Chapter V:
The "Infirmary" had a line at its doors, where Double D had asked to administer the contents of his experiment in a series of injections for his friends. Each one was going to receive his dose and then they would wait for a while until they gave the concrete results; something that could not be left aside. Nobody becomes a "Witch" overnight and for these kids, this was just the beginning, but, at the same time, they had to get down to work: The World was still in danger due to the expansion of the feared "Empire" that the Cruels wanted to install in all the Continents and they had already devastated huge territorial extensions that went from Africa, Europe (Brittania had managed to get rid of one of the "Hives" but there were still six others out there) and the same could be said of Latin America.
The doctors and other medical personnel were getting ready, the syringes were loaded with that glowing, golden liquid. The first to volunteer for the test was in doubt, many were afraid of the unknown and its possible effects, so, from that line, Eddy watched them all and without saying anything, just thoughtfully, he gathered the necessary courage to face that fear.
- Well, who's coming?.- Rolf asked with interest.- Come on, don't be a chicken.- He asked, but no one said anything.
- Hey, why don't you go, Rolf?.- Kevin "offered" Kevin to the foreing , but he raised his hands and made a sign of refusal.
- No, no, it would be rude to go first, my friend Kevin. You go, Rolf will wait his turn.- He promised but that made the redhead raise an eyebrow.
- Are you afraid of that?.- Nazz asked and that made the young man from Northern Europe pale.
- Not at all, Rolf is very brave and he is not afraid of anything.- He said but that was just a simple facade to save time.
- Wait a minute, you said that this liquid belonged to your family a long time ago and that it was used during the war against those "Neuroi". How is it possible that you don't know about it now?.- The red-haired man wanted to know, while the other one was sweating coldly.
- Well, well, yes, it scares me, since the Double D boy improved it a lot and, it's not because of fear, but because...- Answered the dark blue hair, however, they noticed that someone left the line and went to the front.
- If you are done with your love fight, then I'll go.- Said Eddy, taking a big leap and taking a seat on a chair that was there, right where the doctor had a syringe loaded and ready to inject.- Go ahead, doctor.- Said Eddy.
- Very well, first of all, take a deep breath, if you are afraid of them.- He gave him some advice but the boy only nodded his head and from there he lowered the object until it went through his skin and the liquid went down until it was completely empty.
That was a few seconds, maybe nothing, but Eddy slowly got up from his seat and from there he looked at the people present. Everyone was silent and from there he moved forward until he clung to one of the walls there, avoiding falling. His eyes were glued to the floor, cold sweat beaded on his forehead and several drops slid down to the floor. He swallowed saliva and ran his hand over his forehead, however, one of the nurses held out a soaked cloth so that he could cool his forehead.
- I see it's true what I said.- Said Double D, who reached his friend and looked up, he heard Jimmy's voice.
- About the side effects. Eddy must have had a fever, but don't worry, it's nothing serious.
- It's amazing how he withstood it, he doesn't seem to want to fall against the floor.- Observed Sarah with astonishment, when she saw that Double D and Ed's friend was still standing.
- It's not so bad either, I'm just a little exhausted, that's all. I think I'll go lie down.- Said Eddy, as he went to the room he shared with Francesca.
While they continued with the inoculation of that golden liquid, the short boy wandered through the corridors. He was walking with a calm, normal, serene pace, however, a few meters away he began to feel more tired, yawning as much as he could and rubbing his eyes, trying to stay awake. At one point, Eddy leaned against one of the walls and rubbed his eyes to get rid of that discomfort, but it seemed that he was winning the "arm wrestle". His eyesight was blurring, his eyes felt heavy, as well as his body, as if he was carrying a backpack on his back, loaded to the top.
There was no time to lose, he had to move and get to that room, however, he no longer had the strength to continue walking, but stopped and leaned against the wall, again feeling how he lost his balance. He would hit against the cold stone of the floor, but someone arrived in time, catching him by surprise and helping him to stand up.
