Pessimism (Book One)

Chapter 13: Training and Trust

I stared at him. It was the longest stare contest I have ever contested in. It was hard to believe, but he said and wasn't lying. I could tell from his persistence. And yet I could not believe him.
"I'm not lying. If you don't believe me, then just remember. I told yo before." He told me. I shut my eyes. He was probably talking about the dream. He was making an inference. He knows that I don't just believe, I need a reason. I am not one to take a leap of fate. I can't ever trust what's ahead of me, because the not knowing is what makes me an unbeliever. Before I could even think, I was shaken by an explosion. I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Grant throwing a gun to me. With quick reflexes, I made sure not to trigger it; it was as if I has handled one before. The explosion came from upstairs. Whoever was doing it was trying to bury both Grant and I alive. The roof above Grant came crashing down. Without thinking, I ran and tackled him, just nearly protecting him. Grant and I were greeted with cuts and scratches.
"Thanks." Grant smiled. He smiled a lot, but his were different. They weren't archaic, they were natural, always full of life. Warms the soul. At this rate the entire building is going to collapse and our exit was blocked. Our next choice was from the back. That too would be a challenge with all the rubble falling on us.
"Follow me." I told him. We carefully made our way to the back.
"Remind you of something?" He asked me.
"What?"
"This. Doesn't this remind you of something?" He repeated. I tried to think of what he was trying to say. Then, like before, my vision went dark. I stopped moving and an image came into play. This time it was a memory. I was in a bar. Grant was with me. He looked worried and I felt the same way. We seemed locked in. A fire was coming. It would explode. We then started to run towards the back exit and then the building exploded completely. Before my vision could end, everything went back to normal. It was my dream.
"Yeah, I guess it does feel familiar." I told him. I was starting to believe his words.
"Watch out!" Grant yelled. He pushed me to the ground. The roof came from behind. We looked up. He had protected me from a part, but as we were on the ground, we stared at the wall that was falling on us. We couldn't get away from that one. Even if we rolled or ran, it wouldn't be enough time.
"Shit." Grant and I said at the same time. It crashed right on top of us. At the time I had closed my eyes, not realizing I had my hand up. We were still alive.
"Incredible." Grant said. He was staring at me. Somehow, the wall had become between us. "You protected us both Ian. I'm guessing you didn't see it? That's why I am here. To-" He was interrupted by another explosion. "I'll tell you later. Let's keep moving." Just when my questions were going to get answered, I was interrupted. We jumped out the window and onto the grass. It was a clean escape. I turned to see my home burned down.

"Come on." Grant pulled me. My stuff, all my family photos, my clothes, they would all perish. I held the necklace around me neck. Thank goodness I had this with me. I followed grant.
"In here." He nudged me into the car. My vision went black. This was happening very often I stopped moving. The black car came into view. I was being taken into it by Grant. We were going somewhere. Before I could figure out to where or to who, Grant interrupted.
"Come on Ian." He said. I got in the passenger's seat and he took the drivers. I could drive, wait. I looked back at the burning house. I had left my driver's permit in there. I buckled my seat belt and quietly cried.
"Umm, Ian, what's wrong?" Grant patted me.
"Shut up! I left my card in there and all my stuff." I sat weeping. Grant was just laughing at me. I found it funny, but I was still upset. He turned the engine on and a voice answered.
"Hello Grant." It spoke.
"Talia? I waited for a reply.
"Is this the kid?" Talia spoke with an attitude.
"Yeah." Grant answered.
"Hello Ian." Talia's voice completely changed. I had the feeling again that she was a human speaking into the car voice.
"Talia, we need to get somewhere safe." Grant commanded.
"You got it." Talia was setting up coordinates. "Here they are. They don't make them like I do now-a-days."
"Yes Talia, you are the one and only." He laughed.
"Oh I know." The car lit up a neon blue. The car looked so cool. I don't remember being like this. In the dark, the lights made the car look so much cooler.
"Where are we going?" I wanted to know where 'safe' was.
"Like I said, somewhere safe, my place." He smiled. He pressed the metal and drove out the parking lot. He was driving pretty fast. Grant's place huh? Well this should be exciting. I watched the building recede from sight.
"And what are we going to do there?" I asked him.
"We are going t rest up for tomorrow. Like I said Ian you are the sorcerer of Efthalia." Efthalia was the city of we lived in. It was the 'perfect' society. "Those people, they will keep coming after you. I have to train you to use your powers." I was surprised to unbelief.
"What do you-?" Before I could finish, I was interrupted once more. Three cars were following us and they were firing at us.
"Later Ian. Talia, let's do this."
"This is more like it." Talia said in excitement. I didn't understand what was going on. "Ian, be ready to use the gun." He told me. He made a quick U-turn, facing the attackers.
"We are going to crash right into them!" I warned. I shut my eyes. Damn it, why with the reckless detective.