Terminus Project: Mars (Dystopian Child Prodigy SciFi)

by Casey Herzog

  The very idea of getting William naked had become more reality than fantasy. My father playing god was yet another thing I had to contend with. He was not going to settle in his grave until the answers fell into my hands.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I woke with a start to feel something cold touching my hand. I looked and was temporarily stunned by a bony appendage. I should’ve been terrified, but there was something familiar about that hand. There was no way I could put my finger on what it was.

  “Time is something you don’t have a lot of. You have attention on you that will make things difficult. The answers are deep within what has been swirling in your mind. You need to accept things as they are. This life was never meant to be. It took one to ruin it for the rest of us. You need to hang onto that fear and indecision. It’s a healthy thing. It will help you when you least expect it.” The inner voice was loud and a little clearer than the last time. I couldn’t talk about it; this was something meant for only me.

  “I know you think what you’re saying makes sense, but it doesn’t. I will never be able to lose the fear. It’s what I do with it that matters. I know there’s something here underneath all of this chaos and I need to separate what doesn’t belong until the answer is crystal clear. My father’s mindset was one of a cluttered genius.” The heavy mist in the air was filled with several different hands reaching out and trying to touch me.

  “This world was not supposed to be black and white. It should be screaming with color, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. I don’t want you to fall apart. There’s no way you can forget no matter how much you try. You stand a chance, whether you believe it or not.” The voice was my father’s, but with more compassion. It was also full of riddles and half sentences which I was meant to fill in.

  “I don’t know what you want from me. You can’t expect the impossible from a girl with a scientific mind. I know magic exists, but I thought there was something to explain it all with science. My father tried to teach me, but I was reluctant because of a deep-seated hatred balled in my chest. He was only doing what he thought was right. I was wrong to judge him. I felt abandoned by how he was constantly finding ways to leave me. He was doing it for a cause. What he was doing was going to give us a fighting chance. I wish I had known.” I was talking to that inner voice like we were having a meaningful conversation.

  “I can give you guidance, but you need to let me in. It’s the only way you’re going to make any kind of headway. You’re right about the books. They have a role to play, which you will learn soon enough. You need to dispel your disbelief. It’s amazing you haven’t already with everything you have seen. Take ahold of the legacy, and the rest will fall into place. Be wary of those who call themselves friend and enemy. Sometimes what you see isn’t the whole story.” Once again, the voice was saying something and nothing at the same time.

  “It all seems so pointless without him. I did love him in my own way, even though I probably didn’t say it enough. I can be very stubborn, and I learned that from him. I need to know what to do and all I get is platitudes. I was hoping to have some straight answer, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.” I stopped talking, waiting for a response, and this time the only response I had was silence. It was the deafening kind with something moaning, almost like it was in pain.

  Those hands, which I perceived earlier, came into focus. They reached from within the mist and began to toss the books into the air until they were spinning in a clockwise formation around me. There was laughter and many voices joined together. I couldn’t hear one from the other, and all of it was getting lost in the shuffle.

  “This responsibility shouldn’t be mine. I’m sure there are others far more equipped to deal with all of this. I want to wash my hands of the entire thing, but I can’t with people depending on me. I’ve been given something of great importance to do. My father started this and I plan to finish it in his name. I can only hope to have trustworthy allies in the days ahead.” I was remarkably calm during the melee of the books flying of their own accord.

  I was bombarded, and taking refuge by diving for cover was nothing more than a stopgap measure. I held a couple of books in front of my face to prevent certain injury. I knew I wasn’t in reality. It was possible this was another test to deem if I was worthy. I had no idea when one of these tests could come about quite unexpectedly.

  “I want to be the one to hold the Elders to the fire. They need to know it’s time for a new way. This way suited our purposes, but it never did solve the initial problem: magic was meant to be publicly accepted. The older mentality was to keep magic alive in the hearts of the next generation. My father did the impossible and recruited those with the most potential. The one who could’ve taken a leadership role was taken from the magic community.” I was talking to myself, and it wasn’t like I was going to argue.

  “We are as one and there is no denying that neither one of us would survive without the other. Heed my words. I am making you stronger, but I can say the same thing for you. The world is not ours, but it will be in time. Sometimes something has to be destroyed to build it up from the ground up. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but one that leaves a lasting impression.” It was starting to make sense. It did sound like my father, but it was only that part of me that remembered him. He was the voice of the magic eyes.

  The books stood still, hanging in the air and then dropping suddenly. I watched as they landed. The pages turned until I was seeing the words join together from one book to the other. I was getting the idea that what I had been seeing was only part of the solution. Combining all three books and watching for the pattern was what was going to change everything.

  I pulled them together, but the words didn’t make any sense. I remembered the number 55. They were jumbled, and then suddenly they became cohesive sentences. There was a glow at my fingertips and the words began to jump back and forth, finding meaning. These were secrets passed down from one magic generation to another. They were lost, but now I had found all 55 of them. It was just a matter of knowing what I was going to do with them. An equation appeared in my head using the number 55.