- Eddy.- He heard the voice of the black-haired Italian woman who had appeared in front of him.
- Francesca?.- He recognized the young woman, but he didn't have the strength to speak.
- Quiet, let's go to my room. Wait.- Asked the black-haired woman.
Returning to the "Infirmary", the doctors had asked the boys to take a seat and so they redoubled the inoculation. The second to receive it was Ed, who, as soon as the "task" was finished, fell fast asleep. Next, Kevin passed out, Sarah and Jimmy had a fever, while Nazz, Kevin, Johnny and Rolf felt very sleepy and the last one was Double D, who had to sit down, because his body did not seem to respond to any of the orders to move or make any movements.
- Dude Double D, is this common was it foreseen?.- Asked the dark blue haired stranger, but the intellectual boy could not articulate a single word.
Minna came running and the other "Witches" went to examine them.
- God, Johnny is unconscious. I have to take him to my room.- Said the Sergeant.
- Wait, I'll come with you and take Jimmy to mine.- Perrine gave him a hand.
- I'll come with you too. Come, Rolf, don't let go of me and stay by my side.- Added Lynne, who took the young man from Northern Europe.
Mio together with Trudie, Minna and Charlotte took Kevin and Nazz to the room, while only Double D. remained in his chair, he could see something blurry and his eyes were about to close until he noticed that someone came to him and helped him to stand up.
- Relax, it's me, look at me.- The girl from Northern Europe spoke to the intellectual.
- Eila?.- He asked and she nodded her head, while they went to the room she and Sanya had.
The inoculation was over and now they only had to wait until the side effects subsided, as well as for the "Magic" to emerge in them, although that would take time. Each one of the "Witches" went to those rooms and stayed next to their "Protected", without leaving, since it was a calm day, if it could be called calm in the battle front.
Once they were taken to their respective rooms, they were plunged into a deep sleep, one that they did not expect to take place at that moment but it happened, but there was more to it all.
Unknown site:
Eddy was the first to open his eyes, his whole body was heavy, he felt as if he had been thrown a mountain of debris from a building, his vision was blurred because he had just woken up and when he recovered it, he noticed that something strange was happening. All around him he could see that he was in the "Cul de sac" but the atmosphere was cold, icy, it seemed as if they were in the middle of winter, although it was summer and the certain evidence were the trees, whose leaves were under an intense green color but the air showed the difference with the leaden sky, as if a snowfall was about to fall on the town.
- What am I doing here? But...wait a minute.- The short boy tried to inquire, but, to his surprise, he was confronted with that "Friendship Day" float, the evidence Jimmy had planted against him and so on. He remembered that they had been investigating on that matter until they were ambushed by the Cruels and with the neighborhood boys ready to give them their comeuppance but they had been saved by that black-haired girl who hailed from Italy. His mind began to process everything that had happened but he wondered why he was there: "I don't understand, this is impossible, we were in Europe.- He remembered and then he began to hear footsteps.- Stop, who's there?!
- Eddy...Eddy!.- Ed was happy to see him, while he gave him a tight hug, causing the boy to turn pale from lack of air until he let him go.
The young man fell to the floor, on his knees, recovering his normal color and from there he looked at the people present there.
- Hey, if this is like that movie called "The Origin" I hope you know that this is not funny at all.- Said Kevin, seeing that the whole atmosphere was still quiet and icy.
- Friends, friends, friends.- Asked Doble D the attention of those present, but among them arose conversations that he could not stop, everyone was afraid of what might be happening, even when he raised his voice to be heard, however, it was all in vain.- Friends, please listen, this...!
He had no time to complete his prayer, as suddenly the ground began to shake violently and a series of mysterious ebony-colored "Towers" emerged from the depths of the earth. The debris flew through the air but those "machines" did not seem to stop, they opened their "Center" and began to see intense violet, lilac and red rays that increased their intensity until they shot against the position where the boys were.
