Shadow Beings

8. A Confused Course of Action

The peaceful quiet was disturbed by the voices of panic. A fretting aura replaced the tranquil ones and that energy cut through the atmosphere, sending waves of anxious chills through my skin.

Several shadow trappers tried to alleviate the people, including my friends, but they were themselves wary. I stood still, unfazed and in deep thought, attempting to grasp the aura of the situation. A fear from the past, uncertainty for the future and perpetual pain surrounded all of us at the mere mention of the Demons, at the thought of them so close to us.

I looked around the room, wondering where Jay was. The sight that met my eyes was astonishing and I had seen such chaos only once before.

If only I'd known that chaos would follow me from that moment.

I took a deep breath, gaining my composure to speak as clearly as I could. As I held that breath I thought back to my moment with Jay, recalling what he had done. With the help of my ability I pronounced the next thought, letting it reverberate in the minds of the Shadow-Trappers in a gently firm manner.

"Silence, everybody! Panic will get us nowhere."

The room gradually fell silent, though I had failed to dispel the worry.

"Where is Jay?" I asked no one in particular.

"I'm not sure," Jack replied in an evasive tone. His eyes were fierce with concern, though his mind appeared to be elsewhere.

That Shadow-Trapper who could create illusions now stood beneath the dome, doing what she did before with nervous movements. The light flickered on, brightening the daunted faces. With a calm expression, the ones in authority started sending all the shadow-trappers to the safe place of the headquarters. The room was filled with hushed voices again, but a rational expression emerged on most of the Shadow-Trappers faces as they left. I helped the younger ones leave or find their way to their family, though they appeared to be the least worried and the most confused ones. Perhaps their innocence countered the dismal weight brought by the demons. Thankfully, in the end, everyone had walked to safety.

Everyone excluding my favourite dummy - my brother. The boy never listened to me. He wouldn't leave me behind and I couldn't express how much I appreciated him. My friends were busy escorting the others, but it felt good to have someone stay back with me.

"Jack, get moving. I'm coming too." I suppressed a smile at his stubbornness, speaking gently.

He pondered for a moment as his eyes scanned the hall. He shut the windows on his side of the room before leaving the room quietly. Jack turned towards me and gestured for me to follow, and for a moment, I could see the innocence of worry on his solicitous face. I shook my head with a smile, following the calmness of his aura... although I realised it was too silent. Too withdrawn.

Too... empty.

I sensed a heavy weight on my shoulders as the demons drew closer to the headquarters, and my neck felt as if something sharp stung it multiple times in various places, a large strain appearing on its sides. However, something gentle slipped into my brother's aura that protected me from the weight, that mental pressure, and that something seemed to show only for... me.

Thank you Jack, I thought, and my smile almost grew to an abnormal size.

I made my way down to the safe room. It was at the second to last level, but still below the ground. I took the shortest route down through the dark path of the emergency exit, the stairs directly leading to the safe room. My hand hovered above the railing to guide my steps, but I didn't lean on it completely so that I'd be ready if an attack came my way.