Flashback 10

by Schammielynn

70 rugged, tired-looking student trudged off the bus.

No luggage.

Nothing but the clothes on our backs.

And none of us cared. We all wanted our families. We all wanted to go home. I longed for Aly's embrace, traces of Oswin's magic, and Terry's jokes. Our stuff didn't matter.

I needed away.

The cold sensation was following me everywhere. I was beginning to worry that maybe the Wicked Witch had cursed me when she was inches away from me and threatening my life, but that was the least of my concerns.

We knew of 15 students and staff that had perished so far. That was a lot. And the numbers were growing with each spot they checked. Each cabin had been wrecked; windows were blown out and smoke charred the furniture. We were glad to get away.

When we arrived at the school, I isolated myself from my peers and sat against the bleachers, hugging my knees to my chest. It took a lot to not break down. My friends avoided me. The teachers treated me like taboo.

I was the reason all of this happened. Zelena singled me out. People were dead because Zelena had to deliver a message to me.

I put my head in my hands, rubbed my eyes, pulled back my dark brown hair, tried not to think about it. Every emotion was flooding through me. And where were Aly and Oswin? Parents were picking up their children in tearful reunions. Where were mine? Did Aly and Oswin realize the problem I caused? Did they decide to abandon me?

As I panicked, I watched as ice spread around the ground and on the bleachers. It was warm season. Ice wasn't supposed to happen. I scooted away from the patches of silvery white, but it only followed me.

"Stop, stop… please, stop." I whimpered, burying my head into my arms and shivering a little.

Eventually there was only me and a few other students left to be picked up. The teachers scowled at me, while comforting the other kids. The death toll was up to 25, and it was obvious that aside from Zelena, everyone blamed me. The ice patch surrounding me was slowly growing everywhere I touched. I did my best to hide it, but that was easier said than done.

Suddenly the door slammed open, I popped up my head from my position and found Aly standing there with tears streaming down her face.

"ALY!" I cried and ran towards her, slipping, tripping, and stumbling on the way there.

She caught me in her arms and hugged me tight to her. "I thought you were dead. I thought…" He voice broke and I hugged her tighter. I didn't realize how much I had missed her.

"I was afraid you weren't going to come for me. It's all my fault, Aly. All my fault."

Aly pulled me away and cradled my face in her hands, wiping away all the tears, "Oh Essie, dear I will always come for you. And none of this is your fault."

She hugged me again and I wondered how people could be both so horrifically bad and wonderfully kind.

When we pulled apart she walked me towards the doors. The teachers seemed to give an apologetic glance at Aly, and then glare back at me. I tried my best to avoid them.

"Where's Oswin?"
"He was just as worried as I was, but his place was to get the news out to everyone. Look."

We entered the outside world and she pointed up at the sky.

"Oswin does that?"

Aly nodded. "I had to stop by and tell him that I was coming here to find you. I couldn't just leave him out of it."
"The witch didn't try and hurt you guys, did she?"
"No… No we're fine. For now. Want to go see Oswin?"
I nodded. We hopped on a transport to Oswin's tower. She sat with her arm around me and I didn't complain. All I could think about were the bodies scattered around camp, the injuries, Flora's face as the witch threatened me, threatened Oz.

"You're positively freezing," she commenting. I blushed and shied away from her gaze, the long strands of hair over my shoulder seemed to have lightened, but I couldnt have been sure.
"Essie, what is it?"
"Not now," I whispered nervously.

We got to Oswin's tower quickly and took the elevator up to his floor.

"But Mr. Oswin, sir…"

"Can't I leave YET?! My daughter was at that camp!" Oswin was screaming from behind the door. While I was upset that he was stuck here, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride that he had called me his daughter.

"Oswin," Aly called, knocking on the door. "It's us. She's fine."
He threw open the door and a look of relief spread across his face. He gave me a loose hug and then rested a hand on my shoulders, "We were so worried."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn't find the words.

"Aly, I've got to stay here and finish up distributing the news. Essie, wanna be the eyewitness and tell me what happened?" he asked. "I trust you to tell the truth."

I looked between he and Aly.

I nodded. "But only to you both. I don't want anyone else in the room."

Oswin motion for Aly and I to walk in, and then ushered the crowd of politics out. "Go home, be with your families. I'll make sure the news it delivered. As usual."

They walked out, eyeballing me as if to contemplate my worth.

"Have a seat, both of you." Oswin plopped down in a huge chair and I sat in the one next to him.

"And tell me absolutely everything."

I proceeded to tell him every little detail. Zelena's threats. Zelena's anger and rage and her ruthless ability to kill 25 children. Neither Aly or Oswin said anything the entire time, and when I finished, Oswin frowned.

"I knew it would come to this. War. It's been a while since…"

"What is it?" I asked, looking up at him curiously.

"What's that around your hands, Essie?"

I lifted my hands up from their position on the chair, and ice had formed around them, just as they had when I was waiting for Aly to come and get me in the school.

"What is that? Frost?" he asked again, frantically. He rushed over and grabbed my hands. "You're freezing."
"I don't know. Really… It's been happening whenever I think about Zelena or anything scary, lately."

He squeezed his eyes and concentrated hard, holding both of my hands in his.

Then his eyes shot open and for the first time, I was almost positive I knew what he was thinking. He didn't blink for a second, but his green eyes twinkled with fear and exhilaration. At what, I wasn't sure. But he took a took a deep breath, and with a sad sort of smirk he whispered.

"Essie, you've got magic."