Chapter 4
First Impressions



Sakura opened her eyes. She was standing in the ruins of what looked like a once great city. She was alone. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed someone staring at her from the shadows.
"Who…are you?" she said quietly her voice subdued by fear.
The figure began to step into the light.
"Sakura…" the figure whispered, "Sakura."

"SAKURA!"
Instantly the figure changed into the face of Kero.
"AH!" she screamed, "Kero! Don't do that!"
"Did you forget?" he said.
"Huh?" said Sakura confused.
"You're taking Jen with you to school today and unless she can ride a bike or roller blade you gotta get moving!" he said ushering her out of bed.
" Oh ya!" she jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed. She practically flew down the stairs.
She found Jen sitting at the kitchen table in an old boys uniform of Tori's.
Tori got up and motioned for her to follow him. The went out into the hall.
"I gave her one of my old uniforms because all of yours were to small. It's a boys uniform so you're going to have to get her a girls after school," said Tori.
"Okay," said Sakura with a smile.
"If there's any trouble call me," he said.
They went back into the kitchen.
"Well I'm off, " said Tori and he left.
"We should get going too," said Sakura. Jen nodded.

When they arrived at school Sakura dropped off Jen at the office so she could fill out some new student forms, and went to her class.
She was so busy saying hello to all her friends that she didn't even get the chance to mention anything about Jen, before Mr. Turada came in.
'Oh well,' she thought, 'they'll know soon enough.'
"Good morning class," said Mr. Turada, "We've got a new student today."
A ripple of murmurs ran across the room.
"I wonder who it is?" whisper Madison.
"I-," said Sakura, but was cut off.
"Please welcome, Jen Huhysa (Hew-hi-saw) our new student," he said.
Suddenly Li and Eli's attention was drawn to the front. They both frowned as Jen walked in. Jen smiled weakly at the class.
"Lets see… how about you sit next to Eli," said Mr. Turada.
Jen made her way to her desk stares following her every movement. She sat in her desk and sank as low as she possibly could without falling out.
Mr. Turada turned the classes attention back the front.
"Please turn to page three-hundred fifty-two. Jen scrambled for her book as she frantically searched for the page. Eli had been watching Jen ever since she entered the room. Suddenly his glasses flickered and his eyes narrowed, a sly smile crossed his face.
"Here let me help you," He said as he picked up Jen's book. He glanced at Jen's pencil which he magically sent flying off her desk, as she bend over to pick it up he put his hand over her textbook. A soft red glow surrounded the book and soon faded. Jen sat back up.
"Here you are," said Eli with his cover-up smile. As he handed her book over his skin brushed hers.
Everything went black. Eli opened his eyes to see that he was standing in the ruins of a city, suddenly a black shadow covered up the sky engulfing the city into utter darkness. Just when it seemed he would never escape someone grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the light.
He slowly opened his eyes, he was drenched in sweat. He looked up to see the worried faces of Sakura, Madison, Li, and Mr. Turada looking over him.
"Are you alright?" asked Sakura her throat tight.
"Ya," he said out of breath.
"It's a good thing Jen was here," said Mr. Turada.
"Ya," said Madison.
"Huh?" said Eli all confused.
"Well when you passed out Jen knew exactly what to do, she told us to get some stuff," said Sakura, "Just before you woke up she stood up and passed out."
"Ya it was if the wind was knocked out of her," said Li, "She just stood up her put he hand on her desk and her knees gave way."
Eli stood up and stared at Jen's desk there lying near the edge was Jen's textbook the magic he had put on a moment ago was gone.
'What the?' thought Eli, 'How did this happen? I wonder…'

After school as the class was heading out Eli motioned for Li to follow him. He led Li into an alley.
"You okay?" asked Li.
"Yes I'm fine," He said, "I need to ask you something."
"What?" asked Li.
"I need to know exactly what Jen did when I fell unconscious," said Eli.
"Why?" asked Li.
"It's important, just tell me okay," said Eli.
"Alright, but you better explain why after. Deal?" asked Li.
"Fine," said Eli.
"Okay, when you fell unconscious everyone started to panic, even Mr. Turada, everyone except Jen that is. She knelt down beside you she looked really scared, people were scared but Jen had real fear in her eyes almost as if she were in a trance. Then she ordered everyone out of the room and sent me to get a towel and water. She wouldn't let anyone inside for twenty minutes, then Mr. Turada couldn't take it anymore and went inside to check up on Jen. Inside he found Jen collapsed on the floor next to you. Mr. Turada ran over to her and shook her a bit and she woke up she stood up put her hand on her desk and collapsed again. The Sakura's brother Tori came and took her to Sakura's house, apparently she's living with them, but that's all I know," said Li with a shrug of his shoulders. Li glanced at Eli who was thinking hard.
"I saw you," said Eli.
"Huh?" said Li.
"The way you looked at her when she walked in," said Eli.
"You sensed it too?" said Li.
"Yes and I'm not sure why but it's really bothering me," he said.
"Why?" asked Li.
"I was curious about her so I took one of the books on her desk and put a spell on it to see if she had any magical powers and if she did to take a sample of it," He said, "But when I gave it back to her I touched her hand and blacked out. I had the strangest dream of being engulfed by darkness and someone taking my hand and leading me out of it. I think it was Jen."
"That would make sense," said Li, "But why did she pass out? Twice?"
"That's partly my fault," said Eli, "I suspect it must have taken a great deal of energy to get me out of that place so she passed out. When Mr. Turada woke her everything would have been fine, but when she put her hand of her desk she must have touched her textbook causing what little energy she had left to be sucked out and collapse once again."
"Ouch," said Li.
"Yes really," said Eli.
"Sakura! We have to warn her!" said Li.
Li began to walk away, when Eli grabbed his arm.
"Li wait," he said, "That girl…"
Li turned around and nodded. Eli and Li then began to walk to Sakura's house.