Magic: The Gathering is property of Wizards of the Coast.
**************** Chapter 3- Colors: A Prelude to Death-Red ****************
Hello there, it's nice to meet you. Have you been following our story so far? It's kind of confusing, isn't it? It certainly was for us when this all started. We had no idea what was happening, or even what was going to happen. But then, you never really do. Oh, I'm sorry. Please forgive my inconsideration. My name, is Sarah Harrison. The, first of our.well, group as I like to call it, to find our, little secret. But my story is long past, and about a week after Tayliana's was done, someone else's began.
Like I said, it was only a week or so after our accident. No one was hurt, so I'm thankful for that. Of course, we all got in trouble one way or another. I got a lecture about why not to distract the driver, but that's all. I just told Jesse and the others that so I wouldn't look like the outcast again. My parents are very lenient, perhaps a bit too. But it's not that I do it for my popularity, it's just.I don't know what I'd do if Jesse and the others stopped being my friends.
We were just returning home, well, I was at least. Tay and the others still had detentions from last week, all my fault of course. I rode the bus, like always, and as always, I was one of the last to get off the bus. The others, they don't ride the bus anymore, and I can see why. Tay has her truck, although for the past week, she's been driving her dad's Lincoln. Jesse lived close enough where he could walk home. Jack was the only inconsistent one. Sometimes he rode with Tay, just to make fun of her truck. I never knew what those two would talk about when they're alone, although one time when she was supposed to drive him home, I saw him halfway to his house, walking. Hee hee. Others times, though, he would hitch a ride with one of his other friends, or he'd walk home with Jesse. On this day, he was walking home, since they both had detention. I arrived home at around 3:15, and noticed my parents weren't home.
'Probably out looking for jobs.' I thought to myself. They're real good people, they always try hard to maintain our family. However, today, turned out to be a lot different than usual. As soon as I sat my bag on the bed, I heard the phone ring. Slowly, I turned around and began walking to the pedestal where our phone was.
"Coming!" I called out. Small habit, but everyone does it, don't they? I answered the phone, and, I like to answer in a happy tone.
I smiled wide, and said, a little loud, "Hello! Harrison residence! This is.."
"SARAH! Where the hell have you been?! A voice screamed in my ear. I jumped in surprise.
"Wha-? Ja-Jack? Aren't you supposed to be in detention?"
"Jesse-! Wait, we had detention today?"
"Hmm, what about Jesse?"
"Sarah! You won't believe this! Me and Jesse were walking home today, and, and.."
I was beginning to get worried, "What happened? What happened to Jesse, Jack?"
"Sarah.he was kidnapped! In front of my own eyes!"
To make a long story short, I waited impatiently for about an hour or so for Tay to get home, then I called her and we both raced over to Jesse's house where his parents and Jack were waiting for us. We stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, me and Tay trying to comfort Jesse's parents, and Jack explaining to the police what happened.
"Well officer," I heard him say, "We didn't hear over the announcement today that we had detention, and like usually, we walked home together. Then we took the way we always took to get to his house, and then." I noticed that he was a little hesitant, "this, white van, came up and a couple pale lookin' guys dressed in black robes jumped out and punched me out. Then when I woke up, Jesse was gone."
I noticed the police officer had his eyes fixed on his notepad, as he jotted down everything that Jack told him. Then he put the notepad back into his pocket and walked over to Jesse's mom, who, despite mine and Tay's efforts, was still crying madly. We just let him past and then walked over to Jack.
"Never thought Jesse would be the one to get kidnapped." Tay said from behind me, "I always thought Jack would be the first, being as he's a dick to everyone."
"Tay!" I yelled at her. She just gave me an odd look. "I think we should stay here and wait until the police leave to see if Mr. and Mrs. Johnson need anything, agreed?"
"Oh definitely." Tay agreed.
I waited for a while, in silence, then I looked over at Jack, "Jack?" He glanced up at me, and I could tell something was unusual about him. After all the years I've known him, he'd always been a joking, carefree kid, who was never serious, even when he was in a fight. He looked back down at the ground, and in a low voice, said, "Yeah, alright."
I couldn't quite place my finger on it at first, but while we were waiting for the police to leave, I thought of something. In all the time I knew Jack, he had been in many fights, and in all those fights he's been in, he hadn't lost one. Even against several kids, he had pulled through somehow. And then.and then I thought, maybe, his jaw wasn't the only thing that got hurt when those thugs jumped him.
About two more hours passed, and it was getting dark. The police cars were just pulling out of the driveway, and Mrs. Johnson was still crying her eyes out. We had asked if they needed anything, but Mr. Johnson politely told us they were fine, and thanked us all for trying to comfort them. Then we proceeded to the Tay's car.
"So," Tay said, "Do you either of you two need a lift home?"
"No thank you Tay," I said, "My mom's coming to pick me up."
"Okay, how 'bout you?"
Jack didn't answer her, he was just leaning against her car, and had a very disturbed look on his face.
"Hey! I'm talking to you Jack!"
"Shut up.." I heard him whisper. Both me and Tay stood back in surprise, then she grew angry and began marching up to him.
