "Rekard."

The door opened, and I decidedly kept my face void of any emotion, pretending to be asleep.

"Has she been awake?" Rekard asked roughly.

"Um...no, not for very long," Kor lied. "She- she's not doing very well." What's your game?

"I'll decide how she's doing," Rekard sneered, as he walked in front of me. "Get up."

He recieved no response.

"Get up," he ordered, as he kicked me.

I groaned.

"Get up."

I pretended to struggle to push myself up, my arms shaking, before I collapsed on the floor once more, grunting. Rekard sighed exasperatedly and bent, lifting me to a sitting position, propping me up against the wall. I let my head fall to the side limply.

"Open your eyes," Rekard ordered. "Look at me!"

I weakly cracked my eyes open, and peered into his menacing eyes.

"How are you feeling? Getting any stronger?"

"I- I don't know," I said. "I'm feeling rather faint."

"What's the matter?"

"My head and my sides- and oh, I'm so hungry," I said dramatically.

Rekard sighed. "Suck it up."

I sniffed. "I can't," I wailed, tears lining my eyes.

Rekard looked at me digustedly. "Fine, I'll get you food. Just stop snivelling like that." Weak bitch.

He stormed out of the room. I felt for his mind to receed down the hallway, it quickly fading away, out of my range- then sat up and grinned at Kor, rubbing the fake tears from my eyes.

"See? No problem."

Kor looked at me incredulously and shook his head. "You're a sneaky, sneaky little girl."

I smiled smuggly. "Told you."

He nodded, and then looked at me challengingly. "I still want you to get me that boot."

I only know of one way to get- I stopped short as I realized how simple the problem actually was.

I stood, strode across the floor, grabbed the boot, and walked back to Kor, dropping the boot into his lap.

"There, I got you the boot," I stated and sat back down.

Spoiler

Take your time- I'll reply when it comes. Also, I don't care if Kor accepts that or makes Ana try it again- whatever you think.

Kor

I worried about her being offended for a little while, finding life much more bearable with a friend rather than a foe. Maybe I shouldn't have added that last bit...I was only teasing, after all. I wonder what I can do, to let her know-

"I already know," she murmured, not even turning to look at me.

I started and then gave her a hard look. "Stop that, damn it!"

Then she turned to look at me, grinning like she had just won something.

"I'm serious," I growled, still finding it disconcerting to have her answer a thought I didn't mean for her to answer.

She refocused on the boot and added, "I can't help it, you know."

"I know, but you don't have to answer," I muttered. I mean it.

"If you mean it, then why do you keep directing your...you know... towards me?" she demanded.

I don't know...but how can I help it? "Don't you dare answer that," I snarled.

She laughed much louder and much longer than I thought necessary.

Then I thought, just so I was sure she was aware, You're obnoxious.

"That's not nice," she replied, grinning like a monkey, before she pouted playfully.

I found nothing worth grinning about. "The rule," I said collectedly, linking my fingers together, "Is that 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'- I didn't say a word, therefore I am obeying the common rules of civility. ***k off."

She began to roar with laughter which was not the effect I had meant to create.

I sulked as she continued, seeming to start all over again multiple times. I'm sure she would find it just as funny if the roles were reversed.

Finally she quieted, still giggling from time to time, and returned to staring at the boot.

I shook my head, slightly amused but mostly exasperated.

I frowned when she stiffened and then collapsed. ...There was no way...

What are you- I began to think angrily.

"Rekard," she breathed, her lips barely moving.

I carefully wiped the expression of understanding off of my face as the door flew open and slumped tiredly against the wall.

"Has she been awake?" Rekard asked roughly.

I squinted up at him. "Um...no, not for very long," I lied. I pasted on a look of despair. "She- she's not doing very well." What's your game? I thought worriedly, hoping I wasn't screwing up her 'master plan'.

"I'll decide how she's doing," Rekard sneered, as he stalked toward her.

I almost said something but bit my lip at the last minute, grimacing. We would see what Ana had going on...

"Get up," he demanded.

She remained completely still.

"Get up," he repeated, kicking her.

I winced in sympathy.

She groaned.

"Get up," he spat again.

She made a great show of getting up, collapsing at the last second. I could have applauded.

Rekard, impatient Red that he was, sighed exasperatedly and bent, lifting her to a sitting position. She looked pathetic, her head flopping to one side.

"Open your eyes," Rekard ordered. "Look at me!"

She peered up at him.

"How are you feeling? Getting any stronger?"

"I- I don't know," she murmured breathily, "I'm feeling rather faint."

That sounded so different from the Ana I had experienced I almost snorted.

"What's the matter?"

"My head and my sides- and oh, I'm so hungry," she moaned, having an almost exact replica of an expression a character on a soap opera would wear.

Rekard sneered in derision. "Suck it up."

She sniffed as I watched in disbelief. "I can't," she managed before she began to actually cry.

Rekard scoffed. "Fine, I'll get you food. Just stop snivelling like that."

He stormed out of the room, and I remained quiet, scratching my jaw as a way to cover the enormous grin that was splitting my face.

She sat up and mirrored the expression, wiping away her tears unworriedly.

"See? No problem," she said smugly.

I stared at her, at a complete loss for words, shaking my head to personify that. Finally I chuckled, "You're a sneaky, sneaky little girl."

She crossed her arms, a picture of smug pride. "Told you."

For once, I didn't care.

I nodded, and then raised my eyebrows. "I still want you to get me that boot."

She frowned and then brightened in surprise.

Damn, I thought but cut myself off in case she didn't actually have the solution.

She stood, strode across the floor, grabbed the boot, and returned to me, dropping the boot into my lap.

"There, I got you the boot," she threw over her shoulder and sat back down.

I studied her, shaking my head, searching for words a second time in the span of three minutes. "The looks of your mom, the wiles of your dad, and the spirit of them both... You're superwoman," I finally managed, not thinking of how she had reacted to slightly similar situations, not caring for the moment.

Vivid memories that I had thought of as forgotten flashed. I had been young and impressionable at the time, but I hadn't realized how much they- Myca, Ana's mom, too- had meant to me until they were gone and I had their clone in front of me.

I chuckled. She was smart, but I had known that for a while. A little shortsighted at times, a little reckless, but damn smart. Derik would be bursting at the seams right now. Myca, being proper as always, would be sliding in a sentence here or there into any given conversation, any at all, changing it to revolve around her brilliant daughter...

I glanced up from where my eyes had drifted in thought and met her eyes. They were guarded. I couldn't tell if she was reading me or not. She probably caught some of my thoughts. It wasn't like she could help it. You don't know. Bits and pieces of the previous conversations between Ana and myself came back in the time that must have been stretching into minutes of silence. Her horror when I told her the rebels had been waiting on her... You have no clue how... I stopped. Somethings needed to be said aloud even if she had already picked it from my mind.

I gave her a crooked smile. "Your parents would be proud of you... and you would deserve it." Because I can't say anything completely nice I added, "Just don't screw it up."

The moment of serious kindness in a time of fairly even emotion levels- no one was having a breakdown- made everything awkward.

"Ah..." she murmured nervously. "Thanks for that... I-"

Shrugging off my awe and nostalgia, along with the strange feeling of deja vu, I waved the words- mine and hers- and thoughts- mine- away with a brash hand. I threw my boot again, barely missing her head...

There was no need to linger in unfamiliar territory... Mutual dislike was better than the previous unknown atmosphere of something dangerously close to camaraderie. Before I knew it I would actually care what happened to the girl because she was important to me rather than the boost she would give my cause... I shook my head. Dear God. I wasn't sure if I could cope with that.

"I'm glad you figured that out in a hurry. We don't have three days to waste," I muttered, envy evident in my voice to my chagrin. "Time for lesson two." I stared pointedly at the boot, unable to look at her for the time being. "No hands."

I explained the process of telekinesis. I did so twice after glancing at her face to find a very lost look. The second time was with more hand gestures and eye contact.

"Go ahead and try it out," I said as carelessly as I could manage.

You'll get it almost immediately, I squashed a spark of surprise at my own faith in her, but struggle and fail... since you're such a good actress. I didn't care if she didn't catch it all as long as she caught the most important parts. Somethings I did for my own enjoyment. We'll let your exam be the attack.

"I want you to know how it will feel," I added. But don't make it move.

With a satisfaction quite similar to what I felt in a classroom, I watched her stare at the boot as her attention seemed entirely focused on the task at hand. She suddenly glanced at the door and resumed her weak, pathetic position.

