As Drake and Erika made their way to the park, they got to talking about their respective situations.
"So, no offense, but you don't seem to have many friends...is that right?" asked Drake
"Well, I have my friends I eat lunch with." answered Erika
"I saw them...the popular crowd, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so..."
"They seemed to totally ignore you though...are they really your friends?"
"Well, I eat with them, but I'm always on the end...and I never really do anything with them outside of school...I don't even know any of their phone numbers or where they live, other than not in our area. None of them are on our bus." Erika said "Well...I did go on Spring Break with them, and they acted nice to me there...I think I just went with them in case they decided to go out and drink or something though, because they know I'd be the responsible one and help them out."
"Wow...that's messed up. At least you had a good time...and you got the crystal, so if you hadn't gone, we probably wouldn't have met like this..."
"Yeah, not like you woulda talked to me otherwise..."
Drake sighed "You know, people talk about you a lot...they talk like you're one of the popular crowd, but no one ever approaches you to talk, right?"
"Yeah...they think I'm one of them, but I don't actually have any friends. Truth be told I barely even talk to anyone at school. You're the first person all year to talk to me for more than 10 minutes."
"That's horrible!" Drake said "I can't understand why people wouldn't want to be friends with you. For me, and a lot of other guys...I think it's because you seem unapproachable. most of the girls in that group are really protective of each other and usually jump in when some random guy comes up and starts talking to one of them. You seem way out of our league...especially mine." he said glumly
"Well, I'm not...I'm just a nobody, really. I managed to get in with the popular kids because I helped one of them out once...pulled their Queen Bee out of a pool once after she bonked her head on the wall."
"Don't sell yourself short, Erika, really. You're a beautiful girl, gorgeous, and you're the only girl that's ever really given me the time of day...well, there was Fern, haha. She seems like a total nutjob, eh?"
"But you like her, don't you? There's no denying how pretty she is...everyone was gawking at her all day."
"Well, I won't deny that she's pretty...but I'd take beauty AND personality over just beauty any day..." smiled Drake
"Speaking of just beauty...isn't that her over there, in that tree?" Erika nodded towards a big Oak tree, where a clearly visible patch of red hair was sitting.
"Ugh...now's not the best time...I wanted to check her out before deciding which side she's on..."
"Just ignore her then...and maybe if your friend sees her, he can tell for us."
"Yeah...Oh! We need to turn up here at this fork, left at the fountain. By the way...that fountain was hit by my crystal when it fell. most of the water was vaporized and the fountain was blown to pieces...they're doing a good job or repairing it though."
They turned at the Fountain and headed for what looked to be an unpopular part of the park, there was only 1 person there, and she was already leaving.
"Well, we met right around that Lap post over there...I guess that would be as good a place as any to wait for him, eh?" asked Drake
" Yeah, I guess so. What's this guy like, anyways? Is he tall? Scary?" asked Erika
"He's a bit sneaky, actually. You probably didn't even notice him climb into this tree right in front of you." answered a deep voice from the tree beside them
Erika gasped and grabbed Drake's hand, Drake stepped forward.
"Funny Beschermer, now you've gone and scared her..." said Drake
The man to whom the voice belonged to jumped down from the tree and stood up.
"Drake, it's good to see you again. And I take it this is the girl you told me of?" Beschermer asked
"Erika, Erika Moore. Sorry for my reaction, you just scared me, haha. I'll have to watch out for you, huh?" she answered
"So, if I may, could you let me see your crystal for a minute please?" he asked
"Sure..." she answered, surrendering the crystal
Beschermer inspected it a minute and handed it back.
"You were right Drake, Pure Water...good job."
"Thanks." Drake grinned "Now, I was wondering if maybe, after we get a few things settled, you might be able to help Erika with her powers, like you've been helping me."
"Well, I could show her the basics, like I did you, but as you well know, I can't stick around here for long...I have to personally follow up on each and every crystal and see if I can obtain any of them before they come into contact with someone. From there, I suggest that you train together. I've showed you a few things, Drake, and I'm sure you can pass them on to Erika, and from there, I suggest that you practice a lot, and use your imaginations...you can do more with your powers than your mind can even comprehend at this stage."