"Now you see here! I WAS trying to be nice! But I see that you can still be an asshole, even when your best friend is kidnapped right in front of your eyes!" She stopped for a moment, and was breathing heavily, whether from anger or the fact that Jesse might have been gone forever, I don't know. Then I saw her shoulders loosen and then began to talk to him in a less angered, less irritated voice, "Listen Jack. We're all hurt that someone did this to him. Probably none more so than you, but there was nothing you could have done. There was nothing I could have done, and nothing Sarah could have done." She let her arms fall to her sides, "And there's nothing we can do now."
My heart almost skipped when Jack's head shot up. I knew, EXACTLY what he was thinking, then he turned to Tay, and with more seriousness in his eyes than I have seen in a person, "Tay, I need a favor."
Tay's face turned red, "Wha-what do you want?"
Jack furrowed his brow, "I know where they are. I know where they've taken Jesse."
"WHAT?!" We both yelled.
"If you knew why didn't you tell the police?!" I yelled at him.
"Because this is just a hunch, and if Jesse IS there, I would have to do a lot of explaining to the police."
"That's absurd!" I yelled.
"You've lost it now Jack! After what happened last week you REALLY expect me to take you to a place where a couple of kidnappers are?! Do you realize that my parent's are STILL bitching at me for not being careful enough last time?!" Her pants became prolonged and raspy and was glaring at Jack with incredible anger.
And Jack was glaring back, although more determined than angry, "Listen Tay, you can either drive me there, or I'll take your car keys by force. It's your choice"
I was stunned silent. I looked at the two, Tay holding her breath as her face turned red, and Jack, with the calmest yet most determined look on his face that I have ever seen. They stood for some whiles. Then Tay pushed him aside and opened the back door.
"Get in the damn car!" Jack smiled serenely, and stepped into the car, never taking his eyes off of Tay. When he got in, she slammed the car door and stormed around to the driver's side, cursing and mumbling to herself. As she got in, I immediately opened the passenger door and jumped in as well. As I put on my seatbelt I noticed Tay glaring at me, with more shock than anything.
"I'm Jesse's friend too you know! I care about him just as much as either of you two!" I could see the stupefied expression on her face, and I would have giggled, if not for the seriousness of the situation. Then she started cursing herself again, backed the car up, and drove off down the road. All the while still cursing under her breath.
"I can't believe I'm doing what that asshole." she stopped herself, and yelled back to Jack, "Alright Hunch boy! You got one chance to hunch your way into a whole mess of trouble!"
"McClenan road. The old rundown warehouse."
"Alright, but if I don't see AT LEAST one Nazi, I'm driving your ass back home!"
There was a dead silence from the back, and I knew he wasn't going to answer, so I looked over at Tay, "A Nazi?"
She looked at me nervously, then the road, me, then the road, "It was the first thing that came to mind. Sorry."
"Oh." I sat again in deep silence, then I turned back to Tay and asked her for her cell phone. She gave it to me, and I was just about to call when I heard Jack's voice from behind me.
"You're not going to let them get away with that." At least that's what I thought I heard, I looked back at him.
"Huh? What did you say Jack?" I asked.
Jack looked up at me in surprise, then looked back down, "Nothing. I didn't say anything."
"I didn't hear anything either Sarah." Tay also replied. "Maybe the stress has gotten to you, we should go.."
"You turn this car around and I'll rip your breast off." Jack interrupted quickly. I looked over at Tay who had, on instinct, clasped her right breast and had a look of horror, and anger. Well, the thing is.never mind, I'll tell you about it later. No one said a word to each other the rest of the way there.
McClenan road was only a seven minute drive from Jesse's house, so we were there in no time. It was also a pretty barren road. Not many houses, a lot of forest, and one semi-open field, where the old warehouse Jack requested to go right in the middle of it. Rundown was actually putting it nicely, I still don't see how it was still standing up. A little bit of red paint was left, but it was only chips now, and the wood was so dry a spark could have lit it up like the Fourth of July. We slowly pulled to a stop at the edge of the road and we all got out of the car.
"I called my parents," I told them, "I told them I was staying a little longer and that you were bringing me home Tay."
"If we get home." She responded sourly.
Jack just got out of the car as I walked next to Tay, "Now now, Jack said this was just a hunch of his. No offense Jack, but there's no proof that Jesse is going to be here. Right Jack?"
Jack was in deep silence, and his face was in the air, almost like he was smelling something, "They're here." He said, and began to storm across the road. I looked over at Tay, more worried this time, but her eyes were fixated on Jack, and they were more angry then ever. She slammed the car door and caught up to Jack. I rushed along side them too, and I could feel it. Jack was right. I don't know how, but he was right. And Tay knew it too.
Jack led us up to the door of the warehouse, and noticed it was about to come right off its hinges. I looked over at him and said, "Now Jack. Let's just quietly sneak in there and.." I never got to finish as Jack grabbed the door with one hand and ripped it right off the wall. It crashed with a loud sound of a thud, and rusty metal banging against each other. I, for one, scared me half-to-death and jumped sideways to grab ahold of Tay's arm. I quickly found out that Jack's determination also startled Tay, who quickly wrapped her arms around me, and, being a little bit taller then me.well, you know. We quickly let go of each other and slowly followed Jack. We were both scared, but Tay was better at hiding hers. I was cringing a little bit, but just a little. I noticed, for an old warehouse, it was pretty big, and a lot of hay in it. 'Must still be in use," I thought.
