Amby was skipping rocks getting only four bounces and Laurel was being comforted by the fish she was talking to. Amby cried out in frustration and kicked at the water and in doing so scared the fish away. She waded out into the deeper part of the river and stood there in the cold water with her arms wrapped around her sides. Laurel looked at the scattering fish and sighed as she waded out to Amby as well.
Amby's tears could not be controlled they rolled down her face streaking her face with grey lines, Laurel almost gasped as she saw the colour of Amby's face, pale she was already but now Amby was pale like a ghost. Her hair had lost its amber shade replaced by the colour of dying embers in a fire, her eyes were a dull brown unlike their forest brown.
"Oh, Amby, it's not your fault" Laurel explained feeling a bit sniffily herself.
"It is my fault, I was the one who said we should bring her," Amby cried turning into Laurel, her being the shortest, Laurel wrapped her arms around Amby's shoulders as her arms wrapped around Laurel's waist.
"I got the soup!" a small voice cried. Andalusia was tumbling down the path, holding Jessica's hand for support, as she was still very weak and ill. However she felt it would be the least she could do to make the girls happy after what she had heard at dinner. Laurel tugged Amby out of the river and they ate the hot dinner and Amby gradually calmed down. After half an hour, they held hands as they walked back to the camp.
Jessica was standing at the entrance with a slight smile on her aged face "You four, have a session tonight, we got a letter saying about how you missed last night's so they have agreed to do a double tonight so get ready".
"Yippee!" Amby squeaked, obviously feeling much better after eating, rushed into the tent. Laurel and Andalusia gave each other a look of relief, and confusion.
"Why is she-?" Andalusia asked.
"She was so angry before…" she continued, staring at the place where she disappeared. She too felt slightly happier. She had eaten almost constantly since she was found, and had a very strong bond to all those here, a part from Callice.
"Oh, there's this boy called Vin-" Laurel started but she was cut off.
But that was short lived when they heard Amby scowl as they saw her see Callice pulling on her black signature jacket and a smirk on her supposed to be angelic face.
"Amby, don't do anything rash" Laurel warned touching her arm, as Amby rushed towards them.
Amby brushed off the hand and put her own red signature hoodie, Laurel put on her brown jacket and Andalusia chose a sandy coloured one and put that on.
Callice finished getting ready and to Amby she looked like a witch in disguise in her black clothes, Laurel looked like a tree sprite in her pink attire and Andalusia looked like a vampire in her cream attire.
To Jessica, Amby looked like a phoenix with her red. Jessica gave three them all a kiss on the before they left.
Jessica gave them some change to pay for an undercover way to the training class.
Amby explained that they lived on the outskirts of the city and they had to walk to the nearest bus stop. It was a very old bus, as the small society couldn't afford such a thing that it was remarkable that they even bothered to get a bus. But as the headquarters was actually a broken down cinema that was so old no-one knew of its existence, and it was built so far away and hidden so it was almost impossible to find, they needed a vehicle.
It was five o'clock and it took 30 minutes to get to the Catalysts' Headquarters. The three of them sat together alone on the bus driven by a rickety old man, and Callice sat at the very back, staring at them like an owl, with a frown.
They had arrived and they asked the bus to stop at an old shut down cinema and they silently moved through the cinema until Amby knocked on what seemed to be a door.
"Amby, you're late for your session," a little boy around the age of six opened the door and smiled. "Hurry up, Mr Keratin is waiting."
"Thank-you Mason," Amby smiled. "We'll see you later" as they continued walking.
"Amby, why are we here?" Andalusia asked fear laced within her voice.
"We are not like other children our age, we have gifts" Amby explained. "The Catalysts try and protect the children from the "Scientific" organizations that want to conduct experiments on the children".
"We are three, not including angry-one there of the fifteen of children they protect, not to mention the adults." Laurel added. "We three are part of the Austrian branch; they found Amby and her family in Australia and moved them here".
"What's Mason's power then?" Andalusia asked, feeling more comfortable to speak to them now.
"He's a minor student, not many have powers as strong as us. His Gift is predicting the outcome of small events,"
Amby took the lead and led them past doors and corridors and Amby stopped at a door that had an image of a child lifting objects with her mind.
Amby knocked and a voice sighed, "Come in, you're late".
Amby pushed the door open and Andalusia saw a young boy probably in his early teens looking up from his writing. He was a bit taller than Amby, with light brown hair and hazel eyes, he must have been around thirteen.
"Amby, you're late and not for the first time" he smiled to all of them, winking at Amby.
