Terminus Project: Mars (Dystopian Child Prodigy SciFi)

by Casey Herzog

  Julian had seen through me and I must’ve been wearing my emotions on my sleeve.

  “The one thing I don’t understand is why my father went to these lengths. I would think that rising up against our oppressors would be the first thing on the agenda. I’m inclined to believe some of those voices in my head. They scream for the injustice of hiding the gift.” I felt there was more to this story than just some lame tests to learn who was worthy to carry the mantle of responsibility.

  “I don’t know that we should get into that right now. You need to be prepared, and the best way to do that is the three tests. Each one is more daunting than the last. There’s a good chance you won’t even survive. You’re one of the few who has the world in the palm of your hands and you don’t even know it. I’m a little jealous, but I have learned we all have our strengths and weaknesses. This is where you will learn to find that inner strength.” I was not going to let this go.

  “I believe I asked you a question. I’m not doing anything until I find out the answer. There has to be a reason for keeping all of this a secret. What is it that everybody is afraid of? Don’t tell me it’s nothing, because I will know you’re lying.” I was fighting fire with fire. If they wanted my cooperation, then they were going to have to play by my rules. I could tell he was debating whether or not to tell me.

  “I don’t think that it’s a good idea for you to know this. It doesn’t look like you’re going to budge an inch, and the Elders have a secret weapon they call the hunter. He wears the red color of the devil. We don’t know anything about him, but he stalks the night looking for victims with magic to consume.” I thought he was joking, but the seriousness of his expression told me otherwise.

  I’d heard of something discussed in hushed tones amongst those considered the scruffs, or the outsiders, by the Elders. They would always end up someplace where they could talk about magic, and I had always found a way to tag along. It was primarily because of Julian. Come to think of it, it was Julian who made the introductions, even though I was hesitant to put myself out there.

  “The hunter was thought to be a myth meant to scare little kids into doing what their parents said. I don’t want there to be any miscommunication between the two of us, Julian. What you are trying to say is that somebody is out there killing for the sake of taking magic and using it for nefarious purposes? If that were true, wouldn’t somebody be screaming about it to anybody who would listen?” I saw that Julian was having problems and it became painfully obvious that my introduction into the scruff world was not because he wanted to include me.

  The Lockhart name was synonymous with magic until the very day magic died in the hands of the Elders. My grandfather was known to be quite a proponent of those with magic in their hearts. Some ridiculed him, but there were others who stood behind him.

  He disappeared many years ago without a trace. There were rumors he had gone to find the answer. Nobody really knew what the question was; it had become something of a big debate within the community. All of that ceased when the Elders forbid magic, and that decision did not sit well with those who integrated magic into their lives.

  “The Elders have always been responsible for creating a chasm between themselves and those who still believe in magic. Anybody willing to speak out was dealt with harshly. Nobody really knows what goes on in the asylum. I tried to question your father about it, but he claimed to have no knowledge. He only remembered what they told him when he was put through the procedure. I’m not going to lie do you, Gillian. This school has been having difficulties without your father around to oversee the daily comings and goings. There are those who talk about of a rebellion, which would be summarily squashed underneath the toe of the secret weapon.” Julian certainly did have something to say on the subject and had no interest in skirting the issue. He wanted me to know all the facts. I was happy he wasn’t treating me like I was a weak, little girl.

  “I’ve noticed in the last little while that those who spoke about magic have been hiding off the grid. The Guardians are enforcing the rule against magic by taking action. People are terrified, and I’m not sure that is how our ancestors wanted things to be. It took one lone person to ruin things for everybody. We can’t even discuss his name for fear of retaliation. He made things worse for all of us by becoming the dark side of magic.

  “I learned growing up that even before magic was forbidden the dark arts had a pull of their own. I was tempted to walk on the wild side, and I have done things I’m not proud of. My father never knew my secret longing to join those ready to fight for a cause bigger than themselves.” Julian had his cloak pulled away from his long stringy hair.

  “It was only the Guardians that those of magic had to worry about. That was bad enough, but now this dark force in the shadows is working on their behalf. The brief glimpse that has been reported of his existence has left a cold chill. I thought that would keep people from doing something they were going to regret, but it has only made them restless. This latest offense that has befallen your father has grown that dissension into a voice. That voice wants to be heard. I’m not opposed to some sort of demonstration, but I think we have gone well and beyond that.”

  Julian had spoken of the hunter, but I was more interested in the three tests that would determine whether I was worthy of keeping the magic eyes.

  “The hunter is the least of my worries. I can’t believe you would think I would make a great candidate for taking over my father’s very big shoes. His memory lives on within his students and that has become very clear to me by the way that I have been looked at from the moment I arrived. I know, in large part, it’s because I’m a girl,” I said thinking I could handle this. Coming here was my way of finding closure for my father’s untimely demise.

