A person is not defined by his motives, but by his actions. Actions that define this person, as an individual.

Chapter 2: Signs

(Willow Anderson. Ohio County, Kentucky 1:20pm)

Willow sat in Com Apps, waiting for the bell to ring. He was in the very back, like always, and was pretty much sitting by himself. His only friend, Cathy Duboyee, was sitting next to him, twiddleling he hair. Willow looked over at her and smiled. She had long brown hair that went down to her shoulders and she always kept it straight. She was slightly tanner than Willow was and was at least 3 inches shorter than he was. She had green eyes, which was what Willow liked most about her. He started playing with a strand of her hair. Cathy noticed this and hooked his finger with hers. She then twisted her finger and made wince from slight pain. She then leaned close to him.

" Carefull, sometimes I bite". She whisspered to him. She then stopped twissting and turned back to her computer. She started typing up some stuff and was soon on the internet. She clicked some more and got an exact site opened up. Willow looked closer and saw that it was that death clock.

" Oh come on Cathy, don't tell me you believe this crap"? He said as he put his hands behind his head.

She shoot him a deadly look and turned back to the screen. " Willow, how can you not believe in this? I mean, you can transport yourself within the blink of an eye, and see through solid-hmphhh"! She was cut short as Willow put a hand over her mouth.

" Shhhh! I don't need everyone in 6th period knowing about my, "special", abilitie kay'"? Suddenly Willow felt Cathy bite on his finger slightly. Willow looked at her and saw she was smiling.

" I told you, sometimes I bite". She said, as Willow felt her tongue go over his finger. Willow was begining to get a little excited about this and quickly withdrew his hand, with a blush on his face.

" Umm yeah. Listen Cathy, about the whole death clock thing...". He looked back at Cathy who was frowning at him for ruining the fun. She turned back to the computer and begin to input the info they needed for this.

" You've never smoked right"? She asked Willow. He shook his head and she typed in some more. She then pressed enter and sat back as the screen loaded. It popped up and Willow couldn't help but laugh. Cathy frowned and looked at the info on the screen. It said that Willow had ten seconds left to live. She turned to him and gave a worried look. " Don't laugh, this could be serious". 5.

" Oh come on(4) you really believe(3) that some internet site(2) that was made by idiots(1) is gonna-". He was cut off as an explossion went off. It had come from below them and the room gave a sound as if stretching. Suddenly the entire left side of the floor started collapsing, sending the rest to a slant like position, and showed flames coming up from below. The fell first and was engulfed in the flames. Some of the students managed to hang on to something and didn't fall, but others soon fell to the flames. Cathy fell on her back and began sliding towards the flames. " Cathy"! Willow screamed as he dived for her. He pulled her towards himself and he began to think of the tree that was right outside the Com Apps window. Suddenly they were in the tree, hanging twenty feet above the ground. Willow thought again and they were on the ground, safe. He laid Cathy down and saw one of the faculty member come by.

" My god, what happened"? It was the Agg teacher and he was looking over Cathy.

" Me and my friend were up in the room when an explossion happened to the room below us. We jumped out the window and onto the tree before anything happened". Willow said as he panted hard. He looked back up and saw that flames were coming out of the science lab windows and creeping they're way up. " There are still people in there". Willow thought. Without thinking, he jumped up and ran for the school doors. The teacher called after him, but Willow didn't listen.

(Brendan Rome. Ohio County, Kentucky 1:43pm)

Brendan ran up the stairs and began to smell the smoke. He reached the top and looked around. He could see that the entire left part of the hallway was on fire. That would be where his mother was. His mom had been transfered from thier old school and he had been made to come along. He had hated having to leave his old friends behind, his girlfriend, his life. He had told his mom this morning that he hated her and had stormed off to school. Right now he was regretting ever saying those words and just wanted to get his mom out of danger.

He raced towards the left hallway and stopped just feet away from the flames. He had on his football equipment, so the flames wouldn't be that bad. He braced himself and jumped over the flames. Suddenly he felt something tug on his shoulder and pull him back. He hit the floor and looked up. He saw the last person he expected to see here. Willow Anderson. Brendan picked himself up and looked Willow over.

" Anderson? What the hell are you doing here"? Brendan was confused. Why would Willow be here in the first place.

Willow wiped some sweat off his forehead and nodded towards the flames. " There are still people in there, I gotta help'em".

" Just what makes you think you can do anything"? Brendan scoffed.

Willow looked Brendan in the eyes. " What makes you think you can"?

