Liane's+Novella

In the course of one of my back flip combos, the ceiling of the DADF (Defense Against the Dark Forces) room caved in. Chunks the size of pick up trucks fell to the ground and bright foggy white light filtered through the holes. The sudden change from misty darkness to this sudden bright was disorientating. I dodged the falling debris as I cart wheeled towards the wall. I bumped into Bri as my hands were feeling the edges of the wood paneled walls. “Piper, what’s happening?” She grabbed my hands. “Close your eyes and focus!” I shut my eyes with sudden intensity. From within my mind, I could see faint shapes from outside. I could feel the energies of moving things. The colors I saw represented what was within these energies. Evil alien forces were red, always red. My power was considered weak to the Glockspores, the alien cult from Pluto, and was the only reason I wasn’t taken. My mother and father, Light Benders, were taken when I was eight. I couldn’t remember their faces, only the bright white light I saw whenever I closed my eyes. “It’s the Glockspores,” I whispered as I opened my eyes suddenly. “They’re checking up on us again.” I could feel the fear etched in Bri’s bright blue eyes as they bored into mine. I closed my eyes again and could sense the bodies of all the other classmates pressed up against the walls of the DADF. Sweat beaded up on my furrowed brow. The frustration was getting to me; we weren’t ready to fight, not yet. It was hard trying to keep my mind both within the DADF and keeping tabs on the outside. It was always hard; living in two worlds at every second of the day, just blinking was confusing. It’s always been difficult to try to explain what goes on in my mind when I close my eyes. I assume it’s hard to imagine, when the only thing that goes through other people’s minds are their own thoughts. But in my head, my thoughts share the company of the reality of energies surrounding me. It became silent outside. The crunching of buildings came to a halt, and I couldn’t feel any bodies running around outside anymore. But I kept my eyes closed. I waited, trying to extend the reach of my Sight. With a sudden panic I realized I had not been checking the skies. I quickly shifted my mind upwards to see large round projectiles hurdling through the air. “Bombs! Duck!” I screamed. Bri and I sheltered our heads within our bodies. It all happened in slow motion. The sound of the incoming bomb was piercing. It was a sound so high pitched it made your ears want to bleed. As it got lower towards the ground the sound deepened until it felt like your spine was vibrating. I closed my eyes again but with difficulty; my own sense of self-preservation was begging to keep my eyes open. But I soon saw the bomb wasn’t headed for us. When it hit the field the bomb was intended for, the rumbling crash was deafening. It was like lions the size of elephants roaring with rage while crocodiles rhythmically snapped their large jaws with full force. It lasted for about three seconds, but for those entire three seconds, your heart didn’t beat. We were lucky. Today the Glockspores weren’t looking to kill, only to frighten, to decrease our morale. But still, it worked. We all stayed locked into our crouching positions until we heard the Sporeships take off with a light pulsing noise. The darkness came flooding back into the DADF, but our eyes were quick to adjust. Morgan was the first to rise. “Everyone up.” He said a bit timidly. It wasn’t like him to be timid. His thickly muscled arms were crossed against his chest. His veins were pulsing beneath his dark skin. It was unnerving to see him this way, our normally tough Captain, shaken enough into uncertainty. I was the first to get up, because I already knew the danger was past. The joints of my knees were sore from kneeling on them. Bri got up with shivering legs slowly. I grabbed her shaking hand with my steady one. “I swear your not normal, Piper,” she teased. “Why aren’t you shaking like the rest of us? I have to admit, I’m jealous of your bravery.” I scoffed. “Bravery? I almost wet myself.” The lightness of my attitude and my apparent lie made us both laugh. Morgan walked around the DADF, examining everyone for injuries. He made it over to me and Bri. He patted me on the shoulder. I took it as thanks. Morgan was a man of very few words. He made his way all around. Thankfully no one was hurt today. “Everyone head home. But be careful. Send injured people back here when you see them. That’s all for today.” Morgan looked at me one last time as he climbed up the rope ladder to the first floor. Bri climbed up the ladder with me not far behind her. I had lived with Bri since the time my parents were abducted. It was part of why we were so close. Almost like sisters. We could have been, but in looks we were opposite. I was long and lanky, with short brown hair and green eyes. My face was pointed. I was tan, muscled and fast from the endless training I put myself through. Bri on the other hand was petite with long wavy blond hair. She was beautiful. She had soft blue eyes that reminded you of summer skies. She wasn’t as strong as me, but she was flexible and quick. What we did have in common though, was our hands. They looked exactly the same, broken fingernails and calluses in exactly the same places. As we climbed the ladder, the light filtering from above was strange. I poked my head from the entrance hole and looked around. The chunks blown out from the floor here were huge. But they were all in the center of the floor and all of us in the basement were cowering safe at the edges. The roof was gone. “The Glockspore pilots need better training,” I said casually. I smirked at Bri and she gave me a reproachful look. We stepped out of the DADF grounds and looked around. Considering what the aliens could have done, there really wasn’t much damage to the town. The windows in all the buildings were gone, probably shattered from the explosion. I started making my way toward the field where the bomb hit. “Gah! Piper, what are you doing? We’re supposed to go straight home. Don’t go looking for danger!” she said incredulously. But I quickened my pace. The sidewalk was a bit crumbled. Fragments of it were mixed with old bottle caps and broken glass. The sky brightened suddenly to a brilliant blue. I sighed. The sun was so rare these days. I made my way towards the field with Bri on my tail. The grass wasn’t green. It had a sick scorched color to it. It was brownish and burnt. Straight in the center was a large crater. My throat felt a bit thick, this was where I used to play with my parents. “Just give me a second to check it out.” I said softly to Bri. She stayed back at the edge of the crater. As I made my way to the middle of it, I noticed a red flag. It had the pictures of planets: Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter. Pluto was where the Glockspores originated. ***** The Glockspores’ methods of domination were ruthless. They took large expanding bubble-like containment orbs and surrounded an entire planet and essentially sucked the life from it. Water, air, everything. They stripped the planet until nothing was left, and there was room for the Glockspores to populate. Because of its size, we thought Jupiter was safe. But again we were wrong. The Niemeds of Jupiter were decimated just like the Cromies. All that was left of both of their species were the ones that happened to be on Earth at the time of their planet’s attack. Once the Glockspores had taken Jupiter, they frequented attacks on various locations on Earth. It was frightening, not knowing when and where they were going to strike next. But it has been what we have been dealing with for quite some time. Life on Mars was frantic. Large space shuttles filled with the human colonies established there came back to Earth. Mars was next in line for the Glockspores, but that only meant there was a little bit of time left for Earth. The humans from Mars were sent to fighting camps like the one me and Bri went to. Little could be done to the Glockspores with their massive and highly advanced technology. The eventual plan for all humans would be to invade Mars after it had been taken over. The leader of the Glockspores had never been seen by the eyes of anyone besides the Glockspores themselves. However we did know that the leader, once the newly claimed planet was depleted completely of the former life there, would ceremoniously place a flag before him on the planet, officially declaring it Glockspore territory. Brute strength was all we had left against the Glockspores. Weapons were useless against them. We needed the element of surprise on our side to win. Once Mars was taken, we would send our armies there to find the Glockspore leader and destroy him once and for all. Since Mars was not so far from defeat, the humans of Earth were nervously on edge. However this was all easier said than done. First off, no one even knew what the Glockspore leader looked like, or even his name. Finding him would seem almost impossible altogether. Another problem would be invading Mars without triggering any defense mechanisms the Glockspores would almost surely have up against us. But we did have one thing in our favor. The Glockspores, so conceited were they, that they had absolutely no idea we were planning anything against them. ** I was crouching in the middle of the crater with my hands running through the blackened earth. I could feel the lifelessness of the ground. I closed my eyes. Everything that was once in the field was still. I got up. My head spun a little. I staggered back towards Bri. She was looking at me strange, was it pity? “Let’s go home,” She said. She put her arm around my waist, supporting some of my weight. “There’s a pint of ice cream with out names on it.” She grinned at me, and I grinned back. The nice thing about my friendship with Bri was that silence wasn’t uncomfortable like some people would think. Just Bri’s mere presence was a comfort to me, and I hope I was something of a comfort to her. Our friendship developed on many levels since the Glockspores started expanding their territory. We went from playground buddies to comrades as well as sisters. Bri lived only with her aunt. Bri’s parents were on vacation in Jupiter when the Glockspores attacked. I still hear Bri crying sometimes at night, it was an understanding we had that we never discussed our parents. It was a topic we mutually avoided. When we got to Bri’s house, the front door opened up almost immediately. I stared up into the very worried face of Bri’s aunt. “We’re fine, Hannah,” Bri said calmly. Bri gave an exasperated sigh when Hannah pulled us both into a tight bear hug. “I’ve been worried sick! Where ////were//// you! The bomb went off two ////hours//// ago. Why didn’t you come straight home?!” Hannah said this in all about one breath of air. Her face got very red. “We just got caught up along the way. We’re not hurt, neither is anyone else at the DADF.” I said. I slowly extracted myself from Hannah’s arms and Bri did too. She could be a bit exuberant sometimes. Hannah took a few deep breaths and her face turned back to its normal rosy color. “Okay then,” she said with feigned calmness. She ran her fingers through her short curly hair. She took a few steps back to examine us more thoroughly. “You two don’t know what it’s like just sitting around all alone at home. It ////excruciating//// sitting here like a little useless old lady waiting around for you to come home. “You’re not useless.” Bri said sternly and stepped forward to give her another hug. “You probably make the best cupcakes in the universe.” Bri gave Hannah a kiss on the cheek. “I can’t say I disagree to that.” I said with a grin. “I’m starved, what’s for dinner?” “Well,” Hannah started. She looked at us guiltily. “I didn’t make anything today… I was fretting around quite a bit you know. And I was out shopping when the bomb went off and I made a run for it, and you know I’m not as fit as I was about ten years ago and, and,” she began to stutter. “That’s fine, Hannah,” Bri said laughingly. “You sound like you committed a murder.” “Well I’d ////like//// to murder those foul Glockyspark things.” Hannah said threateningly. “Glockspores,” I corrected. I kicked off my muddy shoes and headed down the hallway. The carpet was worn down in the middle, but you could still make out the faded tribal designs of the Niemeds. The house was old and small, but it was home. Bri and I got to the fridge. It was pretty much empty. I opened the freezer door and a whoosh of cool air puffed out at my face. Bri grabbed a pint of ice cream. We climbed up the stairs together into our room. I sat cross legged in the middle of the room between our two beds. Bri went into her drawer and pulled out two spoons; we were always prepared for nights like these. We dug our way through the cookie dough ice cream. “Why did you go into the crater earlier?” Bri asked me. I thought for a moment. Up until now I wasn’t completely sure. “I think, well I don’t know. It made me angry. That there was a gaping whole in a place where…” I trailed off, thinking of how to word my feelings in a way that didn’t make me seem like a sap. “What is it?” Bri said gently. “Well, it’s just, that field…” I didn’t want to talk about this, it just made me feel worse thinking about it. It was better not to dwell. “Just tell me, it will make you feel better.” She said. I paused and sighed, giving up. “It’s where my parents used to take me after school everyday.” I explained. It felt foolish. I couldn’t control the wave of sadness, then anger I felt towards the Glockspores every time I thought of my parents. That night I couldn’t sleep. I could hear Bri’s soft breathing near me. I sat up and looked around the room. The pint of ice cream lay empty and forgotten on the rug. I wrapped my blanket around my shoulders, I was always cold. I closed my eyes and saw the bright yellow light Bri was. I could also see Hannah sleeping safe in her room. I sank back against the wall of the room remembering my parents. I remembered the day they were taken. It was the strongest memory I had of them, but even in this memory I couldn’t remember their faces.