"Really, you'd help me?! That's awesome, when can we start?" asked Erika enthusiastically
"Well, sometime after we deal with our new guest, I'd suspect." he answered
"Huh? Who?" asked Drake
"A Young girl hiding in that tree over there." he said, pointing to the tree opposite the one he had come out of. "She's been sitting there since right after I got down from the tree."
Drake looked over and saw nothing but a small patch of red hair.
"I knew it..." he groaned "Fern, come down here, I need to talk to you!"
Erika sighed. She knew she wouldn't enjoy seeing the look on Drake's face when he saw her. However, she was pleasantly surprised when she came over and Drake did not react at all, he seemed completely not enamored with her.
"What were you doing up there?" Drake asked flatly
"Well, I've been following you since you left school...I had to talk to you about...us." Fern answered
"Us? There is no us, what are you talking about?" he retorted
"I mean about the crystals and stuff, didn't you get my note?"
"Well, yeah, I did...but with you sneaking around like that, I wasn't sure what to do about it."
"Excuse me, you two...but er, Fern is it? May I see your crystal for a moment?" said Beschermer
"Umm, why? I have one, if that's what you're after...I don't think you need to see it."
"Well, unfortunately, I can't tell just from looking at you what type of crystal you have...I need to see it, I'll give it right back."
"It's the crystal of fire, see?" she said, creating a fireball in her hand
"That's not what I meant, but still good to know. I mean whether or not your crystal is a Pure Crystal."
"Well what else would it be?" answered Fern
"Corrupted." said Drake
"Like, evil?" asked Erika
"Exactly. Unfortunately, even a pure, good soul can be turned evil just by obtaining one of the corrupted crystals. They also give you the ability to progress twice as fast when using your powers...so the corrupted Bearers are typically twice as strong as the Pure ones...with equal training of course." said Beschermer
"Well, I'm not evil! Here, take it, if you must..." she handed him her crystal
"I thought as much...I'm sorry." he said
"It's ok, I guess...I told you." Fern said
"Oh no...I wasn't apologizing. I was saying I was sorry for you. You have a corrupted crystal."
"What?! But, but I'm not evil! I'm just a normal kid..." she said
"Well, the crystal hasn't been with you for long, so it's effects haven't spread yet. However soon, you will undergo a full transformation, you have little to no say in it, I'm afraid."
"Well, what if I get rid of it?" she asked
"The Corrupted Spirit of Fire still resides within your body, though it has a weak connection at this point. There's really nothing you can do, I'm afraid. I am deeply sorry, really."
"I don't believe you! I'm out of here!" Fern screamed
She took off running, and for a brief moment, you could see a trail of fire in the air behind her. Then she was gone, off to be with her thoughts.
"I'm also sorry for you two...she could have been a valuable ally, especially living so close. Unfortunately, you're going to have to keep an eye on her, avoid contact with her at all costs...She'll be after you before long, and I'm sure the others will band together eventually."
"Was...she the third crystal you sensed? You told me there were two nearby, and one was Erika." asked Drake
"Well, she'd have had to be...what are the odds of having four together, right?"
"Well, technically, Erika got hers wherever she went for Spring Break..." Drake said
"Mexico...and Fern came from out of town...she could have gotten hers anywhere." said Erika
"True, but even still...the three of you ended up at the same place, despite where you received your crystals..." said Beschermer
"Yeah...By the way, how long will you be here?"
"Well, now that we've confirmed the third crystal...we'll be moving on to track down the other seventeen of them. We will leave tomorrow morning, I suppose. Just enough time for me to give Erika a crash course...it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to stay too, Drake...you both need all the practice you can get, especially with one of the corrupted crystals around."
"Definitely...I wasn't gonna leave Erika here anyway." smiled Drake
Erika looked at Drake with a grateful look on her face.
He's growing on me...I think there might actually be something there.