We walked down one wide aisle, with the hay stacked up in rows to our sides. And.and I could have sworn I heard Jack say, "They're here. You know they're here. You can smell them in the air. You can even taste them." I didn't ask this time though, because as soon as we hit one of the last rows, Jack looked to his right and yelled out, "Jesse!"
He sprinted down the aisle as me and Tay just look down that way. There he was! Besides for being unconscious, he seemed alright! We both rushed over to his aid, and Jesse immediately woke up. I couldn't bear the excitement of seeing him okay, when I wrapped my arms around him and just started hugging him, yelling "Did they hurt you?! I'm so glad you're okay!" Next to me I could hear Tay about to start crying as she lectured Jesse about how he should be more careful. I didn't care though, I was just glad he was alright. Jack, however, remained quiet, and motionless. Tay noticed too.
"Hey Jack! You awake there! Jesse's okay, can't you see that?!" But Jack remained still. Sweat was dripping off his chin, and his chest rose high every time he took a breath. And then, without any warning, without his lips moving at all, I heard him say, "Behind you!"
Tay and Jesse must have hear it too, as they both turned around to look at two shadowy figures perched high on the hay bails. Their shoulders were humongous, but their bodies was draped in a thick, dark robe. I tried to get a better look, and noticed that something was coming out of their hoods, but before I could get a good look at it, I heard Jack's voice burst out, even though his lips only quivered.
"There! They are right in front of you! Do you not see them?! Attack! Attack now! Teach them what happens when they mess with you!"
"SHUT UP!" Jack hollered, this time through himself, "LEAVE ME ALONE! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
As the three of us recoiled from Jack's sudden burst of insanity, the two figures leaped straight at us. I screamed as Jesse through me and Tay out of the way and landed right beside us. I quickly looked up to see Jack try to punch the one, but it slid off its robe, and the figure's odd-shaped foot came swiping at his face. Jack slid off to the side, his cheek swollen from the blow. I barely had time to fix my gaze off of him, before I realized the other figure and made another leap straight towards us again. I screamed and felt Jesse's body drape around mine but when I noticed nothing had happened, I peeked out to see Tay's hand had once again started glowing and created another one of her "shields." It screamed in a high pitched, un-earthly voice, and flipped away from us. As it landed, its odd face slowly turned to where Jack and the other creature were, deep in combat. I could here the other figure's horrible screech as it continued to kick a downed Jack, who was grunting every time he blocked it. He was in a lot of pain, we all could tell. But we couldn't help him because every time we tried to get up the other figure would attack us, and we'd always have to retreat back. Just as we were picking ourselves up from one of the attacks, we heard Jack howl in pain. His arm couldn't hold out any longer.
I heard Tay scream his name and the figure just stood over him. Jack was hunched over in pain and his arm was holding his side. He slowly looked up at the figure, who staring right back at him. Then Jack lunged and caught the creature off guard. He almost made a direct hit, but barely missed again, this time grabbing a hold of the robe. He grasped it firmly, and began swinging it in circles, completely off the ground. We all heard the robe rip off of its body, as it went soaring into a large pile of hay, several bails falling on top of it. Even though Jack was exhausted, and drained of energy, he still smiled, happy of his victory. All of a sudden, the figure burst out of the hay, screeching at the top of its lungs, and we all got a look at it.
It was a bird, a large, large bird. But, at the same time, it wasn't. It walked on two legs, just like a human would. And it had two arms. Not wings, arms. Well it had wings too, large wings at that. They had to be larger than the any human I had ever seen. And it was noticeably furious, another human-like feature. It reached for a bail of hay, and launched it at Jack, who was too stunned at the creature to move. It hit him dead on, and he flew backwards, tumbling into more hay, and ending up laying on several bails, unconscious. The creature turned away from him and then looked towards us.
"Jack!" I heard Jesse yell, as he tried to run to his aid. But the still- cloaked creature was quickly on him. Jesse swung, but with incredible speed, it caught his arm, and smacked him away. He lay their, trembling from pain and anger on the floor, as the creature threw off its robe. It was much like them other one, except where this one's feathers were brown, the others were black. It stormed over to Jesse's body and with both hands gripped his head. I screamed in terror as it started to slowly turn his head, and Tay launched herself to help him, but as fast as the wind itself the other one was upon her. It grabbed her neck and lifted her high in the air. I was scared, too scared to do anything but stand there. But a different kind of fear came over me, and I too, tried effortlessly to attack our attackers. With one swipe however, I too was thrown away, near Jack's lifeless body. I began to cry, tears started pouring down my face, I was scared, I was.so, scared. And then.I heard a voice.Jack's.
"What is it you want?"
"To win."
"What did they hurt?"
"My friends."
"No."
"My pride."
"Yes. And what must you do to win?"
"To be more powerful than them."
"Can you?"
"No."
"Wrong. You, Jack Reynolds, DO have the power."
"I can't move."
"But you can. Fear tells you you can't. Fear thinks it's better to just give up. But there's something telling you you can. Those creatures, those bird freaks, may have hurt your pride, but they didn't kill it. It lays still, it's urging you on, but you can't hear it. Your pride, is too small for you to hear anything, you can only hear fear, cause right now, it's larger than the entire world to you."