 * The planet of Pluto was too small to satisfy the Glockspores’ continually growing population. They started their quest for universal domination about ten years ago. We all thought they would stop with Neptune. It was no-man’s land. There was no life there. Then they took Uranus, but that planet too was unpopulated. Everyone thought they had enough land to last them a long time, but the rate at which they reproduced was sickening. Panic spread when they took Saturn. The inhabitants of Saturn were our friends. The Cromies were a peaceful alien species. They got along with us humans as well as the species on Jupiter and the humans on Mars.

***** “The ducks fly south before the winter,” I explained knowingly. “They get really cold, not like us.” We played hide and seek. It was my favorite game. We played it everyday. I never got sick of it. I loved being the seeker, I could never lose. With my Sight, I simply closed my eyes and looked for their bright white light. I guess it was an unfair advantage, but my parents were Light Benders. Not only did they have the ability to bend physical light, but they could also bend the light that showed up in my mind whenever they wanted. Sometimes they played tricks on me. They would bend the light in my head and make me think they were somewhere else. That day I was the seeker, and from that day on I regretted that choice. I remember closing my eyes behind an old tree. Back then my Sight couldn’t reach very far away from me. I remember finishing my countdown from ten. I ran from behind the tree with my eyes closed, focusing on their light. But I was confused, they were both together. They usually split themselves far away from each other to make it at least a bit of a challenge for me. I fully remember the shock that came next. Before that day, I never saw the color red as an energy within my mind. That day I did, it was right next to my parents’ wonderful white light. The color I associated with love and safety and kindness, the color I knew best. I remember running wildly with my eyes still closed. The amount of concentration I exerted within my mind pushed my sight out further than I had ever known possible. I saw my parents being taken away, that beautiful white light being engulfed by the unfamiliar red. I opened my eyes and saw for the first time a Sporeship. More Glockspores flooded out of it and surrounded my parents as they tried to defend themselves, but it was too late for them. I remember full out sprinting towards the Sporeship with my eyes closed. The white light I needed to see was drowned out by the blood red color of the Glockspores. I never saw my parents after then. ** I came back to present mind. I fell back on my blanket and stared up at the ceiling. My parents weren’t the only ones taken. The Glockspores took anyone they deemed a powerful addition to their army. Light Benders were on the top of their list. Light Benders could alter vision. They could blind you, or they could make you see something completely different from what was surrounding you. They could light up a pitch-black room with no effort at all. They were the ultimate defense against threat. I closed my eyes without sleeping, just taking comfort from the presence of Bri’s yellow energy. Morning came and I never really got to sleep. I slowly got out of bed and crept over to Bri who was sleeping soundly. I jumped up onto the end of her bed and grabbed her arms. She screamed. Her eyes darted around wildly, finally focusing on my face. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at me. “Not funny in the least, Piper. I was dreaming about those freaky Glockspores. Not a good time to scare me.” She stuck her tongue out at me and lightly pushed me off of her bed. Hannah was still asleep as usual. She didn’t need to wake up so early to go to school. We tiptoed around the house getting ready. I never understood why Bri took so long deciding what to wear. It’s not like we really see anyone, and all we do at the DADF is sweat. Who cares about looks there? She tucked the stray hairs from her ponytail behind her ears. “Ready?” I asked her as I opened the front door. “As always.” She replied. “Three, two, one, GO!” I shouted. We began the mad sprint towards the DADF. Every morning we raced there. I’ve always been faster than Bri, but she had better endurance, and the DADF was about five miles from home. From the beginning I was in the lead, looking back complacently at Bri who was about ten feet back. She made a face at me. I laughed as I pushed harder into the ground with my sneakers. My breathing came faster, but my body felt free. Speed was an escape for us. I loved the way the wind whipped at my face and body, and the way the ground crunched beneath my feet at every step. “Can you keep up?” I teased as I looked back at Bri, who was falling back a bit. She sped up a little making up a bit of the distance between us. I turned back in front of me. The DADF was in view. I squinted and saw something that made me slow down. As I came to a stop, Bri caught up. “What are you doing? Don’t let me win!” she said. “I’m not, just look over there.” I pointed towards the DADF. Bri’s eyes opened wide. “Let’s go.” I said. We ran together then instead of against each other. There was a large space ship right behind the DADF. I closed my eyes. The ship I saw behind the DADF wasn’t red. I sighed with relief. That meant that the Glockspores weren’t gracing us with another appearance. We got there together and rushed through the swinging doors to the DADF.I bumped right into Morgan who was standing near the entrance. “In a rush?” He asked. His arms were crossed, per usual. “We just wanted to know…” Bri began. “What’s that spaceship doing in the back?” I asked before Bri could finish. “Last shipment of humans from Mars.” Morgan explained. “They haven’t come out of the ship yet though, they’re doing a check for stowaways.” “And they didn’t check before they took off because…?” I trailed off. Morgan merely shrugged. Bri gave me a puzzled expression. We went out back to take in the massive ship that was taking up the entire backyard of the DADF. The rest of the class came strolling in with their mouths wide open, not bothering to conceal their amazement. I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling the warm sun bake into my skin. I missed the sun when it was gone, and it was gone so often these days. I heard the door of the ship open with a quiet swoosh. I kept my eyes closed. “How many are there?” Bri whispered. “Twelve.” I answered. I could feel the blobs surrounding the exit, their colors indistinguishable for the moment. “Tell me the colors!” Bri pleaded. She was always curious. I sighed. “Blue, pink, light blue, green- ooh! A yellow like you! Orange, another pink, dark purple, brown, emerald, hmm… magenta? And…” I stopped short and gasped. The very last color was white, a deep brilliant white. ***** I first learned I was a Sensor when I turned five years old. It was near the end of my birthday party and my friends were beating a big pink piñata. “Let your friends go first.” I remember my mom saying. I sighed and sat down next to a tree. “You’ll go right after Bri, okay?” she said sympathetically. I watched my friends while they tried on vain to hit the piñata with the long wooden stick. They walked dangerously around, dizzy and confused. I couldn’t understand why they were having such trouble with the game, it seemed lame and easy to me. When it was my turn, my dad wrapped a bandana tight around my eyes and spun me around three times while my friends counted cheerily. I could feel the colors of my friends swirl around me as I turned, it was beautiful watching the rainbow before my eyes. Once a cycle, I could see my parents with their unique white light. The bandana still tied around my head, I surveyed my surroundings. My mother was beside the piñata a few feet away, and my dad right in front of me. I turned and faced the piñata, a dark green shape. I took the three steps needed and took one accurate and powerful swipe at it. The piñata broke and I heard the candy escape from it. My friends cheered and ran towards the candy in a frenzied swarm. My mother took off my bandana slowly, looking into my eyes with concern. “How did you find it so quickly?” she asked. I looked at her with my brows furrowed. ////What did she mean?//// “How did you know where it was?” dad said. I gazed longingly at the pile of candy that was making its way into my friends’ goodie bags. “I just saw it. It was right behind me, a big green shape.” I broke away from my parents to scoop up what was left of the candy. That night, after dinner, my parents told me to go watch TV in the living room, which was strange because they usually made me go straight to bed. I sat on the couch not turning on the TV. I was listening to my parents talk in hushed whisper. Finally, my father called me back into the kitchen. I remember feeling like I had done something wrong, scared that I was in trouble. I sat down in the chair across from them. They both looked quizzically into my eyes. “Close your eyes, Piper.” My mom said. I did as I was told and their two white lights burst before me. I kept my eyes closed still and watched as my father got up and went into the corner of the kitchen. “Where’s your father, Piper?” my mom asked casually. I got up and made my way to him with my eyes closed, as easily as if they were open. When I got to my father I hugged him. I opened my eyes and saw that my parents’ faces were filled with wonder. **
 * We were in the field on a muggy spring day after school ended. I remember telling them what I learned about birds that day.

