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.
"But you should have! Callice is just being unreasonable! YOU were right!" Laurel objected.
"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 as they waded through the water onto the bank. After sitting on the rocky ground, they ate the hot dinner and Amby gradually calmed down. After half an hour, they held hands as they walked back to the camp.
"I'm sorry about the trouble I caused," Andalusia said, she was bursting to just say sorry. Jessica looked taken a back and Laurel and Amby were wide eyed.
"Don't be sorry!" Amby exclaimed, stepping in front of Andalusia and putting both hands on her shoulders.
"But i-"
"Don't." She said again, with fierce determination. "Don't let her get to you, it's not your fault."
"Yeah forget her," Laurel stated, placing a hand on Andalusia's shoulder too.
Andalusia felt instantly better. It was good to get that off her chest but at the same time, she felt at least there was a chance that she hadn't been the cause of all this mayhem.
"Anyway, we all hate her," Laurel chimed in, shrugging, as if it was a natural thing to say.
"Yeah, that's true," Amby said, then looked at her mother, who had walked ahead and was looking back, looking sad.
"Come on," Amby pushed Andalusia forward and they all walked slowly, losing Jessica as she was walking very fast, as if they didn't want them to see her tears.
Jessica stood at the entrance with a slight smile on her aged face, traces of sadness gone.
"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 confusion.
"Why is she-?" Andalusia asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"She was so angry before…" she continued, staring at the place where she disappeared. She thought returning to the place where just before she had a horrible time would change her mood, but apparently not. Although Andalusia had to admit that she too was feeling a whole lot better. She had eaten almost constantly since she was found, and had a very strong bond to all those here, a part from Callice. It was an abnormal feeling, abnormal that she fit in this life like a jigsaw puzzle. It was almost too hard to belief. Whenever she thought about her life here, a part from the conflict, she couldn't help beaming, attracting a lot of attention.
"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.
To Jessica, Amby looked like a phoenix with her red. Jessica gave three them all a kiss on the before they left, carefully avoiding Callice's murderous gaze.
Jessica gave them some change to pay for an undercover way to the training class.
Amby explained that they lived basically in the middle of nowhere, and they needed transport to get anywhere special. 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 thirty minutes to get to the Catalysts's Headquarters.
As the rusty old bus came rumbling through a carefully cut path through the forest, it nearly ran them all over as it refused to come to a halt. They four of them had to race after it as the old bus driver struggled with the brake, soon realising that Callice had shattered the already nearly broken windows in frustration.
Finally, after lots of cursing, the man pulled on the brake and the bus came to an abrupt halt that sent the driver nearly through the window.
After climbing in, nearly cutting their hands on the jagged metal edges, the three of them sat together alone on the bus driven by a rickety old man. Callice sat at the very back, staring at them like an owl dressed as a necromancer, wearing a smug expression, her eyes the usual piercing stare.
Andalusia sat between Amby and Laurel in silence, feeling intensely insecure being alone without more adults to protect her from Callice. Feeling the warmth of Laurel and Amby beside her, she slowly calmed her hammering heart and was sure she could feel the anger boiling within the two girls.
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 with scruffy blonde hair 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, looking over at Callice angrily
. "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- Callice, 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. Callice from Britain."
"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."
Smiling, Laurel said, "yeah, so never bet with him, I tell you. I lost my fair share of things to him."
Amby, suddenly eager, picked up her pace. Fluffing up her hair and straightening her clothes, she took the lead and led them past doors and corridors. She 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.
"Yeah, yeah, we got the memo, Vince" Amby smiled taking a seat. "We brought a friend," and gesturing to Andalusia half hidden behind Laurel, waving her forward.
"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".
"Welcome, an honour to have you here, you are now a Catalyst," Vince grinned.
Andalusia grinned back. Callice, annoyed said, "Oh is she? Are you sure she's not a sp-"
"Oh SHUT UP!" Laurel shouted, fists clenched, stepping forward.
Vince held his hand in front of Laurel, pushing her back. Giving Callice a warning glare.
Andalusia, believe it or not, was getting used to this, she was thinking of making a record of how many arguments Callice started a day.
"Can we get back to our session now girls?" Vince sighed, checking his watch. "We only have another thirty minutes".
Amby nodded and they sat on the wooden 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, hair flowing in a light breeze. The bookcase stopped rocking and she held it over thirty seconds, after gently lowering it back to the ground. Before she could throw a book at Laurel, Vince interrupted, sensing the tension.