Spoiler

I ran out of time for Lya again. I'm so slow at this...

I'm sorry Kor's emotions are so hard to read and seemingly bipolar. I'm not really sure where I'm going with him. I italicized some of his thoughts, but I don't really care what you make thoughts or not. I felt like I had to in places though. I don't think this even needs explaining, but I wanted to make sure...

Anastasia

I watched Kor as he stared at me for a long moment, shaking his head incredulously. "The looks of your mom, the wiles of your dad, and the spirit of them both...you're superwoman."

I recoiled slightly, every fiber of my being repulsed at such a splendid compliment- at being compared to my wonderful, perfect parents. Suddenly Kor's mind was alive, filled with images of Mom and Dad- of their laughter, their determination, their skills.

Kor chuckled. She's smart...of course I've known that for a while. A little shortsighted at times, reckless, but damn smart. Derik would be acting obnoxious if he were here, making sure that everyone was paying attention to her...Myca would be proper, as always, but doing her best to make sure the conversation revolved around her brilliant daughter.

I stared at the side of his head, awestruck. He glanced up and met my gaze. I wonder if she's reading me...she probably caught at least some of that...it's not like she can help it...You don't know Suddenly small scenes and pictures flicked across his mind, bits of our conversations, my reactions. You have no clue how...I've got to say this...

Kor grinned. "Your parents would be proud of you...and you would deserve it...just don't screw it up."

We sat awkwardly for a long moment, silent. To a bystander, we might actually appear normal, for once- niether of us throwing fits or having break downs.

"Ah..." I said nervously."Thanks for that... I-"

Kor shrugged and waved his hand dismissively- throwing his boot again, barely missing my head. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he smirked- the strange sense of admiration was gone, and, once more, we hated each other.

I can't start caring about her more than our cause...dear god. That would be a disaster.

"I'm glad you figured that out in a hurry. We don't have three days to waste," he muttered enviously. "Time for lesson two."

He stared at the boot, refusing to look at me. "No hands."

He began to explain the process of something he called telekinesis.
He glanced at me when he had finished, and, finding me completely lost, explained it a second time, more slowly, looking at me, explaining concepts that had evaded me better.

"Go ahead and try it out," he said, gesturing at the boot calmly. You'll get it almost immediately. I felt a spark of surprise at his confidence, though it was difficult to tell if it was my surprise or his. Most of the surprise was suddenly gone- his. But struggle and fail...since you're such a good actress...We'll let your exam be the attack.

Attack? Whoa! What? No, no, no, I'm not attacking for a long time...

"I want you to know how it will feel," he added. But don't make it move.

I focused on the boot, determinely focusing every ounce of willpower I could into making it move. Suddenly I felt a mind outside the door, and collapsed once more.

Such a brat. Rekard thought, as he strode into the room. He sighed deeply. "I'm back, with your food. Sit up."

I groaned and weakly rolled over, making a show out of sitting up. Rekard crouched next to me and set a tray in my lap. I glanced at the tray- two rolls, an apple, three pieces of jerky, a small block of cheese- and then up into Rekard's face, being careful to avoid his eyes.

I was a wonderful actress, but my eyes were horrible, horrible windows that gave away lies faster than I could formulate them.

What's wrong with her? I did I over do it? I never thought about girls being weaklings.

"We'll continue your training later."

"Oh, I...I don't know...I'm awfully weak," I said dramatically.

"You'll be fine," Rekard said meaningly, and then he stood and stomped from the room.

I waited until he faded away, and then sat up and looked at the tray.

"I guess I don't get anything."

"I guess not," I said playfully.

I thought I had figured out my powers, but I really wanted to try them. I focused on a roll, and, when I had what I thought was the energy he described, worked up, I swung my hand towards the roll- hitting it with my magic before my hand.

The roll jumped off the tray and fell a few inches beside my leg. I sighed, picked it up, and tossed it to Kor, who was staring at me.

"Did you just-"

"I tried to, and failed," I growled, as I ate my other roll.

"I don't think you failed- that was a really good attempt. Stupid- but well executed...Try it again, with your apple."

I sat for several long minutes, rolling my apple from one side of the tray to the other, determinedly lifting it in the air a few inches, watching it teeter, and fall back on the tray. I shared the rest of my food with Kor, and continued to move the apple around, until I was frustrated and tired, nearly ready to give up.

I felt Rekard coming, grabbed the apple in my hand, and put my finger over my lips. I started eating the apple and pretended to be completely surprised as Rekard came in.

Good, she's sitting up. Rekard was more relieved that I had ever imagined that someone could feel.

"At least you're not lazy enough to lay down while you're eating," he sneered.

"I do what I can," I said. I was pretending that I was extremely weak, but trying to be malicious. I was hoping I was pulling it off- though it was hard.

"Yeah, time for your lesson," Rekard said roughly, as he sat down in front of me.

"What?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes.

"Colors." He demanded.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, pretending to be focusing. "Blue is...knowledge...?"

"Yes, go on."

"Red is...growth?" I said slowly, purposely answering incorrectly.

"Freedom," Rekard breathed irritably. "Continue."

"Freedom," I repeated. "Black is...power- no, friendship."

Rekard growled in frustration. "No! Black IS power! It is power and individuality!"

He pointed at the wall opposite me and, somehow, managed to write:

Black- Power and Individuality.
Red- Freedom
Blue- Knowledge
Green- Growth
White- Communities

He irately screamed each of the the things he listed, and then shouted. "There you have them! Learn them!"

"I-I'll try."

He stormed from the room.

I smirked and winked at Kor, who was staring at me, mouth gaping open wide.

Heh, I suppose listing 'white' on a white background was pretty stupid...

I'll use it. I thought it was funny he forgot

Lya

She inched away from me, eyeing me nervously. "There ain't a chance in hell I'm going back."

"But could you?" I demanded.

She looked at me as if I was crazy. "Easily, but I'm not going to."

"Take me," I begged, a bit disgusted at the desperation in my voice.

She recoiled "No! Not a chance!"

"Why not?" I asked, exasperated.

"I spent two long years imprisoned by him- there ain't a chance I'm going back."

"If you got away once, you can do it again," I reasoned, finding this girl quite obnoxious with her reluctance to help me. Did she not see how desperate I was to get back?

"If Rekard sees me again, he'll kill me."

I frowned at her. "...Then don't let him see you," I said simply.

She glared in return. "What?"

"Don't you see?" I asked excitedly. "There's two of us, we can sneak into his prison, turn his captives loose, and run before he knows what happened. This is your chance to get even." That argument works fairly well most days with most people.

She thought for a long time. I wanted to jump up and down in my impatience but remained still to give her all the time she needed to think...

"...What's your plan?" she finally asked, crossing her arms, and sat on a crate.

So I told her with many hand movements and great emotion.

Spoiler

I have no idea what said plan is, but people use this technique all the time to draw out suspense (Yes?), so I'm going to pretend that's what I'm doing...

She listened without interruption and leaned back when I finished with, "And we'll live another day."

I shrugged when she didn't reply. "And then we would put Rekard's head on a stake someday in the future when we overthrow the Corps."

She nodded, thinking.

I sighed and leaned against the wall. "Don't worry, we have all the time in the world. It's not like two very important people in the rebellion could be dying right now..."

She frowned at me, and I grinned breezily. "I found a portal," she finally replied.

My eyebrows rose. Portals were very unstable. They could appear and collapse in minutes. "How?"

She glanced up at me. "Extrasensory powers," she explained.

Spoiler

Hope you don't mind... I'm trying to figure out how to get us back to Aesir.

"Where did it drop you off?" I looked around, grimacing. "Here?"

She shook her head. "An oak tree a few miles from here."

My sudden burst of energetic hope fizzled. "A few miles?"

She nodded slowly. "I barely made it through before it closed anyway."

I frowned, chewing on a fingernail. "Do you still have your powers?" I asked doubtfully.

Kor

Rekard strode in. "I'm back, with your food. Sit up."

Ana played the same game, groaning weakly. Rekard gave her the tray off food. Two rolls, an apple, three pieces of jerky, and a block of cheese sat on the plate.

My mouth began to water at the mere sight of food. I hadn't realized how hungry I was.

"We'll continue your training later," he muttered to her.

"Oh, I...I don't know...I'm awfully weak," she whispered.

I closed my eyes, so I wouldn't roll them.

"You'll be fine," Rekard said meaningfully, and then he stood and stomped from the room.

She waited for a moment then sat up and looked at the tray.

"I guess I don't get anything," I murmured playfully, staring at the food.