“What is it?” Bri hissed. I sat there frozen, my mind concentrating on the white light only ten feet from me. I wanted to open my eyes so much, but for some reason couldn’t bring myself to do it. // //Could it really be my parents?// // But I saw there was only one light. Bri pinched my arm hard. “Ow!” I yelped as I sat up suddenly. I looked into the crowd of people that just got off the ship. I scanned through them one by one, eliminating until I finally went through them all. I double-checked; I recognized none of them. // //If I saw one of them, I would definitely have recognized them.// // I thought sadly. I wished so badly that I could bring their faces to my mind right that instant, but like always, I just couldn’t remember exactly what they looked like. I was curious now to find out who the white one was. I closed my eyes again, and saw, with another pang in my chest, the white shape. It was at the very end of the line of newcomers. My eyes opened hungrily to see this person. The people filed through until at last the person was in view. It was a boy about my age. His skin was tanned like mine, exposed to too much sun. I squinted to get a better look. His hair was very short, shaved almost right down to the scalp. The way he moved was sort of graceful, he swayed his arms in poetic relation to the swing of his legs. I blinked, ashamed of my staring, and looked down suddenly. Bri tapped my shoulder and pointed meaningfully at the boy with an approving look. I narrowed my eyes at her. I closed my eyes shut trying not to look at him, but his white energy was almost harder to tear my mind away from. I opened my eyes trying to escape from the white beauty of his energy only to see him looking at me too. I felt my face heat up. My eyes widened at this fact, I never blushed, ever. He raised his eyebrows at me, which made my blush disappear as quickly as it surfaced. I glared at him, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but noticing how nice and square his jaw was. I internally cursed myself for exposing weakness. The group from Mars filed their way through the doors into the DADF with Morgan trailing them. I sat there motionless, my breathing a bit faster than normal. I felt pathetic. Years without male interaction had turned me into a romantic. I gagged a little. “Wow, did you ////see//// that guy?” Bri squealed. It was so Bri to fall head over heals for a boy every month. But this time I couldn’t blame her. “He was hot!” Her eyes opened wider as she said this. I kept quiet, wanting to keep my fervent agreement private for now. “Eeeeeeeeee! He was ////really//// cute.” She started bouncing up and down. I sighed roughly. She stopped bouncing. “What’s wrong with you?” She said. She sat down next to me with a big smile on her face. “Guys that cute don’t come down from Mars everyday you know.” “Ha ha. It’s nothing. Just go and introduce yourself to him.” Bri went through guys like tissues. She was having a rare break, she was single for about two weeks, a record. Bri stood up and looked at me. At first she narrowed her eyes at me, and then a smile suddenly widened across her face. “You’re ////interested//// aren’t you!” She squeaked. She grabbed my hands and started jumping around. “Oh! You’re going to look so adorable together!” “Bri!” I said sternly. “Calm down, I don’t even know him. I only know what he looks like!” But on the inside, I knew there was something strange about the way I thought about him. I’ve only even known two other people with a white energy. Bri grinned devilishly. I could almost see the horns sticking out from her ponytail. “You like him! You like him!” she chanted. “God! I ////swear//// Bri, you can be so immature!” I sat back down, refusing to look Bri in the eye. I closed my eyes, blocking my mind from the physical world. But I hadn’t thought that action through. Just behind me leaning against the wall from the inside of the DADF was that brilliant white light. I took a few deep breaths. ////It’s not your parents.//// I thought to myself. ////But it//// was ////a really cute guy…//// “UGH!” I said suddenly. I was a bit disgusted with myself. Bri jumped a little. I shook my head back and forth roughly. I wasn’t that type of girl, the kind that hyperventilated at the feet of hot guys, drooling and begging for attention. But there I was, combing my fingers through my short hair nervously. What was so special about that guy anyway? “Hm, well if you aren’t going to go meet Mr. No Name, then I will.” Bri said matter-of-factly. She ran off towards the door while humming loudly. It only took me a second to spring up after her. She looked back at me and stuck her tongue out. // //Not this time, Bri.// // I thought. I glared at her and she giggled in a ‘try and catch me’ sort of way. I ran at full throttle and got ahead of her, once there I whirled around to face her. She had a pleased look on her face. “Well, go ahead, no one’s stopping you.” She said smugly. I pursed my lips. My arms were folded across my chest. “You kind of look like Morgan when you do that.” I couldn’t help but laugh at that one. My laugh had a bit of a hysterical edge to it though, I was nervous for what I was about to do. Bri turned me around and squeezed my shoulders. She got up onto her tippy toes and whispered into my ear. “Just relax!” she said, like it was so obvious. For her it was easy, she did it practically every day. “Just be your normal charming self.” “Ha.” I said. Bri gave me a push in his direction. I closed my eyes and saw the white light, and it strengthened my resolve. His light just felt ////right////. I breathed in deeply through my nose and opened my eyes as I blew out from my mouth. My palms started to sweat. ////Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic!//// His back was to me as I made my way awkwardly towards him. When I was close, he turned and saw me. I looked into his eyes and noticed they were hazel. I could feel the back of my neck heating up. He raised his eyebrows at me again. I ignored that. I took a deep breath. “So, I hear you guys were the last humans on Mars.” “Yeah, it’s like a wasteland there. Completely empty, it was kind of spooky being the last ones to leave.” “Huh.” I scrambled through my mind for something else to say. “How was the ride here?” I needed to think of something better to talk about. “It was fine, until we found a Glockspore hiding in the engine room.” “Really? So that’s what Morgan was talking about!” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it when I closed my eyes earlier, I must have been too distracted by this boy’s light. “What happened to it?” I asked eagerly. “Well, let’s just say it got what it deserved.” He flexed his arms impressively. I raised an eyebrow at him, but couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed. So what if he was a bit cocky? “I wish I couldn’t have swung a few punches at it.” I said. “It would have been nice to hit something that wasn’t a punching bag for once.” “I know what you mean. Hey, what’s your name again?” “Oh yeah. Introduction, completely slipped my mind.” I laughed nervously and blushed again. “I’m Piper.” I smiled at him. “Drake.” The name seemed so fitting somehow. “Well, I have to go back to my friend now; class is going to start soon…” “It was nice meeting you, Piper. But control your blushing next time.” He said with a smirk. My mouth fell open a bit and I glared at him. “I’ll try.” I said stiffly. My insides were fuming and bubbling at the same time. It must have shown on my face because when I got to Bri her face changed from a huge smile to one of concern. “Uh oh, what happened?” She asked. I rolled my eyes. “Well, he’s annoying, and egotistical.” ////And cute, and friendly and strong.//// I thought to myself. “Oh, well you just met him. First impressions can change.” “I doubt it, I hate being teased.” I looked back at him and caught his eye. He was staring at me with his greenish brown eyes. He was still smiling. “Ugh, let’s go downstairs.” I said and made my way to the ladder. The DADF was cleaned up since yesterday, the holes in the ceiling were still there, but all the debris from the roof was gone. The sunlight streamed into the room in an odd way. It was usually dark. Bri and I and the rest of the class stood with our backs to the walls. “We’re going to be partnering up today.” Morgan said. I assumed I would partner up with Bri, until someone poked me in the side. “Hey there partner!” I heard Drake say. I turned around slowly with a look of deep irritation. What was he doing down here anyway? “Sorry, I already have a partner.” I said airily and turned to look at Bri. When I turned I stood there for a moment confused; she was gone. She was right next to me earlier. I looked around and saw that Bri was retreating away from me giving me a meaningful look. She had a smile stretched across her entire face. “What are you doing?” I mouthed. She just grinned all smugly, like she was doing me a favor. “Huh, seems like you don’t have a partner after all.” Drake said. I glared at him. “Fine, I’ll be your partner, if you keep your obnoxious tendencies to a minimum.” I snapped. “I’ll try.” So now he was mocking me. Wonderful. I went over to the closet and grabbed a red punching pad. “Begin.” Morgan said. Drake and I faced each other. I held the pad in front of me, ready to dodge quickly. Drake was fast; I had underestimated his speed. But I was faster. Every punch he threw was met equally with a dodge by me. He grew frustrated aiming for the small pad in front of me. I leaned to the left and right, some were bare misses, until he finally laid a punch right square in the middle of the pad. “Gotcha.” He said. “Yeah, after about twenty tries.” I said. He was sweating, but had a look of determination in his face. “Switch.” I heard Morgan order. I threw the pad at Drake with a little bit too much force. I started with punches, but realized that he too was good at dodging my attempts. He ducked and swerved until I decided I’d be best to start kicking. I swung around and threw my leg into the air. As I did so, he threw the pad to the ground and caught my foot just as it was about to hit his neck. He held my leg there for a second. “Well this is awkward.” He said. I looked at him disgusted and swung a swift punch right into his gut. He buckled forward and gasped, releasing my foot from his grasp. I stood there watching him with my eyebrows raised. He coughed a few times. “That wasn’t fair.” He wheezed. He was supporting himself on his knees. “Well, that’s what the pad’s for. No one told you to put it down.” “Blindfolds on!” Morgan barked. I picked up a blindfold that was hanging near me. As if I needed vision. Practicing blind was important if we wanted to defeat the Glockspores. Sometimes born into the Glockspore species were the most dreadful beings imaginable. They were called Venids. They had the power to blind you, like a Light Bender. But they were exponentially more powerful. If they you touched them skin to skin, they could burn your flesh right to your bones. I’ve only ever seen one once before in my entire life. It blinded me with its evil power. It made my eyes feel like they were on fire. I remember closing my eyes and seeing the energy of the demon hurting me. It wasn’t a plain red like the normal Glockspores, but a burning, flaming red that seared my eyes. The Glockspores only had a few Venids. When they were born, it was celebrated; they were the pride of the Glockspore species. On Pluto, they guarded their leader. With the Glockspores’ ever increasing population, we knew that the amounted of Venids they had on hand would have skyrocketed. We had to expect them on Mars guarding the very thing we wanted to destroy most. **
 * The day my parents were taken was a day I’ll never forget. But the most scarring image I have of that day was the Venid that looked me straight in the eye as it closed the door of the Sporeship that took my parents. It was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. It wore robes of black, but it didn’t cover its horrible face. It was the face that did it. It looked like a human corpse, dead ten times over. It was the eyes of the creature that was most frightening. The whites of its eyes were completely gone. The eyes were just a deep black that made it seem like you could look right into its soul.