A single shot was enough to turn Peach Creek into a war-torn area and panic began to spread among them. In spite of Double D's attempts to calm them down, it was in vain and even more so when they saw, from a huge screen that unfolded towards them, where the Cruels appeared, who were enjoying that moment but whose "message" was one that was loaded with hate and mockery. One in which they could appreciate the destruction of everything they knew and especially the "Witches", whose bodies were lying on the floor, covered with serious wounds and under a pool of their own blood.
Eddy was the first to look at that image and what he felt was a deep emptiness that was spreading like wildfire, covering every part of his soul. He closed his eyes, his friend...that Italian woman...how could this be happening? He had no words to help him describe what he was feeling until, from the depths of his being, an intense golden light began to emerge, just like the Sun, gold itself, which increased until it took shape in him and attracted the attention of those present, who let themselves be carried away and found the same thing that Ed and Double D's friend had obtained.
Soon, that "World" disappeared from their eyes.
Outside the Unknown Site:
Nazz was the first to open her eyes, it had been a nightmare, her forehead was pearly with sweat, so she got up, with difficulty and went to the bathroom to freshen her face, take off what she had with her and from there back to bed, however, something caught her attention. In the middle of that place, which was not the room he shared with Minna, Trudie and Mio, were the other Peach Creek kids, there, asleep but one by one they were waking up.
- Ufff, God, I've never dreamed of anything like this in my life.- Stammered Kevin, who rubbed his hands over his face.
- God, Kevin, are you okay, do you need anything?.- Nazz offered to help him, but he shook his head.
- No, I'm fine, just...wait a minute.- He looked around the room.- This isn't Commander Minna's room and the others.- He remembered the difference and turned to the blonde.- I don't understand, what are we doing here?
- Are you telling me? I don't know either.- She replied, holding up her hands, but the red-haired man froze and stared at her.
- Nazz...go back...raise your hands again, like you did before.- Asked the boy, who was trying to see if it wasn't a dream, since he had seen something.
- Okay.- Said the cheerleader, and when she repeated the same action, she herself was surprised to see that her hands were glowing like never before.
- Hey, please turn off the light, I want to sleep.- Asked Johnny in his sleep.- Wait a minute...- At that moment, the bald man stood up when he saw what Nazz had, "Wow, how did you do that! I wonder if...- Said the boy and from there he saw that he also had that glow in his hands but also in his chest.- Great, I'm like the "Human Torch" of "The Fantastic Four"!
- Johnny, that was with his whole body.- Kevin ruined Kevin's chance at happiness.
- You take the fun out of life.- Said the bald man, shaking his head in disappointment.- No, but seriously, look, it's a small thing, but that's what Double D told us.- Said the boy, while the others were waking up.
- I'm surprised.- Said Sarah, who also had the same thing along with Jimmy and Rolf.
- We're all in the same situation, folks.- They heard Double D, who was in his bed, speak.- But this is just a start. It will take us a while to handle the "Magic" very carefully.
And he was right, since, at that moment, the doors of that "Room" opened and they saw the "Witches" enter, who were accompanied by a woman with gray hair but who, in spite of her age, was still in good shape.
- I see you have woken up and thank goodness, you slept a lot.- Said Perrine to the boys.
- Really? How long has it been?.- Asked Ed with interest.
- Almost nine hours.- Replied the girl from Gaul to those present, who froze. Then, Mio signaled them to stand up and they did it as soon as possible, due to the presence of that gray-haired woman.
She took a step forward and brought her hands behind her back, heading towards the group. Nobody said anything, she could be the one who had trained the "Witches" in the past and now she was in front of a new generation. Even Kevin couldn't contain his nerves, as cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he turned to look at him.
- Are you brave or chicken?.- Asked the gray-haired girl.- Answer me, what is your position in the school?
- I am...I am Captain, Miss...- He said but the woman did not move from there.
- It seems to me that my age is preventing me from hearing well or are you afraid?.- She asked another question but the red-haired boy did not know how to answer.