"I guess not," I replied similarly.

She stared at one of the rolls for a full minute before smacking it from the tray... except her hand didn't hit.

The roll jumped off the tray and fell a few inches from her leg. She sighed, picked it up, and tossed it to me.

I stared at her, excited.

"Did you just-" I asked slowly.

"I tried to, and failed," she muttered, tearing her own roll in half.

"I don't think you failed," I cried, "that was a really good attempt." I paused for a moment and added, "Stupid- but well executed...Try it again, with your apple."

To my delight, she played with the apple with great skill until she grew too tired to practice anymore. I didn't push her.

Suddenly her eyes flew to the door, and she took a bite of the fruit, putting a finger over her lips.

"At least you're not lazy enough to lay down while you're eating," he sneered.

"I do what I can," she shot back, a little to strong for my comfort...

"Yeah, time for your lesson," Rekard said roughly, as he sat down in front of her.

"What?"

"Colors," he ordered.

She closed her eyes, appearing to struggle to remember. "Blue is...knowledge...?"

"Yes, go on."

"Red is...growth?"

"Freedom," Rekard breathed irritably. "Continue."

I couldn't keep an eyeroll from escaping. The man couldn't teach to save his life...

"Freedom," she murmured. "Black is...power- no, friendship."

Rekard growled in frustration. "No! Black IS power! It is power and individuality!"

He pointed at the wall opposite me and, somehow, managed to write:

Black- Power and Individuality.
Red- Freedom
Blue- Knowledge
Green- Growth

He irately screamed each of the the things he listed, and then shouted. "There you have them! Learn them!"

"I-I'll try," she stammered

He stormed from the room."

I was again taken by surprise at her acting. I smiled at her smirk. I studied the words on the wall and frowned.

"What?" she asked.

I laughed and shook my head. "He forgot white." I laughed again. "Only a Red..." I thought for a second. "Maybe a Black." I refocused on her. I thought as a teacher would think. As a student she was leaps and bounds beyond the beginners lessons. As a blue she had mind reading- which I found quite intriguing- empathy- which I found doubly so- and at least a shaky beginning in telekinesis. If we- when we got out of this hellhole I would have to look into these abilities. They sounded like a pain but if they could be turned on and off...

I dragged myself back to the present.

As a Red, Rekard would struggle most with Blue and White. Ana was not naturally White from what I had seen so far though I doubted the ability would be beyond her. Now would be a time to focus on Blue offensive abilities.

"Frost," I said aloud. "Blue is known as a cold color. The search for knowledge is thought to be a cold search." I grinned. "Blues tend to disagree."

"I can freeze things?"

I shrugged. "Just because we have the same colors doesn't mean we have the same powers. I'm Blue, but I can't read minds. However, I wouldn't be surprised if you could run the gambit of abilities of your natural colors. You should be able to freeze things."

I explained how to bend the cold to her will, going slow. This ability was always harder to grasp if only because the student had to control something outside of themselves while in telekinesis they were focusing their own mind into a physical force.

I looked around in thought when I had made sure she understood. "This one you'll need to practice a bit," I murmured. It couldn't be obvious. She couldn't make an icicle out of the vapor in the air, or she would tip off Rekard. This would take multiple attempts for her to get the feel before she was actually successful, and this would be a good power to have in the arsenal. It was necessary that she practice.

She would have to freeze something that couldn't be seen. It didn't have to be water... just a liquid... I looked up and frowned.

She could use me...

Attempting to freeze herself would create a psychological barrier that would make a difficult task even harder... though I almost suggested it.

"No," she replied firmly.

Damn. I kept forgetting...I glared at her. "How is it going to help if you can't use it, Ana?" I demanded, crossing my arms.

"I just used telekinesis," she argued.

"Telekinesis is easy. Changing the area around you is difficult. I don't give this kind of stuff to my students until they've been with me for at least five years."

She pouted. "It can't be that hard."

I suppressed a sigh. "Try it then."

Danika

I listened to her plan, her mad, crazy plan, without interrupting her. I leaned back and looked at her suspiciously when she finished.

"-And we'll live another day." She waited for a moment and shrugged. "And then we could put Rekard's head on a stake someday in the future when we overthrow the Corps."

I nodded slowly. I don't see how the two of us can do all that though.

She sighed and leaned against the wall. "Don't worry, we have all the time in the world. It's not like two very important people in the rebellion could be dying right now..."

I frowned at her.

She grinned.

"I found a portal," I stated.

She seemed shocked. "How?"

I watched her carefully. "Extrasensory powers."

"Where did it drop you off? Here?" She looked around.

I shook my head."An oak tree a few miles from here."

She looked crushed. "A few miles?"

I nodded slowly. "I barely made it through before it closed anyway."

She frowned. "Do you still have your powers?"

I narrowed my eyes, and thought. I still had my powers, to an extent, but it made me dangerously weak when I tried to use them.

"I do," I whispered.

She looked at me, surprised, and excited. "You do?"

"Yes, but they're very...hard...to use."

"Where is the nearest portal?" she asked excitedly, ignoring me.

"I can't find it unless I focus on it-"

"Then focus!" she shouted.

"Then what? When I find it, then what?" I shouted.

"Then we go...and we get back to Aesir."

"Then I die," I concluded.

"Oh come off that, I told you-"

"Exactly! You keep telling me, but you're not listening! Last time I found a portal I got really weak and passed out just before I went through it. Judging from how much energy coming through the portal this way drained me of, I've concluded that if I find a portal, I won't have enough energy left to survive the transport. I can't get back! I'm stuck here!"

Her face sobered.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Don't. I don't want your sympathy. Make yourself useful and figure out a way to get me through."

I sat and sulked for a few moments.

"We'll get you an energy drink," Lya said. "You'll drink it before you search, as we're going to the portal, and we'll take some with us for you to drink after."

"I don't know if it'll work."

"Do you have the courage to try?" Lya sneered.

I narrowed my eyes. "I've got more guts than you can even imagine."

"Let's go."

Spoiler

Sorry, I have very little direction for them to go either. Energy deficiency was the only thing I could think of that kept Nika from going to Aesir before this point- and energy drinks were the only thing I could think of...Feel free to make them knock off a gas station for them, if you want.

Anastasia

Kor smiled at me, studied the writing, and then frowned.

"What?" I asked.

He laughed and shook his head. "He forgot White...Only a Red...Maybe a Black..."

She's way ahead of beginner lessons...as a blue she's got mind reading...empathy...and a spotty telekinesis...if- no when- we get out of this hellhole, I'll have to investigate these abilities...they sound like a pain, but if they can be turned on and off...

He took a deep breath, pulling himself back to the present.

As a Red, Rekard will struggle most with Blue and White...she doesn't seem to be a White, from what I see...though it's probably not beyond her...but we should focuse on Blue offensive abilities...

"Frost," he said. "Blue is known as a cold color. The search for knowledge is thought to be a cold search." he grinned."Blues tend to disagree."

"I can freeze things?" That's epic!

Kor shrugged. "Just because we have the same colors doesn't mean we have the same powers. I'm Blue, but I can't read minds. However, I wouldn't be surprised if you could run the gambit of abilities of your natural colors. You should be able to freeze things."

Kor explained, slowly, that I could bend the cold to my will. He did a very thorough job of explaining it, and I understood it perfectly by the time he finished.

"This one you'll need to practice a bit." But it can't be obvious...you can't make an icicle out of the vapor in the air, or Rekard will figure it out. He's not as stupid as he looks.

She has to freeze something that couldn't be seen...it doesn't have to be water...just a liquid... he looked up and frowned. She could use me...

I was horrified.

Attempting to freeze herself would a psychological barrier that would make a difficult task even harder... I could tell he wanted to suggest it, though.

"No."

Damn. I keep forgetting... He glared at me. "How is it going to help if you can't use it, Ana?" He crossed his arms, pouting like a toddler.

"I just used telekinesis."

"Telekinesis is easy. Changing the area around you is difficult. I don't give this kind of stuff to my students until they've been with me for at least five years."

I crossed my arms."It can't be that hard."

"Try it then." he challenged.

I studied him for a long moment. "No."

"Now."

"No."

"Damn it Ana, freeze me or I'm going to freeze you!"

"Try it," I growled, my heart racing, really hoping that the magic neutralizer would work.

"Damn it Ana!" Kor growled after a moment.

I sighed a breath of relief.

"I'll train my own way."

"Which is?"