  I was amazed it felt so simple, and yet strangely compelling at the same time. The words were in the air right in front of me putting themselves in the right order with the help of the power that I possessed.

  I instinctively knew the second test had been completed. It took me some time to understand, but sometimes it didn’t take understanding. It was hard for me to digest without feeling like I was letting myself down. Magic eyes were my legacy, and one my father was going to bestow on me himself. He didn’t get the chance, and without him, I was taking baby steps instead of great strides toward what was going to be a revolution in magic.

  I had learned to listen to that inner voice of the magic eyes. It was quite loud when it wanted to be, and I was happy to listen. It was that act that made it possible for me to see what was being said.

  There were suddenly many doors, but I had this feeling that only one was meant to open. It felt like the easiest thing in the world, but also the hardest. I stood up with those three books in my hand and watched as they disintegrated in front of my eyes. The words were lost, but somehow I had retained all the knowledge. I was the keeper of the secrets. They were there, but I couldn’t make sense of them. I had this feeling they would become clearer when I needed them to be. .

  I took a few steps towards those doors that lined the wall. They left me with indecision. This was no time for scientific curiosity. I had to set myself free and hold onto something quite unbelievable. The doors were several different colors; the blindingly obvious one was the ominous black one.

  I reached for the doorknob and swung it open to see an amazing sight. This was a direct link to the library. I wondered how it came to be, but thinking about ripping a fabric in time was hurting my head. I had to take that last step knowing my father was standing by my side the entire time.

  Chapter Sixt
een

  I had traveled several miles within seconds, but there was still no way to know if I was awake or sleeping. I couldn’t give that much thought when the fate of this world was in my hands. I was not going to abandon them to feeling the same way I felt when my father kept me from learning the truth.

  Piece by piece, I was putting things into perspective, and this doorway was just standing there waiting for me to cross the threshold. This had to be the way my father traveled without the knowledge of the Elders. I was afraid, but I wasn’t going to let it cripple me into doing nothing.

  I held my breath and took the step, until a sense of being in two places at one time got the best of me. I finally had to pick which foot was going to dominate over the other. I forced myself through to the other side. I appeared out of nowhere with no discernible way of finding my way back. I reached out to where I had stepped through, and there was nothing there.

  The whole room was musty and the weathered pages of the books were cracked and worn. I heard the hum and I knew to duck out of sight when the piercing light came through the window. The drone hovered in place until it moved onto another part of the building.

  There was a cool breeze coming from somewhere and it made me hug my body to keep warm. It didn’t help, and I was constantly shivering as I took my seat where my father had spent his time. I sensed I was on the right track. There was a weapon, but finding it was another matter. Secrets paled in comparison to a potential weapon. I wouldn’t have a whole lot of time, and the drone would come back to take a second look around.

  If it noticed anything out of place, it would notify the Guardians who would come in force. I would be left with the possibility of finding myself rehabilitated. The very thought made my skin crawl and tiny goosebumps appeared where there had been none.

  “I was wondering how long it was going to take you to get here.”

  That was not the voice of the magic eyes, but I couldn’t see where it was coming from.

  “I can’t see you, but I can feel you. It’s hard to describe what I’m seeing, but somehow, I’ve managed to phase out of existence. I’m lost, but it’s comforting to know I can work miracles when push comes to shove.” I wanted to say something, but I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Damien reaching out to me.

  “I’m glad to hear you’re alive. I question why you would leave, but you did so at a most opportune time. They got wind of you being in my house and they came to find you. When they didn’t, they were not amused. It’s only a matter of time before they figure out I was complicit.” I sat down with my elbows on the metal table looking at the one book out of place on the shelf.

  “I don’t even know what came over me. I felt something coming and I reacted without thinking. Unfortunately, I’m trapped and I don’t think I’m alone. Something keeps touching me in the dark. It wants something, but it hasn’t found a way to tap into the magic inside me. It’s trying, and I’m resisting, but there’s only so much I can do.”

  I listened intently, hoping to come up with a reasonable plan of attack, but he had no substance. It was just a voice like the magic eyes whispering into my ear. “I want to help you, but I have no idea how to go about it. The only thing I can say is to not give up. Whatever is touching you is probably not your friend. Don’t let it get into your head and feed you lies. There’s no telling what its true purpose might be for coming after you.” I reached for the book. It looked like it had been used several times. I found myself touching the cover with the silver card. I was soon perusing the pages while feeling Damien was looking over my shoulder.

  “You do know I’m only a kid, right? I might be powerful in my own right, but this is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I thought your father was the strongest, but this one feeds on magic. I don’t know how long I have left. It’s a fight to keep control and not an easy one. I don’t get how I’ve been able to reach you, but I’m glad I did.” Damien’s voice was cracking with nervousness. This was the first time I had found him to be lacking in commitment.