"Shall we begin?" asked Beschermer
"Let's go!" answered Erika and Drake together
END Ch. 8
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Chapter 7: Discovery, part II
Drake went on to his classes and the day was pretty uneventful. That is, until last period.
Drake was sitting in class, and as was the tradition with new students, the teachers had apparently been introducing a new student in all of the kid's classes.
"Class, I'm sure some of you might have heard by now, but we have a new student joining us. I know it's late in the year, but as she's just moved here, she'll be finishing up the year here before graduation. Come on in sweetie." said the teacher.
A girl walked in through the doorway and the room went silent, awestruck was more like it. She was tall, 5'9" by Drake's judging, and she had long, flowing red hair. From what Drake could see, she had Hazel eyes, which made her hair stick out even more against her pale skin. She wasn't too pale, just the right amount of pigment was gone...she was the most beautiful girl Drake had ever seen in person...and still very high up period.
"Class, this is umm...what's your name again, dear? I keep forgetting, I'm bad with names you see." asked the teacher.
"Fern. My name's Fern Ashebury. And thanks for the intro." she said serenely.
"Right, this is Fern, everyone. Now, Fern, if you would, please take a seat...next to Mr. Trager in the back there. sorry, it's the only vacant seat left."
"No problem, I have good eyesight anyways." she said, smile on her face.
"She's gorgeous! I can't believe she's sitting next to me, kick A!" Drake mused
As she approached Drake, she smiled at him and sat down. Just as she got close, Drake felt that familiar spark of tingling in his hand.
"No way! Her too, how on earth can there be three of us at the same school, and all meeting the same day?"
"Uh, hi. Name's Drake, Drake Trager." said Drake
"Hey, nice to meet you." she said, smiling at him with one of the most flirtatious grins Drake had ever seen in his life.
"Hmm Hmm!" the teacher loudly cleared her throat. "Please open your books to page 563, and we can begin."
They both blushed and turned away from each other. They didn't speak or even look at each other for the remainder of class. In fact, the moment the final bell rang, Fern jumped right up and hurried right out of the room.
"Odd...oh well...I can try and talk to her later, I guess." mumbled Drake
Drake got up and made his way to his locker to get his stuff and head for home. When he got there, there was a red slip of paper sticking out from the vent. He opened the locker and saw a Red sheet of paper, formed in the shape of the Flame symbol, the symbol that would more than likely be on the crystal of fire... and it's owner's hand, presumably. On it was scribbled a note, obviously written quickly, probably in the 5 minutes since he had last seen Fern.
"I know who you are, and what you are. Don't worry, I won't be as awkward as that other girl was in the library... you can count on that. We'll have some fun with our talk, mmk?"
~I.A.
"Well, this'll be...special, eh? I better go find Erika." thought Drake.
When Drake got to Erika's locker, he found her just closing her door.
"Howdy, partner." she said, grinning
"Howdy, yourself." he countered. "Ready to go?"
"Yup, where to?"
"Well, he said to meet him where I first met him, which would be the park by my house. I was thinking we'd go there first...if he's not there, I'll call him."
Drake caught a glimpse of a red flash in the corner of his eye. It went around the corner, and out of sight.
"Hey, did you hear about a new girl today?" asked Drake, beginning to walk out the door to head to the bus.
"Yeah, she's in my class right before lunch. She's gorgeous. The stupid jerks in my class wouldn't stop staring at her the whole period. I had to fight just to get past them after class so i could leave the room...she sat right behind me."
"Hmm, sounds like her to me, haha. She sat next to me last period. OH! Speaking of her...look what she popped in my locker." Drake said, taking out the note.
"I thought her name was Fern, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah, it is...why?"
"Well, the note is signed 'I.A.' not 'F.A.' either she's got a sibling who's name that starts with 'I', or her name actually starts with 'I'...or it just wasn't her." said Erika.
"Yeah...I noticed that. But also look at the paper..."
Erika gasped. "It's shaped like a flame...Do you think she's like us too?"
"I'm thinking so...I felt the same feeling when she sat by me that I did when you got on the bus this morning...and then this. Wait a sec...didn't you feel something too?"
