by Rue Volley
“We need to get started. We need everyone to help,” he said, as he headed for the stairs.
“Let me get them,” Sam said as she passed him by. Josh stood there and looked back at Theodore.
Theodore grinned. “You better behave yourself Joshua,” he said.
I tapped on the door, with the plate in my hand. I looked down at it, and then back to the door. Suddenly, the thought of bringing him food, seemed silly... and I started to turn, when the door opened up. I turned back and Johnathan stood there, without his shirt on. I looked at his chest first and then up to his eyes. His face was softened, he grinned as he looked down at the plate of food in my hand.
“I'm sorry, I thought that you might be hungry,” I said as I gripped it in my hand.
He raised the towel to his head and rubbed his hair.
“It looks good,” he said as he tossed the towel off to the side. I stood there not knowing if I should just hand it to him or what.
“You can come in Rue, it's your house,” he said as he turned back towards the bathroom.
I stepped in and looked around. This is my house, in fact, it is my parent’s room. I looked at the bed and a flash of memory crossed my mind. I thought of Josh, sitting in front of me...
“Thank you,” Johnathan said as he pulled the plate from my hand.
I blinked and looked away from the bed, as I raised my hand and rubbed my neck. I felt odd in here, all of a sudden. Johnathan cleared his throat and I looked at him.
“Thank you?” he said as he leaned down.
“Oh…y our welcome,” I said. I walked to the chair that sat in the corner and sat down.
I looked up at him and he stood there with only a pair of jeans on. They hung low on his hips and I couldn't help but stare for a moment. I stood back up. “Well… I'll let you finish getting dressed.” I started to mess with my hands and I felt a vibration in my fingers.
Johnathan stood there and then walked over to me, he leaned in too close to me and placed the plate of food on the table to my right. He straightened up and stood there. I started to look up and knew he was too close to me.
“You don't have to go,” he said.
I looked up into his eyes, and he parted his lips. I stared at his mouth... and felt my heart flutter. I know that he felt it because he stepped toward me, so close ... I could feel his breath on me. I looked past him to the door.
“No, it's cool, I'll just go... I really need to shower, I'm sure that I smell awful.”
I watched as his chest rose, and then he let his breath out slowly.
“You can shower in here, if you like,” he whispered.
“Wow, okay... no, I don't think,” I tried to say.
He grabbed me and pressed me hard against him. He leaned in and raised my head, so I had to look into his eyes. My heart started to pound in my chest. He pressed his lips against mine and kissed me harder than I wanted him to. I pushed him back and he stood there, with a confused look on his face.
“I'm sorry... I'm going to clean up, in my room,” I said.
“Rue?” he said to me as I got around him and placed my hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it. I stopped and looked back at him.
“This is my parent’s room,” I said. “I don't think they would appreciate... or I mean, would have appreciated the idea of me in here, with a boy.”
“Rue... I'm sorry,” he said.
“No, it's okay Johnathan, really... I'm not mad,” I said as I turned, and walked out.
I closed the door behind me and Josh stood there in the hallway staring at me. God, when it rains it pours. He grinned and I walked to my door and started to open it.
“So... was he hungry?” he asked me.
“Yeah... starving,” I said, as I walked into my room, and shut the door behind me.
I sat down at my vanity and looked up into the only mirror remaining in my room, other than the one above my sink in the bathroom. I looked behind me and looked at the chards of mirror on my floor. The frame still stood against my wall, empty... Johnathan had barreled through it… minus Josh.
I turned back and looked at my face. I looked tired, dark circles ringed my eyes. My hair was kind of messy, but in a good way, I guess. I looked older, I felt older. I looked down and realized that I still wore my battle gear, a cut across the top of it, right above my breast. I opened it up and saw the cut from Josh's blade. I traced my fingers across it and I winced. It hurt. I would have to get Theodore to heal it. After all I've been through, it would be just stupid if I died from an infection. I grinned. Like I could die, without a blade thrust into my chest with a protector on the other end... or could I? I didn’t know.
I stood up and started to pull it all off of me and I inspected my legs. They were bruised, no cuts, but I looked like I had fallen down the stairs. I shed all of my clothes and walked into the bathroom. I knelt down to start a bath and changed my mind. I would just stick with a shower. I could skip being in water for a while, maybe forever. I stepped in and the steam was soothing. I closed my eyes and let the water run over me, I looked down and watched as some of my dried blood pooled around my feet and my stomach growled. I bit my lip.
***
When I went back downstairs Kai was still playing his video game. I looked around the room and saw that he was the only one here.
“Where did everyone go?” I asked him
Kai leaned as his virtual car skidded around a sharp turn on the screen.
“They all went out… something about protection spells on the town,” he said.
“Well, why are you still here?” I asked him.
He placed his controller on the table as his car burned on the screen.
“Damn it,” he muttered. He turned to me and grinned. “I don't know how to do that shit,” he said.
“Well, you should learn, we both should, don't you think?” I said as I crossed my arms.