There was silence for a while, then I heard it speak up again.
"Look up Jack, what do you see?"
"It's.a lamp. An old one."
"What is in the lamp?"
".....Gas?"
It chuckled, "No. Fire. Fire is what is inside it, as it is with you. And as it fuels the lamp, it fuels your body. Jack Reynolds, YOU, are a Red Mage!"
"Wha-?"
"YOU! Jackson Reynolds! Will not let some freak of nature win at a game where he cannot win! Now repeat after me! I, am Jackson Reynolds!"
I saw Jack's hand move, as he began to lift himself up, "I.am Jackson.Reynolds."
"I am a sorcerer, and a fighter, of red mana!"
"I.am a sorcerer.and a FIGHTER, of red, mana!"
Jack was now standing straight up now, and the two creatures had let go of Tay and Jesse and were fixated on Jack now.
"And I will not let some.!"
"Over-bearing, cock-sucking, vomit-eating, mother-fucking BIRD, destroy the only things left that I HAVE, IN THIS GOD-DAMNED WORLD!"
The lamp then exploded in a giant fireball, sending fire throughout the left side of the barn. It quickly got hold of the old wood, and engulfed it in a wall of flame. I had to back away from it slightly, but Jack didn't budge an inch. The flames were right behind him, nicking him in the back. But it didn't seem to bother him, in fact, he looked like he liked it. The once muscle tense, white knuckle stance he had, began to rest, as he slowly stood straight up. He smiled. Not anything sinister, or evil, just smiled. Then, from both sides of him, two large strands of flame came down from the wall and made a direct b line for the birds, one of them nearly catching my hand.
They swerved in and out, as they both brushed by Jesse and Tay. The fire was moving incredibly fast, but besides for the awkward movement, never spread outside of its path. Each strand went for one of the birds, but as one was about to hit one of them, it ran right through its leg, straight towards the other one. As they both impacted, the bird was engulfed in an explosion of flames, as the mixture of heat and wind nearly knocking me out. The other bird stood there amazed, and turned to Jack, with a noticeable hatred in its eyes. It screeched at the top of its lungs, spread its enormous wings, and leaped at Jack. Jack continued to smile as he spread his hand out to his side, as a glove of fire surrounds his hand, the bird drew near.
Jack didn't even flinch. Before the bird could swing, Jack had already formed a fist, and with his hand covered in flames, punched the bird square in the face. It reeled back screeching in pain and clutching its face. But I had no time to wonder, as Tay and Jesse needed my help.
Tay was hurt, but well enough to be sitting up, Jesse was sprawled out on the floor, unconscious, I ran to him first, and did the same thing I did with Milfred. I concentrated on him, and him alone. I wanted him back in good health. I wanted him to be with me again. It took me a total of ten seconds before I created a glowing sphere, and administered it into him. I waited for a while, then he sat up and looked me right in the eye, kind of amazed. I hugged him, and quickly ran over to Tay.
It took me just as long to heal her, and as she wearily stood up, I looked over to see Jack, still smiling, staring at the bird, who was still screeching.
"JACK!" I yelled. His smile disappeared and his head shot over to me. "LET'S GO! PLEASE JACK, THIS PLACE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE!" As I said that, a burning beam fell next to us, and I couldn't help but scream. When I looked back over to Jack, he was already helping Jesse out the door.
The fire had consumed the entire barn by now, and we had just gotten out in time. Well, almost. I saw Jack standing three feet in the barn, still staring at the bird, and still smiling. He lifted his hand into the air, and a odd feeling came over my body. And I wasn't the only one. Both Tay and Jesse had a funny look on their faces.
Jack just stood there, waiting, for what, we were soon to find out. Soon, the fire began to dissipate, and from a vortex like cone around Jack's hand. As it all began to disappear from the walls and ceiling, it began to be condensed into a ball in Jack's hands. After a whole minute of this, there were still some fires on the floor and hay, but most of it was collected into a small.fireball. It looked really unstable though, but Jack didn't mind. With his hand still in the air, he firmly grasped it in his hand, and wound back like a baseball pitcher would. He threw it, and it took a total of three seconds to hit the bird.
The explosion was tremendous, and were it not for the quick efforts of Tay and her shield, it probably would have blown us all away. I looked up, covering my eyes from the glare of the flame, as Jack emerged from the center of it, looking right at home. The shield faded, and all three of us faced Jack. He was about to speak when Tay cut him off.
"I don't even want to here it! Just get in the car! You've caused enough trouble for today!"
The rest of the night was more or less, less eventful. Tay, in another one of her moments of insanity, suggested that we stop about a mile from Jesse's house, drop him off, and he'll walk the rest of the way home and tell him that he escaped or that they let him go. Tay would drop off the rest of us, and we'd make up a story about where we were. Me, I told my parents most of the truth, that me and the others went out looking for Jesse, hoping to take him right back, but that we were unsuccessful. I did get in trouble, and got lectured about it, but, being that my dad found a job while I was out, their anger quickly turned to happiness. We celebrated the rest of the night with some pizza and nice conversation, but going to bed, I began to think. I began to think about this year, and all these strange."things" that has started to happen to me and my friends. It was really odd, but somehow, a lot more.comforting.