"Nope, not a thing...she sat behind me, but not right behind me...like 3 seats back, and she went around, not straight back...I don't know why."
"Well, I guess we'll find out...but she left really suddenly after class...I didn't have a chance to even talk to her and she left...presumably to leave this in my locker."
"How did she even know where your locker was?" asked Erika, noticing that the bus was almost to her stop. "Oh, and is it closer to get off here, or by you?"
"By me. And I have no idea..maybe she asked someone?"
"Yeah, maybe..." she said, motioning to the driver to keep going. "Sorry, wasn't paying attention. I'm at another stop today!"
The bus reached Drake's stop five minutes later.
"Wow, I had no idea you lived this close...cool." Erika said.
"Umm, before today, I doubt you knew I even existed. I get on the bus before you, and off after. Anywho...here we are. The park is a couple blocks south of here. Do you mind if we stop here so I can drop off my stuff first? You can leave yours here too and pick it up when you go home."
"No problem, that'd be nice." she said, smiling. "You want me to meet your parents already?" she asked deviously
"Har har. My parents are on their "second honeymoon" anyways...not here until tomorrow afternoon. Come on in, grab something to drink if you'd like...I'll take this stuff up to my room." said Drake
"Mmk, I'll be waiting mister!" she hollered up the stairs after Drake.
She looked around a bit and found some pictures on the fridge. His parents and sister along with him in a candid family picture at Disney World, a shot of his sister with her boyfriend, apparently.
"Very nice, Drake... looks like we've got more in common that I thought." she mused
"She'll be home in a few, if you want to meet her..." Drake said from behind her
"Holy crap you scared me, boy! I almost peed myself, haha. You're sneaky, huh? I can learn to like that, I guess." she said, chancing a glance over at him.
Drake was looking at her with a perplexing look on his face. It almost seemed like he was actually enjoying being around her. She wasn't really used to that at all. Erika had friends, but they were only really a group of people she ate lunch with...she had no classes with any of them, and they rarely talked outside of the cafeteria. They hadn't even ever exchanged phone numbers before.
"What's with that look, Mr. Sneaky? Haven't you ever seen a girl before?"
"Not in my kitchen...not one that I actually get along with." he said darkly
The front door banged shut, and moments later the girl in the pictures on the fridge stepped into the kitchen.
"Ah-ha! Trying to sneak a little after-school nookie in while mom and dad are gone, eh? I won't tell as long as you don't mention anything about me and John, alright?" she asked
"Uh...ok, I won't mention anything, but I wasn't doing what you thought, perv. Gah! Everyone's always got to be trying to have sex and do drugs, right? Wrong, sis. There are a few decent people out there. By the way, this is Erika, she's on my bus. We're heading to the park, if that's alright with you." ranted Drake, storming out of the house, leaving Erika and Drake's sister behind.
"Umm, nice meeting you. see you later!" Erika said, bolting out the door behind him, making sure to catch the handle on the way out.
Drake was standing in the driveway, smiling at Erika.
"What the heck was that all about?" asked Erika
"Meh, Hailey's just a prude...she goes around acting all high and mighty, just because she's in the popular crowd and all... I can't stand her most of the time, and don't even get me started on her friends." he retorted
"So that's what you meant before about not getting along with girls."
"Ha, yeah...anywho, the park is this way, ready?"
"Lead the way, maestro." smiled Erika.
FIN Ch 7
Drake was sitting in class, and as was the tradition with new students, the teachers had apparently been introducing a new student in all of the kid's classes.
"Class, I'm sure some of you might have heard by now, but we have a new student joining us. I know it's late in the year, but as she's just moved here, she'll be finishing up the year here before graduation. Come on in sweetie." said the teacher.
A girl walked in through the doorway and the room went silent, awestruck was more like it. She was tall, 5'9" by Drake's judging, and she had long, flowing red hair. From what Drake could see, she had Hazel eyes, which made her hair stick out even more against her pale skin. She wasn't too pale, just the right amount of pigment was gone...she was the most beautiful girl Drake had ever seen in person...and still very high up period.