 * The day my parents were taken was a day I’ll never forget. But the most scarring image I have of that day was the Venid that looked me straight in the eye as it closed the door of the Sporeship that took my parents. It was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. It wore robes of black, but it didn’t cover its horrible face. It was the face that did it. It looked like a human corpse, dead ten times over. It was the eyes of the creature that was most frightening. The whites of its eyes were completely gone. The eyes were just a deep black that made it seem like you could look right into its soul.

I could feel Drake’s white light directly in front of me. I knew I had an extreme advantage, but I decided not to let him know that just yet. My awareness of his position in front of me would make this an easy match. No one liked partnering up with me for the blindfolded period of class, not even Bri. “Begin.” Morgan instructed. Drake started with a swipe from the left. I swerved quickly and avoided it immediately. I could almost imagine his incredulous face. I smiled. He came at me again with but from the right. I stayed put that time, but brought my arm up to block it. “Do you have a super acute hearing or something?” He asked. “Nope, and don’t hold back.” I smirked at him. He began to hit faster, and in different directions each time, left, right, up and down. I started off dodging them perfectly. Then I began twisting and kicking, throwing punches in between, aiming for his midsection. His white light stretched, he was going in for a kick. I bent over backwards, making his foot pass right over me. I flattened myself to the floor and swung my legs to meet the back of his feet and tripped him. I heard his crash to the floor. I took my blindfold off, with a huge grin on my face and stood up to look down on him. “I win.” I said in a sing-song voice. “Doesn’t seem like you’ll be having much trouble with the Venids.” He said, disgruntled. “Probably not, if they keep their hands to themselves.” I said. I heard Morgan blow his whistle, but it seemed too early. “We’re finished for today, same time tomorrow everyone.” I held out my hand to Drake who was still on the floor. He took it and I pulled him up. He gingerly felt the spot of his stomach where I had hit him before. He gritted his teeth. “You hit hard.” He grumbled. I merely shrugged. I turned to look for Bri to go home with her. But when I looked, she was nowhere to be found. “Bri?” I called out. No answer. I walked up to the partner she had today and tapped his shoulder. “Parker, where did Bri go?” “She said she had to go home quickly today.” “Did she say what for?” “No…” I ran to the ladder. I scrambled up it quickly and clumsily. Why did Bri leave me here? I saw her walking at a quick pace towards home. I ran to catch up. “Where... are… you going?” I asked breathless. She turned to look at me. “What are you doing?” She said. “Go back! Right now!” This caught me off guard. I stared at her, affronted. “What are you talking about?” “You are so clueless!” She said. I gave her a very confused look. “Clueless about what?” She just stared at me for a few seconds, as if waiting for something big to sink into my brain. Nothing happened. “Ugh!” She huffed. She nodded her chin over my shoulder at something behind me. I turned around. Leaving the door of the DADF and looking over at me was Drake. My face turned very red. Bri took a step closer to me and pushed me back. “Go on.” She urged. “I swear, it’s so hard to do you a fricking favor!” She mumbled under her breath. I scowled at her, but followed the motion of her shove. I looked back hesitantly and she gave me an encouraging nod. As I walked back to the DADF, I passed by Drake. “Where’s your friend going?” He asked me. “She’s ditching me.” I replied. If only that were really it. She was ////setting me up////. I shuddered. “Oh, how nice of her.” I heard the smile in his voice. “You know, I’m pretty hungry after being beat up by you.” He coughed a softly. “Know any places we could get lunch?” “We?” I said in false disgust. I inwardly squealed when he said this. He looked at me expectantly “Um, yeah I know a place.” I willed myself not to blush and lead the way to a sandwich shop only a few minutes from the DADF. My annoyance with him seemed to fade away. Not long after we started walking did Drake ask me about my strange ease with fighting him blind. “How did you know exactly where to strike me, and when and where I was going to hit you?” He asked, real curiosity burning behind his words. I took in a deep breath, wondering where to begin. “I’m a Sensor.” I said. I watched his eyes go wide. His face then turned eager, waiting for my explanation. I started with the specifics of my power, not all Sensors were the same. I told him about the colors I saw within my mind and how far my Sight stretched. “And what color am I?” He asked. “White.” I didn’t mention how very beautiful I thought his color was. I finished explaining my power right as we reached the sandwich shop. We sat in the backyard of the shop; the ground was soft and grassy. I glanced up at the sky. It was no longer blue and sunny as it was this morning, but white and bright. “Tell me about Mars.” I asked as I bit into a turkey sandwich. “It was out of control, the last few weeks.” He began. “Everyone was in a mad rush to get on a ship to Earth.” “The why were you on the last ship?” “I don’t know.” I stared for a moment. “I guess I didn’t feel as panicked as everyone else.” I thought about that for a moment. “Were there attacks on Mars, like there are on Earth now?” I asked. “Many.” He sighed. “Most homes were destroyed, it created the necessity to send people to Earth that much more urgent.” He paused. “They also took many of those with powers such as yours.” “My parents were Light Benders, they took them a long time ago.” “I’m sorry.” I looked down; I ruined the mood, how very like me. “It’s fine. It gives me even more desire to defeat them.” I smiled. “You know, you’re not the only one with a talent here.” He said. I looked up into his strange greenish eyes. His gaze shifted over to his plate that he had next to him. “Watch.” He instructed. I focused on the plate, wondering what he was talking about, it was just a plate. But then suddenly it disappeared in a swirl of blue sparkling lights and materialized with the same blue light suddenly in the palm of his hand. I stared transfixed on the plate in his hands for a few seconds with my mouth hanging wide open. I had never seen anything like this before. It disappeared again and became enveloped again in those blue sparkles and appeared on my lap. I picked up the plate. I held it up to my face examining it. It seemed normal, solid ceramic with an orange glaze. I squinted my eyes at it. “But… how…?” I whispered. He laughed softly. “Telekinesis?” I asked. “I guess that’s what you would call it.” He took the plate back, but with his hands this time. “Explain.” I asked eagerly. He raised his eyebrows at me. “Please?” “Always so demanding.” He teased. He paused for a bit, organizing his thoughts. “I can’t move large things. I started off with very small things, like toothpicks.” I stared at him amazed; I then knew how other people felt when they learned of ////my//// power. “I can only move things I can see. I just concentrate on them, and then focus on where I want to move them, and it just happens.” “What’s it like?” “It’s sort of like pulling strings, but with my head instead of my fingertips.” I openly stared at him. “It’s weird…” He started. “What’s weird?” I asked. “Aside from the part where you can move things without actually touching them?” I added sarcastically. “Ha.” “No really, what were you going to say?” “It’s like, I feel like, I can- I feel more powerful with you around.” He said, a tiny bit embarrassed. I blinked twice. “What?” I asked stupidly. He smiled. “It’s just this feeling I get.” He explained. ////Sort of like the feeling I get when I see his light.//// I thought. “Like what?” I felt strange on the inside. Why would I, some random person he just met, have so much of an effect on him? But then I realized I needed to ask the same question to myself. “Like… I feel like I can do more with my telekinesis with you around. It sounds really weird I know.” He looked like he was having a hard time explaining. I waited patiently. “It’s almost as if the limits of my power aren’t in play when you right there.” I pursed my lips. “How far away is your normal limit?” “About a twenty foot radius.” I let that sink in. I was a bit overwhelmed. I looked around us. There was an empty water bottle a little ways away from us. It seemed farther then twenty feet. “Let’s put your theory to test.” I nodded over to the water bottle. I watched him this time, instead of watching the object. He furrowed his eyebrows in deep concentration. I peeked over at the water bottle; it was still sitting there. I closed my eyes and saw its small blue energy within my mind. It began to shine. It startled me to realize the sparkling effect on the object could be seen within my mind. I watched it as slowly shone, not moving just yet. I heard Drake take a very deep breath. I opened my eyes, just in time to watch as the water bottle popped up over a trashcan and fall out of sight. “Wow.” It was all I could say. Drake laughed. “I told you.” He said. “So, I guess we’re sort of like a Dream Team now, aren’t we?” I laughed at that. “I guess so.” I said behind giggles. I glanced down at my watch. My eyes widened. “It’s six ‘o clock!” I gasped. Where did the time go? I got up quickly ran inside the sandwich shop and paid for my lunch. I rushed out the door and began the mad sprint towards home. “Why are you in such a hurry?” I heard Drake pant as he was running after me. “Bri’s aunt is going to freak!” I said. I breathed harder, pushing my very worn sneakers into the gravel. “Do- you have- to go- so fast?” he said between breaths. “Yes. And why are you following me?” I asked. He thought for a moment, looking confused as well with what he was doing. At that moment, a huge crack of thunder burst from the sky. Large drops of rain pelted from the sky. I looked up angrily. “ARGH!” I groaned. “I hate rain!” I yelled as I threw my fists into the air. “Get under here.” Drake said as he pulled his jacket over both of our heads. It was very warm under Drake’s fleece. Our heads stayed completely dry underneath his jacket. However, our feet couldn’t stay dry, what with our splashing in all the puddles in our rush for me to get home. I was very aware of his closeness to me, the way his arm was almost around me, but not quite because he was holding up his coat. I ran fast, and I was mildly surprised to find that he could keep up with me just fine. We breathed in rhythm and it was peaceful. We didn’t talk to each other the entire time, but like with Bri, it didn’t seem like we needed to talk, even though we hadn’t even known each very long at all. I kept my gaze down. I knew I shouldn’t look up at him. It was irrational, I knew it, but my heart raced when I looked into his eyes. Why did this random boy, from Mars no less, come waltzing into my life, and make such an impact on me? Did I have no self-control? Was I so deprived of male attention that I immediately fell for the first good looking guy I met? But I knew that really wasn’t it. Somehow, I knew this wasn’t some shallow mood swing on my part. How did I know? Well, the real answer to that was that I didn’t know how. I just knew it felt right being so close to him. We fell into a natural stride together. I never got in his way, and he never got in mine. “Wait a second,” I said randomly, disrupting