Author's Note: Hey guys! Once again, thanks so much for the support! Exam Week is now over so I have some time to update. Also, if you're wondering, the song Six was enjoying in the car was "King for a Day" by Pierce The Veil and Kellin Quinn. You should check it out. Anyway, here is chapter 16! Hope you like it!
Nine
No. No. She can't be gone.
"Malcolm, stop the car!" I yell at the top of my lungs but he doesn't budge.
"Nine, I promise we'll look for her tomorrow. She hasn't died yet; we would've had a scar." John says.
"But she's dying!" I whine. "You guys are just gonna' leave her in a flaming heap of rubble?!"
"Nine, calm down." Eight says.
"How can you guys say that when a member of the Garde is out there and dying?!"
"We know that. But we're no use for her right now. We're exhausted and we need rest. We'll look for her first thing tomorrow, okay?" Eight asks. I nod, still annoyed despite the fact that they're probably right. Knowing Five though, she can survive. I really hope so.
I lean my head on the window and start to drift away, still worried but giving in to the peacefulness of sleep.
Five
My vision is blurry and I can feel fresh blood rushing down my face. My body aches like crazy and my limbs are useless. I also have a pretty bad burn on my left arm.
Moments ago, a huge piece of rubble landed on top of me. I tried to divert it away with telekinesis but I was too late. It fell on my back and I heard some of my bones crack, sending shocks of pain to my spinal cord.
Soon, the building was on fire and I used up all my energy in making some sort of shield made of water to protect me. I still got a pretty bad burn though.
I tried everything; squirming free, wiggling out, even communicating with Ella. But I'm in too much pain to do anything.
This is it, I think. This is the end. One of the last survivors of a dying race dies because of a piece of rubble.
I would have cried if I had the energy to. But instead, I just stared off into the distance where there are piles and piles of ash and crushed Mogadorian weapons. I think about the Garde, how much we've all worked so hard just to reunite and now they're going to lose another member; have another scar. I think about Nine and how I now know my feelings for him. I make a mental note to tell him if a miracle happens and I survive. I think about Sondra, about everything she sacrificed just to make me live. But now I won't. I'll die here, that I'm sure of.
My vision starts to darken and I finally just give up.
Suddenly, I feel someone carrying me. My instincts are telling me to run; it could be a Mogadorian. But still I do nothing. I'm in too much pain. I let the being carry me and drift away, either it's to the afterlife, or to sleep.
…
I wake up with the feeling of water being pushed inside me. I immediately think I'm drowning and fly my eyes open.
Surprised to be actually alive, I look around, expecting to be in a Mog base, surrounded by dozens of disgusting creatures. Or at least in some sort of body of water.
Yet instead of a Mogadorian, or being surrounded by water, I see an old man. He has dark skin and soulful eyes with wrinkles around the corners. His head is covered with a massive amount of grey hair and also has a beard of the same color. He's smiling down at me and I realize I'm in some sort of hut made from bamboo shootings. I'm lying down on a bed that's also made from bamboo and some linen sheets. It's surprisingly comfortable.
"You're awake. Wonderful." The man says. He spoke with a thick Indian accent.
"Who are you? What am I doing here?" I ask, prepared to run even though my body is still pretty painful.
He smiles again and replies, "I am Devdan. I rescued you from the burning building. You are here in my hut, resting."
"How did you find me?"
"I was taking a stroll when I found you." That's weird. The base is pretty concealed—even if it was burning. Plus, who takes strolls around mountains?
I try to get up but he gently pushes me back down, handing me a bowl of soup.
"Eat." He says. I do as I am told but only because I'm really hungry. When I fully recover, I'll get out of here. ASAP.
I finish eating after a moment and he hands me a glass of water. I gulp it all down.
"Thank you." I finally say.
He nods and proceeds to take out a towel drenched in hot water.
He hands it to me. "Rub this all over your aching body parts. It will make the pain heal faster than usual."
I do so and feel immediately relieved.
"Why did you rescue me?" I ask.
"Well I couldn't just leave you like that, no?" he says, grinning.
I nod my thanks once again and start sitting up. I wince a little bit but manage to sit upright.
…
I've been here for several days now. I'm almost fully recovered except for the burn on my arm. It takes a long time to heal, apparently.