"Class, this is umm...what's your name again, dear? I keep forgetting, I'm bad with names you see." asked the teacher.
"Fern. My name's Fern Ashebury. And thanks for the intro." she said serenely.
"Right, this is Fern, everyone. Now, Fern, if you would, please take a seat...next to Mr. Trager in the back there. sorry, it's the only vacant seat left."
"No problem, I have good eyesight anyways." she said, smile on her face.
"She's gorgeous! I can't believe she's sitting next to me, kick A!" Drake mused
As she approached Drake, she smiled at him and sat down. Just as she got close, Drake felt that familiar spark of tingling in his hand.
"No way! Her too, how on earth can there be three of us at the same school, and all meeting the same day?"
"Uh, hi. Name's Drake, Drake Trager." said Drake
"Hey, nice to meet you." she said, smiling at him with one of the most flirtatious grins Drake had ever seen in his life.
"Hmm Hmm!" the teacher loudly cleared her throat. "Please open your books to page 563, and we can begin."
They both blushed and turned away from each other. They didn't speak or even look at each other for the remainder of class. In fact, the moment the final bell rang, Fern jumped right up and hurried right out of the room.
"Odd...oh well...I can try and talk to her later, I guess." mumbled Drake
Drake got up and made his way to his locker to get his stuff and head for home. When he got there, there was a red slip of paper sticking out from the vent. He opened the locker and saw a Red sheet of paper, formed in the shape of the Flame symbol, the symbol that would more than likely be on the crystal of fire... and it's owner's hand, presumably. On it was scribbled a note, obviously written quickly, probably in the 5 minutes since he had last seen Fern.
"I know who you are, and what you are. Don't worry, I won't be as awkward as that other girl was in the library... you can count on that. We'll have some fun with our talk, mmk?"
~I.A.
"Well, this'll be...special, eh? I better go find Erika." thought Drake.
When Drake got to Erika's locker, he found her just closing her door.
"Howdy, partner." she said, grinning
"Howdy, yourself." he countered. "Ready to go?"
"Yup, where to?"
"Well, he said to meet him where I first met him, which would be the park by my house. I was thinking we'd go there first...if he's not there, I'll call him."
Drake caught a glimpse of a red flash in the corner of his eye. It went around the corner, and out of sight.
"Hey, did you hear about a new girl today?" asked Drake, beginning to walk out the door to head to the bus.
"Yeah, she's in my class right before lunch. She's gorgeous. The stupid jerks in my class wouldn't stop staring at her the whole period. I had to fight just to get past them after class so i could leave the room...she sat right behind me."
"Hmm, sounds like her to me, haha. She sat next to me last period. OH! Speaking of her...look what she popped in my locker." Drake said, taking out the note.
"I thought her name was Fern, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah, it is...why?"
"Well, the note is signed 'I.A.' not 'F.A.' either she's got a sibling who's name that starts with 'I', or her name actually starts with 'I'...or it just wasn't her." said Erika.
"Yeah...I noticed that. But also look at the paper..."
Erika gasped. "It's shaped like a flame...Do you think she's like us too?"
"I'm thinking so...I felt the same feeling when she sat by me that I did when you got on the bus this morning...and then this. Wait a sec...didn't you feel something too?"
"Nope, not a thing...she sat behind me, but not right behind me...like 3 seats back, and she went around, not straight back...I don't know why."
"Well, I guess we'll find out...but she left really suddenly after class...I didn't have a chance to even talk to her and she left...presumably to leave this in my locker."
"How did she even know where your locker was?" asked Erika, noticing that the bus was almost to her stop. "Oh, and is it closer to get off here, or by you?"
"By me. And I have no idea..maybe she asked someone?"
"Yeah, maybe..." she said, motioning to the driver to keep going. "Sorry, wasn't paying attention. I'm at another stop today!"
The bus reached Drake's stop five minutes later.
"Wow, I had no idea you lived this close...cool." Erika said.
"Umm, before today, I doubt you knew I even existed. I get on the bus before you, and off after. Anywho...here we are. The park is a couple blocks south of here. Do you mind if we stop here so I can drop off my stuff first? You can leave yours here too and pick it up when you go home."
