Chosen_Book One

by Rebecca Thomas

  Kiara and Caleb had spent at least an hour together going over all of her notes for her project to check that they were up to scratch, then she’d found herself taking several detours on her way back, just so she’d have more time to think. She hadn’t mentioned the whole ‘a fortune teller told me I’m going to die in five years thing’ to Caleb because he was so clearly upset about the accident that she didn’t want to worry him any more than she already had. He probably would have thought it was a whole load of bollocks anyway. He was a smart man, there was no way he would be sucked in by something so ridiculous as palm reading.

  She, however, was letting it play on her mind a little too much. The whole thing had seemed dubious until the train incident. Now she wanted to continue to poo-poo the idea but couldn’t shake the feeling that the two things were connected. Also, the secrets thing, that was bugging her big time. How did the woman know that there was stuff in her life that was a mystery to her? Surely it wasn’t something she could read off her or her friends in the room? Her Dad was the biggest thing in her life that she was missing. She only knew things that her Mum let slip by accident, and even then, that happened so infrequently that she couldn’t paint a real picture of the man. She didn’t know how he’d died either; it wasn’t reported in any newspapers, not even an obituary.

  Kiara never understood why her Mum never remarried, or why she never saw any of either parent’s families, or where half of the things she was talented at came from. Most of her life was a mystery, she guessed, except for what she had now. Hallie being the key thing.

  “I’m sorry, I needed to clear my head,” she said, wrapping her arms around Hallie in a tight hug.

  “I get it, just shoot me a text next time, okay? Otherwise I’m going to think that fate has caught up with you because you cheated death,” Hallie squeezed her, stealing a kiss before Kiara could pull away.

  “Oh God, no. Please don’t put that idea in my head,” Kiara snorted.

  Hallie zipped her mouth shut, then quickly stole Kiara’s keys so she could let them both into the flat. It was tiny because it was all Kiara could afford with her student loan. Her Mum hadn’t really left her anything in terms of inheritance and she kept passing on Hallie’s offers to let her use her trust fund to help. That money was for when Hallie wanted to make her first big movie or start her first charity, Kiara asserted. She could get by on very little, she’d been practicing it for most of her life.

  There was a small kitchenette with a microwave, fridge and sink, and an even smaller bathroom where you could pretty much pee and wash your hair at the same time, then there was the main room which was mostly taken up by her desk and her bed. The bed doubled as a sofa, which was great, because it meant she and Hallie could chill there while they were watching TV or playing games on Kiara’s old console.

  “What did you need to clear from your head?” Hallie asked as she dumped her backpack and shoes at the foot of the bed and flopped down on top of the duvet.

  Kiara shook her head, “Nothing really, just everything from last night is still floating around in there.”

  “Me too, babe. But don’t worry, it’s all over now. We’re safe.”

  Kiara wasn’t as sure as Hallie, about most things really, but there wasn’t much point worrying about it when they were together.

  Hallie patted the bed next to her and Kiara settled in. She wrapped an arm around Hallie’s waist as she pressed her forehead against her shoulder. Hallie was quite tall for a girl, whereas Kiara was average height, which meant that they fit together really well.

  “Caleb was up for coffee, by the way,” she said quietly, just in case she forgot to mention it later.

  “Sweet. I think we need a little more sensible and cute in our lives after that madness.”

  Kiara nudged her with her head. “You’re all the cute I need.”

  “I love you too,” Hallie smiled, curling up closer to Kiara.

  Kiara was sure that she could lie with Hallie like this forever if she had the choice, if they didn’t have to get on with their lives at some point. But for now, she was content to snuggle. And, apparently, to sleep.

  Chapter Four

  Hallie was so glad it was the weekend. Usually she would spend her Saturday and Sunday balancing doing work for class and spending time with Kiara, but after they both almost died, she wanted to spend every moment she could with her girlfriend and her friends. It was better to embrace life while they had the time and energy. This thought was regardless of whether or not that palm reading was real. She knew she wouldn’t feel this empowered forever, that it would fade, and she would get back into the grind that was life. But for these two days, at least they could enjoy themselves.

  After a three-hour call with her Mom and Dad, of course.

  Usually her parents didn’t speak to each other, but something as dramatic as this had to bring them together in joint concern. Her Dad’s company was based out of Brisbane, which was where he lived and worked now, but for a few years while her parents were together, they were all situated in New Jersey, which was where her Mom still lived. Their divorce wasn’t exactly amicable, but they still both cared for her deeply. And Will, of course, her older half-brother. Will saw her Mom as his second ‘Mum’, which was great. He used to come out and visit all the time, when their parents were together and when they weren’t any more. Hallie and Will used to be thick as thieves until he disappeared without a trace a couple of years before she went to university. Not even their Dad knew what he was up to, it was like he had vanished off the face of the Earth. Hallie hoped he turned up some day. She might even go searching for him once she graduated, he wouldn't want her to jeopardise her degree for him.