Sometimes, I've wondered if the others are even looking for me. I mean, I have no idea where I am but they could have used that communication device in our Chests. Or at least make Ella communicate with me or something.
I sigh then pick up another piece of wood. I've been helping Devdan a lot more now, collecting wood for the fire he'll make for our lunch. I'm almost completely sure he isn't a Mog though I still won't let my guard down.
I snap a branch from a nearby tree when it suddenly disappeared. Just gone. I can still feel it though but it's gone. I question my sanity.
I blink my eyes and then it's there again.
Greatly confused, I look around. Maybe the Mogs are toying with me, I think. I was the only one there, besides some caterpillars and Robins.
I focus on my hand and the twig again and they both turn invisible. A new Legacy!
I flicker it on and off for some time, having fun until Devdan calls for me.
"Coming!" I shout, stumbling forward a little bit as I pick up the last pieces of wood.
When I got to the little hut and put down the branches, Devdan gasped.
"What? What is it?" I ask frantically.
"Your arm." He says calmly. I look at my arm and mentally curse myself for forgetting to make it visible again.
"I..I.." I stammer, not sure how to explain.
Devdan just smiles solemnly like he always does and nods. "Do not worry. I know who you are. What you are. You have a new Legacy."
Even more confused than before, I start making up some sort of excuse in my head. "What are you talking about?"
"I told you. You have a new Legacy; the Legacy of invisibility."
"Who are you?" I ask, prepared to fight.
"Devdan." He answers cheekily.
"Who is Devdan?"
He has a smug look in his face before he answers, "Me."
I roll my eyes but chuckle good-naturedly.
"Come on and help me set up the fire. I'll help you develop your Legacy after lunch."
My suspicions are still high but I figured some training wouldn't hurt.
…
After a hearty meal of fish and various greens, we begin training.
"Okay, just close your eyes and concentrate with your arm."
I do so and feel my molecules being reconstructed inside of me. When I open my eyes, my whole left arm was completely invisible. I concentrate again and make it visible once more.
It isn't such a hard Legacy to master, but it's extremely helpful.
I smile to myself as I start practicing on different parts of my body.
Ella
It's my fault. I forgot to communicate with Five. I thought for sure that I did but I didn't. I failed everyone.
Tears start to flood my eyes as Nine and Six pace around the room. We're back in the cabin after staying at a motel in West Virginia. We couldn't find her. Not even her body. All that was left was the base, now nothing but an enormous pile of crushed cement.
Marina keeps telling me that it's not my fault, that as long as we don't get another scar, Five is okay. But despite her comforting, I still feel extremely guilty.
"We have to find her." Nine announces.
Six rolls her eyes at him. "That's what we're trying to do, stupid."
Nine ignores her comment and resumes in pacing around.
"Ella can you try to communicate with her again?" Six pleads. I nod and concentrate, desperate to hear Five's familiar voice in my head.
Five, Five can you hear me? It's Ella. Nothing.
I try again. Five please if you can hear me right now, send me some sort of signal. We'll find you. Again, nothing.
I shake my head. Six sighs and starts going through John's Chest.
She pulls out a velvet pouch and hands it to John. He pours the contents on his hand.
There were about eight or so orbs. He tossed them in the air and they instantly come to life. He shines his Lumen on one of the orbs and it glows suddenly. The surface was green and blue all over, with a lot of oranges and purples here and there.
I jump from my seat, instantly feeling better.
"What is it?" I ask, my eyes wide.
"Lorien." John says.
He shuts his Lumen off and the lush surface quickly drifts away, making the orb turn back to its original gray and deserted form.
John held up another orb. It was Earth. A small red dot appeared somewhere in India.
I point to it and ask, "What's that?"
"That's where Five is. I wonder how she ended up in India…"
"Great. Now we know where she is." Nine says. "Let's go to India then."
The others ignore him, listening intently to the orb. It emitted a noise, almost a voice. Five's voice. I jump in and start to listen too.
"Am I doing it correctly?" Five asks before the connection breaks.
Nine frowns, shoving his pipe-staff inside his backpack.
"Well? What are you guys waiting for? Let's go to India and get Five!"
But before anyone could day anything, we were interrupted by a loud explosion.