"No problem, that'd be nice." she said, smiling. "You want me to meet your parents already?" she asked deviously
"Har har. My parents are on their "second honeymoon" anyways...not here until tomorrow afternoon. Come on in, grab something to drink if you'd like...I'll take this stuff up to my room." said Drake
"Mmk, I'll be waiting mister!" she hollered up the stairs after Drake.
She looked around a bit and found some pictures on the fridge. His parents and sister along with him in a candid family picture at Disney World, a shot of his sister with her boyfriend, apparently.
"Very nice, Drake... looks like we've got more in common that I thought." she mused
"She'll be home in a few, if you want to meet her..." Drake said from behind her
"Holy crap you scared me, boy! I almost peed myself, haha. You're sneaky, huh? I can learn to like that, I guess." she said, chancing a glance over at him.
Drake was looking at her with a perplexing look on his face. It almost seemed like he was actually enjoying being around her. She wasn't really used to that at all. Erika had friends, but they were only really a group of people she ate lunch with...she had no classes with any of them, and they rarely talked outside of the cafeteria. They hadn't even ever exchanged phone numbers before.
"What's with that look, Mr. Sneaky? Haven't you ever seen a girl before?"
"Not in my kitchen...not one that I actually get along with." he said darkly
The front door banged shut, and moments later the girl in the pictures on the fridge stepped into the kitchen.
"Ah-ha! Trying to sneak a little after-school nookie in while mom and dad are gone, eh? I won't tell as long as you don't mention anything about me and John, alright?" she asked
"Uh...ok, I won't mention anything, but I wasn't doing what you thought, perv. Gah! Everyone's always got to be trying to have sex and do drugs, right? Wrong, sis. There are a few decent people out there. By the way, this is Erika, she's on my bus. We're heading to the park, if that's alright with you." ranted Drake, storming out of the house, leaving Erika and Drake's sister behind.
"Umm, nice meeting you. see you later!" Erika said, bolting out the door behind him, making sure to catch the handle on the way out.
Drake was standing in the driveway, smiling at Erika.
"What the heck was that all about?" asked Erika
"Meh, Hailey's just a prude...she goes around acting all high and mighty, just because she's in the popular crowd and all... I can't stand her most of the time, and don't even get me started on her friends." he retorted
"So that's what you meant before about not getting along with girls."
"Ha, yeah...anywho, the park is this way, ready?"
"Lead the way, maestro." smiled Erika.
FIN Ch 7
Monday, June 2, 2008
Chapter 6: Discovery
Drake sat in the loft of the library, thumbing through the "E" Encyclopedia. He was looking up Electricity, hoping to gain a little knowledge about his newfound powers, and maybe how to control them better.
Just as he got to the right page, he noticed Erika climbing up a few feet away from him.
"Wow, I can't believe you showed up! I totally thought you were ditching me when you went to the bathroom..." said Drake, shocked.
Erika Blushed. "Well, I considered it, actually. But obviously I decided to come and see what you have to say." she said
"Well, I'm glad you came Erika."
"I...I think I am too." she said, sitting down next to him.
"Well, I guess I should get down to it...Have you experienced anything...odd recently? Like something radically different in your life, a life altering event?" Drake asked.
Taken aback, she answered "Well, yeah actually...while I was on Break." she turned her hand over, revealing the mark on her palm.
"That's the ancient symbol for water! How did that happen?" Drake asked hurriedly.
"Well, like I was saying, on break...this...thing fell out of the sky while I was on the beach. It hit the water and then somehow I ended up holding it in my hand. It was this crystal looking thing. Weird thing is...no one else that was with me remembers a thing about it, but I have the mark on my hand and the crystal in my bag!" said Erika
Drake turned his hand over and revealed his mark to Erika.
"Does your crystal look anything like this?" he asked, pulling his own crystal out from under his shirt.
Erika gasped. "Yeah! But mine is blue... see?" she asked, pulling her crystal from her purse.
The two crystals looked identical in shape and size, but were different colors and had different patterns etched inside.