the comfortable silence. “Why are you coming with me?” He paused for a second. He gave me a look questioning my intelligence. “Well, it didn’t seem like you had an umbrella.” “So…?” “Well I didn’t want you to get all wet. Didn’t you say you hated rain?” He said so simply. We slowed down to a light jog. I considered that for a moment. “But where do you live?” I asked. “I’m staying with Morgan for until I figure out where my parents are on Earth.” “Oh…” I hadn’t even thought about his parents up until now. “But… doesn’t Morgan live near the DADF?” We were already about four miles from there. “Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with a little exercise.” I accepted that and didn’t say anymore. As we approached the front steps of my house, we slowed down. The rain was slowing, but was still coming down lightly. We reached the front steps. “Er, well, this is Bri’s aunt’s house, it’s where we live…” I trailed off. He still held his coat over our heads. It shadowed the light from the sky and made it sort of dim under it. He didn’t respond to what I said, he just sort of looked down at me. And I looked back up at him, into his beautiful hazel eyes and I just stood there transfixed, not nervous, and not awkward, just like I didn’t seem capable of moving anymore. I felt ////comfortable//// there. His arrogant demeanor from earlier completely wiped from the muscles on his face. One breathed huffed out from between my lips. He leaned in closer and I closed my eyes. His white light erupted in front of my eyes as I did so. He was so close. I took one deep breath, taking in the clean smell of him. The door burst open right at that very moment and made me jump. I opened my eyes wildly and Drake and I sprang away from each other, the jacket fell to the ground. “Piper?” I heard Hannah ask tentatively. I blushed violently and didn’t say anything. Drake looked at me, his lips were twitching and a playful smile was making its way to his features. “Umm…” I struggled to regain mental stability. “Er. Hannah, this is Drake.” I said pathetically. “How awkward.” I mumbled quiet enough for only Drake to hear. He laughed softly. “Hello.” Hannah looked back and forth between Drake and me, finally realizing what she had walked into. “Oh! Um, why hello Drake. It’s very nice to meet you. Umm…” She said nervously. “It’s fine Hannah, Drake was just about to leave.” “Oh no! Please stay for dinner! Especially if you are one of Piper’s friends.” Hannah rambled. I cringed mentally. “Well thank you very much for the offer, but I really should be heading home before the rain starts up again…” Drake said uncomfortably. His attempt at politeness was kind of adorable. I stared up into the sky and noticed too that the rain had stopped. “See you tomorrow.” I sighed. “Yeah, see you!” With that he turned to leave. As soon as he was out of hearing distance, I smacked my palm to my forehead and exhaled loudly. “Argh!” I stomped my way up the stairs. Hannah held it open for me without saying a word. I wasn’t angry with her, just annoyed at her impeccable timing. I pulled off my soaking shoes roughly and peeled my socks off. I felt a little better after my feet stopped feeling like they were drowning. “Gross.” Bri said from behind me as I picked up my wet socks from the ground. I turned around and just looked at her. Her eyebrows rose. She must have registered the annoyance in my face. “What happened?” I went to the laundry room and threw my socks into the hamper. I climbed up the stairs with Bri right behind me and stepped into our room. I closed the door so Hannah wouldn’t hear. “What happened?” She asked again. I closed my eyes and lay back on my bed. The memory of my almost kiss fresh in my head. “It was great.” I said. Bri narrowed her eyes at me. “Well, obviously something happened, and I am NOT going to let you off until I get it out of you, so you might as well just spill.” “Well, we went to get sandwiches. And…” I paused, I wondered if Drake’s power was a secret. I never asked him if he wanted to keep it between us, or if he had even told anyone else at all. I decided right then that I was going to keep that one part of the day from Bri. I knew I could trust her with that secret, but it wasn’t mine to tell. “And then we were talking, and I realized how late it was and then I made a run for it, and it started raining.” “Ooh! Rain, how romantic!” Bri giggled. Sometimes, I didn’t know how we and Bri got along, we were completely different people. I continued, pretending not to have heard her comment. “And you know how I despise rain, and then he came with me and pulled his jacket over our heads…” “Really?!” Bri nearly shouted. “That’s so cute!” I rolled my eyes at her. “And that’s how I got home, with him running with me, even though he lives in the completely opposite direction…” “Oh my god. He is so ////in//// to you!” As much as it pained me to hear Bri squeal about boys, it sort of made me really happy to hear this. “I guess I wouldn’t disagree with that.” I said and shrugged. “Why?! What else happened?” she grabbed my shoulders and shook them. “Jeez. Calm down.” I pulled her hands from my shoulders and continued. “When we got here, we sort of just waited outside of the door, and he still held the jacket over our heads and,” I looked at Bri who looked like she was on the edge of some sort of nervous breakdown. “I won’t continue until you stop hyperventilating.” I told her. She took a few shaky breaths. “Please continue.” “And, ugh, it sounds so cheesy when I try to explain it…” “JUST SAY IT.” Bri commanded. For someone so small, she had a very controlling voice when she wanted it to be. “And we looked into each other’s eyes. And I couldn’t stop, I was frozen there or something and he leaned in. And then- BRI! Get a grip!” She had collapsed in a fit of giggles. “You would really think you would be able to handle yourself, you’ve been with enough boys yourself.” She rolled around trying to calm down. She stopped for a little bit, but then became consumed once again in squeals and laughter, this kept up until she could finally look at me without breaking out into a smile. “Ok, I’m in control. What happened next?” I could tell she was holding in a burst of giggles. “Well, nothing happened. Your aunt opened the door and we broke apart before anything happened.” Bri gave an unsatisfied pout. “Hmph.” She said. “That was anticlimactic.” “My sentiments exactly.” I leaned back against my pillows. For once Bri was silent. What more was there to say? A few moments of quiet passed. “Well, you know that he likes you!” Bri said. “He does not. He just met me, I just met him. Love at first sight does not exist, Bri, well except in your world.” I added. “Well, sure, you did just meet today, but it wasn’t love at first sight! You really didn’t like him when you first met him. I guess I’d say it was… sexual tension at first sight.” She giggled as she said this. I threw a pillow at her. If she was going to be smart, I was willing to be violent. “Well, it’s true. Why else would he want to kiss you?” She asked, grinning widely. I pursed my lips. I guess she was right, but I wasn’t about to admit it out loud. “There’s something very… hypnotic about his eyes.” I said. But at once I wish I had kept that to myself. Bri was laughing again, but ////at//// me this time. “What?” “You are totally infatuated.” “Am not!” “You want to love him, you want to kiss him! You want to hold him!!” She sang. “Bri! Stop it!” But I was laughing with her then. From downstairs I heard Hannah shout, “Dinner!” Bri held her stomach. “I’m so hungry!” She whined. She made her way to the door and looked at me expectantly. “I’m not. I’ll just stay here, I might go to sleep early.” “Well, why would you be hungry when you’re so filled with LURVE?” she teased. “Ugh, just go eat, maybe you’ll be more tolerable when you’re full.” She shut the light as she left. I laid there in my bed staring up at the ceiling. The dim light from the window filtered into the room. The bumps on it from the paint texture looked like shadowy stars. I honestly just laid there for a couple hours. I heard Bri when she came in, but I had my eyes closed and pretended I was sleeping. When I heard her faint snores, I snuck out of the room to brush my teeth. The morning came really quickly, I had slept through the night soundly, without waking up once. I got up to wake Bri, but to my surprise she was already out of bed. I heard her and Hannah talking downstairs. I went to the bathroom and changed quickly to meet them; it was strange for Hannah to be up so early. When I reached the bottom the stairs, I followed their voices into the living room. They were watching the TV which was even stranger; the TV was neglected most of the time. As I walked in, the look on Bri and Hannah’s faces were worried. I saw how Bri’s eyebrows were pulled together with tension and Hannah was wringing her hands together. “… Good morning…” I said. “Sit down here.” Hannah said and patted the couch next to her. I sat on the lumpy couch and watched Bri with her eyes glued to the TV screen. The words “Glockspores” said by someone on the news made me snap my head towards the TV. I watched the new’s anchor’s grave face report the news. As I walked in, the look on Bri and Hannah’s faces were worried. I saw how Bri’s eyebrows were pulled together with tension and Hannah was wringing her hands together. “… Good morning…” I said. “Sit down here.” Hannah said and patted the couch next to her. I sat on the lumpy couch and watched Bri with her eyes glued to the TV screen. The words “Glockspores” said by someone on the news made me snap my head towards the TV. I watched the news anchor’s grave face report the news. “Last night, the Glockspores took Mars.” I let out an audible gasp. Bri’s eyes were wide as she watched the TV. “Fortunately there were no life forms on Mars art the time. The last shipment of humans arrived on Earth just yesterday.” I thought of Drake, and how he just narrowly escaped death by the Glockspores. “What’s are we going to do?” Bri asked nervously. “Shipments of humans on Earth to Venus are being arranged. Earth is next to be taken if the Glockspores continue their path. “It is unknown who the Glockspore leader is, as well as the reason behind the destruction. What we do know, is that the Glockspores are reproducing at an alarming rate, which may be their justification for universal domination. Plans for evacuation…” Hannah shut the TV off. “You two need to hurry to the DADF now.” Hannah said gravely. Bri and I looked into each other’s eyes. I saw determination in her face, we both knew what needed to be done. “Take your bikes, you need to get there as fast as you can.” We nodded. We rode to the DADF at a break neck pace. We were both filled with fear, but also bravery. There wasn’t much time. The plan for all people in training camps were to invade Mars as soon as it was invaded, in order to find the leader, and put a stop to the madness before more lives were destroyed. I pushed my bike on angrily. I splashed into puddles but I didn’t care. Bri gripped her handlebars roughly, her hands turned white with the exertion. Even though we were already pedaling faster then ever, I managed to muster some remaining strength within me to go even faster, I felt anger pulsing through my veins shoving me farther. Bri grunted and matched my speed. We were at the DADF in no time. Bri and I were not the last ones there, but most of the group had already arrived. Morgan was standing in the corner of the room, with his arms in their usual position: crossed. Drake was next to him, his face crunched with concentration. We huddled around in complete