*****************
End Chapter 3
**************** Chapter 3- Colors: A Prelude to Death-Red ****************
Hello there, it's nice to meet you. Have you been following our story so far? It's kind of confusing, isn't it? It certainly was for us when this all started. We had no idea what was happening, or even what was going to happen. But then, you never really do. Oh, I'm sorry. Please forgive my inconsideration. My name, is Sarah Harrison. The, first of our.well, group as I like to call it, to find our, little secret. But my story is long past, and about a week after Tayliana's was done, someone else's began.
Like I said, it was only a week or so after our accident. No one was hurt, so I'm thankful for that. Of course, we all got in trouble one way or another. I got a lecture about why not to distract the driver, but that's all. I just told Jesse and the others that so I wouldn't look like the outcast again. My parents are very lenient, perhaps a bit too. But it's not that I do it for my popularity, it's just.I don't know what I'd do if Jesse and the others stopped being my friends.
We were just returning home, well, I was at least. Tay and the others still had detentions from last week, all my fault of course. I rode the bus, like always, and as always, I was one of the last to get off the bus. The others, they don't ride the bus anymore, and I can see why. Tay has her truck, although for the past week, she's been driving her dad's Lincoln. Jesse lived close enough where he could walk home. Jack was the only inconsistent one. Sometimes he rode with Tay, just to make fun of her truck. I never knew what those two would talk about when they're alone, although one time when she was supposed to drive him home, I saw him halfway to his house, walking. Hee hee. Others times, though, he would hitch a ride with one of his other friends, or he'd walk home with Jesse. On this day, he was walking home, since they both had detention. I arrived home at around 3:15, and noticed my parents weren't home.
'Probably out looking for jobs.' I thought to myself. They're real good people, they always try hard to maintain our family. However, today, turned out to be a lot different than usual. As soon as I sat my bag on the bed, I heard the phone ring. Slowly, I turned around and began walking to the pedestal where our phone was.
"Coming!" I called out. Small habit, but everyone does it, don't they? I answered the phone, and, I like to answer in a happy tone.
I smiled wide, and said, a little loud, "Hello! Harrison residence! This is.."
"SARAH! Where the hell have you been?! A voice screamed in my ear. I jumped in surprise.
"Wha-? Ja-Jack? Aren't you supposed to be in detention?"
"Jesse-! Wait, we had detention today?"
"Hmm, what about Jesse?"
"Sarah! You won't believe this! Me and Jesse were walking home today, and, and.."
I was beginning to get worried, "What happened? What happened to Jesse, Jack?"
"Sarah.he was kidnapped! In front of my own eyes!"
To make a long story short, I waited impatiently for about an hour or so for Tay to get home, then I called her and we both raced over to Jesse's house where his parents and Jack were waiting for us. We stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, me and Tay trying to comfort Jesse's parents, and Jack explaining to the police what happened.
"Well officer," I heard him say, "We didn't hear over the announcement today that we had detention, and like usually, we walked home together. Then we took the way we always took to get to his house, and then." I noticed that he was a little hesitant, "this, white van, came up and a couple pale lookin' guys dressed in black robes jumped out and punched me out. Then when I woke up, Jesse was gone."
I noticed the police officer had his eyes fixed on his notepad, as he jotted down everything that Jack told him. Then he put the notepad back into his pocket and walked over to Jesse's mom, who, despite mine and Tay's efforts, was still crying madly. We just let him past and then walked over to Jack.
"Never thought Jesse would be the one to get kidnapped." Tay said from behind me, "I always thought Jack would be the first, being as he's a dick to everyone."
"Tay!" I yelled at her. She just gave me an odd look. "I think we should stay here and wait until the police leave to see if Mr. and Mrs. Johnson need anything, agreed?"
"Oh definitely." Tay agreed.
I waited for a while, in silence, then I looked over at Jack, "Jack?" He glanced up at me, and I could tell something was unusual about him. After all the years I've known him, he'd always been a joking, carefree kid, who was never serious, even when he was in a fight. He looked back down at the ground, and in a low voice, said, "Yeah, alright."
I couldn't quite place my finger on it at first, but while we were waiting for the police to leave, I thought of something. In all the time I knew Jack, he had been in many fights, and in all those fights he's been in, he hadn't lost one. Even against several kids, he had pulled through somehow. And then.and then I thought, maybe, his jaw wasn't the only thing that got hurt when those thugs jumped him.
About two more hours passed, and it was getting dark. The police cars were just pulling out of the driveway, and Mrs. Johnson was still crying her eyes out. We had asked if they needed anything, but Mr. Johnson politely told us they were fine, and thanked us all for trying to comfort them. Then we proceeded to the Tay's car.
"So," Tay said, "Do you either of you two need a lift home?"
"No thank you Tay," I said, "My mom's coming to pick me up."
"Okay, how 'bout you?"
Jack didn't answer her, he was just leaning against her car, and had a very disturbed look on his face.
"Hey! I'm talking to you Jack!"
"Shut up.." I heard him whisper. Both me and Tay stood back in surprise, then she grew angry and began marching up to him.
