Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8: BLIND

When Kat was young she always hated being blind. Who wouldn't, really? She missed seeing the trees sway in the wind, she missed watching the sun and moon rise. She missed wishing on stars, seeing her friends, but most of all she missed being able to look at people and tell who they were. Now she had to be careful to hear who they were. The problem was when several people talked at the same time she never could know who was around. A year went by and still her ears could not separate who was who. Her and her family had to move several times to find a house where the curb was not dangerous, where there was no stairs, and where railings could be placed nearly everywhere. Her parents were always by her side, but all she wished was that she could see them one last time.
Then there was a day where, when she sat up out of bed, she saw. It wasn't with colors, but with simple white lines, outlining everything around her. It showed her the small bed-side table on her right, showed her where the walls in her room were, where her parents where in the kitchen, where the hinges of her door were, doorless.
But just as quickly as it had come, it left. The hope remained in her chest though, and she got out of bed, and ran. First time in nearly two years. She ran through the house, every step causing everything to be outlined in white. Fuzzy, true, but it was still a sight. And she ran to her shocked mother, embraced her, and told her everything.
“I can see, mamma!”
“What's that, honey?” Her mother asked, looking at her father.
“I can see! Everything is outlined when I move.” She untangled herself from her mother's arms and stood again. “I bet I can tell what hand you're holding up!”
Her mother looked at her father, shrugged, and held up her right hand. Kat stomped her foot.
Nothing.
She stomped her foot again.
Nothing. It was gone.
Katara started to feel what she would if she could cry. Her throat was dry, her mouth went curved down, “Bu-but it was...w-was wor-working a m-moment ag-ago.” Katara dry sobbed. Her mother embraced her, stroking her hair, “Ssh..shh, it was just a dream baby. It was just a dream.”
Katara had never felt so blind.
***
The next morning, after waking up, the same thing happened. The white outlines were there, over everything. Her mother in the back, her father in the garage. But this time, with her young, four-year old mind, she decided to experiment. Why was it happening now, but not when she stomped her foot?
She stood up and walked around. The outlines where there. Then she stopped, and the lines vanished. She stomped her foot, and nothing happened. She walked around again, the lines appeared. She saw her mother wipe her brow from the sweat of the summer sun, and her father wipe his hands with a cloth. So it was when she walked, not when she stomped her foot. But why? How come?
She ran to tell her mother.
***
Katara sat at a small desk, alone, fidgeting with something in her hand. It was a year after she had told her mother what she could do, how she could see. The teachers here had begun to train her, show her what she could do and how she could control it. It was hard and her muscles often cramped from the exercises, but she was progressing. She could now see details of any object, living or not, up to seventeen feet. Beyond that it was black. She never focused on the blackness of her vision.
The fact that she couldn't see when she wasn't moving was still and issue, however. Only if people moved across the room, or walked to a different spot than their original could she know who they were when not moving. But every day she got better and every day so did her mother.
“Good morning, Karatra. What's that you got there?” said her teacher, walking into the room, his own vibrations showing her the tight ring on his finger, his strong chin and tilted nose.
“I don't know.” she replied, feeling over her toy as if it would help. “A toy car?”
“Very good. I'm going to place a few toys up here and you're going to tell me which one is a car, alright?”
Katara nodded blindly and set her car down to roll off the desk and fall with a dull thump. After some time her teacher finally moved so that she sensed him and he nodded slowly.
“Alright-wait, Katara, stay seated. Because we're working on sending out vibrations today, understand? Good. Now, place your feet on the ground. No-don't stomp. Good, now focus on the small vibrations already in the ground.”
“Like waht?” squeaked little Katara.
“Like me moving my hand, my mouth. Even my heart pumping. They all affect my entire body in some way, which affects the ground.”
Katara nodded, slowly, “Ookaay.”
“Can you see me?”
“No.”
Her teacher sighed, “Right. Of course, can you sense me?”