silence. When the last of the group showed up not too long after me and Bri, Morgan cleared his throat. “I assume most of you have seen the news this morning.” Morgan began. We all nodded our heads. “The ship that brought the last people from Mars is still in our backyard. Although we are not as ready I would like it, we have no choice but to go through with our plan.” My fists clenched in anticipation. Finally I would be able to meet the Glockspores that took my parents, that killed Bri’s parents. I wanted to end their domination, I wanted to put a stop to all the murder. I wanted to find out why they did it all, why they felt they were entitled to. “We’re ready.” I nearly growled. Morgan shot me a look. “When we arrive there, we will stick to the plan. We will not do anything rash. We will only do what is needed.” What Morgan meant was that he didn’t want us to let our emotions get the better of us, like he knew mine would. “It will be hard, but we need to be as discreet as possible when locating the leader, this means we will have to kill any Glockspore that sees us.” Drake seemed more than fine with this last part of the plan. “But we must kill as little Glockspores as possible, we need to avoid as much attention as possible.” There was a murmur of grumbles throughout the room. “If you feel you cannot follow these rules, you are not permitted in the ship, does everyone understand me?” Morgan turned to look straight at me as he said this. I nodded stiffly. “Drake has already refueled the gas tank this morning. Single file into the ship now.” “When are other fighting groups going to arrive there?” I heard Sam, a usually quiet boy, ask. “They are departing at this time as we are. We will not all be in the same place, we will try to cover as much ground on Mars to find the leader.” Drake fell back in line to meet up next to me. I didn’t say anything as Morgan pulled out his hand to help me into the ship. It was pretty small as far as spaceships go. It was nothing compared to a Sporeship, but it fit everyone, and it was fast, as Drake had told me. “It only took us twelve hours to reach Earth from Mars.” He explained. I sat there quietly with Drake beside me. I twiddled my thumbs. I felt the ship take off from the ground. “Do you think the Glockspores kept the atmospheric modifiers running after they claimed Mars?” Bri asked. This question brought me up short. It was a very good question, and could affect to results of our search. Mars’s atmosphere was normally mostly carbon dioxide, but the humans there set up modifiers to make it suitable for human life. “They don’t need oxygen, so why would they keep them up?” Bri continued. “I think they would have kept the modifiers.” Drake said slowly. “It wasn’t only human life that was there. Trees were planted by the humans there. They would need the trees for construction, it would have been too much of an inconvenience to take materials from other planets.” “But surely they must anticipate our invasion!” Bri pressed. “I don’t think they do.” I said softly. “That’s why they have been attacking Earth lately. Don’t you see! They think they have scared us away from interference.” “I guess there’s a chance that that’s true, a large chance actually.” “Well, if it is, then that means we have the element of surprise. It would be a pain if they didn’t keep them. We don’t have enough oxygen tanks for everyone… ” Drake said. Bri got up to sit with Parker who was in another section of the ship, leaving Drake and me alone. “Do you think we can win?” I asked. “Well, if you can kick a Glockspore as well as you could punch me in the ribs, I think we’ll be more than fine.” He rubbed his ribs and winced. “I have to say I’m not very sorry about that.” I said with a smile. We sat in silence for a little while. “How are we going to find them?” Drake asked me. “We’re going to use my Sight. I figure the leader will be surrounded by Venids, they are a bit of a different color than normal Glockspores.” “I’m not going to leave you when we get there.” Drake promised. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can take care of myself.” I said indignantly. “Ha, I am fully aware of that.” He said as he felt the bruise in his side. “But I just… I’d feel better if we were in it together. And wear gloves, okay? We don’t need those damn Venids burning your flesh away.” He said. I shuddered at the thought. “So how is your power going to help us? Are you going to use telekinesis to pelt rocks at the aliens?” “Haha, I’m sure I’ll come in better use than that. Stop it, do you seriously lack that much trust in my physical ability? You’re hurting my pride, Piper.” He grinned. I stuck my tongue out at him. I suddenly felt a wave of weariness wash over me. My eyes drooped. “Meh, I’m so tired. I had a really good night’s dream last night, but I’m exhausted!” I whined. “Why? Up all night thinking about me?” He said behind a large smirk. I scowled and flicked him in the arm. “Ouch!” “That’s what you get for being such a bighead, and no, that is not why.” “Just go to sleep, can’t kill any Glockspores if you’re falling asleep on them.” I leaned my head into his shoulder and closed my eyes, falling asleep to his white light. I woke to feel someone poking me in the ribs. My eyes fluttered open slowly. I squinted and could make out the big blonde head that was right in my face. “What do you want Bri!” I groaned quietly. “You two lovebirds need to wake up, we’re landing in two hours.” She whispered. “What time is it?!” I asked. “It’s five. Why did you sleep so long?” “I don’t know, I just felt tired.” I slowly began to regain consciousness. I was very warm. “It’s really hot in here.” I said. “Well maybe that’s because Drake is draping his body over you.” “What?” I blinked. I got up and saw that I was still leaning back on Drake, who was snoring now. His arm was around me and his head fell from where it was previously resting on the top of my head. “Well, see you in a bit. I’m going to go talk to Morgan.” Bri said as she skipped out of the room. “Wakey wakey.” I sang softly. “Time to get up, Drake.” “Mmmm, go away.” He groaned. I stuck my face in front of his and took my fingers and pulled his eyelids back. His eyes came into focus and glared into mine. “Awake?” “Ugh, fine, I’m up. Did you know that you snore?” He said. “I do not.” I said defiantly. “You so do.” I got up stubbornly and stepped away. “Ahh, I was only kidding.” He said as he grabbed my hands to pull me back. I frowned at him. “We need to get up anyway, we’re almost there.” Drake got up quicker then, but kept my hand in his. When I tried to pull away, he held it firm. “I’m still tired, you need to hold me in case I fall over.” He claimed. “Oh I’m sure.” I said mockingly, but kept my hand in his. It felt nice. Drake led me to the room where the rest of the group was. When we walked in, I saw Bri on the opposite end as us. When her eyes fell to our hands held together, they nearly popped out of their sockets. A huge smile stretched across her face, then smugness. She mouthed the words, “Thank me later.” Although I resented her pride, I had to admit, I did feel grateful to Bri right then. Morgan waved the group in closer. “We’re almost within Mars’s atmosphere.” He said. “As Bri has pointed out to me, we are not sure if the Glockspores have taken apart the atmospheric modifiers. Or if they have any defense against invaders like us.” A look of defeat was on the faces of most in the room when he said this. “When we land, I’ll go out myself to see if there is oxygen in the air, if there isn’t, we will only take a select few people onto Mars. Understood?” “Understood, Captain.” We all said. “Good. We’re almost there now.” Bri, Drake and I went to wait out the last of the journey in the other room. “Who do you think he’ll choose if there isn’t any oxygen? I think there are only six oxygen tanks.” Bri asked. “Well, one for himself, one for Piper obviously, I think one for me, probably you Bri since your pretty small, you know, easier to sneak around, probably that muscled Asian kid, what’s his name again? And probably someone else really fast.” Drake said. “Ted; and I think you’re right about who he’ll choose. Are you nervous, Piper?” “Honestly? Not at all.” I said. “I’ve been waiting for this for more than half my life. I’m excited.” “You’re weird.” Drake said and he grabbed my hand again. Bri swelled with pride. I rolled my eyes at her. Morgan came into the room just then. “We made it onto Mars safely. So far there are no signs of and defense against invaders, but this is just so far. I’m going out now to test the air. I’ll be back in five minutes… and if I’m not… Piper, follow the plan. Clear?” “Yes.” Morgan left the ship after that and we waited with worried impatience. “Piper, why don’t you check on what’s outside?” Drake suggested. “Oh, good idea!” Bri exclaimed. I closed my eyes obediently. I saw Morgan leaving the ship, a thick dark blue shape. I scanned what was surrounding us. Nothing. There was no red at all. At least as far as my Sight reached. Morgan was safe from them for now. When Morgan came back he said, “Bad news. They destroyed the modifiers. We can only take six people.” He paced back and forth. “This could mean that they have anticipated our arrival… or it could just be that the modifiers were destroyed when they took Mars over…hmm.” “Have you decided who is coming with you?” Drake asked. “Yes. Piper, no doubt, we need her. Seth and you for speed, and Bri and Ted, I think. I can count on you, Piper?” “Of course.” “Ok then, we’re all going to get hooked up to oxygen tanks. Seth! Can you grab the tanks from the cockpit?” He called. Seth came quickly through the door with one large lumpy sack. Morgan began to take out oxygen tanks. “Just pick one up and strap it on.” Morgan explained. I grabbed one and fastened it around my arms and waist. It was light and wouldn’t affect my movement. “Check if it works, and try to talk normally with it on.” Morgan said. I placed the mask over my mouth breathed in the pure oxygen it was releasing. “Drake? Can you hear me?” I said clearly. “Unfortunately.” He said. I smacked him in the arm. “The oxygen in these tanks will only last for about two hours. Don’t exert yourselves too much; you need to save that oxygen. If you begin to run low, you have to hurry back to this ship. Understood?” “Yes, Captain.” The five of us said. “Put on these gloves,” he threw us each a pair of elbow length gloves. “You’ll need them. We’ll be running into Venids if we get close enough to the leader I’m guessing.” He passed us each a dagger. “You’ll need these as well, put them somewhere easy to reach.” Morgan led us to the exit. The rest of the group that was not going to be fighting today said their farewells, some crying, some hugging. But I didn’t cry; I didn’t hug. I was ready. I never cried after my parents were taken from me. Some may have thought me heartless because of this. When the Glockspores took my parents, I didn’t feel sadness. Only anger. Ever since that fateful day, I practiced stretching my Sight farther and farther away from me. I was young, I wasn’t strong yet, I wasn’t smart enough yet. The only thing I knew I could do that would give me a fighting chance against the Glockspores was to condition my power. I had an edge over normal people. It was rare to have a power such as mine or my parents. The Glockspores didn’t think my power would be beneficial to them, so they didn’t take me prisoner. I wanted to make them regret that choice. I met Morgan when I was ten years old. He was a student of Hannah’s before she retired from teaching. He had a vision. He wanted to defeat the Glockspores just as much as I wanted to. Morgan taught me to fight. He taught me how to incapacitate and also how to kill. He first started with training me to be fast, to be strong, and to be nimble. Soon, others were interested in these training sessions I had with Morgan. We started a class. Now, eight years from then, my one on one fighting lessons with Morgan evolved. Morgan was not the only person teaching young adults to fight, but places around the world were doing the same, taking our example. They wanted to have a fighting chance against the Glockspores too. Today was the day it would all matter. “Time to kick some Glockspore ass.” Drake said through his oxygen mask. The doors to the ship glided open and I took my first steps on Mars. It was very cold. It felt like winter on Earth. The ground was gravelly and crunchy. Everything around me was brown. It was also eerily quiet and it seemed like our foot steps would be heard miles from where we were. There were no buildings for as far as we could see. It was only flat land. We needed to find their head quarters. