Chapter 3: A Trip to the Mines
Carrissa took a deep breath as she entered the mines. To the left, there was a broken down mine cart and ahead...an old guy I've never met? I thought Lewis said I had met everyone. What's with his getup? A cape, walking stick and an eye patch? "Um… Hello? Are you alright, sir?" Her voice pulled the man's attention from the hole he was peering down.
"I was just checking out this mine shaft. It seems it's been abandoned for decades, but there is probably good ore down there."
"Actually, I was here to search for ore! Clint requested some copper ore and in exchange he's upgrading my tools." Was this her lucky day or what? All she had to do was go down a creaky, old ladder into a dark hole. Yeah, no biggie. Nothing could possibly go wrong. You've got this, Carri!
"But a dark place, undisturbed for so long...I'm afraid ore may not be the only thing you find down there." Or not.
"So, like bats and spiders?" The raven haired girl shrugged. "It's not like nature is the worst thing in the world."
"There could be much worse than that, but if you're sure you want to go down, at least take this." The old man dug through his bag before pulling out a wooden sword and passing it to Carri. "The name's Marlon by the way. I run the Adventurers' Guild outside of here."
"No offense, but if there is worse than that, why only give me a wooden sword?" Lifting the sword, she swung it about like a child with a toy.
"This," he motioned to her, "is exactly why I gave you a wooden sword. Do you think I'm gonna give just anyone a real sword without evaluating them- making sure they know how to use one?"
"I've seen movies. How hard could it be?" She rolled her eyes as he tapped his walking stick on the ground away from him.
"If you insist it's not so hard then come at me with all you've got. Surely, you can get a hit on an old man. I'm not as agile as I once was."
"Don't blame me, if you get hurt, old man!" This should be easy. He's leaving himself wide open! Holding the wooden sword with two hands, she charged forward, swinging horizontally when she got close. She was met not with a satisfying thunk she was expecting, but a moment of confusion as the man stepped into the attack and ducked the blade. Having thrown all her weight into the swing, she stumbled. His foot darted out, connecting with her ankle and sent her crashing to the ground. Pain flared in her shoulder as she landed and then in her head as she felt the smack from his walking cane.
Carri cradled her throbbing head as he stood over her, his head shaking in disbelief. "Just because you think you have an opening, doesn't mean there is one! Evaluate the situation and never underestimate your enemy."
She growled through "You are the one who said you weren't agile!"
"As agile as I once was." He corrected. "Now, try again, and this time use your brain."
Hours of practice and many cane smacks later, Marlon finally decided she might be able to wield a blade after all. Giving her a rusty sword, he departed. Carri sighed as she glanced at her watch. It was already four in the afternoon, and she hadn't managed to get a single ore. Tomorrow, then…
Shaking her head in defeat, she made her way back towards the farmhouse. She wouldn't have much time to get ready for dinner at Jodi's with how much time she had spent in the mines. Lucky for her, she had caught a largemouth bass just the day before.
A quick shower and change of clothes later, Carri made her way back into town with a cooler in her hand to keep the fish fresh as possible. She headed south through the town square and was just about to turn at Emily and Haley's home when she heard him. "Watch out!" The petite girl quickly raised her arms in defense against the oncoming skateboard and boy as she screamed. She didn't have time to dodge and braced for impact! Which... never came?
Carri's eyes widened in panic as she took in the sight. Sam who had been skateboarding on the rail of Emily's flower bed attempting a kick flip, now laid on the ground from his fall. His board was frozen to the side of the bartender's house, parallel to the ground. As the blonde sat up, he looked from the board to Carri then back. "C-Carri? What the hell?" He stood and touched the ice in disbelief. "What is-"
"SAMSON! YOU BETTER NOT BE SKATEBOARDING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AGAIN!" Lewis' voice came from afar and Sam turned white as a ghost.
"Shoot, Carri, help me break this down! If Lewis sees I will be in trouble again!" Still in shock, Carri nodded and moved to help him break the board loose. "On the count of three! 1...2….3!" He exclaimed as they pushed down together and managed to break it from its icy prison. "Let's get inside, quick!" Sam hauled Carri into his home by the hand. A soft sigh fell from his lips when the door clicked behind them.
The raven haired girl stared off into space as she tried to figure out just what was going on. Life's no fairytale, Carri. Life's no fairytale… But magic, it exists. And I can't escape it.
Taking her hand in his, Sam lead Carri to his bedroom and gently shut the door, hoping his mother wouldn't have heard them entering the house. It was almost seven and the clinks and clanks of dishes sounded from the kitchen as Jodi busied herself with preparing dinner. "Yoba, what the hell, Carri?! How did you do that? That was insane!"
Body trembling, she looked up to Sam who stood inches taller than her. "W-what's wrong with me, Sam?" Tears began to form and fall down her cheeks. "What am I?"
"Hey, calm down, alright?" He gently rubbed the now sobbing girl's back and pulled her into a hug. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just- not every day do you see something like that! Have you always had magical powers? Dude, we gotta tell Seb and Abs! They are never gonna believe me!"
Carri vehemently shook her head and pulled away from his warm embrace. "Please don't tell anyone, Sam! If I explain what I know will you promise not to tell?" Her friend frowned but nodded and with that confirmation, Carri began to tell him everything, from the fire at Joja to the fire on the farm, now the ice here. "I-I don't know why it happens, or how. I always tried to chalk it up to a freak accident before." Her head lowered. "I guess I'm right. Just, I'm the freak here instead." She had finally stopped crying, but now she seemed lost.
"No, you-"
A knock at his door startled the boy and he looked apologetically over to Carri. Jodi opened his door and gave Sam a 'We'll-talk-later' look, but smiled warmly at the girl. "So you've come to join us after all. I'm glad, and I see you brought the bass! Sam, could you clean it up so I can add it to the casserole? Dinner will be ready soon, Carri! It's so nice to have you!"
"A-actually, Jodi, I was just going to drop off the fish and go. I don't want to intrude." I just want to go home.
"You are no intrusion, sweetie! You are basically family! Now, come and sit at the table. It shouldn't be much longer."
Jodi left Sam's room with the two of them behind her. Carri sat at the table as told, but her mind once again had wandered off. It wasn't until she noticed everyone was staring at her and food had been placed before her that she realized she missed a question. "I-I'm sorry? What was that?"
"I asked how things were going on the farm?" Jodi repeated with a concerned look on her face. "You seem to stay pretty busy now. You should make sure to stop by more often and have dinner with us. You are always welcome here!"
"Y-yeah, I'm sorry. I've been drained. I finally cleared the field completely and have a decent number of crops plus my chickens and Addie to take care of. I will try to visit more… Sorry for worrying you."
The rest of dinner went by with short replies from Carri and Vincent excitedly talking about his adventures with Jas. Sam continued glancing at Carri between bites until dinner was over. "Mom, I'm gonna walk Carri home. It's getting late."
"Alright, but don't stay out too late!" Jodi stood from her spot at the table and began gathering dishes. "Vincent, bath then bed." Together, Sam and Carri walked out of his home as she mentally prepared for an awkward walk back to the farmhouse.