“Okay... Sam,” he said to me. I rolled my eyes at him. He stood up and laughed. “You act more like her every day,” he said.
“I do not,” I said as I stood my ground.
“You do,” he said as he ran past me, to his room.
I stood there and bit my lip again. I liked it better then messing with my hands. I didn't look as nervous.
He came back out and had his tennis shoes on. I looked down and laughed.
“You think that maybe boots would be better?” I said.
“Jeezus… fine Rue,” he said as he ran back to his room. I heard him throwing stuff around. He returned with his black boots in his hand. He sat down and started to put them on. It took him a moment to lace them up.
He finished and stood up. “Better now?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said as I grinned at him.
“I swear... all girls just can't help but turn into a mother,” he muttered.
“I am not your Mother Kai, just your sister,” I said as he jogged towards the door.
“Could have fooled me,” he said as he pulled the door open.
“Listen, Kai... I…”
“I'm glad your home Rue,” he interrupted me, turned and walked out of the house.
“Me too,” I muttered.
We stepped out and we both stared down at Sara, who stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. I went to step forward and Kai jumped down and ran to her.
“Great job at the house, Sara!” he said. She unfolded her arms and grinned.
“I told you that I would distract them,” she said as he tapped her on the arm.
I looked at her and crinkled my eyebrows. She came running up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me a bear hug.
“OMG girl... that was crazy!” she said as she backed up and smiled big at me.
“Uh huh,” I said as I looked at Kai in confusion.
“Sara here knows what we are, she helped us get in Johnathan's house before you and Josh came barreling through on that bad ass horse Rue.”
I looked at him and then back to her. “What hor
se?” she said.
I grinned and looked towards the forest. “Go and find them Kai, tell them I'm on my way.” I turned back to Sara. “Want to see something really cool?” I asked her.
Her eyes got big like we were shopping and she just found the perfect dress. “You know it,” she said.
“Okay...” I closed my eyes and focused, color started to swirl behind my eyes. I opened my eyes and Sara stared at me with wonder.
“Your eyes,” she whispered.
“What?” I said.
“Your pupils,” she said as she leaned in right in my face. “They look like blue shiny metal, it's swirling!”
I looked at her and smiled. “I didn't know they did that,” I said.
“It's beautiful... really cool!” she said.
I smiled and grabbed her hand. “I've got something even cooler to show you Sara,” I said.
I started to jog towards the forest as I gripped her hand. I kept my eyes towards the ground, following the trail that opened up with swirling color. We jogged for five minutes before I stopped and leaned down to the ground. I pressed my hand in the dirt and spread my fingers out. The trail brightened in front of me. I stood back up and Sara squeezed my hand.
“What are you doing?” she said.
I turned to her. “I'm tracking... I can see colors swirling in the air, and on the ground.”
She looked out and towards the ground. “I don't see it,” she whispered.
“I know, you wouldn't, but trust me... it’s here,” I said.
She gripped my hand tighter as I pulled her behind me. We came to a clearing and there he was, clawing at the earth with his hooves. He stood up straight and stared at me. I let her hand go and walked towards him. He leaned his head down and I placed my hand on the side of his head. Sara stood a few feet away from us, not saying a word. Then she walked towards us.
“Where did you get a horse?” she said.
I turned to her and grinned. “I borrowed him,” I said.
“Borrowed?” she said as she looked at him.
“Yea, he saved me, well... me and Josh really,” I said as I turned back to him and rubbed his head.
“He is so pretty!” she said as she stepped up and reached out her hand.
He dug his hooves into the ground and huffed. She lowered her hand and took a step backward.
“Ohhh... I don't think that he likes me,” she said.
“No… Sara, I don't believe that, here... give me your hand.”
I reached out to her and she placed her hand in mine. I raised her hand and placed it on his head. He huffed and she sucked in her breath. I gently moved her hand undermine against his coat. Her eyes got wide.
“He feels like he's humming,” she said.
“Yea... he does,” I said calmly.
“Why?” she said to me as she kept petting him.
“All things contain energy Sara... even you,” I said, as she pulled her hand away.
“It's kinda freaky,” she said.
“No… it's normal, well for me anyway,” I said as I turned to her.
“What are you Rue?” she asked.
“It's kinda complicated,” I said as I took my hand off of him and stepped away.
“Well...wanna try to explain?” she said as she stared at me.
I looked at the horse and then I started to step towards her.
“Sara... I am not human.”
“What do you mean... not human?” she said as she started to sit down on the ground.
I walked up to her and sat down, crossing my legs, in front of me.
“Well… I am a protector Sara... just like my brother and Josh, Sam, and Theodore,” I said without hesitation.
“What is that?” she asked.
“Well we have been on the earth for about 250,000 years.”
Sara sucked in her breath. “Are you telling me that is how old you are?”
I laughed. “No... no, that's just how long protectors have been here. I'm seventeen, but I won't age past twenty one, none of us do.”
“W… T… F…” Sara whispered.
“Yea, listen... I'm still letting it sink in myself,” I said as I looked at her face. I expected her to scream or pass out, but she just sat there staring at me. I looked at her and crinkled my eyebrows.