“Sorta.” Katara rubbed her temples, a headache already in the making.
“Like what?”
“I can sense your hand and mouth move. Not your heart beat. But everything else is really...fuzzy. Like, when someone needs glasses.”
And so went the day. She found, at the end of the day, that she really hated headaches, and that whenever her teacher asks, “which toy is the car,” that she should first guess “all of them are cars.” Her father came to pick her up on his way back from work, near nine.
Of course, she wouldn't know.
She felt the car come down the road, stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. The car stopped before her and she walked around the car and quickly climbed into it while the outlines remained.
The car rumbled down the road.
She hated riding in cars, though she would never admit it. Her senses went crazy, making a headache swell up badly if there wasn't one already. She'd see where she was moments ago, or see ahead of the car moments before she went there, or both. Sometimes her senses were so off that she would think that they were lost. In a rumbling car, she could never trust her senses.
The years dragged by endlessly. She grew used to the headaches that bombarded her mind each time that she stretched her senses and worked through them. She grew in height a her chest started to swell. She came into her class one day with a few other students, a shock to her, since she hadn't had comrades or play-mates, or anyone her age since she went blind.
“What the-?” Katara had started, doing a double check of the room as she stood in shock.
“These are your fellow students, Katara. Why don't you take your seat? We'll do introductions soon.”
“No offense, but I think we're old enough to go on without the name game.” A student pipped up. Katara's senses washed over him, he was her age, if not a tad bit older, a skinny kid and-
“Sit down, Katara.” Mr. Less said bitterly, annoyed, she could tell, by his posture, the way he held himself, the pressure he put on the ground.
That was on thing she had always kept to herself. She could read emotions of people by their posture. It was quite easy, actually.
Katara nodded and silently took her seat.
“Today, class...” Mr. Less droned on, while a kid had some sort of spitting problem next to her.
“Psst!”
Well, that was a horrible snake impression.
“Psst!”
The kid was facing her now. Why? Was he trying to get his nasty spit all over her?
“Hey!” the kid hissed.
“What?” Katara grumbled. First, he tries to spit on her, second, he tries to make sure she can't hear what Mr. Less was saying. What next?
“What's with the cloth over your eyes? How can you see?” he whispered. Why was he whispering?
“Cause I'm blind-” Katara said in her normal voice, making no attempt to whisper.
“Katara!” Katara was still staring in Mr. Less' direction, and cocked an eyebrow over her sash.
“What?”
“I'm trying to teach here.”
“Yes, I know, that's why I come here every day. That's what we pay you to do.”
There were laughs around the room.
What the heck? It was only the truth, she thought, no need to-
“Katara, D'd like you to stop back sassing me and pay attention.”
“I am paying attention, Less. You are standing up there, holding the chalk in your hand-careful, you're ganna break it-oops, told you. And you're really angry. See? I'm payin' tons of attention.”
“Oh my God, how do you know all that when you can't see?” the kid next to her asked, mystified.
“I-” she began, but Less threw up his hand, pointed his finger to the door, and shouted, “Office, now!”
Something swelled up in her, a low growl coming out of her throat. “I'm no dog.” she hissed, the outlines over everyone suddenly becoming sharp, clear, detailed.
People around the room gasped and she could no longer feel her toes or hands.
“Katara, sit down.”
Something was wrong. This man..this teacher...was wrong. He wasn't...good. She didn't know how she knew, why he wasn't good, all she knew was that she had to get out.
And that's when she first changed. As she saw those men with those bags, those guns, waiting outside. It infuriated her. Did he think she was so blind as to not sense those outside, paces away from the door and-
Oh my God. She realized, They aren't even...standing...on the ground...they're...flying!? She snarled, threw her head in the direction of Less, her shoulder inches higher than the desk next to her as she prowled closer to him.
“And you thought I was going to just step outside!?” she snarled, her voice strange and unfamiliar. “Thought I'd just give myself up!?”
