Reflections

Chapter 9

"Who?" Callisto asked and the four fell silent.

"What the hell do you mean, who?" The middle person demanded as they stalked closer, grabbing the sword ignoring the blood dripping down their hand, they came closer. Pulling the sword out of Callisto's grip and casting it aside.

"I swear, I won't tell anyone you were here. Just- just let me go." Callisto bargained, this was it. She was done with fooling around, so no more running out of cabins in the middle of the night. She was done, if she lived through tonight she was going to be the best person she could ever be. No more sarcasm, no more comments, no, nothing, nada, zip. She would be done.

"Oi! Oriana, just wait a moment." The dark handsome one said as he yanked the person away from her.

The four turned together to speak, their eyes always flitting over to where Callisto was ensuring she wasnt getting away. But when their eyes moved away from her she shot to her feet, only to swallow a surprised echo when the vines sprung back to life and attached themselves to her legs. Winding up her calves to her knees, binding her lower legs together with an impossible force.

"Damn, damn, damn." Callisto cursed, her hands frantically scratching at the vines as she flipped onto her back and reached for them. The sword was too far away to grab and use, she was stuck.

"Now, now. Let's just take a deep breath." Blondie said as he squatted down in front of her and reached a hand over her own. Pulling away like he held a fire under her palm, she cradled it to her chest.

"Who. Are. You." Callisto demanded one last time before the Riders sighed. Each glancing at each other for no more than a moment before taking a seat around her. Each crossed their leg over the other and sat in a circle back like they were in primary school.

Callisto shuffled backwards, the wet grass and mud messing her pants as she moved. Yet the four never strayed their eyes from her and that made dinner want to make a reappearance.

"Explain. Then I go." Was her deal and they nodded and Blondie opened his mouth to speak first.

"My name is Caspian-"

"Like the sea?" Callisto interrupted, she cursed herself, her impulsiveness never faltered, even as she sat in front of them, her body shouldn't feel so calm, her head shouldnt be calming down, she needed to stay alert and silent..

"Yes. Caspian like the sea." Blondie cleared his throat and began again.

"My name is Caspian, I am the Ocean Rider. I have a power that allows me to manipulate water." Caspian said and Callisto nodded, unsure of what else to do, it sounded like they were doing those awkward class ice-breakers.

"My name is Oriana." The gorgeous person with vitiligo said and Callisto nodded, taken aback at the beauty of them now so close, now that she was actually looking at them.

"I have the ability to manipulate fire." They said and Callisto turned her head to the pale boy. Her heart rate sped, and her mind began to function at speeds she didn't know was possible. Fire? How could this be possible, panic wrapped around her throat in an iron grip.

"I'm Tal, I control the air. I am this complexion, its genetics so let's not dwell any further." Tal said before he lent backwards on his hands letting his head fall as he looked at the sky, and proceeded to avoid her gaze.

"Alright." Callisto tried to swallow the nerves that still bunched in her throat. Her body seemed to be at rest, it seemed to tell her that it was safe but her , but her mind was running laps telling her to run as fast as she could. Finally it has caught the seriousness of this situation.

"My name is Thelonius." The boy, whose complexion was much darker than Oriana's and had two slashes under each eye, said.

Callisto waited for him to continue, the silence echoed around them as she waited. Caspian jammed his elbow into Thelonius's side, Thelonius hissed as he lent over with a grimace of pain on his face.

"I manipulate earth." He grumbled before he straightened and looked Callisto dead in the eyes, his gaze never faltering.

"Alright." Her throat felt like sandpaper. She didn't know what else to say, so she didn't say anything.

"That's it?" Oriana demanded and Callisto jumped at their voice.

"I don't know what else to say." Callisto swallowed harshly. So much for being brave in the face of adversity or whatever the saying was.

The four stared at her for a bit before she sighed and cleared her throat.

"Why are you telling me this? Why not just kill me and drop my body somewhere?" Calliso asked as the feeling of unease never settled.

"You do it." Oriana looked at the rest.

"No, you do it." Tal said softly, but his voice was carried everywhere.

"I will not." Caspian disregarded the idea and all three turned to Thelonius.

"Tell me." Calliso demanded as her frustration rose in her chest, why couldn't they tell her anything.

Thelonius grumbled, shifting where he sat before he opened his mouth and everything that he said shook the foundations Callisto knew.

~

"No. no. no." Callisto said as she stood up from her place, her legs shaking like a newborn foal first using their legs.

"I'm not the person you are looking for-" Callisto gasped as she leant against a tree, the air lodging in her throat as she tried to breathe. This was impossible, this wasn't real, she was in her bunk, having a bad dream.

"You are!" Oriana's patience finally snapped.

"You only think it's me because I look like her." Callisto cried helplessly as she shook her head, her back hitting the tree before she slowly slid down the trunk. Blackness creeped in from the corners of her vision and her lungs burned in need of oxygen.

"No." Oriana roared, dark smoke curled out their mouth as they glared down at the mortal girl who was sobbing in fear.

"You are her. You share a name. You share a mark!" They yanked the long cotton material from her wrist and exposed the upside down black pizza shape laying there. Before they pulled down the cuff of their own shirt and shoved their wrist into Callisto's vision. Laying on the inner parts of their wrist was a pizza shaped slice, a red pizza shaped slice. Almost identical to the one Callisto wore.

"This is who you are, and the sooner you accept this, the easier it will be to do what is necessary. You know you are different, stop trying to fit in." Oriana finally took a breath and stepped back.

But Callisto was too far gone, her vision was almost black and her chest was quaking in pain. She could barely process what was happening, she hadnt had a panic attack in years and yet here she was.

"You will accept this Callisto, we just hope that no one gets hurt before that." Caspian said to her as her vision finally darkened.

A black calm enveloped her mind as she passed out, her mind finally slowing down to pace with her body.