The red-haired boy felt as if he were in the Army and in front of a Senior Officer who spoke to him with that firm, cold and serious tone. He couldn't look that woman in the eyes and that he was the captain of the soccer team of his school, but he knew very well that now he was involved in a much bigger matter and he had no chance to match.
- Come on, answer.- Ordered the Instructor, who walked from one side of the room to the other, "And what about you? Do you think there is going to come to help you all the time? What are you, the Princess waiting for her Knight?" asked the gray hair, now in front of Jimmy, who was pale, "In war you will not be saved if you are in the middle of a fight, the union is everywhere and you fight as if you were one. No one will rescue you when you get caught in a Shadow Neuroi bombardment," she continued with this speech, while the "Witches" remained silent, knowing very well the role that this woman occupied.
She then turned around and stood with her back to the others.
- I'm surprised at this.- Said Sarah, who also had the same thing, along with Jimmy and Rolf.
- We are all in the same situation, folks.- They heard Double D, who was in his bed, speak.- But this is just the beginning. It will take us a while to handle the "Magic" very carefully.
And he was right, because at that moment, the doors of that "Room" opened and they saw the "Witches" enter, who were accompanied by a gray-haired woman who, in spite of her age, was still in good shape.
- I see you have woken up and thank goodness, you slept a lot.- Said Perrine to the boys.
- Really? How long has it been?.- Asked Ed with interest.
- Almost nine hours.- Replied the girl from Gaul to those present, who froze. Then, Mio signaled them to stand up and they did it as soon as possible, due to the presence of that gray-haired woman.
She took a step forward and brought her hands behind her back, heading towards the group. Nobody said anything, she could be the one who had trained the "Witches" in the past and now she was in front of a new generation. Even Kevin couldn't contain his nerves, as cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he turned to look at him.
- All right, since I see that no one has the guts to say anything, I will be the one to ask you this: Do you know very well what you have inside you?.- She asked, turning around and looking at them out of the corner of her eyes, seeing a glint in them.
- Magic.- Eddy spoke in a whisper.
- What did you say?.- The Veteran wanted to know and the young man stood up.
- It's "Magic", Miss.- He answered, now with a firm tone and that made the other one look pleased.
- My name is Anna Ferrara, I am from Venice and I will be your Instructor in the use of "Magic". Here the physical trainings will be linked to mine and I warn you that I am from the old school of teaching. If anyone has a question, ask it now.- She finished introducing herself and it was Johnny who spoke.
- When do we start training?.- Asked the bald man.
- Right now.- Answered Anna and the "Witches" went towards them.- Nobody masters the "Magic" in a few days, so let's go, everyone to train, now!
The order given by Anna Ferrara was carried out. The Peach Creek boys left that room and started the march towards the outside of the headquarters, beginning the physical training and then came the most complicated part for them.
Time went by, the tiredness was present, however, when the Venetian woman arrived to those present, she was carrying a pair of brooms that she was handing to each of the young men, who were surprised by that.
- Excuse me, Miss Ferrara, what shall we do with these brooms?.- Jimmy raised his hand. Anna went to him, looked at him and then went to the others.
- Very well, since your friend wants to know about the objective of what you have before you, I will tell him.- She said and with that she went a few meters away until she reached the Center of the training area, she took one of the mentioned ones and from there she got on it.- With this you will learn to master the flight, you will use it as your "guide" while you practice with me and I want you to do it following my rhythm.- She gave the orders.
- Are we going to...fly...up...there...up...in the Skies?.- Eddy's voice became a trickle as he pointed to the heights.
- That's right, does anyone have any more questions to ask?.- Answered the Venetian and as no one said a word, she sat down on the broom and it began to hover in the air.- Now it's your turn, come on, up.- She asked and those present looked at each other.
Ed was the first to grab his broom and tried to sit down but ended up slipping and falling to the floor. He tried one more time and from there he was left dangling from it. Kevin and Nazz didn't have the same luck either, even the tip of that magical object got stuck in the neck of the blonde's white T-shirt, while she was ascending through the skies and the redhead was going after her, but with her broom going anywhere.