  Once her parents were both suitably reassured, she hobbled out to the coffee shop she had agreed to meet Kiara at around lunch and shot Caleb a message like he asked. It was a small place near Waterloo Station which she and Kiara liked to hang out in sometimes after their classes were done. It was cosy inside, warm colours highlighting an otherwise bland colour theme. They had jammed as many sofas and armchairs in there as possible. Oh, and a ton of cushions. It was warm enough to sit on the wooden furniture outside, so she grabbed herself an iced mocha and nabbed one of the tables, so she could wait for her friends in peace.

  To her surprise, it was Caleb who showed up first. Kiara must have still been on the underground otherwise she would have texted.

  “Hey, I'm glad you could make it,” Hallie grinned up at him. His black hair was more tousled than usual, and it didn't look like he had got a lot of sleep.

  “Funnily enough, I was in the area when I got your message. Lucky happenstance,” he smiled in return. “Let me get a drink and I'll join you,” he added, not giving her a chance to ask about the bags under his eyes.

  “Black coffee, bold choice on a day like this,” she said when he returned, gesturing around at the sun and the people in as little clothing as possible.

  “I can't stand it any other way. Never been able to figure out why,” Caleb admitted.

  “Family thing?” she suggested, sitting back in her chair a little.

  “I, uh, wouldn't know. I don’t really know much about either of my parents, let alone how they took their coffee.”

  Hallie hadn’t meant to step into territory like that, but then she shouldn't have assumed he had a normal family. It wasn't like any of her friends did.

  “I'm sorry, I get these bouts of foot in mouth disease...”

  Caleb chuckled. “Don't worry about it. We’ve never talked about anything like this before. Besides, I lost them both a long time ago, my aunt raised me, so I wasn't alone.”

  He was right. Hallie prided herself on being his star student, and she and Kiara talked to him more than some of ladies in their friendship group sometimes, but he had never mentioned anything so personal. He was definitely a private guy. Until now.

  “I'm glad you had someone. Everyone needs someone.”

  “They do,” he replied with a small sm
ile, suggesting there was a lot more to that story.

  Maybe she would ask someday, when it was more appropriate.

  “Hey, how's your ankle?” he asked, looking at her bandaged foot in a flip flop.

  “Oh, it sucked so hard for a couple of days, but it's already starting to feel better. I'm more worried about Kiara, she's still freaked about the whole thing.”

  “Well, that's understandable. I think anyone would be if they almost got run over by a train.”

  “Duh,” Hallie snorted. “It's not just that, though. Didn't she tell you what happened before we went to the station?”

  Caleb looked confused. “No?”

  “We dared her to get her palm read by this old lady, Psychic Mindy… Mystic Mind? I don't remember. It was weird from the start. She knew Kiara’s name somehow, then when she sat her down, she started telling her stuff that wasn't generic at all.”

  She glanced at Caleb as she was speaking, sort of registering that the expression on his face was changing from one of curiosity to one of concern.

  “Then she topped it all off by telling Kiara that she only had five years to live. To the day, she said. It was so freaky, seriously. I can't believe anyone would say that, it's so terrible, right?”

  When Caleb didn't say anything, she looked at him properly.

  “Hey, Earth to Caleb?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I said it's so terrible, right?”

  This time, Caleb didn't get a chance to reply. They were both distracted by the sound of a car horn beeping on the street. Hallie looked around to see Kiara, headphones on, attempting to cross the street, oblivious to everything. She walked into the path of a passing bike, who veered in front of a car which was about to collide with her. The car then stopped in front of her, preventing her from stepping on top of a water main which suddenly burst through the tarmac, spraying everyone with water. Any one of those things could have hurt or killed her, but she narrowly missed all three?

  The now startled and wet Kiara pulled her headphones off and stared at Hallie and Caleb, who were both completely flabbergasted.

  “What was that?” Hallie choked, unable to move from the shock.

  Caleb, however, managed to get onto his feet to check on the driver and the cyclist. When he found they were fine, he pulled Kiara out of the chaos, both of them now soaked through.

  “What the…? How did the…?” Kiara spluttered, unable to finish a sentence.

  “Are you okay?” Caleb asked instead, checking her for any injuries when he knew very well she couldn't possibly have any. They saw everything with their own eyes.

  “I don't know. I think so?” she looked over herself as well, still baffled.

  Hallie wasn't saying anything. How could so many life-threatening instances happen in the space of a few days? Three within a minute?

  “Good,” Caleb said, although it didn't sound like he was glad. If anything, he sounded… upset.

  “Hallie?” Kiara sounded worried now.

  Hallie got up and pulled her into a hug. “How is this possible?” she whispered.

  “I don't know,” Kiara murmured back.

  They held onto each other for a few moments, then turned back to Caleb who looked agitated.

  “Are you okay?” Kiara asked him.

  “What? Yeah, just… shocked, of course. I think we should get out of here.”

  Kiara didn't look so sure.

  “He’s right, I’d rather not have to talk to the police again for the second time in a week.” Not when Hallie couldn't explain any of the things that had just happened. No one was hurt, it wasn't going to count against them morally.

  “Okay,” Kiara said, taking Hallie’s hand. “Let's go.”