I focused for a long moment, my brow beading with sweat, and was finally rewarded with a small, quarter sized piece of ice- drawn from the moisture in the air.

"You can't do that!"

"I just did."

"Now what are you-"

I tossed the ice into my mouth and chewed it, quickly swallowing the cold liquid. "See? All gone."

Kor looked at me incredulously.

"Oh come on," I said. "You said you knew Dad- that shouldn't be a surprise to you...here," I tossed him a plug of ice. "Help me train."

~~~~~

Ages later I was finally able to make a plug of ice slightly longer than my finger and about as big around as a quarter- and Kor and I were both getting tired of eating ice.

A plug dropped into my lap- and suddenly I felt Rekard's presence. I shoved the ice under my legs and tried not to squirm, slouching against the wall. The door flew open.

"Got them learned yet?"

"Um...yeah," I said.

"Report."

I stared at the wall dramatically, squinting, "Black equals, no is, power and in-di-vid-u-al-ity. Red is Freedom. Blue is Knowledge. Green is Growth. And...White isn't there."

"Don't read them, you retarded son- what?" he whirled around. "White's there it's just...in...white...shut up!" he hissed as I started giggling.

He pointed at the wall and outlined his white letters in black- giving the definition of white. He stepped in front of them. "Now name them."

"I-I can't," I wailed. "There's so many," tears began streaming down my face.

Rekard tried a few more times, and was met by me wailing and snivelling like a brat. He stormed from the room irately- and Kor lost it, laughing. I wiped the tears from my face and began laughing.

"You are such a sneaky, conniving little brat."

I shrugged. "Don't be a hater. I'm getting things done-well...I suppose I'm keeping things from getting done..."

Kor laughed again.

"I've got a plan," I said.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Let me rest, then I'll try it," I said.

I laid back and closed my eyes, refusing to answer his inquiries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I woke, I found Kor staring at me.

"What?"

"That's what I'm wondering," Kor said crossly.

"What? Oh...that."

"You ready to run?"

"What?"

"Rekard is-"

Rekard came in, tried once more with a lesson, and was met with a blockheaded response.

"You're hopeless!" he shouted, as he lifted me close to him.

I slid my hand in his pocket and relieved him of his keys, and then clenched my fist tightly as he tossed me across the room and stormed away.

I sat up, grimacing.

"Are you alright?" Kor asked worried.

I nodded slowly, stood, and stiffly walked over to him.

I summoned droplets from the air, and put them between the bracelet and Kor's skin- I froze them. I put more droplets on top of them, and froze them. After several minutes of hard word, I managed to crack the bracelet, and then get water inside of it. I used the expansion to break the bracelet, and then tossed it across the room.

Kor grinned. "You're crazy...now what do we do? We're still stuck-"

I held the key up, and watched his eyes sparkle in astonishment.

Lya
She hesitated before murmuring, "I do."

I had already given up on a positive answer and had to look at her again. "You do?"

"Yes, but they're very...hard...to use."

"Where is the nearest portal?" I plowed ahead. This was usable. I could get back to Aesir and help Kor.

"I can't find it unless I focus on it-"

"Then focus!" I shouted.

"Then what? When I find it, then what?" she spat back.

"Then we go...and we get back to Aesir."

"Then I die."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh come off that, I told you-"

"Exactly! You keep telling me, but you're not listening! Last time I found a portal I got really weak and passed out just before I went through it. Judging from how much energy coming through the portal this way drained me of, I've concluded that if I find a portal, I won't have enough energy left to survive the transport. I can't get back! I'm stuck here!" she ranted.

My mind stopped for a moment, focusing on the woman in front of me for a moment instead of the future. "I'm sorry," tumbled out of my mouth, "I didn't-"

"Don't," she snapped, "I don't want your sympathy. Make yourself useful and figure out a way to get me through."

I frowned severely, unused to being addressed as such, before beginning to pace.

Danika pouted.

I ran my fingers through my hair as my brain tried different strategies. "We'll get you an energy drink," I finally said. "You'll drink it before you search, as we're going to the portal, and we'll take some with us for you to drink after."

She gave me a doubtful look. "I don't know if it'll work."

"Do you have the courage to try?" I challenged, tired of her numerous, if warranted, excuses.

She narrowed her eyes at me, seemingly insulted at the suggestion. "I've got more guts than you can even imagine."

I looked up to the sky for patience. "Let's go." I hurried out of the alley, excitement making my strides long and quick.

Nika kept up, glancing at me from time to time. "Where are we going?" she asked. "We can't just wish up an energy drink."

I gave her an arched look and shook my head. "Do I look like I'm in the process of wishing?" I answered for her, "No. I'm manifesting."

She scoffed. "You're going to manifest an energy drink?"

I grinned at a rundown gas station. "That I am." I straightened my skirt as we approached and glanced at her. "Before I manifest, you wouldn't happen to have American currency on you, would you?"

She gave me a look that spoke volumes.

I raised my hands defensively. "I just wanted to make sure." I opened the door and waved for her to go in, following nonchalantly. Humming to myself, I nodded at the drowsing clerk and acted like I was browsing through the aisles. I edged toward the energy drinks, keeping Danika- who seemed to be reading the nutrition facts of a bag of chips- in my peripheral vision, and looked over my shoulder at the clerk who was beginning to drool on the counter. I brushed passed the shelves and slipped a can into my large sleeves, shooting Danika a meaningful look.

She raised a panicked eyebrow.

"You bitch!" I yelled suddenly.

The clerk started, swearing, and frowned at me.

"How dare you!" I continued, storming toward her.

I was afraid she was going to give me a lost stare and give us away, but she was brighter than that. "Oh get over it," she sighed dramatically.

"After what you just said?" I demanded and scoffed. "It's one comment too many this time." I glanced at the young teenage clerk who was staring in open mouthed shock… Poor stupid child… I swept grandly out of the store, leaving Danika to find her own way out.

I waited for her where the light of the gas station couldn't reach and grinned, throwing her the can. "Manifested energy drink coming up."

She chugged half the Redbull and closed her eyes, focusing.

I was not a silent waiter. I cleared my throat, tapped my toe, and sighed.

Finally, she opened her eyes, fixing me with a glare. "Follow me." She started off at a jog, time being the enemy when it came to portals. She didn't follow a road, cutting through the fields that soon began again. She paused for a moment every once and a while before beginning again, taking a swig of the Redbull every now and again.

We ran for what must have been hours.

I gasped when she disappeared with a glance backwards and paused for a moment before continuing straight ahead.

There was a great wind, and I felt like I was falling into pitch blackness. I screamed, but the sound was lost before it reached my ears. There was the chatter of a thousand voices that I could not distinguish or make any sense of. Images began to flash. Some were of fields, others of cities. People were caught mid-stride, mid-word, mid-sneeze. There was one landscape of a gray sky and red trees with a black fungus spreading on the trunk. Walking skeletons, humans so emancipated Lya could count their ribs, stared tiredly, woefully back at Lya…

…Then she hit the ground.

She groaned at the impact and rolled over to see Danika taking huge gulps from the can. Slowly regaining her bearings, Lya sat up and looked around.

They were sitting on a cliff. There was nothing but hard bare soil and a withered tree attempting to support a few shrunken leaves. A cold fierce wind pulled at Lya's disheveled hair as she crawled toward the edge, and she gasped.

Below them, a meaningless maze of buildings, all of different shapes and sizes, stretched into a foggy blur toward the horizon.

She stared with an equally dumbstruck Danika and breathed when she had the ability to do so, "Is this where you came from?"

Kor
There was a moment of silence. "No."

"Now," I persisted.

"No."

I almost growled in frustration. "Damn it, Ana, freeze me or I'm going to freeze you!" I was going to pretend that was a possibility.

"Try it," she snarled in return.

I almost did, but it would have come to nothing. "Damn it, Ana!"

She looked slightly relieved, which disgusted me. "I'll train my own way."

I nodded, angry enough to throttle her. "Which is?" I prodded.

She stared at a spot the air for five minutes.

I almost broke the silence to laugh at her when nothing happened, but- as an instructor- I realized things such as this took time and some things were learned better through experience. Maybe this brat would learn that she didn't always know best...

There are no words to describe the astonishment at the sight of the quarter sized ball of ice coming together.

"You can't do that!" I cried, running through each star student, every rumor of magic prodigies. Not one had been able to do what she just did.

She looked at me smugly. "I just did."

That was it. No more compliments from me. Her head was obviously big enough as it was. "Now what are you-"

She ate it. "See? All gone."

She ate it. So simple... So freakin' simple...

"Oh come on," she said, blowing it off. "You said you knew Dad- that shouldn't be a surprise to you...here," I tossed him a plug of ice. "Help me train."

Derik hadn't been a seventeen year old girl...
~~~~~
What must have been hours later, she could make a fairly large sized chunk of ice.