“What are you talking about!?” Less said hastily, holding his ground as Katara circled him, predator instincts taking over.
“Those men outside. Those people, come to take me. Take me where!?” she barked, her teeth snapping at his knee, causing him to fall back. The students were all dead silent. One stood up quickly, opened the door, saw the flying men, and screamed.
“She's right!” the girl cried. “They're right outside!” The flying men suddenly burst out of the nearest door outside to escape.
Shock overcame Mr. Less, and he lay there, Katara pinning him by vines that wrapped around his wrists then sank into the ground. Katara snarled, “You monster.”
And then she ended him. As people screamed and ran to get away, while others stood in terrified shock, she ended his life, while his arms flailed, his breath lessened, until she sensed his heart beat its last beat. When she stepped away, she felt dizzy. Someone had entered the room, had gathered the runaway students and one by one they all fell down, limp. Were they sleeping?
Then Katara's body went heavy, her chest making it hard to breathe.
“Who are you?” she gasped. The man smiled slightly, “I will make them forget. I will dispose of his body. And you will have a clean slate. But you must always remember this day.”
Then her head hit the tile and she could remember no more.


(fairly short chapter, but this'll have to do for a while since i'll be quite busy for some time. And i'll be going through this chapter and editing it cause i haven't even read through it yet. XD)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7: IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES

(quick note, i know i have a few things to fix up in this chapter, and i'm starting to do that soon, but i just wanted this up cuz it's a cool chapter ^_^)


*Two hours before*
“Jeff, where's that tape?”
“Right here, Jess. Isn't it weird our names are nearly the same-”
“Ssh!” She flattened herself into the high, un-mowed grass, her hand pressing on the back of Jeff's head and into the dirt. He attempted not to cough as she glared through the blades of green. Jeff mumbled something and Jess let him up, “Yeah, he's gone. Get the tape, there's students coming out.”
Jess looked through the grasses, watching students with swords, flaming hands, even wings file out through a back door. Jeff set up the camera and started to tape.
“Today, we shall spar with each other. I will team you up based of gifts and skills. Fire, to the left, wings behind me, and sword-to-sword to the right. NOW!”
The students stumbled around, mumbling “sorry” and “Ouch!” and “didn't see you there.” When all were where they were supposed to be, the teacher, a large, strong man who's muscles bulged through his shirt, and a buzz cut of brown hair and blue eyes started to walk through the ranks, pull some students out, throw them aside with each other, until everyone was facing another opponent.
“Ready?”
Some shouted things, others responded with silent nods, and the teacher held up a whistle. “Ready, set-” The shrill shriek of the whistle that sent ears bleeding, and all were off. Winged ones took into the air, tackling each other and slamming back into the ground, dirt flying up, while a few others rammed each other in the air, gripped legs and threw them into the trees nearing the building, or even into the building itself. On the ground, which Jeff kept switching too every now and then with his small, hand-held camera, were people completely on fire, or some with only a tad bit on fire, circling each other, throwing punches and using the fire as a boost into the air to slam down onto opponents. One kid ended up passed out on the ground from one such incident landing on his oh-so fragile head. Jess stifled a gasp.
The swordsmen were the worst. They wore no armor, flinging knives that simply appeared in the air at each other, and bring shields to appear before them as protection from their comrade's attack. One did not guard himself quickly enough, and the knife lodged itself into his forehead. He staggered back, blood spewing, then gripped the hilt, and simply pulled it out and threw it at his attacker.
“That was a good hit!” shouted the teacher above the roar of battle, “Not easy to break a fighter's skin!”
“Thank you, Captain!”
“I can't believe they're doing this!” Jeff breathed, his eyes wide as more horrors continued to play out.