  “I have to get control of some kind of weapon to use against them. I don’t want to use it unless absolutely necessary, but I’m sure the weapon will come in handy. I’m prepared to sacrifice my life for this cause, but not for just any reason.

  “I feel that we are connected. Hold onto that and maybe we can ask the school for help. If anybody might know what to do it will be Professor Bethesda. He might find this unusual, but magic has a funny way of making you think one thing and do another.” I found crude drawings and a tale that left me scratching my head. It was about an amulet that once combined with magic power could be a force for good or evil. The amulet in question was lost during a crusade after a massacre. It was a dark time in our history and one that many felt necessary to gloss over like it didn’t even happen.

  “I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise to win this fight. Don’t take too long. If this thing takes what is rightfully mine, then I will be left neutered and be of no use to anyone. I might live, but living without magic is not living. It’s merely going through the motions like the other birds sticking their head in the sand.” His voice was vanishing. I tried to hold onto him, but it was futile.

  There was no word of where the amulet would be found. There was a brief mention of a young man who had been given great power. It did not mention any names, which left me to take into my confidence someone I barely knew. Trust was not easy. Mr. Coleman had taught me to have one eye open. I had to stop believing with my eyes and step into a lost world. I had to bring it out into the light. The Elders would resist. I would need more than just words. Damien had to be a part of it, but what side his magic was going to fall on was anybody’s guess.

  I could only hope Damien was strong enough to pull back from the irresistible force. It concerned me, but not enough to give up. The time for indecision was done. To do nothing would lead to our end with the Elders getting more and more demanding. People had seen the power of banding together, but none was strong enough to answer the call.

  I was young and impressionable, but I knew the difference between right and wrong. A careful orchestration of the underground community of magic was what was finally going to open up their eyes. I needed a coordinated attack in one place where they were the strongest. I first thought about where they lived, but that was not going to make a statement. I had to set free those imprisoned against their will. It wasn’t just the ones inside the asylum. It was also those who had seen the inside of the asylum.

  It seemed like there was no easy way, but my father had taught me that nothing good came easily. It took hard work and determination. There had to be conviction and a belief in something that wasn’t readily understood. Most thought of magic as parlor tricks with floating cards and disappearing coins. It was more than anyone could imagine.

  It was a known fact that change was not easy. People were not accepting of something they deemed to be dangerous, but it was only dangerous if someone was pushed too far into a corner and had no choice but to come out swinging.

  I had that book, and combined with the knowledge of the other three, it would be a good start for an uprising. I needed to find a way to get to Damien and bring him home where he belonged.

  Jasper was the anchor, but nobody had seen him since he had been detained several years ago. He was supposed to be the one to bring magic back into the light, and he had been well on his way to recruiting others with the same thought. Nobody was expecting for him to be captured. Jasper was the voice of magic, but he had a hard time making the older generation listen. It was only the younger generation who took notice, and wanted to be the solution.

  Jasper was an orator who could stand in front of crowds, and get them all riled up. This was a young man of character, and he knew how to give people hope. Some believed he died because of his beliefs, but there were others who expected him to rise and do what no one had the courage to.

  Jasper was a bit of pacifist, but the Elders’ saw him as a threat and n
eeded to silence him before his beliefs became contagious. Making him disappear was a good way to quell the uprising in others. There were still those who talked about magic, but not in the same way Jasper did. They were scared, and the Elders’ wanted them to be. I was just as guilty for not doing anything because of fear.

  Professor Bethesda and the other teachers might be what were needed to make those chains in the links stronger. It was a matter of convincing them to stand up for something they believed in. I could only hope to find my father’s words. He was always with me in spirit.

  I heard the drone returning. I looked behind me with my fingertips glowing. I reached out and made the shape of a door by using my hands to make something out of nothing. It was just the frame, but it was enough to know where it was going to lead. I envisioned the study and I stepped back to where I had started all of this.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking? It would explain how you can think like this. You need to give me time to think things through. I can’t believe you came up with this on your own. It’s kind of disappointing you didn’t need me at all. I’ll get over it. It’s just my bruised male ego.” I had told William most of what I had learned, but I was leaving out some crucial details. I wanted to trust him implicitly, but he had come into my life quite unexpectedly. I had to be sure that William could be trusted. He had shown nothing to the contrary, but I wasn’t about to take chances.

  “I have to do this for my father’s vision of a new day. I’ve already passed two of the three tests, and I have no idea what the third one is going to be. We need to return to the school as soon as possible. Let the magic inside us give us the fuel we need to complete this journey. I can’t force you to do something against your will. I could, but it seems more important to have allies to stand with me without a second thought. There can be no doubts. That will only lead to failure, which isn’t an option. This is going to be a one-way trip. It could be for nothing, but there’s a chance to make things better.” William listened, and I could tell he wasn’t exactly happy.