"Do you... have any kind of like...powers or abilities that you got after getting your crystal?" asked Erika
Drake looked down at his hand and produced a visible ball of electricity in his palm, floating an inch or so above his skin.
"I've got the symbol for Thunder, so it looks like I've got some sort of power over electricity..." said Drake. "I'm guessing you have some sort of ability dealing with water?"
"Well, when I got out of the shower once, I felt this surge of emotion about something...I can't remember what it was. Anyway, when I did, I felt this weird feeling in my head, and then all of a sudden, I didn't need to dry off, I was totally dry. Like all the water just shot right off me...and into the air or something. The floor wasn't wet or anything..." she said
"Interesting...OH! I just had an idea...I met a man the day I got mine... He's the caretaker and guardian of these crystals. His name is Beschermer, and he says he was in a preserved sleep while the crystals were dormant. But, when they were activated and released, he was awakened, and he's been traveling, trying to find them before they come into contact with humans. " Drake said
"Wow...so, do you trust this guy? Like, does he seem to be for real about all this?" Erika asked
"He's even started training me to use my abilities...maybe he can help you too! I can call him right now and tell him I found you...narrows his search down by one, at least..."
"Well, if you trust him, I guess it's ok. Go ahead and ask him, I guess."
Just then, Drake's phone beeped with a new text message.
"DRAKE, I HAVE LOCATED 2 MORE. THEY ARE BOTH WITHIN ONE MILE OF YOUR LOCATION. I CAN'T PINPOINT THEM WITHIN 1 MILE, UNFORTUNATELY. KEEP AN EYE OUT."
"That's from him...wait...TWO more? That means there's another person like us within a mile of here!" said Drake "Lemme call real quick..."
RING....RING....RI- Click
"Hello, Drake?" the voice said
"Yeah, Beschermer, it's me...I got your message. Look, one of those you found I've already met. It's a girl in my school, I'm sitting with her right now. She's clear, she has a Pure one." Drake said
"Are you positive?" Beschermer asked "You know for sure it's a pure crystal?"
"Yeah, it's almost identical to mine, but hers is blue...you said the etchings would be a darker color that the crystal if it was one of the other kinda, right?"
"Yes, good memory. Listen, I'm about 10 miles away right now...can you meet me after school in the park? Where we first met?"
"Sure, no problem. Oh, and is it aright if I bring Erika too? I mean...if she wants to come."
"Absolutely, I want to meet her myself too, obviously."
"OK, see you then."
CLICK
"Well, he seems eager to meet you. And don't be scared or anything...he's really cool." said Drake
"Well, I'm actually free for all this week. My parents are out of town and I just have my big sister staying with me. And since it's getting towards the end of the year...the teachers have just started letting up a bit. I don't have much homework yet this week." said Erika
"Yeah...I've noticed the same...isn't this usually when they start adding MORE for the Seniors?"
"Well, usually, yeah...but I guess they've seen the error of their ways, haha. Look, where do you want to meet after school to go over there?" she asked
"Well, How about I meet you at your locker at around 3-ish? Sound good?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine. Well...I kinda need to go, we've eaten up almost the whole period. I need to get to my next class...see you! And...thanks."
"No problem...see you." said Drake quietly.
This is turning out to be quite the interesting day... She's kinda cute too, hehe. Maybe spending some time with her will be pretty nice. Drake thought to himself.
END CH 6
Just as he got to the right page, he noticed Erika climbing up a few feet away from him.
"Wow, I can't believe you showed up! I totally thought you were ditching me when you went to the bathroom..." said Drake, shocked.
Erika Blushed. "Well, I considered it, actually. But obviously I decided to come and see what you have to say." she said
"Well, I'm glad you came Erika."
"I...I think I am too." she said, sitting down next to him.
"Well, I guess I should get down to it...Have you experienced anything...odd recently? Like something radically different in your life, a life altering event?" Drake asked.
Taken aback, she answered "Well, yeah actually...while I was on Break." she turned her hand over, revealing the mark on her palm.