Amby blushed fiercely, Laurel and Andalusia giggled. Callice scrunched up her face and rolled her eyes.
The teenager's name was Vince Keratin, he had been the girls' friend, teacher and a somewhat of a bodyguard. He had lovely hazel eyes, light brown hair, and was slightly taller than Amby, but not as tall as Callice.
"Yeah, yeah, we got the memo, Vince" Amby smiled taking a seat. "We brought a friend" and gesturing to Andalusia half hidden behind Laurel.
"Ah… you are the girl escaped from that Switzerland facility" Vince smiled touching Andalusia's shoulder. "I'm not going to hurt you, oh; you are a rare one".
"I'm a what?" Andalusia asked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Vince here can detect what your power is with one touch, that's his gift" Laurel explained. "The only person who could change the state of matter was Xenia or Kiara Dawn Death, Amby's cousin but she died, two years ago".
"Can we get back to our session now girls?" Vince sighed. "We only have another thirty minutes".
Amby nodded and they sat on the floor in a circle. Vince had been teaching them how to use their powers properly.
"Callice, try and lift that bookcase" Vince ordered jerking his thumb behind him to the bookcase "With any books falling off".
Callice scoffed reluctantly but effortlessly did as she was told. Her eyes turned towards the bookcase and it rocked from side to side as Callice lifted it off the ground.
"Good, you have improved" Vince smirked. "Now hold for thirty seconds".
Callice's face slowly creased in concentration and the bookcase stopped rocking and she held it for way over thirty seconds and it dropped with only one book falling off, ignoring the silent pleas of Laurel wishing she would accidently drop it.
"Very good, Callice" Vince smiled. "Laurel, try and call my cat Sasha".
Sasha was a Persian and was as old as Vince himself and was the only animal in the building. All the girls loved Sasha, even Callice didn't mind her.
Laurel closed her head and it cocked to one side, Andalusia squeaked in surprise as Sasha came wandering through the slightly open door. She meowed and pawed at Laurel's hand and sat in her lap. Amby smiled and gave Laurel a high five as she scratched Sasha's chin.
"Sweet, Amby try and see something in the future," Vince smiled but a hint of caution weaved its way through his voice.
"I'll try, to Vince" she sighed. Her hands twitched as she tried to see the future.
Her vision blurred, as if she was underwater. She could hear voices, harsh voices. Then, as if someone had just put something over her eyes, she saw nothing but black. Then black silhouettes. Eyes shut tight, fists clenched, she saw the figures moving, people in black killing everyone, her mother screamed, her father roared in anger, fires destroyed her home and her friends lay eyes closed mouths open in a silent scream of horror. Amby cried as she her future self being pushed back into Laurel's arms self by Callice and Andalusia, telling them to escape. And then suddenly they disappeared within a dust storm.
Back in the room Amby fell backwards her head spinning and Vince jumped to her side and pulled her into his lap.
Andalusia squeaked in concern and Laurel tugged Amby's sleeve. Amby's eyes fluttered and she slowly opened her eyes to see Vince stroking her cheek.
Callice jumped to her feet and stood over them, eyeing Andalusia.
"Well, that was a bad idea" Vince said, eyes burning with worry.
"Are you okay? What". Did you see?"
Amby winced and with the help of Vince she stood up and sagged into a chair. The clock chimed and it was seven-thirty the end of their session. This time Andalusia and Laurel supporting Amby, they staggered as they walked. Callice walked behind them, on guard.
The bus came around and Amby sat next to Vince wrapped in his arms in silence head resting against his shoulder, all three of her friends looked at each other thinking exact same question.
"What did Amby see?"
They returned home and Amby went straight to bed without saying anything, Vince excused himself from the family and climbed into bed with Amby.
"I'm sorry, I should've known you'd pass out," he sighed turning her onto her back to face him.
"Would you tell me what you saw, if I ask you?" He asked tentatively.
"I would, only if you don't tell the others" Amby ordered, the tone of her voice surprised Vince but he nodded and waited for her to explain.
"It was in the future and Callice and Andalusia gave themselves up to someone to protect me and they disappeared, everyone was being killed, only I and Laurel will survive" Amby cried.
"Callice looked a lot older, eighteen maybe, and Laurel was about sixteen. It will happen in four years!" She wailed, eyes wide, covering her face in tears.
"It won't, I promise, I'll stay here and I'll still run the sessions," Vince promised stroking her hair as she calmed down.
Amby gave a small but brave smile as she laid a hand against Vince's cheek he closed his eyes and covered her hand with his. Amby sighed and closed her eyes and went to sleep. Vince moved closer to her and fell asleep next to Amby.