"Now you see here! I WAS trying to be nice! But I see that you can still be an asshole, even when your best friend is kidnapped right in front of your eyes!" She stopped for a moment, and was breathing heavily, whether from anger or the fact that Jesse might have been gone forever, I don't know. Then I saw her shoulders loosen and then began to talk to him in a less angered, less irritated voice, "Listen Jack. We're all hurt that someone did this to him. Probably none more so than you, but there was nothing you could have done. There was nothing I could have done, and nothing Sarah could have done." She let her arms fall to her sides, "And there's nothing we can do now."
My heart almost skipped when Jack's head shot up. I knew, EXACTLY what he was thinking, then he turned to Tay, and with more seriousness in his eyes than I have seen in a person, "Tay, I need a favor."
Tay's face turned red, "Wha-what do you want?"
Jack furrowed his brow, "I know where they are. I know where they've taken Jesse."
"WHAT?!" We both yelled.
"If you knew why didn't you tell the police?!" I yelled at him.
"Because this is just a hunch, and if Jesse IS there, I would have to do a lot of explaining to the police."
"That's absurd!" I yelled.
"You've lost it now Jack! After what happened last week you REALLY expect me to take you to a place where a couple of kidnappers are?! Do you realize that my parent's are STILL bitching at me for not being careful enough last time?!" Her pants became prolonged and raspy and was glaring at Jack with incredible anger.
And Jack was glaring back, although more determined than angry, "Listen Tay, you can either drive me there, or I'll take your car keys by force. It's your choice"
I was stunned silent. I looked at the two, Tay holding her breath as her face turned red, and Jack, with the calmest yet most determined look on his face that I have ever seen. They stood for some whiles. Then Tay pushed him aside and opened the back door.
"Get in the damn car!" Jack smiled serenely, and stepped into the car, never taking his eyes off of Tay. When he got in, she slammed the car door and stormed around to the driver's side, cursing and mumbling to herself. As she got in, I immediately opened the passenger door and jumped in as well. As I put on my seatbelt I noticed Tay glaring at me, with more shock than anything.
"I'm Jesse's friend too you know! I care about him just as much as either of you two!" I could see the stupefied expression on her face, and I would have giggled, if not for the seriousness of the situation. Then she started cursing herself again, backed the car up, and drove off down the road. All the while still cursing under her breath.
"I can't believe I'm doing what that asshole." she stopped herself, and yelled back to Jack, "Alright Hunch boy! You got one chance to hunch your way into a whole mess of trouble!"
"McClenan road. The old rundown warehouse."
"Alright, but if I don't see AT LEAST one Nazi, I'm driving your ass back home!"
There was a dead silence from the back, and I knew he wasn't going to answer, so I looked over at Tay, "A Nazi?"
She looked at me nervously, then the road, me, then the road, "It was the first thing that came to mind. Sorry."
"Oh." I sat again in deep silence, then I turned back to Tay and asked her for her cell phone. She gave it to me, and I was just about to call when I heard Jack's voice from behind me.
"You're not going to let them get away with that." At least that's what I thought I heard, I looked back at him.
"Huh? What did you say Jack?" I asked.
Jack looked up at me in surprise, then looked back down, "Nothing. I didn't say anything."
"I didn't hear anything either Sarah." Tay also replied. "Maybe the stress has gotten to you, we should go.."
"You turn this car around and I'll rip your breast off." Jack interrupted quickly. I looked over at Tay who had, on instinct, clasped her right breast and had a look of horror, and anger. Well, the thing is.never mind, I'll tell you about it later. No one said a word to each other the rest of the way there.
McClenan road was only a seven minute drive from Jesse's house, so we were there in no time. It was also a pretty barren road. Not many houses, a lot of forest, and one semi-open field, where the old warehouse Jack requested to go right in the middle of it. Rundown was actually putting it nicely, I still don't see how it was still standing up. A little bit of red paint was left, but it was only chips now, and the wood was so dry a spark could have lit it up like the Fourth of July. We slowly pulled to a stop at the edge of the road and we all got out of the car.
"I called my parents," I told them, "I told them I was staying a little longer and that you were bringing me home Tay."
"If we get home." She responded sourly.
Jack just got out of the car as I walked next to Tay, "Now now, Jack said this was just a hunch of his. No offense Jack, but there's no proof that Jesse is going to be here. Right Jack?"
Jack was in deep silence, and his face was in the air, almost like he was smelling something, "They're here." He said, and began to storm across the road. I looked over at Tay, more worried this time, but her eyes were fixated on Jack, and they were more angry then ever. She slammed the car door and caught up to Jack. I rushed along side them too, and I could feel it. Jack was right. I don't know how, but he was right. And Tay knew it too.
Jack led us up to the door of the warehouse, and noticed it was about to come right off its hinges. I looked over at him and said, "Now Jack. Let's just quietly sneak in there and.." I never got to finish as Jack grabbed the door with one hand and ripped it right off the wall. It crashed with a loud sound of a thud, and rusty metal banging against each other. I, for one, scared me half-to-death and jumped sideways to grab ahold of Tay's arm. I quickly found out that Jack's determination also startled Tay, who quickly wrapped her arms around me, and, being a little bit taller then me.well, you know. We quickly let go of each other and slowly followed Jack. We were both scared, but Tay was better at hiding hers. I was cringing a little bit, but just a little. I noticed, for an old warehouse, it was pretty big, and a lot of hay in it. 'Must still be in use," I thought.