Anna shook her head as she realized that these guys were going to need a lot of help to get by. She took a deep breath and after heading over to where they were, she hovered in the air, watching them and folding her arms.
- Is this how they think they're going to win the war?. This is not like in their movies where they come out victorious.- She said with a cold tone and from there she looked down at those below, being Eddy, Sarah, Jimmy, Rolf and Johnny with Plank.- You guys, come here.
They didn't say anything, they didn't want to make her angry and they were already making a very serious mistake in her presence, so they had to accept what was coming as punishment. Once they were all gathered, the Venetian began to speak to them.
- A "Witch" must be someone who is trained to fight, to use her "Magic" with the objective of protecting her home and those she loves, not to make an "exhibition" in front of her Superiors, as if this were a comedy or something like that. No, on the contrary, and for that they will learn how to handle their brooms properly.- Anna said to the boys.
- But, Miss Ferrara, this is uncomfortable, it even hurts my skin.- Nazz pointed out.
- Whether it hurts or not, it's only temporary, Miss. Now, I want you to keep up with me.- She ordered and they fell silent.- All right, now memorize what I'm going to do," she asked and began to take position on her broom. For an older woman, she had a great skill to dominate that magical "artifact". She had a perfect synchronization with it and was not afraid of falling into the void, which was the opposite for the Peach Creek boys.
Some of them looked at each other, lost, doubtful, sweat beading on their foreheads.
- Don't look down, master your fear, be "one".- Anna spoke, as she sat on her broom and waited for progress.
- Who starts?.- Asked Sarah, who didn't want to open her eyes for fear of the Void.- Ed, would you do it first?.- She asked.
That took the Science Fiction loving boy by surprise, as his sister was quite hostile towards him but now he could see her a little... worried, maybe scared by what was happening at that moment. Ed looked down and panicked, clinging to his broom and from there, shaking, trying to repeat what the Venetian had done earlier.
It took a couple of minutes, though for him it was an eternity until he had mastered what he had with him, though this was only a beginning. He was followed by the others.
- That's the way I like it!.- Exclaimed Anna, giving a small clap and then resuming her serious and cold posture.- This will take time. I can feel that your "Magic" is just germinating within you and when you are summoned to the battlefield, it is there that you will have to deploy all that you have learned with me. Now, let's get back to what we were doing.- She finished and they resumed their training.
Meanwhile, arriving to North Africa, the "Shadow Neuroi" forces under the command of May Cruel were arriving to the fortifications established by the armies of those countries, in an attempt to delay their arrival to the Maghreb, something that would be extremely complicated. The blonde girl, for her part, contemplated the established defenses and ordered to stop the advance, she wanted to "camp" the night before the great battle that was going to be unleashed before taking Egypt, the Suez Canal and with it they would have free access to invade Southern Europe.
The young woman then turned on her holographic screen to report to her sisters, who were waiting for her new report.
- How's the operation going, May.- Lee asked the blonde.
- I have achieved a series of victories throughout Africa, especially in the East, where we no longer have to worry about the enemy forces, who have retreated to Saudi Arabia en masse.- She reported calmly, looking at her sculpted fingernails and then pointing outward, where she had set up her "Headquarters".
- Perfect, if you need help, we'll send reinforcements from the "Second Hive". We'll be there shortly.- Added Marie, while the blonde enjoyed a cold drink brought to her by one of her "Shadow Neuroi".
- Don't worry, before long there won't be a single city left standing in North Africa, sisters. You'll see.- She promised, as she brought the talk to an end.
[I hope you had a very Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas, friends. I'm really sorry I haven't uploaded this chapter but the Holidays last week kept me very busy. But here I bring you this new chapter, I hope you enjoy it.
Well, the training with Anna Ferrara has started and with it we will see how the boys' powers will develop, plus the fact that Time is against them and they will have to stop May and her sisters' advance over Africa as soon as possible.
I send greetings and thanks to all of you.
I wish you a good beginning of the week and until the next chapter, Comrades].