“They..they're monsters! Freaks! Mutants!” Jess listed, her eyes widening as a winged got thrown into a war between fire and fire. The winged girl shouted something at the guy who burnt her wing, jumped into the air, clapped her wings together, and blew out his fire all together with a gust that sent the grass flat. The no-long-on-fire guy laughed and waved her away while his attacker stared into the eyes of Jess. He stared, his jet black hair spiked to a point, his sharp and handsome features pushed into a confused look. He seemed to see why she was here, losing her memory about that very incident on that one day, going back to the studio without knowing why there was a gash in her back. Jeff had no memory either, and they had come back in search for answers. And then just like that, the wind stopped and only he still stood there staring at her, and the oblivious Jeff, who mumbled quietly to the live audience they were broadcasting too. Everyone was too occupied fighting each other to have noticed them, but that split second of a break for the teenager caused him to glimpse the weird shinning thing in the grass, and look over at it.
“Captain! Skin alert!”
The teacher grumbled and walked over to him, “Whats wrong?”
The kid mumbled something, his eyes still on Jess. Jess couldn't move and everyone slowly stopped fighting, mumbling, “Code red? Is it a code red?”
“CODE RED!” Captain roared, “Flighters, scan!” The winged humans took off like jet planes, even those injured, and it was not long before Jeff and Jess were surrounded. Jeff tucked his camera in his pocket quickly, and Jess stumbled to her feet when the teacher, Captain, ordered her and Jeff to do so.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ON PRIVATE GROUNDS!?” he roared, “Have you any reason to do so!?”
“Uh-I-” Jess started.
“You people are monsters!” Jeff shouted, Jess' eyes going wide. She turn and clamped her hand around her mouth and smiled sheepishly, “He's uh, just in shock.”
“And you?” One of the students pipped up, “or are you one of us?”
Jess saw the opportunity, and nodded hurriedly, “Yes, I'm one of you.” Jeff looked at her in shock, then saw the gleam in her eye and it clicked for him too. He twisted out of her grip, “Yes..I-I'm sorry. She's been my friend for some time, but it's just different the way you train.”
“They had a camera.”
And then everything came crashing down, Jess thought bitterly, trying to casually seek out the kid who would dare say that.
“A camera? Where is it?!” Captain growled, glaring at both the accused.
“We don't have one.”
“What's going on here-you.” Mr. Linkin came into the circled crowd, glaring at Jess and Jeff. “Why are you here!?”
“They were taping us!” A kid shouted, and a roar of responses of punishments were hurtled at the principal.
“Kill em!”
“Burn em!”
“Let's see how they like 'monsters'!”
“I'll take em up high and drop em!”
“Quiet, all of you! Get your heads back on, students! Your too high off adrenaline. Get these kids out of here, coach.”
The coach nodded, shouted out orders, and the students, grumbling the entire way, slumped back into the school.
The story would be out as soon as they saw their friends.
“Now. What to do with these two-”
“Run!” Jeff shouted, grabbing Jess and turning to run away.
But Jess suddenly felt very dizzy. The world started to spin and when she could finally make sense of where she was going, hallucinations clouded her vision.
A wolf crouched not far away from her, readying to pounce. The red-eyed, black beast then leapt, jaw opened wide. Jess screamed and ducked, her hands shaking, “Get away! Get away!”
“Jess, what are you-OH MY GOD!” he fell backward, the black beast attacking him now too. He held his arm as if it were injured, ripping his jeans and tying it off around his shoulder tightly, his eyes wide. Jess saw no blood upon the man. She did, however, see it all over her, and she began to feel faint from the lack of it. Jeff looked over at her, “I bleeding badly, but you can still get to the truck! Hurry!”
Jess looked at him as if he were insane; did he not see the blood that pored from her body?
But she didn't care about that now.
All she cared about was how dark it was getting, and that she really should start heading home.
***

“Hey, hear bout the snoopers?”
“I think everyone has.”
“But why would they be so stupid?”
“Humans ain't the brightest beings on the planet.”
“I don't exactly remember you having any powers. So aren't you one of them?”