  “I’m still in shock that you have the gift others want more than anything. The tests devised by your father’s genius are not what you think they are. There’s no way for you to know when they’re going to happen. It could be something small or something that will forever change the way you look at yourself. The most concerning of all is that the hunter is out there waiting for you to stick out your head for him to chop off in order to take your magic. We believe your father fought until his very last breath.”

  I could tell that Julian admired my father more than anyone. I wasn’t sure if that included William. There was something about him I just couldn’t shake.

  “You said I could pick anybody I wanted to bring along for these tests. It shouldn’t come as any big surprise that I choose William.” He was smiling and shaking his head like what I had chosen was inconsequential.

  “I’m sorry, but what I said to you came out wrong. What I meant to say is that you can choose anyone you want, but it’s not really up to you. It is and isn’t. It’s a little hard to explain, but I will try to do my best in layman’s terms.”

  I was a little confused.

  “The conscious decision to choose who stands with you through the trials and tribulations is within. When the time comes, the person who reflects the attributes you are looking for will be revealed. It could be William, but it could be somebody else entirely different. There’s really no way to know for sure. Everybody is different when it comes to immersing themselves into who they really are. You have the biggest trial of them all, considering you are a Lockhart.” Julian motioned with his hand as the door swung open. It left me with two options.

  I could leave and wait for this to happen on its timetable, or I could try to force the issue by shaking the living daylights out of my friend. I decided the best course of action was to keep my friends close and my enemies even closer. The only problem I foresaw was that I really didn’t know who my enemy was, other than Mr. Coleman. His anger and resentment toward my father were as clear as the nose on his face.

  “I’ll leave, but I want to leave you with this one last thought to ponder. If what you say is true, and there is a hunter out there looking for those with magic, then doesn’t that make me a prime candidate
? Shouldn’t I be worried that I have a target on my back? How am I to know if he can sense the magic eyes within me? I know it’s only provisional, but that seems dangerous in my humble opinion. I’m going to need some time to think about this. This is information that needs more thought than just to jump in feet first.”

  I felt like my father should’ve prepared me better for this eventuality. I didn’t need the constant headache of the demand of the students looking for me to step into the role of a leader. I could barely take care of myself, and I was still grieving the loss of my father. It was a pain I’d never felt before, like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. There were moments I would find myself accepting he was gone, but then it would hit me like a ton of bricks when I least expected it. I needed time to heal, but I didn’t know if I had that time.

  Chapter Eight

  I made my way back up the stairs very slowly, giving myself time to think about what my father had kept from me all of these years. I knew he did it to protect me, but that didn’t make me feel any better about the situation. I was being harassed to be something I wasn’t sure I could be. My father had been the strength in the Lockhart family, and now I was being asked to handle myself in the same way he would.

  It took me about 10 minutes to make it all the way back up to where I had last seen Damien wielding his magic with the expertise of a child about to have a tantrum. The kind of power he possessed needed limitations. He needed somebody to give him a purpose other than to wage war for the sake of unleashing his anger. He had father figures, but maybe what he was missing most of all was a mother figure.

  I still had a lot to do concerning my father’s estate. I didn’t know if my father had a last will and testament. I’m sure that if anybody would know it would probably be Mr. Coleman. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk to him since it was obvious we were working against each other.

  I had to remember that with this gift came a grave responsibility to the Lockhart family name. It was heaped onto my shoulders, and I had to be careful not to reveal the secrets imparted to me. They had proposed I teach the younger generation. The dark arts were addictive like someone’s personal drug that they couldn’t shake. Each time magic was used, it would become increasingly difficult to pull back from becoming something fearsome.

  Professor Bethesda was waiting for me when I emerged from an entrance that hadn’t been there before William had drawn me into the dark caverns of what made this world what it was. He didn’t look very happy and had a stern expression on his face that made me feel like I was being called to the principal’s for something that I had done.

  “I know I don’t have to say this, Gillian but this is a legacy that cannot be taken lightly. As you can see, I have my hands full and I can use all the help I can get. I’m not suggesting you give up your own studies, but I think you can make room to give these kids what they need. Damien is a rare case, and your father took personal responsibility for him. His tutelage is now in your hands. I didn’t want to tell you this before, but when you leave here, you will be taking him with you.” This was the last thing that I needed. It would be kind of interesting to have a little brother, but he had already shown his distaste for everything I stood for.

  “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but this is a lot more to deal with than I was ready for. You can’t expect me to know the words that are going to sway a little boy’s heart. He hates me, and given a chance, I’m sure he would rather see me die at his own hands. It could be just a knee jerk reaction to having me invade his personal space, and I don’t blame him for wanting revenge, but coming after me is misplaced. I can see that my pleas are falling on deaf ears. It shouldn’t surprise me that my father would give me a task that is like pushing a boulder up a hill.” I had a headache and the presence of magic eyes was there touching me every so often just to let me know it was real.

