Chapter 3

BIANCA

Running out of the house with Alvin on my shoulder and a piece of crumpled useless paper in my hand (He didn't even say goodbye in his note, just wrote stupid directions), I spot Alvin's bag.

Bending down to pick it up, I take out the inhaler and place it in his mouth, giving him three quick puffs.

Noticing that his breathing is better, I start moving. In the stupid note there was a number and a set of instructions to follow.

Call in a secluded place. Talk in whispers. And trust no one.

Dropping Alvin in an alley, I take out a bottle of cold water from his bag and pour it on him. His eyelids flutter open and he studies me.

ALVIN

Wiping the water off my face, I look at Bianca "What ha-?"

And then everything starts to come back with only one scene standing out.... My dead parents. I start to cry and then Bianca slaps me "Snap out of it!" "They are dead Alvin....DEAD!....And you will die too if you don't get up and follow me!" She throws my bag at me and gets up "Let's go"

Studying her once more, I notice that her hair is darker in colour with a criss-cross black marking on her shoulder. She catches me staring and pulls me up "I'll explain but we have to go"

"Where?"

"A cafe"

"To do what?"

"To drink coffee"

"But I thought you don't drink-"

Interrupting me, she turns around and looks at me "We are guardians, we save the world with comic book powers from things that were supposed to exist only on TV.... And now, we are targets because we're supposed to be part of something called the Big Eight"

"Oh" Looking at my sister, I ask a question "Did their deaths affect your head?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, these things are not real"

Chuckling, she replies "We'll see if they're real when your heart is being ripped out"

I look down "Is that what killed them?"

"Yes, Alvin"

"I'm sorry"

"It's okay" Looking around, I notice a satay vendor to our right. I look at Bianca and her face softens. Walking over, Bianca hands him two dollars and he hands over a metal tray with the satays. I notice that his eyes linger on my sister's 'tattoo' before his face twists upward with a smile.

Sitting on a nearby bench, I place one in my mouth and pull out the meat. The taste is inspiring. Taking one more and eating it, I notice that the satay vendor is gone and the cart is still there, the word 'targets' ring in my head. Tapping Bianca on her shoulder, I point "He's gone"

Dropping the empty tray, she starts to look around the surroundings "We have to get out of here"

Looking at our back, I see the man but his skin is starting to turn red "Is that normal?"

She mutters under her breath "We have to get away from all the people here....Or they'll just die meaningless deaths."

"What's your plan?"

"Run"

As she says that word, a black marking appears from her tattoo and trails down to her right hand (the tattoo is on her right shoulder) and black mist appears, solidifying into....my dad. He looks at the two men in front of him and charges forward. Bianca runs with me and when we get to an alley, she stops "We can't keep going, We have to fight"

"We have to go, I do not want to die" A deep croaky voice sounds behind me "But you will"

I turn around and I see a....thing. It has two black wings. Its skin is red and several veins are visible on his body. A marking like my sister's one travels down his chest but its a thick dark red color. It's eyes are a mass of black with no pupils. Two curved horns are on its head. I look at Bianca "Quick...make another one" And that's when I see that she is sweating more than usual. She faints, and a hand catches her. I see a blonde girl in a flowing robe. She has glossy skin and brown eyes along with a dainty nose and full lips on a round face with a healthy figure. She wears a denim trouser and a tiger skin spaghetti top. With a swipe of her hand, the thing that is known to be a Gimlet is thrown back and it hits the wall with a satisfying crack. Telekinesis. I watch as another boy becomes a gargoyle and grabs the Gimlet. Shapeshifting. I soon hear the sound of claws against stone and I look up. The girl speaks "He'll be fine" I watch as another girl steps into my line of sight and places her hand on my sister's head. She looks at the other girl and talks "Went past her limit.. Think she is a necro-shadow.... Summoned twice... She will live"

She then comes to me and places her hand on my head. She recoils "Lighter" The other girl responds, shock visible on her face "Do it again" She places her hand once more and she confirms that I am a lighter, whatever that is. The girl looks at me "I am Layla, I am a mover, gifted with telekinesis. That dude is Chris, a morph, gifted with shapeshifting, and she is a psych, capable of reading and controlling minds. And you, my darling, are a Lighter"

"What does that mean?"

"It means you are the one who is going to end this war."