“Shut up.” Kat growled, fists tightening.
“Oh? Blindy upset? Whatcha ganna do bout it? You can't exactly hit me, being-”
Kat swung at him, hitting him dead in the nose, a jarring crack! resinating through the chubby boy's very skull. “That accurate enough?” Kat snarled, sticking her hands quickly in her pockets. A chill entered the air, the kid's face going pale. Blood started to seep through the fatty's broken skin, then through his fingers when he clenched his fist around it. His eyes grew wide, staring at the girl who was still looking blindly ahead, hands in pockets.
“What was that!? How did you-oh God this hurts!” he turned and ran off.
Kat grumbled to herself, in no mood for teasing of any sort. She turned, shifted her bag on her shoulder, and headed down the hallway.
Today was their anniversary.
They would probably be out at lunch right now. Most likely that place near the peer with the fish and chips that she loved so much, Kat thought. He would probably have bought her a dozen flowers and reserved her favorite seat. He would have had made it so the room they were in was dark, lit with candles. He would get down and pretend to propose like he always did. When they finished eating the would come get me. Then we'd all go out for dinner after homework to his favorite steak house and we'd eat and talk till late, then they'd drop me off at home and go to some hotel where he first saw her.
Kat sighed and turned a corner, walking into her class room and sitting down. The thing was, was that she couldn't share this with anyone. They'd send her to some place with others like her, and she'd be forced away from her house when someone decided that they wanted her, signed the papers, and took her to Lord-knows-where. She set her bag down but did not sit down. Instead she reached down and flicked the tack off her seat, then settled herself down in it. Murmurs raced around the room but Kat ignored them. The quicker this day went by, the better.
Then a boy came in, ripped from head to tow, a thin shirt over his chest, and she could tell by the loosening and use of less muscles around his cheeks that he was smiling. At who? None other than Miss Katara herself. She sucked in a breath, lucky that she could 'stare' at this kid without him ever knowing, and that she was able to lean over her desk just so that her hair swung before her cheeks so the redness had no audience. This kid gathered his stuff and sat next to her, and she grew slightly stiff. That strange weight in his step, the strange muscle twitching and awkward smile muscle moving just so..what? He's just a new kid, she told herself, it's probably nothing.
“Hey. I'm Jerry.”
He didn't make the mistake of holding out his hand like new teachers did, nor did he raise his hand, waiting for a high-five as some of the wannabe-gangsters did when they met her. She smiled and looked in his direction, “Kat.”
“Cat?”
“With a 'k'. Short for Katara.”
He smiled, “But it's a pretty name. Why use a nickname?”
Kat laughed, “Easier to say, I guess. What bout you?”
“Jerry's short for Jerry.” A grin played on his lips. Katara chuckled, “That's pretty original. So you're a new kid, eh?”
“Guess so. Shipped me off here as soon as my powers showed up. You?”
“Been here since I was four.”
“Woah, no way! You seriously hung out in these classrooms since you were four!?”
Kat grinned, “Yep. After I went blind I developed my power quicker than most. It was kinda important in my getting around, so it's understandable.”
“What is it?”
“Good-morning class,” said the teacher, saving Kat from an unspeakable doom.
“Good-morning Rogo,” the class responded, all but Jerry of course.
“Today we'll be working with shifting. Alright?”
“Shifting?” Jerry whispered.
“Yeah,” Kat murmured back, “all shifters are put in this class.”
“So I get to see what you are?”
Kat shook her head, “It's under wraps.”
The muscles by Jerry's brow furrowed, tensing and pushing down, “Why?”
“One of a kind, thank you very much.” Kat dipped her head as if bowing, a large grin on her face.
“Katara, it'd be nice if you stop flirting and pay attention.”
Kat reddened and couldn't think of an excuse quick enough before the class started laughing, Jerry the hardest and loudest. Kat hissed something under her breath and sent him evil mind messages carrying his doom in several forms of torture.