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins. I wanted so badly to put my hands on those who took my parents. I wanted to find the leader of the Glockspores, and demand reasons for the domination. I wanted to kill every Glockspore I could find, no matter what Morgan told me. “Can you point us in the right direction, Piper?” Bri asked me. I shut my eyes. I couldn’t See anything close by, so there were no colors aside from the people near me. But I could feel a vibrant energy spike in one direction. “We have to go that way.” I pointed in front of us a bit to the right. “I feel a lot of energy right over there. It’s not too far. I think it’s about a mile.” “Let’s get a move on. We need to move quickly, there’s not much time.” Morgan said. “Piper, keep your eyes closed.” We ran forward, not breathing too hard. I kept my focus on any sudden changes of color within my mind. It was my job to alert Morgan if there were any Glockspores near. After five minutes of straight jogging, I stopped. “Wait, there’s something over there.” I said. I opened my eyes to see a large dead tree. “Is it a Glockspore?” Morgan asked. “I’m not sure, it feels like there is something behind it, but the tree is getting in the way. I can’t tell…” “Well we should avoid it then.” Seth said. Right as Seth said that, a large and pointy gray head poked itself from behind the tree. We all froze. There was no place to hide. “What do we do?” Bri whispered. “He’s already seen us. We might as well try to get information from him.” Drake pointed out. Morgan led the way towards the lone Glockspore. At our approach, the Glockspore got up and stood before us. It looked old. Its skin was stretched across its head. It was skinny and short with a long neck. I’d never been so close to a Glockspore before. It looked me dead in the eye with its large ones. It was one of the uglier things I had even seen in life. It large ears were flopping around lazily. It sad back down and leaned back up against the tree, completely unconcerned. I saw it reach into a pocket in its dark green robes. Morgan went up the closest to it, with me not to far behind him. “You there,” Morgan said. “Who are you?” The Glockspore looked dumbly up at Morgan. “Do you think it can understand you?” Bri asked Morgan. He ignored her. “I ask your name.” Morgan said. Still no answer. I blinked once and it was all it took for me to register a large group of red energies storming towards us. I whipped my head around to see a group of ten Glockspores with swords in hand running wildly. “He’s called for help!” I yelled. “What?” Drake said as the rest turned their bodies around. “I saw him! He reached in his pocket for something. He called for backup!” I turned back towards the old Glockspore and he smiled evilly. “You fools. Did you think we weren’t expecting you humans?” He said in perfect English. Rage consumed me. I swung my foot around quickly and clipped the side of his forehead with my shoe. He slumped forward and his unconscious face hit the ground. “Bastard.” I said under my breath. We readied ourselves for the incoming flock of them with our daggers drawn. These Glockspores were not old like the other one. They were larger, thicker around the middle and taller as well. Two came at me with their swords swinging, but they were clumsy, and we afraid of hitting each other. I used the space between them and kicked both of their hands holding the swords and they fell to the ground. I grabbed both and threw one to Bri and she deftly caught it with her left hand. The Glockspores fighting me were not fast with their movements. I slashed my new sword through the air, always finding purchase on their skin. In minutes I had incapacitated them and they lay bleeding on the ground. I turned to see who need my assistance. The other Glockspores were more nimble. I ran over to Morgan who was also fighting two Glockspores to help him. “No!” he yelled at me in between his attempts at stabbing a Glockspore. “We’ve got this under control. You can’t waste any time! Leave now. Find the leader!” He ordered. I looked at him confusedly. A Glockspore took a swipe at him with its sword and Morgan narrowly avoided it. “Go! Leave with Drake, we’ll be fine!” I took a swing one of the Glockspores, it made a low grumbly moan. “I can’t leave you guys here.” I said. “I can help you finish them off.” “There isn’t much time! Go!” He shoved me away towards Drake and Bri who had also finished off their Glockspores. “Run!” I took a long breath and knowing I would regret it later, grabbed Bri’s hand and ran with Drake beside me. “Where are we going?” Bri asked with wide eyes. “We can’t deal with that group of Glockspores right now. It’s wasting too much time. We have to find the leader. Our oxygen is limited.” “But, they need our help!” Bri exclaimed. “What is our point here?” I demanded. Bri looked downcast, “To put an end to the Glockspore’s rein.” “Exactly. And are you willing to risk your life for that?” I asked her. “Yes.” “And so are they.” I said as I pointed behind me. It sounded sick to hear that coming from my lips, but it was true. Bri remained quiet after that. Just following where I was running. I kept my eyes shut tight. “Where are we going now?” Drake asked. “It looks nothing like how it used to when I was here only a few days ago. Everything is gone.” “There is an energy spike right over there.” I said and pointed in front of us. “It’s not visible to the eye just yet, but we’ll be there soon. Once we get close enough, there is a large boulder we can hide behind.” As we ran, we avoided the large rocks on the ground, barely tripping on them. I slowed down as we neared our destination. We stopped behind the large rock I had seen from earlier. “The ceremony is taking place.” Bri said. “There is a large crowd. There are also buildings here. This must be a new city they created.” She said as she peeked around the giant rock. “The leader is coming.” “How do you know?” Drake asked me. “There is a large amount of Venids surrounding one Glockspore. It must be him.” “We can’t attack yet. The crowd is much too large. We need to wait until they finish.” Bri whispered. “I’ll just keep watch then.” I sighed. The red shapes so close to us were making me nervous. The leader was making his way slowly towards the center of the crowd. The cheers and whoops of the crowd were getting louder as he approached. He raised his hands above his head, wielding a large flag. “He’s about to place the flag.” I said lazily. The cheers reached maximum volume as the flag pierced the ground. “I feel sick.” Bri said. “We need to wait for the crowd to disperse.” I said. “Wait, the leader is going into the largest building.” I felt the leader walking into the building with some of the Venids, it took all of my willpower not to go running after him. The rest of the Glockspores dispersed, away from us. “The leader went inside, we should go when the Glockpores and Venids have left.” “The Venids?” Bri asked. “What are they still doing there? Shouldn’t they have gone in with the leader? Isn’t it their job to protect him?” I opened my eyes to see Bri looking quizzically at me. Drake had the same confused look on his face. “Close your eyes again, Piper!” Drake said. To my own horror, I saw that two of the Venids that were previously guarding the leader were coming after us. “How did they know we were here?” I gasped. “They must have some sort of radar detection set up.” Drake slapped his hand to his forehead. “It’s so obvious! Why didn’t we think of it?” “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you two are going to go blind soon, and that the Glockspores know we’re here.” I said quickly. “Put on your gloves!” I said as I slipped both of mine onto my hands. “I can’t see anything!” Bri said in a strangled whisper. “Calm down. We can do this. There are only two of them. I’ll watch out for you two, just trust my instructions, ok?” The Venids hadn’t turned their power onto me yet. I got a good look into their faces, the dead faces with sagging skin. Their mouths we hanging open lazily. They pointed at me, and my vision disappeared in a flash. “They can’t move fast. They are ten feet in front of us. Do have your swords ready?” “Yes.” They both said. “Just trust what I say!” I focused on the flaming red shapes I saw before us. They moved slowly, anticipating our deaths. They had no idea what was coming. I pulled my sword out in front of me. When one of the Venids saw me, pointing my sword straight at it, it stopped short. I smiled, knowing they had never met the likes of me before. “Drake!” I cried. “Swing your sword to the left!” I said as I saw the other Venid make a grab towards him. One of its disgusting arms fell to the ground, where its fiery light fizzled out of my sight. The Venid fell to the ground, making the most horrible cry of pain, I saw its body hunch over onto itself and it continued to wail a high pitched screech. “Bri, stay where you are.” I ordered. “Drake, back away. The Venid is on the ground in front of you.” I took a step forward towards the Venid before me. It was still stopped, apparently confused at my lack fear. I hoped it could see my face as I glared viciously at it. It made a grab for my forearm and I swung two quick and accurtate swipes right at its arms and lunged forward and pierced its torso. The Venid keeled over in pain. This one didn’t make any noise, it was shocked into silence. “I got one down.” I said. I turned my attention to the other Venid, who was making its way towards Drake with its unharmed arm reaching. I hadn’t been paying attention to the speed at which this one was moving. “Get back, Drake!” I yelled as I stormed toward the other Venid with my sword raised high above me. I made a running leap and swept my sword right down the middle of the Venid, cutting it straight in half. It made a gurgling noise before it fell to the ground, completely still and its red fire fell into colorlessness. “There, they are both done.” I panted. “Then why amd I still blind?” Drake asked worriedly. As Drake said that, Bri let out a blood curdling scream. “Piper!” she said desperately. I whipped around and saw in my head that the other Venid had not been killed. It was on top of Bri, smothering her yellow color with its fire. It was placing its face on stomach and it had pushed her to the ground. “Please, Piper!” She screamed. I pulled out of my state of shock and ran to Bri and stabbed my Glockspore sword straight through the Venid’s body once more. I pulled its head back from her body with my gloved hands and sliced through its neck. Real light flooded around me and watched