“You okay?” I asked her.
She sat still for a second and then put her hands out pinching her middle fingers to her thumbs. She closed her eyes and started to hum. I smiled.
“What are you doing?” I asked her as I tilted my head.
“Meditating, I saw it in a book,” she said.
I laughed. “Okay.”
She opened her eyes up and smiled at me.
“I can't tell you how kick ass this is,” she said as she kept smiling.
“Really...? I thought you'd run,” I said as I leaned back on my hands.
“Are you kidding me? You are what... like immortal? Oh my god.”
“Yea… I guess I am,” I said as I grinned.
“Sweet,” she whispered.
I stood up and looked back at the horse. I turned back to see her grinning up at me.
“I really am surprised at how well you are taking this,” I said to her.
“Well listen girlie... you are my BFF, you think a little thing like this is going to make me run off? I don't think so.” she said as she pushed herself up off of the ground.
I ran to her and hugged her as hard as I could. She squealed. I backed up and put my hand on her face.
“You are awesome,” I said.
“I love you Rue,” she said. I took her hand and walked her to the horse. I looked back at her with a grin on my face.
“Listen, this guy can't stay forever... wanna ride him?” I said.
She sighed. “Well, I guess.” She bit her lip.
“Don't worry, you won't fall off of him, I promise,” I said as I rubbed his side.
He knelt down and I pulled myself up onto his back. I reached my hand out to Sara and she took one last look at him and took my hand. I pulled her up behind me and she gave out a, “whoo.”
“Aren't we supposed to have a saddle or something?” she said as she tightened her grip around my waist.
“Nope,” I said, as we shot off through the forest.
We dodged tree after tree until we broke out into a field. Sara had buried her face in my back and I yelled out to her, “Look Sara!”
She pushed her head up and I felt her heartbeat speed up even faster than it already was. “OMG,” she yelled out. I focused on the core and pulled energy into my body, I felt us flash forward like a rocket. Sara squeezed my side so hard they started to ache.
“You will not fall off,” I yelled at her.
I felt her loosen up a little. We ran across the field and then I slowed him down, we turned and shot off back the way we came. We headed towards the forest and Sara buried her face in my back as we jumped in through the trees. We shot through the forest and my hands vibrated so hard, I looked down and his coat had a brilliant blue swirling on it.
“Look Sara!” I yelled out to her. “Look at what?” she yelled back.
“Under you.”
She looked down and saw the blue color swirling on his coat. “Holy crap!” she yelled out. I grinned and pushed him on. We broke through the forest and I slowed him down. We stood just at the edge, facing my house. I started to lean forward and he knelt down. I slipped off and held my hand up to her. She grabbed it and slid off of his back. She stood there staring at him. Slowly, she raised her hand up and ran it along his side. The color swirled around her fingers and she sucked in her breath. “It’s so pretty,” she said as she stared at him. He dug his hooves in and turned, running back into the forest.
I stood there and looked at her as she kept her eye on the forest and then she turned to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck again and squeezed me so hard I stumbled.
“That was the coolest thing I have ever done in my entire life!” she said to me.
I grinned and let her hug me. It felt really good to see her so excited.
“I know, right?” I said in her ear.
We looked back at the house and then to each other. “Wanna find them?” I asked.
“Are you kidding...? Of course I do,” Sara said as she smiled big.
“Do your color tracking thingy,” she said as she pointed at the ground.
I smiled. “Okay… I'll do my thingy,” I said.
I closed my eyes and felt the energy gather in my chest. Colors swirled wildly behind my eyes, heartbeats welled up in my ears.
“Okay,” I said as I opened my eyes and looked at all the colors swirling in the air. “They are this way.”
Sara looked up and then back to me. “I can't see it,” she said.
“Well, I didn't expect you to, but it looks like oil swirling in water,” I said as I blinked a couple of times.
Sara looked out into the air again. “Is it color?” she asked.
“Yes, we all have a color to us Sara, mine is blue.”
“I saw that on the horse!” she said.
“I know, probably because it's a horse... but you won't be able to see our colors, I guess.”
Sara frowned. “Well, that's no fun,” she said.
“Oh my god Sara, really?”
“Well,” she started to laugh. “I guess it’s okay, that horse was cool.”
I grabbed her hand and started to pull her with me. “Let's go you brat,” I said.
She sighed. “I don't think I'm really a brat... well I guess I am, just a little bit.”
***
We traveled across town. I wished that I could have just flashed to them, but I had Sara with me and I wasn’t going to put her on my back. I didn't even know if I could. My stomach growled as we walked and I looked over at her. I saw a slight shimmer on her skin. I could hear her heartbeat. My stomach growled again. You've got to be kidding me. I am not going to get hungry for my best friend. That is beyond ridiculous.
I looked out into the air and saw the colors swirling to the left. We turned down the street and saw that we were coming up on the entrance to Red Woods. If I could just not keep coming back to this place, it would make me happy. Sara looked out and sucked in her breath as she stopped.