I glanced toward the door, used to the drill by this point, when she dropped her current piece and sat on it.

Rekard slammed the door open... again, and demanded, "Got them learned yet?"

"Um...yeah."

"Report."

She stared at the wall dramatically, squinting, "Black equals, no is, power and in-di-vid-u-al-ity. Red is Freedom. Blue is Knowledge. Green is Growth. And...White isn't there."

I smirked at that.

He looked like his head was about to explode. "Don't read them, you retarded son- what?" he whirled around. "White's there it's just...in...white...shut up!" he hissed as she started giggling.

He pointed at the wall and outlined his white letters in black- giving the definition of white. He stepped in front of them. "Now name them."

"I-I can't," she wailed. "There's so many." Tears began streaming down her face.

I covered my mouth with my hand, 'coughing' every once and awhile, as Rekard attempted to teach her the colors again. Finally he got fed up with her- Ana was being an absolute pain- and stormed out. As soon as the door closed I howled with laughter, and she soon joined me.

"You are such a sneaky, conniving little brat," I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Don't be a hater. I'm getting things done-well...I suppose I'm keeping things from getting done..."

I laughed again.

"I've got a plan," she stated as if she had just said she was going for a walk.

I leaned forward, cocking my head toward her, "What's that?"

She grinned impishly, as if trying to bait me. "Let me rest, then I'll try it."

I opened my mouth to argue when she laid down and peppered her with questions and pleas until it became obvious she wasn't going to reply. I then sulked against the wall.

When it was obvious she was asleep, I stretched my legs out in front of me and bent my knees slowly. I was a little worried about movement in general but had kept it out of mind as much as possible. I twisted my torso, lifting my arms above my head, and grimaced. Whatever her plan was, I would be ready...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stared at her for the entire time, pasting a frown over my bored look when she finally began to stir.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me. "What?"

"That's what I'm wondering," I muttered.

She squinted. "What? Oh...that."

I rolled my eyes.

"You ready to run?"

"What?"

"Rekard is-"

Rekard came in, tried once more with a lesson, and Ana was far more dense than she ever had been before.

"You're hopeless!" he shouted, as he lifted her off the floor.

I bit my lip, seeing a purpose here, and looked away when he threw her across the room. I glared at the door when he stormed out.

She sat up stiffly.

"Are you alright?" I asked worried.

She nodded slowly and limped towards me.

I frowned when she put her hands just around my bracelet and gritted my teeth at the cold on my skin. I broke out into a grin when it shattered.

"You're crazy..." I chuckled. "Now what do we do? We're still stuck-" I broke off when she lifted a key.

I could have kissed her. Instead I pulled water from the air. I froze it. I melted the ice and watched it vaporize. I colored particles in the air to make a picture, put up a force field. I would have tested my illusions, but Ana was my only available test subject and I had a feeling she wouldn't appreciate hallucinations. Aware of my own abilities and the strain of most skills, I didn't even attempt transportation. That required a great deal of strength and focus, neither of which I possessed in great quantities at the moment.

I looked up at Ana and bared my teeth at her in what was supposed to have been a fierce smile. "Now we're on even ground, my friend." I staggered to my feet, happy to note that despite my lack of movement I seemed stable enough to walk. Relief washed through me as I took a step, and my legs didn't even tremble. I motioned toward the door. "Shall we go?"

The door opened to a bright white hallway with the harsh light of florescent bulbs giving everything a unreal touch.

We both recoiled from the light after hours in a dim room.

Finally, I made my way forward, out of the room.

The hall was lined with doors on both sides. We were at the bottom of the hall, a dead end.

We both peered down the seemingly unending hallway in silent horror.

"Are all of these..." Ana began only to fade away.

I shook my head. Filled with people... I finished for her. "I hope not," I murmured.

"Do we want to free them too?" she asked slowly.

A battalion of prisoners could be a great plus to our escape.

I walked toward the nearest door and peered into a window, having to stand on my tiptoes to do it. With my nose almost against the glass, I could hear a wet, huffing sound. I tried to make any image out of the dim gray and tapped on the window to see if I could get a response. I saw movement in the shadows and frowned as the sound changed to a low almost purr-like hum. Suddenly yellow eyes leaped from the dark, and a huge maw full of decaying teeth with strings of saliva came into view as the door shook at the impact of something big hitting the steel.

"Goddamn it, sonofabitch..." I snarled out as many curses as I knew, flying back in what I will admit was terror. I fell against the opposite door, landing in a sitting position. I scrambled up again, standing in the middle of the hall, away from all of the doors, when a terrible scratching noise began behind the one I had just hit.

Chest heaving, shaking like a leaf, I stared at Ana. "Let's not." What did Rekard have in his prison?

Danika

"Let's go," Lya said, hurring from the alley.

I sighed. I'm never going to survive this.

I walked after her, watching the lunatic carefully. "Where are we going?" I asked. "We can't just wish up an energy drink." Besides, we're heading away from the portal.

She seemed offended. "Do I look like I'm in the process of wishing? No. I'm manifesting."

I scoffed."You're going to manifest an energy drink?"

She grinned and gestured at a ratty little gas station. "That I am...before I manifest, you wouldn't happen to have American currency on you, would you?"

I glared at her venomously. Why sure Lya, I've got all kinds of it. I've only been running for my life for the past three months- I've had all kinds of time to get a job, a house, food. You need stability? You got it!

She raised her hands defensively. "I just wanted to make sure."

She opened the door for me, humming to herself, following close behind me- straight to the drink cooler. I looked at the kid, drowsing behind the counter- and fingered the switchblade in my pocket.

So easy to kill...sickeningly easy, really. I could slit his throat and be miles away before anyone would ever know...the hardest part would be dodging the blood that would splurt from his jugular.

I grabbed a bag of chips and pretended to read the nutritional facts.

No, the hardest part will be taking out those survilance cameras...I can easily avoid the cops, but...it's an inconvience that I don't need.

I slid a candy bar into my pocket, and glanced at Lya- who was looking at me mischieviously.

Oh shoot, did she see me? What's she doing? I raised my eyebrows and threw the candy down.

"You bitch!" she shouted.

The clerk started, swearing angrily. Nice job, dipshit. Now it's gonna be harder to kill-

"How dare you!" she continued, stomping towards me.

I'm gonna kill her.

"Oh get over it," I sighed.

"After what you just said?" she scoffed. "It's one comment too many this time."

I glanced at the boy, who was standing, staring, mouth gaping open, his eyes wide. Stupid people hurt...so much.

She turned and stormed from the gas station.

Psychotic bitch.

"W-what did you do?"

I looked at the idiot. You don't deserve a response. "Oh, I guess I went too far...it was rather mean, I suppose."

"What did you say?"

I scoffed. "Oh, I was teasing her that she might be in your league. She took it personally."

"My league?"

"Yeah. If she dates losers like you, it's easier for me to sort through the remaining guys, picking out the idiots," I shrugged.

His face flushed red. That's right dummy, you can get mad.

I stomped out the door, over to the shadows, and walked over to Lya.

"Manifested energy drink coming up."

I grunted. That was rather clever...and easier than having to murder the poor, dumb kid.

I caught the Redbull she threw to me, chugging half of it, closing my eyes, extending my mind- slowly finding the nearest portal. Lya cleared her throat, tapping her toes, sighing loudly- but, despite her interruptions, I was able to locate one.

I glared at Lya. "Follow me."

I jogged from the parking lot, carefully making my way to the outskirts of town, across meadows and creeks- glancing back at Lya, whose hair was disheveled, her face flushed, panting, from time to time. Got old, didn't you?

Finally we came to the portal- I finished the last of the Redbull, glanced at Lya, and then dove into the portal. I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, as a wind whipped my face with my hair- pulling on my clothing and my limbs- sucking me deeper into the darkness, tossing me around.

I heard a faint scream from behind me, but it was quickly lost- drowned by the roar of the wind, and sounds of thousands of voices, all chattering desolately, howling angrily. Then the images began. Thousands of images, some of people, some of animals, some of plants- each demonstrating a different action, flashing across my mind, making me dizzy.

The effort of merely trying to ignore the negative effects of the portal was quickly draining my energy. I tentatively opened my eyes- only to find withered, mostly starved, living skeletons staring at me. My eyes snapped shut as the howls filled my ears.