as Bri’s eyes came into focus. “It hurts!” she cried. She was breathing too hard. “I’m burning!” My eyes raked Bri’s ruined upper body. The Venid had done the damage it had wanted to do. My eyes were open wide in horror. I felt sick looking at her. It had burned right through her clothes.The Venid’s skin had scorched her. Her pale skin was gone, replaced by a dark crusty wound. Bri began to cry. “It- it hurt’s so much. Make it stop.” She sobbed. “I’m so sorry, Bri.” I said quietly. “I wasn’t paying enough attention…” “It’s not your fault, Piper.” Drake said. I looked up at him with angry tears in my eyes. “It could have been avoided! If it weren’t for my carelessness!” “You can’t blame yourself.” “Well I do! If I had been paying more attention to both of them, then Bri wouldn’t be laying here injured!” I shouted. “Be quiet.” Bri whimpered behind sobs. “Or else they will send more.” I looked down at her miserable face and the tears in my eyes welled up and spewed over onto her. “I’m so sorry, Bri.” I said again. “You are wasting time, you need to go.” Bri said with sudden strength. “I can’t leave you here, to fight off god knows what that finds you here.” I said. “You need to leave! Time is running out! Find the damned leader and kill him!” I could tell she had regretted shouting when she moaned in pain after her outburst. “Just go.” Bri whispered. “Before I change my mind.” I turned to Drake. “You’re going to stay here with her.” I ordered. “What? You need help! You can’t face anyone alone! You’ll die trying!” “I sure as hell can, and I sure as hell will.” I said icily. “I won’t let you leave alone!” Drake said stubbornly. “You can’t leave Bri here alone, if you do, she’s as good as dead.” “But- but.” He stammered. “You can’t help me anyway, with the Venids at least, and you can be sure there will be many of them.” Drake looked hurt as I said this. “I can’t leave Bri alone here.” I said a bit more kindly. Drake looked defeated. “But I can help you. My power, it can help you.” “Not against Venids.” I pointed out. “Just leave me here!” Bri protested. “We can’t leave you here to die.” I said. “Piper! You can’t do this alone!” he said again. “I have to, or else we have wasted all of our efforts so far. You have to stay here with Bri, or else I will.” “That’s not fair.” He said. “I can’t go off alone, just as you can’t.” “It’s true.” “Just wait here until they finish off the Glockspores from before, and they can bring Bri back, and I can go with you. Please.” He pleaded. It was agonizing to watch him begging me to stay. I wanted to stop his pain, I wanted to stay with him, but I knew I couldn’t. “There is only and hour left of my oxygen. There is no time to lose.” I said stubbornly. He just looked at me in silence; I could tell he knew there was no option either. “I can’t just let you go alone.” He said softly. “It’s not right.” “I’ll be fine.” I said. I walked up to him and he held his arms open and hugged him. “I’ll be fine.” I said again. I got up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See you later.” “You’d better.” He said. I smiled and turned, running with my eyes closed. It was a short distance to the building where the Glockspore was. They knew the humans were here, which was why they sent those Venids after us. On the way into the building, I wasn’t met with any defenses, so it seemed like the Glockspores had assumed the Venid had taken care of us. That also meant that they had no idea of my power. I hid behind a statue of a Glockspore when I reached the entrance. There was a someone keeping guard. I kept as quiet as I could. He was pacing back and forth, so sometimes he had his back towards me. I waited for the right moment to strike. I made sure I was carefully hidden when he was walking towards me and then when he turned, I leapt up silently and thrust my elbow into the side of his neck. He didn’t even make a sound. I looked down at him satisfied. Something purple was oozing from his mouth. I grabbed the key card that was around his neck and flashed it against the sensor on the door. It slid open with a soft hum. I slid my body through, and stealthily and hid behind a column. I took a moment to really admire the Glockspore’s speed with construction. Even though it was one of the only buildings here, it was huge! There was a large opening in the ceiling that I guessed reached all the way up to the top most floor. There had to be thirty floors at least. But what did they need all this space for? I shuddered at the thought. For such a large building, it was pretty empty. It was very quiet as well. I closed my eyes, there were very few Glockspores on this floor, but at the very top, I saw a cluster of Venids, all surrounding one lone Glockspore. So, I knew where he was. But the annoying part was getting to him quickly. I opened my eyes and scanned the floor. There were stairs, to my left, and an elevator to the right. I wasn’t so sure how safe the elevator would be. But I decided to take the risk, there wasn’t enough time to take all of the stairs, and I needed my energy to fight those Venids. I looked around one last time. I paused in the farthest corner, forcusing on something completely dressed in white. It didn’t look like a Glockspore, it looked like a person, only I wasn’t. I squinted at it and it looked right back at me, its eyes were completely white. I froze. I closed my eyes to see if it was indeed a Glockspore, but what I saw was almost worse than a Glockspore. It was a bright white light, lined with a fiery red. I felt ice travel down to he base of my spine.

NEW DAY

I closed my eyes to see if it was indeed a Glockspore, but what I saw was almost worse. It was a bright white light, lined with a fiery red. I felt ice travel down to the base of my spine. My eye’s shot open. It wasn’t a Glockspore or a Venid, that I knew for sure. My gut told me it was human, the way it’s long pale hair flowed around it. It flowed toward me, with its arms outstretched. It didn’t take steps. It was like the feet underneath its long pearly white robes just floated above the air. It had a womanly shape to it. Its large white eyes were wide and staring, but didn’t seem to actually be seeing, it gave me the creeps. I ducked back behind the column and shuddered, trying to catch my breath and compose myself at the same time. It had obviously seen me, and it was coming after me. I pulled my Glockspore sword out from the belt around my waist and held it before me. I closed my eyes and kept watch for the thing that was coming at me. //What// is //it?// I thought. I didn’t know what to do with this strange demon, I had didn’t know what tactics to use against it, what was safe to do, or its weak points. I knew speed was all I had because time wasn’t on my side. I flew out from behind the column and I was met face to face with the creature. It stopped and looked blankly at me. I didn’t want to look at its face, I knew it would unnerve me, so I closed my eyes and stared at its almost equally as frightening light. Its light shifted around sporadically within my mind and it confused me. It didn’t seem like it could move so fast before. I opened my eyes and saw it standing in the exact same place it was before I closed my eyes. My brows furrowed and I narrowed my eyes at the creature. I closed my eyes again and saw it’s light shift around in my head. My eyes popped open. It //was// human, and not only that, but it was a Light Bender! But it wasn’t breathing, there was no oxygen. I looked at the creature again with my eyes open. I leaned in a little bit closer. There was something eerily familiar about it. I caught it by surprise as I lunged forward and kicked it down in the stomach. It laid down before me and struggled to get up, but I held it down with my foot on its chest. It started to kick and grab at my calf. I got down and kneeled on top of it, holding my sword over its neck, just barely touching it. It stopped thrashing and stayed still, it’s breathing softened. It looked up at me with its creamy white eyes and I stared back with revulsion until something registered in the back of my mind. “Mom?” I gasped. Everything was there and it snapped back into place. Everything but the eyes and skin, it was all the same. The nose and her cheekbones, I remembered her face so clearly as it was before. She snarled and hissed at me with her pointed teeth bared. “Mom, it’s me, it’s Piper.” I said softly. But it was no use, she didn’t understand me, she didn’t remember who I was. She was a Light Bender, and she was on the Glockspore’s side now. I knew I had to kill her. But every time I put my mind to pressing the sword into her neck, I pulled back. I couldn’t do it. I got up slowly off of her and stood up. She sprang back to her feet and came at me, but I swirled around behind her and bashed the hilt of my sword into the back of her head and she fell forward out cold. I nudged her in the side and she didn’t move. I closed my eyes and planned out my next path, there were no Glockspores using the elevators. I ran into an open one and found one camera hidden in a corner, I smashed it with my fist. I closed my eyes, the group of Venid were on the top most floor. I pushed the button on the elevator and it soared upwards. I glanced at my watch. I had forty-five minutes. The ride up was not long. The doors opened and took me to a long hallway. The group of Venid were at the end of the hallway, behind closed doors. They thought their Venid defense would be fool proof, but they didn’t know the likes of me. I ran quickly down, anticipation coursing through my veins. I stopped at the door, taking a calming breath. I pulled the doors outwards and stepped into the room and was instantly blinded. I closed my eyes and could see three flaming shapes surrounding one small red one. “But how?” The Glockspore said. “Those Venid I sent after you. How did you escape them?” He said with a bit of puzzeled amusement. “The same way I am going to kill these ones.” I threatened. I ran towards the one Venid on the left and slashed my sword through its neck and sent it flying across the room, they obviously were not used to dealing with someone who could actually see them. It fell to the ground with a hollow thump. It’s fire burned out and turned to nothing. One down. I grabbed my dagger out from my shoe and threw it across from me and it hit directly in the farthest Venid’s stomach, it doubled over, but it wasn’t dead yet. I faced the last unharmed one and thought of Bri. Suddenly a wave of hate washed over me at these demons for hurting her. The Venid held its arms towards me and made for contact, but I swung my sword around like a propeller and sliced its arms off. I drove m sword straight through its skull. That Venid was gone too and I watched with satisfaction as its color turned to blackness. I made to pull the sword out from its miserable head, but it was stuck. I panicked as I remembered there was one last Venid in the room. “Grab her!” the Glockspore screamed. The Venid came after me, and I had still not been able to pull my sword from the other Venid. I pulled harder, grasping the hilt and heaving. I was frantic. I couldn’t leave the sword there, it would melt if left too long touching the Venid. The living Venid reached me and grabbed my shoulders with its bare hands. I screamed as I felt my own flesh burning. With one last effort, I grunted and pulled the sword from the Venid’s head and I swung it around to meet the last one’s neck. It released my hands and my vision came flooding back into my eyes. I looked at the poor mangled sword. It was shriveled up in the middle and it began to bend. I threw it to the side. I had no more use for it.