“Thank you. Now, Kat, if you would come with me-”
“Aww, c'mon!” shouted a kid in the back, one of Kat's admirers. “We never get to see her shift!”
“Yeah!” Shouted a girl who just loved to humor the class with jokes of blind kids.
“Kat?” Rogo asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Don't think so.” Kat said, standing, gathering her bags, and heading to her teacher. “Shall we go?” she asked before someone could convince Rogo to pressure her into shifting for all to see.
Not likely, best luck next time.
“Alright, let's go. Everyone, watch the video. You know I'll be able to hear every word.” He clicked the remote, and a picture flickered upon the screen and started playing the basics of changing.
Kat and her teacher walked down the hall way, and into a room with no windows. The strongest protectors were in there too, all teachers of course, and Kat set her bags down.
“Alright. This time you'll be training in your form.” A teacher began.
“Have we actually thought of a name for it?” Kat asked, leaning against the wall, annoyed that, due to the protectors, her senses did not go further than the room she was in. No way to see what other people were doing to entertain herself during the boring session.
“No. That's off topic. Now, we have a few students-”
“We agreed no students. My parents wouldn't like this.”
“There is no one else your level, Katara.”
Kat crossed her arms, “Then I ain't shiftin'.”
A protector growled something out, and a nearby teacher translated, “He wants to know about the droids. Couldn't they spar with her?”
“We don't know if they can be her level.”
“I'm up for a challenge,” Kat hissed, “I'm not weak, I can actually fight, even if I'm blind.”
“Fine,” retorted one of teachers sharply, leaving to go gather one. Moments later he was back, the small room was cleared of desks, and protectors were set against the walls. The teacher that was the sparring master, Captain, activated the droid. It's eyes lit up red, it's rigid and dusty body shook awake, and it lifted its gun and waited to be attacked.
Kat sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. Her form grew close together, her face elongated and grew skinner, her eyes separated and her nostrils moved. Her ears went to the back of her head and grew tipped. Her tail bone ripped from her back and was quickly covered in muscles, veins, skin, then fur. Her hands closed in on themselves and grew sharp nails and pads to soften her walk. When she came back to her senses she had her feet separate, vines taking their place and clinging to the ground. The forest green color of her fur stood on end and her vined feet whipped up to the ceiling and swung her into her opponent.
The droid fired as it saw her approaching, hitting her dead in the stomach, a gaping hole smelling of burnt plants. Red vines whipped around and connected themselves to each other, healing the wound within seconds, just as she rammed into her opponent. The droid stumbled backwards, wielding its gun, and fired again. This time she evaded it, her hind paws ripping into vines, clinging to the ceiling, and pulling her quickly out of the way of the blue beam. Then she pushed away from the wall, her gleaming white fangs burying themselves into the metal neck of the droid, and she ripped away, its head falling back and off.
Her audience stood in awe, some clapped. She did a mock bow the best she could in her form, her sash irritating her ears where it was tied behind. She barked out a answer to questions, which no one understood, and reformed her paws. Then she shifted human, tightener her sash, and started to head out. She pushed the door out and as she was leaving, she overheard a few passing words, “We tell him today.” The door slammed shut.

Chapter 6: Collapse

CHAPTER 6: COLLAPSE

He sat down slowly, rubbing the inside of his thumb as his back hit the soft chair behind him. The red fabric of a king's chair, his arms going slack as he rested them against their rests for gold lion's claws. The shades of the trees surrounded him, proving to be his magnificent palace in the before stages. He looks through the trees as if looking down them as halls, his fingers clenching the edges of the arm rests and his teeth grounding.
His lips moved: “It's not going as planned.”
He shook his head relaxing back against the chair. “No, no, it's going just fine. It'll all work out in the end.” He checked a watch strapped to his wrist, whispering the time and telling him soon, very soon. He smiles to himself and looks around his palace. “But how?” his own voice asks.