I landed on the ground heavily, groaning. In a moment I heard Lya land behind me, groaning, sighing. I dizzily sat up, and clawed open a second can of Redbull, chugging it as Lya crawled forward, and stared forward stupidly.

Lya looked back at me, gasping, obviously wanting me to go to her. I groaned and crawled towards her, to the edge of the cliff- with mostly dead trees and a sharp wind around us.

Below us was a maze of gray buildings, fog swirlling around thier tops. No...no! It can't be! I can't be here. Not again!

"Is this where you came from?

I nodded stupidly as a cold wind toyed with my hair, making me shiver.

"Where is here?"

I shrugged. "I was never told- none of us were..."

"What do you mean?"

I took a shaky breath, my eyes filling with fearful tears.

"This is where I grew up..."

"And?" she encouraged.

"I was...my parents...thought that...a monarchy was wrong- so they tried to teach me..."

"What happened?"

"The dictator found out...and they were..."

She nodded and patted my back reassuringly, not making me say it.

"There, there...who, exactly, is this dictator?"

I looked at her incredulously. "Why...it's Rekard."

Her eyes grew wide- and just then, we saw a commotion at the bottom of the cliff, at the nearest building.

Anastasia

We timidly made our way out into the hallway- a hallway lined with doors. A long hallway, with one escape, on the far end from us.

"Are all of these..." I trailed off.

"I hope not."

An army of prisoners could-

Rekard peered into the room nearest us, his face next to the glass. He recoiled, his heart nearly stopping, as a dark beast leapt towards the glass- bashing its head, shaking the door.

"Goddamn it, son of a bitch..." Kor snarled, his body and mind filled with fear.

He stared at me, trembling. "Let's not." What does Rekard have in here?

"I don't know...so let's go."

We carefully made our way down the hallway, and, together, managed to break down the door leading to the outside. We stepped out- I noticed two girls on the cliff, way above us.

"Hey Kor, look. Who's-"

"How the hell did you get out here?" Rekard bellowed, charging towards us.

I grabbed Kor's hand and half dragged him towards the cliff, away from Rekard- the girls, one of the Lya, one of them I couldn't tell met us at the same time Rekard caught up.

Lya
She nodded in an answer to my question, shivering as a sick wind slithered past.

"Where is here?" I rasped, disgusted.

She shrugged. "I was never told- none of us were..."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She blinked rapidly as her eyes glistened. "This is where I grew up..."

"And?" I encouraged, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"I was...my parents...thought that...a monarchy was wrong- so they tried to teach me..." she stammered.

"What happened?" I murmured.

"The dictator found out...and they were..."

I paled at the insinuation and patted her shoulder. She didn't need to say it. "There, there..." I whispered comfortingly, pausing before asking, "Who, exactly, is this dictator?"

She stared at me. "Why...it's Rekard."

I blinked in surprise.

That wasn't who Rekard was. He was a goon, not the mastermind.

I looked down when there was a cry and started at Lya and Kor running out of the nearest building. Lya pointed up, and Rekard charged over. "Oh!" I jumped up and looked around, finally looking down again. There was no way I was getting down there unless I flung myself to my death. My gaze fell to Danika who was staring at me and frowned severely at her, waving at the frenzied scene below us. "We have no time to be idiots, Danika!" I suddenly turned toward the dead tree.

...Maybe it wasn't dead...

I rushed toward it and placed a gentle hand on the trunk. "Come on, Baby," I whispered as I felt the slight glow of life. It would take a little coaxing to make it usable, but I could do it with a little time. "Tell me if the two down there are about to be killed or taken back inside. We need them." I didn't even wait for a response. I closed my eyes and blocked out everything but the throb of spirit in the tree.

Anastasia
"I don't know...so let's go," she replied.

I happily agreed.

We carefully made our way down the hallway, and, together, managed to break down the door leading to the outside. We stepped out. I looked around at the sick landscape around us, a gray cliff rose before us. Warehouses surrounded us.

Ana elbowed me in the side and pointed up. "Hey Kor, look. Who's-"

I squinted at the tiny forms looking down. I started at a bellow.

"How the hell did you get out here?" Rekard demanded, charging towards us.

She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the cliff, away from Rekard, though I was perfectly able to run alone. I peered up as one of the forms stood and squinted at the flash of green skirt blowing in the wind.

Was that...

It couldn't be.

And then Rekard was upon us.

I pushed Lya down... hard, so she might stay down for a few minutes. Her protection was the most important. I couldn't have her trying to be a hero... again... She would be more likely to survive out of the gunfire. I whirled around to face... not Rekard but a nameless soldier who swung at me with a fist which, knowing the ways of this corporation, was filled with hidden dangers. I ducked and smashed a knee, using black magic to strengthen my punch for a moment. As I straightened I realized we were being surrounded by six other goons who were racing towards us. Two against six, no matter how powerful the two were, the two wouldn't win. I glanced up and couldn't see Lya. Hopefully she had something up her sleeve because things were about to get a bit hairy.

I looked at Ana who was staggering to her feet. "Be ready to deal with whatever comes after these guys." I didn't give time to explain. There was no time to explain. No more guards were coming forward. Only Rekard was in the background. That left him if I could take care of the six... Maybe Ana could handle Rekard...

Feeling slightly sick to my stomach, I focused on each of the six and cut off the blood flow to the brain one by one. I moved to the next as two collapsed. Before any had reached us they were all motionless on the ground. It was amazing how little time it took to kill someone... but it took a huge amount of energy.

I stumbled back, black spots danced around my vision as Ana rushed forward. Waves of nausea beat over me, and I rested a hand against the cliff face. God, I always hated doing that. I slid to the ground as Ana looked from me to an approaching Rekard and a brown streak flashed by.

Anastasia

I dragged Kor along behind me for several yards, until I focused enough to feel his mind snarling at me. I am fully capable of running on my own.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I released his hand.


Is that...it can't be...

Can't be what? I wondered.

Lya! I was ridiculously happy to see her.

Rekard met with the two girls at the same time we did. Kor leapt on Lya, hard, pushing her into the dirt with such force I looked twice. I thought he liked her.

Maybe she'll stay down now...I can't have her trying to be a hero...again.

That makes more sense, he's trying to- A sharp blow to the back of the head knocked me flat on my face.

I groaned and grabbed my head, trying to make it stop throbbing. Someone grabbed my ankle and lifted me into the air, upside down. I drove my fist into the groin of the soldier, making him curse and drop me, falling to his knees. I kicked his chest, knocking him backwards.

I staggered to my feet as Kor smashed a second soldier's knee, and then looked at me. Two against six, no matter how powerful the two were, the two wouldn't win.

"Be ready to deal with whatever comes after these guys." I felt Kor's spirits drop, and I followed his eyes; my stomach sank when I saw Rekard in the background, coming towards us once more.

If I can take care of these six...maybe Ana can handle Rekard.

Shit. I looked at Rekard timidly.

The soldiers began dropping around us, dead. I glanced at Kor, finding him staggering backwards, until his hand was resting on the cliffside. I cursed and leapt towards Rekard, partially hiding Kor. I looked at Kor worriedly, as he slid to the ground.

Rekard chuckled coldly. "What do you think you can do, against me?" he sneered.

I felt my stomach do a flop, my cowardice disgusting me. "I'll kill you, that's what." I tried to say bravely, as I straightened my shoulders.

"How?" He sneered. "You can't even learn the colors, let alone manipulate them."

I haven't the slightest clue... I was glad that I was the only person who could read minds.

I started Rekard.

What does she think she's doing?

What does she have planned?

Oh no, Ana! She's not strong enough.

That chick's got balls...

"Shut up!" I bellowed, shaking my head, trying to focus. It was impossible with so many voices in my head.

Everyone looked at me, shocked. It was completly silent.

The girl's deranged.

God Ana, don't give away your only secret weapon.

What's she talking about?

That girl's not all there, is she?

I tried to block out the minds of the other two women, as they weren't adding anything helpful.

I dearly hoped that Kor and Rekard would help me to win- Kor by providing advice, Rekard by giving away his own plans.

I started towards Rekard.

Sucide. I'll just catch her fist and throw her over my shoulder- there's no way she'll counter that....

I stopped my arm, which was about to draw back my fist, and instead channeled my strength into my leg- and kicked Rekard in the neck.

I felt shock radiate from everyone.

Rekard stumbled backwards, but quickly came towards me, his face flushed red, rage filling his body.

