I am Number Two

Chapter Three

I wake up at the crack of dawn the next day...or rather I get off my bed at the crack of dawn, because I couldn't really sleep. Too many thoughts flooded my mind, Conrad dying, and of course, the excitement of getting to know more about this Adam character.

I do the normal morning routine, brushing my teeth, changing out of my pajamas, combing my hair, putting on my glasses, and then I take a peek at the outside world. Oldham is nothing compared to other bigger cities in England, but I still like it. I get pretty nervous around a large amount of people, anyway. While I'm doing this, I hear a knock on my room door.

I'm greeted by none other than Adam, who has a very excited, nervous look plastered on his pale face.

'' Good morning, Maggie, '' he greets me, a note of anxiety in his voice.

'' Uh...Morning, Adam. You look pretty riled up about something this morning, ''.

'' It's time for some explaining! Breakfast and all that can wait, '' he says, taking a seat on my bed.

I go over to sit next to him, remembering that he's pretty much a stranger. I barely know anything about him.

He sighs, and I can see this is pretty hard for him. I wonder what he's got to tell me...

He starts, '' Well, to begin, I am not Loric. I am Mogadorian, '' he says, looking at me expectantly.

I am paralyzed by shock. I just sit there watching him. He continues.

'' I am not here to kill you or anything though. Let me explain. First of all, I am the son of a Mogadorian general called Andrakkus Sutekh. I originally was no different than any other Mog, I hated Lorien and Loric and I seeked to kill you guys. However, after I witnessed the killing of Number One, a Mog scientist decided to try an experiment, and that experiment entailed attatching me to a machine that would put me into One's memories, '' he explains, taking a pause to observe my reaction to all of this.

The terror that originally shot through me has now subsided, and I'm now more at ease, listening to his story intently. Though I'm still not sure if I can fully trust a Mogadorian...

'' While in One's memories, the kind of things I was exposed to...my attiude changed. I began to hate my own race, and I swore to try my utmost best to protect both the Loric and humanity from those monsters. I am not one of them, I am an ally, and I hope you understand this, '' he finishes.

'' This...this is quite a lot for me to take in...but yes, yes, I understand, I trust you, '' I say, giving him a hug, '' I also understand your reason for lying...don't worry, ''.

'' They'll come for you. In my bones, I know I'm going to reap hell for what I've done. And I don't care. Fuck the Mogadorians! '' Adam yells, excitement and nervousness suddenly turning to anger and pure hatred.

I really have no idea what to say, but I try my best, '' I know I can trust you, and I will. We'll find the rest of the Garde, and we will take them down. Don't worry, you did the right thing, you're on the right side, ''.

He appears to calm down, taking a deep sigh, then he says, '' I know where they live. However, we're going to have to do this in stages. First of all, you need to develop some legacies, then we have to focus on getting your chest, and finally we've got to meet up with the remaining eight Garde, ''.

I allow him to go prepare breakfast for the two of us, while I sit in my room soaking in everything that just happened. It certainly explains Adam's unsually pale skin and emotionless, black eyes...the only thing he's missing is the weird tattoos on his scalp, and he actually has hair.

I know he can be trusted though, and I definitely will. He's an invaluable ally to have, especially since he knows everything about the Mogs. He's right though, we can't just go rushing into things. Right now I'm defenselss and have no means of fighting back, and we don't have my chest yet. Everything will be done in stages.

When I've collected my thoughts, I go downstairs and have breakfast with Adam-nothing major, just fried eggs and sausages-then he begins to scan the internet for any news relating to us. I guess I can call him my unofficial Cepan that's only one year older than me...

While he's doing that, I go out into the backyard to relax in the cool morning air for a while, and to further think about what's happened over the past two days. My life has definitely been turned on its head in this short period.

I also think about the timing of my legacies. The only ones I have so far is telekinesis and my enchancement power, but that's standard for all Garde I believe, and it's usually developed at very young ages. I don't have any real legacies as yet, and I wonder if they'll ever come. I'm turning thirteen in three months...

Just as I think about this, Adam comes out the backdoor holding a lit candle.

I look at the candle and wonder why he's brought it out here, and then the fire on the candle starts flickering and moving, until it turns into a small fireball over our heads.

'' What the hell?! '' I shout, looking very confused.

Adam, on the other hand, looks rather pleased, grinning wide. '' I think I know what's happening! ''

'' What? '' I say, still looking at the fireball.

Before he can answer, the fireball dissipates into tiny embers, falling to the ground slowly and, I must admit, it looks pretty cool.

'' It's a Legacy! '' Adam says, excited.

'' What? You think so? '' I ask, befuddled by the scene that just unfurled.

'' How else could that happen? It had to be you! You have the power to control and manipulate fire, ''.

My jaw drops wide open, and I'm immediately elated by the thought.

'' Maybe you are right! Yes! It's sure taken it's sweet ol' time to arrive! '' I yell, not able to hide the excitement in my voice.

'' But! '' he says in a stern tone, '' You clearly don't have any control over your power at all yet, and if it was a bigger fire, you could've burned the house down! ''.

'' Eh, I'll get it eventually, '' I say, trying my best not to let his mild scolding ruin my mood.

'' You won't get it on your own, '' says Adam, '' which means, we now know what we have to do next. Step one of our plan to bring down the Mogadorians, I've got to train and help you to gain full control over your pyrokinetic power, ''.

The power to create and manipulate fire? This is probably the best legacy I could have ever asked for, at least as a first legacy!

'' Uh...alright, I guess, '' I say.

'' I'll leave you for a few minutes to go to the grocery and get some matches so we can practise your power, training starts immediately! ''.