We walked down one wide aisle, with the hay stacked up in rows to our sides. And.and I could have sworn I heard Jack say, "They're here. You know they're here. You can smell them in the air. You can even taste them." I didn't ask this time though, because as soon as we hit one of the last rows, Jack looked to his right and yelled out, "Jesse!"
He sprinted down the aisle as me and Tay just look down that way. There he was! Besides for being unconscious, he seemed alright! We both rushed over to his aid, and Jesse immediately woke up. I couldn't bear the excitement of seeing him okay, when I wrapped my arms around him and just started hugging him, yelling "Did they hurt you?! I'm so glad you're okay!" Next to me I could hear Tay about to start crying as she lectured Jesse about how he should be more careful. I didn't care though, I was just glad he was alright. Jack, however, remained quiet, and motionless. Tay noticed too.
"Hey Jack! You awake there! Jesse's okay, can't you see that?!" But Jack remained still. Sweat was dripping off his chin, and his chest rose high every time he took a breath. And then, without any warning, without his lips moving at all, I heard him say, "Behind you!"
Tay and Jesse must have hear it too, as they both turned around to look at two shadowy figures perched high on the hay bails. Their shoulders were humongous, but their bodies was draped in a thick, dark robe. I tried to get a better look, and noticed that something was coming out of their hoods, but before I could get a good look at it, I heard Jack's voice burst out, even though his lips only quivered.
"There! They are right in front of you! Do you not see them?! Attack! Attack now! Teach them what happens when they mess with you!"
"SHUT UP!" Jack hollered, this time through himself, "LEAVE ME ALONE! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
As the three of us recoiled from Jack's sudden burst of insanity, the two figures leaped straight at us. I screamed as Jesse through me and Tay out of the way and landed right beside us. I quickly looked up to see Jack try to punch the one, but it slid off its robe, and the figure's odd-shaped foot came swiping at his face. Jack slid off to the side, his cheek swollen from the blow. I barely had time to fix my gaze off of him, before I realized the other figure and made another leap straight towards us again. I screamed and felt Jesse's body drape around mine but when I noticed nothing had happened, I peeked out to see Tay's hand had once again started glowing and created another one of her "shields." It screamed in a high pitched, un-earthly voice, and flipped away from us. As it landed, its odd face slowly turned to where Jack and the other creature were, deep in combat. I could here the other figure's horrible screech as it continued to kick a downed Jack, who was grunting every time he blocked it. He was in a lot of pain, we all could tell. But we couldn't help him because every time we tried to get up the other figure would attack us, and we'd always have to retreat back. Just as we were picking ourselves up from one of the attacks, we heard Jack howl in pain. His arm couldn't hold out any longer.
I heard Tay scream his name and the figure just stood over him. Jack was hunched over in pain and his arm was holding his side. He slowly looked up at the figure, who staring right back at him. Then Jack lunged and caught the creature off guard. He almost made a direct hit, but barely missed again, this time grabbing a hold of the robe. He grasped it firmly, and began swinging it in circles, completely off the ground. We all heard the robe rip off of its body, as it went soaring into a large pile of hay, several bails falling on top of it. Even though Jack was exhausted, and drained of energy, he still smiled, happy of his victory. All of a sudden, the figure burst out of the hay, screeching at the top of its lungs, and we all got a look at it.
It was a bird, a large, large bird. But, at the same time, it wasn't. It walked on two legs, just like a human would. And it had two arms. Not wings, arms. Well it had wings too, large wings at that. They had to be larger than the any human I had ever seen. And it was noticeably furious, another human-like feature. It reached for a bail of hay, and launched it at Jack, who was too stunned at the creature to move. It hit him dead on, and he flew backwards, tumbling into more hay, and ending up laying on several bails, unconscious. The creature turned away from him and then looked towards us.
"Jack!" I heard Jesse yell, as he tried to run to his aid. But the still- cloaked creature was quickly on him. Jesse swung, but with incredible speed, it caught his arm, and smacked him away. He lay their, trembling from pain and anger on the floor, as the creature threw off its robe. It was much like them other one, except where this one's feathers were brown, the others were black. It stormed over to Jesse's body and with both hands gripped his head. I screamed in terror as it started to slowly turn his head, and Tay launched herself to help him, but as fast as the wind itself the other one was upon her. It grabbed her neck and lifted her high in the air. I was scared, too scared to do anything but stand there. But a different kind of fear came over me, and I too, tried effortlessly to attack our attackers. With one swipe however, I too was thrown away, near Jack's lifeless body. I began to cry, tears started pouring down my face, I was scared, I was.so, scared. And then.I heard a voice.Jack's.
"What is it you want?"
"To win."
"What did they hurt?"
"My friends."
"No."
"My pride."
"Yes. And what must you do to win?"
"To be more powerful than them."
"Can you?"
"No."
"Wrong. You, Jack Reynolds, DO have the power."
"I can't move."
"But you can. Fear tells you you can't. Fear thinks it's better to just give up. But there's something telling you you can. Those creatures, those bird freaks, may have hurt your pride, but they didn't kill it. It lays still, it's urging you on, but you can't hear it. Your pride, is too small for you to hear anything, you can only hear fear, cause right now, it's larger than the entire world to you."