Brendan didn't have an answer. He just did that same thing Willow did when he saw the flames. Brendan looked up and sighed. " Alright fine. Now what do you suggest we do"?

Willow looked away. He already knew what to do. He would teleport in and get the people out. But now that Brendan was here, it complicated things. " I think you should go back down and tell the fire department there are still people up here. I'll go and get as many out as I can". He started to turn but was stopped as Brendan put a hand on his shoulder.

" Aint no way in hell your getting me to leave Anderson". Brendan took his hand off Willow's shoulder and crossed his arms.

Willow turned and gave him a look. " Listen Brendan. I don't need you getting in my way. Just go down there and-".

" My moms in there Willow". Brendan cut in as Willow stood blanklessley. Brendan had just called him Willow, he never did that before.

Willow sighed and shook his head. " Alright you can help. But listen to me, what I'm about to do no one can know about, okay"? Brendan raised an eyebrow, but nodded his head. Willow grabbed Brendans shoulder and turned back to the fire. He closed his eyes and then opened them. They were shinning white and pale. Willow could know see a spot over the flames that was okay. He though of the spot and then they were there.

(Alessa Banes. Great Britan 8:37pm)

Alessa sat at the bar table and took another drink of her beer. She sighed and looked down at the swirling liquor. She had come here after she had been fired and had began to drink as much as she could. She had always had a high tolerance for drinking and was already on her thirty'th glass of the stuff. She had switched out her surgeons uniform and put on a black trenchcoat and red jeans. Her shirt was red as well, like blood. She finished off the drink and signaled the bartender for another. He came over and looked her over.

" Sorry girlie, that's about enogh for you tonight". He took the glass away and started to turn. She reached out and tugged him back, making him lean on the bar.

" Listen you bloddy fool, I've had a rough day today and I need some liquor, now you either pour me another glass or I'll shove this glass so far up your bum it'll come out your nose". She released him and gave him a sneering look.

The bartender signaled for one of the bouncers and stepped back. The bouncer came and lifted Alessa out of the seat. She kicked and screamed, making people turn and gawk. The bouncer got her out of the door and tossed her onto the street. She got back up and kicked at the door to the place. She spit on the door and turned. She began walking down the streets of Britan and soon came upon the place she was looking for. She went up to the steps and looked at the list of names on the side of the wall. She brought her finger down and stopped at the name. She rang his buzzer and a voice came up.

" Y'ello"? The voice sounded groggy and tired.

" James, it's me Alessa". She waited a few seconds and then heard the unlocking of the door. She turned the handle and went up stairs. She saw James's door and knocked. Soon it opened up and revealed a man in his thirties wearing a AC-DC shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. His hair was black and messy. His face had a light shadow on it. Alessa moved pass him and threw her things on the floor. She moved into the living room and plopped down on the couch. James came in after her and stood over her.

" Alessa, what happened"? He crouched down and looked her over. She turned and faced him.

" I got fired". She said finnaly.

James robbed his face and sat on the floor. " God Alessa, why"? He moved his hand from his face and moved it to hers. She swatted it away and sat up straight.

" It wasn't my fault".

" It never is".

" Shut up. I was working on a patient and suddenly he flatlined, so I tried to find the problem with'em but nothing was there. After he died I went to the boss and he told me that the guy had a two inch bone sticking out of his spine". She sighed loudly and fell back onto the couch again. James got up and headed for the fridge. When he returned he had two bottled waters and held one out to her. She took it and swallowed in one take. " Damn James, you still can't have anything alcoholic"?

" Not unless you want me going all holographic on you". He said smiling. He then sat down on the floor and took another chug. " Those were the days".

" Enough remenencing". She growled. " I need you to get me some new papers and I.D.'s. I also need a new car if ya' can get it".

" It'll take a few hours before I can get everything". He then smiled coyly. " Of course, you could always stay here, in paradise de' James".

She threw a pillow at him and laughed, something she hadn't done in a while. " Cool it hotstuff. Though I guess I don't have much of a choice if it means all I've got to pick from is the alley and here...hmm though the alley doesn't sound half as bad as-MRMMPH"! She was suddenly grabed around the waist by him and brought to the floor. He then started tickling her and making her laugh. " James, stop it. It's-hehe- too much". Suddenly He stopped and grabbed his shoulder. Alessa turned and saw a small bone sticking out of his shoulder. She reached forward and touched it. The bone immediately bagan to kind of absorb into her hand and quickly disapeared. She bent forward and looked at James's wound. " You'll need antibiotics". She sighed and then got up and headed for the door. James was quick to follow.

