Chapter 8: And Then There Were 3

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