The Icy Quest

Chapter 1

Pagoniá slowed her pace, gasping for breath. Taking a look around, she noticed that she was surrounded by tall buildings amid the desert sands. The sun was beating down on her from high overhead, amplifying her exhaustion. She had no idea how long she had been running. Despite the noise of her breathing, she heard a male voice beckoning.

"This way," it whispered.

Pagoniá's heart began to beat even faster as she whirled around and fled. Since the blizzard, she didn't trust anyone. The leaders of the fire people had made sure that everyone in the fire kingdom believed that all ice people were evil. Even she had believed the lies before discovering her powers. At this point, anyone who discovered her true identity would turn her in. There was also a reward for the capture of all ice people. Given the large numbers of poor people who were desperate for money and the fact that she had been seen using her abilities, she wasn't safe anywhere.

She suddenly spotted the source of the voice. It was a man who looked like he was in his late thirties. He didn't have many distinguishing features, so he blended in well with the crowd.

"This way," he beckoned again, motioning for her to follow him.

Pagoniá's eyes widened as she prepared to bolt.

"It's okay," he reassured her, noticing her obvious discomfort. "I'm part of an anti-fire organization, and we can help hide you."

"Why should I trust you?" Pagoniá probed warily, her eyes checking for escape routes. "I've never seen you before."

"You should trust me," he countered, "because I'm an ice person too."

He opened his hand and an icicle formed in the air above it. Pagoniá's eyes widened as she witnessed this display of his powers. After a moment of hesitation, Pagoniá finally moved to follow him as he led her deeper into the heart of the city.

"Where are we going?" Pagoniá asked, struggling to keep up with him as they made their way through the hot, dusty streets. She had always hated the constant, intense heat of the Kalahari, but since her powers had emerged, it had only gotten worse.

"Somewhere safe," he assured her distractedly. "Now, can you tell me who helped you create that storm?"

"Why do you think there is someone else?" Pagoniá responded, tilting her head.

"Because what you made wasn't just a storm. It was a blizzard, for goodness sake! You can't have made that on your own, especially in a desert," he answered, clearly dissatisfied with her answer. "Now, who was helping?"

"There wasn't anyone helping," she asserted, squaring her shoulders.

"Of course there was someone helping. Now tell me who," he demanded.

"I told you. I was the only one," she repeated forcefully.

"You can't have been," he insisted with a shake of his head.

Pagoniá was getting impatient. "I told you! It was just me," she argued, throwing her hands up in the air.

"That just isn't possible," he declared, narrowing his eyes. "There is only one person who would have had the power to do that, and she disappeared years ago."

"How many years ago?" Pagoniá inquired, her interest piqued.

"Twelve," he answered. "That isn't important. The boss is going to be unhappy that I only found one person."

"You have a boss?" she asked with a frown.

"Yes, I have a boss. The thing about organizations is that someone is generally in charge of them," he informed her with a sigh.

"What's your name?" Pagoniá inquired.

"My name is Charles, and I'm tired of your dumb questions!" Charles snapped.

"He is quite rude," Pagoniá thought, wrinkling her nose.

Finally, they turned a corner.

"Here we are," he announced, pushing aside a trash can to reveal a door. He pulled a key from his pocket and opened the door. After leading her down a hallway, he then showed her to a room. It had ice blue wallpaper, and it was colder than anywhere else she had been since the blizzard. It also had a bed in the center with very thin blankets. She assumed this set-up was because ice people typically don't want to be warm.

"You can rest here," Charles suggested. "You look exhausted."

"I am," Pagoniá admitted. "I haven't slept since my powers emerged."

"Then you should take this opportunity to get some sleep," he advised, closing the door and leaving the room.