He leapt towards me, swinging his fist towards my head.

Step towards the left!

I instantly obeyed, and Rekard's fist barely missed my head.

Was she-? Dive!

I dove between Rekard's legs, as he lifted his leg to kick me.

She was! She needs to- Ana, kick his back, as high as you can.

I was instantly on my feet, and kicked Rekard's head.

Kor seemed shocked. Not that high! I growled, glaring at Kor.

Rekard whirled around.

Kick him again, in the face.

I threw my foot towards Rekard's face, but he caught it a few inches shy. I panicked for a moment, but quickly threw my other foot into the air. He deflected that blow, and twisted my ankle, sending me flying through the air.

I landed heavily, yelping, grabbing my ankle. He was to me in a moment, kicking me, hitting me.

The girl came up behind Rekard and drove her elbow into his spine. Rekard howled in pain and whirled around, backhanding the girl. I leapt to my feet and jumped on his back- keeping him busy as the girl struggled to her feet.

Finally Rekard lost all his patience and sent me flying in one direction, the girl flying in the other- he lifted us into the air with that invisble force he liked so much.

His face was redder than before, he was panting in fury.

"The nerve of you two!" He bellowed.

He shook me. "You, little bitch, let on like you couldn't hardly sit up- and here you are-" he spat out a mouthful of blood.

He shook the other girl. "And you, bigger bitch, running away- thinking you can come in and steal my prisoner!"

Danika

I felt fear rush through my body as Rekard rushed towards the girl and man standing below us. Rekard, my tormentor, my devil on earth.

"We have no time to be idiots, Danika." Lya shouted, as she ran down the hill.

I cast an annoyed glance at her. She has no idea.

I caught up with her as she started petting a tree. "Come on, Baby." She whispered. "Tell me if the two down there are about to be killed or taken back inside. We need them."

I crossed my arms, trying to settle the fluttering in my stomach, and watched the tree nervously, glancing between the tree, Lya, and the others.

Suddenly Kor and the girl were upon us, Rekard following close behind.

"Uh, Lya-"

Kor threw himself onto Lya, flattening her out. Half a second later Kor and the girl were beating up on soldiers that materialized out of no where. I watched in dumbstruck horror as Rekard stormed up to us- barely noticing when the soldiers fell to the ground, dead.

Suddenly the girl leapt forward, as Kor fell backwards.

Rekard chuckled coldly. "What do you think you can do, against me?" he sneered.

"I'll kill you, that's what." The girl growled with surprising force, as she tried to make herself bigger.

"How?" He sneered. "You can't even learn the colors, let alone manipulate them."

She seemed scared. I couldn't blame her, I felt fear coursing through my body.

I was surprised to see her storming towards Rekard. That chick's got balls...

I watched breathlessly.

"Shut up!" The girl started shaking her head.

That girl's not all there, is she?

The girl slammed her foot into Rekard's throat- he barely even tried to deflect the blow. I stared, slack jawed.

Rekard quickly recovered, and took a pass at the girl- she dodged. I was amazed.

Suddenly she dove between his legs, and was on her feet in an instant- kicking Rekard in the back of the head, glaring at Kor as if it were his fault.

Rekard whirled around. She tried to kick him in the face. Yes! He caught her foot. No!

She was persistent though, and tried to drive her other foot into his face- he easily deflected the blow, and sent her tumbling through the air. I watched in horror as he stormed over to the girl and began pounding the shit out of her.

I can't let that happen. I swallowed my fear and jumped towards them, driving my elbow into Rekard's back.

Rekard howled and whirled around, slamming his forearm into my face, sending me tumbling backwards. He started towards me, scowling. I threw my arms over my head, trying to protect myself- suddenly the other girl was on his back, choking him.

I scrambled to my feet, my stomach churning in fear. Rekard's face was bright red, and he growled in frustration as he threw the girl off his back. I started towards him- he threw his hand up, and I crashed into the building behind me.

Rekard lifted his hands, suspending the girl and I in the air. I could hardly breathe I was so scared.

His face was redder than before, he was panting in fury.

"The nerve of you two!" He bellowed.

The other girl. "You, little bitch, let on like you couldn't hardly sit up- and here you are-" he spit out a mouthful of blood.

He shook me. "And you, bigger bitch, running away- thinking you can come in and steal my prisoner!"

Invisible fingers curled around my chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs. I struggled to get a breath of air.

"I didn't steal your prisioners," I growled, my chest burning. "They got themselves out."

The pressure got tighter around my chest, making me choke, my vision getting spotty.

"Put them down," Kor ordered weakly.

"Gladly," Rekard sneered, as he threw both me and the other girl at Kor, flattening him out, landing on Lya once more.

Kor
I forced my heavy eyes open as Rekard chuckled coldly. "What do you think you can do, against me?" he sneered.

"I'll kill you, that's what," I heard Ana say.

I opened them a bit more to allow them to focus easier and ignored Lya who was slowly sitting up beside me.

"How?" He sneered. "You can't even learn the colors, let alone manipulate them."

I held my breath as she started towards Rekard.

What does she have planned?

"Shut up!" she demanded.

I winced and watched her sharply.

God, Ana, don't give away your only secret weapon.

She started towards Rekard again.

I gasped when she swung around to kick him.

Rekard stumbled backwards, but quickly recovered, his face flushed red, rage filling his body.

He leapt towards her, swinging his fist towards her head.

I pressed my hand into the soil, fingers white from the pressure. Step towards the left!

She sidestepped him.

I frownws. Was she-? I see Rekard lunge at her again. Dive!

She dove between Rekard's legs, as he lifted his leg to kick her.

I smiled grimly. She was! She needs to- I stopped myself. I could talk to her. Ana, kick his back, as high as you can.

She scrambled up and kicked him... on his head.

I blinked, amazed for a moment, before coming to my senses. Not that high!

She glared at me and snarled wordlessly.

Rekard whirled around.

I only gave myself time to assess for a second before thinking, Kick him again, in the face.

She obeyed, but Rekard caught it. My throat constricted as surprise and panic flared on her face. Quick on her feet, she attempted to do the same with the other foot to no avail. He used the movement against her to throw her away.

She landed heavily. I begged her to get up, but she grabbed her ankle. Rekard was above her in a heartbeat, playing the normal bully.

A girl I didn’t recognize jumped into the fray, but Rekard backhanded her. Ana, the brave idiot, saved the girl from more abuse.

Finally Rekard lost all his patience and sent Ana flying in one direction, the girl flying in the other- he lifted them into the air with that invisible force he liked so much.

I wanted to swear, but I kept quiet. There was little chance of escape now.

Rekard’s face would have been a comical shade of red. He was panting in fury.

"The nerve of you two!" he bellowed.

I rolled my eyes.

He shook Ana. "You, little bitch, let on like you couldn't hardly sit up- and here you are-" He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Points for us! I thought drily as we watched the pointless scrimmage come to an end.

He shook the other girl. "And you, bigger bitch, running away- thinking you can come in and steal my prisoner!"

I raised my eyebrows. Bigger bitch? That was the best he could come up with? With defeat imminent, I had succumbed to petty sarcasm.

I was drawn out of this as the girls seemed to struggle to breathe.

"I didn't steal your prisoners," the mystery girl gasped, "They got themselves out."

I sat up straighter as they both seemed to choke. "Put them down," I managed tiredly.

"Gladly," Rekard sneered.

I had no time or energy to react when he flung the girls my way. Curses flew from my mouth as one landed atop of me heavily. Whichever one it was, she stayed there for far too long, gasping for air. Finally, I found the energy to shove her off and glared angrily at Ana whose breathing was returning to normal. I softened on a whim and thought, You were close.

Lya was swearing as I had never heard her do so before. Her hand had a root in a death grip, and she was using her other arm to elbow the mystery girl ineffectively in the side. However, from the pained, fairly angry, expression on the girl's face, it hurt all the same.

When she had gained enough wits to do so, she rolled of Lya and demanded, "Calm down, you crazy bitch!"

But Lya immediately went limp after she was free of the girl's weight.

I frowned and slid as inconspicuously as I could to hide as much of her from view as possible. If she had something up her sleeve, we needed it just about now.

Rekard was coming towards us, hand blue with electricity. "I'll teach you, you bitch." There was that word again. He was glaring at mystery girl. "I'll kill you just like I did your parents."

"Why don't we settle down for a minute, think all of this through?" I said as loudly as I could manage.

He pointed at me, whirling around to do so. "You'll get your turn. Don't worry," he snarled.