  ~

  Once Caleb had made sure that both of the girls were safely back at Hallie’s place, he had departed pretty quickly. If this had been any other situation, of course he would have stayed. Whether that was because he was being a good friend or because it was his duty as a Guardian, it would have been the right thing to do. But Caleb wasn’t thinking straight.

  When he hadn’t found the Chosen that morning after trying his other sources, he was sure he would never find them. He had gone to get coffee with the ladies thinking that he would go back to his place after and tell Master Mahmid that they should give up, there was no point wasting time. Something had clearly gone wrong. At least he got that last part right. Kiara had slipped through the cracks somehow, something he was sure hadn’t happened in the entire history of their order. It was something he was going to have to look into, but for now, he had to decide what to do about this dilemma.

  With every Chosen he had guided, it was straightforward. Even if he didn’t meet them the moment they were given their prophecy, he never accidentally befriended them first. In this situation, Master Mahmid would tell him to put his feelings aside. What mattered most was that the Chosen fulfilled their destiny, whoever they turned out to be. The world was more important than one person. But in this instance, Caleb wasn’t sure.

  For one, Kiara had been through a lot in her life. Never having a Dad and barely scraping by with her Mom, before she too had to leave, it was a lot for one young woman to handle. Her timeline now was a given, there was no changing it. But the least he could give her was five good years filled with normal things, possible happiness.

  And for two, Caleb wasn’t sure he was fit to train her. His emotions could get the better of him with people he didn’t know before he trained them. With a friend? How was he supposed to knowingly put her in danger? Even if she couldn’t die, she could still get seriously hurt. Also, how would it affect her relationship with Hallie? It was tough maintaining relationships with anyone while you were going through training, then when you were out in the field… He didn’t want this to be the reason for their demise. They were too good together to let something like this come between them.

  Caleb was trying to decide what to do when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He was surprised it wasn’t broken or dead after being drowned in all that water.

  It was Master Mahmid calling.

  Clutching the sopping piece of technology in his hands, he briefly considered not answering. That would only make Master Mahmid suspicious.

  “Caleb,” Master Mahmid said right away when Caleb put the phone to his ear.

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you had any luck tracking down the Chosen?”

  Of course, the truth was that she’d fallen straight into his lap, like some strange and horrible twist of fate. But, based on the reasons he’d given himself for not involving Kiara in this life, he didn’t think he could be honest with Master Mahmid. For the first time ever, he was going to lie to his mentor.

  “What? Oh, uh, no,” Caleb said, pretending to sound distracted.

  “How can this be?” Master Mahmid was as perplexed as Caleb was, just for a different reason.

  “I really don’t know. I’ve tried everything, no one has heard anything or knows who it could be,” he said, feeling bad.

  They didn’t always get along, but there was a trust between him and Master Mahmid. He didn’t enjoy breaking it.

  Master Mahmid let out a sigh, clearly trying to think of a solution rather than admit defeat.

  “Stay where you are for now and leave it with me,” he said eventually. “If I can’t turn up anything, we’ll reassign you.”

  Caleb really hoped he didn’t find something, for Kiara’s sake.

  “Yeah, okay,” he said, not letting his feelings seep into his words.

  He was about to say goodbye and hang up when Master Mahmid added, “It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken face to face. If nothing turns up, at least it’ll be good to see you.”

  Caleb could feel his guts twisting inside. Why did the man have to go and break out the sentiment right now? A part of him wanted to come clean there and then, but he knew that if Master Mahmid found out then he could salvage that relationship, whereas he couldn’t take back ruining Ki
ara’s life.

  “Yeah, it’ll be good. Look, I’ve got to go prepare my classes for next week. Let me know if you find anything.”

  Master Mahmid confirmed he would and rang off, leaving Caleb standing there, feeling like a jerk. It wasn’t a feeling he was accustomed to and he hoped it didn’t linger long. He was making the right choice for Kiara, that was enough.

  It had to be enough.

  Chapter Five

  Kiara hadn’t seen Hallie for two whole days. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time they had been apart for that long. It was partly her fault. After Hallie had hurried off home following the accident, Kiara had spent most of that time in her apartment doing nothing. Her worries were gnawing at her from the inside. The fluky accidents had scared her into thinking that maybe the prophecy was true. In less than five years, her time could be up, meaning that all the plans she had for her life were pointless. There would be no real future for her and Hallie either, which was why she hadn’t bothered trying to contact her. Hallie would try to reassure her, tell her that she was being silly, and she didn’t want that right now. Her paranoia was real.

  As the hours ticked on, Kiara realised that Hallie wasn’t trying to contact her either. Maybe she had realised just how dangerous Kiara was to be around at the moment and was staying away out of self-preservation. It seemed unlikely, but her mind wasn’t in a reasonable place.

  It was the middle of Monday afternoon. Kiara should have been in a lecture on Modern Christianity, but she didn’t feel like listening to a two-hour spiel about how the religion functioned in today’s society. It was a good thing that she didn’t go because she would have missed the knock on the door. It was loud and quick, like whoever it was outside was in a hurry.

  “Oh good, you’re here,” Hallie said when Kiara crawled out of bed to answer.

  Her nose wrinkled, and she pulled a face.

  “Babe, when did you last take a shower? And what the heck is going on in here?”