  Coming up the stairs, I felt different, and then sparks began to sizzle on my fingertips. It was just a reminder, and a painful one, that my father was not here to guide me with his helping hand. I didn’t tell the professor any of this.

  “The one thing you have to know about Damien is that he’s misunderstood. He’s young and impressionable and thinks he knows all the answers. He will be a great sorcerer and his future is in your hands.

  “I know that what your father is asking of you seems like too much, but you have to remind yourself that he wouldn’t give you anything you couldn’t handle. If you feel overwhelmed, then all you need is to remember is his teachings and everything will become clear. It might sound trite and condescending, but you do have it in you to give Damien a way to live a differently. Here he’s in check, but his biggest test will be keeping his secret from the Elders. You have to know how important it is to keep the Elders from getting their clutches into the both of you. He has great potential that hasn’t been tapped. What you have seen already is only the tip of the iceberg.”

  I wasn’t even sure Professor Bethesda should be here after the downward spiral in his life. He had gotten into black magic, and it had taken some time in the asylum to bring him back. His family left after he got too close to ending it all. He finally had his life back, and he was starting a new chapter. Beginning again wasn’t easy for him, but his family was slowly coming around. It was a slow process, and there was still a lot for him to do. My father spoke often about him, but I never knew he was given this chance to make amends.

  I didn’t know how the Elders could enforce the law, but they had done better than expected over the years. My father didn’t know me. He never wanted to sit down as a real family. I know that what he did here was important, but I was his daughter. He should never have taken me for granted and it’s a good thing that I turned out as well as I have. I’m not saying I didn’t make my fair share of mistakes. The accident came to mind.

  I remembered the accident, but it was mostly fragments of a fire out of control. My hands were severely burned, and I was healed over many days of continuous therapy.

  My father told me it wasn’t my fault; all kids go through this when they encounter magic for the first time. I believed him at the time, but there were some inconsistencies about his story. I talked at length with my group of new friends, and they never had anything like that happen to them. I had to wonder why my father was lying. I was beginning to understand it was his way of protecting me against myself. I had always been gifted, but he was afraid to open my eyes to it.

  “Take your time, and we’ll be there when you are prepared to leave. I would seriously encourage you take a look around at what your father built from the ground up. Everybody here owes him a debt of gratitude we can never repay. I was given a new lease on life when I was at my lowest point. My family has even started to talk to me again.”

  “Your father reminded me of who I really am. Everybody has a dark side, and it’s up to each one of us to determine our fate. Damien is a diamond in the rough. He will be a great leader, but only if he can get that chip off his shoulder. Nobody has been able to reach him, but I think you might be the answer to our prayers.”

  I felt this itch inside, like something was trying to get out. I didn’t want this magic. It was very intense, and what I had experienced in school was nothing compared to this. I was only dabbling, and finding acceptance. This was taking what I learned, and making it look like Sunday school. It was hard to control, and seemed to have a mind of its own.

  “The only thing I can think about is the damage Damien could do in the real world. I’m going to do something that’s not popular, and my father might want him to stand with me, but I can’t do it without knowing he can be trusted. The only way I can make that judgment is to get to know him here. I promise I’m not running away from my problems, but to free him amongst the Elders will only be asking for his incarceration.” I could almost feel he was what the hunter was going to want to sink his teeth into. The hunter would get one taste, and it wouldn’t be enough. There would be nothing that would stand in his way.

  “I
can’t force you to do something against your will. I do believe Damien needs someone like you to help him realize that magic is a gift not to be squandered on petty differences and vengeance in the heart. I learned that lesson the hard way. Your father was the one who pulled me back from the abyss before it was too late, and I really don’t want to think about where I would be without him.”

  The professor was giving me a lot to think about.

  “You do what you think is right, but your father has always had your best interest at heart. He talked about you often and had his students on the edge of their seats with your exploits. They were quite surprised your father would allow you to run wild with no restrictions.”

  Things might have turned out differently had he been around to make sure I didn’t get into any trouble.

  “I always thought he just didn’t care about me enough to make the effort. From everything I have learned about him upon his passing, I have to say my perception of the man was confused. I had no idea what his true purpose was, and I didn’t know what to feel about this place. I knew he considered his study sacred, but I had no idea it was going to unearth a new world,” I said

  As I walked with him, we stopped every so often in front of classrooms, which had become a teaching tool. In one room, man with a multicolored goatee was making water and fire appear in his hands and we overheard the end of his class.

  “You have seen for yourself that the elements of nature are all around you. I’ve given you what you need to come back to me in the morning with a fair demonstration of your power. Don’t be discouraged because it takes practice to learn the magic arts. If any of you need extra help, stay after, and I’ll be more than happy to put you on the right path. The “dark” arts have always been debated amongst those who practiced them, though things seem to change and stay the same at once.”