" Alessa wait! It wasn't your fault"! He cried after her.

She spun around and looked angry. " Are you insane! Of course it's my fault, I can barely get any emotion without shiving someone". She then shook her head. " James, just get the stuff kay'"? He nodded and then she left, leaving him there, clutching his shoulder.

(Daniel "Danny" Toledo. Miami, Florida 4:15pm)

Danny sat in the dinner booth, enjoying his apple pie, and began wondering about the two men. Had he done something of lately to anger their, "benifactor", as they called him. Danny took another bite and sighed, causing him to choke in the process. He took a drink of pepsi and rested back in the booth. He heard the bell ding for the dinner door and looked up. His eyes widened as he saw a girl with long auburn hair and was dark skinned. " Hotty". Danny thought as he noticed her, ermm, features. The girl turned and looked in Dannies direction and then smiled. She then moved over towards him. " Holy crap". He thought. " She's coming right towards me, okay act natural, act natural, act- stop talking to yourself"! He quickly laid back and acted cool and calm. The girl came over right beside him. " Yeah"? He asked as smoothly as he could.

Peyton smiled at the man before her. She had to admit he was cute, but he was so self concious of himself she knew he was no good. When she had seen him look at her when she entered the dinner. She knew he had checked her out, and that just wouldn't do. " Yeah but," She said. " Next time your checking me out, make sure you don't or I'll rip your throat out kay'"?

Danny blinked. " Didn't see that coming". He thought. " But I'm not letting her win that easily". He sat up a little now and smirked. " Well sorry if I found you so interesting awile ago".

She raised an eyebrow. " Awile ago"? "So what I'm not interesting now"?

" Pretty much babe". He then took a drink of pepsi and looked out the window, as if bored with her now.

" How dare he"! She thought. " First he checks me out, then he says I'm not pretty. Ooooh he's gonna pay" She grabbed his shirt collar and against his protests dragged him out to the back of the dinner. She slamed him into the wall. " Just who do you think you are, teasing and acting all cool like that"?! She yelled at him.

He smiled. " So you think I'm cool now do ya'"?

She huffed and in a flash had kicked him. She then stormed off back into the resteraunt.

Danny sat there in a daze. Did she just kick him with a millisecond? He sat up and quickly put on his head phones.

Inside Peyton sat down and looked at her menu. She suddenly felt and breeze and her menu was pulled away by that guy. She looked shocked. How did he get here so fast.

As Danny twirled the menu in his hand, he removed on of the headphones and smiled at her. " So, your "special" too". He took the shocked expression on her face as a yes. " Funny, thought I was the only speedster around, small world huh".

Peyton was confused, to put it bluntly, and didn't know what to do. This guy had just declared to her that he knew she had a gift and had told her he had one too. She shook her head and got a stern look. " Okay, first off, who are you"?

He held out his hand. " Daniel Toledo, resident hero".

She gawked and then laughed her ass off. He gave an angry look and asked what the hell was the matter. " Nothing, just. Toledo, Hero. I mean come on, it rymes".

" Yeah, yeah, know your turn". He said a little edgy.

" Peyton Harrision, physical therapist".

He took a sip of drink that he had gotten. " Needs work. So Peyton, how long you had your powers"?

She was about to answer the dinner door opened and the two men who had tried to kidnap Danny earlier stepped through. Danny looked back and cursed. Suddenly he was but an after image and out the door. " Not so fast". Peyton thought as she zipped after him.

(Julia Christiano. Maine 12:43pm)

Julia rushed through her front door in a hurry and locked it. She went to the back and locked it as well. She then went back into the living room and looked around. She was scared, and all because of the phone call she had gotten.

-flashback-

" What kind of propostion"? She asked.

The voice waited and answered. " This kind of proposition is what one could call a destiny path".

" Uhh, listen, I'm not really into the whole higher calling propaganda. So if you could just-".

" Oh miss Christiano, you have so much to learn. I'm not calling because of god, I'm calling because of you and your special power".

She gasped. He knew. " Listen, whatever you want I can get, money, papers...sex".

" Oh really! The knerve of you to assume I'd want relations if praposterous, I'm at least four times your age my dear".

" But that would mean-".

" Listen, in two hours I will come to get you, be there waiting". The line went dead.

-end flashback-

And that's why she's scared, know she can only wait.

A person is not defined by his motives, but by his actions. Actions that define this person, as an individual