I withheld a sigh. "I think we're worth a little more alive than dead still."

He raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "You stupid little shit! You actually think you still have any kind of say, any power." He threw his head back and laughed in what was worrisomely deranged. "You don't even see that the rebellion is out of your hands."

Lya shifted as I frowned. What? "The rebellion is out of our hands?" I asked slowly. Maybe he meant the rebellion would be crushed whether we were involved or not?

He shook his head. "You still don't see it." He gave us another chilling laugh. "I'm not the bad guy. You don't even know the bad guy."

Rekard must have finally lost it. I should have seen his marbles tumbling out of his ears.

I opened my mouth to say more when a loud humming filled the air. I looked up, to the left of Rekard's head.

A low shadow flew over the maze of buildings. It had propellers facing the ground and was long and flat.

Rekard turned to face it as the girls searched for the source of the sound. He froze and glanced back at us. "Speaking of the bastard…"


Lya
"Uh, Lya-" I heard from the fog of my magic and suddenly I was flat on the ground, my head spinning from the impact. For a few minutes, I tried to regain my breath, my fingers still brushing against the roots of the tree. Slowly I pushed myself up as Kor stumbled back to sit beside me, blocking my view.

Rekard chuckled coldly. "What do you think you can do, against me?"

"I'll kill you, that's what."

Oh no, Ana! She's not strong enough.

I shook my head, kneeling ever so slightly, in the hope of not being noticed and blocked the voices out. I had never been good with combat without a plant to channel my magic. This poor tree was deader than I thought it had been at first.

"Shut up!" The girl started shaking her head.

I frowned. What's she talking about?

The life I had built to an almost steady glow flickered. I focused all of my attention on this forsaken tree.

"The nerve of you two!" someone bellowed.

I was so deeply within the tree that it barely came through as language. I twitched slightly and smiled as the light burst into self-sustaining flames. I felt white buds appear on branches that had almost forgotten the innocent kiss of spring and would have laughed in delight...

But I was flattened... again. I attacked angrily. If this tree died because of some idiot, I was going to murder someone. This was the only weapon I had. First, Kor for distracting me the first time. Then, whoever this idiot was. I would choke them with a branch off of this tree.

Suddenly, I became aware of the real world and saw Rekard through a haze. Damn! That was right! I had forgotten. How the hell had I forgotten? I had gotten to wrapped up in saving the tree and hadn't been aware enough of my surroundings. Finally, Danika, I realized, got off of me, and I immediately went limp. I didn't know if Rekard had noticed me, but he hadn't said anything to or of me yet.

Kor slid in front of me, and I smiled. He always knew what to do.

I tested my power on the revived tree, calling the root beneath my hand to move, and grinned when it hit my hand in reply. With a secret finally in our favor, I tuned into my surroundings once more. Rekard was going off on a tirade, sounding crazier than I had ever heard him before.

"You stupid little shit! You actually think you still have any kind of say, any power." He threw his head back and laughed in what was worrisomely deranged. "You don't even see that the rebellion is out of your hands."

I moved slightly to get a glimpse of Rekard's face. He looked just about as sane as he sounded.

"The rebellion is out of our hands?" Kor asked softly.

He shook his head. "You still don't see it." He gave us another chilling laugh. "I'm not the bad guy. You don't even know the bad guy."

How evil was the actual bad guy then? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of a man worse than Rekard.

I frowned at a low hum that made my chest vibrate but couldn't see anything as Kor shifted.

All I heard was Rekard mutter, "Speaking of the bastard…"

Then a voice from the air, over the hum which was growing louder and coming closer, announced, "Rekard, I trust that isn't my girl standing there, almost free?"

Rekard breathed, sounding scared, "I'm on your side."

Kor snorted with Ana's skeptical humph and Danika's low curse. Kor moved suddenly, ducking, and I had a full view of the goings on.

The humming had lessened considerably, and one of the propellers was smoking. The aircraft was tilting dangerously, obviously about to go down.

Rekard was pointing at the aircraft, and he repeated, louder, "I am on your side."

b]Anastasia[/b]

My flexibility turned against me, throwing my boots into the back of my head, giving my a headache, and then allowing the momentum to carry me over- so I landed face-first on Kor's hard body.

He instantly started spewing curses, but I just lay still, gasping. Every time I inhaled, a sharp pain ran through my chest, cutting the breath off, making it impossible to release the air. My chest burned. My head throbbed.

Finally the pressure released itself- and I broke down into a convulsion of coughing. I slowly began to regain my breath. Kor flung me off- surprisingly strong, flipping me, making me land flat on my back.

He glared at me, and I him- though I was really mad at myself, not him. He couldn't have possibly anticipated Rekard's reaction. I was the one who could read minds.

You were close I looked away, embarrassed. His reassurance burned worse than a taunt possibly could've.

Lya was swearing, utter rage emitting from her body- as she elbowed the girl in the side. Eventuall the girl rolled off her. "Calm down, you crazy bitch!"

Lya immediately fell limp, and Kor scooted until he was concealing her. The anger instantly began to melt away, and I felt a strong admiration in her. The girl still felt as pissed as ever, as was I, and...so was Rekard.

He came towards us, his hand blue, sparking with electricity. "I'll teach you, you bitch. I'll kill you, just like I killed your parents."

The girl's rage was replaced by a staggering terror, the likes of which I had never felt before.

"Why don't we settle down for a minute, think all of this through?" Kor said loudly.

Rekard whirled around. "You'll get your turn. Don't worry," he snarled.

"I think we're worth a little more alive than dead still."

Rekard raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "You stupid little shit! You actually think you still have any kind of say, any power." He threw his head back and laughed in what was worrisomely deranged. "You don't even see that the rebellion is out of your hands."

Lya shifted and Kor frowned.

What? Every mind asked the same question.

"The rebellion is out of our hands?" Kor asked slowly.

He shook his head. "You still don't see it." He gave us another chilling laugh. "I'm not the bad guy. You don't even know the bad guy."

Rekard must have finally lost it. I should see his marbles tumbling out of his ears.

A laugh caught in my throat, causing me to make a noise something between a squawk and hiccup, because my throat was so tight with fear. A loud humming filled the air, cutting off the malicious comments I felt formulating in the girl's mind.

A low shadow flew over the maze of buildings- and then a ship, covered in propellers and armor, hovered over head. Rekard froze, and then glanced at us. "Speaking of the bastard..."

"Rekard," A voice, deep and threatening, rumbled through the air. "I trust that isn't my girl standing there, almost free?"

A shiver ran down my spine. I stood, slack jawed.

"I'm on your side," Rekard breathed.

"We know you're on his side," the girl muttered. I snapped my jaw into place, and looked at Rekard, who was filled with fear. Kor and I both scoffed contemptuously, and the girl cursed.

Suddenly a ball of flame struck the aircraft- an impressive explosion followed, knocking Kor off his feet. I stared in wonder as a propeller flew from the craft and tumbled through the air- it was smoking, and teetering, unstable.

"I am on your side!" Rekard said louder, as he pointed at the aircraft.

I glared at Rekard. "Then why in the name of Zarquon did you burn me, and zap me, and kick me, and starve me, and-" I started irately.

"I wanted you to live!"

"So you tried to kill me!"

"If I hadn't, I would've been reassigned."

"Oh, yeah, so I see how you were looking out for my best interests then. Come on, let's be buddies!" I spat sarcastically, as I opened my arms wide in a mock invitation to hug me.

"You didn't want someone else to be in charge of you."

"You are a lowlife, scumbag, egotistical maniac!"

"And you are a dirty-mouthed, obstinate, smartassed bitch!"

"You mother*******."

"Way to prove his point, Ana," Kor sneered.

"Shut the hell up." I spat.

"Stay out of his." Rekard ordered.

"No."

"Yes," I growled.

"Now." Rekard supplied.

"Immediately."

"Shut up Ana," Kor growled.

"You shut up." Childish, I knew, but I couldn't figure out a better come back.

"You shut up," Rekard suggested.

"Both ya'll shut up."

"Mature." Rekard rolled his eyes.

"I know you are, but what am I?"

He chuckled derisively.

"Bastard." I spat.

"Skank."

"Douche bag."

"Shut up!" We whirled around on the girl.

"God!" she exclaimed. "You're acting like you're two- all of you. Shut up and come on, before we're dead."

She sprinted off between two buildings. I watched her for a moment, glanced at Kor and Rekard, and, deciding that I was done talking to them anway, sprinted after her.