The Garden [Chapter 94]

Mother pulls me back into the garden, all my injuries instantly healing back to perfect health. I smile as the other crowd around me. Four other kids stop and smile,  three guys and one girl. One guy steps forward and taps his knuckles to my arm.

"Wow! You survived an encounter with a monster! You're really lucky."

He says, his long black hair blowing in the breeze. A man with short blue hair steps forward and nods.

"By all accounts though, if mother had not intervened, you probably would've died."

I laugh nervously at his words as the last guy turns away. He shakes his head, then flips his white hair over his shoulder. As he walks away the girl walks over and smiles.

"I'm glad you came back safely. But, honestly, what were you thinking?! You know mother can't protect us if we're outside the garden."

I scratch the back of my head and look over my shoulder.

"I was at the great tree. I was resting there."

Everyone sighs as mother walks over and pouts slightly. She puts her hands on her hips and leans over to me.

"I've told you before, the monsters out there are dangerous! You almost died again today, when will you learn?"

Mother sighs, then smiles and ruffles my hair and walks away. I see the boys look at mother, then to me. The one with black hair speaks up.

"Wait, you've almost died before? So this isn't the first time you've done this?"

The boy with blue hair looks to him and chuckles.

"Yes, it was a while ago though. I'm not surprised that you don't remember it. But it wasn't a wood stalker last time, it was a flesh walker."

I chuckle and nod.

"I'm just lucky I was close enough for mom to save me."

Mom looks back and smiles faintly, quickly shouting back to us.

"I won't always be there though! So be careful, and please stay in the garden!"

She walks into the large house at the center of the clearing and closes the wood door behind her. The girl touches my arm where I got stabbed by the wood stalker.

"I couldn't imagine the pain you must've endured."

Her facial expression changes, now showing a odd sense of sadness or pity.

"How's progress on your gift coming?"

Her words hit me, I feel my head ache as I hear voices ringing deep in my mind.

"...ante! H..y, Dan..."

I shake my head and rub my eyes.

"I haven't been able to awaken my gift yet, but I'm sure it will awaken soon. I can feel it, what about you all?"

I ask, quickly looking to everyone. The boy with black hair opens his hands, summoning orbs of purple flames that sting my skin from several feet away. He smiles.

"I'm making leaps and bounds everyday, I'm definitely the strongest out of us all!"

He closes his eyes, then his palms. The flames extinguish as the boy with blue hair stretches.

"My gift is coming along very well, but I'm not sure I'll ever master it."

He looks at his hand then quickly reaches up and watches a butterfly land on his fingertip. It flutters slightly then flies away. The girl smiles and closes her eyes.

"I still haven't found out what mine is either, but as you said, I know I'll figure it out soon."

We smile at each other while the guy with blue hair nods and the boy with black hair rolls his eyes. I take a step forward, walking back towards the house, but suddenly the world shakes and flashes. The sun rising and falling several times per second. I feel my heart sink as I feel myself slowly grow taller.

"Wait, what am I doing here? What's going on?"

I quickly look around, flinching as shoulder length black hair hits my face. I push my hair aside and hear a familiar giggle. As I look over I see the four people again, this time older and looking more mature. The guy with long black hair stares into the forest while the girl and blue hair guy walk over to me. I notice the guy with white hair sitting on the ground, playing with some small insects.

The girl walks over and leans forward, smiling widely.

"What's wrong?"

I stare at her then look at my clothes and body, noticing I'm in different clothes and much taller than I was before.

"What just happened? We were kids a few seconds ago?"

The guy with blue hair crosses his arms and sighs.

"It may feel that way to you, but it's been two-hundred years, so I feel like it's taken forever to get to this point."

I stumble back, feeling my head struggling to wrap around the concept. As I start to speak up, I once again hear a voice in the back of my head.

"He's still unconsc....He should probably wake..... soon. Dan..e, you can't sle..p much long..r."

I put my hand to my forehead and close my eyes.

"Dan..e? Dan..e.. Dant...e? Dante?"

I hear a gasp in front of me. Quickly looking up to see my mom staring at me.

"A name?"

She walks up to me and pulls my hand away from my head, easily overpowering me.

"What is it? You just said what I can only presume to be a name?"

I shake my head and look to her.

"Is that me? Am I Dante?"

I see everyone turn to me, a look of confusion on everyone's faces. Mothers puts her hand to my forehead and sighs.

"No, none of us have names. Like I've said before, you'll receive your name after this trial."

I raise one eyebrow and look at here.

"I'm sorry, what trial are you referring to?"

The guy with black hair exhales loudly and moves to me quickly.

"You idiot! What we've been training our gifts for! It's been two-hundred years and you somehow still don't understand?!"

I stumble back, shocked, then shake my head.

"For me it's felt like a few minutes, no, I'm sure it's only been a few minutes."

They all stare at me, completely silent from confusion.