“We shall see, now won't we? Just watch.” He pulled out a gun from his side and placed it next to him, on a strangely bent branch that served now as an item holder.
“Jeramy!” he shouts to the trees. A teenage boy comes from the trees, bowing low, “Yes, Sir?”
“Commence the plan. Head out today. School starts tomorrow morning for you. Understand?”
The boy grinned wickedly, flashing canine teeth, “A bit of fun with 'em, then boss?”
The man laughed darkly, “Of course, boy. But first you need to find everything you can about that girl. Understand?”
The boy's grin grew wider, but the man shook his head. “Do not go too far, Jeramy. I will know and you will regret it for the rest of your days.”
Jeramy scowled, nodding. “Fine, boss. I should go pack.”
“Of course.”
And with that, Jeramy turned on his heel and left the man's sight.
“Oh, and boss?”
“Yes?”
“Why her?”

***

“And that's it for our live report. Thank you for joining us, back to you Mark.”
The camera lowered and Jeff turned and started to pack up. Jess turned to the principal and held out her hand, “Thank you for joining us, sir.”
“It was a pleasure, Ms. Anderson,” he replied while taking her hand and shaking it, “Can I expect any more visits from you?”
“No sir, I don't think so.” She smiled politely then let his hand go and turned to the van. Mr. Linkin smiled as he watched them get into the car and drive into the distance. Then he turned on his heel, “Dru, that was well done. But I think they forgot my name.”
“Sorry Mr. Linkin, still ain't very good at that.” The teenager smiled sheepishly then opened her mouth to say something else when another teacher approached.
“Sir?”
Mr. Linkin turned around and looked at him with a cocked eyebrow, “Akira?”
“Dave, it's the healer. Her father's been killed.”
“Killed? What!?”
Akira nodded, then glanced at Dru who smiled and walked away to her studies. “Yes, Dave, shot.”
“But he should-”
“That's just it, he should've survived. But he didn't.”
“You don't think-”
“No, I don't. That man wouldn't be going around killing randomly.”
“But if he was after Alex..?”
“Dave, he wasn't. He shot her father in cold blood. Alex was inside.”
“Alone?”
“No. I saw two others with her. One was Samuel..the other-” Akira paused, then the color drained from his face.
“We need to find out who the hell was with him.”
“You mean you don't know?”
“No!” Akira growled, “Of course that's what I mean, the damn figure was black.”
“So?” Dave's brow furrowed, his arms crossing.
“Black as in 1997.”
Dave's face paled to match Akira's. “Let's go.”


***

The girl Kat laughed loudly, throwing her head back and nearly tipping her hand so that the precariously topped lump of ice cream leapt right off her cone to slither down the near-lava sidewalk. The kid Sammy grabbed her hand and straightened it, laughing.
“You know, you're ganna end up without an of the ice cream.”
“Hey, you know what, you should just be proud I can actually find out where the damn frozen stuff is without smothering my face into it.”
Sammy grinned and removed his hand, “True, I should be..”
Kat punched him in the shoulder-how, Alex wondered-and shook her head, tilting her head and sticking her tongue out to find her ice cream before starting to lick it clean once again. Alex hung back slightly, but joined the two when Sammy beckoned her closer. The two bought Alex ice cream to try to take Alex's mind off her father, but Alex couldn't even manage a fake tear.
Is that wrong?
Alex shook her head, and smiled at Sammy. “Thanks for the ice cream. I've been craving chocolate.” That got a laugh out of Kat, who undoubtably guessed why, what, with her own cone topped with everything chocolate and then some.
“Nothing's better than a good friend, than a good friend with chocolate,” Kat said, moving over so Alex could sneak in between the two. Alex cracked a smile, then replied, “Chocolate's a girl's best friend after all.”
“Touché,” Kat laughed, “you know, I've been wondering where we were actually going..?”