There was silence for a while, then I heard it speak up again.
"Look up Jack, what do you see?"
"It's.a lamp. An old one."
"What is in the lamp?"
".....Gas?"
It chuckled, "No. Fire. Fire is what is inside it, as it is with you. And as it fuels the lamp, it fuels your body. Jack Reynolds, YOU, are a Red Mage!"
"Wha-?"
"YOU! Jackson Reynolds! Will not let some freak of nature win at a game where he cannot win! Now repeat after me! I, am Jackson Reynolds!"
I saw Jack's hand move, as he began to lift himself up, "I.am Jackson.Reynolds."
"I am a sorcerer, and a fighter, of red mana!"
"I.am a sorcerer.and a FIGHTER, of red, mana!"
Jack was now standing straight up now, and the two creatures had let go of Tay and Jesse and were fixated on Jack now.
"And I will not let some.!"
"Over-bearing, cock-sucking, vomit-eating, mother-fucking BIRD, destroy the only things left that I HAVE, IN THIS GOD-DAMNED WORLD!"
The lamp then exploded in a giant fireball, sending fire throughout the left side of the barn. It quickly got hold of the old wood, and engulfed it in a wall of flame. I had to back away from it slightly, but Jack didn't budge an inch. The flames were right behind him, nicking him in the back. But it didn't seem to bother him, in fact, he looked like he liked it. The once muscle tense, white knuckle stance he had, began to rest, as he slowly stood straight up. He smiled. Not anything sinister, or evil, just smiled. Then, from both sides of him, two large strands of flame came down from the wall and made a direct b line for the birds, one of them nearly catching my hand.
They swerved in and out, as they both brushed by Jesse and Tay. The fire was moving incredibly fast, but besides for the awkward movement, never spread outside of its path. Each strand went for one of the birds, but as one was about to hit one of them, it ran right through its leg, straight towards the other one. As they both impacted, the bird was engulfed in an explosion of flames, as the mixture of heat and wind nearly knocking me out. The other bird stood there amazed, and turned to Jack, with a noticeable hatred in its eyes. It screeched at the top of its lungs, spread its enormous wings, and leaped at Jack. Jack continued to smile as he spread his hand out to his side, as a glove of fire surrounds his hand, the bird drew near.
Jack didn't even flinch. Before the bird could swing, Jack had already formed a fist, and with his hand covered in flames, punched the bird square in the face. It reeled back screeching in pain and clutching its face. But I had no time to wonder, as Tay and Jesse needed my help.
Tay was hurt, but well enough to be sitting up, Jesse was sprawled out on the floor, unconscious, I ran to him first, and did the same thing I did with Milfred. I concentrated on him, and him alone. I wanted him back in good health. I wanted him to be with me again. It took me a total of ten seconds before I created a glowing sphere, and administered it into him. I waited for a while, then he sat up and looked me right in the eye, kind of amazed. I hugged him, and quickly ran over to Tay.
It took me just as long to heal her, and as she wearily stood up, I looked over to see Jack, still smiling, staring at the bird, who was still screeching.
"JACK!" I yelled. His smile disappeared and his head shot over to me. "LET'S GO! PLEASE JACK, THIS PLACE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE!" As I said that, a burning beam fell next to us, and I couldn't help but scream. When I looked back over to Jack, he was already helping Jesse out the door.
The fire had consumed the entire barn by now, and we had just gotten out in time. Well, almost. I saw Jack standing three feet in the barn, still staring at the bird, and still smiling. He lifted his hand into the air, and a odd feeling came over my body. And I wasn't the only one. Both Tay and Jesse had a funny look on their faces.
Jack just stood there, waiting, for what, we were soon to find out. Soon, the fire began to dissipate, and from a vortex like cone around Jack's hand. As it all began to disappear from the walls and ceiling, it began to be condensed into a ball in Jack's hands. After a whole minute of this, there were still some fires on the floor and hay, but most of it was collected into a small.fireball. It looked really unstable though, but Jack didn't mind. With his hand still in the air, he firmly grasped it in his hand, and wound back like a baseball pitcher would. He threw it, and it took a total of three seconds to hit the bird.
The explosion was tremendous, and were it not for the quick efforts of Tay and her shield, it probably would have blown us all away. I looked up, covering my eyes from the glare of the flame, as Jack emerged from the center of it, looking right at home. The shield faded, and all three of us faced Jack. He was about to speak when Tay cut him off.
"I don't even want to here it! Just get in the car! You've caused enough trouble for today!"
The rest of the night was more or less, less eventful. Tay, in another one of her moments of insanity, suggested that we stop about a mile from Jesse's house, drop him off, and he'll walk the rest of the way home and tell him that he escaped or that they let him go. Tay would drop off the rest of us, and we'd make up a story about where we were. Me, I told my parents most of the truth, that me and the others went out looking for Jesse, hoping to take him right back, but that we were unsuccessful. I did get in trouble, and got lectured about it, but, being that my dad found a job while I was out, their anger quickly turned to happiness. We celebrated the rest of the night with some pizza and nice conversation, but going to bed, I began to think. I began to think about this year, and all these strange."things" that has started to happen to me and my friends. It was really odd, but somehow, a lot more.comforting.
*****************
End Chapter 3