"That's the ancient symbol for water! How did that happen?" Drake asked hurriedly.
"Well, like I was saying, on break...this...thing fell out of the sky while I was on the beach. It hit the water and then somehow I ended up holding it in my hand. It was this crystal looking thing. Weird thing is...no one else that was with me remembers a thing about it, but I have the mark on my hand and the crystal in my bag!" said Erika
Drake turned his hand over and revealed his mark to Erika.
"Does your crystal look anything like this?" he asked, pulling his own crystal out from under his shirt.
Erika gasped. "Yeah! But mine is blue... see?" she asked, pulling her crystal from her purse.
The two crystals looked identical in shape and size, but were different colors and had different patterns etched inside.
"Do you... have any kind of like...powers or abilities that you got after getting your crystal?" asked Erika
Drake looked down at his hand and produced a visible ball of electricity in his palm, floating an inch or so above his skin.
"I've got the symbol for Thunder, so it looks like I've got some sort of power over electricity..." said Drake. "I'm guessing you have some sort of ability dealing with water?"
"Well, when I got out of the shower once, I felt this surge of emotion about something...I can't remember what it was. Anyway, when I did, I felt this weird feeling in my head, and then all of a sudden, I didn't need to dry off, I was totally dry. Like all the water just shot right off me...and into the air or something. The floor wasn't wet or anything..." she said
"Interesting...OH! I just had an idea...I met a man the day I got mine... He's the caretaker and guardian of these crystals. His name is Beschermer, and he says he was in a preserved sleep while the crystals were dormant. But, when they were activated and released, he was awakened, and he's been traveling, trying to find them before they come into contact with humans. " Drake said
"Wow...so, do you trust this guy? Like, does he seem to be for real about all this?" Erika asked
"He's even started training me to use my abilities...maybe he can help you too! I can call him right now and tell him I found you...narrows his search down by one, at least..."
"Well, if you trust him, I guess it's ok. Go ahead and ask him, I guess."
Just then, Drake's phone beeped with a new text message.
"DRAKE, I HAVE LOCATED 2 MORE. THEY ARE BOTH WITHIN ONE MILE OF YOUR LOCATION. I CAN'T PINPOINT THEM WITHIN 1 MILE, UNFORTUNATELY. KEEP AN EYE OUT."
"That's from him...wait...TWO more? That means there's another person like us within a mile of here!" said Drake "Lemme call real quick..."
RING....RING....RI- Click
"Hello, Drake?" the voice said
"Yeah, Beschermer, it's me...I got your message. Look, one of those you found I've already met. It's a girl in my school, I'm sitting with her right now. She's clear, she has a Pure one." Drake said
"Are you positive?" Beschermer asked "You know for sure it's a pure crystal?"
"Yeah, it's almost identical to mine, but hers is blue...you said the etchings would be a darker color that the crystal if it was one of the other kinda, right?"
"Yes, good memory. Listen, I'm about 10 miles away right now...can you meet me after school in the park? Where we first met?"
"Sure, no problem. Oh, and is it aright if I bring Erika too? I mean...if she wants to come."
"Absolutely, I want to meet her myself too, obviously."
"OK, see you then."
CLICK
"Well, he seems eager to meet you. And don't be scared or anything...he's really cool." said Drake
"Well, I'm actually free for all this week. My parents are out of town and I just have my big sister staying with me. And since it's getting towards the end of the year...the teachers have just started letting up a bit. I don't have much homework yet this week." said Erika
"Yeah...I've noticed the same...isn't this usually when they start adding MORE for the Seniors?"
"Well, usually, yeah...but I guess they've seen the error of their ways, haha. Look, where do you want to meet after school to go over there?" she asked
"Well, How about I meet you at your locker at around 3-ish? Sound good?"
"Yeah, that'll be fine. Well...I kinda need to go, we've eaten up almost the whole period. I need to get to my next class...see you! And...thanks."
"No problem...see you." said Drake quietly.
This is turning out to be quite the interesting day... She's kinda cute too, hehe. Maybe spending some time with her will be pretty nice. Drake thought to himself.
END CH 6
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