There was a split second of pause, Kat glancing at Sammy, her brow muscles working above her black sash to cause her none-existent eyes to look confused. Alex shivered and Kat grew tense.
“Um, well, what do you wish to do, Alex?” Sammy asked, breaking the strange silence and turning to look at Alex. She shrugged, “My house'll be a mad mob of news reporters..so rather not head that a-way.”
“Kat?” Sammy asked.
She shrugged, “We could head to my place.”
“Won't your parents mind?” Alex inquired, brow furrowed. “My dad always got mad if people were over and I didn't tell him.”
There was another awkward pause as the two kids before Alex shifted uncomfortably at the mention of her father.
“No. My parents aren't home.”
“You know, you always say that when people ask.” Sammy chimed in.
Kat grinned, “Cause they aren't ever home, dork.”
Sammy rolled his eyes. “I'm rolling my eyes, Kat. You know what I meant.”
Kat shook her head, “No, actually I don't.” She turned slightly on her heel and headed down a different street. “This way, guys.”
“I mean that-well, when are your parents home?”
Kat shrugged, “Not often.”
“Where do they go?”
“And how do you know where you're going?” Alex pipped up.
Kat pointed blindly behind her, nearly hitting Alex in the face. “There's a weird bump, indent thing back on that street. It's shaped like a hand. Step on that and turn about forty degrees to the left, and head down that street for about a hundred paces, and then turn to the right, and if there is a apple tree in the front yard, then I'm home.”
Alex quited, returning to her ice cream, feeling somewhat idiotic.
Well.
“And your parents?” Sammy again.
“Is that a car in your driveway?” Alex said. “Are your parents actually home?”
“I don't know. Can't see.” Katara grumbled somewhat annoyingly. Alex scowled at the blind girl, then headed towards the house. Kat continued straight before Sammy grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the house before she reached her “hundred paces, then turn right...”
“What's your parents' car like?” Alex asked, looking over the black pickup.
“It's a convertible. Silver. Hood's always down.”
“This is a pickup truck.” Sammy murmured.
“Katara? Ah! Dear girl, Katara, so sorry about-”
“Dr. Vain? Nine.”
“Oh yes, so sorry.”
A man stood in the door way, the screen door now wide open, the skinny man with black hair that matched his truck grinning widely. He was quite tall, with sharp features that made Alex wonder on his age.
Is this her dad? No, it couldn't be. She called him “doctor.” Then who is it?
Kat untangled herself from Sammy's arm and ran towards the direction of his voice. He raised an eyebrow and stepped to get in her line of running and embraced her. She leapt upon him like some kind of beast, the man twirling her around, Kat's mouth close to the man's ear, her lips barely moving. He smiled kindly, and set the giggling Katara down. Alex glanced at Sammy who had a pang of jealously in his eyes, even if this man was older and obviously was more of a father to this girl than anything else. Alex stifled her laughter.
“Nine point two?” This Dr. Vain asked. Kat nodded, “Nine point two later. Six?”
“Six in quiet. Come, I believe you smeared your ice cream in my hair.”
“No! I would never-did I? I'm sorry.” She said quickly after a look from Dr. Vain. Alex's brow furrowed, Is she like, telepathic? But...if that was so, why use random code? What the heck is going on?
“Come on in guys, this is my doctor, Dr. Vain. He operated on my eyes to fix em.”
“Fix them?” Alex asked before she could bite her tongue.
“Yeah.” Kat said, slowly, as if Alex were retarded. Cold fingers danced upon Alex's back. Kat went stiff. She opened her mouth to say something, then turned and went inside. Sammy was right behind her, with a courteous smile and hello, my name is Sammy, to Dr. Vain. Dr. Vain looked over at Alex, who still stood like a stuck-dumb teenager.
Oh wait, I am one.
Then she saw it. He, too, undoubtedly saw it too.
Alex turned on her heel and ran for her life.