"Very good, Callice," Vince commented grimly. "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 on the other side of the room. 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. It was easy for her now to see things maybe a minute beforehand, as she had been trained by Vince ever since she was an infant.
Closing her eyes, 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…
She could hear to undistinguishable voices, 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. They were shouting orders, but she couldn't hear them over the roars of fires…
And then suddenly they disappeared within a dust storm.
Back in the room Amby was thrown backwards, as if she had been run into by a horse. Clutching her spinning head which was pounding in pain, she gritted her chattering teeth. Vince scrambled over on his knees and held her head in his lap, concerned creased his face.
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. Giving Amby time to recover, Andalusia was given time to contemplate whether she was banished to a land cursed with unfortunate events.
This time Andalusia and Laurel supporting Amby, they staggered as they walked. Callice walked behind them, on guard.
The bus came around, stopping this time, 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. Laurel not taking her eyes of Amby, trying to get her to speak. She objected when Vince excused himself from the family and climbed into bed with Amby, but figured it would make Amby feel more secure.
"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.
"If it's to much…"
"No, it's okay." She breathed.
"It was in the future and Callice and Andalusia gave themselves up to someone to protect me and they disappeared, everyone was being killed!" 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.
"We…" he paused.
"We will fight." Vince said.
"W-w-what?" Amby asked, she never thought of her and her family fighting anybody. Their job was to stay hidden, not fight.
"Oh… nothing, never mind…" Vince said, immersed in a deep plan.
Amby gave a small 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, imagining battle strategies.
Laurel was worried, she didn't eat much of the late dinner and she sat in front her tent. Andalusia hid under her blankets shaking with worry and concern.
Callice also had lost her usual composure, she paced the perimeter of her tent, thinking. Before Vince climbed back into bed with Amby, he had had a long discussion with Callice. Laurel bewitched a small hummingbird to eavesdrop, only catching snippets of what it chirped. Knowing nothing other than some battle training plans. She wasn't too worried, it was probably just about the Tournament finals coming up.
Jessica and John were more worried about Amby but Vince said not to worry, that she was a bit shaken, probably because of her event with Callice.
Laurel stared into the darkness clearly concerned about Amby; Amby wouldn't say a word to her on the way home only whimpering into Vince's arms.
"Vince," Laurel thought "Vince would know what Amby saw, "she would tell him anything."
She thought, thinking about their love for each other, and how they looked into each other's eyes.
Laurel slept outside on the cold hard ground covered only by a thin blanket still in front of her tent where Amby was sleeping. She wanted to be as close to her as she could, even if it meant getting a cold. It took her a long time to get used to the icy, cold wind but mostly how Callice shot her menacing looks now and again. Callice hadn't stopped pacing around her tent, she kept her eyes darting around for any sign of danger.
Jessica sighed as she saw the still sleeping girls, things had to be done but John said let them sleep, something must of went wrong. He had said so. Jessica rounded up Drew Taylor and Felix Evans to help her do the jobs around the camp.
Laurel woke to a paw tapping her cheek and saw Sasha who meowed and turned in a circle.
"What's up, girl?" Laurel asked, sitting up rubbing her eyes. Sasha meowed again and walked into Amby's tent. Laurel followed her into the tent to find a waking Amby and a slightly smiling Vince, a happy Andalusia and Callice who was pacing the room.
Laurel squealed in happiness when she Amby and gave her a big hug, "You had me so worried, you numbnut!" she stammered.
"I'm sorry, but you know I pass out every time I try and see something" Amby sighed gently pulling Laurel off her. Trying to hide the utter fear that was crawling in her stomach.
Laurel nodded and started crying in happiness and the two friends hugged again. Vince laughed and pulled Callice and Andalusia over to join in the hug.
Callice brushed him off, twisting his wrist easily and pushed away from them all.
Vince, sighing, rolled his eyes and joined in the hug.
"I thought I lost you," Laurel whispered, in the arms of Amby who was nearly suffocating her.
Amby couldn't say anything, she was still frightened, but happy that she felt secure with her new family.
"You could never lose me, Laurel, we're sisters, and you Andalusia," she pulled away and hugged Andalusia as well, who felt like a twig in her arms.
They hugged for what seemed like minutes until Callice huffed, muttering about 'soft-hearted people'.
"Love you, Vince," Amby sighed. She turned her head to Vince, looking at his sparkling hazel eyes.
Exchanging glances, the rest of them filed out, Callice first who practically ran in disgust, leaving the two alone.